Golden Ark Lodge #595

TRESTLEBOARD

                 MARCH 2009

Volume 12, Number 03

Trestle-Board

23/FEB/09 – MM Degree 6:00 pm 1 candidate dinner to follow

02/MAR/09 – Regular Communications 7:00 PM

09/MAR/09 – MM degree 6:00 pm 2 candidates(no dinner)

16/MAR/09 – MM degree 6:00 pm 1 candidate – dinner for all

23/MAR/09 – Visit to Hiram Lodge 110 in Flat Rock

30/MAR/09 – Lodge of Instruction at Lincoln Park Temple 6:00 pm

04/APR/09 – Mason of the Year Party – 6:00 Social Hour

06/APR/09 – Regular Communication 7:00 pm

AF & AM or F&AM

From 1751 to 1813, there were actually 2 Grand Lodges in England.  The difference in AF and AM vs F and AM states goes back to a disagreement between these 2 Grand Lodges in London at that time. 

One group was called the "Moderns", but was actually the older of the 2 English Grand Lodges.  The other group was called the "Antients", which became the "Ancients" in AF and AM.

Due to this disagreement, the 2 groups broke into separate Grand Lodges.  The disagreement was later healed around 1880, but by that time, there were lodges and Grand Lodges all over the United States that were descended from one group or the other, and so each group kept their corresponding initials with which they were formed, (which is the reason for which there are small differences within different states' ritual wording and Grand Lodge By-Laws and procedures).

Greetings from the EAST      

Brethren, Family, and Friends

                                                 
I hope that this letter finds each of you in Good Health. I would like to thank everyone who attended and helped out at our annual Daytona 500 party to benefit our coat and boot fund. Once again, with your help, we raised more funds for a worthy cause

I am calling a mandatory officers meeting following our regular business meeting on Mon. March 2nd. I would like to see all of my officers there. March is going to be a busy month, with degree work, SR. Warden dinners, and our annual St Patty’s party on the 14th at 6:00 pm. Also on the 14^th, elections will be held for BGP. and DDI officers, at the Trenton-Wyandotte Lodge at 4:00 pm. Myself, the sitting Wardens, and ALL Past Masters are eligible to vote. Our own SW, WB John Miller, has expressed interest in running for the office of DDI for district 50.

We will have a Master Mason degree on the 9th and the 16th with one dinner for all of our newly raised brothers. The 30th is Lodge of Instruction, hosted by Wolverine Lodge, at the Lincoln Park Temple at 7:00 pm.

I am going to conclude by saying I need everyone’s help to make this another successful year here at Golden Ark          

Until Next month…

Fraternally,

Russell D Ouellette WM

Writings from the WEST

Brethren, Family and Friends

Happy Spring!! (Well, almost) It is the time of the year that the flowers start to bloom, grass starts to grow, the birds start to sing, and we all start our Spring Cleaning. Let us remember that there are others out there that still need our help, in one way or another, so please, before you discard those unwanted clothes, boxes, etc., be sure to check around – not only here at Lodge, but also in the neighborhood – for someone that may be able to use these items.

March 10, at 6:30 pm, will be a SW Dinner for Lincoln Park-Ionic, Wolverine, River Rouge, Findlater, and Sojourners Lodges at the Lincoln Park Temple – Ladies are invited and the cost is $10. Reservations are needed by 02/MAR/09. I hope to see many of you there. Our SW Dinner will be on Thursday 19/MAR/09 at 6:30 pm, in conjunction with Allen Park Key, West-Gate Cyrus, and Sunlight Lodges. This year Allen Park will be hosting. Costs have not yet been determined, but should be the same as last year ($12.50). I hope to see many of you there for an evening of fine fellowship and a great dinner. For a complete listing of the upcoming SW Dinners, stay tuned to this newsletter, or visit www.masonicmasters.com

We are planning on having a Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser for our Boot & Coat fund, in September. Tentative date is set for September 26^th. Our Lodge has donated almost $4000.00 worth of boots and coats to the children at Taylor Parks School who would otherwise not be prepared for the harsh Michigan Winters.  We will be pre-selling tickets for this dinner, so stay tuned for more information and help us to help the kids.

Our Thursday classes are still on-going, but the attendance has seemed to dwindle a bit. We use these evenings to discuss Masonry, work on proficiencies, practice ritual work, and just have some good fellowship. These “classes” are open to ALL Masons, no matter what degree, or which Lodge they are a member of. Come and join us here at the Lodge. We meet just about every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm. Due to my schedule with the MMA, soccer, and Scouts, there are some evenings that we do not meet, but I try to give due and timely notice on these occasions. This is NOT a formal meeting, but it is educational.

Until Next month – stay on the Level, and live by the Square

WB John R Miller, SW

salutations from the SOUTH

Greetings Brothers,

                     Up Coming Events

1-      St. Patrick’s Day Party   -- Sat March 14 ,09

2-      Mason Of The Year Party  --April 4 ,09   COST==$ 15.00

3-      Master Mason Dinner – March 16, 09

4-      Annual Lodge Picnic – August 22, 09 – Jay Cee Park

I am looking forward to another productive year

Paul Louden– JW

Secretary Scribbles

Foundations of Freemasonry and the Bible

For Christians, Freemasonry and the Bible are intricately connected....just as the Holy Books of other religions are central to their Freemason foundations.
 

The Creator:  It is to the Supreme Architect of the Universe, our Creator, he of many names around the world, that each of us worship.

Masonic Symbols:  Ark of the Covenant, the Mosaic Pavement, Jacob's Ladder, the Lambskin Apron, King Solomon's Temple and others.

Masonic Ritual Degree Verses:  The 3 verses within the 3 Masonic Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason are direct quotes from the Bible.

Biblical Characters:  King Solomon, Hiram Abif, Hiram of Tyre, Tubal Cain, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, Jacob and Jacob's Ladder, etc.  All are biblical characters.

Masonic Altar:  The Masonic altar holds a Holy Book (or several Holy Books, depending upon the personal religions of its members).  It is around this Holy book that Freemasons circumambulate in their attempts to perform acts pleasing to the Creator. 

Masonic Charity:  The origins of Masonic charity begin with The Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37)

And so it is written that no man should ever engage in any important undertaking without first invoking the aid and blessing of Deity.   

DATED PUBLICATION—PLEASE DO NOT DELAY

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED –RETURNED