Everett Lodge # 137,
            Free & Accepted Masons of Washington
    234 Olympic Blvd
   Everett Washington, 98203                       History of Everett Lodge No. 137
Americans revel in magnanimity of numbers, but our ancient brethren held that a Lodge with too large a membership was a handicap.  As with most cities in their early years, Everett had but one Masonic Lodge, Peninsular, the 95th formed in the State of Washington.  Their membership reached a point where some members thought it was advisable to form another lodge.  So, on October 4, 1903, ten Master Masons met to discuss the matter.  These Masons were M. M Rose, A.E. Thompson, H.W. Holmes, W.C.Koltz, B.W. Sherwood, W.M. Leise, William Sheller, A.E. Curtis, A.O. Solberg and R. Huston.  Brothers Rose, Thompson and Holmes were selected to be a committee to prepare an application to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for a dispensation for a new lodge.  It was decided to name the new lodge after the city of Everett, which had taken its name from Everett Colby, son of Charles L. Colby, friend and associate of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.  They then adjourned until October 18, 1903.  At that date a properly prepared petition was presented and adopted by the 25 percent.  Wm. H. Ross was suggested to the Grand Lodge as the first Master; A.E. Thompson, Senior Warden and H.W. Holmes, Junior Warden.  They were to request Peninsular Lodge to recommend to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge that the proposed petition be granted.  At the next meeting, November 26, 1903, those assembled learned that Peninsular Lodge had acted favorably and the petition had been dispatched to the Grand Lodge.  On February 4, 1904, Wm. H. Ross gaveled the meeting to order and read a message from the Most Worshipful Grand Master Charles Duncan Atkins, who expressed his pleasure to grant the prayer for dispensation.  Thomas M. Reed signed the letter as the Grand Secretary.  With this the Lodge was instituted as Everett Lodge, the 137^th child of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Washington.  The first meeting of the Lodge under dispensation was held February 8, 1904.  Eight petitions for the degrees and two affiliations were read.  The By-laws Committee presented the results of their labors and the report was adopted.  An initiation fee of $60 was specified.  From its birth the Lodge was busy.  The next point of great importance came on July 14, 1904, when a special communication of Grand Lodge was opened in Everett by Past Grand Master John Arthur and Everett Lodge No. 137 was constituted with 33 charter members present.  Bills presented at the special communication of constitution amounted to $62.35.  Rent for two meetings for the month, $50;  aprons $40.80;  paraphernalia, $54.25; and refreshments, $3.50.  Later information indicates that sometimes they adjourned to a restaurant for a meal, which cost the Lodge from $35 to $40.

 A letter dated May 6, 1906 from the Most Worshipful Grand Master of California expressed appreciation and thanks for the quick response by Everett Lodge for relief to San Francisco’s earthquake victims.  $50 was sent.  Some years were very busy.  On July 15, 1908, 12 petitions were read.  Many meetings had two, three, four petitions, with affiliates from many jurisdictions.  Over the years the lodge has been honored by the appointments of four members as Deputies of the Grand Master for District No. 8 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Washington.  These were V.W.B. Charles D. Hester, 1934-36; V.W.B. J LeRoy French, 1942-45; V.W.B. Carl K. Adams, 1961-63l and V.W.B. Fred Topp, 1968-70.  From the memoirs of Worshipful Brother George Davis Thompson we learn that during the first few years the degree work was conglomeration of many jurisdictions.  This was because the members from those jurisdictions conducted the work, of course, as they had learned it, accounting for the minute differences, which must have been very interesting.  The basic principles of Masonry, however, are the same the world over.

 During the life of the Lodge, 93 Masters have conducted its affairs through the Depression, periods of prosperity and several wars (including two World Wars), all resulting in variation in the size of Lodge membership and never having a Master returning to the East.  At the time of Everett Lodge’s birth the Masonic Temple was located at the southeast corner of Colby Avenue and Wall Street.  Later a “civic” building was built at Wetmore and Everett Avenues, by popular subscription.  When the question of where the title to the property should be vested and private ownership was revealed, many of the subscriptions were withdrawn.  There was a struggle to complete the building and the end result was bankruptcy.  The Masonic Temple Corporation bought it out of bankruptcy, remodeled it to fit their needs and, in1929 Everett Lodge moved in.  The temple, through the efforts of Senator Henry M. Jackson, was placed on the list of National Historical Monuments.  The building at Wetmore and Everett Ave. was sold in 1992 and Everett 137 took up temporary residence in Marysville, renting space from Crystal 122 while looking for a new building.  A new building was found at 234 Olympic Blvd.  Renovation was completed mostly by members of the craft and Everett 137 moved into the new lodge building in 1994.  A cornerstone laying ceremony was conducted to christen the new Lodge with M.W.B. Kenneth S. Robinson (Grand Master) present to oversee the work. In 1951 our good brother, John Ewing presented the present Bible to Everett Lodge in memory of his wife.  46 masters have autographed its flyleaf at the first meeting after their installation.

 The real worker, largely responsible for the success of any lodge, is the Secretary.  It is almost phenomenal that in the first 94 years only 11 secretaries have held that office in Everett Lodge. Statisticians may average this to be a little under nine years each, but not so.  Some served only one or two years.  The victor in the marathon of office holding was Worshipful Brother William Moody Aymar.  He petitioned the Lodge in 1911 during the term of W.B. George Davis Thompson, forming a firm friendship that lasted the rest of their lives.  W.B. Aymar was raised February 19, 1912.  He was elected Secretary for the years 1914, 1915 and 1916.  He accepted the office of Junior Warden only after being assured that W.B. Thompson would be Secretary until he finished his term as Master. He was again elected Secretary in 1919 and continued uninterrupted until signing his last set of minutes November 25, 1963, having served for a total of 47 years.  V.W.B. Fredrick George Topp, who then served for 14 years, succeeded him.  W.B. Donald W. Rose has also sat in the chair of secretary for 15 years until 1995 when medical reasons forced him to leave the office until his timely return in 1997. (These three brethren have accounted for 76 years of secretary-ship of the Lodge).

 Members of Everett Lodge have been prominent in business, the professions and public service; in fact, all walks of life.  At one time the entire Everett School board was comprised of members of Everett Lodge.  Near the end of the Commissioner form of city government for Everett, two of the Commissioners were members of Everett No. 137. The roll has contained at least two Chiefs of Police.

 The Lodge has entertained visitors from many foreign lands.  Further international goodwill was developed in 1964 by W.B. Frank T. Whitchurch, Master; W.B. Ralph L. Leyde, then Senior Warden and W.B. Lynn Bjerke, then Junior Warden, in bringing to fruition the bi-annual visitations to Prospect Lodge No.172 - AF&AM in British Columbia, Canada.  These visitations have resulted in the establishment of very deep and warm friendships between the brethren of the respective lodges.  Their ladies, having participated in the social events of these visitations, have also shared in this fraternal friendship that continues to this day.  By way of public relations, the March 29, 1979 issue of the Everett Herald column “25 Years Ago,” reminded the public that Everett Masons contributed to the city’s then “Garden City” by planting shrubs and spring flowers about their building and in 1997 the presentation of a portrait of our late Brother and Senator Henry M. Jackson to Henry M. Jackson High School.

Masons have been taught, from of old, to be of unselfish service to humanity. Long may it continue to be.  

Researched by WB Dean L. Smyth
Worshipful Master of Everett Lodge #137, 1997
Read in Lodge on March 10, 1997

“At the time of its 100th Year Anniversary, Everett Lodge No.137 have not yet installed into the office as Worshipful Master any of its members, more than once. One Hundred Years, One Hundred Masters, a proud tradition we hope to continue.                                Past Masters of Everett Lodge # 137
Update-  2006
With the appointment of VWB G. Santy Lascaon, the number of District Deputy Grand Masters appointed from the lodge becomes 5.
Everett Lodge has maintained an active Internet presence for six months. As of this update, we can attribute 2 new members and numerous inquires, as a direct result of the WEB site.
Everett Lodge remains the only Lodge in the district never to have re-elected a previous Past Master of the Lodge. In addition, there are no Past Masters currently serving as Wardens or Deacons.

                                                                                                                         
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