My Year In The Grand West

A trip up the Niagara Escarpment with RWBro Mark Kapitan, GJW, on this Thursday, March 12, to visit Copestone Lodge 373 in Fonthill turned out to be our last - sadly - before all Masonic meetings were cancelled the next day due to the Corona Virus (COVID19) which has effectively shut down most of the world's public activities. On this evening, in fact the OV of RWBro John Newton, DDGM Niagara 'B', I was able to present the short article written by RWBro Wallace McLeod, when he chaired the Education Committee, titled The Banner of Grand Lodge. Joining us, much to my surprise, in lodge was one of my early mentors and inspirations, RWBro Alan Donovan. As an EA about 15 years ago, while he was DDGM, I had the pleasure of golfing one fine day with him - without knowing what titles really were - and he explained so many things of relevance over those 18 holes, and I went on to meet with him again and produce a promotional and informative video for the York Rite called Fervancy

The Barton Lodge No 6 is celebrating a unique Masonic milestone this year, as they turn 225 years old, and if it were not for the COVID19 outbreak a few days after this meeting would have enjoyed a wonderful banquet, but on this evening the GJW and I were joined in lodge by the Grand Master, MWBro David Cameron, who had lived across the road from the candidate and watched him grow up, and who now watched him at his Initiation, proudly becoming a Mason. Congratulating the members this evening on joining "The 225 Club" were two members of The Ancient St John's Lodge No 3 who had both travelled from Kingston to enjoy the degree and education that was also provided. As written in an article entitled " Early History of Freemasonry in Upper Canada " by MWBro Freed, PGM, Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, who says: "The Barton Lodge, No.6 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Canada, was the ninth of those warranted by William Jarvis. Its cha

This was indeed an entertaining visit to Beach Lodge 639 - the home lodge of our GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan - on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Scott Laing, DDGM of Hamilton 'A'.  Following an excellent banquet, featuring roast beef, and an array of toasts, including a rousing and very traditional JW Toast given by our GJW, we were then ceremoniously ushered into the lodge room and witnessed a 2nd degree conferred most efficiently by the upstanding brethren, on behalf of Tuscon Lodge, who provided the candidate for the evening. There is a wonderfully written article to be found online with respect to the history of Beach Lodge, and here are a few quotes that are relevant to maintaining tradition, in terms of how we do it: 1) Growing up "down there" couldn't help but make you independent. We did it our way. As a community we no doubt raised the hackles of the powers that be in some quarters. So be it. The Beach, long ignored, now became a sought afte

The evening in Schomberg started with a quick visit to a local pub, due to our early arrival, where the GJW and I enoyed wings and fries at The Scruffy Duck, before heading over to visit Union Lodge 118 on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Alan Dresser, DDGM York District, and ended with an excellent banquet down below. The brethren conducted a 2nd degree and we proudly welcomed the newest FC of True Blue Lodge. Also present in lodge were two esteemed Masons, one a William Mercer Wilson medal recipient and a William James Dunlop Award winner. The latter is rare, and more information on the past award winners can be found on the Heritage Lodge website  as well as information on WJ Dunlop himself. In brief, "Dr. Dunlop was appointed Minister of Education on October 2,1951, and retired from that office on December 16,1959, but continued to serve in the Cabinet of Ontario as a Minister without Portfolio until his retirement from that position in November 1960. At that t

Located in the local Plympton-Wyoming Fairgounds, just a few miles from Sarnia, on this Saturday night my wife and I drove a few hours to experience the annual Pie Olympics - an event held annually for the past 23 years - during the Ladies Night of the district. The event also raised money for the local hospice, which is the District Charity and has been for the past 8 years. The evening was also attended by many Grand Lodge officers, including the Grand Master, as well as quite a few past GMs, such as MWBro Atkinson, MWBro Todd, MWBro Green and MWBro Dowling, and likely among the crowd several men aspiring to be GM one day.

Back to my Mother Lodge on this first Thursday in March for our annual OV, and tonight we welcomed RWBro Gil Carreiro, DDGM Toronto East, for his annual inspection. We first enjoyed a wonderful meal at the banquet hall in the York Temple and then, upon opening, passed to the Second Degree Bro George Kierstead, while also enjoying a piece of Masonic Education presented by WBro Derek McNulty on the intriguing subject of Acacia. Next month, the brethren will cast their votes for the new officer line-up and at our OV, the SW was Bro Eric Boyce, who delivered the FC lecture, and on this night WBro Steve Spence announced he would be letting his name stand for the office of GSW in July.  The Sprig of Acacia, as found on the website Sacred Texts, and related to Freemasonry: Intimately connected with the legend of the third degree is the mythical history of the Sprig of Acacia, which we are now to consider. There is no symbol more interesting to the masonic student than the Sprig of Ac

On this first Wednesday in March, I ventured up the road to the East Toronto Masonic Hall on Chisholm Avenue, behind the KFC, to visit the brethren of West Hill Lodge 670 on the occasion of the OV of RWBro Gil Carreiro, DDGM Toronto East, and while there watched the members and officers pass (again) to the FC degree one of The Beaches Lodge members in an emulation. Fun Fact: WBro Horst Benoit, sitting once more in the East, was in my Wardens group, approximately a decade ago, when our lodges used to meet at the Scarborough Temple just prior to its sale. Not that anyone's counting the years since that building was sold.

Up we drove, the GJW and I, to Meaford - on the shores of Georgian Bay - to visit the brethren of Pythagoras Lodge 137 and their visitors on the occasion of the OV of DDGM RWBro John Bell. We went up to the Tird Degree, and while there I provided Masonic Education on the Grand Banner of Grand Lodge. VWBro Tom Wilcox also received his 50 Year Pin. Yet another lodge steeped in history, as evidenced by its walls, including a very old dirk and a unique gavel used by the WM - a ram's head, carved by a local artisan, known for her totem poles. Fun fact: the lodge turned 100 the year I was born! From their website : Pythagoras Lodge No. 137, Meaford, received dispensation to form a lodge on January 13, 1860. It was a member of the old Toronto District and in1866 and was transferred to Georgian District in 1879 and became a member of Grey District in 1951. In 1858 the amicable agreement to amalgamate the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada and the Grand Lodge of Canada A.F. & A.M. too

Sandwiched in between a Scottish Rite meeting on Thursday evening, and a Heritage Lodge meeting on Saturday morning, was a visit to Georgina Lodge on the occasion of the Official Visit of the DDGM, RWBro Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. This was the week when RWBro Harold Clarke had finished the encasement of MWBro C. Edwin Drew's regalia and it had been mounted on the wall, above the organ in the temple. a fitting tribute to a wonderful man and inspirational leader. In addition to the many WMs from Toronto Humber Valley, joining me in the East was RWBro Mark Kapitan and RWBro Terry VanHorne. At the outset of the meeting, after the lodge had been duly opened and the brethren were called from labour to refreshment, I provided some Masonic Education - a piece on the use of threes in Freemasonry, and in life, or triads (versus dyads), the groupings of three and the concept of three. I believe it was well received, and generated further discussion. As a young Mason, I was signing the registe