FOCUS

Official Publication

Of the

York Rite Masons of Washington

Grand Commanders Message

FROM THE GRAND COMMANDER

Sir Knights:

I  want  to thank  each  and  every  one of you for the  confidence  vote  you  have  given  me  to be  your Grand  Commander  this next year.   I am grateful to have been able to serve you so far in the Grand  Commandery  and will continue to serve you in any capacity in the future.  I  hope this year will be a growing  year of membership  and  improvement in each commandery of the ritual work.  Good ritual work will not only improve our individual commanderies,  but  it will also improve our pride in our great organization.  I have to remind myself  all the time that this  great  organization  is built not only on the membership  but  also on the strength of the individuals who  volunteer  their  time for our worthwhile causes.

As we are entering into a new Grand Commandery year, let me assure you that this year will be a great year. I am hoping as all others in the past have hoped that this will be the year we turn around the membership issue. I will not dwell on this. We are the only ones who can bring individuals to our ranks who love Jesus and are willing to stand and  say just that. We can only approach those who we know are Christian brothers in the Blue Lodge and ask them if they know about Knights Templar and if they do would they like to join. Remember, we have to convince them of the journey through the other bodies to achieve that Knight Templar status. Membership is not just numbers but quality and we want that quality over numbers. Ah yes, numbers in our ranks are sweet but it is a bitter taste to bring in numbers only to have them not participate in our labors. Therefore, I challenge each of you to be particular who you recruit and recruit you must if we are to continue. Remember, quality trumps quantity and then quantity will grow!! Sir Knights we are the backbone of this organization and we will do our best to achieve the highest standards and quality of our order. Please take this to your heart in the best possible light and may your light so shine before men and more especially brother masons that they will want to be a part of our great Order of Knights Templar.

In His Name I pray

SK Warren Lee, REGC

 District #4          SK  Joe MacIntyre

Juan De Fuca Commandery #17 Recorder Theodore E. Shanks Meets on the 3^rd Monday of September, February, May, October and March in Port Angeles, 622 So. Lincoln. Meeting is with Angeles Chapter #38 and Juan De Fuca Commandery #17.  Meeting starts at 6:30 PM.  Hosted dinner follows meeting.  Dark  July, August, December, and January. 

Commander –SK JAck Wise.

     Malta Commandery#18 Recorder SK Peter Dawson 2^nd Monday of each month except July & August. Bremerton Masonic Temple,

Commander –SK Alexander Jordan

District #5           SK Marion A. Windell    

Hesperus Commandery #8 Recorder SK Skipp Metzger    First Monday at

Commander –SK Jack Williams

Palestine Commandery#11 Recorder SK George P. Fischer Meets at Everett Masonic Center, 234 Olympic Blvd, Everett, Washington.  Meets on the 1^st Friday Commandery opens in March, June, September & December.  If you are in the area, your presence is desired. 6:30 Potluck, 7:30 stated.

Commander -SK Dennis Osborne.

District #6       SK Jeff Bartow

Temple Commandery #5    Recorder SK Bob Johnston  1^st  Thursday in Ellensburg,

Commander SK Greg Maes

Columbia Commandery #14 Recorder SK Steve Guffy 509-662-7607 steveg@nwi.net 1^st Thursday in Wenatchee,

..  – Commander – SK Albert Bledsoe

Yakima Commandery #13  Recorder SK Charley Chapman   

 Meetings 16 N. 7th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902on the first Wednesday of EVERY month at 7:30 PM.   Being considered for "Out Post" classification. 

 Commander SK Raymond E. Beever 

District #7        SK Ivan (Merle) Iverson

Cataract Commandery #3           Recorder Harold G. Rothgeb  4^th Thursday,

Commander SKRobert Brannon Jr.

District #8     SK Phillip L. Woodland

Washington Commandery #1  Recorder SK Steven L. Kazda,  Meets 2^nd Wednesday of each month except July, and August at 7:30 pm. Our ritualistic openings are March, September & December and the ritualistic opening in June will be held the 4^th Wednesday at 7:30 pm at the Walla Walla Masonic Center, 607 E. Main St., Walla Walla, WA.

 Commander: SK Anton Lodmell,

           Pasco Commandery #21       Recorder Floyd Snyder  We have ritualistic opening on the 4^th Saturday of March, June, September, and December. Richland Masonic Temple,

 Commander SK Ronald Galpin