My Year In The Grand West

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...

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...