6/10/2025 — Three Brothers from San Juan Lodge #175 have laid claim to the Traveling Gavel. Fidalgo Lodge was happy to receive our Brothers fro the Isle of San Juan.
Today we received this gracious letter from one of those Brothers:
Brethren and All,
What a time for fellowship! My Senior Warden, John Kurtz, Myself, and Past Master Raymont Jackson made the pilgrimage to Fidalgo Lodge No. 77 on June 10th, 2025. Our intent was to go and retrieve the Traveling Gavel and enjoy the great company of our brethren. We did just that, showing up fashionably late to dinner but right on time for the meeting. As it turns out, Fidalgo put us to work as they were short on a position. I sat in front of the Worshipful Master and Secretary and acted as the Chaplain for the evening. This was not a position with which I was familiar with but I had heard the prayers read during opening and closing in our lodge for many years so it felt natural to me.
WB John Kurtz was fully ready to sit in the South as the JW but WB Michael Belle Isle took his place and we proceeded to have a great meeting led by the SW WB Stephen Ellis who sat in for WM Jeffrey Maynor. WB Stephen presided over a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons and held a wonderful meeting as I am positive that the two EAs present, received a decent amount of wisdom from the many Past Masters in the room. We spoke about Grand Lodge resolutions as they were brought up by MW Don Munks who sat in the North with help from VW Gerald Myers who sat as the Senior Warden, and a spirited debate followed by the brethren.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear from the Marshall who sat next to me, Bro. Charles Manning, who proceeded to pay honorable wages to San Juan Lodge No. 175 for providing a $500 check for the Meals on Wheels/Turkey Shoot. I was honored to receive those wages on behalf of our Lodge and to see that our contribution left a meaningful feeling all around, despite the check being a little late. The cement of Brotherly Love was spread that evening, and I truly felt more connected to our craft and could see the underlying purpose of why we do what we do. This is a noble art that we pursue and we should feel proud as good Masons doing the good work in our communities and within ourselves.
That being said, it was great to see MW Don Munks in the flesh as it had been years since I had seen our Past Grand Master and I cherish the fact that I have been able to glean from his wisdom for over 9 years at this point. We truly have some amazing pillars in Washington Freemasonry and I hope everybody knows this. Guess what, brethren of the District? San Juan Lodge No. 175 has the Traveling Gavel now and you will have to come to Friday Harbor after we return from being dark in July/August to retrieve the gavel. We meet again September 3rd, 2025 at 7:30 PM sharp and look forward to seeing the visiting brethren who might make the journey over the waters to our humble lodge.
I am proud to be a Freemason and honored to be counted among all of you as a brother. My grandfather, Jack Welch of Arlington Lodge No. 129 is smiling down at me, I have no doubt about it.
—
WB Ian T. Welch
Worshipful Master – 2017 / 2025
San Juan Lodge No. 175
MWGL of F & AM of Washington
