Distinguished Speaker Series

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

Our next distinguished speaker is coming to the Ronald J. Keel Fellowcraft Club on March 28, 2012. We will have the honor of welcoming R:. W:. Richard Friedman, Chairman of the Custodians of 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

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

W:. Bro. Andrew Hammer is coming to Harmonie Lodge No. 699 on Wednesday, October 26th. He will be presenting a lecture based on his recent book, Observing the Craft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance.

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

Observing the Craft is a manifesto of sorts for the observant Mason, who seeks quality over quantity in every aspect of Masonry. 

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

It is a book that calls for nothing but the utmost personal effort and commitment to be put into the operation of a Masonic Lodge, and the experience of a Masonic meeting, in search of the transformational experience which Masons define as “making good men better.”

The Ancient Landmarks: Our Indefinite Boundaries

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.