OMA Meeting with Guest Speaker RWB David Cameron

Tuesday night we met at Walkley Road for the Spring Assembly of the OMA and to elect the new officers for 2016-17.  The Deputy Grand Master was in attendance, as well as the guest speaker, and member of the Board RWB David Cameron.
The night was light and the meal was delicious.  The nuts and bolts of the meeting being ended, RWB Cameron stepped up to the podium and presented his paper on the Future of Masonry.  The content of the presentation was not new to most of us but it was reassuring to hear it reinforced by so many notable speakers.
Congratulations to the new officers of the OMA and I look forward to working with you all next year.

                                                                    Up-Coming Events

April 2, 2016 -    Cornerstone laying Ceremony with guest of honour MW Bro John C Green
                            Sealys Bay Ontario.  2:00pm
April 2, 2016 -    Dogs of 200 Charity Table lodge -  Westboro Temple 6:00pm-9:30pm
April 3, 2016 -    District Divine Service - Trinity Presbyterian on Medicaid Rd, Ottawa
April 7, 2017 -    OFFICIAL VISIT to my Mother Lodge St Andrews 560.  Banquet BEFORE
                            Lodge at 6:00.  Work of the Evening is to hold a Lodge of Discussion

OFFICIAL VISIT to Russell Lodge

I was joined by 54 Masons at Russell Lodge on Monday March 21, 2016 for my Official Visit.  Lodge started sharply at 7:00pm and the current Grand Lodge Officers and Masters of the Year were escorted in shortly thereafter.  At approximately 7:15 I was escorted into Lodge under the wands by W Bro Greg Smith and Bro Rob Paradis, presented to the WM and the Lodge by W Bro Dennis Moore and Grand Honours were led by Bro Doug Carnegie.
The Work of the Evening was to present W Bro Smith with his father's Past Masters Jewel, Masonic Education on Mental health and to hold a Lodge of Discussion on Masons and their Effect on Social Media.
All three elements of the night were very moving and the Brethren participated with passion and total honesty.  The Lodge of Discussion was very active and educational but when W Bro Smith began his presentation on Mental Health, the Brethren were still in the 'Discussion' mode and we embarked on another Lodge of Discussion only this one much more revealing than the first.

If ever I needed a visual to explain what I ultimately hoped for when I came up with the idea of holding Lodges of Discussions on my Official Visits....tonight was it.
Excellent work to all who participated.

As is their usual custom, the Brethren of Russell Lodge presented me with a custom made Gavel to commemorate my Official Visit.  Thank you very much to the members of Russell Lodge but in particular to the artisan who fashioned my keepsake; W Bro Ghislain Cormier.

                                                              The Brethren Assembled

                                                         Grand Lodge officers assembled

                                                                  Masters of the year

                                          Senior Wardens Group and our next years Masters

                                                                     Up-Coming Events
March 29, 2016 -OMA Spring Assembly with Guest Speaker RW Bro David Cameron
April 2, 2016 -    Cornerstone laying Ceremony with guest of honour MW Bro John C Green
                            Sealys Bay Ontario.  2:00pm
April 2, 2016 -    Dogs of 200 Charity Table lodge -  Westboro Temple 6:00pm-9:30pm
April 3, 2016 -    District Divine Service - Trinity Presbyterian on Medicaid Rd, Ottawa
April 7, 2017 -    OFFICIAL VISIT to my Mother Lodge St Andrews 560.  Banquet BEFORE
                            Lodge at 6:00.  Work of the Evening is to hold a Lodge of Discussion

OFFICIAL VISIT to Hazeldean Lodge

I had a great time with the Brethren at hazeldean lodge on Wednesday March 16.  The night began with their famous Chile cook off and the honours went once again to W Bro Ivan Harris for his flavourful and slightly pungent concoction.  Good Job!
I was escorted into Lodge byBros Paul Parent and David Dawson, presented to the Lodge by W Bro Anthony Kopt Johnson and Grand honours were led by Bro Alper Govner.
The work of the evening was to hold a Lodge of Discussion and the topic was Masonry and Social media anf was moderated by Brother Colin Mackenzie
It was a great night full of many opposing opinions on whether or not we should be venturing out into the cyber world or to just rely on the old but tried and true methods of getting our messages out there.  I don`t think we will ever get a definative answer on which way is best, but like one Brother put it....ìt`s not a choice whether or not to use social media, it`s there and we have to recognize that.  It`s HOW do we responsibly use that medium`.

                                                              The Brethren assembled

                                                    The Current Grand Lodge Officers

                                                             With the Masters of the Year

                                                        DDGM & WM, W Bro Bart Seaton

                                 W Bro Ivan Harris being presented his Chile Cook off Trophy

                                                                            Up-coming Events
Monday March 21, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Russel Lodge.  Lodge of Discussion
                                                                         Masonry and Social Change
Thursday April 7, 2016 -   OFFICIAL VISIT to St Andrews.  TBD

OFFICIAL VISIT to Lodge of Fidelity

I had a great time with the Brethren at the Lodge of Fidelity on Tuesday March 15.  We enjoyed an early Festive Board and Lodge opened at exactly 7:30.  I was escorted into Lodge after the Grand lodge Officers and Masters of the year by Bro. Steve Clarke and W Bro Ron Taylor, introduced by W Bro David Peate and  Grand honours were led by Bro Glen Gariepy.
The work of the evening was to hold a Lodge of Discussion on the topic of Racism and Bigotry in Masonry.  It was a brave topic as no one wants to admit to having these negative feeling, however the discussion it generated was educational, therapeutic and enlightening.  Congratulations to the WM for having the courage to broach such a topic.
My address for the night was based on our wearing our Masonry out Loud for the world to see.
The Lodge ended at 9:30 and it was a fantastic evening.

                                          All Brethren assembled                                          

           

Grand lodge officers Assembled

                                   It is always so nice to see so many EAs out to an official vist

    

 Very special picture of myself with 2 of our William ,Mercer Wilson Award recipients
                                                Bro Wayne Levere and Bro Robbie David

                                                                 Up-coming Events
March 16, 2016 - OFFICIAL VIST to Hazeldean lodge - Lodge of Discussion on Social Media
March 21, 2016 - OFFICIAL VISIT to Russel Lodge - Lodge of Discussion on Masonry &Social 
                                                                                        Change
April 7, 2016 -      OFFICIAL VISIT to St Andrews Lodge - TBD

OFFICIAL VISIT to Edinburgh Lodge

I do love the pomp and fanfare that I experience every time I go to Edinburgh Lodge and last night did not disappoint.  Lodge opened at 7:30 sharp as the colour guard was piped in.  After the lodge opened, the current Grand Lodge Officers and Masters of the year, including a traveling companion of mine, RWB Richard Loomes, DDGM of Ottawa District 2 were piped in and lastly, I was piped in under the wands at about 7:45.
I would like to thank RWB Collin Abbot for his piping prowess, Bros Daniel Chartrand and Brian Hay who escorted me to the Altar and then to the East, RWB Jim Cale who presented me to the Master and his Lodge and to Bro Bruce Ludlow who led the Brothers in Grand Honours. 
There were a number of visitors last night some from as far as Texas and our East coast.  One of Edinburgh's members commented to me later, they outnumbered the members and this was a good thing, as the room was packed.
The work of the evening was to hold a ballot, present an award and to hold a Lodge of Discussion on 'The Origins of Masonry'.  The presentation was to Bro Bruce Ludlow for his faithful service to the lodge over the years.  In addition to a Certificate signed by the Master, Bro Ludlow was presented with a complete set of mini working tools.  This presentation caught Bro Ludlow completely off guard and he was at a loss for works.  Good work Edinburgh!
The Lodge of Discussion was engaging and it seemed the camps were divided on Masonic stone guilds and Knights Templar and while we may never definitively know where Masonry first actually got its start, it will always be a source of discussion and enlightenment.
My address for the evening was entitled Is Masonry Relevant in the 21st Century.
At the end of the evening the Brother Tabrizi, SW of Jacques De molay Lodge in Houston Texas exchanged Lodge memorabilia with the WM, Shane Livingstone.  Lodge was closed at 9:20 and after pictures we retired to the Banquet hall.  A great evening, thank you to the Master of Edinburgh and all the members of Ottawa District 1 who were in attendance.

                                                               The Brethren Assembled

                                                                   Masters of the Year

        Presentation to Bro Bruce Ludlow for faithful service, with W Bro Shane Livingstone

 DDGM, our Texan Brother Said Tabrizi, WM, and VWB Al Quinn, Lodge Secretary

                                                                      Up-Coming events

May 8, 2016   - Civil Service Lodge - 50 year pin presentation to RWB Les Richardson
May 15, 2016 - Official Visit to Lodge of Fidelity-Lodge of Discussion Masonry's role in 
                         Preventing Racism and Bigotry
May 16, 2016 - Official Visit to Hazeldean Lodge-Lodge of Discussion - Topic TBD
May 21, 2016 - Official Visit to Russel Lodge - Lodge of Discussion - Masonry and Social Change

OFFICIAL VIST to Goodwood Lodge

A great night was had by all who braved the impending snow storm last night at Goodwood Lodge in Richmond Ontario.  One of my traveling companions RWB Richard Loomes, DDGM of Ottawa District 2 was in attendance along with three other current Grand Lodge Officers; RWB Bob Ledingham, RWB Barry Burchill and VWB Russ Williams.
 Lodge started promptly at 7:30 and a delegation from Temple Lodge was escorted in, followed by the current Grand Lodge officers and finally I was brought in under the wands at approximately 7:45 and piped to the East.  Thank you to RWB Bill Cook and Bro Tyler Moule for escorting me to the altar and then to the East, and to W Bro Roger Cook who presented me to the WM and to the Lodge and finally to W Bro Jim McConnell for leading the Brethren in Grand Honours 7 times.  A big thank you to Bro Jordan McConnell for piping me into the Lodge, it was much appreciated.
The work of the evening was a Lodge of Discussion and the topic chosen was Bullying.  Many of the brethren present had been touched by bullying in one form or another and many good points were brought up.  We as Masons are obligated to provide relief for the down trodden and we must stand up to bullying wherever it rears its ugly head.
I was honoured to present Bro Jordan McConnell with his Grand Lodge Certificate
The Lodge was ended shortly after 9:00 and an invocation was given for our festive hour and the brethren assembled for pictures.
Congratulations to W Bro Butler and the Brethren of Goodwood Lodge for an excellent evening.

                                       The Brethren assembled on this snowy March evening

 Grand Lodge Officers with Jordan Maconnell, WM Dave Butler and RWB Len Westwell

 

DDGM Angus C Gillis with WM Dave Butler

                                   Jordan McConnell with his father W Bro Jim Maconnell

                                                     DDGM with the Masters of the year

                                                                             Up-Coming Events
May 2, 2016   - Official Visit to Edinburgh Lodge.  Lodge of Discussion on the origins of Masonry
May 8, 2016   - Civil Service Lodge - 50 year pin presentation to RWB Les Richardson
May 15, 2016 - Official Visit to the Lodge of Fidelity
May 16, 2016 - Official Visit to Hazeldean Lodge
May 21, 2016 - Official Visit to Russel Lodge - Lodge of Discussion