To the Worshipful Master, Wardens Senior and Junior, Officers, Past Masters, and Brethren of the Worshipful Lodge Vitruvian #767, Free & Accepted Masons, Grand Lodge of Indiana:
It is a sad occasion on which I learn about the loss of our Brother, Dave Bosworth, and I join the Lodge in mourning his loss, with the hopeful celebration of the kind of man and Brother he was, and of his translation to the Celestial Lodge above.
I went to the Lodge's web page to sign a guestbook, but seeing none I hoped that this e-mail would reach to you. I met Bro. Dave in February 2000, at the annual Masonic Week activities in Washington, DC. He was a Brother who understood Masonry, the seriousness of its core Teaching, and the good humor and joy of having the fellowship of other "travelers on the Way".
I last saw him in DC; we had not long returned from the 150th Anniversary celebration of Benjamin B. French #15 at the Reagan Center. It was especially poignant for me because I knew that my wife would have immensely enjoyed the operatic selections, and I was still recently divorced. When we returned to the hotel, Bro. Dave noticed the quietude of my demeanor, and sat with me in quiet conversation. I felt much solace from that, and he never knew how much it meant to me.
There was no heroic act; no great outpouring of grand proportion. It was a simple act of Brotherly love and kindness, in a human moment, that earned an eternal image of Bro. Dave on the tablet of my heart and mind. I should live long enough to have such effect on my Brethren. I will miss Brother Dave, and sympathize with the Brethren of Lodge Vitruvian for their loss of a great foundation stone in their Lodge.
Alas my Brother!
In Fraternal Sorrow,
.·. Rashied K. Sharrieff-Al-Bey, PM
Cornerstone Lodge #37
MWPHGL-NY
--
"Si Opus Quadratum vis, angulos praecidere noli..."
(If you want Square Work, you don't cut corners...)
The brethren of Lodge Vitruvian No. 767 are coming to a bookstore near you.
Wbro. Eric Schmitz, Senior Deacon and Past Master of Monroe Lodge No. 22 in Bloomington, has authored The Quest For The Holy Grail, an "interactive exploration kit" about the Grail legends. This unique presentation contains a 176-page book about the bloodline of Jesus, 22 full-color cards of the people involved, a full-color map and genealogical chart, and a grail medallion, all packaged in a keepsake box. (Fair Winds Press, $26.95)
Wbro. Christopher Hodapp is following up last year's Freemasons For Dummies this December with Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington D.C. (Ulysses Press, $14.95)
Wbros. Hodapp, Schmitz, Nathan Brindle and Jeffrey Naylor, along with other brethren collectively writing as the "Knights of the North", authored Laudable Pursuit: A 21st Century Response To The Questions Of Dwight Smith, an essay that was first presented at the Lodge Vitruvian festive board in March 2005. It will be published in an upcoming issue of the Philalethes Society magazine.
In addition, Past Grand Master Roger S. VanGorden will be contributing the Through Masonic Windows column on the back page of the Philalethes Magazine, beginning in September 2006.
Brother Kenneth W. Davis is our resident professor. His latest book is the McGraw Hill 36-Hour Course In Business Writing and Communication (2005, McGraw Hill, $19.95)
In the best spirit of competition, honorary Vitruvian member Dr. S. Brent Morris has taken on Vitruvian's "dummy" and written the Complete Idiot's Guide To Freemasonry (Alpha, $18.95). Brent is managing editor of the Scottish Rite Journal of the Supreme Council, 33°, Southern Jurisdiction, and has spoken twice at Vitruvian. He is also the co-author of Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry?
Honorary member Wbro. Stephen Dafoe of Edmunton, Alberta, Canada is a noted author of many books on the Knights Templar, including recently released The Knights Templar Revealed (Constable & Robinson, $7.95), along with being the editor of Templar History Magazine. In the Masonic world, he is the editor of the respected Masonic Magazine, and his new book, Climbing The Winding Staircase is due out in 2007.
Finally, several Vitruvians have contributed several of the twenty-six essays of the online www.MasonicDictionary.com, a field guide for progressive Freemasonry.
Lodge Vitruvian No. 767 is Indiana's first "European Concept" lodge, featuring limited membership, brief meetings, fine feasts, and the celebration of Masonic learning. Visit us on the web at http://www.vitruvian.org
It is with deepest sadness for me to report that Worshipful Brother David W. Bosworth, PM died of a heart attack this morning.
Please remember in your thoughts and prayers his wife Ann, his daughter Sheila, and his son Guy.
David was a Past Master of Calvin W, Prather Lodge No. 717 in Indianapolis, a member of Lodge Vitruvian No. 767, and Masonic bodies far too numerous to mention.
David was one of the first Masons I ever met just prior to joining the fraternity, and I always valued his humor, his thoughtfulness and his advice. He was truly a larger than life figure, and he will be sorely missed.
The Masonic Service with be at 7:30pm at Leppert Mortuary - 740 E. 86th St. on Sunday, September 10th. Wbro. Clifford Lewis of Calvin Prather Lodge will perform the service. The internment sevice will be at 10am on Monday.
Fraternally,
Chris Hodapp, WM
Lodge Vitruvian No. 767