I LOVE YOU

Join us for a romantic and unique evening with the Lodge and celebrate this Valentine’s Day.

This year our Valentine’s Party will be Saturday Feb. 18th at 5pm at the Melting Pot of Novi. Come join us for a four course meal, cooked by you at your table, in the fondue style.  This night will include a cheese fondue with a variety of breads, vegetables, and fruits to dip, a salad, beef, ravioli, and chicken for your entree, and a chocolate fondue desert. The cost for this event is $15 person/$25 couple.  Drinks will be available for purchase.  Due to the nature of this event RSVPs and payment must be received by the end of the February business meeting on Tuesday Feb. 7th.  If you would like to attend, but cannot make the business meeting, please call or text me, Jay Slauter at 313-310-8703 and I will be happy to make arrangements to meet with you before then.

After the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in England in 1717, a rival Grand Lodge arose less than two decades later, calling itself the Antients (or Ancients), whereby it intended to assert greater authenticity than the rival “modern” Grand Lodge. The Antients were also known as the Athol Masons, from their first Grand Master, the Duke of Athol. Some authors (e.g., Carl Claudy) say the Antients were schismatic–i.e., had split off from the “modern” Grand Lodge; others (e.g., Allen Roberts) of more recent vintage say that the Antients were founded independently by Lodges deriving from Scottish and Irish traditions who were excluded by the English “moderns.”

These competing English Grand Lodges, along with Grand Lodges established in Scotland and Ireland, issued charters for Lodges in the American colonies into the latter half of the 18th century, until the American Revolutionary War led to the ties between the colonies and the mother country being severed. Long after that event, in 1813 (when the two countries were again at war, in fact), the rival English Grand Lodges amalgamated to form the United Grand Lodge of England, which is the governing body of English Freemasonry to this day.

Meanwhile, in the new United States of America, Grand Lodges were organized separately in each state, some as offspring of Provincial Grand Lodges and some as self-declared independent Grand Lodges (e.g., Virginia). These Grand Lodges comprised Lodges whose charters had been issued by both the Antient and “modern” Grand Lodges in England (as well as a few Scottish and Irish constitution Lodges). The designation of whether a Grand Lodge was Free and Accepted or Ancient Free and Accepted was therefore almost an arbitrary choice, based perhaps on who had a bit more political power when the new Grand Lodge was formed.

In particular, one cannot conclude anything significant about the nature of the ritual used by a Grand Lodge as to its Antient or “modern” content, based only on the designation as F&AM or AF&AM. Many Grand Lodges use an amalgamation of the forms, and it would take detailed study (never having been done to my knowledge) to determine the precise provenance of each American Grand Lodge’s ritual contents. It does appear that Pennsylvania may adhere most closely to the work of the Antients, while a northern tier of states, running from Connecticut through Minnesota and perhaps farther west, preserves the “modern” ritual most closely. In those states where a ritual cipher is permitted, which seems to be more a characteristic of the “moderns,” the incorporation of changes to the ritual occur with much lower frequency (a fairly obvious observation). An example is the phrase “any be due,” which is synonymously rendered “aught be due” in the apparently “modern” jurisdictions: The substitution of a common word (“any”) for an archaic one (“aught”) is a natural evolution of an oral tradition, while the reverse substitution virtually never occurs in oral transmission. The states with a printed ritual cipher have maintained “aught,” while “any” has appeared in those states eschewing such written aids.

Incidentally, there are two jurisdictions which use neither F&AM nor AF&AM: The District of Columbia uses FAAM, and South Carolina uses AFM. Again, these are distinctions without any real difference.

Various suppositions are made about “four-letter” Lodges vs. “three-letter” Lodges and relationships to Prince Hall (PHA) Masonry and issues of recognition, but these are entirely unfounded.

by Bro.Roger M. Firestone

The Installation will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3.  Reception as is customary will follow with a grand buffet feast served at 7pm. This year’s Installation ceremony will be held in the Commandery Asylum.  This majestic hall is located on the 3rd Floor, Knights Templar level. A new atmosphere this year, the social and dinner following will be held in the Fountain Ballroom.   Seating is limited for this event just like any year so your RSVP is necessary for your parties attendance.   This is a black tie event, guests are expected to dress accordingly.

The annual Christmas Party will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 17.  It will take place in the Colonnade Room in the Crystal Ballroom level of the Masonic Temple.  There will be food, gifts for the kids, all kinds of holiday fun and of course include a visit from none other than Santa Clause.  (Yes, THE Santa Clause.  Detroit No. 2 connections’ run deep and we’ve spared no expense to bring him to Detroit.)

It is imperative for Brothers who want to attend these events with their families RSVP with haste to Jr. Warden elect Jason Slauter.  There is a fee of $10 per adult which will be collected at the door. You received RSVP’s in the Trestle Board, mail those back in, or call him by telephone. Reach him today at (313) 310-8703.  NOTE: When sending your RSVP for the Christmas Party, make sure to note the age and gender of the children who will be in attendance. (We want to avoid a potentially embarrassing public relations nightmare with the Clauses should he not bring enough presents for all our Lodges wonderful children.  Mr. Clause has asked us on behalf of Mrs. Clause to please not bring him cookies.)

Your neck tie should work for you not against you.

Brothers, you all heard that the Worshipful Master Elect Don Harper has proclaimed all Brethren holding an office this coming year will adhere to a dress code.

As we must all be required to be in at least a shirt and tie I thought I would share some of my formal and business dress tips about ties.

I have lots of ties, hell I have lots of dress clothes. I have an entire closet that is just formal wear. I’m not yet wealthy and have had my bouts with the empty wallet, but that doesn’t stop the well dressed man. It takes some skill to dress sharp on zero or small budgets but anybody can do it.

My tie rack is full and I’m always looking for more ties. I found most of my ties not at expensive department stores or suit stores but in resale shops. Used dress clothes are usually well taken care of, especially an item like a tie suffers little wear and tear in what time it is in actual use. Terrific finds from different decades and styles past can be found in resale shops. From skinny ties from the 50′s/80′s to shorter fatter ties from the 40′s, whatever taste you have you can find it. (Just wash them, it takes that “eau de old man” out.)

While nothing admittedly looks quite like a crisp new suit or tie, you can find such items made from superior materials in resale shops for a fraction of the value at original purchase.  If you are like me and piece together looks from different time periods you know you cannot just walk into any department store and find vintage color schemes and patterns.

Now maybe dress clothes aren’t your thing and you are not sure of what your taste in ties (or suits or shoes) even is. That’s fine, you will only start to hone in on what you like by shopping around. Suit stores like the Mens Wearhouse have tables full of ties arranged by color gradient. It’s like a color palette of ties. Suit stores and department stores also sell shirts and ties as a set. This little trick guarantees that you look sharp with matching shirt, ties and handkerchief.

You have some of my advice, put it to good use now that you have no excuse to not dress sharp and remember real men wear pink. Go forth and look deadly Brethren.

This meeting was the first of its kind for me and a very impressive turnout was on hand.  Brighton Lodge does their work in a beautiful building and is one of the classiest I’ve traveled to.   We met a patchwork of all the Lodges in the tri-county area and north of here.  After many Cokes and choice brownies were consumed, the Brethren on hand were handily amped up for the presentation.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Michigan Frederick E. Kaiser Jr, PM was the key speaker.

• First discussion was to address the per capita dues increases.  He assured us that the request at the Grand Lodge meeting to increase dues was warranted and will be put to best use.  We will continue to see the benefits of this investment in many areas some of which are already successful such as the Beacon Project, The Ed Program and the C.H.I.P. Program.
• MORI.  Lodge Secretaries are implored to fill out and to the best of their ability fully populate all the fields in the MORI program for individual Brothers.  The Grand Lodge wants as much information as possible about the Brothers for statistical and demographic data.  Just as important is the fact that the MORI database mirrors with the database for the Grand Lodge’s new Social Network.
• The Social Network is a new venture by the Grand Lodge.  It is essentially a social network for Michigan Freemasons.  Masons may go to the Grand Lodge website and log in with their credentials and access the Social Network, which may be found in the ‘Masons’ tab in the main navigation, under Social Access.  Lodges are supposed to also be able to make a profile so all Lodges in the state will have a web presence through this service.
• There is an increase in new membership and a loss in membership retention.  Why?  No, they’re really asking us why because they don’t know and are looking to the Lodges for ideas.  Why are we getting new members who don’t come back?  If you had an idea that came to mind, you’re probably right and that’s part of it.

  “When you are spoon fed something, all you remember is the shape of the spoon.”  One Worshipful Brother said that after watching so many young new Masons never come back that things in his Lodge had perhaps gotten too easy; requiring unsatisfying  little application or efforts of the mind.  ”Young people have many outlets for instant gratification and they are not knocking in the door of a 1000 year old fraternity for instant gratification” he said.  It takes 6 months from EA to MM on average in his Lodge now, he engages and puts the candidates to work, both ritually and even mopping floors or helping in cleanup, and they’re staying he reported.  Something to think about.

• The Beacon Project is a huge success, and surpassed the initial goal of 200,000 volunteer hours already!
• The Michigan Masons radio promotions have been met with a good reception and have been renewed.  Thank the Maker we’ll continue to “Live Better” for the foreseeable future.
• We have revamped and modernized our publicity and promotions campaign.  Booklets come with a USB web key that potentials can put in the computer and be whisked away on a magical journey to the internets learning about all that is good in the world with Freemasonry.
• The Alma Masonic retirement home is being looked at for improvements.  They’re not just talking about that specific brick and mortar building but as a concept as a whole.  Not every elder Mason wants to live in Alma.  Grand Lodge is exploring retirement home expansion to local markets with satellite retirement home centers.
• The Ed Program.  This is the Grand Lodge Masonic education program.  Too much vital knowledge is not being passed on concerning many aspects of Freemasonry including our work, history and symbolism.  Grand Lodge is continuing to grow the Ed Program to assist Lodges in this process.  We have 2 years left of being allowed to have ritual books in the Lodge room, after that  there will be no books in the room except for the Chaplain and only one person will prompt anybody who stumbles in the ritual work.
• These next two final points are the most important and stressed topics of the event.  Guarding the West Gate and diversity.  Let’s begin with guarding the West Gate.  The Grand Lodge feels that guarding the West Gate has become a BIG PROBLEM and a GROWING PROBLEM.  On a state level as a whole were are letting in too many cowans and unqualified souls.  The proper and prudent precautions are not being taken at the beginning stages of a petitioner approaching the Lodge in evaluating the nature of their true character.  In other cases these individuals do not prove to be sour until many years later.  In either circumstance the Lodge has failed.

  One part of the newer problems we are facing is publicity through TV and movies.  The History or Discovery Channel’s respectively show constant documentaries about our Order.  Freemasonry is experiencing a precarious and pressing new high in exposure and we are not as concealed as we once were.  All Lodges in this state are to brace for a membership influx from the new Dan Brown film coming out about Freemasonry titled “The Lost Symbol.”  Many members are coming in cold off the internet without the conventional affiliations of already knowing a Brother in the Lodge.   Some of these people are not being turned away for all the right reasons because they want entry to our Order for the wrong reasons.  They are being advanced to Master Masons too quickly to stop them in their path before they learn too much and become a drain on Lodge resources when necessity to purge them from the rolls arises.  Guarding the West Gate will be a priority of the state’s Lodges as we move into the future.

• Speaking of moving into the future this brings us to the final topic which was diversity.  Grand Lodge is committed to the diversity of the Lodges in this state.  Diversity is the only way to ensure the progressive strength of our institution in Michigan into the next several hundred years.  No candidates will be turned away for any discriminatory reasons except by gender alone.  Race, color, creed or national origin is not a factor in the qualifications into the membership fabric of any Lodge in this state and any discrimination or redirecting of candidates to other organizations for these reasons will not be tolerated.  The Most Worshipful Grand Master could not stress this enough.

Those of you awaiting initiation into the Order or further light in Masonry will be contacted and informed of your rescheduled dates in the future as more information arises.

We apologize for this setback and inconvenience to not only your personal schedules but to your journey along the path of Freemasonry.  Thank you for your understanding.

It goes without saying we will be celebrating the Past Masters of our Lodge as well as all the scholarship recipients from this past year.  Enjoy drink with an lavish meal.

Tue, October 18, 7:00pm – 11:30pm in the Oak Room

Worshipful Master Warren Frank of Roseville Lodge #522 has entreated the illustrious  membership of Detroit Lodge #2 to attend and witness the raising of a Brother to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

The date of this significant occasion will be October 22nd at 5 of the clock PM. Dinner feast to be served to the Brethren in the evening.

If you can find the time to travel the land to visit this worshipful Lodge in the suburbs of Detroit then please put forth the effort and be well received.  This Lodge in Roseville has generated a reputation for singular excellence in it’s approach to performing our ritual.  This Lodge set to work is a serious and impressive sight to behold and shall benefit all who bear witness with aspirations of elevated work in the temple.

DETAILS:

Saturday October 22, 2011

Degree begins promptly at 5:00 PM.

Dinner feast to be served to the Brethren in the evening.

Roseville Masonic Center – 27151 Gratiot Roseville 48066

The Fall Country Breakfast is an ALL YOU CAN EAT spectacular!  Warm up on a cool morning with the Brothers and families.  This exposition of home cooked traditional American breakfast fare will include Delicious Hot Pancakes, Iron fired Sausage Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs cooked to order, savory golden Hashbrowns,  nectarous Juices, aromatic Coffee and fresh cow’s Milk.

Please join us:

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 2, 2011

9:00 AM – 1:00PM

$4.00 Children

$6.00 Adults

Roseville Masonic Center – 27151 Gratiot Roseville, 48066

This program, on October 8th, in Romulus at the Embassy Suites Hotel will concentrate primarily on the Management skills and needs of our Lodges.  The Grand Lodge officers will be presenting several different progams throughout the day, designed to help you better understand the role of Lodge Management, and the need for Leadership.  You’ll be brought up to date on the ED Membership Initiative, and other Grand Lodge programs that are going to have a tremendous, positive impact on your Masonic Lodge.  You need to attend this event!

This will be a day of education and fun.  There is no cost to attend, but reservations are required.  A continental breakfast will be provided.  Lunch will also be provided as well as course and class materials.

The location is Embassy Suites Hotel at 8600 Wickham Road in Romulus, MI 48174. Registration begins at 8:00 AM, (light breakfast available at that time), Classes begin at 9:00 AM, Lunch at 12:00 and we’ll be on our way at 3:00 PM.

If you have any questions about the event, contact the Grand Lodge Office.  Contact number is on the right.  We have reserved a few overnight rooms, so if you are in need of a sleeping room let us know.  You’ll be able to inform us of that when you register.

You can obtain a Agenda of the days Class offerings by clicking here:  October 8th Agenda

Wednesday the 28 day of September 2011 at seven o’clock pm in the Greek Ionic (5C) of the Detroit Masonic Temple

Your attendance at these Lodges of Instruction are very important so we may work to improve the ritual work for our lodges.
The secretaries of each lodge will receive this summons by U.S. MAIL.
You are encouraged to bring your Laptop and/or Flash Drives, I have a number of files that may be of interest to you.

We will be selecting lodges to host future Lodges of Instruction at this meeting. I wish to move them around on the various meeting nights, preferable during thelast week of each month. I do not want to interfere with your regular schedules.  However, I would like each lodge to advise me of their upcoming degree  work so that I may occasionally attend.

This meeting in September will be hosted by Zion Lodge. I will be asking each lodge in turn to host and furnish light refreshments and beverages.
Districts 60 & 61 are most probably to be merged as we only have seven lodges
left in the Detroit Masonic Temple.

All interested Master Masons are welcome. We want to learn from each other.

Fraternally,
ROBERT L. MURPHY, P.M.
District Deputy Instructor
District 60-61

P.S, At present the email list consists mainly of the Masters and Secretaries of
the Lodges of District 60. If anyone wishes to be added to this list, please let me
know. Just send me your email and a request to be added to the District 60-61
Distribution List.

EDIT – Personal contact information has been scrubbed from the public reposting of this notice. Please contact a Lodge officer for Worshipful Bro. Murphy’s information.

Brothers,

After we conduct a degree it is common for us to give a pat on the back and say good job to those who participated and to welcome the new brothers with a hearty hand shake. This last degree has sparked a different feeling in me that I thought I would share.

Our ancient craft is possibly as old as the ages. All this time a lesson has been handed down generation to generation. There are many different facets to this lesson; the part that resonated most with me on this occasion was the masters’ word. This word can only be handed down by an experienced master at close proximity and in a particular fashion.  By this I am reminded how grateful we are and should be to the tried and true brothers who have carried this with them and have pulled each of us up with the strong grip and with the help of the lodge.

It occurred to me that during this degree it is not merely done physically but I believe this allegory is in some way alluding to the degree itself. This is our craft.  The production of this degree is not easy, nor should it be. No one man can raise another without the help of his brothers and no one can without knowing the proper grip that only truly traveled men possess.

Remember this grip and remember that it can only be shared in this way and the degree is no longer some long laborious process we have to go through before dinner. It is then replaced with reverence and admiration for the craft itself and a great respect for those brothers who have held this word so close and for so long. There is truly something sublime in witnessing it and in participating. It goes almost without saying that this is not the only lesson handed down, every time we do it another will be there, perhaps one that has been long lost and that we must name as the new brother utters it for the first time as he is raised.

I offer my sincerest thanks to Worshipful Brother Bill Betz and to Worshipful Brother Max Schneider for raising these new brothers and for their stewardship of this lesson. The masters’ word is not lost.  I also challenge all of us to perform this degree with the reverence and dignity it deserves every time.  This ensures it will not be lost on our watch.

The MTA staff has been doing a great job of booking the facilities and  has reported the following events:

Recent Events
“Amend Don’t End” Supporting film incentives
Mixed Martial Arts
The Detroit Economics Club Panel Discussion

Upcoming Events
26  August -  Gucci Mane
10 September and 15 October – Comedy Show
12 November – Swing Dancing
3 December – Urban Craft Fair

In addition there are weddings and private parties booked through the end of the year and beyond. Please Join us in supporting these events and in keeping our temple clean.