Two Masonic Lodges merge at ceremony in Shoreline

Two Masonic Lodges merge
MarTeam Photography

By Matthew J. Appel, Secretary, Mill Creek Lodge No. 243

At two pm on Saturday the 30th, at the Scottish Rite in Shoreline, two south Snohomish County institutions merged to move forward into the future as one.

Two Masonic Lodges, Robert Burns No. 243, founded in Alderwood Manor in 1921, and Genesis No. 305, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last summer, merged.

The ceremony was presided over by the state-wide leader of the fraternity, Warren Schoeben, and attended by approximately 250 Brothers and friends from across the state, as well as some who traveled from California and Oregon.

“We are excited that this consolidation will combine the best aspects of both Lodges and enable us to do more together than we ever could apart,” said Brent Arnold, who was installed Master of the consolidated Lodge at the ceremony.

The new Lodge will be known as Mill Creek Lodge No. 243, and will meet at the Edmonds Masonic Center at 515 Dayton St on the third Tuesday of each month.

Brent Arnold is installed as Master of the newly formed Mill Creek Lodge No. 243
Photo courtesy of MarTeam Photography 

 

The consolidated Lodge will have about 200 members, including those in the Snohomish County area and others living throughout the U.S.

Robert Burns Lodge has been known in recent years as the organizer of the Turkey Trot 5k to benefit the Lynnwood Food Bank, and Genesis Lodge hosted an annual golf tournament for its scholarship fund. Both Lodges also participate in numerous other local and state-wide activities. Together the merged Lodge will continue in these efforts, and seek more opportunities to benefit the community, while continuing to make its members better men.

Free and Accepted Masons of Washington was founded in 1858, and teaches and inspires its members to be better men and citizens through its symbols and lessons. Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternity.