My Year In The Grand West

For about fifteen years, members from various districts descend on Elmvale (halfway between Barrie and Wasaga Beach) to visit Coronation Lodge No 466 and enjoy a degree team that comprises past and current Grand Lodge officers. Last night I was sitting in the West and helped to raise a young Fellowcraft, Bro Andrew Robert, who was well-prepared and will enjoy his Masonic career after such a stellar lift-off, that was also witnessed by the Grand Master, MW Bro David J. Cameron, and Past Grand Master, Ronald Groshaw, as well as Georgian North's DDGM, and a fine array of men who volunteered their time to provide a great piece of ritual from start to finish. In the category of Loudest Knocks of the Masonic year 2019-2020, the award would certainly be earned thus far by the tandem of VW Bro Bill Edmonds (IG) and RW Bro Clark Winters (OG). There was a beef BBQ - with proceeds going toward the District Charity - made complete with a plentiful side offering of beans, held before lod...

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 ...

After attending the Orientation session in Cambridge and then driving to North Carolina for a week's vacation with the family in late July, it was a pleasure to attend a formal dinner and celebrate the 225th anniversary of Ancient St John's Lodge No 3 along with (pictured) the Grand Master, the Grand Director of Ceremonies and Grand Junior Warden, as well as my wife, and many Masons and their guests from aross Ontario and Quebec, on August 9. The following morning there was a tour of the new lodge building in Kingston, which also included viewing a number of unique historical documents and various portraits - not to mention the GSW regalia of Sir John A Macdonald, and other related artefacts. WBro Dr. Lewis F. Riggs writes, in an article which was published in The Skirret: One of the greatest men in Canadian history, Sir John MacDonald, more than any other person was responsible for the Confederation of the provinces in 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada, as the nati...

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 ...