Master’s Letter | July 2011
Greetings to all Brethren and Friends!
Greetings from the island of St. John, of the U.S. Virgin Islands! I am currently traveling for my brother’s wedding – and found myself in this amazing place, at exactly the right time.
As all Brothers have learned, Masonry has long held a strong connection to 
our patron saints - St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Over the centuries, there have been celebrations surrounding each of these days that memorialize these two saints – one who represents zeal, and the other - knowledge. It is also a time for us to come together to remember our past and to plan for the future.
It just so happens that June 24 is Saint John the Baptist Day – and incredibly, I find myself in St. John. To make this day all the more interesting - I discovered that my godfather is also my Brother. Incredible indeed that a lifelong spiritual connection grows even stronger on the day of St. John the Baptist.
Brothers, look for Masonry wherever you may 
be. Whether you search close to where you live, or in lands far away. Whether you search within your own being, or look to those around you - you will surely find it in the most amazing and unexpected places.
Please remember that we will be having both a regular communication and a special communication in the month of July. There will be an afterglow presentation consisting of very interesting Masonic research that our Senior Warden, Bro. Clinton Bartholomew, recently presented at the Mormon History Association.
Finally, please save the date for our Ann Arbor Tri-Lodge picnic, happening on Sunday, August 28th at Gallup Park. More details will be coming from your Lodges about this great event.
From our Lodge to you and your families, we wish you the very best of health and happiness.
Warmest fraternal regards,
Brian Cors
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Trestleboard
- July 6
Regular Communication - Pittsfield Grange - July 20
Master Mason Degree - Pittsfield Grange - July 22
Family Game Night - Zal Gaz Grotto Club - July 27
Masters Table Dinner - Location TBA - August 17
Master Mason Degree - Pittsfield Grange - August 20
Tiger Game - Comerica Park - August 28
Tri-Lodge Picnic - Gallup Park„ Old Wooden Picnic Shelter
Master Mason Degree: Wednesday, June 29
We will be raising 3 Brothers to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Black tie, or suit please!
On the menu, we will be starting with salad and then onto our entree and dessert. Soda, water, coffee, and milk will be available to drink. Donation: $10.00!
If you like, bring a beverage of your choice for our afterglow!
Time: Wednesday, June 29, Dinner 6:00pm, Degree starts at 7:00pm
Location: Pittsfield Union Grange 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS EVENT:
- This is the last degree that Bro. George Lucero will be able to confer as Senior Deacon - as he is moving to New Mexico. Please come and wish him well.
- Tonight is also the 45th anniversary of our own W. Bro. Art Davidge - our steadfast Treasurer and 2011 State Mason of the Year. He will be conferring one of the degrees this evening, to mark this occasion!
Master’s Letter | July 2010
July is traditionally a “dark” month for our lodge, though like many Masons, I am not keen on that term. Masonry is all about light - 365 days a year! Nor, despite our not having a regular communication, will we be anything like inactive. We will be holding a Master Mason degree on July 7, the first Wednesday of the month. There will also be the regular Master’s Table night out on July 28 at Joe’s Crab Shack, 3020 Lohr Road, Ann Arbor.
Last month we held a joint dinner and speaker night with Golden Rule 159 at the Grotto. It was a fine evening and opportunity for the two lodges to socialize and enjoy some Masonic education. Brothers from Walled Lake No. 528, St. Mary’s No. 4, Prince Hall Masons, and Redeemer Lodge No. 53, Prince Hall Masons were also in attendance. I would like to thank the JWs Clinton Bartholomew and Jim Lakin, PM Rich Wilcox and their assistants for arranging a great meal. I would also like to thank our own PM Justin Krasnoff for his very interesting talk on Freemasons and the Civil War.
I was perusing the Blue Book recently and noticed that the Grand Lodge of Michigan recognizes only three of the so-called “ancient landmarks”: 1) a belief in a Supreme Being; 2) a belief in the immortality of the soul; 3) a volume of Sacred Law is an indispensable part of the furniture of every lodge. The notion of what is or is not “Masonry” is often a matter of heated debate. Both Anderson’s 1723 Constitutions and Dermott’s 1756 Ahiman Rezon state that the obligations, rules, and forms found in medieval stone masons charges constitute “unalterable” landmarks, but neither went so far as to state which ones or how many. It is amusing to reflect that nearly 400 years later, there is still no agreement as to what these documents meant. As many as 40 “time-immemorial” rules have been deemed landmarks over the years. In 1858, Albert Mackay compiled a list of 25 that he considered to be essential; but Mackay’s list held little sway outside of the United States and even here, as in the case of Michigan, it has not been universally acknowledged. Indeed, it seems Michigan had no official opinion on this matter until 1970 when the three above landmarks were officially adopted.
Have I mentioned lately what an amazing lodge we have? I know many of you are not local and its hard to keep up with all we are doing. I’ve been discussing updating our website with SW Brian Cors to include more images and articles about our activities. I’m also hoping that those of you who enjoy Masonic writing may share some of your papers for our site as well to enlighten your fellow brothers and those who visit us online. So do please check out aaf262.org from time to time for updates.
Lastly, please save the date of August 8. We will be helping to host Ann Arbor’s first tri-lodge family picnic with Golden Rule 159 and St. Mary’s Lodge No. 4, Prince Hall Masons. The event will take place in Gallup Park at the “Old Picnic Shelter”. Details will soon follow, but we are hoping to reserve canoes for those that would like to have a paddle before the socializing, food, and fun.
As always, I hope to see you in lodge.
Sincerely & fraternally,
Robert Blackburn, WM
UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Trestleboard
- July 7, 2010
MM Degree
Hathaway’s Hideaway - July 28, 2010
Masters Table Dinner
Joe’s Crab Shack | 3020 Lohr Road, Ann Arbor, MI - August 8, 2010
Tri-Lodge Family Picnic
Gallup Park
