My Year In The Grand West

On Tuesday, February 25, the GJW and I travelled to Vienna, Ontario, in Wilson District to accompany the Grand Master, MWBro David Cameron, at Oriental Lodge 181 and witness the formal extinguishing of the lights in a solemn ceremony and the surrender of their warrant. The members had proudly served the community and rather than amalgamate decided to "go dark" and also in the process donated the monies remaining in their bank account to a variety of local worthy causes. The ceremony was held in the Vienna Temple, also home of Vienna Lodge, where most of the members of Oriental will affiliate. The temple walls are filled with history, including a very unique and interesting piece of Masonic art - numerous pieces depicting parts of our Masonic ceremonies and rituals, each hand-carved and painted - contained in a wall-mounted case. There is also a very heavy hammer found in the anteroom used by a Mason - or the company he owned, identified by the S&C - in a day long ago t

This would be the first of our two fraternal visits this week to Toronto Humber Valley District, corresponding with two Official Visits of the DDGM, RWBro Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, and on this Monday night, February 24, the GJW and I dropped in on the brethren of Trillium Lodge 575 and had the pleasure of watching an excellent Fellowcraft degree. Quite impressively, the candidate was required to fly in from LA, where he is studying to receive his Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medince, to one day become a Chiropractor, and where he was being mentored electronically by the SW (seen in photo) in order to be properly prepared. After lodge we were feted downstairs to a wonderful dinner that included an array of Filipino food, as well as roast beef, and traditional toasts. 

Kilwinning Lodge 565 has a fine tradition of wearing their kilts on the occasion of the Official Visit, and this night, Thursday February 21, was the Official Visit of RWBro John McLoughlin, DDGM Toronto West, born in Glasgow, so I and several others in attendance, including the GJW and RWBro Charlie Woods, were in the minority wearing our pants. The lodge was formed in 1920 and will be celebrating their centenary in the fall. WBro Jamie Low, as WM, decided to provide an exemplification of the FC degree before we went downstairs for a great beef dinner and libations, as well as well-rounded conversations. It was relayed afterward that their JW had quickly departed for a career elsewhere, which precipitated a shuffling in the officer lineup, and required the import of WBro Stefano Amelio into the SW chair on this evening - though the lecture and charge to the FC were delivered by RWBro Andrew McClelland, who grew up across the road from Burns Cottage in Scotland. The lodge is proud o

On this fine night, February 20, it was time to visit Whitby again and on the occasion of the Official Visit of the DDGM of Ontario District, RWBro Grant Parnell, to David T. Campbell Lodge, who were initiating a new brother into the Craft. And these lads were well practised; and we were treated to some Masonic Education as well. After a banquet (catered by the brethren of Composite Lodge) that featured the biggest ham steak I've ever eaten, WBro. Yuri Dimagiba led the brethren through a perfect degree that certainly put a smile on the face of the candidate for the evening, and practically left him speechless at the conclusion. WBro John Dean and I had a great conversation after lodge concerning the history of Whitby in general and the history of the lodge specifically. The original lodge room for Masons in Whitby was located at the "four corners" downtown and was later sold to a bank, which then enabled the purchase of land on Cocchrane Street, ust north of Dundas (

On the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Carmine Infante, the GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan joined me at Harcourt Lodge 581 as the officers and members initiated their newest Mason at this Wednesday meeting (February 19) at York Temple. During a break, the DDGM took the time to introduce quite a few of his District Chairmen, who dutifully explained the various programs that were launched and are being implemented for the benefit of all members. There were also quite a few WMs from the district attending and everyone enjoyed themselves. According to their wesite, Harcourt Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 581, G.R.C. was conceived by the late Rt. Wor. Bro. James Haywood and the late Rt. W. Bro. George H. Smith with the help of several others, including the late W. Bro. John M. Millar, who was our first Master. Our name "Harcourt" was derived from the name of the ruling Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario at the time of our institution, M. Wor. Bro.

After Valentine's Day, on Saturday, February 15, the GJW and I drove from Parry Sound, where we had stayed after visiting the brethren of Bethel Lodge the night before, and drove to Peterbough for the OV of RWBro Tom Mortlock at Corinthian Lodge 101 and then enjoyed the passing of a well-prepared candidate (after a hearty meal and toasts downstairs), who was guided by the SD, Bro Danny McLaughlin. The degree was expertly led by the WM, and each part perfetly executed by the young officer team in the chairs, ably assisted by their PMs. Also attending were five WMs from local lodges in Peterborough District, as well as RWBro Tom Haight and VWBro Walter Howell, Grand Standard Bearer.

On Valentine's Day, the GJW and I traveled up to, first, Parry Sound, in order to check-in to our hotel, where we then changed and hit the road to continue our drive up to Sudury where we stopped at the Big Nickel (for a quick selfie) and then drove around the corner to meet the WM of Bethel Lodge 699, WBro Robert Tailleur, at Sizzle Mongolian Grill and then to the temple for their regular meeting. We were enthusiastically welcomed by the brethren, including the DDGM, RWBro Robert Lipic, and before going up to the 3rd, where I provided some Masonic Education by reading the article written by RWBro Wallace McLeod entitled The Banner of Grand Lodge, three officers were duly invested with their collars and a ballot was taken for a new applicant.  After lodge was closed, we enjoyed pie and ice cream downstairs, toasts and the wonderful traditional passing of the gavel so that each member in the room could be given the opportunity to speak and offer an enoyable, memorable or inspriat

In August, at the reception held in Kingston for Ancient St John's Lodge, I was approached by WBro Ian Troyer, the President of the Masonic Association of Frontenac District, to participate in their annual Degree Team - and I agreed to do so - and attended Albion Lodge 109 on February 13 to sit in the West and assist the team to pass Bro Alex Rice, who was a very well prepared candidate, as was the whole team, featuring members from across the district. Albion's own SW, Bro Scott Forbes, sat as SD and did a perfect job guiding the Bro Rice - in the presence of his father, Bro Robert Rice. It was a great meeting on several levels, as I was the guest of honour and was certainly treated as such, at the pre-meeting banquet and after the ceremony, when I was handed a package of local items, which I greatly appreciated. I was also able to present Grand Lodge pins to Bro Rice and Bro Son Rice, while telling the brethren present about my own father and my own son, not to mention my

On Wednesday Feb 12, the GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan and I met at the Aldershot Go Station and traveled together down the road to Ancaster, to visit the brethren of Meridian Lodge 687 on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Jason McCulloch, DDGM Hamilton District "C". Upon opening in the 2nd, the lodge passed an excellent candidate and, prior to closing, also presented a 50 Year a Past Master pin to RWBro Roger Parliament, who on this evening also sat as IPM. Their lodge building used to be barracks back in the day and its walls - upstairs and downstairs - are filled with history. According to their website: "In 1950, West Hamilton and the suburbs of Ancaster experienced rapid growth. As a result, it was determined that the creation of a new Lodge was required to meet Masonic enrollment requests. In October 1956, a group of senior masons began a series of meetings which led to the first meeting of Meridian Lodge # 687, under dispensation, on February 13, 1957. Me

On this Monday night, RWBro Mark Kapitan and I visited York Lodge 156 in Toronto Don Valley District on the occasion of the Official Visit of DDGM RWBro Carmine Infante. The lodge proficiently went up to the third where we were treated to an excellent piece of Masonic Education (on the tracing board) provided by RWBro Robert Kliaman written originally by MWBro John Ross Robertson, and in the second I read an article written for the Masonic Service Association in 1930 entitled "Corn, Wine and Oil" - which was appropriate with respect to the recent (and rare) Dedication in Stoney Creek and the upcoming 2nd Degree in Harrowsmith where I'll be sitting in the West; and, when back in the first, RW Kliaman was again granted freedom of the lodge and read an article written by RWBro Wallace McLeod, our former Grand Historian, on the Grand Lodge Banner. Prior to closing the WM added his knowledge on the subject of the olive - as it was used in the presentation related to Oil - a

On Friday, Feb 7, the GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan, and I visited King Hiram 566 at the Annette Street Temple in Toronto West District on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro John McLaughlin, DDGM, and to witness an Initiation on this evening, led by WBro John Lebedev, who was ably assisted by a wonderfully skilled line of officers, who were joined in the South by WBro Jamie Low, as King Hiram's JW had to attend family matters. Sidebar. John North Willys was a Freemason - in addition to Bros Ford, Chrysler and Olds - and it was his company that eventually created the Jeep... "Traced back to the purchase of the Overland Automotive Division of the Standard Wheel Company in 1908 by John North Willys, this young and initially struggling company was renamed the Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912," as taken from this site . And the connection as taken from King Hiram's own Lodge History to the Canadian side of his company is found on their website: "In the ye

This was a special night, not only for me, but for my son, who is now the SW in The Beaches Lodge and who was leading the degree team - as it was Step Up Night - and on this evening, Thursday, Feb 6, Bro Eric Boyce, sitting on the level in the East, and his officers raised two FC to the sublime degree of the Master Mason - and also while open in the 3rd proved a very capable member, who will soon be invested as an officer. As I watched the degree, I was reminded of the year 2011 when I was still the SW of The Beaches and when in May subsequently was installed as WM - and the first to be installed at York Temple. I have now watched many of the lodge officers be initiated, passed and raised in our new home (albeit temporary), including the current WM, WBro Jonathan Miles, and indeed I was proud of these young men, and the candidates, who were very well prepared, and look forward to watching their progress in the Craft.

The GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan, joined me on this evening, Wednesday Feb 5, for the annual Official Visit of RWBro Gil Carreiro, DDGM Toronto East, at Universe Lodge held in the York Masonic Temple. The brethren of Acacia Lodge provided an excellent young candidate who was passed to the FC degree. Accacia Lodge helped to form The Beaches Lodge in 1905, and has a long history: "A preliminary meeting was held on March 31st, 1892, to discuss the formation of another Masonic Lodge in East Toronto. It was comprised of members from Orient Lodge #399. In attendance were Brothers J.P. McMaster, J. Mitchell, W.R. Walters, John Richardson, John Parsell, G. Milne, D. Maginn, W. Brown and S. Newland. In order to proceed, dispensation was requested of, and granted by, the surrounding Lodges and the G.M. John Ross Robertson on May 5th, 1892. Bro. William Bowman loaned $200 for Hall Furnishings and a meeting place was secured through Bro. D.G. Stephenson, at Kingston Road and Main Street. The na

I visited Canada Lodge on Tuesday, Feb 4, on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Gil Carreiro - the DDGM for Toronto East - and enjoyed the passing of a young brother from Wexford Lodge. Members of Wexford were out in numbers in Whitby and won the Traveling Gavel. WBro Craig Woods is the WM and RWBro Dean Bergerson is the IPM of Canada Lodge, and sitting in the West on this evening was a past Grand Senior Warden, RWBBro Robert Kliaman.