Ann Arbor
Fraternity
No.262

Master’s Letter | November 2011

Dear Brethren and Friends,

The Masonic year is swiftly coming to a close! I and the officers of Ann Arbor-Fraternity No. 262 would love to see you in Lodge at our next Regular or Special Communication, before the busy holiday season is upon us. Our next Regular Communication on November 2nd will be productive, including our annual memorial service and Lodge officer elections.

Degree work will continue on November 16th - as we bring at least two more Brothers into the Craft. This year, we have been privileged to raise 12 Master Masons, and bring another 9 men into our Brotherhood. Our Brothers are learning, growing, staying and contributing to the Lodge, bringing new ideas and energy to our Fraternity. In October, our Musician, Bro. Steven Simpson debuted music that he has specially written for our degrees at AAF262. It was breathtaking!

Masonry is everywhere you look or travel. Our Brothers have visited Lodges all over the Midwest and beyond this year, and we have had visitors from at least 2 other countries visit our own Lodge. Our visit to Redeemer Lodge No. 53 PHA was incredible - building upon a relationship that continues to grow through the years. By being a “traveling man”, you truly get to experience the universality of our Brotherhood - and learn that Masonry is lot more than the four walls you are used to seeing at meetings.

On November 5th, we will be having our 3rd annual “Freemason Party for Food Gatherers” at Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. In our current economy, any assistance we can lend to our own community is vital. This event allows us to directly help those around us. Please bring a check and/or a food donation, and come out to have a great time! Last year we were able to contribute almost $4000. Let’s see if we can beat that!

Finally, please save the date of Friday, December 9, 2011 for our 2012 Officer Installation ceremony at Zal Gaz Grotto. It will prove to be a fun and festive evening!

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

NOV 2 - Regular Communication | Memorial Service | Lodge Elections
NOV 5 - Freemason Party for Food Gatherers | Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti
NOV 12 - Day Trip | Michigan Masonic Museum & Library, Grand Rapids
NOV 16 - Special Communication [EA]
NOV 23 - Masters Table Dinner | Location TBA
DEC 7 - Regular Communication
DEC 9 - Officer Installation | Zal Gaz Grotto

Master’s Letter | November 2010 

For those of you not living in Michigan, October had some truly magnificent days.  Not to rub it in, but we had a proper “Indian summer” - gorgeous colors, cool clear mornings and warm afternoons.  I even managed to get my canoe out on the Huron River a couple of times to just soak it all in.  Our regular passed uneventfully, other than a visit from our BGP Jack Woodyard and our new DDI Bill Krebaum.  At the time of writing, we are looking forward to initiating three new brothers on October 27 at Hathaway’s Hideway (we cleared up our backlog of 14 candidates initiated, passed, and raised this year only to have 14 or more new candidates seeking admission!).

November is a significant month for Masons – not like the feast of St. John in June and December – but including events and historic occasions nevertheless important to the Craft.  November 9 is the Feast Day of the Quatuor Coronati, or “Four Crowned Martyrs.”  According to Catholic and Masonic tradition, the four men were Christian stonemasons who were executed in 305 C.E. for refusing to carve a pagan statue.  As a result, they were revered by early operative masons.  Borrowing their name, on November 28, 1884, the first Masonic research lodge, Quatuor Coronati No. 2076, G.L. of England, received its warrant.  November was also the month, in 1752, that a 22-year old George Washington took his first step in Masonry, being initiated an Entered Apprentice at Fredericksburg Lodge (now Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, G.L. of Virginia, A.F. & A.M.).

At AAF 262, November is my last full month as Master.  Our regular will take place at the Pittsfield Grange on the 3rd.  We will be holding a Fellowcraft degree at Hathoway’s Hideaway on the 10th.  Saturady, November 13, we will be hosting our second annual “Freemason Party for Food Gatherers” benefit party at the Ann Arbor Brewing Co. in Ann Arbor.  On November 17 we will be moving our storage lockers and other items from Hathaway’s Hideaway to the Grange and conducting our annual Lodge of Sorrow.  I will be renting a U Haul truck and need as many hands as I can get to meet me at 5:15 to 5:30 p.m. to make this happen.  Dress for the evening will be casual and a meal will follow.  I hope also to get poinsettias divvied up for delivery to our widows (if they are available that early; if not, we’ll have to get this done early December).  It will be a busy night of work, ritual, and fellowship.  Please come and be a part of it.  Lastly, our monthly Masters’ Table will take place on November 24.  Check our online Trestle Board for details.

I hope that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and that if you are traveling that you and those with you stay safe.  See you in lodge!

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Robert Blackburn, WM

UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Trestleboard

• November 3, 2010
  Annual Meeting - Pittsfield Grange, Election of 2011 Officers!
• November 10, 2010
  FC Degree - Hathaway’s Hideaway
• November 13, 2010
  Freemason Party for Food Gatherers! - Arbor Brewing Company
• November 17, 2010
  Lodge of Sorrow - Pittsfield Grange
  
• Novemeber 24, 2010
  Master’s Table - Location TBA
• December 1, 2010
  Regular Meeting - Pittsfield Grange
• December 8, 2010
  Study Club - Hathaway’s Hideaway
• December 18, 2010
  Installation of 2011 Officers - Zal Gaz Grotto Club
• December 29, 2010
  Master’s Table / St. John the Evangelist Evening - Pittsfield Grange