Harmonie Lodge No. 699

Cornerstone Award to W:. Bro. Alios Altendrofer

2012-02-26T21:50:00.004-05:00

Dear Brothers,

It was my distinct pleasure to witness the Cornerstone Award be issued to W:. Bro. Alios Altendrofer. W:.Bro. Altendrofer has served Harmonie as Master 11 times. He is the longest serving Master that Harmonie has ever had. It it was not for his service, what would become the Harmonie of today may never have happened. It is for this reason that Worshipful Fredrick G. Clark II honored him today. If any of the Brothers would like to reach out to Louie, just drop the Secretary a line for his contact information. Louie loves a visit from his Brothers.

Recap: The 7th Annual Ward A. Peterson Charity Pool Tournament

2012-02-23T22:53:00.003-05:00

My Brothers,

What an amazing event! We had over 30 friends and Brothers that attended this event. This is the largest turnout the pool tournament has ever had. I want to personaly thank Bro. Burgess for manning the bar, Bro. Samuel, McMullen and Keim for running the bracket, Bro. Chapin for taking care of the money and each Brother that help during the night. This was the smoothest event I think we have ever had. All the Brothers came together and it made for a special night. I also want to thank the generosity of each of the Brothers that donated to the event. Your gift made is possible for this event to be as much fun as it was.

I have been getting calls, text and emails about how thankful people were to me for running such successful event. Please, don't thank me I really didn't do anything. It was the Brothers of Harmonie, all of us, that made this such a successful event. I think we even made a few friends that now have a better idea of what is meant by the "Mystic Tie" and true fellowship of man.

We are still getting the final count from Bro. Chapin for the donation to the Ward A. Peterson Fund. From what I have heard from Bro. Chapin this was the largest amount raised for the Ward, ever. We should be very proud of that.

Brother Kelly's Auto Emblems

2012-02-16T22:13:00.004-05:00

Hello Brothers,

Our own Brother Steve Kelly has designed a very nice auto emblem for your car or anywhere a Masonic emblem can go. No fooling around, these things are huge about 5 inches in diameter. I spoke with Brother Kelly and he is even working on ways to customize the emblem with your Lodge's name on them. They are made of high quality resin and hand painted by Brother Kelly himself. I am sure if you talk to him he may even be able to give you a custom painted job. I know he is planning on having a few available at the pool tournament on the 22nd. These are Made by a Brother for a Brother. You can't beat that. if you would like one he is taking order in person or over Facebook. I believe he will have them on ebay soon.

www.brotherhoodaprons.com

2012-02-03T23:21:00.005-05:00

http://www.brotherhoodaprons.com/

My Dear Brothers,

Each month I try to bring you a review of the finest in Masonic Regalia. This month have a special review of my favorite producer of Masonic Aprons, in my opinion the best United States, Brother William Ellis (Delton Lodge No.105 F and A. M of Georgia) of Brotherhood Aprons.

I found Brother Ellis when he was first getting started on ebay. I found a few aprons he made, nothing crazy just ultra high quality plain white apron for dress wear. I fell in love with the craftsmanship as soon as I got my first in the mail. In fact each year since, our Candidate's Aprons have been made by him. Each year our candidates, visitors and Brethren can’t believe the quality of the Aprons. They are just that amazing.He is also the only craftsmen I know that makes true white lambskin aprons (other company state it is but in the fine print it states "lambskin like product").

I had read many books and have seen the amazing works of art that once were Masonic Aprons. I discovered that it used to be common Masonic practice to have your own custom Apron, an Apron made by you representing your love of the Craft. I want something like that so badly and I found it in Brother Ellis’s work. I have 5 Aprons that he has made for me other the years and I wear them every chance I get. Brother Ellis is a joy to work with and has helped me develop many of the custom items our Lodge has in it's collection.

His Aprons are made by him and his wife, all in the USA. The best part of it is his pricing. His Aprons are priced a fifth of what other Masonic Regalia companies charge and his quality is vastly superior. Even better, what you can dream he can design.I have yet to stump him on a design and each one I send only comes back better then what I designed.

Brother Ellis has helped me make my vision of custom Masonic Aprons for Harmonie a reality. I have strongly recommended that each new Brother (and others on the sideline) have one made for him to wear to Lodge after their rising and beyond. Make it a point to visit his webpage and talk to him about your very own custom apron. He just got a new printing machine and from what I have seen the design is only bound by what you can think up.

Harmonie Rings

2012-01-30T18:56:00.005-05:00

For the last few years The R.J.K Fellowcraft Club has been selling our bespoken Lodge rings to our membership. This year we have hit a new high in customization for our rings. We have a choice between two ring styles, the simple cigar band (at top) and the square engraved (at bottom). The above pictures are the styles from other Lodges custom work. The Harmonie Lodge rings are the same design, with our Lodge name and number in the middle with the square and compasses without a "G" in the center.

The cigar band can be customized to to any standard men's ring size. It is highly buffed and can be customized with a variety of symbols next to the Lodge seal. You can choose from a square and compasses, a skull and crossbones, a plumb, a trowel or nothing at all. It is all up to you.

The square engraved style can also be made to any standard men's size ring. As said by the designer of this ring "This is the highest level of design he has accomplished." They are beautiful and comfortable wear. You have the choice of three different styles of sides, as pictured above. We have the privilege of having a new design this year, the amazing skull and crossbones. A surprise for our older members, I am currently working on a customized side design for our Paster Masters for this ring style. We will soon have a customized Harmonie Lodge Past Masters Ring!!!!

Each ring is $125.00 with shipping included. If you know your size just drop me a line and we can have one (or two) ordered up for you. Payment can be made at our website or cash/check at the Club meetings.

Remember, not only will you have some of the best custom made Masonic regalia available, you will be supporting the R.J.K and Ward A. Peterson Fund with your purchase.

These rings are made by a Mason for a Mason, all in the U.S.A.

The History & Symbolism of Masonic Tracing Boards

2012-01-15T13:01:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday, January 18th W:. J. C. Litwin and Bro. Daniel J. Di Natale, of Harmonie Lodge's Concordia Collegium: Academy of the Progressive Science of Freemasonry, will be presenting a lecture on the "History & Symbolism of Masonic Tracing Boards" at Charlotteville Lodge No. 73 in Newfane, New York. Dinner is at 6:30pm with the lecture to follow at 7:30pm. "Masonic Tracing Boards are training devices. In the earliest days ofspeculative Masonry, the Master used to sketch designs on the floor of theLodge before the meeting using chalk. Then he would talk about the drawingduring the meeting. . . However, this sort of preparationwas a time-consuming, laborious and difficult task; and in time it appears thatthe hand drawn diagram was replaced by a floor cloth on which the 'standarddesigns' were available ready to be talked about. Floor cloths (which aresometimes referred to as 'the Master’s Carpet') occupied significant space inthe Lodge, however; and as the ritual became increasingly better developed andmore important during the course of the 18th century the standardized drawingsseem to have been transferred (at least in England) to the 'Tracing Boards,' one Board for each Degree, which are pictures that encapsulate the symbols ofeach of the Degrees." - W. Kirk MacNulty (Masonic Tracing Boards and the Western MetaphysicalTradition, 1996)

The Ronald J. Keel Fellowcaft Club

2012-01-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

http://fellowcraftclub.org/

Four Part Lecture Series @ Western New York Lodge of Research

2012-01-09T16:10:00.001-05:00

Harmonie Lodge's Concordia Collegium: Academy of the Progressive Science of Freemasonry is honored to have been selected to present a 4-Part Lecture Series at the Western New York Lodge of Research this year.

January 14 - "Freemasonry & the American Revolution"
February 11 - "Masonic Renaissance Movements" by Bro. Daniel J. Di Natale
March 10 - "The Adventure of Freemasonry" by Bro. Ryan S. Bonnett
April 14 - "The Influence of Greek Philosophy on Freemasonry" by W:. Nathan A. Shoff

Lectures will be held at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, January through April. The February lecture will be a stated communication held at the Cheektowaga Masonic Center, all other lectures will be held at the Erie Country Masonic Service Bureau.

Our Symbolic Wages: The Elements of Consecration in Freemasonry. By W:. Bro. Shawn Eyer

2011-12-27T19:57:00.006-05:00

Brothers, not long ago W:. Litwin and I gave a lecture about Masonic Tracing Boards and how they were used in the Lodge rooms of old. For those that missed the lecture we will be giving again at Charlotteville Lodge #73 on January the 18th. It was very well received by the Western New York School of Instruction. Even though it was given almost two years ago we still get requests to give it again, which we will be doing in Charlotteville Lodge.

W:. Bro. Eyer work expounds upon the idea we put forth about the central nature of the Tracing Boards in early Masonic workings. He actually demonstrates the Lodge Consecration ritual I discussed in the Tracing Board program. I am not going to spoil this with video a summation. It is well worth your time to watch every second of it. I am so proud to see this level of work being conducted and being made accessible to the whole of the Craft. Take advantage of this opportunity to review world class Masonic research in the leisure of your home, you will not regret it.

Winter Car Survival Kit

2011-12-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

As we are now in theholiday season and still have yet to be burdened by our normal heavy snows, Iwanted to take this time to share with you some things that could save yourlife, your families, and even your fellow Brethren. Being prepared is a mustfor anyone wishing to be of service to those in need. Having a goodunderstanding of how to use certain items & being educated will prove morebeneficial than most of the gear you can ever obtain; though there are somemandatory items not to be without. Here then is a very good list of 'Gear' youmay wish to compile for your trunk. A car or truck should have most of theseitems. You never know if your car will break down, be stuck in the snowsomewhere, or if someone may need your help! I write this because when I wasteenager, someone helped me. This is part of how I give back. Do not be fooledby the commercial kits available at stores. If you must, use them as a basickit to be added to. Let us hope that you never need to use these items, but incase you do this list should prove helpful in most situations. I have taken theliberty to add some links so that you may better understand what some of themore obscure items are.

Winter Car Survival:

Always clean/inspect andtune up your vehicle before heavy snow - Winterize by oil changes, snow tires,snow wiper blades, etc.

Have a Basic First Aidkit.

Clothing:

~ extra winter gloves *frostbite only takes a few minutes to set in

~ extra winter hat*remember about 80% of heat is lost through the head

~extra sweaters, and orjacket

~ heavy duty work gloves

~ A safety reflectivevest-http://www.amazon.com/Safety-Fluorescent-Silver-Stripe-Polyester/dp/B002FCJ8SQ

~ Extra scarf

~ Extra socks -woolhiking type

Small basic tool kit:screw drivers, needle nose pliers, channel lock pliers, crescent wrench.

~ Rope (50-100 feet ofreal 500lb. test 7 strand para cord) do NOT be fooled by 'fake' stuff stillcalled para cord, make sure it has 7 inner strands!

~ Tow Rope (strongenough to tow a truck)

~ Strobe light- http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___87551

~ Road flares

~ Extra Batteries

~ Glow sticks

~ “Heat” - car rocksalt.

~ Emergency gas

~ Gas can & $20 cashin glove box

~ Jumper cables

~ Road reflectortriangle

~ Extra windshieldde-icer

~ Water bottle.http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___23236

~ A good Multi-tool-http://www.knivesplus.com/LEATHERMAN-TOOLS.HTML

~A key chain ledflashlight- http://www.photonlight.com/

~ Flashlight. There aremany good ones on the market, use a good one with good reviews that is reliableand durable.

~ 2 knives:

My suggestions

Folder: swiss army - used as a back upto your multi tool

Fixed blade: ka bar heavy duty warthogmodel (1278)- strong, can even be used in buttoning wood for fires, veryaffordable.

http://www.amazon.com/Ka-bar-1278-Ka-Bar-Heavy-Duty-Warthog/dp/B004NN5QEA

*** Though any goodfixed blade will work, so use your common sense for the situations that mightoccur.

A Great knife link: http://www.knivesplus.com/index.html

~ Polar Tec blankets -http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80905

~ Gallon of water

~ Food.....MRE's/snickers/nuts/jerky/can beans/tuna/dried fruit/ anything nonperishable

~ A good book to read

~ A few BIC lighters

~ Snow Shovelhttp://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___60630 OR http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___82859?cm_vc=PDPZ1#

~ Sunglasses

~ Emergencyblanket-reflective http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___89035

~ Hand warmers (push buttonactive kind) http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Factory-Premium-Hand-Warmer/dp/B001OPMFK8

~ Solar cell phonecharger- http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/portable+battery+chargers.html

http://www.rei.com/category/4500031

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/507044?qs=3006392_pmd_google

~ Fix a flat

~ Insta-Fire-http://www.instafire.com/home.htm

~ Extra toys (if youhave children)

*** Any extra medicationyou may need such as inhalers, insulin, epi pen, or other life savingmedications.

Some of these items arevery helpful but not necessary. Though ask yourself this, wouldn't you ratherbe comfortable and allow your wife/girlfriend or children to be if there is asituation. You never know how long, or where you could be stranded. What if yousaw someone on the side of the road that needed your help, wouldn't you like tobe able to offer them a hand? More so, what if that car was one of us, aBrother in need?

Lastly I wanted to sharetwo of my favorite books on survival, they are educational, detailed,scientific, and funny!

98.6 degrees of Keepingyour ass alive-http://www.amazon.com/98-6-Degrees-Keeping-Your-Alive/dp/1586852345

When all Hell breaksloose: Stuff you need to Survive when disaster strikes-http://www.amazon.com/When-All-Hell-Breaks-Loose/dp/142360105X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

If you wish to contactme privately about any of these items; my reviews/opinions, and use of them, Iwould be happy to open a dialogue with you about anything at all. 716-572-2908

Stay warm, stay safe,and enjoy your holiday season!

Fraternally,

Bro. Krebs

The Best of Masonic Regalia

2011-12-15T23:03:00.003-05:00

I thought this holiday season it would be in the theme of things to start a monthly article on one of the things I love best, Masonic regalia. I have spent countless hours searching for the very best in Masonic items and each month I hope to share with you what I have found in my search.

One thing you will find when looking at high quality Masonic regalia is the love and craftsmanship that goes into each item. I have yet to find an item of superior quality that does not have a Brother behind it, not a factory or soulless machines cranking out the same thing. You will find a true craftsman designing each detail. That is it what makes our regalia unique, the soul that is placed in it by the craftsmen.

One of the companies I first discovered was Fraternal Ties by Bro. John Paul Gomez of Doric Lodge No. 316, way out in the cold wastes of Canada (like 2 hours from us in Buffalo!). I recall finding him on eBay selling an amazing red silk tie. It was designed to have a very 1800s look that had square and compasses hidden in the design. An amazing tie that I could wear everyday, not too over the top that people would look at it and be taken aback by the design. It is a simple and wonderful design that got me hooked to his work. I have bought all but two of the ties he has made since. I can tell you that with each new tie -- well they just get better.

Bro. Gomez's ties are often very subtle, so one could wear the tie every day and none would be the wiser that it was a Masonic tie. Bro. Gomez’s attention to the art of design has made his ties unique and modern, no silly square and compasses tie over cheap nylon, just high-end fabrics and innovative designs.

He also runs a blog off his website, www.fraternalties.com, where he has many wonderful works of Masonic art he generously posts free of charge as wallpaper for your computer (I can't recall a time I did not have one as my I-Pad’s wallpaper) and articles on his esoteric Masonic muses.

As a lover of the finer things made for Masons, I can tell you that Fraternal Ties is of the finest I have ever seen. Do yourself a favor, be a Mason in style, and wear your light with the dignity it deserves, wear the “tie that binds.”

Harmonie 699 listed among nation's most prestigious Lodges

2011-11-30T18:48:00.001-05:00

Harmonie Lodge was recently honored by being addedto Academia Lodge No. 847's list of Traditional Lodges, i.e. "MasonicLodges emphasizing substantial education and/or a more traditional approachoverall. This list includes, but is not limited to, Traditional Observance andEuropean Concept lodges." Harmonie's brand of Janusian Masonry has beengreatly influenced by both Traditional Observance and European Concept lodgesand we are greatly honored by being listed among these 45 other Lodges of excellence.We are also pleased to be one of the four Lodges listed that are under theaegis of the Grand Lodge of New York. We are thrilled to stand shoulder toshoulder with St. John's Lodge No. 1, Independent Royal Arch No. 2, and ourgood friends from Mariners Lodge No. 67. Please click the link belowto see the list of Lodges. These websites are a tremendous resource for theserious student of Masonry and casual observer alike.

http://academialodge.org/resources_lodges.php

Rough Ashlar

2011-11-25T21:09:00.000-05:00

When I was told that I needed to produce a “Master’s Piece”before the third degree I wasn’t sure what to expect out of myself. What could I possibly bring to thetable? Certainly not some great work ofart, not a musical masterpiece, or even an article on Freemasonry itself. The cold hard conclusion is that I am anunder educated, under skilled, classless man who wants to obtain light inMasonry. How could a man such as myselfproduce something worthy of the title “Master’s Piece” and be proud to place myname on it, claiming it as my own? Stephen King came to mind. Kingonce said "you are the unfortunate ones who still get the lovemaking allconfused with the paltry squirt that comes to end the lovemaking (the orgasmis, after all, God’s way of telling us we’ve finished, at least for the timebeing, and should go to sleep)." Although a crude statement, it is one of my favorites. What King was trying to say is simply it’sthe journey that counts. I believe thatstatement applies to Masonry. Masonry,to me, is not the beginning of my journey, nor the end. So instead of writing a “Master’s Piece” Idecided to write about the under educated Mason (myself and I’m certain thereare others) and the journey taken as a rough ashlar.

Each time I step into the lodge or even the dining area Ifeel intimidated. It has been difficultto keep up in conversations that I know nothing about. The vocabulary used confuses me. Most of the Masons I’ve met know about history,philosophy, politics, and are very well read. I however, do not know about these things, and I am not well read. I am a 23 year old high school graduate. I play video games in my spare time and Ihave a job as a security guard. I couldhave stepped out and quit at any time -- but I didn’t. An under educated Mason such as myself learnssomething new each time he steps into lodge. If I had known everything before I walked in the door, I wouldn’t belearning anything new. Lodge would beboring, and I probably wouldn’t want to be a Mason. For now I am happy sitting on the sidelines,warming the bench, and just listening. The more I listen the more educated I become. As I become educated, I become lessintimidated. As I become lessintimidated I am able to participate more in discussions and ask appropriatequestions. This is the path I am takingto become a better man and Mason.

How else do I benefit from Freemasonry? Other than the obvious educational aspectthere is a sense of comradery. Myselfbeing a former military man, the friendship and brotherly love offered byFreemasonry acts as a replacement for the fellowship amongst soldiers. No one can deny that it is a benefit ofFreemasonry to know that no matter where a Mason goes, there are others aroundthat can recognize him for what he is, and treat him with the same respect hewould his own family. We are brothers,and that is not a term that I personally would take lightly. The world looks different and feels differenteveryday when you know that by the decisions you make, you may be letting yourbrothers down. Although I have not yetbeen passed to the degree of Master Mason, I do take my obligationsseriously. Sometimes that’s all that weas men need to walk uprightly during our day-to-day activities. Bettering myself as a man betters myself as aMason and allows me to represent our fraternity proudly. This could not be done without the constantthought of letting down my fellow brothers.

This is not to say that an under educated Mason onlybenefits himself by attending lodge. Because I am not educated I have the ability to ask questions that maybeno one else would have bothered to ask. These questions can inspire conversation and learning even amongst“veterans” of the Craft. Thegenerational difference that a young under educated Mason brings allows thefraternity to continue growing as time continues. This keeps the fraternity from becomingoutdated, and also potentially attracts new members.

A man can memorize rituals, or phone books, or moviequotes. I do not feel that this benefitsthe individual or the world around him. It is a great starting point for tradition's sake and as an introductionto the Craft. We as Free and AcceptedMasons only benefit ourselves and the fraternity through our daily actions andunderstanding of what it is to be a Mason. Regardless of age and education, each driven member of the lodge willfind a way to benefit himself and his brothers. I am not proud of the man I am, but I am proud of the man I will becomethrough dedication to both the lodge and myself.

- Bro. Jason Bonnett

Famous Freemasons of Forest Lawn Cemetery Tour

2011-11-18T21:41:00.001-05:00

“Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, when wevisited the Masonic Plots;

I see no reason why our distinguished Brethrenshould ever be forgot”

Membersof Harmonie Lodge No. 699 and visiting Brothers were joined by friends andfamily as our own Daniel Di Natale, with the assistance of Peter Filim, ofAncient Landmarks Lodge No. 358 and a Docent of Forest Lawn, guided us on atour of famous Masons interred in the cemetery. All in attendance learned many things about war heroes (specifically theAmerican Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and others), early Buffalopoliticians, frontiersman, natives and past members of Harmonie Lodge and itspredecessors.

Wealso visited Brothers’ memorials of particular aesthetic value, such as BrotherBurton Dow and his modern memorial with its bronze “burning bush” and BrotherLawrence Bell, the founder of Bell Aircraft. The Schickel memorial near the Delavan entrance and others lent Masonicsymbolism that was debated and contemplated. Non-Masonic memorials famous to Forest Lawn were also discussed, such asthe Darwin Martin memorial and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Blue Sky Mausoleum.

Thetour was heavily historical and context was given influential people in thesettling of Buffalo, some of which those in attendance were familiar and otherswe had never heard of. Bro. Sgt. PhilipBachert of the famed Weidrich’s Battery of the Battle of Gettysburg and Bro.Col. Cyrenius Chapin, the leader of the Buffalo militia during its invasion in1812 were examples of professional soldiering and amateur defenders. Bro. Gen. Daniel Bidwell is very wellmemorialized in the city with the parkway which bears his name and the statueof him at its beginning. Bro. ErastusGranger, whose simple marker lies in stark contrast to his contributions to theRevolutionary War, the War of 1812, early Masonic Lodges in Western New Yorkand the founding of Forest Lawn. He isthe original owner of the land on which we walked.

Agood time was had by all, who left feeling pride in their city and fraternity.

Distinguished Speaker Series

2011-10-31T19:32:00.004-04:00

Harmonie Lodge’s firstdistinguished speaker series kicked off on October 26, 2011. W:. Andrew Hammer, past master of Alexandria-WashingtonLodge No. 22 and author of Observing theCraft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance,presented a thought provoking lecture on Masonry in transition and the need tobe truly "observant" in our Craft. We had many visiting brethren inattendance from Districts as far away as Monroe and Cattaraugus County.

Our next distinguishedspeaker is coming to the Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club on March 28, 2012. We willhave the honor of welcoming R:. W:. Richard Friedman, Chairman of the Custodiansof the Work for the Grand Lodge of New York. In the second half of 2012 we hope to host W:. Shawn Eyer, past master of Academia Lodge No. 847, the premiere Traditional Observance Lodge in California, and editor of Philalethes: The Journal of Masonic Research and Letters, the most highly regarded quarterly magazine focusing on Masonic history, symbolism, philosophy, ritual, and art.

The NEW Harmonie Lodge No. 699 website

2011-10-20T11:05:00.000-04:00

It is with great enthusiasm that I unveil the new Harmonie Lodge No. 699 website.

I wish to thank W:. J. C. Litwin and Bro. Michael Hacker for designing it.

Special thanks to Bro. Gregory Stewart and Bro. Zackary Burgess for their inspiring artwork.

http://harmonie699.org/

Best fraternal regards,

W:. Frederick G. Clark II

Master, Harmonie Lodge No. 699

"Observing the Craft" - Wednesday, October 26th @ 7:30pm

2011-10-13T13:14:00.000-04:00

W:. Bro. AndrewHammer is coming to Harmonie Lodge No. 699 on Wednesday, October26th. He will be presenting a lecture based on his recent book, Observingthe Craft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance.

This lecture is open to all Master Masons. The WM isrequesting a $5.00 donation from non-members to help defray costs. Lodge opens at 7:30 p.m. Ourtraditional Festive Board will follow the lecture.

Observing theCraft is a manifesto of sorts for the observant Mason, who seeks qualityover quantity in every aspect of Masonry.

It is a stringent argument for theSymbolic (Blue) Lodge as the ne plus ultra of the Craft,asking that Masons put actions behind their statements that “nothing is higherthan the third degree.”

It is a book that calls fornothing but the utmost personal effort and commitment to be put into theoperation of a Masonic Lodge, and the experience of a Masonic meeting, insearch of the transformational experience which Masons define as “making goodmen better.”

The Ancient Landmarks: Our Indefinite Boundaries

2011-10-03T17:16:00.000-04:00

W:. Nathan A. Shoff will be lecturing on the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry this Saturday, October 8th at the Western New York Lodge of Research. The lecture begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Cheektowaga Masonic Center located at 97 Lucid Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. All master masons are welcome to attend. W:. Shoff is the immediate past master of Harmonie Lodge No. 699 and a senior faculty member of Concordia Collegium: Academy of the Progressive Science of Freemasonry. His paper "The Ancient Landmarks: Our Indefinite Boundaries" was first published in 2007. It is one of the most detailed works of scholarship on the subject and has received a great deal of critical acclaim. Its thoroughness puts it in league with the scholarship of Albert Mackey and Carl Claudy. You will not regret attending this lecture.

The Adventure of Freemasonry

2011-09-21T13:41:00.003-04:00

It has always bothered me a little that when I wasbrought into the Craft, I had to do little more than be interviewed once andshow up for my degrees. The committee I now sit on requires candidates to writepersonal statement letters and show that they are duly and truly prepared.While the benefit of hind site will never allow me to write the letter I mighthave written in their shoes, I am now able to reflect on the things thatbrought me to where I am now, and put some of the pieces together with moreclarity thanks to the limited wisdom that is inherent to the passing of time,as brief as it may be in my case. And, while I may never be able to elucidateor even identify all of factors that have brought me to where I am today; giventhe inherent shortcomings of self-reflection, I need to give credit where Iknow at least some credit is due. Ergo, I must thank Indiana Jones.

Today,we all know Al Khazneh. Even if you don’t think you do, I can heartily assureyou that you’ve seen it. Literally meaning “the treasury,” it is most famousfor being the entrance to the temple housing the Holy Grail in Indiana Jonesand the Last Crusade. As a child, growing up well before the internet wasin every home and took most of the mystery out of life, I remember watchingIndy ride up to what had to be a model, or a very elaborate set. Of course, inthe years that have passed since my first viewing, childhood naivety hassuccumbed to education, but there was an indelible mark that still hasn’tfaded. For reasons that I hope become apparent, years after finding out that itwasn’t just a set, I was very pleased at the consolation that the origins of AlKhazneh have become largely lost to history.

Fromthat moment forward, I had always told myself that one day I would make a greatdiscovery. I became convinced that somewhere out there, there was somethinglost that I could find. Even then I knew that I would not be the one to locatethe Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, or anything of that ilk. As luck wouldhave it, while I was yet in grade school, explorers conclusively proved thatthey found the legendary city of Troy. Hell, as recently as a few years ago,people seem convinced that the Ark of the Covenant was in a church in Ethiopia.And, thanks to Dan Brown, in the popular mindset the idea of physicallyrecovering the Holy Grail seems outdated, laughable even.

So,life continued, and I began to understand why H. P. Lovecraft devoted so muchof his writing to lamenting the fact that in an industrial and thenpost-industrial age, people had forgotten how to dream. There was nothing leftto discover, unless you wanted to leave the planet. With sincere apologies toany crypto zoologists reading this, Loch Ness and Bigfoot really aren’t worthmy time. The only mysteries I could find within my realm were historical innature, but to date I have not resolved any of the questions that have hauntedus ever since we forgot the answers.

Noneof this, however, could quench the coals of that fire. The fact remained that Ineeded, on an existential level, to explore. So, when a friend joined a locallodge, I did some research, if only for the purpose of my own education. I hadno idea what a Freemason was, or did, or was supposed to be. The one thing thatI found was that of all the different things I heard, the only aspect thatseemed self-evident was that no one could agree on the where, when, or how,regarding the origins of the Craft. Even with the overwhelming evidence thatthe Craft emerged as operative stone mason guilds fell by the wayside, itseemed unlikely that anyone could ever flesh out the details.

Fromthe day I knocked on the door of a lodge, it quickly became apparent that I hadfound what I was looking for, at least to some degree. There were allusions inthe ritual that, when I asked for an explanation, none could give me a straightanswer. While I had known going in that the origins were shrouded in mystery, Iwould never have guessed that even the functional parts of standard ritualstill held their secrets back from men that had joined before I was born.

So itwas that I started down my path, the adventure of which thrills me more todaythan ever. Watching those films again, with a new perspective, I began to piecetogether similarities that I hadn’t previously understood. Indy was a treasurehunter, and throughout the first film little more. However, in Last Crusade,you can see a different side. While ostensibly he was searching for the HolyGrail, the film ends without him being able to possess it, yet ends on what isunquestionably a positive note. He learns to let go, learns that it was thejourney that counted. While the story of a father-son relationship is hardlyunique to that film, it marked a change in the franchise. In what I consider tobe the most remarkable part of the film, Indy seems to have gained more throughhis actions than he could have ever gained by possessing the object he wasafter. And, while I am no Indiana Jones by any stretch of the imagination, intrying to satisfy my quest for knowledge, for exploration, for adventure, Ieventually came to find that I was discovering more about myself and what wastruly important, things that had been in front of my face the entire time.Qualities that I like to think I had always possessed, but did not appreciateor acknowledge, rendering myself incapable of trying to improve them.

Thatwas the moment that I realized Freemasonry was an adventure of two parts. Thefirst adventure is an internal one. An exploration of ourselves, realizing whatwe are capable of, improving it, and pushing ourselves beyond our ill-perceivedlimits. The other adventure is the Craft itself. Scholars of the last centuryhave called us the last vestige of an esoteric tradition that goes back beyondthe edges of what historians can recall, but is still deeply engrained in apart of us that many have forgotten or have chosen to ignore. I, for one, willnot argue with them. Within the ritual there are layers that the wisest amongus may not yet perceive. That which is lost but may one day be found is perhapsthe lynchpin of the entire system. It teaches us allegorical lessons, refers toactual knowledge that we may well have lost, and even applies to each of us inour individual search for whatever it is that we are seeking.

Indy,for being an icon of film, was quite the everyman. His education led him downperilous paths as he searched for things that had been seemingly content to layundiscovered for the rest of time. But he had a drive to rediscover that whichwas lost, and that desire bore him past those trials. He understood that ifthey were out there, we could find them. Thus it is for every traveling man.All of us have the tools necessary to dig as deep as we would like. We do soknowing that we will likely not discover that which has been lost in the mostliteral sense of the word, but can rest well in the knowledge that we may findthings that are even more important along the way, hidden treasures that onlythe individual can know he is looking for. As far as adventures go, mine maynot be film worthy, no artifacts rest in museums due to my efforts, and my nameis not a byword for epic tales, but it’s an adventure that has led me togreater treasure thus far than I could have ever expected, in every sense ofthe word. And I anticipate that it will continue to do so until the day my ownadventure must necessarily come to its end.

RSB

Honoring our District Deputy Grand Master

2011-09-21T12:47:00.000-04:00

On August 24, 2011 the Brethren of Harmonie Lodge had the honor of hosting R:. W:. Paul S. Sabo, District Deputy Grand Master of the 1st Erie District, representing the M:. W:. Vincent Libone, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York. R:. W:. Sabo is a tireless advocate for Freemasonry in Western New York. He has proven himself to be a kind and generous leader, who always has time for his Brethren and the Lodges under his supervision.

R:. W:. Sabo has done an exemplary job of cultivating the potential of the Lodges in the 1st Erie District - and it shows. His forward thinking leadership in support of Ritual Excellence, Masonic Education, and Charitable Endeavors have set the tone for how an upright man and mason should act before God and Man. He is also the Master of the Western New York Lodge of Research.

At his official visit, W:. Ted Clark, Master of Harmonie 699, presented R:. W:. Sabo with a 1901 Pan-Am Exposition commemorative plate and map. Held during the hey day of Buffalo, this international event was planned and organized by a good number of Fellows of the Craft. The Mayor of Buffalo was none other than Harmonie Lodge's secretary, Bro. Conrad Diehl. The key note address was give by the President of the United States, Bro. William McKinley. After his unfortunate assassination, Bro. Teddy Roosevelt, then V. P., was sworn in as President at the Wilcox Mansion on Delaware Avenue.

The Exposition saw the first long-distance transmission of electricity from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, NY. Thus the normal blackness of night was replaced by a city of lights. And as Nicholai Tesla illuminated Buffalo with light, so too does our District Deputy Grand Master bestow the Light of Masonry throughout the 1st Erie District!

Ward A. Peterson Award for Masonic Benevolence

2011-09-21T12:24:00.002-04:00

Bro. Daniel J. Di Natale was bestowed this award for his exemplary service to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Harmonie Lodge.

Bro. Di Natale has been the president of the Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club for two years. In his tenure, he has substantially increased the Ward A. Peterson Benevolence Fund while also leading fundraising efforts, allowing for major donations to the Food Bank of WNY in 2010 and the Masonic Medical Research Lab in 2011.

Albert Pike Award for Masonic Education and Scholarship

2011-09-21T12:15:00.002-04:00

W:. J. C. Litwin was bestowed the Albert Pike Award for Masonic Education and Scholarship for his exemplary service to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Harmonie Lodge No. 699.

He is the founder of Concordia Collegium: Academy of the Progressive Science of Freemasonry and the driving force of restoration found in Janusian Masonry. These efforts allowed Harmonie to win the 2010 Mark Twain Award from the Masonic Service Association of North America. Only 17 Lodges in the United States, and only one in the State of New York, received this honor.

The Cornerstone Award

2011-09-21T12:09:00.003-04:00

R:. W:. Henry Zip Lang, Jr. was bestowed this award for his exemplary lifetime of service to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Harmonie Lodge No. 699 and the Western New York Masonic Community.

· Master of Harmonie Lodge – 1957

· Potentate of Ismailia Temple – 1965

· Grand Steward of the GLNY – 1968

· Director, Royal Order of Jesters – 1979

· Secretary, Harmonie Lodge – 1992 to 2008

The new Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club website

2011-09-06T16:07:00.018-04:00

V:. W:. Ronald J. Keel and R:. W:. Ward A. Peterson

Brethren,

It is my great pleasure to unveil the new and improved Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club website designed by W:. J. C. Litwin and Bro. Michael Hacker. Special thanks to Bro. Greg Stewart for his amazing artwork.

Click the link below to see what all the fuss is about.

THE RONALD J. KEEL FELLOWCRAFT CLUB

I'll see you around the quarry,

Bro. Daniel J. Di Natale
President, RJK Fellowcraft Club

A Tyler's Toast

2011-08-21T11:12:00.000-04:00

The Craftsmen’s work of day is done, the Brethren now must part.
"A Tyler’s Toast" our Master cries, "to warm each faithful heart."
For though we go our separate ways, our bond is ever strong.
The magic of the mystic tie will draw us back ere long.

Until then, think, each time you meet a Brother down on luck,
Whose life is marked by poverty, perhaps by illness struck.
That "If not for the Grace of God, I might walk in his shoes,
I wonder how much I can spare, to help him meet his dues."

And spare a wish for Brethren, who through no fault, their own,
May find themselves in foreign lands, and laboring alone.
That once the day shall come when they no longer need to roam,
May each enjoy a swift and happy voyage to his home.

Long may our Lodges welcome Craftsmen, travelling to the East.
And may our secrets guide good hearts, until each soul’s release
To wing its own way Heavenward, these heartfelt words ingrain,
We're happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.

To our next merry meeting.

The WM welcomes 7 newly initiated Entered Apprentices

2011-08-21T11:01:00.000-04:00

On August 10, 2011 Harmonie Lodge No. 699 had the honor of initiating 7 young gentlemen into our esteeemed ranks.

Our Wonderful Lambskins

2011-08-08T22:29:00.005-04:00

Brethren,

We are so very fortunate to have real lambskin aprons for our upcoming first degree. For the last few years I have searched for the very best in Masonic regalia. I was lucky enough to find Bro. William Ellis from brotherhoodaprons.com. He has been a joy to work with and has provided many of the custom aprons we all have seen around the districts (especially at Harmonie Lodge). These aprons are made by him and his wife, just like the regalia of old, made for a Brother by a Brother. I am so impressed with how amazing these came out that I had to share with all of you just how amazing these aprons are.

For those of you that are not members at Harmonie, do your Lodge a favor speak with Brother Ellis. Stop buying the mass produce catalog regalia. Get it made the way your Lodge's needs it and what your candidates deserve. Gain a true Masonic emblem that will be worn with pride for years to come.

Around the Quarry,

Bro. D

The Mother Lodge

2011-07-28T17:20:00.006-04:00

There was a Rundle, Station Master,
An' Beazeley of the rail;
An' Achman, commissariat,
An' Donkin o' the jail.
An' Blake, cunductor sergeant,
Our Master twice was ‘e,
With ‘im that kept the Europe shop,
Old Framjee Eduljee.
Outside "Sergeant!
Sir! Salute! Salam!"
Inside "Brother"
an' it doesn't do no ‘arm,
We meet upon the level
an' we parted on the square,
An' I was Junior Deacon
in my Mother Lodge out there.
There was Bola Nath, accountant,
And Saul, the Aden Jew,
An, Din Mohammed, draughtsman,
Of the Survey office, too.
There was Babu Chicekerhitty,
An' Amir Singh, the Sikh,
An' Castro of the fittin' sheds,
A Roman Catholic.
We ‘ad n't good regalia,
An' our Lodge was old an' bare;
But we knew the ancient landmarks,
An' we kept ‘em to a hair. An' looking on it backwards,
It often strikes me thus,
There ain't such things as ‘eathen now,
Except, per'aps, it's us.
For monthly after labor
We'd all sit down an' smoke
We durs'nt give no banquets
Least a brother's caste were broke.
An' man on man got bukkin'
Religion an' the rest,
An' every man comparin'
Of the God 'e knowed the best. So man on man got started,
An' not a beggar stirred
Till mornin' waked the parrots,
An' that dam' brain-fever bird.
We'd say't was very curious,
An' we'd all go ‘ome to bed
With Mohammed, God, an' Shiva,
Changin' pickets in our ‘ead. Full out of Gov'ment service
This wanderin' foot ‘ath pressed
An' bore fraternal greetin's
To the Lodges East and West.
Accordin' as commanded,
From Ko'at to Singapore,
But I wish that I might see them
In my Mother Lodge once more.
I wish that I might see them,
My Brethren white and brown,
With the burlies smellin' pleasant
An' the ag-dan passin' down.
An' the old Khansannah snorin'
On the bottle-Khana floor,
Like a Brother in good standing
With my Mother Lodge once more.
Outside-"Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salam!"
Inside-"Brother" an' it doesn't do no ‘arm,
We meet upon the level an' we parted on the square,
An' I was Junior Deacon in my Mother Lodge out there.

Rudyard Kipling

German Table Lodge

2011-07-23T17:16:00.000-04:00

Part of our Lodge’s German heritage is the annual hosting of a Table Lodge. A few other Lodges in Erie County hold similar events, but only Harmonie Lodge presents an unparalleled feast of traditional German (Bavarian) food, drink, and music. The Table Lodge is a time for our brethren to feast and toast to the health of our Lodge, our Brethren, and our Fraternity. Unlike the usual Festive Board, the Table Lodge is modeled after early Masonic meetings in Europe and America, which were literally held at the table. These types of meetings were standard practice for many of the colonial Masons of early America, and were common in the homelands of our founding members. While this type of meeting fell out of fashion around the turn of the 19th century in favor of a more formal meeting, many continental European lodges maintained this tradition. It is from contacts that our brethren made in German lodges that this tradition has been brought to our home in Buffalo.

Past and Present

2011-07-15T00:03:00.001-04:00

Craftsman’s Journey

2011-07-06T19:58:00.003-04:00

As a man with little family
And ne’er the guts to dare

The turning point turned out to be

Parting upon the Square

My heart had heard the Architect

Though this ashlar was rough fare

So I approached the Masons’ Lodge

And knocked what door was there

I was taken by the hand

With no reason to beware

And then I observed the light

Three flicker and three flare

Then I was properly educated

As my mind was so far bare

I took the craftsman’s journey

And I walked that flight of stair

At long last I was made a master

And death held no despair

But my travels were just beginning

The progress is for e’er

So I advanced from a lowly start

Taking seats as was fair

With the hopes I may one day be worthy

Of sitting in Solomon’s Chair

Through this I stay ever mindful

That titles are only a snare

For what good is a Master

That no longer lives with love and care?

Yet through it all vice still hounds me

Clawing at my soul’s lair

Though now I keep it in due bounds

For I am Hiram’s heir

I’d always had Baal’s Bridge wisdom

But I knew not from where

‘Til my Brothers gave me Light

And bid my actions Square

– Bro. Ryan S. Bonnett

Elmlawn Cemetery Masonic Temple

2011-06-24T21:46:00.003-04:00

Join the Mug Club! Table Lodge 2011

2011-06-21T21:39:00.007-04:00

Brothers,

We are a few weeks away from hosting Buffalo's original German Table Lodge. All 50 reservations are spoken for, and there is a growing waiting list. If you have a reservation, but have not yet paid, you need to act NOW! You can do this easily at http://harmonie699.com/members_only.aspx by paying via paypal or by mailing a check to the secretary. Entrance is $30 and with that you get the limited edition 2.75 oz Harmonie Toasting Cannon. You get this with your purchase of the ticket the day of the event to use in sharing our fraternal toast. I know that some of our Brothers would love to attend but cannot due to being busy or simply live too far away. That is no reason to not get a hold of one of these wonderful Toasting Cannons.

For $5 each you can have one of these wonderful Cannons to share in a toast where ever you may be. You can pick them up at Lodge or we can ship them to you. Shipping and handling is $6.00 for up to 3 Cannons. If you are interested in ordering a few for yourself our your Lodge please contact me via facebook or email info@harmonie699.com. All the proceeds will go towards the Lodge, so please Brothers pick up a set.

An Excerpt from Albert Pike's "Morals and Dogma"

2011-06-14T22:33:00.004-04:00

IN the Ancient Orient, all religion was more or less a mystery and there was no divorce from it of philosophy. The popular theology, taking the multitude of allegories and symbols for realities, degenerated into a worship of the celestial luminaries, of imaginary Deities with human feelings, passions, appetites, and lusts, of idols, stones, animals, reptiles. The Onion was sacred to the Egyptians, because its different layers were a symbol of the concentric heavenly spheres. Of course the popular religion could not satisfy the deeper longings and thoughts, the loftier aspirations of the Spirit, or the logic of reason. The first, therefore, was taught to the initiated in the Mysteries. There, also, it was taught by symbols. The vagueness of symbolism, capable of many interpretations, reached what the palpable and conventional creed could not. Its indefiniteness acknowledged the abstruseness of the subject: it treated that mysterious subject mystically: it endeavored to illustrate what it could not explain; to excite an appropriate feeling, if it could not develop an adequate idea; and to make the image a mere subordinate conveyance for the conception, which itself never became obvious or familiar.

Thus the knowledge now imparted by books and letters, was of old conveyed by symbols; and the priests invented or perpetuated a display of rites and exhibitions, which were not only more attractive to the eye than words, but often more suggestive and more pregnant with meaning to the mind.

Masonry, successor of the Mysteries, still follows the ancient manner of teaching. Her ceremonies are like the ancient mystic shows,--not the reading of an essay, but the opening of a problem, requiring research, and constituting philosophy the arch-expounder. Her symbols are the instruction she gives. The lectures are endeavors, often partial and one-sided, to interpret these symbols. He who would become an accomplished Mason must not be content merely to hear, or even to understand, the lectures; he must, aided by them, and they having, as it were, marked out the way for him, study, interpret, and develop these symbols for himself.

Today is the 141st Anniversary of Harmonie Lodge No. 699

2011-06-13T09:35:00.000-04:00

Harmonie Lodge No. 699 received its charter from the Grand Lodge of New York on June 13, 1870.

Janusian Masonry

2011-06-11T18:13:00.000-04:00

Harmonie Lodge practices Janusian Masonry. Like the Roman God Janus, we have one face looking backward and one looking forward. With both feet firmly planted in the twenty-first century, we look back to the eighteenth century – The Age of Enlightenment – for inspiration, and forward to the technological transformations that the twenty-second century promises to bring. We are a Traditional Lodge with modern sensibilities.

Harmonie Lodge is traditional in our emulation of the forms, ceremonies, and practices developed during the eighteenth century, when Freemasonry was a progressive tool of the Enlightenment and a driving force in the evolution of society. We are inspired by the Golden Age of Freemasonry and the legacy of Brothers Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Voltaire.

While tradition guides us in spirit, our Lodge is fully vested in the culture and technology of the twenty-first century. We have integrated modern technology in all aspects of our operations, from lodge business, Masonic education, and degree ceremonies. Wireless Internet, surround sound, and multi-media presentations have greatly increased the efficiency and beauty of our enlightenment based enterprise.

The brethren of Harmonie Lodge are not afraid of change and embrace progress with open arms. While acting within the Ancient Landmarks and the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of New York, we seek enlightenment on an individual level and modernization of Freemasonry at the institutional level. For it is only by living intensely in our own times that we may strive to improve ourselves and the world at large.

With the lessons of the past to guide us in our quest, we boldly stride onwards and upwards, looking forward to the advances of the next century and the continued evolution of Man.

Craft Beer Masonry

2011-06-11T16:53:00.004-04:00

The renowned beer writer Pete Brown often uses the imagery of a world viewed somehow, magically, more clearly through the lens of a beer glass. At least for me, that would seem to be true. Like any lover of good beer, I took the news that Anheuser-Busch Inbev had purchased Goose Island Brewery in Chicago with shock, outrage, but most of all a heavy heart. So I poured a Goose Island IPA, which had become a staple in my fridge, into a glass that evening and sat down to read what the pundits and pontificators had to say. I really didn't need to. All of the expected answers were out there. The company talked about how excited they were to have an opportunity to expand. A-B Inbev said nothing. Many of the faithful beer drinkers said they would continue to drink it until they noticed a change. A significant portion of the beer community, however, vociferously stated that they refused to put another cent into the coffers of a company they view for good reason as the enemy of everything that they stand for. As for me, I took another sip, savoring the beer's crispness, the floral hoppiness, the taste bittered by the fact it may be one of the last times I enjoyed that brew. As I held the beer up to the light and looked through it, one phrase jumped to the forefront in my mind: "Are we not worshipping at the altar of bigness?"

Dwight Smith asked that same question, decades before I was born, in a completely different context. Be that as it may, his passion for what he loved in the face of American Bigness seemed more appropriate than ever. Draining the last of the beer, it began to sink in that as with anything else, Freemasonry's currents are defined by many of the same factors that drive the other things that are a part of our everyday lives. As I finished the last of the beer, I cleaned the glass and returned to the fridge. After much deliberation a Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron was selected and poured, further fueling the thoughts that I could not seem to shake. I realized that at the end of the day, as Andrew Hammer states in Observing the Craft, there is a split in Masonry between those who understand what Masonry can be, and those who would not even give such ideas a second thought.

Apart from the obvious ties between fine beverages and a quality festive board, the actual similarities between these two worlds are striking, even to a sober mind. The most poignant comparison deals with matters of scale. When small software companies are bought by online giants, we simply congratulate them on making money, a job well done. With beer it is different. With beer there is a tie between the community and the brewery. True beer lovers loathe macro-breweries because they stand against everything beer should be about. From the earliest days, beer was about community, brewed and drank locally by people you knew. Following prohibition (although to be fair, some lodges are to this day dealing with that legacy), beer was consolidated into several large scale companies that saw beer not as an art that should be carefully cultivated, but as a commodity. The same can be said of masonry in those same years, peaking in power after the Second World War. This is a story familiar to all Masons, and is hardly worth repeating here. It is, however, worth noting that these were concurrent events. This speaks volumes towards the quality of the culture. Bigger was simply seen as better – a commodity, not a craft. Scale was more important than observing arts that reach back into time farther than we have records to prove. Thus were both Masonry and beer dumbed down for the masses, with profit, image, and most importantly growth, being the motivation that drove them forward. But how does one achieve this sort of scale? Magic – of the smoke and mirror variety. While big brewers were distracting people with clever ads, Freemasonry was distracting its membership with countless other organizations that leeched membership away from lodges. Oddly enough, in both cases neither the ads nor the organizations said anything about the product they depended upon at the end of the day.

The Palo Santo Marron went down far too easily, I felt almost guilty for not savoring it longer. And even though it may be nearly fifteen dollars for a four pack, it seems worth every penny. You get what you pay for. Here is a beer that uses only the best of ingredients, and is then aged in a specially constructed massive tank made of Paraguayan wood. When you drink it, you can appreciate the care and dedication that went into it. Price doesn't really matter at that point. And yet, dues have remained artificially low for decades. Why is that? No one bats an eye when a can of Natural Ice gets dumped. But I digress, this is about the ingredients. You only get out of something what you put into it. You only get a perfect building stone if you pick the right one from the quarry. And yet, large breweries insist on using adjuncts such as corn and rice. These ingredients only serve to dull the true character of a fine brew. And while this may have its place in certain recipes, the overuse of them on a regular basis is a bad habit. You increase you profitability, and by dulling the taste make it more accessible to the masses. I won't insult anyone's intelligence by dwelling too long on the obvious comparison of the folly of one day degrees and making the Craft open to any man that wants join.

As I switch gears and go for a Flying Dog Road Dog Porter, looking at Hunter S Thompson's quote, "Good people drink good beer" that graces every bottle, I'm reminded of a quote from Pete Brown, "There seems to be this unwritten rule in a lot of human behavior, the 80-20 rule: in the case of beer, I reckon about 80% of people are perfectly happy drinking the same old shit every day of their lives, and would be scared if a new, strange, different-tasting brand appeared in front of them. These people will always drink bland mainstream beers because they’re not drinking to appreciate the taste; they’re drinking purely for physical refreshment and to get a bit of a buzz going." It may seem obvious, but he's absolutely correct. Proportionately, the same number of people are joining the Craft as before. The disturbing thing is that you need to further break down the number, you have to break it down a second time inside the Craft to really get a good look at the state Masonry is in. A better number is five, five percent. That's the market share for craft breweries. The rest is domestic macro lagers and a few imports. But, as is always the case, it's that five percent that are truly the standouts among their peers. And while greatness is not exclusively limited to craft brews or Masons, it truly is the R&D lab for the world around it.

The good news is that while the tide of Bigness may be looking to sweep everything from its path, neither Freemasonry, nor craft brews are going anywhere. It truly is a Renaissance. Out of the ashes of decades of neglect a handful of breweries and lodges are starting to go back to the way things were intended to be. Craft beer has been steadily increasing while corporate lagers are on the decline. Some grand lodges issue edicts forcing their bland old brews on lodges, while A-B Inbev uses their checkbook to keep the competition down. But it doesn't matter. In the end, neither can drive everyone under who doesn't see things the same way they do. The ultimate sovereignty lies with the people making the choices, and as long as the truly devoted, the driven, the educated choose which beers they love and know that with both the mysteries of Masonry and Brewing, there is a bit of the true magic that can only be found in a select number of places, there will always be a home for the esoteric. Moreover, the Macros in both worlds have become their own worst enemies. By nearly eliminating tradition all together, they have forced a new generation to rediscover that which was nearly lost forever. This new generation has the ability, both in Masonry and in brewing, too not only look back to European origins, but to look forward with new interpretations and ingredients while staying true to the principles that have always guided both; community, craftsmanship, and the pursuit of perfection for the good of all. Sam Calagione of Dogfish head, while the aforementioned Goose Island was selling out, was actually scaling back his own production. Why? To focus on the quality, not the quantity.

So while my beers had been getting darker, my mood has been getting lighter. I'm ending the night with a Sam Adams Latitute 48 IPA. In true Janusian fashion, Jim Koch of Boston Beer looked back to the great men of the 18th Century, the age of Enlightenment, for his inspiration. Merging this tradition with a ceaseless quest for improvement and forward looking attitude, his beers are spoken of with the respect they deserve. This beer in my hand an English style nearly lost, but revived and then improved on using a new range of ingredients that were not even known to exist when the first batches were brewed in centuries past. And when someone worthy is looking for the experience they keenly know they desire, that has been missing from their life, I think we all know what they will reach for.

To all of you, a fraternal, "cheers."

Ryan Scott Bonnett
Brewer Freemason

Rise Up

2011-06-11T16:10:00.003-04:00

Hear me my brothers both far and wide,
Let us gather together in fraternal pride.
As we measure our greatness through charity,
By truth, and tolerance, so mote it be.

Let your daily deeds lead to trust,
Though friendship loyalty and liberty.
We stand together as we must,
United as a fraternity.

Our greatness has direction,
For our rule it is straight.
With purpose, & preparedness,
We honor that which is great.

Shape your lives to what your virtues are,
For good deeds travel both wide and far.
And as we remember that oath we solemnly took,
We will break it never over the sacred book.

- Bro. Gabriel Krebs

The Return of the Festive Board

2011-06-10T23:32:00.008-04:00

It seems the Festive Board fell a bit to the wayside in the 2010-2011 Masonic year here at Harmonie. This deeply saddend me, as J.W. this was an old tradition I loved and it was fast becoming iconic to Harmonie's identity as a Lodge. The warm feelings, fellowship and Brotherly love was there but not the wonderful throwback of Masonic Toasting. This pratice of formal toasting is a deep part of our Masonic heratage, ingrained around the beating heart of the Festive Board, truly the heart of the Lodge in all ages. I don't know why it was overlooked but I noticed and I can't let that happen again. Our officers worked hard last year and asked ourselves the important questions, "What could we do to make this easier?" and "What can we do so that we never lose this practice to history again?" from these questions was born the official Harmonie Lodge Festive Board Program. We went into the way back machine and looked over old Table Lodge Ritual. From that historical base designed a Festive Board program that we can all be proud of. A simple 11x15 inch 2 sided laminated program which covers all parts, from opening greetings, to toasting and the finial Tyler's Toast. We covered everything a Brother would want to know in order to enjoy this wonderful Masonic tradition. We kept it in a strong bearings of our German roots, building heavily from old German Table Lodge Ritual. In all I am very proud of the result and happy we were able to work on this project and have it for Brothers of Harmonie for many years to come. At left is the proof from the original draft of the program. You will have to come to the Festive Board to see the true finished product. Like all things in Masonry it is better to experience it than hear about it.

I will see you all around the quarry and I better see you around the Feastive Board,

Bro. D

The 2011-12 Officers of Harmonie Lodge No. 699

2011-06-10T18:20:00.004-04:00