Sunday, August 7, 2016

Carleton Lodge Installation

We had a wonderful time in Carp tonight at the installation of WM Bro Jace Baart and the investiture of his officers.  It was well attended and as the last installation of the season, it was my last official duty before hosting the district Meeting at the Chateau Royal York in July.
Carleton has certainly been a friend to me and i have enjoyed thier fraternity and support.

RUSSELL LODGE - Installation

We had a great night at Russel lodge for their Installation and Investiture of officers.  58 Brethren turned out to see W Bro Malcolm Gutfriend install Norm Hotchkiss in the Chair of King Solomon for a second time.  W Bro Hotchkiss and I were traveling companions in 2012 and this marked the 3rd member of that traveling group to take the Chair this year.
The night was warm but the atmosphere was light and jovial.
Thank you to the Brethren of Russell Lodge for the support they have shown myself and the District over the last year.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Hazeldean Lodge Installation

Tonight we saw W Bro Bart Seaton installed into the Chair of King Solomon for the 2nd consecutive year.  This will be the third time W Bro Bart Seaton has been a Master of the Lodge.  The Ceremony of Installation was an abbreviated version and as a result the evening was short and sweet.  The work of the evening was done well and Hazeldean Lodge should be proud of themselves.  It was very nice to sit in Lodge with RW Bro Brian Koivu again, who was in town from Sudbury, to see Bro Al Lamentine invested as Senior Warden.

DDGM Angus C Gillis and repeat Master W Bro Bart Seaton

St John's Lodge Installation June 8, 2016

It was very fortunate for me that St. John's 63 had to postpone the Installation of there Master Elect Bro Joe Teschek by one month.  The original date conflicted with another installation that I was attending and it would have been unfortunate for me to miss this; as W Bro Echlin is a good friend and former traveling companion of my Masters year 2012-2013.
The evening began with the festive board at 6:30 and the Lodge tyled sharp at 7:30.
The night was cool and as a result the Lodge room was comfortable and relaxed.
Bro Echlin and his team put on a stellar textbook installation and should be very proud of themselves.



 The Brethren Assembled
 W Bro Gord Echiln and W Bro Joe Teschek
 DDGM Angus C Gillis, W Bro Joe Teschek and the DGM Paul E Todd
 The Officers of the Lodge along with the DGM and the two DDGMs of Ottawa
DGM, WM along with --------and his father who made the trip from St Catherines.

Goodwood Installation June 7, 2016

It was a jam packed and highly impressive group of Masons from all over the province to witness RWB Barry Burchill install his son, Bro Ken Burchill into the Chair of King Solomon.  The was so little floor space that it made it very challenging for the members to move about much less perambulate.  In attendance was our Grand Master MWB John C Green,  2 PGMs; MWB Gary Atkinson and MWB Don Mumby, the DGM RWB Paul E Todd, the DDGM from District 2 RWB Richard Loomes, the GSW Robert Ledingham, myself and half the Board of General Purposes.  The evening went very well with all 3 MWs as well as the DGM taking part in the ceremony.
At the end of the night I presented RWB Burchill with his Past Masters Certificate.
All the Brethren Assembled
 Current Grand Lodge officers with the Masters of 2016-2017
 RWB Burchill presenting a hand crafted gavel to WB Burchill
 WB Burchill with MWB Atkinson

MWB Atkinson and I

Saturday, June 4, 2016

St. Andrew's Installation June 2, 2016

Tonight was a special night as it was the night that St Andrew's would be forming the team that would lead them into 2016-2017, but it was also the last time I would be in my Mother Lodge as a sitting DDGM.  I had the privilege of sitting beside MW Bro Don Mumby and of course that night my introduction of the Past Grand Lodge Officers wasn't as stellar as it could have been.
The night went well and was highlighted with the presentation of a 60 year a Mason pin to W Bro Kieth Bisset.  This was personally very rewarding to me as Kieth has been and remains an inspiration to me and it seemed fitting that a DDGM from Kieth's Mother Lodge be involved in the presentation.  Visitors came from as far as Galveston Tx and Gary had a special visitor RWB Robert McLeod, DDGM of District 3 in the Grand Jurisdiction of New Brunswick.  RWB McLeod is also a Past Master of Temple Lodge here in District 1
W Bro Gary MacLean was placed in the Chair of King Solomon and after pictures, the Lodge retired to the banquet room for a meal of roast chicken.
A good night all round.  Congratulations to W Bro MacLean and his Officer line up (of which I am one...historian).

The Brethren Assembled
 
 Worshipful Master Gary MacLean

 Grand Lodge Officers Assembled
 Masters of 2016-2017
RWB Angus Gillis, WB Gary MacLean,  MWB Don Mumby, RWB Bob Tate

Mississippi Lodge Installation of Officers May 19, 2016

Tonight I had a rare privilege of sitting with the Grand master MWB John C Green at the installation of officers in Almonte.  The room was packed with brethren from around the district as well as the Senior Officers of Grand Lodge as they finished up the eastern leg of their Grand Lodge tour.
The Installation went off very well, as expected, and W Brother Kevin Ziegler was placed in the Chair of King Solomon for the second time in his Masonic career.  W Bro Ziegler and I were traveling companions in 2012-13 when he was Master of Goodwood Lodge.  This was a night that many of the Brethren could actually meet many of the RW Brothers that were running for office at Grand Lodge and get to know them a little.
What I considered to be the highlight of the night was the Grand Master and I presented VW Bro Graham Hudson with his 60 year a Mason pin ans well as his 50 year a Past Master pin.  These accomplishments are far and few between and I was very proud to be a part of honoring VW Brother Hudson in open Lodge.
The Festive Board was held off site at the Healey Dome, however I had to pass as I had an early morning the next day.
Congratulations to W Bro Ziegler and his team.

The Brethren assembled at Mississippi Lodge

Sydney Albert luke Installation May 11


Tonight I went to the Installation of Jean Francois Plamondon.  The Festive board was held before the meeting and was terrific!  The Eastern Star catered the  Crusted Chicken in Broccoli Sauce dinner and it was very good.  The night went well and Bro Plamondon became W Bro Plamondon.
Good luck to all in 2016-17.






 head Table before the meeting
 Installation Team
 The Two Christies Bros Senior and Junior Wardens
 DDGM with the new Worshipful Master WB  Jean Francois Plamondon
 S.A.L.'s newest WM Jean Francois Plamondon

Spring District Meeting May 12, 2016


Thursday night we held our 3rd District meeting and it went pretty well.  The meeting opened sharp at 7:30 pm.  The Committee Chairs gave their final reports and I gave my summary of the year.  W Bro Ron Taylor presented me with a finished collage of the masters of the year as well as a collage of the District Chairmen.
The District Secretary presented W Bro Nesrallah's notice of motion for the changes to the district bylaws and we set the meeting to discuss these changes for June 9, 2016 at 7:30 pm.
The evening was short and sweet with no old business to discuss and no new business presented.

The meeting closed at 8:45 pm.



 





                                                                 Up-coming events
May 18 - Lodge of Fidelity - Installation
May 19, 2016 - Mississippi Lodge - Eastern Tour and Installation
June 2, 2016 - St Andrew's Installation
June 7, 2016 - Goodwood - Installation
June 8, 2016 - St John's - Installation
June 20, 2016 - Russel lodge - Installation
June 23 - Carleton lodge - Installation






























LODGE of FIDELITY Installation

May 18, 2016 I attended Lodge of Fidelity's night of Installation and had a fantastic time.  The night was light with approximately 20 members and visitors present to witness Bro Essam Samne installed in the chair of King Solomon.  Unfortunately, no one had a camera and pictures were not taken.
I am looking forward to visiting Lodge of Fidelity in 2016-2017

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Civil Service Lodge Installation May 10

Tuesday night i had the privelige of seeing Brother Sam Himyary become W Bro Himyary.  The night went very well and everyone had a great time.
The traditional Feast from the East was held after the Lodge meeting and i elected not pass this one time.
Congratulations to the Brethren of Civil Service Lodge for putting on a great instal;ation and good luck in the upcoming year.
 The Installing Master warming up with his Ninja moves
 Brethren Assembled
 Candid shot before the meeting
The Officers of 2016-17

Temple Installation May 2, 2016

Temple Lodge marks the beginning of Installation season and I had a great night watching the changing of the guard.  We have a new Master now at Temple but he is a familiar face to the District.  W Bro Gerry O'Neil is sitting for another year in the East.  Gerry was a travelling companion of mine back in 2011.
I wish the Brethren of Temple Lodge and W Bro O'Neil all the best in 2016-17.

Dave Riendeau Rising at Gore Bay Lodge 472

Dave Riendeau, myself and our wives trekked up to Manitoulin Island to Gore Bay Lodge 472 for Dave's being raised to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason.  Dave, who is originally from the Island, has family there and it was his Brother in Law W Bro  Aaron Wright, who sat in the East for this occasion along with a lodge of Past Masters.
We were treated like royalty while there and the Brethren went above and beyond, making us feel welcomed.
That evening we went to their Ladies Night/Mothers Day celebration and had a great time.
Thank you to all the Brethren and their Ladies but in particular Aaron and Apryl.

 Brethren of Gore Bay Ldge 472 Assembled
 Dave and I
 Dave, W Bro Wright and Myself
 Nathalie, Dave, Dave's sister Apryl and brother in law Aaron
 Kathy, myself, Dave and Nathalie
The six of us

Up-Coming Events
Temple Installation                             May 2, 2016
Edinburgh Installation                        May 3, 2017
civil Service Lodge                            May 10, 2016
Sydney Albert Luke Installation        May 11, 2016
Spring District Meeting                     May 12, 2016

Edinburgh Installation May 3, 2016

As expected, the installation at Edinburgh was conducted with crisp military precision as one would expect from this Lodge.  Shane Livingstone, the out-going Master served as Michel Ashman's Installing Master.  W Bro Ashman's Father and Brother made the journey from Woodstock Ontario for his  installation and were very proud to have been there.
Congratulations to the Edinburgh Degree Team and good luck in 2016-17