November 27th - 2nd Degree Tracing Board Lecture

The Master -Acrylic on board by Bro. John Newman 

Wor. Di Natale receiving the painting from Bro. Newman

Rock that Fez Bro. Schank! 

The Lodge holding its communications on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays means that it almost always falls near or right before Thanksgiving. The cable-tow pulls hard this day and often the lodge which welcomes over 30 Brothers to each communication is luck to get half. We had a larger than average gathering and the Brother shared in wonderful fellowship.....and a few drinks! What made this night even more special was the gift given to me. Brother John Newman is an accomplished miniature  painter and artist. He reciently turned his talents to canvas painting. In jest, I asked him to paint a portrait of me and he did. It was a wonderful surprise  to say the least. There have been a few pictures floating around Facebook of the work in progress but never the finished version posted here. 

The Fellowcraft Club also handed out its first fez for the Fezzraiser to Brother Schank. The program was well received by our Fellowcrafts using the new board. All in all for the quietest communication of the year there was a lot going on. 

Wor. Daniel J. Di Natale 

November 25th - Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 358 - American Table Lodge

Brother Mark Robson speaks on the Templar Connections

Brother Monhiem and friends.  

The Table Lodge! 

Wor. Storck Bro. Siegal and Bro. Webb raise them high! 

The Brothers of Ancient Landmarks Lodge have done it again. What a wonderful Table Lodge! The three-five-eight welcomed over 40 Brothers and their guest around a wonderful table of fellowship. Landmarks is well know for their Kipling Night and Burns Supper but often this wonderful event gets over looked. The resurrection of full on Table Lodges are something new for the Western New York area but Brothers forget their history. Ancient Landmarks ran very large Table Lodges for years with a rewritten ritual that was done in the 1980s. They would even fly speakers in as the guests of honor! 

This night was no different with Brother Mark Robson (It was a far shorter distance than flying !) acting as the guest speaker. The spoke on the Templar Connection and Freemasonry. Seems his performance at the debate night has made him a desired speaker on the topic in the district, a well earned honor.  Landmarks honored many wonderful guests of distinction - R:.W:. Bruce Renner, Senior Grand Warden 2008 - 2010 and President of the Robert R. Livingston Library, R:.W:. Daniel Peters, Grand Sword Bearer Grand Lodge of the State of New York and R:.W:. R. Curtis Montgomery, Trustee Emeritus Masonic medical Research Laboratory. Along with many other Past Masters and a Master of a Lodge (me!) 

It was a wonderful evening and Wor. Campbell and his officers should be very proud of such a wonderful night. I very much look forward to their next event - BURNS NIGHT!!!!!!!! 

Wor. Daniel J. Di Natale 

Worshipful Daniel J. Di Natale lectures at Enchanted Mountain Lodge No. 252 - November 19, 2013

The Lecture Opens

Wor. Di Natale and Wor. Backhaus, Master of Enchanted Mountains Lodge No. 252

Wor. Timothy Clemons, Master of master Craftmans Lodge No. 110 - P.H.A - Wor. Daniel J. Di Natale, Master of Harmonie Lodge No. 699 and Wor. John Backhaus, Master of Enchanted Lodge No. 252 

Dear Bothers,

It is an honor to have been invited to teach at Enchanted Mountain Lodge No. 252 in the beautiful Olean Masonic Temple. The Lodge welcomed well over 20 Brothers (five from Harmonie!) from across the state and our Brothers from Price Hall. The Worshipful Timothy Clemens , Master of Master Craftmans Lodge No. 110 P.H.A from right here in Buffalo, New York, was in attendance with his brethren. The Lodge held a special German feast in honor of Harmonie Lodge. The food was wonderful and special thanks need to be given to Worshipful Backhaus and his wife for their work in the kitchen. The Lodge's hospitality proves that no matter where you maybe a home can always be found in a Masonic Lodge.

The lecture was very well received. It is a very in-depth and lengthy lecture that covers ritual history, Masonic history, art history and methods of teaching. "The Form, Function and History of the Tracing Board” is my favorite lecture to give. I add a few new things each time I give the lecture. Each time I review my notes I find a few more details I want to expound upon. In the end thats what the Tracing Boards are for. They get us to think and to talk. It is the talking I feel that leads to the real learning, as learning is a social event. Each of us bring ideas and the boards brings those ideas and feelings out in a way that is different from other Masonic teaching systems.

It was a pleasure to have been able to do this and I look forward to my next trip down,
Worshipful Daniel J. Di Natale

2nd Degree of Masonry - November 13, 2013

Our Class of Fellowcrafts 

The Degree classes we hold each year are always something special. This Degree was even more so as it was the first time Bro. Kiem (Our Junior Warden) took to the East to confer a Degree. Bro. Keim selected the team, handled the practices and acted as Master for the whole Degree. He and his team did an impressive job. As Master, I am truly humbled to know that he and Bro. Guzck (Our Senior Warden) will one day take the Seat of Solomon. It is a good feeling knowing that the next round of leaders are able, driven and ready after my time in the East ends. Special thanks need to be given to Bro. Hacker (Our Musical Director.) Timing of musical works during the work is a really hard thing to do and Bro. Hacker nails it every time. It truly makes our Degrees something very special.

We were honored to have Wor. Bro. Michael Little, Past Master of Polk Lodge No. 137, Grand Lodge of Illinois, Right Wor. Bro. Daniel Peters, Grand Sword Bearer,  Right Wor. Bro. Marlon Gaydeen, Trustee of the Robert R. Livingston Library and Very Wor. Gerald Colman, Assistant Grand Lecture in attendance. Their support made this night even more empacting for our newly pasted Fellowcrafts.

Wor. Daniel J. Di Natale