M.W. KENNETH SWANIGAN

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER

Greetings:

This past year has given me the rare opportunity to perform the duties and responsibilities of stewardship in this jurisdiction with an uncompromising zealous and passion. I have been allowed the opportunity to share this venture with many beloved and devoted brethren and sisters. Your contributions and participation has fueled my energy, stimulated my mind and replenished my purpose and mission as a fellow Mason and has escalate my role as your Grand Master. My ventures in this role can be compared to a quilt, scraps of various materials commingling jointly while stitched with threads of silk. Sometimes I find that I pinch my finger tips with confusion, gossip, hearsay and calamity. But my reason to continue is concise and clear, that is my commitment to this fraternal order. I feel that now more than ever before in our history, we need to rejuvenate our positions in the community, neighborhood and world. Our joint efforts must be earnestly and passionately directed toward one goal.... to uphold our rightful position of leadership. We each know that the role of leader is not one of inaction but one of action. We have to take our plan off the drawing board and into the world. Too much has occurred and is going on now that calls for us to do more than just lip serve. We have to GET BUSY!

The lives of our children, the profile of our community, the shape of our neighborhood and our standing, needs direct and precise action. Drugs and violent crimes are inundating our world, the literacy factor among us is disgraceful (we have high school children graduating with the reading level of sixth grader), the unemployment rate within our community has elevated alarmingly, ~ no longer safe to travel within a neighborhood. We read and empathize with the situation in South Africa, yet we chose to ignore the same injustices in our own country. We can’t afford such a luxury. The time we take to pass justice on others is the exact time we should devote to reaching out to somebody. Are we so secure in our world, that we can turn a head away when we are needed. We, emotionally, psychologically, mortally, and practically can not allow injustice of any nature to go unchallenged. It is our morale obligation... NO... responsibility to assure that even the least important among us is allowed every opportunity to prosper. For if the least among us wants, so do we.

MISSION STATEMENT

The world is not a separate entity or afterthought of God but a creation that he bestowed upon us with mercy, compassion and to serve his purpose. As a direct result, it is our responsibility to assure that each and every one of our fellow human being receive (without pre—judgment) his fair share. WE ARE OUR BROTHERS KEEPER EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

Within this confine it should be our mission as Masons to do everything possible to find solutions to the injustice and infractions that have been allowed to occur. For our seniors, we are researching avenues to develop a residential care unit which will house a health care facility. For our youth, we will increase our joint efforts with outside agencies helping young people obtain their educational goals.  For those young people involved in illegal and drug activities, we will serve as advocate and information broker, directing them to the proper facility which can address their needs. For ourselves we will earnestly permeate our world with an atmosphere of peace and harmony, our attitude with knowledge and our contribution to mankind with commitment, devotion and achievement. “Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world”, we will mark in granite our commitment to justice and righteousness.

If you find you  have a minute to discuss the plight of Brother or Sister So-In-So, you will have discovered that you have wasted a precious minute.

NECROLOGY

I’m going to sit at the Welcome table

Shout my troubles over

Walk and talk with Jesus

Tell God how I was treated

One of these days I

                                     - Spiritual

The old folk say “bye and bye”, each of us will one day have to travel down this last pathway. Through we realize with our minds that death is merely a conclusion of an inevitable cycle, we are never prepared for the undertaking, nor can words sufficiently describe how we feel. We can only travel through this road carefully and gingerly. We can be there with loved one to offer our support and together grieve the passing of a loved one. It burdens the heart and mystifies the mind. We will sorely miss the departure of these brothers yet they will always travel with us in our hearts and minds. With God’s assistance, we will place our houses in order and stand by those left behind.

STATE OF CRAFT

I am pleased to report that Prince Hall Masonry in the Sate of Washington and its jurisdiction is alive and well. The sweet fragrance of brotherly love seems to permeate every aspect of our fraternity. Everywhere I have traveled, I have been accorded the greatest hospitality and courtesy, humanly possible.

During the past years, we have increased in membership. We have also experienced a slight increase in the participation of the local lodges. We currently have a total of forty—four (44) lodges and three (3) U.D lodges, which I will recommend for chapter during this Grand Communication. They are Fellowship Military Lodge, UD in Turkey and Spanaway Lodge, UD in Spanaway, WA. Special District Deputy Melvin Jenkins and District Deputy Andrew Morgan should be commended for their diligent efforts.

I charge each of you to let your light so shine that it will illuminate the pathway of some errand Craftsman and direct him back onto the pathway that leads to admission to the Celestial lodge above, that house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.

CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS

Apr 29 - May 5 Attended the Grand Masters Conference, Baltimore, MA; I was accompanied by G.J.W. William Rheubottom.  It was an education and enlightening experience for both of us. We were happy to share ideas with brothers from other jurisdictions. The Host Grand Lodge did an excellent job.

IMPERIAL COUNCIL

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARABIC ORDER NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE

OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN AND JURISDICTION

It was a distinct honor and pleasure to represent this M.W.P.H.G.L. at the Imperial Session held in Las Vegas, NV. It was exciting to meet so many Nobles and to see us fellowship one to the other. Imperial Deputy Stubblefield and others are to be commended for the assistance they afforded me on this occasion.

UNITED SUPREME COUNCIL

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREE MASONRY (PHA)

NORTHERN JURISDICTION, U.S.A. INC.

I found this adventure both stimulating and concerning in this mystic land of brotherly love. Surrounded by flavoring of this country’s history, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall allowed each of us on this journey to remember the gifts we take for granted each day. Our rights and the battle ensued to secure them. I met many of the other members of the Washington Delegation to include the ILL. James W. Davis. I note that this was the largest class to ever receive the 33rd degree in the northern jurisdiction.

SPRING CONFERENCE

The Annual Spring Conference was held in District #2, Tacoma, WA. We were joined by the Prince Hall Grand Chapter and Prince Hall Grand High Court. The subject material presented was superior to any that I have had the pleasure to review across the many years. I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to the Chairman and the members of the Grand Lodge Committee. We look forward to next year’s Spring Conference.

CORNERSTONES

We thank the Grand Architect of the Universe for blessing us and allowing us to perform the ancient ceremony of laying cornerstones at several churches and other public institutions.

On August 13, 1988 we laid the cornerstones at Allen AME church in Tacoma, WA and First AME church in Seattle, WA.

On September 24, 1988 we assisted the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington in laying the cornerstones at West Hill Elementary School and Bremerton High School in Bremerton, WA.

On September 25, 1988 we laid the cornerstone at Prince of Peace Baptist Church in Seattle, WA.

I wish to thank the Ministers, the Bremerton School Board, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington, the Grand Officers of both jurisdictions and the membership in general for their participation, dedication and cooperation.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

I want to thank you for the core of Officers that you have given me to work with we have experience a harmonious atmosphere. We have been surrounded with positive attitudes and brotherly love. I am happy to report that all Officers and Departments are operating efficiently. I would pray that you would find favor in their work and return each of them for further labor in the vineyard.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I recommend the following:

1.   That Fellowship Lodge F. & A.M. UD request for a charter be granted and given a number on this Grand Lodge roster.

2.   Spanaway Lodge F & AM UD request for a charter be granted and given a number of this Grand Lodge roster.

3.  The Grand Lodge establish an Investment Planning committee whose duties shall be to review the assess both personal and real and to make recommendations to expand our financial profile. This committee should operate independent of any other committee or board and report directly to the Most Worshipful Grand Master.

4.    That the Grand Lodge establish a Committee to investigate the feasibility of purchasing a group life insurance to enhance our Masonic relief efforts. This committee should operate independent of any other committee or board and report directly to the Most Worshipful Grand Master.

5.    That the Grand Lodge establish a Masonic Education Department which will incorporate a total package, i.e. such as a tutorial program, as well as Masonic education.

6.    That Grand Lodge life membership be granted to the following brethren:

     a)     Isaac Mitchell, Guiding Star Lodge No. 6.

     b)    Sylvester Cann, Sr., Union Lodge No. 43.

     c)    James E. Lockhart, Harmony Lodge No. 2.

     d)    Bennett Wilburn, Harmony Lodge No. 2.

7.   That Grand Lodge honorary membership be granted to Bro. Fred Young a former member of this jurisdiction, and currently a member of the M.W.P.H.G.L. of Ohio and jurisdiction. Bro. Young had the distinct privilege of serving in this jurisdiction under the leadership of P.G.M. Sylvester J. Lake.

8.   That the Grand Lodge make a financial contribution to the Roslyn, WA, Black Pioneer to assist them in their efforts to enter a float in the upcoming Black Community Festival Parade and the Sea Fair Festival Parade.

9.   That a committee is establish to investigate the feasibility of limited four year scholarship program and present the results of their study not later than the June 20, 1990.

10.     That all the contributors to the library fund receive their contribution backs at this Grand Session.

SUMMARY OF STEWARDSHIP

This my brethren is a precise and clear record of my stewardship for the past Masonic year. I have concluded. The record and the account of my stewardship Is yours to judge. I have done my best, I accomplished some things and others I have left undone, however my intent was to move this Grand Lodge forward in a progress sense. To remove us from the shadows of yesterday years and place us into the orbit of tomorrow. There are those perhaps who will not agree with what I have done, many of you may be confused or misunderstand my motives but be assure that I will strive to bring the office of the Grand Master devotion to every duty and the great earnest of purpose. I complete this year with the mixed feelings. But mostly with love and affection in my heart for each of you.

Let me ask you to be diligent, kindly, honest and true; to spread the cement of love and affection among the brothers and try to be men and useful members to this society and this community.

May God bless you and keep you in harmony and peace.

Fraternally submitted,

/s/KENNETH SWANIGAN