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August 2026 Trestleboard

The Culture We Build

Anderson Campbell, Worshipful Master

WM Anderson Campbell

This year’s fireworks fundraiser gave us much to celebrate. It more than doubled last year’s financial return, increased our visibility in the community, strengthened our relationship with Eastern Star, and gave those who participated many hours of genuine fellowship. The conversations, laughter, shared meals, and teamwork were reminders that some of our strongest fraternal bonds are formed while working side by side.

It also revealed a challenge.

Nearly 70 percent of the Lodge’s volunteer hours were worked by five Brothers. Almost 90 percent were worked by ten Brothers. The fundraiser succeeded because a relatively small group of people carried a very large share of the labor.

During the discussion at our July Stated Communication, several Brothers observed that this may be part of a broader cultural issue. We have seen similar difficulty finding volunteers for committees, Lodge events, fundraising efforts, and other forms of service. The fireworks booth did not create this problem, but it did make it easier to see.

Culture is formed by what gradually becomes normal. If the same Brothers repeatedly step forward while others remain on the sidelines, that pattern eventually becomes an expectation. A few people come to believe that the work will always fall to them. Others come to assume that someone else will take care of it.

Neither expectation is healthy for the Lodge. Changing that culture requires more than additional announcements, emails, or sign-up sheets. It certainly requires more than guilt.  A Brother who participates only because he feels shamed or pressured may fill an immediate need, but we will not have created lasting engagement. We may instead create resentment or drive him further away. 

Our goal should not be to make every Brother contribute the same number of hours. That would neither be possible nor fair. We are all in different seasons of life. Some Brothers have demanding jobs, young families, health concerns, caregiving responsibilities, or other obligations that limit what they can offer. Others have more flexibility.  Some enjoy being involved in our more public events, while others would rather work behind the scenes. Equal contribution is not the goal. Shared ownership is.

A healthy culture of participation begins with the belief that every Brother has something meaningful to offer. One may take a shift at a fundraiser. Another may sell raffle tickets, serve on a committee, learn a ritual part, make phone calls, help with custodial duties, welcome a visitor, prepare food, contribute financially, or simply attend an event and help create a spirit of fellowship. 

The question is not, “Why aren’t you doing
more?” The better question is, “What part of this Lodge’s work can you carry?”

As leaders, we also have responsibilities. We must clearly explain why the work matters. We must offer defined and manageable opportunities rather than vague appeals for help. We must invite Brothers personally, match their skills and interests with real needs, and show them the impact of their contribution. We must also be willing to stop doing things that require more labor than our present membership can reasonably sustain.

Earlier in our Craft-Driven conversations, we embraced four principles, including the simple declaration that “everyone has a job.” That does not mean that every Brother needs an office, title, or committee assignment. It means that no Brother should feel like a spectator in the life of his own Lodge.

Beaverton Lodge will be strongest when participation becomes part of belonging. When a Brother sees a need, he asks how he can help.
When he cannot help in one way, he looks for another. When the labor becomes too concentrated, others step forward before exhaustion sets in.

That kind of culture does not appear overnight. It is built through many small choices, invitations, and acts of service. It will be built when each of us recognizes that this Lodge belongs to us, and that its future depends upon many hands sharing the work.

The fireworks fundraiser showed us what a small group of committed Brothers can accomplish. Imagine what we might build when that spirit of commitment is spread more broadly across the Craft.

Grand Lodge Anniversary Celebration

As we just finished celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country; Oregon Freemasonry is celebrating its own milestone. The Grand Lodge of Oregon is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of Masonry in our great state. The Grand Lodge of Oregon is hosting an open house and gala on September 12th, 2026. The open house is an opportunity to explore the campus at your own pace with a self-guided tour featuring the Richmond Library & Masonic Museum, The Jennings McCall Retirement Community, McMenamin’s Grand Lodge, and the adjoining Children’s Cottage. The gala is a formal dinner on the south lawn of McMenamin’s that evening. For more information, please visit 175.oregonfreemasonry.com.  Because a 175th anniversary only comes once, Beaverton Masonic Lodge is canceling its participation in the Beaverton Celebration Parade this year as it coincides on the same day.

Bittick Passes FC Proficiency

BFC Eric Bittick delivered a fine Fellowcraft catechism with his coach WB John Saultz. The
Worshipful Master found him to be proficient and his Master Mason ceremony will be performed on Thursday, August 13th at 7pm. August Stated Dress Code.

August Stated Dress Code

Due to the summer heat, August Stated coming up on the sixth will be business casual, instead of coat and tie. A collared shirt and slacks or jeans are acceptable. No shorts allowed.

July Stated Communication Highlights

  • There was a rather long discussion regarding the TNT fireworks fundraiser, both for and against continuing to do it next Independence Day season. Worshipful Master allowed the follow-up for the next year to remain open for the time being.
  • Beaverton Masonic Lodge will have its annual picnic with Eastern Star and Friendship Lodge #160 on August 8th 3pm to dusk. It will be held at Evelyn Schiffler Memorial Park at 5495 SW Erickson Avenue in Beaverton. 
  • Worshipful Master announced that WM Hunter Bronson of Friendship Lodge #160 proposed a joint stated meeting this December with a coin toss determining who will host. Beaverton Masonic Lodge won and we will host with Friendship Lodge providing dinner and refreshments. It is suggested to have it on a Saturday in conjunction with a holiday party. The plan is to have lodge on Saturday, December 5th at 2pm with a holiday party following. This requires a dispensation from the Grand Lodge. Worshipful Master will provide dispensation paperwork.
  • Visiting WB Andrew Bickerton passed on greetings from his District Grand Lodge of
    Barbados & The Eastern Caribbean and his home lodge St. Ursula’s Lodge #8952 at Tortola, British Virgin Islands 
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July 2026 Trestleboard

From the East

Anderson Campbell, Worshipful Master

WM Anderson Campbell

This July, we find ourselves observing two meaningful anniversaries. As Americans, we mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. As Oregon Freemasons, we begin our celebration of 175 years of organized Masonry in this jurisdiction.

Both anniversaries invite us to remember those who came before us, to give thanks for what has been entrusted to us, and to consider what kind of inheritance we will leave for those who come after.

When we think of Masonry and the founding of the United States, Worshipful Brother George Washington naturally comes to mind. His example of leadership, restraint, and civic virtue remains worthy of our attention. For a compelling examination of what WB Washington might make of today’s America, see WB Dan Bush’s article in June’s Oregon Masonic News. But this month I find myself thinking also of Most Worshipful Brother Benjamin Franklin, whose Masonic legacy is sometimes less prominent in our imagination, but no less instructive.

Franklin famously kept a list of virtues he sought to cultivate in his own life. He did not presume that character came easily, or that one’s intentions were enough. He viewed virtue as a daily practice, something to be examined, planned, measured, and renewed. That feels deeply Masonic to me. We don’t merely admire moral improvement; we actively engage in it.

Of the thirteen virtues that Franklin regularly practiced, three especially stand out to me in this season: sincerity, justice, and humility.

Of sincerity, Franklin wrote, “Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.” In a time when public life is often marked by suspicion, half-truths, and performance, sincerity is a radical virtue. It asks us to speak with care, to mean what we say, and to let our words reflect upright thoughts and honest intentions.

Of justice, Franklin wrote, “Wrong none, by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” That second phrase is the one that strikes me. Justice is not only refraining from harm, it also means refusing to withhold the good that is ours to do. In our Lodge life, that may mean showing up when help is needed, speaking well of a Brother, giving generously of our time, or taking responsibility for the work that sustains this place.

Of humility, Franklin wrote simply, “Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” However we understand those figures, his point is clear enough: humility is not a weakness. It is disciplined strength. Humility is the willingness to learn, to listen, to serve, and to recognize that none of us is a perfect ashlar. Each of us still has the odd rough or superfluous part of our stone that needs chipped away. 

As we celebrate 250 years of the United States and 175 years of Oregon Freemasonry, let’s remember that institutions endure only when people practice the virtues that make them worthy of endurance. Nations, Grand Lodges, and local Lodges alike depend on the character of those who inherit them.

May we be sincere in our speech, just in our actions, and humble in our service. And may the work we do together help ensure that those who come after us have something strong, good, and beautiful to inherit.

Fireworks Fundraiser

We have 90 slots across 30 shifts for the fireworks booth fundraiser that need to be staffed. 


As of 6:00 PM on 6/11, we had 62 of them filled. So about ⅓ are still open. We will be receiving the product on the afternoon of 6/23 and will be open daily through 7/4 (with a, probably, short post holiday sales window on 7/5).  If we are required to have overnight staffing of the booth, WB Will has offered to take 1/2 of the night each night if we can get commitments to split the shift each day. Follow this link to sign-up Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

June Stated Communication Highlights

  • Grand Master Richard “Dick” Varner will be making an official visit to Beaverton 100 on 10/1/26. This will be our first Grand Master visit since Nov of 2023.
  • Fundraising opportunity: tickets for the beach condo raffle are in and ready to sell. Located in Pacific City on the Oregon Coast, this property offers access to hiking and beachcombing as well as visits to Pelican Brewing and other attractions. The property features 3 bedrooms and is dog friendly. Full kitchen, washer and dryer, outdoor gas grill and an outdoor shower. The dates for the stay are Sept 25–27, 2026. The drawing will be held on August 20, 2026. Tickets are $20 each and a max of 200 will be sold. Please contact the secretary at secretary@beavertonmasons.org to arrange to get a sheet to sell or if you’d like to purchase tickets for yourselves.
  • Rentals have slowed a bit for the summer, but we are still getting a bit more than one inquiry per week. Kara has been doing a great job meeting with renters and prospective renters to show or hand over the space. Part of our work with WB Dale Palileo on the lodge website redesign is to make it more visible for potential renters to find and be more friendly toward them.
  • Br Bob Madson reported that we have had 109 total inquiries since the Grand Lodge social media campaign began in December. Most of those were early in the process and only 4 have been received in June so far. We currently have 9 men at various stages of the prospect journey. He also thanked the brothers who have been helping meet with the prospects.
  • At this year’s Grand Lodge Annual Communication only one piece of legislation/resolution did not pass. That was the resolution to change the order of opening the great and lesser lights in our ritual. Three Grand Lodge were granted recognition by our Grand Lodge. They are located in Brazil, Lebanon as well as the Grand Lodge of Prince Hall  Masons in Tennessee. WB Jason Hamblen was appointed to the office of Senior Grand
    Deacon.

Beaverton’s Newest Brother

Beaverton Masonic Lodge welcomed its newest brother James Michael Vaughn. James was initiated on the evening of June 18th with a fine performance by lodge members. He is pictured below with his new lambskin apron and brothers.  Bittick passed to Fellowcraft Brother Entered Apprentice Eric Bittick was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on May 21st.

Bittick passed to Fellowcraft

Brother Entered Apprentice Eric Bittick was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on May 21st
with a great performance by the degree cast.

July Stated Communication Date Change

Our July stated meeting will be moved to July 9 due to the 4th of July holiday. As usual, dinner will be at 6:00pm, followed by our stated meeting at 7:00pm. Dress for July and August will be business casual. No shorts allowed. Please wear shirts with collars.

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June 2026 Trestleboard

From the East

Anderson Campbell, Worshipful Master

Tending the Circle 
One of the first things we learn in Freemasonry is that we are not undertaking this work alone.

We come into the Lodge as individuals, each with our own hopes, questions, and reasons for seeking more light. But from the beginning, Masonry places us as a single point within a circle of relationships. We are bound to one
another as Brethren. We are reminded of
our duties to our families. We are encouraged to be faithful friends, good neighbors, and upright members of the communities in which we live.

The work of Masonry is personal, but it is never merely private.

This month, I find myself thinking about the many circles that surround each of us. At the center is the work of self-improvement, the ongoing labor of becoming better men. But that work immediately extends outward. The man we are becoming is known first by those
closest to us: our spouses and partners and our children. If Masonry makes us more patient in Lodge but not at home, more charitable in speech with Brethren but not with family, more generous in theory but not in practice, then our work remains unfinished.

The circle widens again to include our Brethren. This is the part of the circle we tend most visibly when we gather around the altar, share a meal, sit together in Lodge, practice ritual, visit a Brother who is ill, or simply call someone we have not seen in a while. Brotherhood is not
sustained solely by sentiment; it is sustained by attention, presence, and care.

The circle widens still further to include the families and loved ones who support our Masonic lives. They give of their time, patience, encouragement, and often their labor, whether or not they ever sit in Lodge with us. Our recent Widows, Wives, and Women’s Tea was a beautiful reminder that the life of this Lodge extends beyond the tiled room. The women connected to our Lodge are not incidental to our work. They are part of the larger circle of relationship and care that makes our Lodge what it is.

And finally, the circle extends into the community. Beaverton Masonic Lodge does not exist for itself alone. We sit in the heart of a city, surrounded by neighbors, businesses, schools, families, civic groups, and people who may never know the details of what we do inside the Lodge, but who can still encounter
the character of Masonry through the way we live, serve, and show up. 

To tend the circle is to pay attention to all of these relationships.
It means showing up for degrees because a candidate should feel the weight and warmth of the Brotherhood receiving him.
It means supporting events that welcome our families and friends into the life of the Lodge, like our annual Halloween event and the recent tea mentioned above.
It means giving our time to fundraisers and community facing efforts, both because the Lodge needs money, and because the Lodge needs contact with the world around it.
It means remembering that every Brother is part of a wider web of relationships, and that caring for him often means caring about the people who matter to him.
As we move into June, with Grand Lodge before us, degree work on the calendar, and our fireworks fundraiser quickly approaching, I encourage each of us to ask: what
part of the circle am I tending?
Is there a Brother I need to call? A family member I need to thank? A candidate I need to support? An event I need to show up for? A few hours I can give for the good of the Lodge?
The circle will not tend itself. But when we tend it together, faithfully and joyfully, we strengthen a Brotherhood, a family of families, and a Lodge rooted in its community.
I am grateful to be part of that circle with you

May Stated Communication Highlights

At May’s Stated Communication, Beaverton Lodge received several visitors, including Right Worshipful Brother Daniel de la Rosa, District Deputy for District 10 and sitting Master of Pacific Lodge No. 50; and Brother Goker Ozturk of Yontem Lodge No. 206 under the Grand Lodge of Turkey. 

The Lodge read and accepted a petition for the degrees of Masonry.  Brother Entered Apprentice Eric Bittick demonstrated a fine proficiency in the Entered Apprentice lecture with his coach, Worshipful Brother John Saultz, and was declared proficient by the Worshipful Master. His Fellowcraft Degree was scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 7:00pm.

The Brethren heard updates on rentals, finances, prospects, the building, upcoming events, and the fireworks fundraiser. Rentals continue at a steady pace, and the Grand Lodge social media awareness campaign has generated a significant number of inquiries, with several prospects still active in the West Gate process.  Worshipful Brother Greg Jackson provided Lodge Education on the many forms of service in Masonry, reminding the Brethren that service may take the form of volunteering in the Lodge, supporting a Brother, serving the community, or simply letting a Brother know you are there when needed.

The Lodge was also reminded that June’s Stated Communication will be moved to Thursday, June 11, due to the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.

Widows, Wives, and Women’s Tea Recap

Our Widows, Wives, and Women’s Tea was a great success. Thank you to everyone who attended, helped set up, served, cleaned up, and contributed to making the afternoon warm and welcoming. 

Special thanks go to Worshipful Brother John Saultz and his wife Sherrie for their leadership in bringing this event together. Their care, hospitality, and attention to detail helped create an event that reflected the best of what our Lodge can be: thoughtful, generous, and attentive to the people who surround and support our Masonic lives.

Events like this remind us that the life of the Lodge extends beyond the Brethren alone. Our spouses, partners, families, widows, and friends are part of the broader circle of relationship and care that surrounds Beaverton Lodge.

Reminder: Brothers, please take a moment to log in to Grandview and add your spouse or partner to your member profile. This helps the Lodge better know and care for the families connected to our membership

Grand Lodge Annual Communication

TThe 176th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Oregon will be held June 4–5, 2026, at the Salem Convention Center in Salem.

Details, registration information, schedule, and proposed legislation are available here:
https://oregonfreemasonry.com/annual-communication/

Because of Annual Communication, our June Stated Communication has been moved one week later.

June Stated Communication Date Change

June’s Stated Communication will be held on:
Thursday, June 11
Dinner at 6:00pm
Stated Communication at 7:00pm

This change accommodates the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge on June 4–5. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Lodge Custodian Needed

Beaverton Lodge is in need of one or more Brothers to act as custodian of the Lodge, performing regular light cleaning on a weekly basis and before or after rentals.

This is a paid position, by the hour. If you are interested, please contact the Lodge Secretary, even if you only have limited availability. The work can be split between more than one Brother.

Fireworks Fundraiser Update

Again, this year, Beaverton Masonic Lodge will staff a TNT Fireworks Tent as a fundraiser for the Lodge. Last year, we made a couple thousand dollars and learned a lot. This year, we plan to bring in even more for the Lodge.

The tent will run from June 23 through July 5.

We have a better location this year, near the Buffalo Wild Wings at Lombard and Farmington in Beaverton, and the 250th Fourth of July Celebration is sure to drive more interest.

You can help in two ways. Which will you choose?

Sign Up for Shifts at the Tent
We had a great time last year! Spend a few hours on a few days hanging out with your Brethren and talking with people in the community. No prior experience is needed. We can show you the ropes.

Sign up for shifts here: https://grasshoppersignup.com/s/rvfu0r

Help Us Decorate the Tent

Last year’s tent was large, white canvas. This year, we will give it some pizzazz. Purchase an item or two from the Amazon Wish List. Items will ship to the Worshipful Master’s residence, but your purchase is a donation to the Lodge. We can use these decorations in future years, should we continue this fundraiser.
Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NQOEZCK0CKCN?ref_=wl_share

Paper Bags Needed
We also need Brothers to collect paper bags that we can use to bag merchandise purchased at the fireworks tent. If you have paper grocery bags or other usable paper bags at home, please bring them to the Lodge.

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May 2026 Trestleboard

From the East

WM Anderson Campbell

Anderson Campbell, Worshipful Master

As we move deeper into spring, I want to note that there is a subtle shift that takes place in Lodges about this time every year. The excitement of a new year has passed. The vision we articulated in January is no longer fresh. The seeds we planted in earlier months are no longer just ideas. They have either begun to take root, or they have not.

The month of May, in that sense, is something of a mirror.  It is a moment that reflects back to us what we intended to do and what we have actually done.

At the beginning of the year, it is easy to feel motivated. There is energy in a fresh start. There is clarity in naming a vision. There is a sense of possibility in imagining what could be, but motivation is fleeting. How many of us make personal resolutions the first week of January only to see them dropped and long forgotten by May?  That fresh start energy doesn’t last very long.

Momentum is something else entirely. It is built
over time. It is not created in a single meeting or a single decision, but through repeated action: through showing up, participating, following through, and doing the work, even on the days when we do not particularly feel like it.
If motivation is what gets us started, momentum is what carries us forward.

And this is where the mirror of this season becomes important.

Because by now, each of us has begun to build patterns. We have established rhythms for our year, including personal Masonic rhythms. We have, whether intentionally or not, decided how we will engage with this Lodge and with the
work before us.

So the question is not, “What did I hope this year would be?”

The question is, “What am I actually doing?”

Where have I found myself showing up consistently?

Where have I begun to step forward, take ownership, and contribute to the life of this Lodge?

And just as importantly, where have I drifted?

Where did I begin the year with good intentions, only to find that those intentions have not yet taken root in sustained action?

The good news is this: unlike that fresh start motivational energy, the opportunity to build momentum is not fixed. It can be created at any
point. 

No matter what the first few months of the year have looked like, the opportunity before us now is the same as it was in January, that we can still choose our level of engagement, decide what we will contribute, and how take the next step forward.

For most of us, building momentum first looks
like showing up.

It looks like saying yes when there is work to be
done. 

It looks like choosing one area—ritual, fellowship, fundraising, mentorship, or service—and investing yourself in it with consistency.

It looks like moving from observer to participant.

Our Lodge, as I have said before, is changing.
That change is driven by our collective, sustained effort. By our momentum.

As we approach the midpoint of the year, this is
our opportunity, yours and mine individually and collectively, to look honestly in the mirror, to see clearly what has taken root, and to decide what we will build from here.

So I leave you with this question:

What would it look like—for you—to build momentum in the months ahead?

April Stated Communication Highlights

  • Our Lodge has signed another contract with TNT to sell fireworks this coming Independence Day season.  Fortunately, this time the booth will be in the parking lot near the Buffalo Wild Wings on Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. The expectation of this new location is much more traffic than last year, due to a better location, the fact that this will be the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and that Independence Day this year falls on a Saturday. We will likely need a minimum of 5-6 people to serve the patrons and keep supplies stocked.

 

  • WB Will Erickson gave an educational lecture during the stated meeting on understanding the nature of divinity, titled Clouds In the N-Dimensional Divinity Field. This was a condensed version based on his paper, which elicited a lot of questions and conversation afterward. 

Calendar
Access the full calendar online here!
✦ Every Monday — Monday Morning Coffee, 8-10 AM, Social Hall
✦ May 7th — May Stated Communication, dinner at 6 PM, meeting at 7 P

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April 2026 Trestleboard

From the East:

Anderson Campbell, Worshipful Master

WM Anderson Campbell

One of the interesting things about Lodge life is that most of it happens between meetings.  Stated Communications are important. They give structure to our work, provide a place to conduct the business of the Lodge, and bring us together formally around the altar.  But if you look closely at what truly sustains a Lodge, much of it happens in the spaces between those gatherings.

It happens on Monday mornings over coffee in the Social Hall. It happens during ritual practices, work parties, and informal conversations among Brothers who linger after a meeting. It happens when a few Brethren gather to plan an event, prepare a degree, participate in fundraisers, or check in on a Brother who has been absent.

This year we have tried something a little different by organizing much of our work through committees. Nearly every active member of the Lodge is involved in one or more of these groups, helping to think through the practical questions that keep our Lodge healthy: finances, events, building care, fundraising, community presence, and more.

Like any new approach, it has had mixed results so far. Some committees have found their rhythm quickly. Others are still discovering how best to contribute. That’s perfectly natural.

What matters most is the spirit behind the effort: the recognition that the vitality of a Lodge does not depend on a handful of officers carrying the load, but on many Brothers sharing in the work.

In Masonry we are guided by allegories and metaphors drawn from the craft of building. We build not with bricks and mortar, but with people. Each Mason brings his own character, experience, and effort to the structure we are raising together.  But even the finest stones require something more if they are to become part of a lasting structure.

The time between our meetings is where that work quietly takes place. It is where friendships deepen, where trust grows, and where the bonds of brotherly love and affection are strengthened through shared labor and simple fellowship.

The Stated Communication may organize our work, but the life of the Lodge is found in the relationships that surround it. And it is in those ordinary moments between gatherings that the ties that unite us are most carefully set

March Stated Communication Highlights

At the March Stated Communication, we welcomed Right Worshipful Brother William (“Billy”) Burns, District Deputy of the Grand Master of District #6 of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon, for his official visit.


We received an invitation from the Scottish Rite Valley of Portland to attend the exemplification of the Scottish Rite Entered Apprentice degree which will be held the 30th of May at the Scottish Rite center in downtown Portland. Doors will open at 11 AM. The Feast of the Manifesto will begin at noon and costs $33.85. The Entered Apprentice Degree will begin at 2 PM and costs $100.00. There is also a Fellowship Social after the degree from 5-7 PM after the degree. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

There will be a statewide training March 21st where the Grand Lodge has selected 8 lodges throughout the state to host. The nearest for Beaverton Masonic Lodge 100 is Washington 46 in south east Portland. 

Also on March 21st, Beaverton’s own Worshipful Brother Will Erickson will be giving a lecture at Esoterika Lodge 227 on understanding the nature of divinity. The lecture is open to the public and starts at 5 PM and there is a $10 suggested donation. There is also a stated meeting afterwards at 7 PM open to Master Masons only

Happy Anniversary WB George Albrecht

Beaverton Masonic Lodge’s own Worshipful Brother George Albrecht celebrated his 30th Masonic anniversary on March 20th.  He is pictured here between District Deputy Right Worshipful Brother Billy Burns and Worshipful Master Anderson Campbell.

Beaverton’s Youngest Master Mason

Beaverton Masonic Lodge’s youngest Master Mason Craig Stark passed his proficiency at March’s stated communication. He is pictured on the right with District Deputy Right Worshipful Brother Billy Burns and Worshipful Master Anderson Campbell on the left presenting him with his lambskin apron.

Calendar

Access the full calendar online from the Calendar page!

  • Every Monday — Monday Morning Coffee, 8-10 AM, Social Hall.
  • April 2nd — April Stated Communication, dinner at 6 PM, meeting at 7 PM.
  • April 17th & 18th — Scottish Rite Spring Reunion.
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December 2025 Trestleboard

From the East

WM Anderson Campbell

December is a month of endings and beginnings. We close the calendar year, install new officers, and take stock of the work behind us and the work ahead. This year brings a unique moment for reflection: after 114 years of non-repeating Masters, the Brethren have elected a man to serve a second term in the East.

While that breaks a long tradition, it also signals where we are as a Lodge and where we are choosing to go. We are rebuilding, reimagining, and renewing our foundations. We are strengthening our finances, improving our building, deepening our ritual, and clarifying the kind of Lodge we want to become.

This choice also highlights a lesson we have been learning together: tradition exists to serve the Lodge, not the other way around. The non-repeating line remains a proud part of our story, but the point of the story has always been the same: making Masons.

I see this December not as an ending, but as a waypoint. Through Craft-Driven Conversations, ritual work, fundraising, building improvements, and the steady work of showing up for each other, we have been planting and tending. We are starting to see the fruit of that labor, and the field is still full of possibility.

As we look ahead, three things feel especially important:

    1. Building on the progress we’ve made.
      We’ve taken significant strides in ritual excellence, fraternity, finances, and Lodge improvements. The next year will ask us to deepen that work further.
    2. Strengthening leadership at every level.
      This year has shown us that sustainable leadership comes not from a single progressive line, but from a mix of Brothers old and new, ready and willing to serve according to ability, interest, and temperament. The conversations we’ve begun about officer development will continue into the coming year.
    3. Renewing our shared commitment to the vision we’ve been crafting.
      The best version of Beaverton Lodge isn’t something handed down from the East; it is something we discern and build together. That work continues, and it will shape everything we do in 2026.

At the December Stated Communication I will share a short end-of-year address and, in January, outline how this next year will carry our work forward. For now, I simply want to say thank you. 

November Stated Communication Highlights

The November Stated Communication again saw the altar draped. This time for Worshipful Brother Art Herring, raised a Master Mason in our Lodge in October 1980, served in the East in Beaverton Masonic Lodge 1986 (and subsequently three times elsewhere), and passed away in October 2025. 

We welcomed Right Worshipful Brother William (“Billy”) Burns, District Deputy of the Grand Master of District #6 of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon, for his official visit. RWB Billy brought us greetings from the Grand Master, Marc Strong. RWB’s remarks encouraged us to do what we can to support the Masonic youth groups with our time and talent, in addition to our treasure.  

November also saw us conduct our annual elections and we welcomed in the 2026 officers, whose term will begin on St. John the Evangelist Day (see “New Officers and Upcoming Installation” below). 

The Lodge was treated to a time of education by WB Hunter Bronson, PM of Beaverton 100. He presented a paper he’d authored on Compassion in Freemasonry. He challenged us to think about the differences between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Through a careful exposition of Masonic teachings, he concluded that the call for Masons is to move beyond sympathy, past empathy, and be men of compassion.

New Officers and Upcoming Installation

Another year, another round of elections come and gone! Here are the elected and appointed officers for 2026:

    • Worshipful Master: Anderson Campbell
    • Senior Warden: Tom Binkerd
    • Junior Warden: John Saultz
    • Secretary: Dale Jacobs
    • Treasurer: Steve Barkley
    • Senior Deacon: Bob Madson
    • Junior Deacon: Kyle Lynn
    • Senior Steward: Dameon Martin
    • Junior Steward: George Albrecht
    • Chaplain: Bob Ahrens
    • Marshal: Billy Burns
    • Historian: Brian Smalley
    • Tyler: Joe Miluso

The Installation of Officers will be held Saturday, December 6 at 3pm at Beaverton Masonic Lodge with a reception to follow. As is our custom, the installation is open to the public and we encourage you to attend with friends and family.

Fellowcraft Degree: Stark

On November 13, Brother Craig Stark was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. It was a fine degree with all parts filled by members of Beaverton Masonic Lodge. Brother Brian Smalley did an excellent job with the lecture of the degree. Visiting brethren remarked at the quality of the degree work by the entire cast.

“Ted” Talk on Symbolism in the Lodge Room

On November 20, the Brethren were treated to our very own version of a TED Talk as the Illustrious Ted Balestreri, 33º, Past Master of Beaverton 100 gave a talk about the various symbols that adorn Beaverton’s Lodge room. 17 Masons, including several from Friendship Lodge, listened as WB Ted gave an oral history of how the Lodge room came to look like it does presently. Much of the work was undertaken by Ted, Don Martin, and Ken Lafler. The repeated refrain from Ted was the encouragement to seek the deeper meaning in Masonic symbols, whether found in our ritual or in our spaces.

Pay Online

You can now make donations to the Lodge online, using the Lodge’s Square account:

Prepay for Dinner 
Donate to the Solomon Trust 
Donate to the Century Trust 

Each item includes a processing fee, calculated into the total amount, so that your entire gift is received by the Lodge.

Calendar

Access the full calendar online here!

    • Every Monday – Monday Morning Coffee, 8-10am – Social Hall
    • December 4 – Stated Communication, 6pm Dinner, 7pm Meeting
    • December 6 – Officer’s Installation, 3pm (open to the public)
    • December 30 – Officer’s Meeting, 7pm, Library