Master’s Letter | May 2011
Greetings to all Brethren and Friends!
May has arrived, and with it - several Fellowcrafts! We had an incredible evening, passing ten Brothers to their second degree. As we begin our Master Mason degrees starting on May 18th, we are also starting something very exciting, as these Brothers make their progress. After our Regular Communication meetings for the next several months, Brother Clinton Bartholomew [SW] and W. Robert C. Blackburn will be holding a series of lectures, during our afterglow. These lectures will contain information about the history of Freemasonry, leading up to a final talk about the genesis of the Master Mason Degree. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
As Masons, education and discourse are vital. In this light, our Lodge has started a brand new book club, and our first selection is, “Cracking the Freemason’s Code” by L.D. Cooper. Brother Lee Clark has been in contact with the author, who kindly submitted additional materials for us to consider during our discussion. If you are interested in getting involved with this new venture, please contact any of your Lodge Officers - and we will send you details. This book club is open to not just our Lodge - Brothers from other Lodges are welcome to participate.
On May 21 we will tour the fantastic Detroit Masonic Temple. This architectural treasure is the largest masonic structure in the world, and it is here in Detroit. Join us on the tour, it will be also open to non-masons, so invite your lady or friend!
The next several months will continue to be exciting and busy for our Lodge. Degree work will continue throughout the year - and with wonderful weather approaching - many opportunities for visitation and fellowship. One can always find more details about any of our events here on our website and our Trestleboard therein.
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
- May 4
Regular Communication - Pittsfield Grange - May 11
Degree Rehearsal - Bro. Erik Harclerode’s House - May 13
Spring Dinner - Gandy Dancer - May 18
Master Mason Degree - Pittsfield Grange - May 21
Tour: Detroit Masonic Temple - Detroit! - May 25
Masters Table Dinner - Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery
Master’s Letter | May 2010
Spring has arrived and I, for one, couldn’t be more thankful. The trees have leaves and the flowers are blooming. We’ve even had some marvelously warm days. With all the snow gone now, we may even see a few more faces at lodge that we’ve been missing.
April 17, our FC degree day in Dearborn, will go down as one of the most memorable Masonic days of my life. I could not have been more proud of our lodge and the degree team. We passed 15 (!) candidates in the Scottish Rite Cathedral lodge room. Fourteen of these brothers were from AAF 262; one was a guest from Walled Lake No. 528. We had Masonic guests from many area lodges, including Prince Hall, and two young Masons from the Bowling Green, Ohio area. Sharing the East with me was Grand Lecturer R.W. Bro. David Hutton. Far from an anonymous, mass affair, each candidate was individually conducted through the degree. The spirit of Masonry was palpable in the room and watching it unfold from the East was a rare gift - “Thank you” Brothers.
While I’m doling out “thanks,” such are also due to W. Bro. Seymour for again arranging this year’s Ladies Night out at the Hunt Club in Plymouth. This is always a fine dining experience and this year was no exception. “Thank you.”
The annual Grand Lodge Communication is taking place in Mount Pleasant on May 18 and 19. I will be discussing all legislation under consideration at Grand Lodge at our regular meeting on May 5. Brothers, I value your input and look forward to your thoughts. May 19 is also a degree night for our lodge. Because I, and perhaps one or both of our Wardens, will be absent, immediate Past Master Chris Fultz will be presiding. I hope to assist him by scheduling all the necessary degree parts, but I would like everyone’s help in providing a good sideline turnout for him and our candidates.
On Friday, May 21, we have been invited by Windsor Lodge No. 403 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada to attend a Master Mason degree. In order to arrange this event, both our lodge and Windsor Lodge had to obtain dispensations from our respective Grand Lodges. Though Ontario and Michigan were once contained, albeit briefly, within the same grand lodge jurisdiction (the First Provincial Grand Lodge of Upper Canada (Ancients)), this relationship necessarily ended with the conclusion of the American Revolution and the withdrawal of British forces from Detroit. Windsor’s Masonic work continued and developed along lines similar to those current in England today; the work here in Michigan, though divided only by the Detroit River, evolved along lines consistent with other American jurisdictions and its own needs. Those able to attend this special Master Mason event, therefore, will see a form of Masonry quite different than that practiced by AAF262. W.Bro. Lowell Easton is renting a van to drive 9 brothers over for the evening. Anyone else attending will need to make their own arrangements. The cost for the van ride will be approximately $18 per person and everyone who wishes to go will need a passport for the border crossing. Space is almost full for the van, though brothers can also car pool; please consult the trestle board for more details.
Brothers, we are doing great things. I hope that you all are having as much fun as I am. See you in lodge.
S & F
Robert C. Blackburn, WM
UPCOMING EVENTS
- April 28, 2010
Masters Table Dinner
Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti, MI | Trestleboard - May 2, 2010
Regular Communication
Hathaway’s Hideaway - May 19, 2010
MM Degree | Conducted by Chris Fultz, PM
Hathaway’s Hideaway - May 18 & 19, 2010
Annual Grand Lodge Communication
Soaring Eagle Casino | Mount Pleasant, MI - May 21, 2010
Official Lodge Visitation & Master Mason Degree Presentation
Windsor Lodge No. 403, G.L. of Canada in the Province of Ontario - June 23, 2010
Festive Board with Golden Rule No. 159
Zal Gaz Grotto | Speaker to be announced
Master’s Letter | May 2009
Brethren:
The year is half over (or is there half left?), Grand Lodge is behind us (thanks to SW Bob Blackburn for attending), and we will be going dark soon. So far this year, we have raised many fine brethren and had to say goodbye to a few, maintained a healthy backlog, and increased fellowship opportunities. Best of all, I see more faces on a regular basis at our meetings and degrees. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officers and members for all of their hard work this year. I am lucky and spoiled to have such a supportive officer line.
In June we will have our last degree, an EA, before going dark. We will have our annual family picnic (more to come on this later) this summer and in August we are planning a special event. We are planning to conduct all three degrees in one day. Mind you, this is not an ”All Degree Day” in which the candidate is initiated, passed, and raised, but a day in which the lodge conducts all three degree. No one candidate / brother will receive more than one degree that day, but we have many candidates, EA’s, and FC’s who have been waiting patiently to receive light. There will be a gathering at the end of the day to relax and reflect. This event will present ample opportunities for participation in the degrees, so please study the ritual and let me know if you are interested in helping. The exact date and time will be announced in a future letter, but we are targeting mid-August. Location will be Hathaway’s Hideaway (310 S. Ashley, Ann Arbor).
Please look for upcoming opportunities to support charity and fundraising events. Please also remember to bring donations of books, magazines, toiletries, and clothes for our veterans at the VA hospital. Please contact Art Davidge, PM for specifics about which items are most needed at the VA.
For further details on scheduled lodge events, please check the trestle board. Please keep in your thoughts our brothers and family who may be in sickness or distress.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Chris Fultz
