Masonic Insights
M&M: Michigan Masonry
To be a Mason is to be a traveller (or “traveler” for our American Brethren).
We, at Square & Compass Promotions, consider ourselves “professional travellers.”
These travels have taken us to many amazing places throughout North America and, if you count virtual travel, throughout the world.
Over the coming weeks, we will be using this platform to discuss highlights of/from these travels.
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Travel and visitation is an incredibly important part of the Masonic experience. It is also a very important part of life.
As Anthony Bourdain stated:
- “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food [or sit in their lodge], it’s a plus for everybody.”
Though our many visits to Michigan are “travel,” the proximity between Ontario and Michigan (particularly Windsor and Detroit) means Michigan visitation doesn’t really feel like travel…it feels more like driving down the road.
On a good day, the trip from Windsor to Detroit takes less than two minutes.
I guess it is more like driving “up” the road, since Windsor is the one Canadian City SOUTH of America/Detroit (hence Windsor’s unofficial nickname “South Detroit.”)
Despite how it feels, travelling to Michigan is travel…and wonderful travel at that.
Windsor and Essex County District (especially Thistle Lodge in Amherstburg) regularly hosts our Michigan Brethren.
The bond between America and Canada is strong.
The bond between Michigan and Ontario is strong.
The bond between the Grand Lodge of Michigan and the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario is strong.
The bond between the Detroit Masonic Temple and the Windsor Masonic Temple is strong.
The reason for the strength of these bonds is one reason: travel.
Right off the bat (an apt phrase due to its proximity to the Detroit Tigers’ Stadium), you have the Detroit Masonic Temple.
The Detroit Masonic Temple is an amazing Masonic Temple and (more importantly) an absolutely vital part of Detroit. It is also a major part of Windsor’s community. So many from Windsor have travelled to Detroit’s “Masonic” for concerts and events, or the amazing tours run by the Detroit Masonic Temple.
The Detroit Masonic Temple also kindly took part and helped the Windsor Masonic Temple during it’s 100 year anniversary and public unveiling celebrations January 19th and January 20th, 2024.
The Detroit Masonic Temple is the largest Masonic Temple in the world. Square & Compass Promotions visited the Detroit Masonic Temple numerous times for the Temple’s public tours, as well as for Lodge meetings and special events. Most recently, we attended Zion Lodge №1for an amazing (double) 2nd Degree.
The Detroit Masonic Temple is a masonic treasure.
Its work in the community, and its importance to the community (including Detroit artists such as Jack White) is something to which every Masonic building should aspire.
Square & Compass Promotions featured many Detroit Masonic Temple representatives on Podcast episodes, to discuss its work and history. Learn more on YouTube.
Everyone (Mason or not) should visit the Detroit Masonic Temple and take part in one of its public tours.
Michigan Freemasonry is more than Detroit’s Masonic Temple and we have been lucky enough to experience (just some) of what Michigan Freemasonry has to offer.
These experiences include visiting the Bay City Scottish Rite Cathedral and Joppa Lodge (also in Bay City, Michigan). Bay City Michigan is (without question) an absolutely beautiful Northern Michigan small town and a place I always enjoyed visiting. The Bay City Scottish Rite Cathedral is itself a Masonic treasure.
The Detroit Masonic Temple, the Bay City Scottish Rite Cathedral, and the Windsor Masonic Temple all date its origin to the 1920s (a Masonic boom period and a decade to which many special masonic buildings date their origins).
These experiences also include visiting Dearborn Lodge at Dearborn Masonic Temple. This Temple also hosts a Scottish Rite Learning Center, the closest learning centre to the Windsor Masonic Temple’s Scottish Rite Learning Centre.
Dearborn Michigan has a very large Muslim population. This population is reflected in Dearborn Masonry
We have been lucky enough to visit Dearborn Lodge on several occasions (transit service between Detroit, MI and Dearborn, MI is excellent).
We can’t wait to go visit again!
We’ve taken part in festive boards at Northwood Ancient Craft Lodge Number 551 in Madison Heights (learn more about this Festive Board on Medium)
Michigan has been (for us) an amazing Masonic destination.
It has also been an amazing wresting destination.
This author has been lucky enough to attend professional wrestling events in Bay City, Michigan and Brighton, Michigan (and Detroit, Michigan) and it is always a special time. This author even went to a WWE show several years ago.
Many times, Michigan acts as a “gateway” during our Masonic travels, as it is often where we board a flight, train, or bus on our way to a US Masonic event.
We have to thank the staff of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Flixbus, Amtrak, Greyhound, etc. for excellent service as we engage in Masonic visitation and Masonic travel.
Michigan represents some of this author’s earliest Masonic visitations. It also represents some of this author’s earliest “cross-border” trips during law-school (this author particularly remembers a law-school trip for a Detroit Tigers game, as well as trips to Red Wings games, WWE shows, and more. It has always been a pleasure.
This author remembers one particularly amazing visit to Michigan, which included travelling to a Masonic Lodge that met in a repurposed farm house. [I can’t remember the name of the Lodge or the location of the re-purposed farm house, just that it was a beautiful Lodge building].
Michigan = wonderful.
Michigan Freemasonry = wonderful!
All opinions expressed are those of Square & Compass Promotions and the guest(s), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Windsor Masonic Temple and/or any Masonic group.
#michigan #puremichigan
