What’s Happening at 262?
We’ve had a busy Spring season at 262. There are 8 new Master Masons this year so far and we are on track to begin initiating new Entered Apprentices this June. It is truly important and good work!
Besides our busyregular meetings and degree work, we’ve been enjoying our monthly “Master’s Table” events on each 4th Wednsday of the month. This dinner takes place at a different restaurant each month. It’s great to try out different venues, some better than others (last month’s location shall remain nameless) but the fellowship and discussion is always the best! If you haven’t attended this event recently you are missing out, and it will continue throughout the Summer even when the lodge is dark. Keep your eye on the Trestlboard. Happy Birthday WB Cors!
The lodge had been storing some of it’s historic artifacts in the basement of our Illustrious Brother Justin Krasnoff PM 33rd. Necessity has caused us to move them to a climate controlled storage facility for safe keeping. There are many intersting items that someday we’ll all get to see. Here are a few gems:
Officer Line 1920. See the flag with stars? It is a Service Flag
75th Lodge anniversary presentation from Golden Rule Lodge
Brothers who served (WWII?)
The tools of a Past Master
Our Past Master from 1898, we have a long and great history here at 262!
Next month, the Brothers will gather for a very special event called the “Table Lodge” on June 23. From time immemorial, Freemasons have enjoyed meeting about a “Festive Board” loaded with the fruits of their labor. Our Table Lodge places a special emphasis on the Summer Solstice, and the day of a patron Saint of Masonry, St. John the Baptist. Be sure to save the date and check the this site for upcoming details.
See you at lodge…
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
MAY 30 - Book Club- “A Pilgrim’s Path” | Location: Br Clark’s house
JUNE 6 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
JUNE 13 - Family Game Night | Zal Gaz Grotto
JUNE 20 - Special Communication [EA] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
JUNE 23 - Table Lodge | Zal Gaz Grotto
JUNE 27 - Master’s Table Dinner | Location: TBD
Master’s Letter | April 2012
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Justin offered a moving and funny tribute to our outgoing Junior Past Master recalling the leadership that Brian Cors has shown over the years and he paid tribute to the numerous brothers who have joined our lodge due to the example of Brian Cors PM. I would like to thank my dear brother for the privilege I have had to serve with him over the past several years. Additionally, his guidance since I have taken the chair has proved extremely valuable. Brother Cors is truly a gentleman, a scholar, and a good judge of beers.
This year brother Oscar Ortiz was chosen to receive the Mason of the Year award. Brother Ortiz is truly deserving of this award. Oscar’s first step into the lodge began when he saw a Masonic ring on the finger of Brian Cors PM, upon which Oscar excitedly and exuberantly stated, “Hey I want to be a Mason!!!” Last year Oscar served very diligently as a steward who repeatedly stepped up to plan, prepare, and serve our lodge’s repast in the absence of our JW. Brother Ortiz has always been an active participant of lodge, and his smiling face is always present at every regular, degree, and practice session. I know that Oscar is a man on which the lodge can depend. Congratulations to Brother Oscar Ortiz on earning this distinguished award.
Last but definitely not least, the Membership Award this year was given to Justin Krasnoff PM for his long-standing service to the lodge. Brother Krasnoff has not only served as Master of the lodge, but he has served in the office three times, thus earning him the distinctive title of Justin Triemegistus. When I recollect my first visit to Fraternity Lodge, it is the joyous and jovial voice of Brother Krasnoff that first comes to mind. Brother Krasnoff made me feel like I belonged in the lodge and like I was among friends. Thank you Brother Krasnoff for your distinguished service and devotion to the craft. This award has been a long time in coming, and it is well deserved.
Thanks to all the brothers who participated in the awards dinner, and for all of your contributions to the lodge.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Clinton Bartholomew WM
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
APR 18 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
APR 25 - Master’s Table Dinner | Location: Roger Monks
MAY 2 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
MAY 11 - Family Game Night | Zal Gaz Grotto
MAY 16 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
CONCERT | Works by Bro. Steven Simpson
Brethren and Friends,
This Sunday at 7:30PM, our Musician - Dr. Steven Simpson - will have his works performed at the Kerrytown Concert House. Matthew Coley and Sonic Inertia will be performing, and it should be an evening not to be missed!
Come support our Brother at this event that is showcasing his original work. And for those who haven’t been to Lodge lately - Brother Steven also continues to compose and perform original music for our Lodge ceremonies.
EVENT INFORMATION:
Matthew Coley and Sonic Inertia
Performing works of Dr. Steven Simpson
Kerrytown Concert House
Sunday, April 15th 7:30PM
CLICK HERE FOR INFO AND TICKETS!
Master’s Table Dinner | March 28 2012
Brothers and friends,
Wednesday March 28 6:30pm - Ann Arbor Fraternity No. 262 will be having our monthly Master’s Table Dinner. This monthly, casual dinner is open to Masons of all degrees, and to those that are interested in joining a Lodge.
This month, the Master’s Table dinner is at THE WURST BAR! This is a new bar/grill in Ypsilanti - where Theo’s Bar used to be. It’s a vibrant, fun new place - and they make ALL of their sausages and burgers in-house! It’s vegetarian-friendly, as well. There is also an amazing selection of beverages there.
LOCATION:
The Wurst Bar
705 West Cross Street
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.485.6720
http://www.wurstbarypsi.com
CALENDAR INFORMATION:
http://bit.ly/masters_table_2012_03
Please come out for a great evening of fellowship and relaxation.
Master’s Letter | March 2012
Dear Brethren and Friends,
The first two months of this year have been busy ones for the Lodge. We held our first degree in Dearborn at the Scottish Rite Center, on Saturday, January 21st. The ceremonies began that 10 AM, and seven brothers were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft. The leadership of our Lodge encourages brothers to travel to other lodges: and in order to facilitate this, our Lodge endeavors to hold our Fellow Craft Degrees at one of the surrounding lodges. Both before and after the degree the brothers enjoyed touring this historic Lodge building, whose cornerstone was laid in 1925, and in which Masonic work has been performed continuously for over eighty five years. We were delighted to have several visiting brothers attend the degree. Immediately following the degrees, the brothers retired to Cheli’s Chili Bar, which is owned by the former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, to enjoy a meal together and to toast our new Fellow Crafts on their advancement in Masonry.
Four days later the members of the Lodge met at the Grotto to celebrate the life of the famous Scottish poet in Freemason Robert Burns. The “ploughman poet” was initiated a Freemason on July 4th, 1781 in St. David Tarbolton Lodge at the age of 23. For those not familiar with the quote “Bard of Ayshire”, he is considered the national poet of Scotland. His writings and poetry from the Romantic movement include the song “Auld Lang Syne” and the poem “A Red, Red Rose”. Lesser well known are his Masonic poems, of which the following entitled the “Presentation of the Pillars” is my favorite:
Long latest live in prosperity shined
In his member still vie with each other
In spreading the light of our order design
In relieving the wants of a brother.
May envy and malice ne’er enter that door
That is aye closely tyled to the cowan
But peace, love and harmony aye be in store
More abundant the older you’re growing.
May our Master who presides like the Masters of old
In wisdom excel and astonish
May he never be heard erring brothers to scold
But with brotherly love aye admonish.
May our Warden in the West, like the sun’s setting rays
Illumine the golden horizon
May his strength never fail with the burden of days
But increase every moment that flies on.
And to our Warden in the South, like the beauty of day
May he gladden the worn, tired and weary
Inspire with his smiles as they rest by the way
The toilers, and make them feel cheery.
And to you whom or Master is honoured to rule and instruct
Be ye always sober and steady
Expert in the use of each working tool
And aye hae them handy and ready.
Thus will the Temple we seek to upraise
Be completed when all do their duty
And our voices unite in a chorus of praise
To Wisdom, to Strength and to Beauty.
An enjoyable evening was had by all, replete with bagpipes, tartan clad dancers, and an ode to the haggis. Of course a fair amount of scotch was drunk in toasting the bard and our fraternity. Thanks to the hard work of Brother Scott T. Wilson, this event was a resounding success. I would like to also extend a warm thank you to all those who participated in the program.
In February, at our Regular Communication we were pleased to welcome back our dear Brother Peter Dietrich who has been living in Seoul, Korea for a number of years. This year Peter is serving as the Worshipful Master of a lodge in Korea. During the education portion of the meeting, or Worshipful Brother regaled us with stories about the various differences between the ritual and rainment within the Korean lodges. The discussion was enlightening and enjoyable, and we love to welcome our returning brothers with open arms.
Also in February we held our first Master Mason Degree of the year in which two brothers were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. We would like to extend our congratulations to these two new Master Masons. Making its premier at this degree was a new prop for the degree assembled and built by Brother Tom Hathaway. I would like to thank the many participants in the degree. 
This month we also had to say a temporary goodbye to Brother Scott Graf who is being mobilized for active military duty. Brother Graf served last year as our lodge’s Junior Warden; and he has been a very active and engaged participant in the lodge. We will miss him at our meetings, and he will be in our thoughts until he returns safely.
Please mark your calendars for next months roast of Past Master Brian Cors at our Annual Past Master’s Award Dinner to be held at Carson’s American Bistro on Friday, March 16th. RSVP here!
We will also be raising several more Brothers to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on Wednesday, March 21st.
I look forward to seeing our Brethren at these upcoming events.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Clinton Bartholomew
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
MAR 7 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
MAR 9 - Family Game Night | Zal Gaz Grotto
MAR 10 - Junior Deacon Day/Trip | Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI
MAR 16 - Past Masters Roast & Awards Dinner | Carson’s American Bistro
MAR 21 - Special Communication [MM] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
MAR 28 - Master’s Table Dinner | Location TBA
APR 4 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
APR 13 - Family Game Night | Zal Gaz Grotto
