8th Annual Ward A. Peterson Memorial Pool Event - March 13, 2013

SUCCESS!!!!!!!! Brothers we need to celebrate this milestone. This Pool Event was the largest one yet. We had over 45 men through the doors. Unlike past years many of our visitors were not Masons but men interested in our Order. I hope those interested in the Craft enjoyed themselves and learned a little more about what Freemasonry is.

We have to thank Bro. Donald Monheim , our President, Bro. Zach Burgess, our Vice President, and Bro. John Balk, our cook, for their hard work. They helped so much in making this night the best yet. The food was amazing and the raffle prizes the best yet. Each Brother that donated this year, thank you so much! Your help allowed us to build the Ward A. Peterson Benevolence Fund even more so. The security of this fund is all but ensured with your continued support. Brothers helping Brothers, that is what Masonry is all about. Many more pictures will be up on the fellowcraft.org site after I reformat them.

And for the winners of the pool tournament, seems Bro. Dennis McMullen and Bro. Ryan Aconfora hustled the tables again this year. I said it last year, you simply cannot trust the guy who brings his own que and sandpaper to not to win. Congrats!

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale

 

March 8th 2013 - Western New York Lodge of Research presents Bro. Zachary Burgess and Masonic Scotland

The Western New York Loge of Research has been kind enough to invite the Brothers of Harmonie Lodge to speak on many occasions. It has been a joy and an honor to have been invited so often and be welcomed so warmly. Support the Lodge of Research,  it is a gem of our Masonic community and some of the most opened minded and eager Brothers I know of. 

Bro. Burgess was lucky enough to get married to a wonderful woman in a wonderful location, Scotland. His lecture covered his travels while visiting. Interestingly enough he was able to "persuade" his wife to be to visit a wide range of historic Masonic sites while there. This was his first full lecture outside of Harmonie. He did very well and his program was interesting and spurred much conversation. He is formating his program so that we can publish on the Harmonie digital library. Take a look once we have it up. Bro. Burgess took some wonderful pictures of some hard to see sections of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. 

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale 

February 27th - W:. Di Natale presents "The Orders of Architecture and the Winding Stairs"

The Middle Chamber Lecture is a deep and intense section of Ritual. Sadly, due to sudden illness I was unable to give the full form lecture as I intended during the Degree (dry air gives me nosebleeds every time). To make it up to our class of Fellowcrafts, I lectured on this often neglected section of New York Ritual (for those in NY its the part in italics. Those outside NY its the section about the pillars). This section is rich in esoteric philosophy and pulls deeply from the work of Vitruvius. If you have never read it over or seen it, you must. You are cheating yourself out of the richness of our work. It adds so much to the beauty of the Degree.  

By chance, at the district town hall meeting our Deputy Grand Master spoke of an older lecture known as the "Dew Drop Lecture". This amazing ritual section is not used in the US any more, part of the concessions made at the Baltimore Masonic Convention of 1843 removed it. Our modern Middle Chamber Lecture took its place. I had never heard of this lecture. Serendipitous, as it fit perfectly into topics covered at this lecture. I have attached it in this blog entry. Read it! Simply one of the most amazingly beautiful and deep  ritual variations I have ever read.   

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale 

Charlotteville Lodge No. 73 - W:. Di Natale presents "Masonic Restorations Movements" February 20th, 2013

I am truly humbled to have been invited back to Charlotteville Lodge. Last year I was asked to come and speak on the form, function and history of the Masonic Tracing Boards. A program that was first premiered at the Erie County School of Instruction in 2010. It was very well received but not nearly as popular as "Masonic Restoration Movements". I have been asked by dozens of Lodges and at least three districts to speak on the topic of renewing our Craft. This event was attended by well over 20 Brothers and we even had guests from Red Jacket Lodge (thats the Grand Master's Lodge) in attendance. What I truly loved was the length of the questions and answers section. The Brothers' enthusiasm had me answering questions almost as long as the program, a true first for me!  

If you have not visited the Brothers of Charlotteville Lodge No. 73, go and do it. They are a wonderful group of hungry Brothers. They are actively trying to build an even more stupendous Masonic edifice then they have already built. They also have a very classy newly renovated Lodge room with some fantastic furniture. To help their Lodge raise funds they sell some of the best pizzelles this Italian has ever had. Made with a secret recipe and with real anise oil. That is worth the trip alone. I very much hope to be asked to lecture for them next year. 

Around the quarry,

Bro. D 

January 28th 2013 - Ancient Landmarks Lodge No 358 - Burn's Supper

The best Burn's Supper yet! The Brothers of Landmarks held their second of what I hope to be many more on Monday January 28th. The food was amazing, the fellowship sublime and the memory and celebration of the Immortal Bard was riotous. For those that have never gone to a Burn's Supper, it is a celebration of the life and work Bro. Robbie Burns the legendary poet and truest son of Scotland. Landmarks Lodge having deep Scottish roots from their merger with Christopher G. Fox Lodge have held a Masonic version of this supper the last two years. This years was even more special as it held a memorial for R:. W:. Julies Ferrand who past last year. The Brothers of Harmonie were there in force with us joining in the celebration.

I very much cannot wait for next year's to come. Be there and help support our Brothers at the 358.

W:. D

January 12th 2013 - Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club - Masonic Movie Night

Sometimes it is nice to just relax with Brothers and friends and enjoy a good movie. On January 12th the R.J.K held a Masonic movie night and watched "The Crossing". This A and E movie covers Bro. George Washington's crossing the Delaware to take the fight to the Hessians at Trenton. I really liked this film as it show the epic men of history that fought for our freedom in a very human light. They were men just like us filled with doubts, ambition and fear. It is an older made for TV movie but over all it was very well done. It stars Jeff Daniels as George Washington, which I thought he did very well. If you have not seen it I would get a copy. It is only about $15 on amazon and well worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Crossing-Jeff-Daniels/dp/B00007GZYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359347192&sr=8-1&keywords=the+crossing

Enjoy the movie!

W:. Dan Di Natale

January 9, 2013 - Return of the Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club

Brothers,

Harmonie is privileged in that we operate year round. No dark period for us only a few weeks around the winter holidays and then back into the quarry. The R.J.K Fellowcraft Club has been meeting for the last 8 years and has been wonderfully successful. The R.J.K is responsible for the lighter side of our Masonic activities from fellowship outings and fundraisers the R.J.K has it covered. It even caters to the hungry minds when the Lodge is not operating offer wonderful Masonic education in a less formal atmosphere.  

On January 9, 2013 the club held is annual election of officers. It was the most contested election we have ever had, which is wonderful. The Brothers selected the men that they felt would best lead them in the coming year. After the vote was held the Brothers selected:

President: Brother Donald Monheim
Vice-President: Brother Zachary Burgess
Secretary: Brother Joshua Keim (Re-elected for a fourth term)
Treasurer: Brother Nonso Ilogu

What a wonderful group of men group of men to lead the 2013 fellowcraft season. We have a lot of events planed and many more coming. make sure to keep up with events at the Fellowcraft website fellowcraftclub.org.

Hope to see you there,

W:. Dan Di Natale

2nd Degree Tracing Board Lecture - November 28th 2012

Dear Brothers,

I am still catching up on the Lodges happenings. Good news, I am almost caught up in reporting. On November 14, 2012 Harmoanie Lodge passed seven Brothers to the Degree of Fellowcraft. It was an impressive Degree executed near flawlessly by Bro. Michael Peter Guzack our Junior Warden. This was his first run in the East and I have to say I was very proud of his work.

As part of the proficiency work at Harmonie candidates to the Craft must attend Tracing Board lectures.   It is here that the novice to the Craft is imparted deeper esoteric knowledge and understanding about our beautiful work. On November 28, 2012 Bro. Guzack lead the Lodge in open discussion on the 2nd Degree Tracing Board. Bro. Guzack made the choice to use the Gregory Steward 2nd Degree Tracing Board to drawn his lessons from. This board, in my opinion, in one of the deepest and most complicated boards. It pulls symbols from alchemy, kabbalah and many other deep esoteric philosophies and practices. It inspired much lively discussion.

If you have never attended a Tracing Board lecture, please come. It is a wonderful Masonic tradition that fell to the wayside in the US. In recent years it has become one of the most important focal points in Harmonie Lodge's return to true Craft Masonry.

Around the quarry,

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale

November 10th - Western New York Lodge or Research - Bro. Joshua Keim Speaks on the "Lewis"

The "Lewis" something European Masons know about but we American Masons have limited exposure to. Bro. Joshua Keim brought his work on the subject to the Western New York Lodge of Research to enlighten us on this neglected topic. It was an Bro. Keim's first educational program and as member of the audience I was very impressed. Bro. Keim lectured on not only the operative nature of the Lewis but the ritual origin of it in Masonry. The practice of making the son of a Mason a member was something I knew about but methods used were not something I had ever heard of until Bro. Keim spoke on it. Bro. Keim went deep into Egyptian Rite and French Rite Freemasonry and how deeply important the Lewis was to their practice.

I would advise talking to Brother Keim about his work. It was wonderfully put together and engaging. I have been a more then a few Discussion groups this topic brought on some wonderful conversation. 

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale

November 26th - Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 358 American Table Lodge

Brothers,

My sincerest apologies for not keeping on the Lodge happenings. With the holidays and flu epidemic it has been very hard to keep things up. Thankfully, I am well again and though I enjoy the holidays I am  happy to see them over.

On November 26th, Brothers Monheim, Chapin and I had the pleasure of sharing Ancient Landmarks Lodge's American Table Lodge. It was a wonderful time, wonderful food and stellar fellowship. The toasts went long into the evening. I was again given the honor to speak to the Brethren about our rich Buffalo Masonic heritage. It was an an absolute pleasure to share this evening with Landmarks. I look forward to their upcoming Burn's Supper and Kipling Night.

W:. Daniel J. Di Natale

Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

On the morning of Saturday, November 10, Brothers Ben Kaminski, Eric Jacisin, and Tim Borowski departed Buffalo. The were followed shortly after by W:. Jim Mirusso of Living Stone Lodge with yet another vehicle. This small convoy was headed for the downstate New York area in vehicles laden down with much needed supplies in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Thanks to their efforts, as well as organizational prowess of Brother John Budowski, two pickups and trailers, as well as a van, were loaded to capacity with clothing, diapers, cleanup supplies, nonperishable food, and numerous other necessities. The brothers that went brought back stories that I can only describe as humbling. I need not tell most of you of the dire situation in that area, and Bro. Kaminski informed me that things were even worse across the river. Nearly all of the supplies went to a relief center, with the remainder going to a brother in need that lost the first floor of his home to the flooding.

But don't take my word for it, Bro Jacisin sums it up better than I could ever hope to:

Imagine arriving at a collection site after dark with 50 cases of donated cereal from General Mills. We got help from NYPD to unload the cereal. By the time we parked the empty vehicles the cereal was moved into the production line and half was gone. Imagine bumping into a small little girl clutching a box of Luck Charms that you had just delivered. She was so happy to have her favorite cereal again even though she had NO milk and no home to go back to to eat it, but she had HER Lucky Charms DAMN IT!! It damn near brought me to my knees. We gave at least one person a glimmer of hope in that "crater." The street was filled with people because their home are all condemned and they have nowhere to go yet.

With that, I just wanted to thank EVERYONE that contributed, and there are so many of you. Special thanks go out to General Mills for their gracious donation of fifty cases of cereal, and V:. W:. John Allen of Tompkins Lodge #471 for opening his home to our brothers for the weekend.

That being said, if anyone is still looking to contribute, we are coordinating further relief efforts in conjunction with Mariners Lodge. We will be passing the hat at the upcoming communication. If anyone would like to contribute that will not be attending, please contact any officer of Harmonie, and we will see that your donations make it to those who need it most.