Master’s Letter | June 2010
Well, it’s hard to believe with June my “Sun” as Worshipful Master is at its meridian height. We are half way through the year! It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished so far; we keep moving from success to success. I’m also hearing that the Widow’s Sons motorcycle club is ready to ride with 9 charter members. Great work Bros. Chuck Nagy and Lowell Easton for bringing a new and fun perspective to light in Ann Arbor Masonry.
The month of May saw one of the best attended regular meetings I have seen anywhere. We had 29 brothers present, all from our lodge. It was a busy night that included 8 Fellowcraft examinations. We also enjoyed a presentation by W.Bro. Art Davidge regarding Masonic allusions in two science fiction novels, “The Revolt in 2010” by Robert Heinlein and “The Artifact” by W. Michael Gear. I think this new education component to our regular meetings is a marvelous addition; I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am.
On May 19, PM Justin Krasnoff conducted our first three Master Mason degrees of the year. “Thank you” to all who assisted while I was at Grand Lodge on May 18 & 19. On May 21, 10 members of our lodge travelled to Windsor No. 403 in Windsor, Canada, to attend a Master Mason degree and enjoy some fellowship with our nearby Canadian brothers. It was particularly enjoyable to witness a ritual so different from our own – and so well executed too. As a token of inter-lodge friendship, our delegation presented Windsor 403 with a beautiful Masonic trowel engraved for the occasion. We were given a tour of their beautiful building, constructed in 1923, and treated to a veritable feast of Vietnamese food by their acting WM Bonn Sotto, PM. We look forward to representatives from Windsor No. 403 visiting us later this year.
Our regular meeting is June 2 and we will be conducting three Master Mason degrees on June 16. Masters’ Table this month will be on June 30th at Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti. June 24 is the Feast of St. John the Baptist. As many of you know, Masons have held this date – which coincides with the Summer Solstice – as a day of particular observance from time immemorial. To acknowledge it, Ann Arbor - Fraternity 262 and Golden Rule 159 are holding a special joint dinner at the Grotto on June 23. The cost for the evening, which includes appetizer, soup, salad, entrée (strip steak, chicken parmesan, or veg. pasta), desert, and toasting beverage, is $20. W. Bro. Justin Krasnoff, our guest speaker, will be presenting a paper on Freemasons and the Battle of Gettysburg. The event is open to all Masons, so feel free to tell brothers at other area lodges. The deadline for RSVPs (we have to pre-order the food) is June 13. For more information, or to make a reservation, please consult our trestle board.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate our scholarship recipients for 2010 – 2011. They are George Lucero, Jr. and Bro. Jonathon Easton. George Lucero, the son of our Junior Deacon, will be starting as a freshman in an engineering program this fall (hopefully here at the University of Michigan!). Bro. Jonathon, as you may recall, will be completing his last year at Indiana University in Journalism and History. Each will receive a check from the lodge and Grand Lodge matching funds totaling $1,500.
As always, hope to see you in lodge brothers.
Sincerely & fraternally,
Robert C. Blackburn, WM
UPCOMING EVENTS
- June 2, 2010
Regular Communication
Hathaway’s Hideaway - June 13, 2010
RSVP DUE! | Festive Board with Golden Rule No. 159 - June 16, 2010
MM Degree
Hathaway’s Hideaway - June 23, 2010
Festive Board with Golden Rule No. 159
W. Bro. Justin Krasnoff | “Freemasons and the Battle of Gettysburg”
Zal Gaz Grotto - June 30, 2010
Masters Table Dinner
Sidetrack Bar & Grill | Ypsilanti, MI
