At the outset, I wish to greet you all ‘Happy Holidays’. That’s the politically correct way of greeting members of our fraternity that is so conscious of not bringing into the open any hint of religious persuasions. And while I respect that, I also feel the need to be able to just greet you in the manner I know. So, for my Christian brothers, I greet you ‘Merry Christmas’, to my Jewish brothers, ‘Happy Hanukkah’ and to the rest of the brethren, ‘Happy Holidays’.

As I write my last message for the year, I’m counting the remaining days of my term as Worshipful Master of Mission Lodge #169 and with that comes a huge sigh of relief. It’s indeed quite comforting that by then, I shall have fulfilled what is required of me with regard to the discharge of my duties while seated in the Oriental Chair.

This sigh of relief, however, should not be construed as a total abandonment of my bond with our lodge and its constituency. As the soon-to-be Junior Past Master, I pledge my continued support for the forthcoming activities of the lodge I have learned to care about.

Looking back through these past months, the thing that comes to mind is "gratefulness". I am so grateful for all the help afforded to me; help that, I believe, was given by a "brother to a brother", help that is reflective of how our fraternity encourages us to "stretch forth a helping hand" in times of need.

I therefore wish to publicly express my gratitude to all the Officers, Committee Members, Master Masons and Past Masters for helping me manage the affairs of the lodge. I thank the Board of Trustees, the Hall Association for their excellent managing of our financial affairs. I thank our Candidate Coaches for preparing the new members advance in their degree. I thank our Officers’ Coach for his subtle ways of pointing out improvements in our degree conferrals.

I also would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family, most particularly to my wife, Tess, for her generosity and wholehearted support, seen and unseen. They have been my inspiration in times when the demands of my mastership seem difficult to bear.

To you all, my sincerest thanks. Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the elected and appointed Officers for the ensuing Masonic year and wish them the best.

May the vision of Mission Lodge #169 prevail.

Fraternally,
Jess R. Bautista, P.M.
Worshipful Master

FROM THE MASTER-ELECT

First off, thank you to the 90 brethren who voted in our November election of officers and for electing me as Master.

The following officers have been appointed to serve Mission Lodge: Chaplain: Delfin B. Endrina, P.M., Assistant Secretary: David R. Kidd, Sr. Deacon: Jose Luis Gomez, Jr. Deacon: Eleftherios J. Karkazis, Sr. Steward: Omar Valles, Jr. Steward: Jason J. Marandas, and Tiler: James G. Lintner.

You, your family and friends are cordially invited to the Installation of Officers for the ensuing Masonic year on Saturday, December 17th, 2011. Please RSVP.

Plans for the year 2012 will include educational programs, several California excursions and preparation for Mission Lodge’s 150th anniversary in 2013.

May the spirit and blessings of the Season remain with you and yours throughout the year!

Fraternally,
Garvin F. Lohman, P.M.
Worshipful Master-Elect

For those of you that have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. in the near future, Bro. Paul M. Bessel has written an article on the Masonic sites to see.

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MASONIC SITES IN WASHINGTON D.C.

George Washington Masonic National Memorial

101 Callahan Drive
Alexandria, Virginia

Open for tours every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. This is the tallest building in this part of the Washington DC area, rising 9 large stories above old town Alexandria. It is right next to the King Street Metro station. The Memorial contains lodge rooms, a gift shop, exhibits about George Washington and Freemasonry, a museum, a large Masonic library, and such items as George Washington’s family Bible, locks of his hair, and items used during his funeral. There is also a Replica Lodge room that is furnished as a lodge room would have been during Washington’s lifetime, with additional exhibits including the trowel he used when laying the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol building, and the clock that was in his bedroom when he died. Meetings of Lodges and other Masonic groups are held in the Memorial regularly.

House of the Temple (Scottish Rite Headquarters)

1733 – 16th Street NW
Washington DC
202-232-3579

Open for tours on Weekdays.

The House of the Temple is an office building for the Sovereign Grand Commander and other officers and staff of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction of the United Stated (Mother Council of the World). It also has many museum rooms and a large Masonic library.

Biennial meetings of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, are usually held in the House of the Temple.

United States Capitol Building

There are many Masonic references in the Capitol, but some are not too clear or easily found, such as square and compasses in some paintings. Some architectural historians, though, have written extensively about the entire Capitol being a Masonic structure, with Masonic symbolism evident in many places and ways.

Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia

5428 MacArthur Blvd NW
Washington DC 20016-2524

Museum and Library open by appointment

This building is primarily an office for the Grand Master, Grand Secretary, and staff of the Grand Lodge.
It does not have any lodge rooms, but some informal committee meetings are held here.

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia (and Civil War Memorial)

1000 U Street NW
Washington DC

The Prince Hall headquarters building is a large structure that includes offices for the Grand Master and other officers and staff of the Grand Lodge, plus the officers and staff of other Prince Hall Masonic groups in Washington, D.C., such as Eastern Star, Royal Arch, etc. It also contains lodge rooms, and other rooms large enough to hold Grand Lodge sessions and banquets.

Next to the Grand Lodge building is a Monument and Memorial to the African American soldiers who fought to save the Union during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln and others said that without the assistance of these men, who were called the U.S. "Colored" Troops, the Union might have lost the Civil War. There is also a museum in part of the Grand Lodge building, next to the Civil War memorial, that contains exhibits about the Civil War and the role of African Americans in it.

D.C. Scottish Rite Building

2800 – 16th Street
Washington DC

The D.C. Scottish Rite building is separate from the House of the Temple, which is the headquarters for the entire Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. The two buildings are located just a few blocks from each other, both being on 16th Street.

The D.C. Scottish Rite building contains a large auditorium, where the D.C. Grand Lodge and other bodies hold their meetings, and where the D.C. Scottish Rite confers its degrees. It is also the usual location for conferrals of the 33rd degree.

This building also contains offices for the D.C. Scottish Rite officers and staff, and a lodge room where the Scottish Rite bodies meet — every week on Tuesday at 7:30pm.

Almas Shrine

K Street NW
Washington DC

This Shrine building is located in the business area of Washington, D.C. It houses offices for the Potentate, Recorder, and other officers of Almas Shrine. It also contains an auditorium and smaller rooms where the Shrine and some of its groups hold meetings. There is also a room with a bar, and a room that is used to serve meals.

Congressional Cemetery where Brothers J. Edgar Hoover and John Philip Sousa are buried.

The following was written in the May/June 1989 issue of the Sojourner
— Editor

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TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG

"Remember me?

Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner. But what ever they call me, I am your Flag. The Flag of the United States of America.

Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you.

I remember some time ago, people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade, and naturally I was always there, proudly waving in the breeze. When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it over his heart, remember? And you, I remember you standing there, straight as a soldier. You didn’t have a hat but you were giving the right salute. Remember your little sister, not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you, with her hand over her heart, remember?

What happened? I’m still the same old Flag. Oh, a few more stars have been added since you were a boy, and a lot more blood has been shed since the parades of long ago. But I don’t feel as proud as I used to. When I come down your street you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. I may get a small glance, but then you look away.

I see the children running around and shouting. They don’t seem to know who I am. I saw one man take off his hat and look around. He didn’t see anyone else with his hat off, so he quickly put it back on.

Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I’ve been? Anzio, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Korea and Vietnam. Take a look at the names on the Memorial Honor Roll sometime. Look at the names of those who never came back in order to keep this Republic free. One Nation Under God. When you were saluting me you were actually saluting them.

Well, it won’t be long until I’ll be coming down your street again, so when you see me, stand straight, place your right hand over your heart. I’ll salute you by waving back, and I’ll know that you remembered."