The Phoenix Chronicles

Transcription

1 P H O E N I X D I S T R I C T G R A N D L O D G E O F A L B E R T A The Phoenix Chronicles G R A N D L O D G E O F F I C E R S M.W. Bro. James Ratchford, Grand Master Rt. Wor. Bro. Gordon Berard, Deputy Grand Master Rt. Wor. Bro. Kenn Culbertson, Senior Grand Warden Rt. Wor. Bro. Ken Cheel Junior Grand Warden I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Lodge 2 Education Why 2 Phoenix? District 3 Lodges DDGM 3 Calendar From the 4 Secretary District 6 Meeting Your District 6 Team V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2 Your District Deputy Grand Master J uly and August are usually quiet months on the Masonic calendar, but there has been plenty to keep your Deputy District Grand Master busy for both the good of Masonry and the community in general. On the Masonic front, over the summer, DDGM Roger Matas has participated in Mosaic Lodge s installation, visited Carstairs lodge twice, marched with Masons in the Calgary Stampede parade, taken a shift at the Heritage Park Masonic Lodge, visited Northstar Lodge in Lethbridge, attended King George Lodge stampede meeting, and assisted at the King George Hall casino. Reprinted and edited from a paper by Rt. W. Bro. J.H. Laycraft from Vox Lucis T o answer this question we must journey back in history nearly 250 years to the time of a great division between Masons, the quarrel between the Antients and the Moderns. For sixty-two years, from 1751 until 1813, England had two rival Grand Lodges living in bitter enmity. Your DDGM with WM Patrick Ashley of Mosaic Lodge To support the community, Roger has volunteered at the Calgary Stampede, ATB Financial Classic Why Two Rituals in Canada? A U G U S T golf tournament, participated in the Ride for Dad, and will also assist at the Shaw Classic golf tournament. Roger and Irene worked with a group from King George Lodge to cook dinner for residents at Ronald McDonald House. Irene and Roger also attended the Alberta Wish Ride in Taber Alberta and will also be at the event in Cypress Hills in September. Over the eight years Irene and Roger have run the Alberta Wish Ride they have donated over $300,000 to the Children s Wish Foundation of Canada. In 1751, the turmoil and dissension in the Craft became open revolt. Five Lodges formed themselves into a body which, they declared, was designed to revive the Craft upon true Masonic principles. They named the new entity The Most Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. Twenty years later it had become The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Old Institution. By 1794, the process of reconciliation between the Antients and the Moderns was well under way. In 1813 union was proclaimed and the United Grand Lodge came into being. But Masonry was coming to the new world at the very time when the Craft was divided by strife in the old. (Continued page 5)

2 P A G E 2 Lodge Education Brother Dave Murray, District Education Officer A s I continue my walk in Freemasonry and continue to search for the true and deeper meaning of the lessons of Masonry, I cannot help but consider the Masonic Ritual in relation to Masonic Education. It is selfevident that the words contained within the ritual books that we use to confer degrees, open and close our lodges, etc. can easily be regarded as Masonic Education inand-of itself, but what education is being derived from those words? The ritual is most certainly central to Freemasonry as it is the medium used to pass on and receive the lessons of symbolism; thereby encouraging a man to translate these lessons into the way he conducts his life. It is also the medium through which we separate ourselves from the rest of the world and transmit the modes of recognition. We can see that the ritual is of great importance to Freemasons and Freemasonry. But is it everything? What is ritual? Ritual is, for most people, is something they are aware of but cannot easily explain. Is it the words in the book, or is ritual the practicing of the principles contained in the words in a Mason s everyday life? I would submit that it is the latter. Memorizing ritual no more makes a Mason than knowing the alphabet makes one a best-selling author. How many Masons do you know who are ignorant of the history, nature, design and moral/ intellectual teachings of the order, yet are brilliantly capable of reciting the exact phraseology of the ritual. When it comes to Masonic Education in Lodge then, we have to ask ourselves: are we teaching inside our lodges the nature of our beautiful system by educating men the true meaning behind the veiled allegory and symbols? Or are we merely encouraging men to remember a few words that sound really good when delivered well? After all, aren't those deeper lessons our way to make good men better and to communicate happiness? In the words of Rabbi E. Geffen, It is time that Masons should come to the conclusion and realize that something more than a mere knowledge of the words of a ritual are necessary to make a bright Mason or a competent teacher in Masonry. Roger presenting bursary certificate to Amy Matychuk Phoenix District H ave you ever wondered why we re called Phoenix District? How all the districts were named and when? According to MW Bro Hugh Young, in the early 1980s, districts were reduced in number and the decision was made to name the districts instead of numbering while still retaining the seniority by number. The seniority of districts was a hot topic both at board meetings and in Grand Lodge which is really interesting as districts are not legal bodies but are merely an administrative grouping of lodges to which the Grand Master appoints a representative to be his eyes and ears. Each district was asked to submit a recommendation for the name and it could not be a place name. (Continued page 4) Alberta Wish Ride I rene and Roger started the Alberta Wish Ride in The event came from Irene s father who ran over 20 events per year in B.C. Irene and Roger assisted at those rides and decided to bring the concept to Alberta where they put their own unique flair on the event. Over the 8 years they have put on 14 rides, many with the help and support of the members of King George Lodge. From those events Irene and Roger, through the Alberta Wish Ride, have donated over $300,000 to the Children s Wish Foundation, their charity of choice. It was also Irene s father s charity and the Alberta rides have become a lasting legacy to him. Roger and Irene present a custom saddle at the Alberta Wish Ride in Taber AB

3 DDGM s Calendar P A G E 3 T he next few months will be busy in Phoenix District as the District Deputy Grand Master attends lodges in the district both on official and fraternal visits as well as other events. The DDGM is the Grand Master s representative in the district. He not only brings fraternal messages from the Grand Master, but also reports back to the Grand Master on the health of each of the lodges in his district. All Masons are welcome to accompany the DDGM on any of his visits. The scheduled visits over the next two months are: September 6 Airdrie Lodge September 8 Carstairs Lodge September 13 King Hiram Lodge September 14 Canada Lodge September 20 Official visit to Loyalty Lodge September 24 Tri-jurisdictional Lodge September 27 Crescent Lodge September 28 Mosaic Lodge September 29 Phoenix District Meeting October 1 Official visit to Concord Lodge October 11 Official visit to Crescent Lodge October 13 Official visit to Carstairs Lodge October 14 Official visit to King George Lodge October 15 Dinosaur District Meeting October 26 Alpha District Meeting October 29 Calgary Highwood District Meeting From the Grand Lodge Constitution: DDGM Duties...Should he discover any Masonic error or evil in his District, he shall endeavour to immediately arrest the same by Masonic means and should he judge it expedient, he shall immediately report the same to the Grand Phoenix District Lodges Master CROSSFIELD MASONIC HALL AIRDRIE WILD ROSE LODGE #2001 1st Tuesday * CARSTAIRS LODGE #20 2nd Thursday CROSSFIELD LODGE #48 2nd Tuesday * CALGARY FREEMASON S HALL CONCORD LODGE #124 1st Saturday DIDSBURY MASONIC - STAR HALL KING HIRAM LODGE #21 2nd Tuesday BOWMOUNT MASONIC HALL MOSAIC LODGE #176 2nd & 4th Wednesday * LOYALTY LODGE #197 3rd Tuesday * KING GEORGE MASONIC HALL KING GEORGE LODGE #59 CANADA LODGE #165 CRESCENT LODGE #87 2nd & 4th Friday 2nd & 4th Wednesday 2nd & 4th Tuesday (* YORK RITE LODGES)

4 P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2 Phoenix (continued) Calgary-Highwood was allowed because (apparently) it wasn't a place name. Each lodge within District 18 was asked to submit a recommendation of a district name. At Concord Lodge, Brother Young proffered the name of "Phoenix" and, after a vote, it was chosen. It was presented at the district meeting where it was also selected and then forwarded to Grand Lodge and was approved. Why Phoenix? At the previous re-organisation of districts (really more of a tweaking), Canada #165 was moved from District 18 to District 16 and at this reorganisation they were returning to District 18. So the Phoenix District was arising from the ashes of District 18 and like the mythical Phoenix bird, all of its feathers (Lodges) were back. Members of King George Lodge and wives cooked a meal for guests of Ronald McDonald House N O R T H S T A R L O D G E With WB Scott Blasken, presenting PGJD jewel to VWB Stephen Kennard From the Secretary s Desk Brother Sean Yost, District Secretary What does good ritual work mean? Part 2: Enhancing the work I n the previous newsletter the topic was perambulation and ended with a few questions. For this article it is important to restate those questions. I will do that at the end. How does perambulation relate to enhancing the work? Simply put, it is the foundation that creates the relevance for giving the work meaning outside of the words. Let me explain. As a Jr Deacon without a lot of confidence and struggling to portray it and who felt the words of our ritual have a profound and deep meaning that deserve powerful presentation it was a struggle to match the confidence I had in the words with portraying it to the candidates and our Brethren. My mentors in the lodge had always affirmed the benefits of being upright, of squaring the lodge. The confidence of being in lodge was constantly reinforced and was strongly felt and becoming second nature. The self imposed pressure of delivering the work with the same level of confidence was still lost. After my first participation in the EA degree as Jr Deacon and feeling my stature during it was weak to say the least one of my mentors came to me and sat me down. He knew I was beating myself up and feeling like junk. What he said next has always stuck with me and now i pass it on. It is a few simple words, he said It is your floor, own it. I can t completely say why it resonates so strongly, but it does. And it has completely changed how I look at and perform the work. The package of owning the floor, knowing the ritual, and understanding a meaning of the work that resonates within creates a profound experience for me, the candidate and my fellow Brethren. We all portray the work with a passion that is conveyed to those around us whether we are in lodge or out. It is these varied perspectives and passions that broaden and enhance our own visions of the work and the world around us. My perspective on how upright and square perambulation leads to enhancing the work: It is the corner stone that we erect our super structure upon. All of the guidance, conversations, and experiences we have in partaking in the ritual strengthens our beliefs and can create a hunger and yearning for more. This in turn stokes the fires of the Brethren around each of us. Which lead us back to the questions. Next time you enter a lodge are you; upright? Sharp of step? Squaring the lodge? Did it have an impact on your experience or those around you? What was different? What changed? Simply you. You cared enough to find and be the light.

5 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 2 P A G E 5 Two Rituals (continued) As the Antients and the Moderns disputed, the ritual was in a time of change and ferment. A Mason from one English Lodge, founding an American Lodge, naturally used the ritual with which he was familiar. Another English Mason from a different English Lodge with a different ritual, founding Masonry in a neighbouring American colony, would establish that different ritual. In this fashion, rituals that existed in England for only a brief period of time and in a limited geographical area, before disappearing in the process of reconciliation, often survive today in one or the other of the American states. In England, reconciliation produced the unification of the ritual. In the new United States, this unification did not take place. The continued nourishment of American Freemasonry by its English parent was not possible in the face of revolution and war. Thus in the United States, the ritual tended to crystallize in the form which had existed in each jurisdiction when Masonry was founded there. The unified ritual arising from the reconciliation in England came into Canada with relatively little change as the Canadian Rite. Indeed, to some extent, that ritual spread into the United States. However, the presence in Canada of the unified rite set the stage for a further ritualistic clash when Masonry spread into western Canada. While two basic forms of ritual survive in the United States, Masonic travellers there will observe considerable variation within these forms from place to place. One of the paths of Freemasonry traced by Roscoe Pound was the journey of a particular fusion of Ancient and Modern rituals from England to Massachusetts, then to Ohio, from there to Wisconsin, and then to Minnesota. We, in turn, may follow the continuing journey of this rite from Minnesota northward into Manitoba and on to Alberta. We know this particular fusion of Ancient and Modern rituals as The Ancient York Rite. Though the first Lodge founded in what is now Manitoba failed to survive, Masonry continued to enter the Red River Settlement from Minnesota. It also came from Ontario. Both the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario char- tered Lodges there before the Province of Manitoba was created. As Manitoba joined the new Dominion of Canada in 1870, one of its first creations was the Grand Lodge of Manitoba which assumed jurisdiction over all Masonic Lodges in its geographical area. The new Grand Lodge then found that it had inherited two different rites of Freemasonry. Almost at once, the battles between the Antients and Moderns of a century earlier seemed to be renewed as the two rituals confronted each other. From Manitoba, Freemasonry continued its march across the new nation to what is now Alberta. The Grand Lodge of Manitoba chartered Lodges in the Alberta District of the Northwest Territories. From our Mother Grand Lodge we thus inherited their two rites as well as their tradition that either rite could be used. The journey of the two rituals was complete on the formation in 1905 of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. Presenting PDDGM regalia to RW Bro Martin Bumstead above and left, Masonic Medal of Merit certificate to Bro. Bert Seehawer Roger and Irene present a donation to Ronald McDonald House on behalf of of King George Lodge. This was proceeds from the Day at the Derby Tea

6 Phoenix District Grand Lodge of Alberta Right Worshipful Brother Roger Matas DDGM Calendar: kinggeorgelodge.com/phoenix Brother Sean Yost District Secretary Brother Dave Murray District Education Officer Brother Reid Mercer District Bursary Officer Phoenix District Meeting Roger presenting bursary certificate to Ala Buzreba M ark your calendar for the annual Phoenix District meeting September 29th 2016 at King George Hall. It seems the meeting gets earlier ever year. With all the busy lodge schedules it s difficult to find a good date which allows everyone to attend, and this seemed to work the best. King George Lodge has agreed to host the meeting. The festive board meal will be a Mexican feast of fajitas with all the trimmings. The annual meeting is where the business of the district is discussed and the next District Deputy Grand Master is elected. As no nomination papers were filed within 60 days of the meeting, nominations will be accepted from the floor. Should there be more than one candidate nominated, a ballot will occur. The meeting will include the presentation of reports from each of our district lodges. Full details are in the district summons which has been distributed to lodge secretaries. DDGM with other riders on the Ride for Dad Prostate Ride