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Vol. 5 - Issue 4 Summer 2014
Northern Lights District Grand Lodge of Alberta
Mystic West Lodge #101 West Edmonton #101 and Mystic Tie #188 join forces
T
he lodge was opened to the 3rd degree by W. Bro. Jared Vanoni. M. W. Bro. John Cameron was then asked to come to the East to assume the gavel and start the process for Amalgamation of Mystic Tie Lodge No. 188 and West Edmonton Lodge No. 101. After the completion of the Amalgamation M.W. Bro. John Cameron asked the Director of Ceremonies, R.W. Bro. Charles Burns to come to the East, assume the gavel, and proceed with the installation of the officers of the new lodge, Mystic West Lodge No. 101. There were 52 brothers in attendance for this momentous occasion. —R. W. Bro. Charles Burns (PDDGM)
In this Issue…
Article: My Thoughts Event: Ross Cawley Masonic Family BBQ Notice: District Information Article: “The Seven Deadly Sins of Freemasonry” Notice: Masonic Speakers’ Bureau Article: Festive Board Puns Article: “How Common IS The Gavel?” Events: District & Perpetual Calendar Notice: Lodge Directory Notice: Northern Lights District online
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My Thoughts Outgoing DDGM’s Message
M
y Brothers of Northern Lights District, the 2013-2014 Masonic year is coming to a close. My duties as your District Deputy Grand Master ended on Saturday June 14th at the Grand Lodge Communication. I will at that time leave the district in the capable hands of W. Bro. Martin Brown, DDGM-Elect and a Past Master of Ivanhoe Lodge #142. The support, words of encouragement and good wishes of the brethren in Northern Lights have made my year very enjoyable, personally. I have learned some valuable lessons that will follow my Masonic journey for the rest of my life. My hope in taking this position was that I could give every lodge in our district a positive outlook and direction. Negativity leads to failure and that is something that Northern Lights will not accept. Even with the amalgamation of lodges there is a future that burns bright in the brethren of those lodges, we are stronger together as one. This may be the future of Alberta Freemasonry, there is a need in my view to consolidate, even to the idea that there is really a strain in Edmonton with keeping three Masonic Lodge halls open. It may not come with much support at this time, but we as Masons are spreading ourselves thin, in building support, charitable support of outside community activities and concordant bodies. There is only so much Masonic monies to spread around. Our numbers continue to decline and Brethren are asked at all lodges to support too many activities. Benevolence, should be centred in the Lodge itself that is what we are charged to address. We will be stronger going forward if we concentrate on our individual lodges having our Past Masters and long time members encouraged to attend as well as bringing our new brothers into social gatherings. I feel that our younger members should be encour-
aged to begin their own social programs focused towards gatherings within the district. The River Queen Edmonton night was a huge success, but it did not get our younger brethren involved—maybe it takes a canoe trip with a night of Masonic camping on the North Saskatchewan River to entice them to participate. Whatever it is the younger members must address this themselves. The Masters, Wardens and Deacons Association (MWD) of Edmonton are forming a social club and beginning with The Ross Cawley Summer BBQ on August 23rd in Rundle Park with lots of fun activities. What a wonderful way for a young couple with children to meet like minded couples who have the Masonic light within their circle. I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I can assure all in the Northern Lights District that my caring and concern for our Brothers will not fade and I will be there to assist when needed and asked. Thank You. Fraternally and Sincerely, RWBro. Kenn Culbertson DDGM Northern Lights District 2013/2014
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About The District
Thank you for your input!
Founded as District 12 on 30 May 1917, the Northern Lights District is constituted under the Grand Lodge of Alberta, AF&AM and holds jurisdiction over 11 lodges: 7 in Edmonton that meet at various times in Freemasons’ Hall downtown, as well as country lodges that meet in Onoway, Whitecourt, and Yellowknife, NWT. All the lodges practice the Canadian Rite working. The geographical area covered by the District constitutes one of the largest in the history of Freemasonry.
We thank all brethren for their submissions this month. It is just that type of input we are looking for which make this very publication informative, thought-provoking and interesting.
The District Deputy Grand Master The district is headed by the District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM), who is titled “Right Worshipful Brother”, and who represents the Grand Lodge on his official and fraternal visits to the lodges. A new DDGM is elected at the annual district meeting in October with his term beginning at the official installation of the Grand Lodge officers at the Communication in June. To be nominated, the brother must have served as Worshipful Master of a regularly constituted lodge.
Official Visits The DDGM is required to visit all lodges in the district (with exception) and receive standard report returns from the lodge secretaries. The DDGM inspects the lodge to ensure it adheres to proper Masonic regularity. The DDGM is received “in form” by the lodge after the opening of the lodge.
In order to make this a continued success and valuable to the lodges in the district we need your help. If you have any articles of interest, Masonic trivia, jokes, pictures, cartoons, stories, pictures or just want to promote an up-coming or past event please make your submission to the editor at northernlightsdistrict@gmail.com they will be thankfully received and faithfully applied. The deadline for submissions for the next issue is August 15, 2014. EDITORS NOTE: The Editors of the Northern Lights District Luminaries reserve the right to modify or edit articles for content, space and harmony. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not reflect the views and opinions of the Grand Lodge of Alberta, Northern Lights District, Lodges or individual members.
District Committee 2013-2014 R. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson (166) District Deputy Grand Master 780-914-3952 kpcul@telus.net
W. Bro. Wayne Barker (166) District Secretary, Masonic Foundation Coordinator 780-475-1500 wabarker@shaw.ca
W. Bro. Michael Bayrak (142) Masonic Education Coordinator, Newsletter Editor 780-982-5985 mikebayrak@gmail.com
W. Bro. Aaron Batty (92) Masonic Higher Education Bursary Coordinator 780-995-5117 aaron.batty@abelectricalengineering.com
R. W. Bro. Angus Stewart (166) District Nomination Committee Chairman anguscstewart@yahoo.ca
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The Seven Deadly Sins Of Free Free-masonry
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was inspired to put this paper together after reading “Seven Deadly Career Sins” from my local news paper in the careers section. It hit me; wait a minute, there is a question out there
asking if Freemasonry is relevant to the modern society. Today more than ever we are finding a sense of entitlement in society; this horrible ego stroking trend has driven the world mad, if I didn’t know better I would think a massive flood was on its way. While sitting in Lodge, listening to Brothers, some of which I aspire to emulate. But I also discovered something else; the negative side, that’s the side where others are just seeking glory, titles, and degrees to, feed that fragile ego sense of self worth. We have all done it, we are all guilty, but there is a difference between filling the well of fortitude with supporting your brother in all his lawful undertakings, disposing your hart to soothe their afflictions and boosting ones ego. Yes it may in the short term it feeds that sense of self, but it’s like eating fast food; it fills the gap but doesn’t fix the true hunger and is extremely toxic to the body if it’s done on a regular basis.
ARTICLE BY Bro. John McDermid Whitecourt Lodge #153
Attending Lodge is not an enriching experience if one spends most of the meeting of “friendship and brotherly love” prattling on and on about honorary titles, and arguing semantics. Aren’t we all Brothers that meet and leave on the level? In my opinion Freemasonry is almost at a tipping point of change. (Continued on page 6)
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The Craft is moving away from the status quote and the “don’t rock the boat” mentality. To more of a “wait a minute you mean we have a paddle on this boat to get us away from this storm!” The time for self depravation and self denial is coming to an end. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony – they're the vices that would see any repeat offender struggling to scale the winding staircase, according to early holy texts & teachings. Here are a few of the most deadly career sins, which I converted into the seven sins for Freemasonry: 1. Arrogance: Think you know it all. Arrogance is not quite the same thing as pride; arrogance is partly a sin of omission. In this case, forgetting to listen to the point or points of view of your Brothers, no matter what chair you occupy or what title you have “honourably” obtained, assuming you always know best in every situation isn’t necessarily always true. More often than not, you don’t!
“An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of ignorance. It interferes with a person’ main task in life— becoming a better person.” - Leo Tolstoy
“The best people in business know that you can learn something from everyone,” executive coach and Sparks Elite founder Andrew Sparks says. 2. Resistance to Change: Yes I’ve said it- CHANGE. Change is NOT the sin it’s the resistance to which is the sin. This sin is liable to show up in every Lodge, in every district, on the face of the earth. Sure, some members like change for the sake of, change and I agree it’s a pain. Like one Brother said rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic isn’t going to stop the ship from sinking-I agree! But if you want to be taken seriously; when an "innovation" is a truly bad idea, you can't afford to get a reputation for pooh-poohing every change. Seriously consider it, if the suggestion requires adjustment, help out to support it don’t criticise it. We all start with a rough draft or ashlars but we can work it together until it’s smooth and square, if the idea has merit. (Continued on page 7)
"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change." - Confucius
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“Enthusiasm is that kindling spark which marks the difference between the leaders in every activity and the laggards who put in just enough to get by.” - Unknown
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3. Laggardness: Like doing things this way because that's the way you've always done them? Present as a stick-in-the-mud at your peril, the Lodge changes constantly and so should the Brothers in them. People, who are successful in their career embrace change to some it might mean conflict or a disruption in routine which is often mistaken for harmony, only the dead experience peace, the living are at a constant change. It doesn't mean you have to like everything, but don't be someone who's set in your ways, which is common when people have been in Freemasonry for awhile. To understand their opposition are this way for fear they may become irrelevant. I can’t stress this enough, never, I mean never in a million years are the Brothers that have gone before irrelevant! However neither are the younger Brother(s) who are the ones who have the zeal and excitement to roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Work with it, not against it. If you want to go a step further and become someone who suggests changes or improvements, then if necessary be ready to be that Manson who leads from the front and follows though. Remember Brothers there are no spectators in creating change. Lead by example...or as the Heavens above so the earth below. Thinking of better ways to do things and following through, shows you're actively involved in the Lodge. Isn’t that what we are seeking from our Brothers however small the charity? 4. Spinelessness: Are you first to endorse whatever suggestion someone more senior puts on the table, however lame or impractical? Praising the bosses' pet projects to the skies may help you curry favour in the short term but it won't position you as leadership material in the long term, career coach Sally-Anne Blanshard cautions. “We have all worked with one of these [people], who appear to approve of everything and anything...” (Continued on page 8)
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Blanshard says. “Sometimes you have to learn to say no. You may be challenging a senior executive such as a Grand Lodge Officer, a process, or even dare I say it a “Tradition”. Using the Titanic reference I said earlier; let me ask you this question: What is the tradition of a boat? What is its soul purpose? The tradition or purpose of a boat is to float, not sink. So if rearranging the deck chairs seems like a good idea while you’re sinking maybe one should look at that tradition and ask, is this a productive exercise? By saying “Hold on...when all about you are loosing their heads” as Bro. Kipling suggests in his poem “IF”; and doing so with good reason and evidence, that’s courageous, that’s fortitude, that’s integrity. 5. Selfishness: There's no "I" in "team," (but if you look close there actually is, it’s placed firmly in the “A” hole.) but you wouldn't prove it by the selfish worker. This man is never around when it's time to roll up the sleeves and work, pitching in and helping out makes for light work. Yes we are all here for “self” improvement but self doesn’t mean selfishness, it means HELP out in what ever way you can. Speaking of this I often wonder why the ones working the hardest eat last. I’m going to challenge a “tradition” right now. I have been to countless Lodges were the EA the workers in the quarry, often eat last. But yet we wonder why we have problems with attendance. By our actions of making these hard working Brothers eat last we are actually displaying to them our example of how they are to be treated. I would never let my child eat last because he was new to the family; why on this earth do we stand for and accept our leaders eating first? The act of eating and the order of which is such a primal act, it a show of Dominance, but we are not animals. We are men, we are Brothers, and those who work hardest eat first. (Continued on page 9)
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6. Ruthlessness: Think being a winner in the Craft means making losers of your Brothers? It will only get you so far. If you have to climb on others to get to where you want to be, it can work for a limited time, but if that's the main strategy you'll alienate too many people along the way – you will alienate those who you're trying to lead. It's counter-productive. Positive Leadership executive coach Barbara Heilemann suggests. “Those who don't help others will end up without allies down the track.” she warns. “You might get the job, but no one likes you,” she says. It’s not very Masonic and on the level, if you can’t be honest with yourself then you can’t be honest with others. Undermining efforts especially your Brothers goes against everything that Masonry professes. You can’t build a castle and cathedrals that stand the test of time while others are taking the ground from underneath; this is in fact where the term “undermining” came from. 7. Incompetence: Are we really Masters of our craft? “How you do
“One of the chief features of incompetence was an inability to see it in oneself.”
anything is how you do everything.” Faking it until you make it will
- Kim Stanley Robinson
already guilty of No. 1. If you need to start small, make promises
only go so far, and if you're in the habit of talking a bigger game than you can deliver, break it now! Spend time boning up on the skills you need to succeed, leave the bragging for people who are you can only deliver on. Practice the 90-10 rule; learn how to actively listen, instead of talking. Leave the games for the jokers and jesters.
Works Cited: Pennington, S. (2013, 11 06). The seven deadly career sins. Retrieved from The Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/theseven-deadly-career-sins-20131020-2vvb0.html
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The
Edmonton Masonic Speakers’ Bureau
L
odges in Edmonton have been seeing more and more Masonic educational presentations as part of regular meetings and festive boards. While the Grand Lodge website has a Speakers Bureau list, a group of Edmonton brethren have decided to offer local lodges their services in giving interesting and interactive presentations regarding various topic on Freemasonry. This listing is but a mere sampling of each brother’s library of presentations. If your lodge is interested in hosting any of the brethren listed below, feel free to contact them directly and the presentation visits are not just limited to lodges in Edmonton.
W. Bro. Doug Bewick (142)
W. Bro. Mike Bayrak (142)
dougie@bewick.co
mikebayrak@gmail.com
“The Lady of the Lodge”
“How Common IS the Gavel?”
A 15 minute talk regarding the female aspects of Freemasonry. Contains some controversial but historical aspects as well as some nice esoteric notions to get your mind racing. This talk is suitable for all Masons. “Scottish Freemasonry (of its own Freewill and Ac-
cord)” Investigating the structure of the Scottish craft, its uniqueness and why it is important to unravelling the roots of speculative Masonry (45 minutes). Suitable for EA’s. “Rosslyn College”
Investigating the relevance of the Collegiate Church of St. Matthew to modern Freemasonry (30 minutes). Suitable for the General Public. “From Hall to Temple (a Countdown to Renewal)”
Restoring the solemnity of our rituals (25 minutes). Suitable for EA’s. “The Rituals and Ceremonies of the Operative Craft”
Of the nine working tools, we look at just one of them and its importance in our daily lives and in our lodges. This 12 minute inspirational talk bridges the gap between our Masonic ritual, science, and human nature and might just ignite you and your lodge into action to accomplish great things. Already well received at Evergreen and Whitecourt lodges. “Alchemy In Our Masonry”
A 15 minute talk on the basics of Alchemy and where it is found in our Masonic ritual. Suitable for MMs, but can be revised for EAs. "e-Masonry"
A 30-minute PowerPoint presentation on the history of the Internet, the progression of Internet Masonry (aka "e-Masonry"), how the Internet has affected Freemasonry (with graphs), my own experience, and Internet tools your lodge can easily use to communicate effectively with members and the public. Suitable for anyone, including the public. Presented at the Masonic Spring Workshop 2011.
Exploring the work of the operative craft lodges and the "n-Dimensional Masonry" development of the modern three degrees (30 A 30-minute PowerPoint presentation on Masonic metminutes). Suitable for Master Masons. aphysical geometry and the dimensional progression of the working tools.
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Edmonton Masonic Speakers’ Bureau cont’d... W. Bro. John Hayes (168)
W. Bro. John McDermid (146)
r_john_hayes@hotmail.com
johnmcdermi2716@hotmail.com
"The Poetry of Freemasonry"
“Ancient Free & Absent Masons”
How to understand and improve ritual through an understanding of what poetry and language provides - 30 minutes, power point, music. Plus discussion. EA and up. “The Fundamentals of Lodge Operation”
The offices, how a lodge meeting works, how to move around and speak in a lodge - 20 minutes. Plus discussion. EA and up. “The Mythic Spirit”
An approach to spirituality and closer fraternity through Dine teachings and story - 35 minutes. Plus discussion. MM only. “Labours of Love”
Attendance in lodge—What is the truth behind our absent brethren, whom we miss. Should we be worried about it? Should we be guilting our brethren to attend and effectively taking away the freewill? Are the numbers the only thing we are worried about? “The 7 deadly sins of the Modern Mason and Change”
Based off of “Seven Deadly Career Sins” from Sylvia Pennington of the Sydney Morning Herald. Do you often hear we are doing this because it’s tradition? Ask is it really or is it habit? Are we actually doing something wrong and never thought to correct it? How far back does the "tradition go?" I have morphed The Seven Deadly Career sins into 7 Deadly Masonic sins. Think about it. What does our work actually say?
How Freemasons can grow through Masonic work within the lodge and in outreach within the Craft - 30 “Unseen Dimensions—Part 1” minutes. Plus discussion. Presupposes knowledge of It is a 3-dimensional presentation. PowerPoint, lecture, Laudable Pursuit, Internet. MM generally, although and active participation. Required: a screen, projector, nothing that an EA can't see. Includes PowerPoint laptop, and the willingness to discover. What this presentation. presentation talks about is the secret and sacred symbols in our Lodge and how to read the ground. I chalW. Bro. Chris MacKenzie (142) lenge the audience with the first and hardest question: "What does Freemasonry do? In short we talk about cgpersonal@gmail.com the administration of our lodge, that's it, no more no “Lifting The Veil” less...or is it?" This presentation can be viewed by all An exploration of esoteric ideas. In degrees. It is designed to be presented while tyled, 15this presentation, I discuss the con20 minutes. cept of the Veil from our own ritual work, and Jungian concepts of Archetypes and Individuation. It is a 20 min presentation with an extra time requirement for questions and answers. There is a small part of this presentation which refers to some details from the 3rd degree, but it is easily omitted in a lodge where not all Brethren are MMs. Includes PowerPoint presentation.
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Festive Board—Puns for Educated Minds
How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it....
Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!
A cartoonist was found dead in his home. Details are sketchy.
I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.
Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.
England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.
I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.
They told me I had type-A blood, but it was a TypO.
I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now.
Jokes about German sausages are the wurst.
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.
This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I'd never met herbivore.
When chemists die, apparently they barium.
I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.
I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.
I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.
Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?
When you get a bladder infection you know urine trouble.
Broken pencils are pretty much pointless.
What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.
I dropped out of the Communism class because of lousy Marx.
All the toilets in New York 's police stations have been stolen. As of now, it appears the police have nothing to go on.
I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.
Velcro - what a rip off!
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?
How Common IS The Gavel
TERM PRESENTATION AND ARTICLE W. Bro. Mike Bayrak, Ivanhoe Lodge No. 142, GRA, AF&AM Northern Lights District – Education Chairman
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How Common IS The Gavel?
O
ver a decade ago, a strange box entered the doors of my lodge and was presented to our Worshipful Master. He opened it and inside was a beautifully constructed
and intricate smooth large wooden gavel. I think it was made of spruce. It rested peacefully on a cradle of the same wood. The inside of the box was made of soft red felt. A small brass plaque was on the base of the cradle that said “Australian World Travelling Gavel”. How many here have seen or received one of these Travelling Gavels? Well, there’s 12 of them, all slightly different in design, and they’ve all been constructed and sent out to the Masonic world by a brother from Australia, V.W.Bro. Rick Howes (left). They’ve travelled to lodges and Grand Lodges all over the face of the earth, from South Africa, to London, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, many U.S. lodges, Canadian lodges, and obviously back home to Australia. The gavel box had specific instructions to the lodge masters to record its journey, so those receiving it would know where it has been. As a five year Mason at that point, I was quite awe-struck by this gavel. So I contacted Bro. Rick via email and he put me on his mailing list to which he sent out regular emails with terribly formatted Word documents for each gavel trying to track where they have been. Rick told me he’s had a difficult time tracking these things as the brethren aren’t communicating with him as the instructions say. So he’d go months and months without having any idea where his precious gavels were and gaps appeared in the gavel record. So I offered to help. I offered to build him a website where brethren, or anyone really, could go and see where the gavels were. Rick was so pleased. I then asked him why he was doing all this if it caused him grief and worry. He said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I see Masonry on the decline. I felt I had the need to do something to bring this fraternity together—to bring the brethren together and encourage visiting, not just locally, but globally. You see, Mike, I lost my son recently and suddenly, and the pain was so great, I also felt I needed to do something to keep my mind off of it. Thank you for helping me with this endeavour, brother. What is your mailing address?” So, I gave it to him. (Continued on page 15)
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Weeks later, I get a notice to go to the post office to pick up a package. I went there, picked it up, took it home and opened it. And inside, was a brand spanking new travelling gavel with a holder and a brass plaque on the base. “To W. Bro. Mike Bayrak from V.W. Bro. Rick Howes”. Well I was awe-struck. What a nice man. I emailed him and thanked him profusely. Since then, that gavel has played a very important part of my life. It sits among my Masonic library at home as a reminder of the kindness and generosity of a brother from the complete opposite side of the world and the universality of our great brotherhood, but more importantly, as a powerful inspiration for to me to “get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’” – that great quote from the movie the Shawshank Redemption. But why? Why the gavel? I mean, I’m not really a handyman. I’m the king of procrastination if anything. The only times recently where I’ve used a hammer is when I’m hanging pictures. I’m a computer guy. A mouse would be more suited to my profession than anything. Click… done! Clickity click click. Done done done! Tough physical work, I know. My finger gets really sore at about the 1 millionth click. So where the heck in my life does the gavel really apply? Come on...
How Common IS the gavel? Well, in our Masonic ritual, we know from the Working Tools of an Entered Apprentice that…
“The 24 inch gauge is the first implement put into the hands of the workman, to enable him to ascertain the amount of work in which he is about to engage and to compute the time and labour it may cost.” Oh, sure, so the 24 inch gauge is the first implement put into the hands of the workman! Ascertain you say? Ok. I can do that. I’ll just think about it for a while then. That fits nicely with my penchant for procrastination and utter laziness. Pass the potato chips please! So, measure all you want. Compute and plan all you want. Spend your days, weeks, months and years planning and planning. Think think think to no end. Heck, rethink, change your plans, remeasure, redesign, redraw, and perhaps you should always second-guess yourself. Don’t go with your gut. Wait for the right moment. My brethren, if we all acted like that, nothing--and I mean NOTHING would get done. What’s next? (Continued on page 16)
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“The Common Gavel is an important instrument of labour and highly esteemed as an implement of art. Although recognized by various artists under different appellations, it is yet admitted by them all that no work of manual skill can be completed without it.” Oh! So what your saying is without the gavel, no work actually gets done! I see now. But what work exactly? There you are on Sunday afternoon watching NFL football. It’s the 4th quarter and the Packers are down by 6 with 30 seconds left on the Patriots 12 yard line. The snap and Aaron Rogers throws the ball into the end zone and you hear this voice coming from 20 miles away around 5 corners though 6 walls in the kitchen… “Honey, I need you to take out the garbage and clean the evestroughs! Oh and while you’re at it, fix the gate! Are you listening to me!?” Oh, yes, my brother, you could THINK and PLAN about doing all those things. But how far is THAT going to get you with your wife? It’s not until you get your butt off the couch and DO SOMETHING and execute that anything really matters. Whatever motivates you! And if that motivation is the simple fear that your wife will nag you until the cows come home, then so be it. At your place of employment, we are given jobs and tasks by management and ownership to deliver upon in a timely fashion. Those of you who are selfemployed call upon yourselves to get things done for you, your employees and your customers and bring in money because your livelihoods depend upon it. For the single guy at a party or at the bar who sees a pretty lady he wants to talk to and get to know. Watch her from across the room all you want. Watch other men hit on her and fail. From my experience, in this situation, it’s important to know HOW to execute without even thinking about it. Take the gavel and respect the stone upon which you are about to strike. Strike too hard and you’ll strike out. Strike too gently, and you won’t even strike up a conversation. Do it just right, with your own honest intentions, and sparks may strike between you. Maybe you’ll get to build something from there. You see a person that needs help. Do you just let him stew it over on his own? “Ah, he’ll figure it out.” Or do you actually help? “Would you give if it were in your POWER?” The gavel is the power, strike it, exert power, and do something. (Continued on page 17)
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The sad state of the Edmonton sports teams—the Eskimos and Oilers. How many times do you hear the coach and players say to the media after another loss, “We just didn’t execute. We just didn’t get it done”? QUITE A LOT LATELY, RIGHT? There’s obviously lots of examples. But finally, let’s look at our own lodges… Officers and members are tasked with many things to do that benefit the lodge and ourselves… memory work, setting up the lodge, picking up a senior brother to take to lodge, taking an Entered Apprentice out for a drink or coffee to get to know him, or planning and pulling off a ladies’ night dinner and dance. But when one brother, tasked with something, fails to execute, another brother needs to grab his gavel and pick up the slack to fill the void, sometimes on top of the work he’s already doing. It is perhaps assumed that the other brother will return the favour, and in our Masonic Karma, with double the effort. For the new Master, the gavel is given to him at Installation. Without it, he exerts no power, and he can’t call up his Wardens and they in turn, cannot answer and obey him. He cannot even open the lodge! Without the gavel, we can’t officially meet and practice Masonry. Without the gavel, Masonry, operative and speculative, would literally not exist. In fact, think about all the other working tools. The 24 inch gauge.. we’ve already talked about that. The chisel? It’s useless without the gavel. We can’t even begin to use the square, the level, and the plumb rule because we have not worked upon a stone to measure our work against. The skirret, pencil, and compasses? Draw draw draw! Circles and lines and nice designs. Still, nothing actually is built yet. The gavel is the ONLY symbol we Masons can use truly to motivate us. It is OUR symbol of execution and follow through. (Continued on page 18)
Summer 2014
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Motivate us to do what though? Hit someone on the head? We’ll get to that in a minute. Last year, my educational topic and theme for the District was “Alchemy In Our Masonry?” Alchemy is not a subject widely studied by brethren although its everywhere in our ritual as it instills and explains aspects of human nature through symbol and metaphor. So with that, as our ritual commands us to do, let’s take a moment “to extend our researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and science” shall we? Let’s quickly examine the process of decision making and taking action from a biochemical perspective. We observe and receive external signals through our senses, and our brains decipher them into information that our brain uses to make decisions. These decisions are influenced in two ways, 1) by us agreeing to the logic presented or we create the logic with the parameters given, and 2) we’re influenced by the chemicals released when we think about the potential answers, courses of action and resulting outcomes and effects upon others around us and ourselves and selfish egos. These chemicals that are released, specifically one called Oxytocin, are also highly addicting. Oxytocin gives you a somewhat euphoric feeling but it lasts for only up to 3 ½ minutes. It’s what makes women attracted to us—not by how we look, how much money we have, or even how nice we are in giving them compliments. They’re attracted by how they feel, and by teasing them, making them laugh, and being in the moment with them shows them you don’t have a desperate ego that needs attention, nourishment, and energy from them, but that you offer them some fun and a constant dose of Oxytocin “feel good” chemistry. Sometimes though, it’s what makes us think we’re in love, when we’re really in a state of lust and desire. Love, as we know, is a much, much deeper and honest emotion than that. But I digress. Back to our brain and answering the question—what motivates us? When that final decision happens, the brain sends signals through neurons attached to muscles in our body to tell them to move a certain way and to spring into action. This whole process I’ve talked about, can take minutes or seconds to decide, or even a nanosecond – a moment, if you will. (Continued on page 19)
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And those moments where time seems to slow down and it seems like we’re reacting without thinking, where we’re on autopilot and we can only do right and everything comes together, where the gavel in our hands is moving so fast and accurate, it’s a total blur. It’s in those moments when we’re truly connected to The Divine, The One, The All, “whence all goodness emanates”. And that Divinity, that power of good of the Great Architect is within the hearts and minds of all of us. By picking up the gavel, you take the good within you, and because of an honest desire to express it into action into your daily life, you are able to do good things, “not for ourselves, but for the cause of good.” And so, you can design yourself to be good or bad, and believe and think you’re a good person all you want, but it’s not until the actions speak louder than words, that anything really matters.
“From the common gavel we learn that skill without exertion is of little avail, that labour is the lot of man; for the heart may conceive, and the head may devise in vain, if the hand be not prompt to execute the design.” “If the hand be not prompt to execute the design.” That’s probably the most important phrase in all our ritual. And perhaps this is also why we call it FREEmasonry, because we have the FREEwill and we are FREE to decide and choose how we practice and “apply these tools to our morals.” Brethren, I submit to you that that gavel is called the common gavel because it plays the most important and most relevant part in our daily lives, at every moment. It is the essence of our Craft, why it is a noble one, and the only real link and symbol in our toolbox that takes us from our metaphysical world to the physical one. Brethren, I challenge you that whenever you see the gavel being used in your lodge, remember what it stands for, and let it be a constant motivator for you in your life to get the good things done. Just like what our brother did from Australia who took a sad situation in his life, dug deep down, and decided he wanted to do something good for all Freemasons all over the Earth. And he couldn’t have picked a better symbol to remind us all one simple thing… brethren… enough sitting around…
Let’s get to work. ______________________________________________________________________ On the next page you will find the list of Grand Lodges and lodges that this particular Australian Travelling Gavel travelled to.
Summer 2014
The Northern Lights Luminaries
Australian Travelling Gavel Collection— Grand Lodge Gavel
20
Summer 2014
8. GRAND LODGE of VERMONT Grand Master; M:W: Earl Washburn, Grand Secretary; Cedric Smith July 1999 9. GRAND LODGE A.F & A.M. of CANADA In the Province of ONTARIO Grand Master; M.W.Bro. Robert McKibbon. Grand Secretary; M:W: Bro. Robert E. Davies November 1999 10. GRAND LODGE of NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR Grand Master; M. W. Bro. Neil M. Chaplin This Gavel presentation was given by the Oldest Grand Lodge in Canada, consecrated in 1855 to the Youngest Grand Lodge in Canada Consecrated in 1997 May 2000
This travelling Gavel was to be presented into every Grand Lodge In America and Canada. 1998:
12. THE GRAND LODGE of NEW BRUNSWICK, A. & A. M. Grand Master; M. W. Bro. James A. Pike, Grand Secretary; J. Ralph Andrews P.G.M.
13. 1. GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Grand Master; M: W: Stewart C. McCloud, Assistant 14. Grand Secretary; RW. Richard W. Bateman, GP, GR 2. THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of The Commonwealth of VIRGINIA Grand Master; Most Worshipful George H. Chapin, Grand Secretary; Allan W. Adkins
GRAND LODGE of NOVA SCOTIA Grand Master; M. W. Bro. Lloyd Blagdon, Grand Secretary; Robert H. Northup GRAND LODGE of PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Grand master; M. W. Bro. Donald Judson, Grand Secretary; Rt. W. Bro. Errol C. Monkley
October 2000 15. GRAND LODGE of ALBERTA Grand master; Gerald T. Webber
3. GRAND LODGE of the DISTRICT of COLUMBIA Free and Accepted Masons Grand Master; M:W: Eldon J. Brown, Grand Secretary; Stewart W. Miner
From here it was presented into private Lodges
4. THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE Of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of MASSACHUSETTS Grand Master; M:W: Fred Kirby Bauer, Grand Secretary; Rt.Wor. Paul W. Rolston
18. Edmonton Lodge No. 7, Edmonton
5. THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE of CONNECTICUT Grand Master; W:M: Roger W. Read 6. MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE of NEW HAMPSHIRE Grand Secretary; Jack Marden 7. MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE of RHODE ISLAND: F. & A.M. Grand Secretary; John M. Faulhaber
16. Britannia Lodge No 18, Ponoka 17. Eastgate Lodge No. 192, Edmonton
19. Strathcona Lodge No. 77, Edmonton 20. Balmoral Lodge No. 185, St. Albert (5th Oct 2002)
21. Ivanhoe Lodge No. 142, Edmonton 22. Far North Lodge No. 199, Inuvik, NWT GRAND LODGE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND YUKON
23. Yukon Lodge No. 45, Dawson City (10th July 2004) 24. Atlinto Lodge No. 42 (7th Sept. 2004) 25. Whitehorse Lodge No. 46 (20th Sept. 2004) As of June 2003, this Gavel has been presented into 22 Lodges & Grand Lodges
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Summer 2014
Lodge Officers Training! Dates and Regional Contacts
As part of the Grand Lodge long-term vision, six brethren have stepped up to the plate to help organize and run training for lodge officers from Steward to Worshipful Master with related breakout sessions. Those who have attended the sessions in the past couple of years have found these sessions to be very valuable with a great benefit to themselves and to their lodge. Often, lodges tend to appoint very new members into officer roles, which they are not prepared for, or have an understanding of the expectations and duties. If a date is not provided for your region yet, feel free to contact the brethren below and help out, perhaps with hosting in your lodge room. Region
Contact
Dates
North West
Joe LaJoie
JoeL@pomeroylodging.com
September 8, 2014 March 7, 2015
North East
Gordon Harris
dukegord@telus.net
Edmonton
Bob Kennaway
Bob.Kennaway@gmail.com
February 8, 2015 March 8, 2015 April 5, 2015
Central
Dick Cameron
chanter2@shaw.ca
June 22, 2014 Red Deer November 30, 2014 May 2015
Calgary
Allan Long
aljen@telus.net
September 20, 2014 Okotoks Tentative November 15, 2014 Didsbury
South East
Bert McFadyen
shortgrassdev@gmail.com
Lego Lodge No. 357 http://imgur.com/ a/8S9VG
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Summer 2014
District Perpetual Education Calendar Please note that with the amalgamation of West Edmonton #101 and Mystic Tie #188 Lodges into Mystic West #101, perpetual calendar visits for this lodge will default to #101’s previous schedule. Stay tuned to this newsletter for future updates! As introduced by R. W. Bro. Charles Burns, DDGM, Northern Lights District 2002/2003.
Year 2014
This is a program of lodge visitation featuring education research. Each lodge will visit another lodge each year and present a paper and receive a return visit plus paper from each lodge in the District. Objectives
2015
To sponsor visitation To encourage education research
The visiting lodge is to come as a group, not just one Mason! It is the responsibility of the visiting lodge to contact the Master of the host lodge confirming attendance and educational topic well in advance.
2016
2017
2018
Month
Visiting Lodge
Hosting Lodge
February
Mystic Tie #188
Patricia #91
March
Jasper #14
Onoway #138
April
Evergreen #166
Saskatchewan #92
May
West Edmonton #101
Whitecourt #153
September
Patricia #91
Mayerthorpe #148
October
Ivanhoe #142
Jasper #14
November
Saskatchewan #92
Mystic Tie #188
February March April
Onoway #138 Mayerthorpe #148 Whitecourt #153
Mystic West #101 Evergreen #166 Ivanhoe #142
May
Mystic Tie #188
Saskatchewan #92
September
Jasper #14
Ivanhoe #142
October
Evergreen #166
Mayerthorpe #148
November
Mystic West #101
Onoway #138
February
Patricia #91
Mystic Tie #188
March April May
Ivanhoe #142 Saskatchewan #92 Onoway #138
Whitecourt #153 Evergreen #166 Jasper #14
September
Mayerthorpe #148
Patricia #91
October
Whitecourt #153
Mystic West #101
November
Mystic Tie #188
Onoway #138
February March April May
Jasper #14 Evergreen #166 Mystic West #101 Patricia #91
Patricia #91 Whitecourt #153 Saskatchewan #92 Jasper #14
September
Ivanhoe #142
Mayerthorpe #148
October
Saskatchewan #92
Mystic West #101
November
Onoway #138
Mystic Tie #188
February
Mayerthorpe #148
Ivanhoe #142
March
Whitecourt #153
Evergreen #166
April
Mystic Tie #188
Mayerthorpe #148
May
Jasper #14
Mystic West #101
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Summer 2014
District Lodge Directory Jasper #14 5th Sat, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 2:30 pm Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Jason Stewart W. Bro. Reg Reid 780-232-0369 780-721-7528 warhammer1974@hotmail.com regreid@shaw.ca Patricia #91 2nd Tues, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Chris Uchman R.W. Bro. Al Vickery (as of June 11, 2013) 780-469-7259 cjuchman@xmg-group.com wilvic@telus.net Saskatchewan #92 2nd Thur, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm www.saskatchewan92.org Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Chris Burchell R. W. Bro. Ken Cheel 403-241-8950 780-387-4779 cburchell@nptech.com ken.cheel@telus.net Mystic West #101 2st Wed, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Jared Vanoni W. Bro. Travers Roy 780-965-3845 780-901-2701 knowns@hotmail.ca westedlodge101@gmail.com Onoway #138 4th Wed, Legion Hall, Onoway, 7:30 pm Worshipful Master Secretary W Bro. Kevin Baker R. W. Bro. Bob Bell 780-801-0882 780-967-5133 kcbaker@mcsnet.ca rlbell@hotlinkwireless.com Ivanhoe #142 1st Thur, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm www.ivanhoe142.org Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. David Owens W. Bro. David Wright 780-235-4556 780-466-2285 worshipfulmaster@ivanhoe142.org secretary@ivanhoe142.org Whitecourt #153 1st Thur, Forest Interpretive Centre, Whitecourt, 8:00 pm www.whitecourtmasoniclodge.ca Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. John Baxter W. Bro. Doug Ling 780-778-6632 780-778-2086 ling@telusplanet.net
secretary@ whitecourtmasoniclodge.ca
Yellowknife #162 1st Mon, Masonic Hall, Yellowknife, 7:30 pm www.ykmasons.ca Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Thom Jarvis W. Bro. Don Finnamore 867-445-9342 867-873-6897 ctjarvis@theedge.ca donfinnamore@hotmail.com Evergreen #166 2nd Mon, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm www.evergreenfreemasons.net Worshipful Master Secretary W. Bro. Phil Fitch 780-458-2015 phil123@telus.net
Edmonton Lodge Directory Freemasons Hall 10318 – 100th Avenue, Edmonton, AB Empire #63 1st Mon Norwood #90 1st Tues Eastgate # 192 + 1st Tues Exemplar #175 1st Thur Edmonton #7 + 2nd Tues Dominion #117 2nd Wed Commercial #81 3rd Sat Highlands Masonic Hall 56th St. 118th Avenue, Edmonton, AB Redwood #193 1st Wed Temple Centennial #167 + 1st Thurs Sherwood #183 2nd Mon Highlands Unity # 168 2nd Tues Acacia Masonic Hall 10433 – 83rd Avenue, Edmonton, AB Avon Glen #170 1st Wed Acacia #11 2nd Thur Strathcona #77 + 2nd Fri Ye Olde Craft #196 2nd Sat Greisbach #191 3rd Mon Corner Stone Hall 6 Tache Street, St Albert, AB Balmoral #185 1st Wed
7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 1:00 pm
7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
7:30 pm
+ York Rite Lodges
If you visit just one lodge a month you would have ten more opportunities to gain more light in Masonry, build friendships and enhance the Masonic experience.
The Northern Lights Luminaries
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Summer 2014
Northern Lights online! Not only do we have this newsletter that we make available, but the District is now online with our own website containing a District lodge map, calendar, and a place to view all the past issues of the Luminaries. And to get the word out about what’s going on with the District and her lodges, we also have a Facebook page and Twitter account. The accounts are as follows:
Website:
www.northernlightsdistrict.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NLDistrict
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/NLDistrict
Email:
northernlightsdistrict@gmail.com
www.northernlightsdistrict.org