Hiram’s Lighthouse PROVIDING MASONIC LIGHT FROM TORONTO EAST DISTRICT (Grand Lodge Merit Award Winner for District Newsletter - 2008) Grand Lodge Website: - www.grandlodge.on.ca/index.htm Toronto East District Website: - www.torontoeastdistrict.com D.D.G.M.: R.W. Bro. Thomas E. Norris Email: - [email protected] District Secretary: W. Bro. Edward H. Russell Email: - [email protected] January 1, 2010 Contents Page When Masonry is taught by ritual, symbol, and District Events 3 allegory, it is not as easy to follow as the schoolroom Around and About 5 method, but has the advantage of making a Mason (News & Notices) study and learn for himself. It forces him to search out Book Review 16 the truth and to take the initiative, so that the very act of learning is of educational value. ... by the Lighthouse Beam 18 - Bro. Burt Prater Toronto East District Lodges 20 Administration 21 From the desk of the D.D.G.M. (It’s all about US!) Brethren, First I would like to express my best wishes for this Holiday Season to all our members and families whatever your beliefs and how you celebrate, may The Great Architect bless you all and keep you safe and healthy. Please remember the families of all those who have passed to the Grand Lodge Above this past year as well as those less fortunate and all our wonderful troops abroad doing their part to maintain peace on earth. Most of our Installations are over and the Official Visits begin in February. In my travels I have seen some splendid degree work as well as Installations but I have also seen some that need a lot of instruction, practice and help. Remember it’s available to you but you must ask and be willing to take direction, implement it and want to excel. You would be surprised what visiting lodges and witnessing the ‘work’ in action can do to improve your standards. Two events to put on your calendar and attend are the Grand Lodge Resource Workshop taking place on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at Doric Temple 8:30 a.m. Coffee on arrival and lunch will be served. This is a must attend event if you want to make use of the substantial resources available to improve your lodge. The other event is a Lodge of Instruction, Installation Ceremony Only for all Past Masters at East Toronto Masonic Temple, Saturday February 20th; 2010 at 8:30 a.m. hosted by Mimosa Lodge. Please get your donations for the Grand Master’s Tim Horton cards for our troops sent off as soon as possible please so they may enjoy that “taste of home” right away. Hiram's Lighthouse-Jan. 1, 2010.doc Page 1 of 21 Visit Claremont’s Winter Carnival parade in January and support Brougham Union Lodge. It’s a great day and the lodge serves chilli and refreshments. Regalia may be worn. Bring a new member into Masonry in 2010, mentor him and help him grow and you will have an exciting year. Sincerely and Fraternally, R.W. Bro. Thomas E. Norris District Deputy Grand Master Toronto East District Hiram's Lighthouse-Jan. 1, 2010.doc Page 2 of 21 TORONTO EAST DISTRICT EVENTS: January February Tuesday January 1, 2010 Tuesday February 2, 2010 New Year’s Day Canada - Official Visit A chance for a start at a better Lodge of the DDGM tomorrow. Banquet at 6:30 pm Ajax Masonic Temple Wednesday January 13, 2010 Thursday February 4, 2010 Friendship - Installation Oh no, it’s not! Alpha-Tuscan - Official Visit From now on their Installation will be in May. Visitors by 8:00 pm East Toronto Masonic Temple Monday January 25, 2010 Saturday February 6, 2010 Robbie Burns Day Brougham Union - Winter Carnival Aye! Soom haggis an’ a’ that! see below I think he invented scotch. Claremont Masonic Temple Didn’t he? ☺ Monday January 25, 2010 Tuesday February 9, 2010 Scarboro - Robert Burns Night Universe - Official Visit see below Visitors by 8:00 pm Scarborough Masonic Temple Scarborough Masonic Temple Friday January 29, 2010 Wednesday February 10, 2010 Toronto East District - Blood Donor Clinic The Imperial East Gate - Official Visit see below Banquet at 6:00 pm St. Aidan’s Anglican Church Scarborough Masonic Temple Friday January 29, 2010 Friday February 12, 2010 The Heritage - 25th Annual Black Tie Banquet Birch Cliff - Official Visit see below Visitors by 8:00 pm Scarborough Masonic Temple Scarborough Masonic Temple Saturday January 30, 2010 Saturday February 13, 2010 Toronto East District - Lodge Resources Feedback Brougham Union - Sweetheart’s Dance Session see below see below Claremont Community Centre Ajax Masonic Temple Sunday February 14, 2010 St. Valentine’s Day Do something nice for your Sweetie! Sunday February 14, 2010 Chinese New Year - start of the Year of the Tiger Mmmm! Food! As if we needed more. Monday February 15, 2010 Family Day 1st long weekend of the year! Do something fun with the whole famn damily! Hiram's Lighthouse-Jan. 1, 2010.doc Page 3 of 21 Saturday February 20, 2010 Toronto East District – Lodge of Instruction- Installation only see below East Toronto Masonic Temple Hiram's Lighthouse-Jan. 1, 2010.doc Page 4 of 21 AROUND AND ABOUT: Toronto East District Charity WindReach Farm strives to enrich the lives of persons of all ages with disabilities and/or special needs by providing opportunities to enjoy experiences in farming, nature, outdoor recreation and other activities and to share those experiences with family and friends. Contact: Todd Owens @ [email protected] or 416.722.0843, or Bill Utton @ 905.831.6256 It’s like, at the end, there’s this surprise quiz: Am I proud of me? I gave my life to become the person I am right now. Was it worth what I paid? - Richard Bach Blood Donor Clinics Toronto East Masons are officially a Partners For Life entity with the Canadian Blood Services. Any brother in Toronto East District that may wish to assist at the clinics at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, thus getting their Lodge ‘credits’ for the amount of donation’s made at the clinic may contact the brethren shown below. If you wish to be a donor and can’t make it to any of the indicated Blood Donor Clinics, find yourself a Clinic at the website indicated below and go and give blood. Take your family and friends. Be sure to let your lodge Blood Donor Chairman know that you have donated to get credits for your lodge. The Toronto East District ‘Partners For Life’ number is TOR0009781 and any donation registered under that number goes in our totals count. For information regarding the location of blood donor clinics, go to www.blood.ca/centreapps/clinics/InetClinics.nsf/CVSE?OpenForm&CloseMenu Contact: Fred Bryant @ [email protected] or 416.421.6762 Doug Gray @ [email protected] or 416.266.0783 Jim McKinnon Jr. @ [email protected] or 905.250.0190 Upcoming Blood Donor Clinics - Friday January 29, 2010 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Clinic Hours St. Aidan’s Anglican Church 70 Silver Birch Ave. (S of Queen) 416.691.2222 Friday March 26, 2010 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Clinic Hours St. Aidan’s Anglican Church 70 Silver Birch Ave. (S of Queen) 416.691.2222 Hiram's Lighthouse-Jan. 1, 2010.doc Page 5 of 21 Masonic Half Penny - 1794 The Government of those days in England and Wales was quite unable, or too inept, to organise the money supply to meet the needs of the people. The Master of the Royal Mint was paid commission on the value of the Mint’s output, so it was more profitable to produce gold and silver coins of higher denominations, even though the shortage of small change made local trading almost impossible. The upper classes also thought it demeaning to have the effigy of the monarch on base metal coins such as bronze or tin. In 1787, one Thomas Williams began minting his own token pennies and halfpennies from the copper he produced in his own mines in Anglesey. Soon, others imitated him, and subsequently even small traders and institutions were designing and producing their own token coins. More than 10,000 different designs appeared between 1787 and 1817, some in vast quantities. Among the many traders issuing tokens was James Sketchley, a bookseller and a Mason of Birmingham, who designed and issued the coin illustrated, the Masonic halfpenny. These were issued in 1794, probably as “Pocket Pieces” or curios, but it is certain that they were circulated widely and accepted as money in the same way as all the other token coins. It is not recorded how many were made, but experts have recognised three different dies for one face, two for the other and 13 edge inscriptions, so it is fair to assume that very many were produced. After a short time, the manufacture was taken over by William Lutwyche, another Mason. The top [first] illustration of the coin is depicted what may be termed its historical face. It carries the Mason’s Arms, the insignia of the Premier Grand Lodge, which Brother Sketchley’s Lodge, St Paul’s, now No. 43, had adopted as its crest in 1786. There are several noteworthy points. First, the escutcheon or shield is divided by a chevron, on which is engraved wide-open compasses. Second, the shield is supported by two beavers, traditionally famed for their industry. Third, above the shield is a globe surmounted by the Dove of Peace, and finally, the legend Amor, Honor et Justitia - Love, Honour and Justice.