My Year In The Grand West

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 (...

In the fall, I joined the Senior Wardens of Ontario District in passing (as a team) a young member of Cedar Lodge to the 2nd degree, and on this Tuesday Jan 28 I had the pleasure of joining the Grand Master, and many other Grand Lodge officers and brethren from across the Jurisdiction, for the Installation of the new WM, WBro Dean Peel, and Investiture of his officers for the ensuing year. The evening began with a meal and toasts - including to the haggis - in the hall below, and the head table were piped in by not one, not two but three pipers, including the Grand Piper. My immediate predeccsor was also in attendance, RWBro Frank Thompson, and other past Grand Senior Wardens as well, including MWBro Ron Groshaw, and RWBro Peter Irwin who received his 25 Year a Past Master pin this evening. According to their site, Cedar Lodge is one of several Lodges operating in the City of Oshawa. Well over 100 years old, Cedar Lodge was established in 1872 and has had many notable members over t...

Quite a few years ago, I watched the initiation and progression of a new Mason in The Beaches Lodge, Bro Doug Lauder, and then a few months ago - after he had moved to Courtice - I asked if he'd like to attend a meeting of the Heritage Lodge which was being held on a Saturday afternoon in Orono. He agreed and together we went. While there, I introduced him to WBro Steve Spence and the next thing you know Doug had joined Orono Lodge and on this evening - at the annual Installation - was invested as their JW. Per their website, Orono Lodge was founded in 1874, in the town of Orono, a small, vibrant town located about 60 minutes drive north east of Toronto. A group of eight Durham Lodge brethren, led by the Lockhart brothers, met December 17, 1874 to see if there was enough interest in Freemasonry. They proceeded to petition  for a warrant from the Grand Lodge, as four more brethren joined the eight! The warrant was granted, and the meetings were held in the ‘Sons of Temperenc...

I together with RWBro Mark Kapitan and RWBro Tom Haight, and VW David Churchill, joined our Grand Master, MWBro David Cameron, and the DDGM for Ontario District, RWBro Grant Parnell, and many other Masons, for the annual Installation of the WM and Investiture of his officers at Jerusalem Lodge No 31 in Bowmanville on December 11. The room was absolutely packed for the ceremony, and was a testament to the amount of travelling done by the members of this vibrant lodge. According to the website , Jerusalem Lodge was chartered in 1849 with the United Grand Lodge of England and numbered 28. Somehow, the warrant was lost, but there is a record of Jerusalem Lodge being transferred to the Grand Lodge of Canada (Ontario) and so Jerusalem Lodge operated as No. 28 under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of England from June 1849, until the first Charter was received in 1858, then duly renumbered 31. This charter is dated on July 14th, 1858.

On October 22, I sat in the West and helped the Senior Wardens of Ontario District pass a candidate to the second degree - a first for me as Grand Senior Warden. It was a truly wonderful evening to sit in the Oshawa Temple, amidst so much history, given the building's association and origins with VWBro Colonel Sam McLaughlin. I also had the pleasure of meeting two brothers - RWBro Grant Parnell (the DDGM) and Bro Beau Reine - who each worked with and know my brother while at OPG nearby... see the Picture. McLaughlin, fyi, was born on September 8th, 1871 in the hamlet of Enniskillen, Ontario. At the age of 16 he began working for his father's company, the McLaughlin Carriage Works, which his father started in 1867. At one point in time, the McLaughlin Carriage Works was the largest manufacturer of horse drawn carriages in the British Empire, according to MasonryToday.com; McLaughlin was a member of Cedar Lodge No. 270. In 1907, McLaughlin, with the help of William Durant o...

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...

It was the 150th anniversary celebration at Zeradatha Lodge No 220 in Uxbridge last night, and I learnt three things while sitting in the East, other than the members have met in various locations and currently meet in a temple that was built in 1962. The lodge was formed in 1869 shortly after both the Civil War and Confederation had taken place. Since forming, they remain a vibrant lodge, its members still tightly woven with the community in general and Uxbridge specifically.  History abounds in the lodge - from the huge painted scrolls (measuring over 7 feet in width and nearly 400 feet in length) to the Vimy Gavel and and Lt Col Sam Sharpe, DSO , who is a true Canadian hero. Sharpe was not only a proud member of the Zeradatha Lodge, but he was also a Member of Parliament, and only one of two who has ever gone to war while sitting in parliament and he was re-eleted to office while serving overseas. He helped to recruit an entire battalion from the Uxbridge area, who eventually...

While driving down the QEW to Hamilton on the way to the Tuscan Lodge "Silver to Gold" centenary ceremony on Thursday, I passed by a car that had only just flipped over as the emergency vehicles were still arriving on the scene, a solemn reminder of how things can change in an instant. I did, however, arrive on time. After the ceremony had concluded, the Grand Master offered his insight with respect to change - and how a century ago, at the conclusion of WW1, society was changing. The men who joined lodges and especially those who created new ones, such as Tuscan Lodge No 551, certainly enjoyed the lessons of 'social and moral virtue' they were learning and happily passed along them to the next generation. The evening was dignified. Each of the officers proudly received their new gold-braided regalia respectively from their WM, WBro Harry Zulerons, who himself was quite awestruck by the proceedings, ably assisted by the Grand Chaplain, RWBro Dan Graham - while I...

It was a short ride down Kingston Road last night to easily arrive in time for the presentation of his new regalia to the DDGM for Toronto East District, RWBro Gil Carreiro, at the renovated Doric Temple - after saying hello to many brethren I have known since being initiated in 2005, and who I've had the pleasure of knowing over the years, and meeting a few new members as well. The WM, RWBro Dean Bergerson, opened Canada Lodge, and then presented two PGMs, MWBro Ron Groshaw and MWBro Terry Shand, and introduced the current Grand Lodge Officers, led by yours truly and immediately followed by RWBro Mark Kapitan, our GJW. We were both offered our respective chairs, which were politely declined and upon being given Grand Honours, and then seated in the East, the DD was escorted y RWBro Keith Jones to the altar to also receive his Grand Honours appropriately.  RWBro Robert Kliaman guided the ceremony with respect and integrity. After tributes, the lodge was closed and many friends...

Every once in a while you find out about a special evening, and this past Friday night on August 16 WBro Steve Spence drove to my place, then together we drove up to meet RWBro Mark Kapitan in King City to then as a trio drive onward to Bracebridge. We arrived after a few hours of engaging conversation while on the road in plenty of time to enjoy a pre-lodge meal before being properly lined up prior to entering, properly presented and offered our respective chairs, which were politely declined. The Grand Junior Warden and I sat in the East. On this special evening indeed, while attending Muskoka Lodge No. 360 on the occasion of their 49th Annual Visitors Night (which began when vacationing members who were in the Muskokas enjoyed a meeting before departing for their homes after a relaxing summer at the cottage) a candidate, Mr McIntyre, was then initiated by his Father, who had assumed the gavel, with his Grandfather sitting as IPM. The DDGM, RWBro R Meadows, also attended, as did ...

On Monday, July 22, I (along with Christian Giles, PM, The Beaches Lodge and Eric Boyce, SW, The Beaches Lodge) travelled to Brampton to attend a banquet and an emergent meeting of Chinguacousy Lodge No. 738 - called "Grand Lodge Night", an annual event. The guest speaker was Right Worshipful Brother Skip Whiteley, who was initiated into our gentle craft in 1967, was installed in the chair of King Solomon in Zetland Lodge in 1978, and in 1982 was elected District Deputy Grand Master. I met RWBro Whiteley when I joined the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Toronto. By then he had already been coroneted honourary Inspector General 33°, Supreme Council of Canada, in 1992 and was elected - at the 133rd annual session of Supreme Council held in Ottawa in 2007 - Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° and remains to this day an active member of the Scottish Rite. In addition to many committees, he has served 9 years on the board of the Masonic Foundation of On...

I joined Freemasonry in 2005 and on July 17 - a few days ago - it was announced that I had won the election for the office of Grand Senior Warden. Since being invested, and closing Grand Lodge last week, I have now bought a new tuxedo (with tails) and ordered my new regalia. The next year will see me criss-crossing the province, along with other Grand Lodge officers and the Grand Master, Most Worshipful David J. Cameron, visiting many lodges, talking with many brethren, while also attending many social events and official functions. Prior to being elected, I was often asked why I wanted to spend so much time away from my family, and spend so much money on the road if I were to win, and the answer was based on inspiration. Soon after joining my lodge, The Beaches Lodge, I delivered a brief presentation to a group of Masons who chaired the Long Range Planning Committee in each of their respective lodges in Toronto East District. Shortly thereafter I was asked to provide a similar ...