Worshipful Bro. Timothy Hogan to Speak at Annapolis Lodge

It is an honor and a privilege to report that well known and respected esoteric author Timothy Hogan will speak on the “Alchemical Aspects of Freemasonry” at Annapolis Lodge No. 89 at our regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 7, 2012.

Worshipful Bro. Hogan has a long an impressive Masonic career including being a Past Master of East Denver Lodge No. 160 A.F.&A.M., Knight Templar, 32nd degree, Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, Past Sovereign Master of A.M.D. Council 425, member of the Royal Order of Scotland, member of S.R.I.C.F., S.I.I., and District Lecturer for the Grand Lodge of Colorado.

He is well known for his interest in alchemy and how it relates to Masonic symbolism. His two most recent works are: The Alchemical Keys to Masonic Ritual and The 32 Secret Paths of Solomon: a New Examination of the Qabbalah in Freemasonry. It is certain to be an enjoyable, instructive and enlightening evening with Worshipful Bro. Hogan.

All Master Masons are invited to attend. Dinner is at 6:30pm with Lodge opening at 7:30p. Because this is a special event we ask that you RSVP to events@annapolislodge.com or to Worshipful Master S. Dirk Wiker at 410.533.4574. Dinner is $7.00. There is no charge to attend the meeting.

Three Annapolis Lodge Brothers now also Scottish Rite Masons!

As of Saturday, March 31, 2012 you may address them each as “Master of the Royal Secret.”

From left to right, Brothers: Andy Martinez, Lyle Wisner and Victor Figueroa.

Over the course of the past month, Brothers Martinez, Wisner and Figueroa have been making the journey through the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Their journey culminated this past weekend as each of them received the 32°, “Master of the Royal Secret.”

This year’s Spring Class drew brothers from over a dozen Lodges across the state of Maryland. The Supreme Council also selected the Orient of Maryland, Valley of Baltimore as the place for a cadre of Masons from Saint Martin Island to complete their Scottish Rite Degree work. These overseas Brothers were warmly received and it should also be noted that while the Scottish Rite bears the name of Caledonia, its origins are actually in France. The vast majority of early Scottish Rite ritual was also written in French, so in an odd way, it was fitting to hear French echoing within the halls of the Baltimore temple.

This year’s spring class was also treated to the first conferral of the 21°, “Noachite or Prussian Knight” that the Valley of Baltimore has performed in a long time. It was a truly excellent degree, with a strong cast, impressive costumes and a beautiful set. The Scottish Rite, as with Masonry in general is experiencing a renaissance and many of the new, younger members come to the Rite truly seeking its fabled insight into the esoteric underpinnings of Freemasonry.

The Orient of Maryland stands ready to meet the challenge with heavy promotion of the highly successful “Master Craftsman Program” and by offering (for the first time in decades) a copy of Morals & Dogma to new 32° Masons. However, this copy of Pike’s infamously dense tome is none other than the new edition recently released with annotations by Ill. Arturo Dehoyos 33°, G.C. Grand Archivist and Grand Historian of the Rite. This edition took years to complete and offers valuable insight into what is the greatest philosophical treatise on Scottish Rite Masonry.

Congratulations to Brothers Martinez, Wisner and Figueroa! We wish you the very best as you explore this new territory of the Masonic world.

Annapolis Lodge No. 89 Raises Three Brothers in One Evening

The evening of Thursday, February 16, 2012 proved to be a very long one, but it was definitely worth it.

The leadership of Annapolis Lodge No. 89 made the decision to Raise three Brothers to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in one night. As any Mason will tell you, the Master Mason or 3° is the most important step a man takes within the Fraternity of Freemasonry. Of the three Craft Degrees it is the most dramatic and conveys the most beautiful ideas in regards to Man’s relationship with God and to the fate that awaits all of us. The Degree also demands a lot of work from the officers and Brethren involved and the Line of No. 89 came through in splendid fashion.

Congratulations are in order to Brothers Chappell, Lafferty and Kircher who are now full fledged members of our order. These three Brothers are the latest in a large group of high quality men that Annapolis Lodge No. 89 has be blessed to welcome into its fold. As interest in Masonry continues to grow, there is little doubt that more will knock at our door.

Brothers Lafferty, Kircher and Chappell

The New Master Masons with WM S. Dirk Wiker

Closing out 2011 with a Bang: 7 New Master Masons Raised at GL Event

Ending what has been an incredible year of Degree Work, Annapolis Lodge No. 89 participated in the second Degree Day put on by the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Maryland in 2011. The event began at 9:00am on Saturday, December 17 and brought together at least 30 of the 99 Lodges in the Grand Jurisdiction. Of the approximately 150 Brothers Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on that day, 7 were from Annapolis Lodge No. 89.

The event was held at the Grand Lodge of Maryland’s impressive headquarters in Cockeysville, north of Baltimore City.

The Grand Lodge of Maryland

The Degree Work was overseen by the Grand Line and Most Worshipful Grand Master Stephen J. Ponzillo, III within the beautiful Corinthian Room on the second floor of the building.

The Corinthian Room: Lodge Room for the Grand Lodge of Maryland.

Both the Second and Third Degrees were conferred that day, with the Craft being called from Labor to Refreshment around 12:00 noon. Lunch was served in the elegant ballroom.

Brethren at Refreshment in the Grand Ball Room

Halls of the Grand Lodge

Landing at the Top of the Grand Staircase

A great time was had by all assembled. We congratulate Bros. Hoffmann, Gilligan, Evans, Walker, Lord, Gregg and Shindoler, all of who walked through the doors of the Grand Lodge in the morning as either Entered Apprentices or Fellow Crafts and left in the afternoon as Master Masons.

Freemasonry across the United States continues its renaissance. Men of all ages, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds are rediscovering the benefits our great Fraternity has to offer. Freemasons meet upon the level, act upon the plumb and part upon the Square.

Thus may we ever meet, act and part.

The Rose Window of the Grand Lodge

Annapolis Lodge Passes 8 Fellow Crafts in One Night

On Thursday, December 1, 2011 Annapolis Lodge No. 89 was greatly blessed with the opportunity to Pass a record 8 Brothers to the 2° in one Night.

Our Lodge has been steadily growing in membership over the past several years and last night’s Degree Work was the most visible example yet of the renaissance Freemasonry and our Lodge in particular is experiencing.

With such a large group it was necessary to enlist the help of the Brethren on the sidelines. Many thanks to all who helped out, especially our Past Masters and two visitors who were present that evening. Worshipful Master pro tem Wiker did an excellent job in officiating and special credit is due to Worshipful Master Goettge who helped prepare and direct the candidates “back stage,” so to speak.

Most of all, congratulations to Brothers Aanenson, Lafferty, Shindoler, Hoffmann, Gilligan, Chappell, Kircher and Evans who are now Fellow Crafts.

Annapolis Lodge No. 89′s Fall Chocked Full of Master Mason Degree Work

An Emulation Style 3rd Degree Tracing Board

The fall is always busy seasons for Masonry in the United States. Most Lodges, including Annapolis Lodge No. 89, reemerge from the “Period of Darkness,” i.e.: summer vacation. This means that the backlog of summer paperwork, investigations and Degree Work is completed in the Fall. Annapolis Lodge continues its Instruction year around, so at the end of the summer we often have many Brothers ready to advance to the next Degree.

 This Fall Annapolis Lodge No. 89 has been blessed with a great group of men ready to be Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.

No matter what conspiracy theorists will tell you, The Master Mason Degree is the highest and most important Degree in Freemasonry. No Brother Mason can join the York Rite, Scottish Rite or Shriners without first receiving and completing his proficiency in the 3°. It is by far the most dramatic Degree of the Blue Lodge. After a Brother has received it, he is a full member of his Mother Lodge and entitled to travel and sit with Brethren in any legally constituted Master Mason Lodge on the face of the globe.

This year Annapolis Lodge No. 89 has four separate special events to Raise Brothers. On Saturday, October 15, four Annapolis Lodge Fellow Crafts were Raised in a special ceremony at the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Maryland. The ceremony was an amazing event and included hundreds of Masons from Lodges across the Grand Jurisdiction. Grand Master Ponzillo officiated the event himself. Congratulations to Brothers Stratton, Martinez, Figueroa and Sparks who were made Masters on that memorable afternoon.

At the end of the month, On Saturday October 29 at 10:00am, Annapolis Lodge No. 89 will host the Shrine Degree Team “The Knights of Mecca,” who are renowned across the state for their exemplarily work in the 3°. They are also under Dispensation from The Grand Master to perform the 3° with some special twists not often seen in Lodge rooms. This event will be made all the more special because the two Brothers scheduled to be Raised on that morning are related in more ways than just Freemasonry: they are father and son. Congratulations in advance to the Brothers Turner.

Shortly after that, on Saturday, November 5, Door to Virtue Lodge No. 46 of Westminster, Maryland will confer the Master Mason Degree on one Brother from Annapolis Lodge No. 89. The Degree Work is being carried out as a courtesy to Annapolis and will be performed by the officers of the Grand Line of the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Maryland. What is perhaps most remarkable about this particular conferral is that it will take place the spectacular George Washington Masonic Memorial. This massive structure, located on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, is perhaps the most impressive Masonic building in the world. Congratulations in advance to Bro. Wisner.

Finally, five days later on Thursday, November 10, Pythagoras Lodge No. 146 of Cockeysville Maryland will confer the Master Mason Degree on one Brother from Annapolis Lodge No. 89. The Degree work is being conferred by the line of Pythagoras as a courtesy to Annapolis. Congratulations in advance to Brother. Gregg.

Even as these worthy Brothers achieve the 3°, there are many new Brethren being Initiated into the Craft by Annapolis Lodge. Regardless of whether this burst of new membership continues, Annapolis Lodge No. 89 will be very busy for the next few years. That is a wonderful problem to have.

Annapolis Lodge No. 89 to Confer the EA Degree on 09/29/2011

On this coming Thursday, September 19, 2011 at 7:00pm Annapolis Lodge No. 89 will confer the Entered Apprentice Degree on four worthy candidates.

The Entered Apprentice or “EA” Degree is the first step a man takes when he joins a Masonic Lodge. It is the oldest of three Degrees of Craft Masonry and contains many elements that can be linked to our Medieval brethren: the operative stonemasons.

All Masons are welcome to attend the Degree, but Entered Apprentices are especially encouraged to attend. Lodge opens at 7:00pm. Proper attire is jacket and tie.