Here it is just in time for those new EAs........doesn't eat much

              ........housebroken......ready to ride!!!!!

Roast Beef Dinner and a Masonic lesson

Well we enjoyed another fine roast beef dinner at the Otisville lodge Saturday evening. Also, had some good fellowship with a few brothers. WB Gil in between working and eating shared his thoughts about "upright step" as in.....one upright regular step.

If you search out the definition for upright you will find that it can and does mean; marked by strong moral rectitude, honorable, just, honest, having or showing strict regard for what is morally right.

No doubt about it WB Gil did his homework on this one word. He also added that the fraternity only asks the man to make an upright "regular" step. In other words the fraternity is not asking for a giant step or one prescribed to a certain dimension but just a regular step with all good intentions toward the business one is about to embark.

Brothers, there is so much knowledge out there that it can boggle the mind. The unfortunate part is that much of the knowledge is not spread because of lack of questions and lack of discussion. So, the next time you go to a routine Masonic dinner add a little conversation to your meal and feed not only your body but your mind as well.

A little history

The Masonic tracing board took several decades to develop into its pictorial form. Initially a chalk drawing was made on the table or floor in the centre of the hired tavern room in which a Masonic Lodge met, the work being executed either by the Tyler or Worshipful Master.^[1] Evidence suggests that a simple boundary in the shape of a square, rectangle (or "double square"), or a cross was drawn first, with various Masonic symbols often of a geometric type (e.g., circle, pentagram, etc.) were drawn later, the former usually being drawn by the Tyler and the latter possibly by the Master. Later various symbolic objects, (such as a ladder, beehive, etc.,) were added and sometimes drawings were interchangeable with physical objects.^[2] At the end of the work a new member was often required to erase the drawing with a mop, as a demonstration of his obligation of secrecy.
Though the various Grand Lodges were then generally hostile to the creation of any physical representations of the Ritual and symbols of the Craft, the time-consuming business of redrawing the symbols at every meeting was gradually replaced by keeping a removable "floor cloth" to display the symbols, and of which different portions might be exposed according to the agenda .^[3] By the second half of the eighteenth century the Masonic symbols were being painted on a variety of removable materials ranging from small marble slabs to canvas, to give a more decorative and elaborate symbolic display. By the mid-nineteenth century tracing boards had become fairly common, and a variety of different forms and designs survive, some to be diplayed on the floor and others vertically. Sets of three boards, corresponding to the three degrees, are now an accepted, though unofficial, part of Craft Freemasonry, and there are sometimes tracing boards in other degrees.^[4] As different Masonic jurisdictions established official, or standard, degree rituals the creation of new tracing boards by Freemasons waned and has since all but entirely disappeared in favour of standard designs.  (source: Wikipedia, The Online Free Encyclopedia)

What do these words mean??

In an attempt to add some thought provoking topics here let's take a look at a word which is used in the ritual and most of us take for granted. WB Gil Theakston is good at looking at even the smallest of words or phrases and asking why is that there.

One word seems to be bothering WB Gil and that word is......really.

.....justice in great measure determines the "really" good man..........

Why does it say really?

The definition for really is.....in reality.....actually......in actual fact as opposed to what is said or imagined to be true.

My conclusion is that....really......was and is used in the ritual because while some men may believe they are good or have convinced the public to perceive them to be good men.....are they "really" good men. In other words....justice in a great measure determines the "actual" good man.......

Brothers sometimes a lesson can come from a conversation about one word and that one word can change the complexion of the statement. Have fun and discover for yourself the true meaning of the thousands of words we have heard and said.....they are in the ritual for a reason.....the fun is discovering why.

More light in Masonry

Brothers if you are looking for more light in Masonry you have an excellent opportunity coming up quickly.


The Valley of Bay City Scottish Rite Masons will be holding their fall reunion coming up October 28-29


By attending the reunion and joining the Valley you can earn your 32nd degree in Masonry. There are no proficiencies and a representation of the 4th thru 32nd degree will be portrayed. There are reunions in October, February, and May. The dinners provided are the best in the state. If you are interested, feel free to contact myself or any Scottish Rite Mason you may know.

Test your knowledge

This my brothers was the front runner of the power point presentation. How many images look familiar from the Master Mason lectures ????

Oh, that's how you got here

While attending the EA degree at Davison, I had the pleasure to sit with a newly made Fellowcraft from Grand Blanc. This young man is a Millenial, one who is in their twenties.

I asked him how he came to join Masonry. His answer was very interesting. While attending Baker College in Flint he had a public speaking class, one of his classmates gave a speech about Freemasonry. That subject sparked his interest and through some internet research and viewing some History channel shows he sought out membership. Through the miracle of the internet he found Grand Blanc lodge and the rest is modern history.

Talk to these new young brothers and you will quickly learn that the internet is our new found friend. Of course there is plenty of garbage out there but there is also a vast wealth of factual information. Please embrace this technology and you will be amazed.