Unity Lodge no. 198 of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington is home of the North Bend Masons. Founded in 1912 in North Bend, Washington, Unity Lodge 198 is central to the North Bend community.
Unity Lodge 198 is associated with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, District 7.
Unity Lodge No. 198 is more than just a building on East North Bend Way; it is the spirit and soul of Brothers who live by the ideals championed in Freemasonry and illustrated in the Declaration of Independence. It is a place where men of all races and beliefs may gather to share in fellowship, self-improvement and service to community.
Fellowship between Brothers according to Masonic principles builds strong and lasting bonds, a keen sense of fellowship and pride in our Lodge.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Unity Lodge Brothers work together to promote the Masonic values of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth in ourselves by actively developing our knowledge of these principles and by sharing them in our community.
We understand and practice what it means to be a Mason inside and outside of the lodge. We support our Brothers, families, widows, our community and schools by donating time and money. In this way Unity Lodge contributes to the life of the twenty-first century man.
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One of Masonry’s customs is not to solicit members; men must seek membership on their own through a Mason they know in Unity Lodge. The easiest way to begin the process of becoming a Freemason is to contact a Mason at Unity Lodge. (2b1 ask 1).
Masonic membership in Washington state is open to men age 18 or older who meet the qualifications and standards of character and intention, and who believe in a Supreme Being. Men of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome. For details see Qualifications.
You will complete a petition for membership with the help of a Mason willing to sponsor you. After the Mason submits your application, several members of the Unity Lodge will interview you so they can learn more about you and so that you can learn more about Freemasonry. If the interviewers are favorable, they present your application to the Lodge for a vote. If the vote is affirmative, you receive the Entered Apprentice degree - the first degree of Freemasonry. When you advance through the next two degrees, Fellowcraft and Master Mason you are full member of the Fraternity.
Six Steps to Becoming a Freemason
See Six Steps to Becoming a Freemason in this website to learn more about joining Unity Lodge.
Request more information
For more information about Freemasonry or to learn about being made a Mason at Unity #198, send a message to info@unity198.org.
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Each year the North Bend Masons, men of Unity Lodge No. 198, present a vocational scholarship in the memory of George Gaines, a good citizen of this community.
Brother Gaines worked to help his community and supported public education for all in the valley.
Here are a few of the things that he did:
- Donated land and buildings for the Community Church in North Bend.
- Donated the land for the library in North Bend.
- Planted many flowers and shrubs around the area. One summer he planted rhododendrons from North Bend to the Snoqualmie summit, 25 miles of rhododendrons along the old Sunset Highway.
When the Gaines family donated funds to the North Bend Masonic Lodge in George's name, it was natural that the Lodge would establish a scholarship fund to honor him. That fund is The Gaines Family and Unity Lodge No. 198 Memorial Scholarship Trust.
The lodge uses income from the trust to provide scholarships for vocational training to graduates of the Snoqualmie Valley and Riverview school districts.
North Bend Masons chose to support vocational training because they believe that everyone has the right to earn a living to enable them to support themselves, and, later on, their families. Not everyone cares to become and engineer, an MBA, or a PHD. A person can make a good living in a job in a trade.
Requirements
- Age 16 - 30
- Attendance at either King County School District 407 (RIverview: Cedarcrest High School) or 410 (Snoqualmie Valley: Mt Si High School or Two Rivers School)
- Application to a trade or vocational school
For more information
Download the Gaines Scholarship application.
To ask about the Gaines Family and Unity Lodge No. 198 Memorial Scholarship send a message to info@unity198.org.
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On Saturday, August 17, 2013, members of North Bend Mason’s Unity Lodge celebrated a century of service to the Valley with a moment of renewal. North Bend Masons struck a special coin for the occasion.
The lodge had been deconsecrated and darkened before then Grand Master of Washington, Bruce E. Vesper, ceremonially rededicated it for another 100 years of service with a symbolic presentation of oil, grain and wine.
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Officers
UnpublishedWorshipful Master | W Jaime Speicher | master@unity198.org |
Senior Warden | W Ken Hearing | senior.warden@unity198.org |
Junior Warden | W Michael Cramer | junior.warden@unity198.org |
Secretary | W Dean Markley | secretary@unity198.org |
Treasurer | Bro. Samuel Allen McConnell | treasurer@unity198.org |
Senior Deacon | Bro. Joshua Coutts | senior.deacon@unity198.org |
Junior Deacon | Bro. Bryan Barker | junior.deacon@unity198.org |
Chaplain | Bro. Chad Kilburn |
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Worshipful Master Bryan Barker
Bryan Barker
Master for 2024-25
Unity Lodge #198
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Members pay annual dues or dinner through PayPal or by check
Please note, paypal charges a small fee for the transaction which is added to the price when you pay through paypal.
- 2025 Dues & Grand Lodge Assesment: $131
- 2025 Grand Lodge Assessment only for life members: $31
- Dinner: $15
- Dinner: $20
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Unity Lodge No. 198 officers contact information
Worshipful Master | WM Bryan Barker |
master@unity198.org |
Senior Warden | WB. Bro. Joshua Coutts |
senior.warden@unity198.org |
Junior Warden | Bro. Samuel McConnell | junior.warden@unity198.org |
Secretary | VWB Dean Markley | secretary@unity198.org |
Treasurer | WB Kenneth Hearing |
treasurer@unity198.org |
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Unity Lodge 198
North Bend, Washington
Contact us
To request general information about Unity Lodge or Freemasonry in general, send a message to info@unity198.org.
You can also direct a message to the Master of the Lodge.
Mailing address
PO Box 563
North Bend, Washington 98045-056
Feedback about the website
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On Saturday, August 17, 2013, members of North Bend Mason’s Unity Lodge celebrated a century of service to the Valley with a moment of renewal. North Bend Masons struck a special coin for the occasion.
The lodge had been deconsecrated and darkened before then Grand Master of Washington, Bruce E. Vesper, ceremonially rededicated it for another 100 years of service with a symbolic presentation of oil, grain and wine.
- Details
- Written by Admin
Subcategories
Photos
Photos relating to the Lodge
The initiate
Musings of an initiate - one who has not yet learned the basics of Freemasonry and who brings a lifetime of independent development from a variety of social and religious experiences. Not an outsider in spirit, but yet to become an insider in fact.
These comments may show simple ignorance as well as, possibly, important insights to sharing Freemasonry with our contemporaries.
A Mason's Musings
In following posts I muse about the practices of Masonry as I have observed them over three years.