Hear interview with GCII regular, Michael Karpovage, on his new book, Crown Of Serpents:

Click here for Interview



Gate City II regular, Michael Karpovage, "I'm pleased to announce that I just conducted my first interview about my new Masonic mystery thriller novel Crown of Serpents. It is a streaming podcast conducted by the hosts of Masonic Central. You can hear the entire hour long interview at the following website. After some chat and news my interview starts about 15 minutes into the show."

Well Done Michael!


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

GCII: Annual Retreat: December 4th - 6th:

Our Annual Lodge Retreat is fast approaching. We have capped the amount of attendees at 25. There will be Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Catechism classes as well as Officer Opening and Closing ritual work. With nine officers training, nine candidates learning, three coaches and two cooks, there are only two spots left. First come, first served.

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

GCII CHIPS: Cold and Rainy Staurday at the Highland games followed by cold and sunny Sunday:

Gate City II showed their meddle by sticking out a cold, wet Saturday at the Stone Mountain Highland Games. The only thing warm in our booth was the crock pot for the dental impressions. During the weekend, over thirty volunteers showed up to lend a hand but with the bad weather came poor game attendance. Between Saturday and Sunday, seventy children received CHIPS processing. A truly worthy cause.

The surroundings of bagpipe bands, Scottish culture, great food and good fellowship made the cold bearable. Huge thanks and praises go to June and Ross Laver for all of their support and devotion to this great program.

We were asked back for next year, October 16 - 17, 2010, and have accepted. The promoters have promised better weather.

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

185 Show Up To Roast Leonard Buffington

One hundred and eighty five show up to roast incoming Grand Master Leonard "pork chop" Buffington. The Atlanta masonic Center was packed on Friday, October 16, 2009, as well wishers squeezed into the dining hall to watch a parade of dignitaries, friends and relatives as they fired off their best jokes, props and anecdotes. Jeremy Conlon, pictured in character, organized the roast as a means of raising money for The Grand Master's Traveling Fund for next year. By all accounts, Jeremy's routine was hilarious. Judging from his picture (left), his delivery was probably like that of a strange hybrid of Rod Serling and Johnny Carson. We expected nothing less.

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

Tuesday, October 13, 2009: The Haggis Was Addressed...and Consumed!

Beaux Pettys welcomed the gathering of sixty guests. He summed a paper, which he'd written, about Burns' importance to the Scottish People with the following, "Perhaps it is best to impart that, in the eighteenth century, Prometheus spoke with a Scottish Brogue. He carried a torch comprised of wood from the felled trees of the Highland clearances. In lieu of a lost kingdom, a pitch soaked rag was crowned atop his torch and Robert Burns lit the match." He hit the gavel three times and the entourage marched in behind the bagpipes.

The gathering stood up as the Bagpiper, swordsmen, and addresser marched solemnly to the east. The Haggis was placed in front of the addresser and he began the recital of Robert Burns'Address To A Haggis. His Scottish dialect was thick, literally unintelligible and an utter delight to hear. He stabbed The Haggis with a dagger several times and then wielded said dagger in the air. When finished, he paid the piper. Typically, one pays the piper with a dram of good Scotch Whiskey but, in this instance, apple juice had to suffice.

The pipes began and the entourage left the lodge room. Our gathering followed suit to the dining hall. It's hard to imagine wanting to sample sheep hearts, intestine and other unsavory bits but when beckoned by Scotsmen, clad in kilts, some people will try anything. Our guests enjoyed a heaping spoonful on taddies and Haggis while listening to another couple of tunes on the pipes and a couple of Burns' poems. Gate City would like to thank the following:

Addresser: Richard Graham
Bagpipes: George McLellan
Swordsman I: Ross Wylie
Swordsman II: Charles Bogle III
Platter: Alexander Davidson (Our very own)










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

One For The Scotts: The Battle of Balaklava: The Thin Red Line: Octobber 25th, 1854:

With all of the talk in the last entry of St Crispens Day being on October 25th, and falling on the heels of our Address to the Haggis and our Georgia Chips event at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, I am remiss in not mentioning The Thin Red Line. One for our Scotsmen. 'Er ye goo lads!


The Russian cavalry force of 2,500 rode down the road to Balaklava. It was early morning and the sole force that lay between the oncoming cavalry and the disorganized and vulnerable British camp was the 93rd Regiment.

Campbell is said to have told his men, "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." Sir Colin's aide John Scott is said to have replied, "Aye, Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." (Campbell's relationship with his men was almost family-like.) Campbell formed the 93rd into a line two deep — the "thin red line". Convention dictated that the line should be four deep, however Campbell, a grizzled veteran of 41 years military service, had such a low opinion of the Russian cavalry that he did not bother to form four lines, let alone a square, but met the charge head on with the 2-deep firing line.[citation needed] Contrary to popular belief, the 93rd discharged three volleys, at 800, 500 and 350 yards, and not one at point-blank (as at Minden in 1759). However, despite the casualties inflicted, the Hussars and Cossacks would undoubtedly have overrun the British line; it was good fortune that saved them, as the Russian commander, seeing so thin a line of British infantry, concluded that this was a diversion and that there was a much stronger force behind the 93rd, and ordered the cavalry to withdraw. At that, some of the Highlanders started forward for a counter-charge, but Sir Colin stopped them with a cry of "93rd, damn all that eagerness!".

The Times correspondent, William H. Russell, wrote that he could see nothing between the charging Russians and the British base of operations at Balaclava but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Popularly condensed into "the thin red line", the phrase became a symbol for British sangfroid in battle.

The battle is represented in Robert Gibb's 1881 painting of the same name, which is displayed at the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle. It is also commemorated in the assembly hall of Campbell's former school Glasgow High School, where there is a painting of the action hung in the grand position, a tribute to one of the school's two generals, the other being Sir John Moore who was dismembered by a cannonball during the Peninsular War.

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

St. Crispen's Day: October 25th

No offense to the wonderful Scottish Brethren from last night's Burn's celebration, but the English victory at Agincourt, over a vastly superior French force, still ranks as one of the all time surprise routes in world history. What better way to commemorate St Crispen's Day, so closely identified with Agincourt, than with the immortal soliloquy from Shakespeare's Henry V:

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

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 Staple, Sanjay Mody, meets Lady Margaret Thatcher

GCII staple, when he's not in London, Sanjay Mody, recently had a chance to ham it up with Lady Margaret Thatcher. Sanjay calls Lady Margaret, "the greatest peace time Prime Minister we've ever had." Sanjay is a citizen of the United Kingdom and goes back and forth from London to Atlanta on a regular basis. He is a graduate of Emory University and is doing his internship in London. The soon to be Dr. Mody should be gracing us with his presence in the upcoming months. Well done chap!

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 of Virginia Makes Statement, Sets Policy, Against Solicitation for KKK, Aryan Nation, and Other Subversive Groups, in Masonic Lodges:

Most Worshipful Jeffery E. Hodges wrote a letter with the following statement:

With regard to organizations that are anti-Semitic, racist or antisocial in their doctrine and advocation, such as but not limited to, the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, etc., the following will be the policy of the Grand Lodge of Virginia: it is not acceptable to present information on, display association with, or solicit involvement in such organizations in a Masonic Lodge holden under the Grand Lodge of Virginia. At no time, should such organizations be linked to our gentle Craft.

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

From The Grand Lodge of Virginia Herald, Fall 2009: Do Good Unto All by Shelby L. Chandler:

Do Good unto All
Bro. Shelby L. Chandler
JW, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4


Members of Fredericksburg No. 4 and Prince Hall No. 61

Freemasonry is that universal Brotherhood which has endured the test of time for over 400 years and yet it is still, and will continue to be, on trial for the Ages. Understand that there will always be those out there who will believe us to be the blanket that threatens to envelop the world. They are studying us to find that one strand to pull that will eventually unravel the Masonic tapestry that they fear or despise. With that being said, what are we as Freemasons doing to set the record straight about this Craft of ours? How many members of this great Fraternity are actually taking the time to raise up their working tools in order to “build that temple within themselves”?

Outside of Virginia, there is a Masonic Lodge that is in the middle of a heated battle against what I consider “Indirect Racism”, for not only is bigotry subtly being practiced, it is also inappropriately being justified as one of the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry. Generally, the actions within the Jurisdiction of every Grand Lodge are their own. However, when charges are preferred upon a Worshipful Master and his Lodge because they raised a “non-white” man to the degree of Master Mason, using as justification for the charges the…”usurpation of the constitution, laws, ancient landmarks, customs and traditions of…Masons”—this challenges the very foundation and core of our “Ancient Landmarks & Customs of Freemasonry”. At that point, this spills beyond their Grand Jurisdiction and right onto the lap of every Brother who has ever been raised and is in good standing.

The Constitution of Masonry reports, “Whence it follows that all Masons are to be good men and true—men of honor and honesty, by whatever religious names or persuasions distinguished; always following that golden precept, of "doing unto all men as (upon a change of conditions) they would that all men should do unto them. “ Understanding this, we recognize the importance of both true virtues and a clear respect for our fellow man in as much as we would wish this reciprocated. Worldwide, we as Freemasons suffer hatreds and prejudices by those who from their uninformed and closed-minded disposition would destroy the character of our beloved Craft; that being said, why would we wish to direct this fate upon any other of the human race?
As Masons, we must keep a constant check of ourselves to be sure that we are living our lives in the manner that brings honor to the Craft. We are not Brothers so that we can save one another from minor infractions of the law, or to broker a better deal for ourselves in business, or even to save one another from our own foolishness or stupidity. We are Brothers because we hold each other to the highest of standards and we understand that the life we live in this world is a difficult but rewarding one. Bigotry and Freemasonry are polar opposites of each other and ardent adversaries when faced with one another and never should one be practiced with the other.

We are the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. In a time when morality is declining within our society, there are so few good and honorable men in this world that one can rely upon; it is a shameful thing that there are those who would deny themselves and others the opportunity to know the experience and soul of another human being just because of the shell that we are destined to wear in this imperfect world. But I guarantee you that when we lay down our working tools, my Brother’s ashlar will fit as perfectly as mine when placed in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

As for that maligned Lodge mentioned above, all Masonic charges have been dropped. However, there is still a grassroots movement by other Lodges in their Grand Jurisdiction to petition to have the Charter of that Lodge removed as punishment for raising a Brother of “non-white” descent. But this is not only their burden; every Grand Jurisdiction faces this issue. Even in Virginia, Most Worshipful Jeffery E. Hodges wrote a letter with the following statement:

With regard to organizations that are anti-semantic, racist or antisocial in their doctrine and avocation, such as but not limited to, the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, etc., the following will be the policy of the Grand Lodge of Virginia: it is not acceptable to present information on, display association with, or solicit involvement in such organizations in a Masonic Lodge holden under the Grand Lodge of Virginia. At no time, should such organizations be linked to our gentle Craft.

I personally believe this to mean that, in addition to the ban on organization linkages, Virginia Masonry should regard the qualities and virtues of a Freemason as incompatible with the immoral behavior affirmed by such groups. Brethren, we all have our own problems and challenges of life, but we need to keep working to chip away at our own rough ashlars to make them perfect. The imperfections of our individuality are acceptable only because we are still utilizing our working tools to that end to accomplish and overcome. To act in denial or to refuse to change or improve ourselves and accept a life of hate is truly against the Ancient Landmarks and Customs of Freemasonry, and we should always check ourselves and take a good look at the edifice that we are building within.

Brethren, there will always be someone willing to unravel this beautiful tapestry that we know as Freemasonry. Let us not help them find that strand, but more especially let us not allow one of our own to unravel that tapestry from the seams within. Let us remember to do good unto all; recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful.

I promise you Brethren, the Great Architect of the Universe will remember.



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

ATTENTION: Latest Letter To Circulate Not From Gate City II:

There is another letter being circulated throughout Georgia Freemasonry. This letter, however, is anonymous. The envelope has no return address and the contents are merely a list of names of Gate City II members with Grand Lodge Offices beside said names.

The names with offices are cut into neat little slips which may be fitted into a coat pocket - for the Mason on the go. Whether the motives were misdirected good intentions or a malicious effort to get names published, for whatever reason, is unknown. What is known is that, regardless of intent or motive, the letter is unauthorized and constitutes either unwanted electioneering or un-Masonic conduct. Fortunately, the envelope is handwritten which gives a good sample of the senders penmanship - or lack thereof.

No member of Gate City II has any involvement in the writing, distribution, or planning of said letter. Any and all information regarding this matter is welcome.

No member of Gate City II is seeking any office named in said letter.

Sincerely & Fraternally,

GCII


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