Table Lodge & Workshop | Saturday June 15
Join us for our annual Table Lodge - this year with guest speaker Brother and Masonic author John Nagy! Brother John will also conduct the “Building Better Builders” workshop during the day. The workshop is for Master Masons only and the Table Lodge is for all degrees. Come to the workshop and stay for the Table Lodge! About the workshop:
Masons need transformational Masonic education! Masonic author and Brother John S. Nagy has created a series of books, articles and videos showing the Work that brings forth Masonic mastery. His combined works now assist Masons toward better recognizing, understanding and executing the Masonic Work to which Freemasonry alludes. This workshop brings to Masons a much clearer and cleaner understanding of what is required to Build Better Builders . The workshop covers:
- The actual EA, FC & MM Work
- The basis behind the Work
- The transformation and results that Masons who do the Work can expect
The first 50 to register for the Table Lodge receive a commemorative firing glass! CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS BEFORE June 5
When: Saturday June 15
10:00am - 4:30pm, Workshop (lunch provided)
6:00pm - 9:00pm, Table Lodge Dinner
Location: Zal Gaz Grotto Club, 2070 W Stadium Blvd Ann Arbor, MI, 48103 map
Come to either or both! Tickets sold HERE till June 5!
Download a flyer HERE
Workshop: Master Masons Only!
Table Lodge: Tiled event ~ All degrees ~ Suits and ties
Master’s Letter | “Do it…now!” - May 2013
We all recently went through a really tough week. The tragedy of the Boston bombings and the horrible industrial accident in West Texas bring to mind how unpredictable our day to day lives can be.
We tend to think that there is always tomorrow to say all the things we wanted to say, should have said, or to do the things we wanted to do. That terrible week reminds us however, that we don’t always get to set life’s timetable.
“The years of all of us are short, our lives precarious.
Our days and nights go hurrying on and there is scarcely time to do the little that we might.”
As Masons, we learn in the sublime degree not to fear death, but also that the Builder encourages us, and expects us, to perform our tasks and complete our work while it is still day. Yet, death leaves behind the living, and we sometimes feel regret for the things we meant to say or do when death takes someone close to us.
“Yet we find time for bitterness, for petty treason and evasion.
What can we do to stretch our hearts enough to lose their littleness?”
We learn from the working tools that during our life and labor, to be true to the tenants of friendship morality and brotherly love. Now is the time to practice those tenants. Not tomorrow. Not when you are in a better place, or more able. We are Master Masons, our designs are there on the trestleboard. We are called to implement them.
“Here we are – all of us – all upon this planet, bound together in a common destiny,
Living our lives between the briefness of the daylight and the dark.”
Reach out and grab a hand; someone needs you. Tell that person today, “I love you.” Take down the old walls which serve to divide us and prepare the foundations of the building which includes us all.
“Kindred in this, each lighted by the same precarious, flickering flame of life, how does it happen that we are not kindred in all things else?
How strange and foolish are these walls of separation that divide us!”
The men and woman of Boston and Texas have seen the worst and best that life has to show, and shared their trial and triumph with us. Let’s take from their story the urgency to do what we need to do, now – not tomorrow.
Brothers - be sure to get our upcoming Table Lodge date of June 15 on your calendar. A Table Lodge is a wonderful thing: eating, toasting and a lodge meeting rolled into one! This year, Masonic author and coach, John Nagy, joins us as guest speaker. Brother John will also conduct a workshop during the day entitled ”Building Better Builders”.
You won’t want to miss this! Details will follow soon, but SAVE THE DATE and invite your other Mason friends.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Bob Hospadaruk, Master
N.B: The words above in quotes are from the poem “Strange and Foolish Walls” by A. Powell Davies
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
MAY 1 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
Education: “The Symbolism of the Square and Compasses”
MAY 15 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
MAY 22 - Master’s Table Dinner | TBA
JUNE 15 - Table Lodge and Workshop | With masonic author John Nagy!
HIGHLIGHT | April events
Happy Hour Event!
Bring your Wife, Girlfriend, or Partner out for happy hour with the Brothers of AAF262! Typically the 4th Wednesday of each month is reserved our Master’s Table dinner, but this month we would like to change it up a bit by inviting the special people in our life to join us for an informal social hour. We will not be having dinner, but many people will be going out afterwards. Also, if you are not a member but interested in Ann Arbor Freemasonry, you and yours are invited too!
Where: Conor O’Neills - 318 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Map
When: Wednesday, April 24, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Contact socialevents@aaf262.org with any questions. See you there!
Masonic Memorial Service: Past Master David Gray
“From time immemorial it has been the custom among the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, at the request of a brother, or of his family, to perform the last rites with the usual ceremonies of the craft…”
David Gray, P.M., was Marine Corps veteran, and police officer at the A2 Police Department. He was the Past Master of Ann Arbor-Fraternity Lodge 262, and Past Monarch of the Zal Gaz Grotto #34. As he served his community, let us fulfill our obligation give to him what is due.
Where: Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Map
When: Saturday, April 27, 1:00pm
Note: Please arrive 15 minutes early, the Masonic service should last about 30 minutes. Dark suit and tie please.
REPORT | Pittsfield Grange Work Day!
Intrepid Brothers braved the cold and mud to volunteer last weekend helping the Grangers with Spring Clean-up. A good deed, and fun too!
Trying to look busy:
Watch out Lee!
Sharing a garbage bag is TRUE Brotherhood.
Brother Tom is “Master of the Bobcat”…
Supervising or taking a break?
Thanks to Erik, Jon, Greg, Tom, Lee, Rich, Walter and Yves. Job well done!
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
APR 17 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
APR 24 - Happy Hour Event | Conner o Neils | 6:00pm
APR 27 - Memorial Service: PM David Gray | 1:00 pm, Nie Funeral, W. Liberty
May 1 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
Master’s Letter | “Glory Days” - April 2013
At our last meeting, we raised two Brothers to the degree of a Master Mason. Our lodge room is a rented space at the Grange Hall, so we have to set-up and take down everything for our meeting. It is impressive how the Tyler, Stewards, and other members work together for our mutual benefit. The lodge is ready when I arrive, thank you Brothers!
The Junior Warden cooks for us before every meeting. It is always delicious and his announcements about the menu make us all laugh. (For some reason, “manicotti” is an inside joke, though we’ve never had it) At tonight’s MM dinner there is a special touch: goat shaped cookies!
We have some guests at this meeting. There is a Master from another local lodge; later I joke that if he keeps coming, he should apply for membership! And there is a Senior Warden from another lodge in town. During his introduction to the lodge he says something like “I always feel like I am at home with 262.”
No Brother… here, you ARE at home.
I try my best to learn all of the Master’s ritual parts, but I’m not completely there yet. No problem, the Past Masters are here to help. They are always here, and always help, I want to let them know how much I love and appreciate their dedication. Our Junior Deacon is away on business, another PM takes his place. The Masonic experience and support from our Past Master corp is GOLDEN.
The two Brothers were raised well. While I watch, I’m recollecting the night of my degree and how our conferral tonight is a mix of old and new, and how it keeps the obligation fresh in my mind. Yes, the lectures seem long sometime when we are so used to getting our information in 140 character tweets or 10 second sound bites. But the retelling of our story helps cement the tenants of the Craft. It is important to come back to it.
Afterwards, the lodge is put away and we enjoy each others fellowship downstairs at the Grange. I am assured that each Brother returns home content in a good night’s work at the quarry.
Last month a Brother was recollecting about the “Glory Days” of our lodge. I had to say “Excuse me Brother, these ARE our glory days”!
News: I declare our next regular meeting, April 3, and every regular meeting thereafter, as a “Rusty Nail Meeting” Are you a Brother who lives locally but has not been to lodge for sometime? Perhaps you worry that you will not follow proper protocol during the meeting because you are “rusty”? No problem! Let me know you are coming or seek me out during dinner, a few introductions later and a little coaching – you’ll be back in form! Everyone here wants to meet a new or old friend.
Keep these special events on your family radar: we have a “Happy Hour” event April 24, and a May 10 visit to a Tiger’s ball game. Both are for Brothers and their significants. See you there!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Bob Hospadaruk
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
APR 3 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
APR 10 - Book Club: “Masonic Enlightenment” by Michael Poll
APR 17 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
APR 24 - Happy Hour Event | TBA
APR 27 - Memorial Service: PM David Gray | Nie Funeral, W. Liberty
