News

BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY NEWS

MAY 2008

ANNOUNCING:

THE BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY - DETROIT

The Bonisteel Masonic Library and the Detroit Masonic Library & Museum have joined resources. The Bonisteel Masonic Library – Detroit will be established June 9, 2008 and housed on the 4^th floor of the Detroit Masonic Temple.

The Bonisteel will contribute its digital expertise to complement Detroit . The Bonisteel will be jointly organizing seminars, conferences, and Temple tours. The Detroit Office will feature wall artifact display cases, new compute equipment, and an office design that replicates an Egyptain Lodge. The Bonisteel Masonic Library – Ann Arbor will continue its publishing efforts in the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple.

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., President

Bonisteel Masonic Library-Ann Arbor

www.bonisteelml.org

NOVEMBER 2007

BONISTEEL NEWS - From the President's e-pen

The Bonisteel Masonic Library has mapped out a 2008-09 lodge visitation schedule. Members of the Board of Directors will be making "short talks" to Great Lakes Blue Lodges at their Regular Monthly Meeting. As part of the presentation a copy of Chris Hodapp's best selling book, Freemasons for Dummies will be presented to the Lodge. The directors of the Bonisteel are committed to the building Blue Lodge Libraries and fostering an understanding of the importance for Masons to read under the slogan "Reading is a Masonic Obligation".

As President of the Bonisteel Masonic Library, I wish to thank all the young Masons who have attended our monthly seminars. On November 3rd attendees at the monthly Bonisteel seminar received a copy of Freemasons for Dummies, a dummies key chain, and a 2008 Masonic Planner. This was a $17.50 value for each attendee plus the seminar which dealt with the works of Brother Christopher Hodapp, PM. Brother Hodapp's writings can be found on the Bonisteel Masonic Library Internet site. www.bonisteelml.org

In 2008 the Bonisteel Masonic Library staff will be conducting architectural tours-lectures of significant Masonic lodges. These tour-lectures will replace the monthly seminars held in the Ante Room of the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple. If you are interested in attending a tour-lecture in January, sign up by e-mailing kgrube@bonisteelml.org

Transportation to Detroit such as van pooling will be arranged by the Bonisteel staff.

The Bonisteel Masonic Library will be applying for a continuation of our grant to further the work of "Reading is a Masonic Obligation". Mitchell Ozog, VP and Editor of Rising Point, will be developing a new page on our web site devoted to this Masonic reading program. An expanded effort to sell advertising in Rising Point will be a focus of 2008 financial affairs. A "special edition" of the best of 2007 articles will be coming out in December of this year. It will be available free online and $3.00 for Internet orders includes s/h.

S & F, Karl Grube, Ph.D., President

Bonisteel Masonic Library - Ann Arbor

www.bonisteelml.org

AUGUST 2007

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE BONISTEEL - "Reading is a Masonic Duty"

The Bonisteel Masonic Library - Ann Arbor has launched a reading program for newly-made Masons of the State of Michigan. According to survey research by the Bonisteel, only 1/3 of Freemasons read 1 or more Masonic books yearly. If the Craft is to advance in the the 21st Century, Reading of Masonic literature must become a Masonic Duty, especially for the newly-made Mason.
The Bonisteel has spent considerable time in reviewing Masonic Books. http://www.bonisteelml.org/Books.htm On the Bonisteel web site is a page devoted to twelve (12) Masonic books available at discount rates from www.amazon.com (Freemasonry). The Bonisteel recommends to newly made Masons that they purchase one new book a month. After 12 months, these young Masons will have developed a habit of reading Masonic works and they will have the beginnings of a Masonic Home Library. This reading program is being taken on the road by the Directors of the Bonisteel to support "Literacy in Masonic Literature". With a grant from the Bonisteel Foundation, all of the Bonisteel Directors have been on the travelling and donating contemporary Masonic books to libraries, lodges, and newly made Masons .... promoting the idea that "Reading is a Masonic Duty"

S & F

Please direct all communications to:

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., President
Bonisteel Masonic Library-Ann Arbor
Website - www.bonisteelml.org
Email - kgrube@bonisteelml.org
July 2007

The Bonisteel Masonic Library staff has recently updated our web site. www.bonisteelml.org We are now featuring weekly podcasts. Mitchell Ozog, Editor of Rising Point has completed the summer edition. The cover and feature article is on the Mackinac Bridge and the Freemasons who were involved in the longest suspension bridge in North America. Mitchell has returned from Poland and is organizing a power point presentation on Masonic life in Poland with an emphasis upon Masonry in Warsaw, Poland. See his PDF on the INDEX page of the Bonisteel. Karl Grube, President recently visited the Bonisteel Library at Interlochen Academy near Traverse City. 5.2 million dollars was budgeted for the music and creative arts library. This two story library has a worldwide reputation for its collections, summer programs, and year round services to students, faculty, and friends of the Bonisteel. Karl Grube & Mitchell Ozog have completed the LINKS page which features 100 of the finest Masonic links from around the world. When a new link is found, it replaces a former link on the page. Recently added are Masonic Images by Google, 100 high quality images from round the globe. Karl Grube has put together a slide presentation on the old 4th Avenue Ann Arbor Masonic Temple. It can be viewed on the Bonisteel web site in the ARCHITECTURE file. In September the Bonisteel will launch a monthly Saturday morning lecture for newly made Masons. This 1.5 hours will feature speakers on Masonic history, philosophy, and other esoteric subjects. It is open to all Masons in the Great Lakes region. If attendance and interest warrants, this Saturday pedagogical program will be offered at different locations throughout the Great Lakes Region.

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., President
Bonisteel Masonic Library-Ann Arbor
http://www.bonisteelml.org

FEBRUARY 2007

The Bonisteel Masonic Library was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Bonisteel Foundation for the purpose of developing libraries at Masonic Lodges. Sets of classic Masonic books have been purchased from the Grand Lodge of Michigan and from Amazon.com. Masonic books will also be distributed to public Libraries throughout the State of Michigan .

Mitchell Ozog, Editor of rising Point will be traveling to Poland and Eastern Europe this summer to film and visit newly restored Masonic Temples, Libraries, and Museums. Brother Ozog will be developing special Internet pages of the images for publication on the Bonisteel web site.

Robert Murphy, Bonisteel Director has been developing audio CD’s for distribution to Brothers who spend large amounts of time in their automobiles. Brother Murphy & Sands have recently published six Masonic education programs on CD for use in Lodges.

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., President

Bonisteel Masonic Library-Ann Arbor

kgrube@bonisteelml.org

MONROE CLUB HOLDS SPRING DINNER

On Friday evening, April 28, 2006, the Monroe Club held its Spring Dinner at the Buffalo Bistro Restaurant in Monroe. Everybody enjoyed their dinner and had a good time. The speaker for the evening was Karl Grube, PhD., and 32 degree Mason. He is the president of the Bonisteel Masonic Library in Ann Arbor. He gave a fascinating talk on Roscoe Bonisteel, 33 degree, and his many contributions to Freemasonry in Michigan. Karl brought along some interesting artifacts from the museum to show us. He also talked about the important part the Internet is playing in revitalizing Masonry.

PDF

Bonisteel Masonic Library Grant

The Bonisteel Masonic Library was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Bonisteel Foundation to further the international mission of the library. I wish to thank Art Davidge and Mitchell Ozog for the technical preparation of the grant. (kwg)

The Artifacts, Links, Architecture, and Index files of our web site have been expanded. New digital artifact images from our Ann Arbor Temple are posted. As publishing policy, new content, editing, and graphic design are added to the Bonisteel web site weekly. Check out the best selling Masonic book in years, Freemasons for Dummies . http://www.amazon.com - includes a $7.00 discount - signed copies are available from author.

S & F,

Karl Grube, President

BONISTEEL SERVICES FOR BLUE LODGES

Dear WM: As a member of the Bonisteel Masonic Library there are a number of basic services for your members, especially your newly-made Masons and Candidates.

1st - The six directors of the Bonisteel have designed an INTENDER program for candidates and/or newly made Masons. The four lecture program reinforces the masonic Degrees offered in the Blue Lodge. http://www.bonisteelml.org/intender2.htm

2nd - The Bonisteel offers research services for Masonic questions of interest to Lodge members. Recently a brother wanted to know Q - Why Masons did not wear aprons to Benjamin Franklin's funeral attended by 25,000 Philadelphia citizens as was customary in the 18th century? A - Bro. Franklin remained a Lodge member of the United Grand Lodge of England which was not recognized by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; the issue was clandestine vs. regular lodge status.

3rd - The Bonisteel has participated in the wiring of the the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple and providing computer hardware and software to create a Temple Network. We have ten wall drops, three hardwired computer/printer stations and 7 laptop stations. These stations are available to Bonisteel members from 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. M-F, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Regulars 7:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. and by appointment.

4th - The Bonisteel offers Lecture Tours for its members. Past tours have included the George Washington National Masonic Monument, Detroit Masonic Temple Lodge & Library Tour, Pathways Masonic Retirement Center at Alma, and the Grand Lodge of Michigan Library & Museum.

I would like an opportunity to speak to your members at one of your Regular meetings. My remarks would be informational and allow for Q & A by members in attendance.

S & F,

Karl Grube, President

Brother Krasnoff Gifts Classic Prints

The next time you are in the Temple, take a moment and look at the Bonisteel’s newest acquisition. Hung on the grand entry wall are four classic Masonic prints. The prints were purchased from http://www.thetemplebooks.com The quality framing includes protective light fading glass and was ordered and paid for by Brother Justin Krasnoff, Thrice PM. The prints were selected for their artistic Masonic value and their ability to be used in teaching Masonic ideals, especially to the newly-made Mason. (kwg)

ARTIFACT FIND

I am pleased to announce that the Bonisteel Masonic Library has located the original blueprints to the 4^th Avenue Ann Arbor Masonic Temple. This is important to Freemasons because these architectural prints and specifications were integrated into the Detroit Masonic Temple. The architectural specifications and creative thinking of George D. Mason, Architects and Engineers and Commissioned Artisans was greatly influenced by the 1922-24 Ann Arbor Temple project.

Ann Arbor Masonic Temple circa 1922

Detroit Masonic Temple circa 1927

Architectural Print Artifacts found:

1. Sets of working blue prints in readable condition

2. Original Tracings in reproducible condition

3. Handwritten notes by Architects McConkey and Rousseau

The Bonisteel Masonic Library will be applying for a grant to develop an historic exhibit to promote our Masonic Heritage. The downtown Temple exhibit will include an updated writing of the history, construction of a scale model, and digital poster boards using original blueprints, photographs, and oral histories.

KARL GRUBE, Ph.D., President Bonisteel Masonic Library

www.bonisteelml.org 8-12-03 AL 6003

MONTHLY INTENDER LECTURES

The Bonisteel Masonic Library will offer monthly lectures for newly-made Masons. Lectures will be presented by prominent Michigan Masons.

Intender Lecture Series

Dates: 1^st Wednesday of the Month

Times: 6:20 Dinner - 7:00 Lecture

www

Karl W. Grube, Ph.D., Masonic Education Officer AA Fraternity Lodge No. 262

Place: Ann Arbor Masonic Temple 2875 W. Liberty Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Phone Info: 734-878-0639 karlgrube@hotmail.com

Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history. (Introduced in House)

HRES 17 IH

109th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 17

Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 4, 2005

Mr. GILLMOR (for himself and Mr. KINGSTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honoring them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

Whereas Freemasons, whose long lineage extends back to before the Nation's founding, have set an example of high moral standards and charity for all people;

Whereas the Founding Fathers of this great Nation and signers of the Constitution, most of whom were Freemasons, provided a well-rounded basis for developing themselves and others into valuable citizens of the United States;

Whereas members of the Masonic Fraternity, both individually and as an organization, continue to make invaluable charitable contributions of service to the United States;

Whereas the Masonic Fraternity continues to provide for the charitable relief and education of the citizens of the United States;

Whereas the Masonic Fraternity is deserving of formal recognition of their long history of care-giving for the citizenry and their example of high moral standards; and

Whereas Freemasons have always revered and celebrated St. John's Day, June 24th, as dedicated to their patron saints: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the thousands of Freemasons in every State in the Nation and honors them for their many contributions to the Nation throughout its history.

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