TONIGHT!!!!!

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Joe Brooks: 50 Year Scottish Rite Mason

At the April 18th Scottish Rite Reunion, Valley of Atlanta, WB Joe Brooks, Past Master of Gate City Lodge No 2, had the opportunity to serve as classroom director. Several of those present noticed a new "device" on Brother Brooks's white cap -- a Fifty Year Scottish Rite pin. It seems he crossed that anniversary on the Ninth of April and persuaded the Valley Secretary to issue the pin so he could wear it for the Reunion.

Bro. Brooks promises to be surprised at the Fifty Year luncheon in August.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Gate City Brethren Travelling

England:
Brother Dimitri Masselos and his family have moved to London, England, and are doing just fine. Joining him there is regular visitor to Gate City, and cosigner of Andy Chopra's petition, Sanjay Mody, Lodge Ancient No. 49, Grand Lodge of Scotland, who is in London studying for his Medical Licensing Examination. They plan on a get together in the near future. Beaux Pettys went to London in early March. He has posted several interesting articles on London Freemasonry on the Lodge website.
France, India, China and England (Africa Soon):
Bill Wallace, JW, is all over the place with his new job. By the end of the year, he will have been to four continents.
India:
Andy Chopra spent a few weeks in India on business and visiting family.
Italy:
David Johnston and his wife Beth just got back from Italy (Amalfi Coast, of course).

Beaux at Trafalgar Square
Bill Wallace At The Great Wall
That's a Big Wall!

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

DDGM John Holt to recieve 50 year award

Not much longer will we be asking for all 49 year Masons to be recognized at Gate City. On May 28, 2009, it will be official: John Holt will receive his 50 year pin. DDGM John Holt has always been a great friend and mentor to the Brethren of GCII, it's important that we give him a strong showing for his biggest night.


Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Grand Master to visit Gate City II:

We are pleased to announce that Brother J. Edward Jennings, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Georgia, will be visiting Gate City II on September 8th 2009. We have moved our annual Past Master's Night to the same evening.

Due to the stock market, our Children's Home is running at a deficit. In addition to moving our GACHIP program forward, Most Worshipful Brother Jennings has been working hard this year to raise money for The Children's Home in order bridge the deficit and has done an excellent job! He is also noted to be quite a humorist during his presentations. You don't want to miss this.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Gate City II: Religion and Culture V: The Catholic Church and Freemasonry:

Gate City II: Religion and Culture V: The Catholic Church and Freemasonry: On May 26, 2009, our Religion and Culture series will have as our guest Catholic Deacon John J. McManus. In a presentation approved by the Archbishop of Atlanta, Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, John will speak on the historical relationship between the Catholic Church and Freemasonry. Among the topics covered in the presentation will be age old rifts, Papal Bulls and the Catholic Church's current stance on Freemasonry. Dinner 6:30PM. Presentation 7:30PM. Friends, family and the public are welcome to attend.

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309.

The Craft Loses Another: Jonesboro Lodge Loses Junior Warden Vernon Harp

Brothers,
Sad times have fallen on Jonesboro Lodge and our Brothers YAARAB Shriners. Junior Warden Vernon Harp was in a tragic auto accident Saturday night between 11:00 and 11:30 p.m. which took his life. Brother Harp will be greatly missed within our lodge and our YAARAB temple. While on bended knees please keep the Harp family in your prayers.

Arrangement for Vernon Paul Harp Funeral:
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 15, at 6-8pm. Thursday April 16, at 8:45am. Jonesboro Lodge will open Lodge of sorrow. Funeral Services will be Thursday, April 16, in the Chapel of Ford-Stewart Funeral Home. 2047 Highway 138 S.E. Jonesboro Ga. at 10am. All Brothers need to be at the funeral home no later then 9:30am for a Masonic Funeral Interment will be at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville Ga. At 2pm

Thank you, Darrell Flanigan

Sheldon Little Has Passed Away: The Angels Have A New Degree Master:

Sheldon Little, Marquis Member of Fulton Lodge 216, has passed away. He continued a legacy of excellent degree work in Fulton Lodge 216 and mentored those behind him so that it might be carried beyond him.

For his next Fellowcraft Degree, Randy Hazan, Director of Work-Fulton Lodge 216, will honor Sheldon by performing The Staircase Lecture in exact imitation of how Sheldon would have done. Randy would know as he was among many who were mentored and groomed by Sheldon.

Among Sheldon's favorite accomplishments was an encrypted lodge tactical manual which displayed in consise format the appropriate movements in Freemasonic Ritual Floor Work. It is not clear why this was never adopted. Perhaps it deserves another look.

The funeral will be Sunday, April 12th at 12:30PM. Crestlawn Funeral Home, 2000 Marietta Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30318.

Sheldon's Freemasonic Accomplishments:

Entered Apprentice Degree on March 20, 1968
Fellowcraft Degree on April 17, 1968
Master Masons Degree on May 1, 1968
Worshipful Master in 1975.
Director of Work
Masonic Education and Leadership Development Committee of Grand Lodge
He Received his 25 year Lodge Award on September 22, 1993
Perpetual Member of Fulton Lodge.
Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of France near the Grand Lodge of Georgia.
Grand Lodge Webmaster
Fifth District Secretary
Received Grand Masters Cup 1975
Distinguished Service Award
Recording Secretary for Grand Lodge

Sheldon's Scottish Rite Accomplishments:

Commander KCCH Court
Commander Scottish Rite Guard
Past President of Cobb County Scottish Rite Association
Executive Committee Treasurer
Scottish Rite Staff Treasurer
Degree Master
Reunion Staff
33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary
Past Venerable Master

DeMolay Honors and Involvement:

The Honorary Legion Of Honor in 1995
Member, George Washington’s Chapter for Honorary Senior DeMolays in GA
Life member of the DeMolay International Alumni Association
Helped to develop a membership database for Georgia DeMolay
Judge, GA DeMolay’s Tournament of Champions Ritual Competition
Commander in the East for the Legion of Honor Preceptory

Sheldon Little

Family-Placed Notice from the Atlanta Journal and Constitution:

Sheldon Little, age 75, of Atlanta, died April 7. 2009. He had been a member of since 1968 of Fulton Lodge No. 216, F. & A.M. where he held many positions including Past Master and Secretary of the Fifth Masonic District. A 33rd Degree Mason, he received the Distinguished Service Medal from the Grand Lodge of Georgia. He was the first webmaster for Grand Lodge of Georgia. Mr. Little was a graduate of Georgia Tech where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering and was a Tau Epsilon Phi brother. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of Congregation Shearith Israel. He was very proud of the charitable work he did for Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. Mr. Little retired as a National Equipment Sales Manager for Zep Manufacturing. Survivors include his loving wife of 9 years, Sydell Little; children: Alissa Little, Denver, CO; Stephanie Little, Atlanta; Jodi and Bob Gnapp, Denver, CO; Owen and Nicole Schoolsky, San Diego; Sandye and Tom Horne, Sevierville, TN; Ilene Schoolsky, Atlanta; brother, Mel and Peggy Little, Brandon, MS; sister, Eileen and Arnold Perlman, Suwanee, GA; grandchildren: Emmerie, Luke and Madison Schoolsky and Chandler and Thomas Horne, Jr. Sign online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Preservation Trust of Scottish Rite at Scottish Rite, PO Box 77387, Atlanta, GA 30357 or Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Graveside services will be held Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 12:30 pm at Crestlawn Cemetery with Rabbi Hillel Norry officiating. Arrangements by Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770)451-4999


Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

GATE CITY II: RELIGION & CULTURE IV: SURVIVING THE HOLOCAUST

Our guest speaker, Murray Lynn, is a regular on the Southeastern speaking circuit and has even addressed an international gathering at the Carter Center. The subject matter is obviously profound, moving and saddening. It is a testimony as to what happened when good people looked the other way.

Among the millions who were destroyed, eighty thousand Freemasons (low estimate) lost their lives to the horrors of the National Socialist Party of Germany.

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up

-Martin Niemoller
Thanks to Ross Laver for reminding us of that famous passage as well as giving us the figures on executed Freemasons.


Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Who is Django Reinhardt? What is a Gypsy Guitar? Gypsy Jazz?

Jean-Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953) a Belgian Born Gypsy jazz guitarist. Left with only two fingers after an accident, he overcame handicap and adversity to become one of the most renowned jazz guitarists in the one hundred years history of the music form. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli he cofounded the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Reinhardt's compositions include such jazz standards as "Minor Swing", "Tears", "Belleville", "Djangology", "Swing '42" and "Nuages" (French for "Clouds").

What is Gypsy Jazz: From Wikipedia:
"The Musette style waltz remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz repertoire. Reinhardt was noted for combining a dark, chromatic Gypsy flavor with the swing articulation of the period. This combination is critical to this style of jazz. In addition to this his approach continues to form the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar. Reinhardt's most famous group, the Quintette du Hot Club de France, also brought fame to jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
Gypsy jazz, along with traditional Gypsy music, is learned by the passing down of knowledge from older generations. Many Gypsy musicians do not read notated music. It is more common for beginners to spend hours learning and memorizing songs from recordings and gleaning techniques from more experienced players.
In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the main solo instruments, although clarinet and accordion are also common. The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct percussive technique, "la pompe", that essentially replaces the drums; however, in Eastern gypsy jazz, rhythm section is most likely covered by one or two cymbaloms, or (less frequently) a cymbalom and/or drums and an acoustic guitar (the cymbalom accompaniment technique is called in Romanian "ţiitură"). An upright bass fills out the ensembles. Although many instrumental lineups exist, a group including one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars, and bass is often the norm."

WHAT DOES A GYPSY GUITAR LOOK LIKE???

Note the oval shaped sound hole and oddly shaped bridge piece.



"D" shape sound hole. This fret board extends slightly into the sound hole. The long fret board is used to reach into the upper octave range of the guitar.


Two truly beautiful pieces side by side.




Remember, Django was left with only two fingers after an accident. Note how this cartoon shows Django playing guitar with his two good fingers. How might the politically correct of today have dealt with this? Not nearly as well Django did...you better believe it!!!

A little Django might do you some good. Click on the link below to hear some great Gypsy Jazz.
Django Reinhardt: Minor Swing

Gate City II is an Atlanta Masonic Lodge. We are a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

Gate City II: Religion and Culture III: Gypsy Jazz: Click Link Below To See Video Of Performance:

Charles Williams and Dave Bolin are two extraordinary guitarists who specialize in an early twentieth century music form: Gypsy Jazz. Django Rheinhardt, a two-fingered guitarist of Belgian – Franco origin, is to this music form what Segovia is to the Classical Guitar or what Jimi Hendrix is to the modern electric guitar. Gypsy Jazz lent itself handily to the French Cabarets and American jazz clubs of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Most of you have heard this form of music without knowing what it was.

In between numbers, Charles Williams gave background information on the composers of the upcoming selections. Note the guitars: they are not a common type. These guitars were designed for reverberation and depth. A well made guitar of this style starts at $4,000.00. Trust me, these were two very good guitars.

Charles and Dave are ½ of the Bonaventure Quartet (which is now a sextet) and agreed to perform for our series after the Agnes Scott Strings had to reschedule their engagement with us. They played a wonderful set of music and impressed everyone with a display of captivating virtuosity.

The audience was delighted. Many had never been in a Lodge Hall which featured a musical presentation. The skill of the guitarists was noted by all. Worshipful Master Bjelajac said of the performance, "I could have listened for another couple of hours at least."

Here are a couple of one minute clips of the performance which was enjoyed by Gate City and our guests. Click on the links to see the video:

Dave Bolin and Charles Williams play Gate City II's Religion and Culture Series, parts of 3rd and 4th selections .

The virtuoso is not perfect – he is excellent. We may strive for perfection with the understanding that it is unattainable. The lesson of great artistry is the personified example of realized potential. Virtuosity conveys that it is within each of us to be great at whatever it is that we wish to do. That The Grand Architect has gifted each and every one of us with potential is beyond question. The realization of that potential is your way of thanking God for what he has bestowed. So Mote It Be.

As is customary, after the meeting, Gate City II and friends adjourned to Cafe Intermezzo for a bit of fellowship.

Gate City II is a Regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons working under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Georgia. Our regular meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays January – May, September – November, the 2nd Tuesday in June, August and December and the 4th Tuesday in July. We meet at the Atlanta Masonic Center (formerly The Atlanta Masonic Temple) 1690 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309