Masonic Tutorial VIII

Polar Star Lodge No. 79 - Hannibal Missouri Initiated May 22, 1861 Passed June 12, 1861 Raised July 10, 1861 Suspended 1865 - Reinstated - April 24, 1867 Demitted October 8, 1868

Trip to Palestine - MT sent a mallet to his Lodge crafted in Egypt and made from rough cut cedar outside the walls of Jerusalen MT Quote: "This mallet is a cedar, cut in the forest of Lebanon, whence Solomon obtained the timbers for the temple."

Brother Mark Twain, patented a board game for remembering important historical dates and events of British monarachies. Initially released as THE GAME and later published as THE GAME: Mark Twain's Memory-Builder, this parlour play-work consisted of the important dates and events in a 1000 year historical period of British and European monarchies. Famous American Presidents were added for a growing American market. Brother Karl Grube, Ann Arbor Fraternity #262, has adapted the Twain pedagogy into a Masonic Memory-Builder game. Masonic Tutorials have been written for Memory-Building of the principles, symbols, and ritual of Freemasonry.

http://www.gamesbygrube.com/page57.html - Masonic Tutorials

Reference: "America's Mark Twain", Paul C. Rodenhauser Knight Templar October 1974 Number 10 VolumeXX

"The Maverick Mason", Sir Knight Thomas E. Rigas Knight Templar June 1987 Number 6 Volume XXXIII

July 4, 1776 - USA Seal & Motto committee

June 20, 1782 - 2nd die cut Seal& Motto adopted

Nation State Coat of Arms - Heraldry in Middle Ages

July 4, 1776 - Congressional committee researches and designs a United States of America Seal and Motto - John Adams, lawyer, an elected Massachusetts Delegate to Congress, Thomas Jefferson, planter, an elected Virginia Delegate to Congress, Benjamin Franklin, printer, an elected Pennsylvania Delegate to Congress, Charles Thompson, Esq., Secretary to Congress, Pierre Eugene du Simitierre, artist

OBVERE OF SEAL: Shields representing England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland "Eye of Providence" - PLURIBUS UNUM - out of many, one
Liberty on left and Justice on right. Thirteen (13) shields with initials of each state. Roman Numerals - MDCCLXXVI - 1776.

REVERSE OF SEAL: Old Testament Scene - Pharoah in open chariot with his army, Red Sea engulfing army which allows Moses to reach opposite shore. Circular lettering: REBELLION TO TYRANTS IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD

1782 1st US die design cut by William Barton Phildelphia lawyer, heraldry expert. OBVERE OF SEAL: A Germanic Eagle style not American Bald Eagle. REVERSE OF SEAL: Adds "Eye of Providence" on top of Pyramid.

1782 2nd US die design cut by Charles Thompson, Esq. Secretary to Congress and Signer of Original Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. He makes composite of design ideas of three constituted Congressional committees. OBVERE OF SEAL he replaces the Germanic Eagle with American Bald Eagle.

On the REVERSE OF SEAL he keeps "Eye of Providence" on top of Pyramid and adds the Latin phrases: ANNUIT COEPTIS - He has favored our undertakings. NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM - a new order of the ages. ADOPTED - June 20, 1782- remains essentially the same today.

1782 US Law: "The Device for an armorial achievement and reverse of the great seal of the United States in congress assembled, is as follows:

ARMS: Paleways (perpendicular stripes) of thirteen pieces, argent (white) and glues (red); a chief (upper part of the escutcheon), azure (blue); the eucutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper (in natural color), holding in his dexter (right) talon an olive branch, and in his sinister (left) as bundle of thirteen arrows, and surrounding thirteen statesall proper, and in his beak a scroll, inscribed with the motto, "E Pluribus Unum."

For the CREST. Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory (ring or spot of light as a coronal), or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars, forming a constellation, argent on an azure field.

REVERSE: A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith. an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory proper. Over the eye these words, "Annuit coeptis." On the base of the pyramid the numeral letters MDCCLXXVI And underneath the following motto, "Novus Ordo Seclorum."

Charles Thompson Esq., wrote this interpretation:

"The Escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the two most honourable ordinaries. The pieces, paly, represent the Several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The Motto alludes to this union. The pales in the arms are kept closely united by the chief and the chief depends upon that Union and the strength resulting from it for its support, to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America and the preservation of their Union through Congress. The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America: White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness and Valour, and Blue, the colour of the chief, signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. The Olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace and war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The Escutheon is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters, to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own Virtue.

The pyramid signifies strength and duration: The Eye alludes to the many signal interpositions of Providence in favour of the American cause. The date underneath is that of the Declaration of Independence and the words under it signify the beginning of the new American Aera, which commences from that date."

1835 - Pyramid recognized as Masonic symbol

1841 - seal image colours for printing improved. New US die cut made. The Constellation on the Seal is recognized as symbolizing a sovereign state.

1885 - Tiffany & Co. is commissioned to engrave another die cut using the 1782 design and written specifications.

1935 - Eye inside Pyramid on $1.00 bill American Currency by Brother President Franklyn Roosevelt

References:
"The Great Seal of the United States" J.E. Behrens Knight Templar July 1980 Number 7 Volume XXVI
"The Eye and the Pyramid" Jay Macpherson Victoria College, University of Toronto December 2001

MAIN LOBBY TOUR: "grand entry foyer"
Who are the Masons?

EARLY HISTORY: 1895, 1913, 1922, 1926

1913 Temple Site Criteria
(1) downtown access
(2) unobstructed view access
(3) method of financing

George D. Mason & Co., Head architects, structural, blueprint approvals

George Washington's working tools - NE Cornestone Ceremony 1922

Detroit Masonic Temple GREAT STONE HAMMER architectural motiff = 14-story Ritual Tower (HEAD) + 5,000 seat Auditorium (HANDLE)

EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE:

Late Gothic Revival style architecture using Indiana Limestone
Steinmertz, Head facade stone sculpturer, coordinator

Leo Friedlander, stone sculpturer
Solomon, King of Israel
Hiram, King of Tyre
Hiram Abiff, a widow's son,
32nd Degree Emblem
Shrine Emblem

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE: Carrado Parducci, Head artistic coordinator

Masonic Floor Plaque: CHARITY (mankind), VIRTUE (truth), FORTITUDE (strength)
Thomas & Anthony DiLorenzo, wall & ceiling Symbolic Lodge designs

SCOTTISH RITE: 4th - 33rd

Lodge of Perfection (4-14)
Council of Princes of Jerusalem (15-16)
Chapter of Rose Croix (17-18)
Consistory 19-32
Honorary 33rd Degree
Scottish Rite Lounge
Scottish Rite Cathedral

YORK RITE: Templarism

English Gothic Room
Commandery Asylum (chapel)
Red Cross Room
Drill Hall
Chapter & Council Lodge Room

SYMBOLIC LODGES: architectural styles

Egyptian
Ionic
Doric
Corinthian
Italian Renaissance
Byzantine
Gothic
Romanesque

MASONIC TEMPLE AUDITORIUM: "performers choice"

Detroit Civic Auditorium - with MTA retaining Warranty Deed

Venetian Gothic style architecture
5,000 seating capacity
Bronze Chandeliers - 45 minutes just to lower for cleaning

DINING: sandwich menu to gourmet

Temple Grille
Crystal Ballroom
Fountain Ballroom

INTERNET RESOURCES

http://www.themasonic.com COMMERCIAL
http://www.gl-mi.org/lodges/detroit-mta DMT BOARD
http://www.gamesbygrube.com/dmt.html - DETROIT MASONIC TEMPLE TUTORIAL

Masonic architectural building styles prior to 1945 included Greek Neoclassical, Romanesque, Gothic Revival, Italianate and Byzantine. Stylization elements within these styles include: 1. East – West Orientation 2. Rectangular Structures 3. Large Foundation Blocks 4. Columns and Palisters 5. Exterior Brick

DESCRIPTION: Three Hundred Seventy-Seven (377) Michigan Temples and Lodges were mailed surveys. Sixty-seven per cent (67%) responded. Seven Masonic Temples were selected for the study sample.

1. Grand Rapids Masonic Lodge c. 1913 – Greek Neoclassical
2. Detroit Masonic Temple c. 1926 - Gothic Revival
3. Bay City Masonic Temple c. 1895 – Richardsonian Romanesque
4. Flint Masonic Temple c. 1911 - Modern Neoclassical
5. Battle Creek Masonic Temple c. 1913 – Battle Creek - Modern Neoclassical
6. Manistee Masonic Temple c. 1909 - Modern Neoclassical
7. Nashville Masonic Temple c. 1928 - Stylization Masonic

CONCLUSION: The author’s research demonstrates that architectural stylizations unique to Masonic structures, continuously appear, despite changing architectural styles. These stylizations can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify historic Masonic Temples and Lodges in the State of Michigan.

REFERENCE: SHORKEY, BRIAN J. Identifying Historical Masonic Temples in Michigan Through Unique Architectural Stylizations Despite Different Architectural Styles (1890-1930) January 24, 2002 (In partial fulfillment of the M.S. Degree at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI)

TO WHO IT MAY CONCERN:

Re: Masonic Capsule Transmittal Letter

For those whose unborn eyes will read this Masonic message, we wish to explain the contents of the capsule which is deposited with this letter in hope that a greater understanding of the Freemasons and their Masonic Orders who built this Temple. July 15th 1978 - Cornerstone Ceremony A.L. 5978

The documents herein consist of the accounts of Ann Arbor Masonic Orders and their activities in the City of Ann Arbor. Our generation hopes that these artifacts will give you a better understanding of the founders of Masonry in Ann Arbor and the Masons who preceded you.

The capsule is made of a plastic material, called P.V.C. or poly vinyl chloride, and it is virtually indestructible. We hope that if there is ever a Nuclear holocaust which is a constant worry in our age; the capsule will survive and thus transmit to our followers the history of our Order.

We have encased in the capsule a number of items which we believe will be of interest. Several coins of the realm in use today including the extinct Susan B. Anthony dollar. Also, several Masonic souvenir coins which we struck in memory of the 1922 Masonic Temple on 4th Avenue in Ann Arbor which is described in great detail in the enclosed history book. There are also newsclippings about both our Temples, and some color photos of the 1922 Temple before it was condemned and raized under the legal agis of "eminent domain" in 1974 for a new Federal Government office building and post office. This book also gives a detailed account of the Masonic movement locally from the early 1800's to the present.

When it became necessary to relocate our Masonic Orders from the downtown Temple, we decided that we would buy sufficient land to provide ample parking and a picnic recreational shelter. We purchased 4.65 acres of land which has enough room for future expansion. In 1981-82, we erected the steel picnic shelter, and dedicated the park area to the memory of Gus Trabert, a Past Master and a Mason highly devoted to the "craft" both ritualand financial wise. Brother Gus recently passed to the "Celestrial Body in the Sky"to work directly with the Grand Architect of the Universe at the advanced age of 95.

The current Board of Directors of the Temple has been active, and we have added assets to the property, a new electric road sign and a stately flagpole, both of which were financed by donations from the members. We also have architectural plans for improvement and expansion, such as adding a library and auditorium to the South of the Temple. The transmittal of Masonic knowledge is important to the "craft".

Membership in all Masonic Orders has been declining in the past few years. We attribute this to advanced aging of the post WWII Craft and the competition from such things as affluence and time spend watching television. Of course paying higher taxes to all levels of government consumes additional time from all brothers and their families. Never-the-less, Masonry continues to prevail as a strong moral code in Ann Arbor.

We know not when or why this capsule will be opened, but we hope that you will appreciate your inheritance we have left in your care, and that you will continue to perpetuate the cause of Freemasonry.

We herein list the names of the present Board of Directors.

President: Vaughn Smith, P.M., Ann Arbor Lodge No. 544 Vice-President: Earl Spears, P.M. Fraternity Lodge No. 262 Secretary: Robert Sevebeck, P.M., Golden Rule Lodge No. 159 Treasurer: Masao Kon, P.M., Ann Arbor Lodge No. 544 Director: Ford Fegurson, P.M., Fraternity Lodge No. 262 Director: Erwin Salisbury, Golden Rule Lodge No. 159 Arthur Hughes, Golden Rule Lodge No. 159

Take care of your newly acquired property, and may the Supreme Architect of the Universe be with you forever.

Robert Sevebeck, Secretary

September 21, 1983 … 5983 A.L.
This day being the "Vernal Equinox"