northern lights luminaries newsletter vol. 4 issue 3 march 2013

The Northern Lights Luminaries 1 March 2013

Northern Lights District Northern Lights District

Grand Lodge of AlbertaGrand Lodge of Alberta

Vol. 4 - Issue 3 March 2013

District Deputy Grand Master’s MessageDistrict Deputy Grand Master’s Message

In this Issue… District Information Northern Exposure Tour Telephone Game—article Lodge Officers’ Training Program Great Expectations—article District Photos Patricia Lodge 50 Year Jewels Edmonton Masonic Speakers’ Burea Lawnmowers and Masonry—article Masonic Spring Workshop 2013 District & Perpetual Calendar Northern Lights now online Lodge Directory

New ConnectionsNew ConnectionsNew Connections

Greetings Brethren,

We are officially in to 2013 and this year started off in fine form.

As mentioned earlier, “one of my goals this year was to further unify the district and provide opportunities to create unique experiences that allow the brethren to connect on a different level or establish new connections”… I think all that attended the Northern Exposure Tour would agree we over achieved on that goal. To that point I would like the time to personally thank the Grand Master M.W. Bro. David Roth and Teresa along with over twenty other brethren and guests that make the memorable journey North to Yellowknife. This was in incredible event and extremely successful thanks to W. Bro. Don Finnamore, W. Bro. Thom Jarvis, Bro. Dane Mason, V. W. Bro. Stuart Krause and countless others.

In closing, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve you and thank you for your support.

Sincerely, R.W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook District Deputy Grand Master 2012/2013 Grand Lodge of Alberta AF&AM GRA - Northern Lights District


Thank you for your input! 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.

In order to make this a continued success and valu-able 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 [email protected] they will be thankfully received and faithfully applied. The deadline for submissions for the next issue is April 15, 2013.

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

District Committee 2012-2013 R. W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook (#142) District Deputy Grand Master 780-231-6880 [email protected] V. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson (#166) (DDGM-Elect) District Secretary, Special Events Committee Chairman 780-914-3952 [email protected] W. Bro. Michael Bayrak (#142) Masonic Research and Education Coordinator, Luminaries Newsletter Editor 780-982-5985 [email protected] W. Bro. Don Mah (#91) Masonic Higher Education Bursary Representative 780-499-2586 [email protected] W. Bro. Wayne Barker (#166) Masonic Foundation Representative 780-475-1500 [email protected] R.W. Bro. Angus Stewart (#166) District Nomination Committee Chairman 780-922-2621 [email protected]

About The Northern Lights District

The District Founded as District 12 on 30 May 1917, the North-ern 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 Mayerthorpe, Onoway, Whitecourt, and Yellowknife, NWT. All the lodges practice the Canadian Rite working. The geograph-ical area covered by the District constitutes one of the largest in the history of Freemasonry.

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 in-

stallation of the Grand Lodge officers at the Com-

munication in June. To be nominated, the brother

must have served as Worshipful Master of a regu-

larly constituted lodge.

Official Visits

The DDGM is required to visit all lodges in the dis-trict (with exception) and receive standard report returns from the lodge secretaries. The DDGM in-spects the lodge to ensure it adheres to proper Ma-sonic regularity. The DDGM is received “in form” by the lodge after the opening of the lodge.


The Northern Exposure Tour!The Northern Exposure Tour! January 10-12, 2013, Yellowknife NT

Friday, January 11th, 2013

10:00 am Arrive at Edmonton International Airport check bags and clear security

11:10 am Depart on West Jet flight 108 to Yellowknife

12:54 pm Arrive in Yellowknife collect bags

1:30 pm Depart for the Hotel

2:45 pm Depart Hotel for dog sledding

6:00 pm Depart for Bullocks Restaurant

8:00 pm Depart to hall for Installation Practice

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

9:00 am Breakfast

10:00 am Depart for Lodge

11:00 am DDGM Official Visit

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm Installation

3:00 pm Depart for Hotel

5:00 pm Cocktails

6:00 pm Banquet Dinner

Sunday, January 13th, 2013

9:00 am Tour

10:30 am Brunch

11:45 am Depart for Airport

12:15 pm Arrive at Yellowknife Airport check bags and clear security

1:30 pm Depart on West Jet flight 717 to Edmonton


Y ellowknife Lodge #162 is the mot Northern Cana-dian Lodge in a large Masonic District; it is a tra-dition each year, in the month of January, for the

DDGM to navigate north to Yellowknife. This constitutes the Annual Official Visit to Yellowknife#162, during which the Lodge also conducts their Installation and Investiture of Officers. Each of the past several years, the DDGM has been ac-companied by an Official Party, consisting of devoted and enthusiastic Brothers, and their wives; this year was par-ticularly special, as our Grand Master and his wife Theresa also chose to make the trek north, along with over twenty other brethren and guests. We met at the airport and enjoyed coffee and conversation; we were also treated to complimentary Inukshuk toques, and received our de-tailed plan and itinerary for the weekend. This pleasant interlude gave us all something to distract us from being concerned about the inevitable flight delays! It was a balmy 37 degrees be-low zero, when we exited our aircraft on the tarmac at the Yellowknife airport. Lug-gage was quickly retrieved, and our rental van picked up, for the short haul to the hotel; checking in took a bit long-er! Once settled, the caravan set off for the dog sledding adventure, which was an amazing experience. Although it was a cold day it was with-out too much wind… and, as all of us had dressed for the occasion none of us suffered too much. We were set up, one or two to a sled, each with four dogs pulling. The dogs were surprisingly small, a greyhound cross of some sort, but despite their diminutive size can they pull a sled! We traveled onto the Lake, while enjoying the Sun set over an amazing snowscape, to arrive at a small cabin where we were treated to warm tea and bannock. When we left the cabin it was already completely dark… some chose to return in the van, for the sake of efficiency, while most traveled with the dogs…. Who, having worked hard already, moved much more slowly on the return trip!

(Continued on page 5)

The Northern Exposure Tour...The Northern Exposure Tour...


The first day of our Northern Exposure ended with a very spe-cial dinner at Bullock’s, sort of a local landmark. The meal was exceptional, and the experience “unique”; if you find yourself in Yellowknife, you absolutely must sample their Arc-tic Char. We enjoyed our special meal with our favorite liba-tion, all over shared stories of our adventures of the day… who fell off the sled the most number of times, and whose toes were the coldest. The laughter that permeated the small restaurant reminded me of the warmth that one finds, at the end of a new experience, especially when that experience is shared with Brothers and Friends. Day Two saw our stalwart travelers take breakfast together at the hotel, then separate into groups. The ladies enjoyed lunch, did a tour of the town, then took in a glass etching class from a local artist; he creates glasses and other items, all from old wine bottles… another experience that is completely unique to Yellowknife. The Brethren had work to do; after some short down time at the hotel, we had a quick lunch before heading over to the Lodge Hall for the Meeting and Installation. We managed to make our way in time for the meeting to begin, with the Re-ception of the Grand Master and his Official Party, which in-cluded the DDGM, among others. The meeting progressed well, and the Hall was interesting; one rarely sees a Polar Bear Rug used as a Masonic Altar Cloth! We concluded the work of our Craft with the Proclamation that the Officers of Yellowknife #162 had been regularly Installed and Invested…. With just enough time left for us to return to the hotel and dress for the banquet. Our rented van was large enough to move us to the banquet hall in two groups, where we enjoyed a wonderful Installation Banquet, hosted by the Brethren of Yellowknife #162 and their ladies. After a fine meal, and brief remarks by the vari-ous dignitaries in attendance, we enjoyed live music (including a ditty from W. Bro. John Baxter), dancing, and more quiet Masonic companionship. Some chose to call it a night earlier than others, but whether you left early, or fin-ished the celebration after the band had already called it a night, you were well taken care of by our very gracious hosts… and by the DDGM, Ken Glazebrook, and his lovely wife Kirsten, who kindly hosted all takers in their hospitality suite at the end of the evening.at the hotel. Those interested were then able to experience a tour of the Northwest Territory Legislature Building; this is a very unique structure, one which houses a very unique style and history of government. We were fortunate to be hosted on



this tour by Bro. Robert Hawkins, a Member, not only of Yel-lowknife #162 but also of the Legislative Assembly… so, we received an “insiders’ perspective” that not all visitors are fortunate enough to enjoy. Most of the party took in this special tour, which had not been part of the official plan; all of us came away with an education in the history of the Northwest Territory, and of the challenges of governing such an enormous space populated with a diverse range of peo-ples. Our education complete, we took in the Sunday Brunch at the Explorer Hotel; this rivals any of the Sunday Breakfast Buffets one might find in Edmonton, with the added benefit of fresh cold water fish, and exotic treats such as caribou and musk ox. We were joined for this final feast by a number of our Hosts, a final chance to cement some of the friendships that had begun during this trip. That being happily affected, we made our way to the airport for the flight home… which was delayed about the same number of minutes as our flight out had been, giving us a final chance to share stories and special memories of this special journey with our fellow trav-ellers. The symbol of this “Northern Exposure Tour” was the Inuk-shuk, a well-known symbol of the Canadian North. From www.inukshukgallery.com

“The Inuit make inuksuit in different forms for a variety of purposes: as navigation or directional aids, to mark a place of respect or memorial for a beloved person, or to indicate migration routes or places where fish can be found. Other similar stone structures were objects of veneration, signify-ing places of power or the abode of spirits. Although most inuksuit appear singly, sometimes they are arranged in se-quences spanning great distances or are grouped to mark a specific place.” In addition to being a symbol of the North, they also repre-sent the journey or path of finding one’s way… which is something they have in common with Freemasonry. As to this act of “Navigating North” together, we were able to find our way there and back again, due to the leadership of our DDGM; our thanks to Right Worshipful Brother Ken Glazebrook for those efforts on our behalf. Once there, we were treated to the amazing warmth and hospitality of the Brethren of Yellowknife Lodge #162; these experiences would not be so memorable, without that special welcome. Those of us who chose to make this trip are grateful we did… if you were not one of those, remember to keep some time free in January of 2014!

V.W. Bro. Stuart Krause

http://www.inukshukgallery.com/


More Northern Exposure Tour...


Telephone Game

By R. W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook

H ow many of you remember as a child sitting in a circle

the first person cupped their hand and quietly said a

message into the first one's ear, the they whispered the same

words to the next person, making sure not to let anyone over-

hear.

What started as "a long john silver" turns into "a silver john"

and then "a silver dollar", and we all laughed when we com-

pared the input with the output.

What baffles me is that we still accept third, fourth, and fifth

hand information as useful, much less accurate. People as ma-

ture educated adults still get caught up in gossip and rumour

mill.

I have been noticing a trend lately, that people seem to be

afraid to talk to or communicate with each other and messag-

es are misunderstood or passed on incorrectly. This can create

sever tension or even worse damage that can not be easily

repaired.

We have all hear a juicy tidbit from a friend, who heard it from

another friend, who heard it from a person in the lobby, ru-

mours and gossip are always floating around your work or

community. That is totally normal after all? Well if so it should-

n't be. I was recently affected by such a scenario and although

I am confident that there were no malicious intentions by the

brethren involved, there was collateral damage form this

event.

Therefore it is prudent to address the apparent issue(s) or mis-

conception(s) ask if you have a question or don’t understand

what was communicated I encourage you to talk to the source

before you pass the on incorrectly and unintentionally estab-

lish false animosity. Our ritual addresses these issues in sever-

al different area’s from “the I must add”, to tour “obligations”

and so on, please take a moment to reflect on what infor-

mation you are passing on before you do so, what is to gain

from passing this on, what was the intention of the individual,

if in doubt ask the people involved and trust your gut if it feels

wrong it probably is. Break the chain before the damage is

done.


“Crash Course” Lodge Officer Training Program 2013 As part of the long-term planning and

goals of our Grand jurisdiction, and in meeting with the Grand Master’s theme of “Education and Training”, the Grand Lodge of Alberta has instituted an exciting Lodge Officer Training Program beginning in 2013.

The training involves three day-long sessions for all lodge officers and members to get a “crash course” on general protocol, officer duties and responsibilities, ritual and floor work, and other aspects of Masonry that are sometimes overlooked or forgotten.

On top of that, leadership and management training are being offered for those who be-come principal officers. Daily lodge admin-istration, accounting, and recordkeeping best practices for the secretaries, treasurers, and registrars will also have their own breakout sessions.

As District Education Coordinator, the DDGM and I are very encouraged by this initiative by Grand Lodge. We recognize that the knowledge and duties passed on to the next brother in the officer line do not always occur, nor are our brethren being properly mentored often enough on protocol and floor work and some brethren become discouraged despite their strong willing-ness to learn from more experienced brethren.

As well, we must ensure that certain standards and landmarks in Freemasonry are maintained to see a consistency throughout the Craft. This is what sets us apart from other fraternal organiza-tions, so all Masons should become familiar with those stand-ards, not just the degree memory work but in other ritualistic aspects and duties for members and especially officers.

We strongly encourage all lodges in the District to have all of their officers in attendance at these sessions.

For Edmonton, the last session date is below, and takes place at Freemasons’ Hall, Edmonton. Times are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, cost is $20 for lunch and hall space rental.

Sunday March 17, 2013

M.W. Bro. David Roth escorted by Grand Officers at Grand Lodge Communication 2012


W hat is our purpose? What are we supposed to be doing? Why are we here? Is Masonry

just about Degrees and Business meetings?

These are just a few questions I have been presented with lately, and I suspect that if each of us were to an-swer we would find that, although there may be some trends or common threads in our responses, how we tackled the questions would vary… perhaps a reflection of the individual perceptions and even doubts of the Brother composing those answers.

Questions like these cause me concern, but they also create an opportunity for a conversation to find out what is missing for the Brothers making the in-quiry. What truly concerns me is what I believe “lies be-neath” this conversation; a sense that far too many of our New Brothers feel confused about the true meaning of Freemasonry, and in result are lost or cast aside as we move on to the next batch.

We are admittedly often far too concerned by the “numbers”. The number of Members, how many Lodges are thriving, how many initiates are processed each year, to name a few. In business, this type of thinking is known as an “acquisition mind set”; we are so focused on getting people through the door and in to our Lodges that we miss the point and forget our true purpose.

Do we have “too many lodges”, or do we have “too few members”? I have taken part in more than a few investi-gations that have raised a few flags for me lately. I place a high value on my own Masonic memberships, and I don’t want to see that value watered down by weaken-ing the West Gate.

We seem to be setting false expectations or, worse still, low expectations for many of our petitioners; once they are accepted, and faced with the reality of Masonic Membership, some of these quickly lose interest or be-come disenchanted, simply because their experience was not what was advertised to them.


Great Expectations By R. W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook


This gap between expectation and experience begins ear-ly; we are so excited that anyone has shown the slightest interest that we must get them a petition form, and in to a Lodge within a few months. We also set the bar too low with statements like “it’s one or two nights a month”, or, “the dues are only $150.00 per year”, etc. I try and take a different approach and slow things down.

When I am first asked to meet with a person that has shown interest I begin with this question; “Why do you want to become a Masonic member”?

Next, “what do you expect to get from your involve-ment?”, “what have you been told about being a Masonic member?”, “does your family have Masonic members and if so who are they?”, “how did you meet your spon-sors and what you know about them?”

Questions such as these help me determine their expec-tations and understand how they got to this point. We are so excited about bringing new people in that we ig-nore the two most important questions;

1) Is Masonry a good fit for them?

2) Are they a good fit for Masonry?

I believe these questions must be asked, and that it must be “OK” if that answer is no! It is ultimately better for the individual, better for the Lodge, and better for our Frater-nity as a whole if we avoid the unhealthy experiences that grow in the gap between expectation and experience.

Brethren, let’s raise the bar!

Communicate with frank and brutal honestly both the process and the expectations with the person showing interest in our Craft. Explain everything; direct and hon-est.

As an example I will tell them “typically what will happen is I will bring you as my guest to a social event or two so that you get a chance to know people in the lodge and they get to know you; we have a business meeting and emergent meeting 10 months of the year; we have a number of other social events, a few provincial events and numerous other events hosted by other lodges throughout the city.”

It lets them know that there is a time commitment and expectation that they be involved. I also let them know that it can take up to a year for them to get initiated, as they should attend a few of these events before sub-mitting an applications, we then receive it read it out at the next meeting, strike an investigation committee, the



report, it gets balloted on, if successful they will be notified and the process begins, all this can take sev-eral months so please be involved and patient.

I also explain that I budget $2,500.00 a year for my involvement; this covers my dues, a suit, Spring Workshop, Grand Lodge, festive boards, ladies nights, fuel, etc.

This helps them understand that there is a financial impact to being a member which may vary based on their involvement or participation.

If they are still showing genuine interest I explain that we all go through the same experience, that they will be part of a play, and wear ceremonial garb. That it is at this time that we explain our princi-ples, and to remember that every man in the room will have stood where they must now stand, that it is this experience that unites us. Finally, I warn them that parts of this ceremony can be uncomfortable, as it makes you reflect upon your own principles.

We seem to be eager to find bodies at any cost. We talk about mem-bership drives and recruiting tech-niques; if this is what we are sup-posed to do, why do we ask the candidate if he comes of his own free will and accord, unsolicited?

We need candidates with genuine inquiries about membership, as it is not our job to sell Freemasonry and convince people to join. We need to be direct and honest about what we are and what we are not, and guarantee that an unsuitable Candidate never sets foot beyond our Pillars.

There are many attributes of Masonry that attract men to join, fraternity, self-improvement, the sense of belonging to something greater than oneself, all of which are worthy motives. However, there are those that have arterial motives that of a vast network of business connections, political aspirations, perceived power or influence and financial gain to name but a few. We live in interesting times, a society of instant gratification, always on, answer now. I say we slow things down; there is no expiry date to membership, so what is the rush? The men that are willing to put in the time will be rewarded. We can then set expec-tations and the desired behaviours. Those that are in it for the wrong reasons will self- filter.

Brethren, I will leave you with this thought; to me, a Brother Mason is some-one I can trust with my family, my home, my wallet, and my friendship.

What does Masonry mean to you?

Great Expectations continued...


DDGM Visits and Lodge Installations

DDGM Official Visit

Evergreen Lodge #166

February 13th, 2013

Whitecourt Lodge #158 Installation

Evergreen Lodge #166 Installation


Patricia Lodge #91, February 12, 2013

Two 50 Year Jewel Presentations

Left to Right: M.W. Bro. David Roth, V.W. Bro. Al Smith (60 year), W. Bro. Ron Berry (60 year), Bro. Bob Disler (50 year), V.W. Bro. Lorne Vance (50 year), W. Bro. Ray Barnes (50 year), W. Bro. Ross Denham (50 year), W. Bro. Lindquist (50 year), R.W. Bro. Al Vickery & R.W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook

Left to Right: M.W. Bro. David Roth, W. Bro. Ross Denham (50 year), W. Bro. Lindquist (50 year) & R.W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook


The New The New

Edmonton Masonic Speakers’ BureauEdmonton Masonic Speakers’ Bureau

W. Bro. Doug Bewick (142)

“Scottish Freemasonry (of its own Freewill and Accord)” Investigating the structure of the Scottish craft, its uniqueness and why it is im-portant to unravelling the roots of specu-lative 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). Suita-ble for EA’s. “The Rituals and Ceremonies of the Operative Craft” Exploring the work of the operative craft lodges and the development of the modern three degrees (30 minutes). Suitable for Master Masons.

W. Bro. Chris MacKenzie (142)

“Lifting The Veil” An exploration of esoteric ideas. In this presentation, I discuss the concept of the Veil from our own ritual work, and Jungian concepts of Archetypes and Individuation. It is a 20 min presenta-tion 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. In-cludes PowerPoint presentation.

L odges in Edmonton have been seeing more and more Masonic educational presentations as part of your regular meetings and festive boards. While the Grand Lodge website has a

Speakers Bureau list, a group of Edmonton and area brethren have decided to offer local lodges their services in giving interesting and interactive presentations re-garding various topic on Freemasonry. If your lodge is interested in hosting any of the brethren listed below, feel free to contact them directly.

W. Bro. Mike Bayrak (142)

“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 communi-cate effectively with members and the public. Suita-ble for anyone, including the public. Presented at the Masonic Spring Workshop 2011.

"n-Dimensional Masonry" A 30-minute Powerpoint presentation on Masonic metaphysical geometry, the dimensional progression

W. Bro. John Hayes (168)

"The Poetry of Freemasonry" 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 discus-sion. 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” How Freemasons can grow through Masonic work within the lodge and in outreach within the Craft - 30 minutes. Plus discussion. Presupposes knowledge of Laudable Pursuit, Internet. MM generally, although nothing that an EA can't see. Includes PowerPoint presentation.


O n June 29, 2003, I bought my dad of 57 years, a

brand new fire engine red Craftsman lawnmower.

I splurged and got him all the bells and whistles so mowing the

lawn would actually be fun again. It’s got front-wheel drive,

easy to remove rear bag, 3 in 1 capability, quick shut off, and a

powerful Briggs and Stratton 6.75 horse power engine to boot.

Needless to say, it was a huge improvement over his previous

mower, a LawnBoy, which reached its last days years ago, but

recent mowings caused my father to become frustrated be-

yond belief – almost where he gave his green machine the

third degree. I wanted to sooth his afflictions.

But you’re probably wondering what cutting grass has any-

thing to do with Masonry. Well, like Masonry, landscaping is

certainly an art and a science rolled into one, and cutting your

grass is to landscaping as geometry is to Masonry. See if you

can see the parallels in the following text. And no, the Most

High has nothing to do with using grass in an illegal manner.

Whether you use a powered gas, electric mower or a man-

powered one, we all cut the grass for one main reason – that

is to make it look nice and healthy. Much like our hair (for

those who still have it) we want it to look presentable as it

adds to the value and prestige of your home. We also like to

show off, especially to our neighbours who, perhaps, would be

jealous of such an even green tone – and for them to always

know that the grass is greener on the other side. We are,

however, all dependent on the weather for lots of rain and

lots of sun, as these are the elements for life to flourish. Some

years, it seems, no matter how well we take care of our lawn,

it doesn’t seem to be at its best. Then again, tomorrow is a

new day.

It’s important to mow your lawn within reasonable hours. A

good time is either when the sun is at its meridian or as the

sun sets in the West. (Continued on page 17)

Lawnmowers and Masonry W. Bro. Mike Bayrak (142) - District Education Chair


When mowing for the first time in Spring, it is important to aerate

your lawn and let it breathe while at the same allowing water and

minerals to seep into the soil. You’ll have to rent equipment or hire

someone to do this for you. Regardless, your lawn, beaten by the

ice and snow of previous months needs a rebirth – a renewal.

Mulching is an excellent way to give your lawn its own natural ferti-

lizer – this should also be done. Make sure the blades of your

mower are sharp enough to accomplish this – you want fine

cuttings so they are soaked into the soil more quickly and evenly.

You can add chemical fertilizers to your lawn to speed its growth.

You can even hire a company or a young lad to mow it for you. Ei-

ther way, your lawn needs attention and care, but the best way is

to give that personal touch. Remember, it’s your lawn and no one

else's.

Mowing direction is a fundamental necessity. One

week, you will mow East to West – the next North to

South. For those who like variety, you can go from the

Northeast to the Southwest and switch the next. By

switching direction at an angle of 90 degrees, being

the fourth part of a circle, each time you mow, the

grass blades aren’t continuously pushed in one direc-

tion causing them to be limp where they lose their

strength and beauty. After a month or so, you will

notice that your entire lawn will look like a nice even

checkerboard.

When you mulch, however, you can simply go in a natu-

ral clockwise direction – like following the sun. If your

lawn is in the shape of a parallelepipedon, as most are,

don’t cut the corners. However, many of you use pow-

ered trimmers to get into those spots your mower can’t

reach or against the concrete paths. This attention to

perfection should be commended.

When you push your mower, place both hands on the

handle and move forward with level steps and upright intentions.


Lawnmowers and Masonry...


When ascending a slight hill, you can take about five high

steps for better traction.

Although you may have evergreens that block your path, you

can go around them. In places where you may have buried

your long lost pet, it would be nice to plant a small sprig to

indicate its location – a suggestion would be do bury it 15

paces from your fence. You might not want to walk over it as

a form of respect, so the way to approach this is by 7 steps,

the first three as if stepping over it and the remaining four

straight to the fence.

If your neighbour is on holidays for more than a week, to re-

lieve his necessities, offer to mow his lawn. You don’t want

your neighbour’s lawn to look shoddy, even if it means yours

will simply look better compared to his because you want to

uphold his good lawn in his absence as he would in your

presence. Whether or not I acknowledge the correctness of

those lawn signs is a political matter and should never be

brought onto your neighbour’s lawn.

Hopefully, these helpful tips will be put into good practice.

One thing is certain, once you have mowed your lawn, you

can go from labour to refreshment with a nice cold beer or

glass of sweet lemonade for the space of one week so that

profit and pleasure was the result, except in case or cases of

emergency when you may or may not have due notice such

as a flood, a swarm of bees.

So, why did I buy a Craftsman and not a John Deere, a Toro,

or a Lawnboy? Isn’t it obvious? I’m not representative from

Sears, but for some reason, the name equated itself with reli-

ability. I guess it will try me and prove me.

Watching my father finally mow the lawn again with joy and

excitement without the cursing and frustration was a relief.

I love the man that much. When he started the engine and

pulled the variable speed handle he simply levelled with me

and said, “Son, this is fantastic.” And that’s the truth.

Lawnmowers and Masonry...


“Say NO to Nostalgia!” The 2013 Masonic Spring Workshop

April 27, 28, 29, 2013 Each April for the past forty years, Masons have met in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, west of Calgary, for a weekend of fellowship and instruction. The goal of the Masonic Spring Workshop Planning Committee is to create a weekend experience in a relaxed atmosphere of fellowship offering individual Masons the oppor-tunity:

to be challenged, excited, amused, exposed to new ideas, offered options for expression, and mentored in the ways and ideals of Freemasonry;

to renew old acquaintances; and

to make new friends.

The 2013 Keynote speaker is Pierre G "Pete" Normand, Masonic researcher, author published in Heredom, the Scottish Rite Journal, and speaker. Active in several Masonic bodies and founder of the first American Tradi-tional Best Practices Lodge.

Our Craft has had a long and storied past. Our leaders were once the leaders of

civil society. Our principles have been enshrined in western civilization. But in the past half century, we’ve seen both our numbers and our influence wane. Many Brethren long for a return to our former glory and influence.

However, although our history is both interesting and worth celebrating, nostalgia — longing for the glories of the past — does not serve the modern Craft. Nor does nostalgia alone address our relevance to modern men and society. Hence the theme for 2013.

John Hayes has provided an essay on the theme and the reasons for it.

Join over 200 brethren in the beautiful Rocky Moun-tains!

www.masonicspringworkshop.ab.ca

Early Bird Draw Register before March 1, 2013 to be entered into the Early Bird Draw prize — a night at the Delta Lodge Kananaskis!

Ivanhoe Lodge Legendary Hospitality Suite! Join the brethren of Ivanhoe in their suite for some fun and fellowship on Friday April 27 after the keynote address.

Featured Masonic Authors:

Christopher Hodapp is the editor of the "Journal of The Masonic Society." He is the author of the best-selling "Freemasons For Dummies," and "Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington D.C." He is the co-author with Al-ice Von Kannon of "The Tem-plar Code For Dummies" and "Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies For Dum-mies." He has appeared on the History and Discovery channels on the subject of Freemasonry, its role in the founding of the United States and the building of Washington D.C. Hodapp has spent more than twenty years editing, writing and directing as a commercial filmmaker. He has written for corporate and non-profit programs, and his voice has appeared in many television and radio commercials. His new-est book, "Deciphering the Lost Symbol," was published in 2010. He is a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and he lives in Indi-anapolis, Indiana.

Cliff Porter Author of “The Secret Psy-chology of Freemasonry”, “Masonic Baptism” Cliff Por-ter is a Past Master of En-lightenment Lodge in Colo-rado homicide detective and recognized national lecturer and instructor in the field of subconscious communica-tions. He is also a devoted Freemason, Heretic, and spiritual seeker. He has been a featured speaker all over the world, appearing for more than 60 million viewers throughout the Middle East as part of a Masonic and Templar delegation to Tur-key.

http://www.masonicspringworkshop.ab.ca


Lodge Keystone Events

Lodge Event Date Patricia #91 Blarney Night March 12th, 2012 Evergreen #166 Wild West Rite May 27th, 2013 Candidates: MWBro. David Roth, RWBro. Ken Glazebrook Dress Code is Western duds and regalia. Come and join us for a different kind of meeting, with an emphasis on fun, not formality. Afterwards, enjoy a special Pot Luck Festive Board Western dishes. Onoway #138 Bangers and Mash May 22nd, 2013 Onoway Legion. Cocktails at 5:30, Supper 6:00 pm followed by their business meeting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20.00 come and enjoy a British favorite. (Ladies welcome to dinner and cocktails)

Lodge Degrees / Presentations Ivanhoe #142 FC Degree March 21, 2013 Evergreen #166 EA Degree March 25, 2013 Patricia #91 MM Degree April 23, 2013 Put on by the Past Masters of Patricia

Lodge Social Events

Evergreen #166 Ladies’ Night April 13, 2013

Lodge Installations

Lodge Date Notes West Edmonton #101 June 5th, 2013 Confirmed Patricia #91 June 11th, 2013 Confirmed Mystic Tie #188 June 12th, 2013 Confirmed

District Calendar DDGM Official Visits 2012/2013

NOTE: The dates listed on this page are tentative and scheduled to change, please watch for updates.

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 West Edmonton #101 will be receiving R.W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook for his official visit at 7:30 pm at Freemasons Hall, Edmonton.

Thursday, March 14th, 2013 Mayerthorpe #148 will be receiving R.W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook for his official visit at 7:30 pm. at the Mayerthorpe Legion, Mayerthorpe.

Other Events and Meetings...

Saturday April 13th, 2013 Strathcona Lodge #77 100th Anniversary We offer you and yours a four course dinner in the wonderful Fairmont Hotel Empire Ballroom with music provided by Graham Guest and the Ursus String Quartet.

2:00 pm Lodge Reconsecration at Freema-sons’ Hall Edmonton, ladies program provided

6:00 pm cocktails 7:00 pm dinner

Open to Masons, family & friends. Tickets $75.00

Email [email protected] for tickets. Sunday, April 14th, 2013

Northern Lights District Church Parade 10:00 am (please arrive by 9:30am) at Kirk United Church 13535 – 122nd Avenue. Dress Code: Busi-ness Suit and Regalia. Contact Jack McBride at 780-453-2987 for more information.

June 14 - 16th, 2013

Grand Lodge Communication 2013

Please make every effort to attend this years Grand Lodge Communication and cast your vote. The M.W. Bro. David Roth the Grand Master will preside at the Annual Communication of The Grand Lodge of Al-berta, AF & AM being held in Edmonton at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre 11834 Kingsway Ave. 1-780-454-5454 Ask for the Grand Lodge rate.

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Tickets

tel:780-453-2987

tel:780-453-2987


Year Month Visiting Lodge Hosting Lodge

2013 February West Edmonton #101 Mystic Tie #188

March Patricia #91 Onoway #138

April Ivanhoe #142 Evergreen #166

May Saskatchewan #92 Whitecourt #153

September Onoway #138 Patricia #91

October Mayerthorpe #148 Jasper #14

November Whitecourt #153 Saskatchewan #92

2014 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

2015 February Onoway #138 West Edmonton #101

March Mayerthorpe #148 Evergreen #166

April Whitecourt #153 Ivanhoe #142

May Mystic Tie #188 Saskatchewan #92

September Jasper #14 Ivanhoe #142

October Evergreen #166 Mayerthorpe #148

November West Edmonton #101 Onoway #138

2016 February Patricia #91 Mystic Tie #188

March Ivanhoe #142 Whitecourt #153

April Saskatchewan #92 Evergreen #166

May Onoway #138 Jasper #14

September Mayerthorpe #148 Patricia #91

October Whitecourt #153 West Edmonton #101

November Mystic Tie #188 Onoway #138

2017 February Jasper #14 Patricia #91

March Evergreen #166 Whitecourt #153

April West Edmonton #101 Saskatchewan #92

May Patricia #91 Jasper #14

September Ivanhoe #142 Mayerthorpe #148

October Saskatchewan #92 West Edmonton #101

November Onoway #138 Mystic Tie #188

2018 February Mayerthorpe #148 Ivanhoe #142

March Whitecourt #153 Evergreen #166

April Mystic Tie #188 Mayerthorpe #148

May Jasper #14 West Edmonton #101

District Perpetual Education Calendar

As introduced by R. W. Bro. Charles Burns, DDGM, Northern Lights District 2002/2003.

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

To sponsor visitation To encourage education re-

search

The visiting lodge is to come as a group, not just one Mason.


Northern Lights now online! Not only do we have this newsletter that we make available, but the District is now online with our own web-site 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: [email protected]

www.northernlightsdistrict.org


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

[email protected] [email protected]

Patricia #91

2nd Tues, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm


W. Bro. Victor Prystawa R.W. Bro. Al Vickery

(Passed to the GL Above) 780-469-7259

[email protected]

Saskatchewan #92

2nd Thur, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm

www.saskatchewan92.org


W. Bro. Chris Burchell R. W. Bro. Ken Cheel

403-241-8950 780-387-4779


West Edmonton #101

1st, Wed, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm


R.W.Bro John Robertson W. Bro. Travers Roy

780- 487-0941 780-901-2701


Onoway #138

4th, Wed, Legion Hall, Onoway, 7:30 pm


R.W. Bro. Bob Bell W. Bro. Mike Annis

780-967-5133 780-967-3443


Ivanhoe #142

1st, Thur, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm

www.ivanhoe142.org


W. Bro. Douglas Bewick W. Bro. David Wright

780-299-5881 780-466-2285 [email protected] [email protected]

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

[email protected] [email protected] Evergreen #166

2nd Mon, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm

www.evergreenfreemasons.net Worshipful Master Secretary

W.Bro. Charles Cousineau W. Bro. Phil Fitch

780-454-8788 780-458-2015

[email protected] Mystic Tie #188

2nd Wed, Freemasons Hall, Edmonton, 7:30 pm


W. Bro. Kyle Nickerson W. Bro. Bob Woolnough

780-718-8240 780-437-6144


District Lodge Directory

Freemasons Hall 10318 – 100th Avenue, Edmonton, AB

Empire #63 1st Mon 7:30 pm

Norwood #90 1st Tues 7:30 pm

Eastgate # 192 + 1st Tues 7:30 pm

Exemplar #175 1st Thur 7:30 pm

Edmonton #7 + 2nd Tues 7:30 pm

Dominion #117 2nd Wed 7:30 pm

Commercial #81 3rd Sat 1:00 pm

Highlands Masonic Hall 56th St. 118th Avenue, Edmonton, AB

Redwood #193 1st Wed 7:30 pm

Temple Centennial #167 + 1st Thurs 7:30 pm

Sherwood #183 2nd Mon 7:30 pm

Highlands Unity # 168 2nd Tues 7:30 pm

Acacia Masonic Hall 10433 – 83rd Avenue, Edmonton, AB

Avon Glen #170 1st Wed 7:30 pm

Acacia #11 2nd Thur 7:30 pm

Strathcona #77 + 2nd Fri 7:30 pm

Ye Olde Craft #196 2nd Sat 7:30 pm

Greisbach #191 3rd Mon 7:30 pm

Corner Stone Hall 6 Tache Street, St Albert, AB

Balmoral #185 1st Wed 7:30 pm

Mayerthorpe #148

2nd, Thur, Legion Hall, Mayerthorpe, 7:30 pm


W. Bro. Ken Nolan W. Bro. George Lawton

780-785-4033 780-795-2675


Whitecourt #153

1st, Thur, Forest Interpretive Centre, Whitecourt, 8:00 pm


W. Bro. John Baxter W. Bro. Doug Ling

780-778-6632 780-778-2086

[email protected]

Edmonton Lodge Directory

+ 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.

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.saskatchewan92.org/







http://ivanhoe142.org/



http://www.ykmasons.ca/



http://www.evergreenfreemasons.net/







northern lights luminaries newsletter vol. 4 issue 3 march 2013

Documents

district committee

northern lights luminaries

ddgmelect district secretary

masonic research

masonic trivia

luminaries newsletter

education coordinator

don finnamore