My Year In The Grand West

Up we drove, the GJW and I, to Meaford - on the shores of Georgian Bay - to visit the brethren of Pythagoras Lodge 137 and their visitors on the occasion of the OV of DDGM RWBro John Bell. We went up to the Tird Degree, and while there I provided Masonic Education on the Grand Banner of Grand Lodge. VWBro Tom Wilcox also received his 50 Year Pin. Yet another lodge steeped in history, as evidenced by its walls, including a very old dirk and a unique gavel used by the WM - a ram's head, carved by a local artisan, known for her totem poles. Fun fact: the lodge turned 100 the year I was born! From their website : Pythagoras Lodge No. 137, Meaford, received dispensation to form a lodge on January 13, 1860. It was a member of the old Toronto District and in1866 and was transferred to Georgian District in 1879 and became a member of Grey District in 1951. In 1858 the amicable agreement to amalgamate the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada and the Grand Lodge of Canada A.F. & A.M. too...

Sandwiched in between a Scottish Rite meeting on Thursday evening, and a Heritage Lodge meeting on Saturday morning, was a visit to Georgina Lodge on the occasion of the Official Visit of the DDGM, RWBro Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. This was the week when RWBro Harold Clarke had finished the encasement of MWBro C. Edwin Drew's regalia and it had been mounted on the wall, above the organ in the temple. a fitting tribute to a wonderful man and inspirational leader. In addition to the many WMs from Toronto Humber Valley, joining me in the East was RWBro Mark Kapitan and RWBro Terry VanHorne. At the outset of the meeting, after the lodge had been duly opened and the brethren were called from labour to refreshment, I provided some Masonic Education - a piece on the use of threes in Freemasonry, and in life, or triads (versus dyads), the groupings of three and the concept of three. I believe it was well received, and generated further discussion. As a young Mason, I was signing the registe...

On Tuesday, February 25, the GJW and I travelled to Vienna, Ontario, in Wilson District to accompany the Grand Master, MWBro David Cameron, at Oriental Lodge 181 and witness the formal extinguishing of the lights in a solemn ceremony and the surrender of their warrant. The members had proudly served the community and rather than amalgamate decided to "go dark" and also in the process donated the monies remaining in their bank account to a variety of local worthy causes. The ceremony was held in the Vienna Temple, also home of Vienna Lodge, where most of the members of Oriental will affiliate. The temple walls are filled with history, including a very unique and interesting piece of Masonic art - numerous pieces depicting parts of our Masonic ceremonies and rituals, each hand-carved and painted - contained in a wall-mounted case. There is also a very heavy hammer found in the anteroom used by a Mason - or the company he owned, identified by the S&C - in a day long ago t...

This would be the first of our two fraternal visits this week to Toronto Humber Valley District, corresponding with two Official Visits of the DDGM, RWBro Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, and on this Monday night, February 24, the GJW and I dropped in on the brethren of Trillium Lodge 575 and had the pleasure of watching an excellent Fellowcraft degree. Quite impressively, the candidate was required to fly in from LA, where he is studying to receive his Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medince, to one day become a Chiropractor, and where he was being mentored electronically by the SW (seen in photo) in order to be properly prepared. After lodge we were feted downstairs to a wonderful dinner that included an array of Filipino food, as well as roast beef, and traditional toasts. 

Kilwinning Lodge 565 has a fine tradition of wearing their kilts on the occasion of the Official Visit, and this night, Thursday February 21, was the Official Visit of RWBro John McLoughlin, DDGM Toronto West, born in Glasgow, so I and several others in attendance, including the GJW and RWBro Charlie Woods, were in the minority wearing our pants. The lodge was formed in 1920 and will be celebrating their centenary in the fall. WBro Jamie Low, as WM, decided to provide an exemplification of the FC degree before we went downstairs for a great beef dinner and libations, as well as well-rounded conversations. It was relayed afterward that their JW had quickly departed for a career elsewhere, which precipitated a shuffling in the officer lineup, and required the import of WBro Stefano Amelio into the SW chair on this evening - though the lecture and charge to the FC were delivered by RWBro Andrew McClelland, who grew up across the road from Burns Cottage in Scotland. The lodge is proud o...

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 (...

On the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro Carmine Infante, the GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan joined me at Harcourt Lodge 581 as the officers and members initiated their newest Mason at this Wednesday meeting (February 19) at York Temple. During a break, the DDGM took the time to introduce quite a few of his District Chairmen, who dutifully explained the various programs that were launched and are being implemented for the benefit of all members. There were also quite a few WMs from the district attending and everyone enjoyed themselves. According to their wesite, Harcourt Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 581, G.R.C. was conceived by the late Rt. Wor. Bro. James Haywood and the late Rt. W. Bro. George H. Smith with the help of several others, including the late W. Bro. John M. Millar, who was our first Master. Our name "Harcourt" was derived from the name of the ruling Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario at the time of our institution, M. Wor. Bro. ...