My Year In The Grand West

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.

I was honoured to sit in the West for the Installation of the new WM at Birch Cliff Lodge, on Friday the 13th, WBro George Baraki, and during the Investiture of his Officers for the ensuing twelve moneths, with RWBro Peter Sialtsis doing a great job as the IM this evening at the old East Toronto Masonic Temple, aka Chisholm Temple, in Toronto East District. The Beaches Lodge and Birch Cliff shared the same temple - "our home"  at Queen and Balsam in The Beach - for many decades prior to the erection of the now-sold Scarborough Masonic Temple, where I was initiated, passed and raised, and where both lodges used to also meet. Birch Cliff Lodge was founded in 1922 as a daughter Lodge of Wilson Lodge No. 86, which was located in Toronto and named for William Mercer Wilson, the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in The Province of Ontario. Birch Cliff held their first meeting under "Dispensation" on September 8th, 1922 in a renovated house on Birchcliff A...

Birch Cliff Lodge and The Beaches Lodge (my Mother Lodge) have enjoyed a long history together - from the early days of "East Toronto" - having once shared the same temple on Balsam at Queen in which they met for over five decades, before each moved to the new temple in Scarborough in the early 1960s. On Friday evening, Birch Cliff No 612 members proudly held a reception for RWBro Peter Sialtsis, who since the forming of their lodge is their first from among them to be elected to the Board of General Purposes at Grand Lodge. Peter is a truly wonderful Mason - and sets a great example for our young Masons - and who sits on Grand Lodge committees providing his expertise in the realm of law, and is also a very active and knowledgeable member of many concordant bodies, and known throughout our Jurisdiction for his superlative ritual work. His parents attended the reception, as did many other friends and family members, not to mention Masons who have known Peter and his contri...

On Saturday, the Irish Degree Team from St John's Lodge  (London East District) arrived in Peterborough - as guests of Peterborough Lodge - by bus in the late morning to perform the legendary Third Degree, and there were certainly plenty of visitors waiting in lodge in eager anticipation. As the Grand Master pointed out during his response to the The Toast To Grand Lodge at lunch, this is a degree that has a history beyond the Unification of 1813 and into the earliest lodges of the Ancients , especially in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England, prior to the eventual formation of the Premier Grand Lodge in London. It was a great day. I had never seen the degree, but had heard a lot of rumours, regarding its rather violent nature - properly providing a candidate true trials and tribulations in order to become a Master Mason. Sitting in the East, I found the team, which were dressed appropriately, integrated the play aspect of Scottish Rite degrees really well to drive home t...

On Saturday, September 21, Acacia Lodge No 430 held its last Installation and Investiture of its Officers at East Toronto Masonic Centre, which has now been sold, and the brethren will, as of October 1, begin to meet at the York Masonic Centre in Leaside. Acacia held its banquet (with a sumptuous array of food prepared by their own chef, and music supplied by a DJ, also a member) prior to the meeting, which was attended by many visitors, as well as guests, including members of the Grand Lodge of Philippines. The East Toronto Masonic Centre was built by members of Acacia over a century ago. This was the first meeting where I could not where my White Tie and Tails, as this meeting was held during the day. I don't have a Morning Suit and thus the ol' tuxedo was dusted off. WBro Jun Ogues was installed as Worshipful Master, and WBro Rodel Hernaez is now IPM of the lodge. According to their history, found on the Toronto East District website: "A preliminary meeting was h...

Alpha-Tuscan Lodge No 384 - in my own Toronto East District - held its Installation and Investiture of Officers on Thursday, September 19, and it was a very well-attended evening and a wonderful ceremony, enabled by an excellent Installing Board, led by WBro Brad Guinn. Alpha Lodge was formed in 1880 and Tuscan Lodge received its charter in 1918. They amalgamated in 2008, and they proudly share a rich history of achievement. In 2005, at the time of the realignment of the 5 Toronto Districts, Alpha and Tuscan were among only 3 lodges from the old District 7 to become part of the new Toronto East District (of which The Beaches Lodge was to also join, leaving the former District 3). The 3rd was Cathedral Lodge and it has since gone dark. A complete history of the first 125 years of Alpha Lodge was compiled and printed by WBro. Martin Sckulnick, also in 2005, and limited copies are still available from him. According to the current Toronto East District website, "Alpha and Tuscan ...