Jackson-Coolidge Masonic Trestleboard

  Volume No. 11               September 2011                    Issue No. 9

George M. Otis P.M., Publisher
Stephen D. Vining P.M., Webmaster

   

Frank W. Lutze
Worshipful Master
517-563-8338

Dear ,

Earlier the week, as I headed for work, I noticed that the temperature was hovering around 50 degrees. Two thoughts came to mind in rapid succession: Fall is in the air and the September Regular is just around the corner. I sure seems like only yesterday that we were in Lodge the first week in July raising five Brothers to the sublime degree of Master Mason.   The September calendar is already filling up. We have the Regular Communication on September 8th. Jackson Lodge #17 will be hosting the election to fill the open Board of General Purposes seat on September 15th and on September 22nd we will pass two brothers to the degree of Fellowcraft.

For those of you who were present at the Master Mason degrees on July 6th the memory of the funeral dirge in the 2nd Section of the Master Mason degree sung by Most Worshipful Frederick E. Kaiser, Grand Master of Michigan, should be fresh in your minds. During the Summer I researched the history and origin of the dirge and here is what I learned:

The melody of the dirge is Pleyel's Hymn. It was written in 1791 by Ignace Joseph Pleyel (b. 1757 d. 1831), an Austrian born French composer. He was reported to be the 24th of 38 children born to a schoolmaster. He studied under Brother Joseph Hydan and records indicate in 1784 he was a Fellowcraft in a Lodge in Eberau, Hungary. He was a prolific composer with 41 symphonies, and 70 string quartets to his credit.

The lyrics of the dirge were written by Brother David Vinton in 1813. Little is known about Brother David other than that he was an itinerant American Masonic lecturer who traveled in North Carolina and Georgia. He died in 1833 and was buried in Shakertown, Kentucky.

The original lyrics included six verses, Michigan Masonic ritual uses four and other Grand Lodges use from six to as few as two.

Fraternally,

Frank W. Lutze

Worshipful Master

"Masonic Dirge"

Solemn strikes the funeral chime.

Notes of our departing time,

As we journey here below

Through a pilgrimage of woe.

Mortals now indulge a tear;

For mortality is here!

See how wide her trophies wave

O'er the slumbers of the grave.

Calm, the good man meets his fate;

Guards celestial 'round him wait.

See! he bursts these mortal chains,

And o'er Death the vict'ry gains.

Here another guest we bring;

Seraph of Celestial wing,

To our funeral altar come,

Waft this friend and brother home.

There enlarged, thy soul shall see,

What was veiled in mystery;

Heavenly glories of the place

Show his maker face to face.

From The Secretary's Desk 

If you have not yet paid your 2011 Lodge Dues your payment should be made as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of suspension for non payment of dues. The Delinquent Dues Committee was activated at the June Regular to investigate those brothers who have not paid and to report back to the lodge in September. Please contact the Secretary for more information if necessary. Thank you.    

Jackson-Coolidge Masonic Center
Lodge Blue Room
 

Stephen D. Vining P.M., Secretary

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M.

Region No. 4 Grand Lecturer

Grand Lodge of Michigan

(517) 914-8400

2011

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M.

Officer's Meeting, 7:00 p.m. 

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M. 

Regular Communication, 7:30 p.m.

Non Payment of Dues Trials

Picnic Dinner prior to meeting, 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M.

District 46 BGP Election, 7:30 p.m.

Master's, Warden's & Past Master's Vote

Jackson Lodge 17

Excelsior Lodge 116

Addison Lodge 157

Brooklyn Lodge 169 

Napoleon Lodge 301

Cement City 435

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M.

Fellowcraft Degree, 7:00 p.m. 

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M.

Lodge will be Dark

 Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Jackson-Coolidge Masonic Temple Association

Board of Trustee's Meeting, 6:00 p.m.  

Lodge Picnic Dinner

Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Potato Salad,

Beans, Chips and Dessert.

Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Regular Communication.

Come to lodge and enjoy the fellowship, dinner and meeting.

All for a $5.00 donation to the Stewards Fund.

Contact Adam W. Wygant, Junior Warden

517-745-1699 or you can email him at

[email protected]

Hope to see you there! 

2011 Line of Officer's
 

• Frank W. Lutze, Worshipful Master
• Lyman S. Robertson Jr, Senior Warden
• Adam W. Wygant, Junior Warden
• Dale D. Brown PM, Treasurer
• Stephen D. Vining PM, Secretary
• George M. Otis PM, Chaplain
• Richard G. Shea PM, Senior Deacon
• David G. Shea PM, Junior Deacon
• Eric J. Cole, Senior Steward
• Andrew S. Marlow, Junior Steward
• R. Todd Rubert PM, Marshal
• Thomas E. Royce PM, Tiler
• George M. Otis PM, Publisher
• Stephen D. Vining PM, Webmaster
   

 Jackson Chapter No. 3, R.A.M. 

Contact Masonic Bodies 

• Visit Our Jackson-Coolidge Masonic Website 
• Contact Jackson-Coolidge Trestleboard Publisher 
• Contact Secretary - Jackson Lodge No. 17, F. & A.M. 
• Contact Secretary - Jackson Chapter No. 3, R.A.M. 
• Contact Recorder - Jackson Council No. 32, R. & S.M. 
• Contact Recorder - Jackson Commandery No. 9, K.T. 
• Contact Secretary - Jackson York Rite College No. 3 
• Contact Secretary - Fern Leaf Chapter No. 66, O.E.S. 
• Contact Mother Advisor - Jackson Rainbow Assembly No. 7  
• Contact Secretary - High Twelve Club No. 16  

Masonic Sale Items 

phone: 517-262-0147