My Year In The Grand West

On this evening, at The General Mercer Lodge (in Toronto West District) No 548, the brethren were proudly recognising the accomplishments of two Masons: VWBro Milan Cobonov, due to his appointment as Grand Standard Bearer last July  - he and I met years ago while getting our 32 in Hamilton at Scottish Rite - and Bro Ted Dziemenko, who received his 25 year pin. The meeting was held at the historic and acoustically perfect West Toronto Masonic Temple, on Annette Street, where several years ago, during the centenary of WW1, Milan and I produced an amazing choral album - live off the floor - called Sacrifice and Solace , featuring the Toronto Valour Ensemble who sang a collection of songs, several of which were popular during The Great War, and the remainder that were compositions based on letters sent home from the trenches. General Mercer himself, a true Canadian hero, was a Mason and also a member of the Queen's Own Rifles, and according to his biography remains to this day the...

After a formal banquet - and the room was filled to capacity - the brethren and many visitors, including the Grand Master, assembled, entered the lodge and were witness to a very memorable Masonic evening: beginning with the Empty Chair ceremony , followed by the 60 Year pin presented to Bro Lt Col Norm Cohen (ret), and then a precision Military Degree Team conferred an excellent  EA degree fo r our candidate Bro Shin Suzuki. Another special guest of the evening was WBro Steve Connelly, who, while the candidate was resuming his personal comforts, assisted me in providing a presentation on the Vimy Gavel  - a unique and valuable piece of Masonic history - and then delivered a presentation on Bro Lt Col Sharpe, who was responsible for leading a small troop of his men onto Vimy Ridge after the battle to retrieve the oak from which the six Vimy Gavels were then crafted.  WBro Derek McNulty sat in the Chair o King Solomon and led the degree, impeccaly; WBro Joe Curry s...