The General Mercer Lodge in Toronto
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...