M\W\ WENDELL O. HUTCHINGS

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER

Good Morning.

As we begin yet another important undertaking at the commencement of our labors as a Grand Lodge, let us choose now to invoke the aid of deity in unity and individually beseech the good and great ruler of the universe to preside in our deliberations and give us wisdom that we may conduct our affairs successfully and in peace and harmony.

NECROLOGY 2005-2006

We now pause to pay tribute to the brethren who have been called from labor to eternal rest since our last Annual Communication.  Grand Architect of the Universe, our hearts are filled by the memories of our brethren who have taken on the journey to eternal rest.  Let us pause for a moment of prayer in tribute to those brothers who have departed this troubled earthly world, and are now with the Grand Master of the Universe far beyond the sky.

LIVING THE DREAM

Greetings and welcome to this our 103rd Annual Communication.

By the Grace of almighty God, we have assembled together here in this beautiful City of SeaTac, Washington to recount the labors of our hands and hearts for the last twelve months.  Behold how swiftly the sands of time runs.  This day marks the close of an eventful year, and I stand before this august body to make a report of the affairs of your

Grand Lodge for this Masonic year now ending at this, our 103rd Annual Grand

Communication.

Thank you for the trust and confidence that you placed in me by electing me to this most honored office. I shall always be truly humbled by being able to serve this jurisdiction as the 40th Grand Master of this Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Washington and Jurisdiction. Your faith, your loyalty and support has been a great asset in the administration of the office of Grand Master.

When you placed the ultimate "Purple and Gold" upon my shoulders, I accepted this high honor and was fully aware of the magnitude and responsibility that went with it.

I have tried to represent and do my utmost to carry out and discharge my duties in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Washington and Jurisdiction with credit to all and for the protection and welfare of this jurisdiction.

I thank each and every one of you for any part you may have played in assisting me to achieve the many goals that I accomplished while serving as your humble servant.

STATE OF THE CRAFT

I shall have to give you a picture of the problems that have plagued this administration this year.  There are brothers and Grand Lodge officers that have not only judged the Grand Master, but also challenged him as well. 

It seems that whenever there is a difference of opinion, it doesn’t matter what the Code or the Grand Master says or doesn’t say, and if he doesn’t like it, we can get a lawyer and go to court to resolve it.  Article 15.08 of our constitution clearly stated:  No lodge, or any member thereof, under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, shall resort to civil courts to establish any right or to redress any grievances arising out of the membership in the order or connected therewith until it or he shall have exhausted the remedies within the order and in a manner provided by the Constitution, Laws and Regulations of this Grand Lodge.

There are also a number of brethren in this jurisdiction who think that they are above the law.  Let me inform you of something – no man is above the law, we are all governed by the Law, Constitution, and Regulations of this Grand Lodge and if you step outside of the law, you are subjected to the law.  What we have here is the failure to communicate.  We are elected to these positions because of the trust and confidence you have placed in us; we must perform the duties prescribed by law.

Because of the frailties of mortal man we tend to act as Eve did in the Garden of Eden; we tend to listen to the serpents and often are beguiled by them.  We fail to study the rules of Freemasonry and, thus, become vulnerable to misinterpretation and misrepresentation.

I am pleased to report, for the most part, the majority of the lodges are doing fairly well, as reported by the District Deputy Grand Masters to me in their annual reports, and from my own personal knowledge and observation throughout my travels throughout the jurisdiction.  There have been a few cases where disturbance has arisen, but I hope that this Grand Body shall take cognizance of the facts that will be presented, relative to the difficulties, and have those differences amicably adjusted and restore that friendly and brotherly feeling that should always exist among masons.

As you are aware, a tragedy occurred in January of this year that has cast a dark cloud over District No. 9 and most Masonic bodies in Europe.  Bro. Donald A. Wilder died of alcohol poisoning after a night of celebration for receiving the York Rite degrees.  The news media immediately linked Bro. Wilder’s death to the initiation he received, but wrongly noted that he was receiving the third degree.  The news articles and the subsequent emails that surfaced the globe were factually incorrect.  The entire newspaper articles were grossly fabricated and when we contacted the reporter to provide the true facts, he refused to print a retraction.  I think the military is considering imposing some drastic measures that will prohibit or severely impact how the Masonic Order will operate on military bases in the future.  I issued an Edict immediately to stop hazing within the jurisdiction.

STATE OF THE NATION

There are several issues which seem to dominate the landscape of America during the time of this annual report.

1)         The Iraq war – The Iraq war continues.  There have been more than 2,500 service men and women that have been killed since the war began.  The key arguments are as follows:  First, some say that we were given bad intelligence about Iraq and we never should have gone to war.  Other have said that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.  Those weapons have not been found, to date.  Please remember that more than 4 million people have been killed in the war in Africa, but this fact is know by few.  Still people are suffering. 

2)         Gas Prices – The gas prices in Washington State are more than $3.00 per gallon.  In addition, many other consumer products have increased.  But Exxon’s top executive was reported to have made more than $400 million per year.  Still people are suffering.

3)         The Katrina Hurricane – The hurricane called Katrina was and is still devastating to many families in the Gulf Coast of America.  Many people lost their lives, family members, homes, jobs, land, and hope.  Still people are suffering.

4)         No Child Left Behind – The “No Child Left Behind” is a Federal law, which basically says that every state in America must pass a law that is approved by the Federal Government to ensure that all high school students meet or exceed a set of standards before the can graduate from high school.  In the State of Washington, the Federal Government has approved the WASL test for the standards for our students.  Naturally, the adequate funding and resources have not arrived to date.  Still people are suffering.

5)         Death and Incarceration – Aids, Dope, Gangs, Violence, lack of jobs, and poverty continue to be the leading contributions to our funerals and incarceration in jails or penitentiaries.  These negative contributors severely limit our chances for growth in Prince Hall Masonry!

CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS

The 87th Annual Conference of Grand Masters (C.O.G.M.) was held in the Jurisdiction of New York at Rochester, from May 17 to 21, 2006.  Most Worshipful Grand Master Calvin Martin was the host Grand Master. 

The conference convened at 10:00 a.m. with Dr. William O. Jones, MW Grand Master of Alabama presiding.  Due to serious health problems, the Vice President, Benjamin L. Hooks, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Tennessee, was unable to attend.  The meeting of Grand Masters only was to establish the agenda items for referral to the Executive Staff. 

The Pacific Rim Regional Conference did not place any agenda items before the conference, from our annual report.  All sessions of the conference of Grand Master should be open to all registered attendees, to include the RW Deputy Grand Master, RW Grand Senior Warden, RW Grand Junior Warden, etc.  (Approved)

2)       The following were significant issues submitted by other regions:

a.               Recommendation to hold election of officers as the first order of business in the Executive meeting.

            Results:  The election of officers was the first order of business and the results are as follows.

·                President, MWGM Sheldon D. Redden, Jurisdiction of Maryland

·                Vice President, MWGM Benjamin L. Hooks, Jurisdiction of Tennessee

·                Executive Treasurer, PGM Ronald Robinson, Jurisdiction of California

·                Executive Secretary, PGM Rufus H. Foster, Jurisdiction of South Carolina

·    Two members-at-large seats were up for re-election and three names were placed in nomination: 

                PGM Harold L. Wolder, PGM Sidney L. Broodnax, and PGM John M. Bettis.  Since PGM Wolder was not present and did not provide a letter  

                stating his intention, MWGM Deary Vaughn declared PGMs Bettis and Broodnax the winners.

ELECTED OFFICERS

Deputy Grand Master Harden M. Keys Jr., thank you for being there and assisting me; we have been together for the last five years, traveling and being busy.  You have learned a lot, never forget the sacrifices we made to get where we are.

Grand Senior Warden Kenneth B. Anthony, you do just enough to get by at times.  You were more concerned about who I was going to leave in charge of the jurisdiction instead of managing your programs.

Grand Junior Warden McPherson has not been a part of this team at all this year.  It seems that he thinks since no one challenged him for office last year that he is above the law.

Grand Secretary Gilbert E. McClary Sr. has worked hard and arduously during my entire tenure.  One does not realize the sincere endeavor he puts into his office, until one has worked with him.  Before becoming Grand Master I didn’t realize what methods under which he has labored; I began to appreciate his services more and more. 

We have worked together on many of these methods this year.  In addition to handling all official matters, he’s traveled extensively.  RW McClary, thank you for all that you have done, you are truly a brother.

Grand Treasurer Ronald M. Harrell Sr., I know and you all know how faithful he has been these past few years.  He guards, protects, and supervises your money as he does his own.  It has been a pleasure to work with him and his office has cooperated with this administration fully.

Grand Lecturer Gardner M. Torrence has been very active since planning his program.  This year he contacted all lodges, requesting dates for visitation; I have copies of those requests in my office.  He was ready and willing to come to assist you whenever you were ready.  He has attended and demonstrated the work at meetings and visitations to the subordinate lodges.  He also serves as the Grand Lodge webmaster.

COMPTROLLER BOARD

It has been a joy to work with all of the members of this Board.  Each and everyone of you are to be commended for your effort, commitment and untiring dedication to this MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington in general.  Thank you brothers, for a job very well done.

FRATERNAL RELATIONS – CONCORDANT BODIES

This Grand Lodge has had an excellent working relationship with all the Prince Hall Concordant and Adoptive Rite Bodies.  However, there has been an occasion during this administration where one of the bodies seemed to have had a difference of opinion with what authority the Grand Master has in his jurisdiction.  Fraternal relations and recognition is an ongoing consideration process.  However, I have enjoyed working with S.G.I.G. Daniel L. Lunsford, Deputy of the Orient of Washington State, A.A.S.R., F.M., P.H.A., N.J., USA Inc. 

Thanks, Dan, for taking care of your Grand Master for the last two years.

 CONCLUSION

The work for the year is ended, and yet our work for all of us is just beginning.  I am heartened in knowing I have not stood alone during the year – in carrying out the responsibilities and duties of being your Grand Master.  Each of you have been of utmost importance, for without you, the wheels of our Grand Lodge would have been motionless.  Let not the mistakes of the past year in anyway hinder our progress, but serve as stepping stones over which we must climb towards our Masonic goal.

I am returning to you the gavel of authority, entrusted to my care one year ago.  I can sincerely say that no man can fill the high office of Grand Master or carry the weight and duties successfully without an ever present awareness of his own inadequacy.  Your problems were my problems; your mistakes were my mistakes.  I believe it was said:  It is human to err.  The errors that I made were not made intentionally, but were made while endeavoring to serve you.

OFFICIAL ACTS

PROCLAMATIONS

Fraternally submitted

/s/WENDELL O. HUTCHlNGS

Grand Master of Masons