‘Hammer strikes’

     
Bro. Andrew Hammer is keeping busy this fall. Andrew is the author of Observing the Craft, a book I consider to be one of the most important writings on lodge life to be published in ages. If you are the Mason who hasn’t read it yet, click here, and order your copy. My review appears here.

Anyway, here are three dates I should bring to your attention.

On Thursday, October 11, Andrew will speak at his own lodge, historic Alexandria-Washington No. 22, which meets inside the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.

His topic will be “What Came Ye Here To Do: The Transformation of American Masonry,” in which Andrew will present “some thoughts on purpose and focus in our Masonic endeavors, and report on the exciting developments now taking place in the Craft throughout the nation.”

I’d say few are as qualified to speak on that subject today. Get there if you can, but you must make dinner reservations by e-mailing the Senior Steward at reservations(at)aw22.org now.

On Saturday, October 27, Andrew will speak at the Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge in Elizabethtown. As always, the Academy will meet in the Deike Auditorium of the Freemasons Cultural Center at the Masonic Village. Registration will open at 8:30 a.m., and the program will start at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon, and the program will be completed by 3 p.m. Dress code for this meeting is coat and tie. All Masons are welcome to attend, but please contact Bro. Shawn Dignazio at dignazio(at)yahoo.com no later than October 21.

Andrew will be sharing the podium with Bro. Alton G. Roundtree, Past Master of Redemption Lodge No. 24 PHA in Washington, DC. He is co-author, with Bro. Paul Bessel, of Out of the Shadows: The Emergence of Prince Hall Freemasonry in America.

On Monday, November 19, Bro. Andrew will return to New Jersey, this time to speak at Nutley Lodge No. 25 in Nutley. (This will be the only one that I’ll be able to attend. Hope to see you there.)