Events

The next Regular Meeting will take place on Thursday, 16 Feb 12. We will be dining at the Newport Restaurant at 1800 hrs, prior to the meeting. As usual, attendance is optional but members and guests are encouraged to attend. Please advise the JW if you plant to be there, so that he can reserve adequate space.

At the meeting, Bytown will be conferring a Second Degree on Brother McRae. The meeting will begin promptly at 1930 hrs.

The Regular Meeting in January is always the occasion of the official visit of our District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM). This was RWBro Phil Easterman's second visit to Bytown since he assumed the office of DDGM Ottawa 2 District. Once again, Bytown hosted a sumptuous roast chicken banquet in the hall downstairs prior to the meeting.

Bytown was pleased to welcome six sitting WMs, who were brought in and introduced by WBro Mark Paine, then given grand honours. A distinguished delegation of seven Grand Lodge officers was then introduced by WBro Brian Pepper, and also given grand honours. The DDGM was then brought in under the wands, introduced by WBro Bob Farrell, welcomed by the WM and given grand honours. At the invitation of the WM, the DDGM briefly assumed the gavel and thanked the Deacons, the DofC, WBro Farrell, and the WM, before returning the gavel to the WM, so that the work of the evening could begin.

Unusually for Bytown, there was no degree work at this meeting; instead, the WM opted to have an evening of fun and Masonic education. After rapid disposition of the routine business of the Lodge, there was an inspirational reading by the DDGM of a letter originally written from an eminent Mason to his newly-initiated Son. Then Bro Brodie Fraser read a Masonic poem called "When is a man a Mason?" written by the Rev. Joseph Fort Newton.

A 20 question Masonic quiz was then passed out by WBro Farrell. Fifteen minutes of muttering and head scratching followed, before WBro Farrell went through the questions, one by one. There turned out to be no one present who got the correct answer to every question, but four brothers had only one wrong. These four finalists were then invited to the east, where the WM orally presented a series of much more difficulty Masonic questions. There was a small "liquid refreshment" prize available, but no single winner emerged; consequently, the prize was not presented. But a good time was had by all, and the DDGM was particularly effusive in his praise for the originality of the evening.