FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE-ST ANDREW'S FOR DAVID RIENDEAU

Last night I was joined by the DDGM of the Ottawa District GRQ, RW Bro Roger Webe to witness David Riendeau being passed to the 2nd degree.  it was good to be back at my Mother Lodge and I enjoyed the evening very much.  There were 4 entered apprentices present and when we went to the 2nd degree, they were escorted out of the lodge by W Bro martin Dorner who provided them with EA education while the degree was going on.
The degree was very smooth and very well done and the candidate was very prepared. 
We completed the work and returned to the 1st degree by 8:50.  The Entered Apprentices were brought back in and we enjoyed an educational piece by Bro Wayne Levere on Masonic Symbolism after which the lodge opened a discussion forum.  We finished lodge and were taking pictures at 10:00pm.
Congratulations to Bro Riendeau on his being so proficient in his proving up, I am very proud of his work.

                                                                 Up Coming Events
March Madness
March 1, 2016     OFFICIAL VISIT to Goodwood Lodge
March 2, 2016     OFFICIAL VISIT to Edinburgh lodge-Lodge of Discussion on the
                             Origins of Masonry
March 15, 2016   OFFICIAL VISIT to Lodge of Fidelity- program TBD
March 16, 2016   OFFICIAL VISIT to Hazeldean Lodge - program TBD
March 21, 2016   OFFICIAL VISIT to Russel lodge - Lodge of Discussion

VALENTINES CHARITY BALL

It may have been -40 with the wind chill outside but things were heating up inside the Centurion Banquet facilities on Saturday night!  What a beautiful way to spend Valentines; with your wife on your arm and surrounded by 300 warm and gentle friends.  In addition to representation from both districts there were a number of non-masons there as well.  We had two non masons at our table as well as celebrity guests Micheal O'Byrne and his wife.
Over $12,000 was received that will be going to the District Charities as well as to Rogers House.
Congratulations to the members of the Valentines Charity Ball committee and to all who attended.  This is such a worthwhile event and I hope to you all there again next year.

                                                            W Bro Jordie Yeo and myself

                                  W Bro Trevor Hemmerling, myself and Bro Robbie David

                             RW Bro Charles Singh, Helen Dorner and W Bro Martin Dorner

                                        W Bro Adam Thompson providing introductory remarks

                                             W Bro Dennis Cole home from Washington

                               RW Bro Richard Loomes and myself relaxing during the bidding

                                                                  W Bro Rob Uhrig

                                            RW Bro Forster taking some 'Me' time

                                                                 Mr. Micheal O'Byrne

                                                                 The Mick Armatage band

                                                        The Deputy and his wife Gloria

                                                      Kathy and I had a great time, as usual

VISIT TO SYDNEYT ALBERT LUKE- 50 YEAR PIN PRESENTATION

Wednesday February 10, 2016,  I joined the Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Paul E Todd in attending the regular meeting of Sydney Albert Luke.  That evening, two Bros; Alexander Mang and Kodjo Boessi were to be raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason as well as a 50 year pin presentation to VW Bro Bert Panke.
The Lodge opened at 7:30 sharp, and approximately 15 minutes later, the Deputy and I were led in under the wands by Bros. Alan Christie and Goodwyn Tshegnon.  W Bro Alan Hale presented the two of us to the WM and to the  Lodge and W Bro Jeff Christie led the Brethren in Grand honours seven times.
The Deputy assumed the gavel and thanked the Brethren on behalf of Grand Lodge and then turn it over to me to bring my personal greetings.
We presented the 50 year pin to VW Bro Panke and began the work of the evening.
Both candidates were well prepared and the degree went smoothly.  Lodge closed at approximately 10:40 and pictures were taken.
Following Lodge the Secretary announced that they would be trying their first wine tasting.

 The DD, Bro Alexander Mang, WM. and 50 yr pin recipient  VW Bro Bert Panke and the Deputy

                                   A few minutes to get caught up on what each other has been up to.

                                                 The Deputy with W Bro Jeff Christie

                        The candidate Alexander Mang along with W Bro Scott howie and VW Bro Panke

                                                     Last minute details before the meeting.

OFFICIAL VISIT TO CIVIL SERVICE LODGE

Tuesday February 9, 2016 i visited Civil Service Lodge for my Official Visit.  There were 72 Masons in attendance with 18 Past and Present Grand lodge officers.
Lodge opened at 7:00 and the Current Grand Lodge Officers and masters of the Year were escorted in by VW Bro Sandy Stewart.  At approximately 7:15 I was brought in and escorted to the Altar then to the East by Bros. Abe Garcia and Roy Souza.  VW Bro Sandy Stewart presented me to the WM and to the Lodge and Bro. John Werenchuck led the Brethren in Grand honours seven times.
In honour of VW Bro Stewart's Grandfather Alexander Kerr Stewart, District Deputy of the whole Ottawa District 1945-46  I was wearing RW Bro Stewart's DDGM Apron.  RW Bro Stewart was a founding member of St Andrew's Lodge and their first member to become a District Deputy.  I was humbled and honoured to be wearing this treasured piece of history.
The Lodge business was taken care of and a memorial to MW Bro Raymond S Daniels held, followed by a a 50 year pin presentation to W Bro Stanley Alward.  W Bro Can Aysan did a presentation on W Bro Alward's Masonic career and, after giving a few well spoken words from W Bro Alward, we progressed to the work of the evening.
  The work of the evening was a Lodge of Discussion on Why we joined Masonry and what we thought we would get out of it.  The discussion was moderated by W Bro Ayan and many of the Brethren were engaged.  It is truly amazing how different the stories were but at the same time how they shared many similarities.
I ended the evening with my address entitled "Making Good Men Better".  Lodge was closed at approximately 9:10  and after the pictures were taken, we retired to the Feast from the East.

                                                           The Brethren assembled.

                                                        Grand Lodge Officers present

                                                     DD with the Masters of the year

                    DDGM, Angus Gillis, W Bro Stanley Alward and the WM W Bro Mitri Hanna

                                    The St Andrew's Crew along with VW Bro Sandy Stewart

ST ANDREW'S BURNS' SUPPER

Last night Kathy and I were treated to a traditional Burns' Supper at my Mother Lodge.  Them menu consisted of meat pies, haggis, mashed and neeps with Shortcake for dessert.   The evening was light and filled with laughs and fraternity.
RW Bro John Moor was once again our MC and kept the night rolling.  Bro Robbie Roberston did an outstanding job as usual with several of Burns' poems and RW Bro john Forster was brilliant with his address to the haggis and 'In Memory'.  RW Bro Forster gave us a bit of history of the Burns' supper at St Andrew's, apparently the custom started some 35 years ago when a young Junior Warden by the name of John Forster held the celebration after their regular meeting and it snowballed from there.
I personally am humbled every time I manage to sit in St Andrews.  I miss the camaraderie and fellowship with my Brothers from St Andrew's and am looking forward to the day when i will be sitting regular in my Mother Lodge again.
Congratulations go to the Junior Warden, Elias Lakkis, and to the Master and his family who catered the whole affair.

                                                                         A Full house

                                                             Piping in the haggis

                                                              Address to the Haggis

 

One of many Burns Poems performed by Bro Robbie Robertson

 

The end to a perfect evening

 

 Kathy and I loved every minute of it

                                                                   Up-Coming Events

February 9, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Civil Service Loge
February 10, 2016 - First Fraternal Visit to Sydney Albert Luke

OFFICIAL VISIT TO TEMPLE LODGE

 What a fantastic night was had at Temple Lodge at my Official Visit.  The night began with an absolutely overflowing room of Mason from all over the District as well as District 2 ans Eastern District.
The Lodge was opened at 7:30 pm and shortly after, a distinguished delegation from Goodwood Lodge led by WM W Bro David Butler were escorted into the Lodge room where they received Grand honours.
After they had been received, the current Grand lodge officers and current Masters were led into the Lodge where they received Grand honours.
 I was admitted into the Lodge room at approx. 7:45 pm under the wands and was escorted to the altar by Bros. Scott Newman and Alain Meere, presented to the Lodge by RW Bro Len Westwell (the longest running PDDGM in the District at 41 years) and received Grand honours by Bro Nairn Reid.  I was then led to the East and assumed the gavel.
Tonight was the biggest test of my powers of observation and recall.  There were so many past Grand Lodge Officers and while I did not forget any names I had a hard time finding them all in the crowd and I confused the order a little bit.
The work of the evening was a Lodge of Discussion and the topic was Masonry and Social media.  As expected, the discussion was lively, continuous and virtually every position on the topic was discussed.  I think is it safe to say that no ones position on social media was changed after the discussion had ended, however, everyone received a better appreciation of each others thoughts on the subject.
This discussion was a perfect seq-way into my address which was based on Change and was entitled "That's not the way we did it in my year"
The lodge was closed at 9:10 pm and we retired to the banquet hall for the Smoked Meat Feast.
All in all it was a terrific night, congratulations to the WM Trevor Hemmerling and his officers for a job well done.

                                                        Current Grand Lodge Officers

                                                             The Brethren assembled

                                                            The Masters of the year


 
                                                                     Up-Coming Events


February 4, 2016 - St Andrew's Lodge Burns' Night
February 9, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Civil Service Loge
February 10, 2016 - First Fraternal Visit to Sydney Albert Luke

DDGM MID TERM MEETING - PICKERING ONTARIO

Saturday January 30, 2016  the DDGM's of all the Districts in the Province of Ontario save a few met at Doric Lodge on Kingston Rd in Pickering Ontario.  Doric Lodge is a heritage building which was originally a Quaker meeting hall.  Some of the Lodge furnishings is still period Pennsylvania Quaker made.  The weekend actually began with an evening of fraternity and supper at the Hilton, where the majority of us were staying.  The meal was followed by a quick meeting, 21 DD's in all, the Deputy and of course the Grand Master.  After the meeting, the Brethren continued their fraternity and got to know one another better.
The actual  meeting began the next morning at 9:30 and broke for lunch shortly after 12:00.  Lunch was catered by the Daughters of Job and the meal was very good.
The afternoon session consisted of a presentation from RW Bro Klinman and explained the variances of lodge statistics from last year to this year.  Each DD had the opportunity to get up and share his challenges and successes with the rest of the group.  The Grand Master had the last word and the meeting was adjourned at approx. 2:45 pm.

                                                                    

                                                              Up-Coming Events

February 2, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Temple Lodge
February 4, 2016 - St Andrew's Lodge Burns' Night
February 9, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Civil Service Loge
February 10, 2016 - First Fraternal Visit to Sydney Albert Luke