Grand River Lodge № 151
of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario
O quam bonum et jucundum habitare fratres in unum.
Regular Communications are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Emergent Meetings, if needed, are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. See our calendar for details.
Waterloo Masonic Temple
440 Weber Street N.
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 4E7
Worshipful Master: W. Bro. Willam Kelly (billykelly [at] rogers [dot] com)
Secretary: V.W. Bro. Norman Bobier (norman [dot] bobier [at] sympatico [dot] ca, Ph: 519-578-3726)
Message to Non-Masons
Freemasonry is an organization of men dedicated to moral self-improvement, fellowship and charity. We do not recruit members, but instead hope that, based on a favourable opinion of our institution, men will approach us asking to join. Please feel free to peruse this site, this is a good place to start, and if you have any questions, please contact the Secretary.
News
Here you will see the latest news pertaining to Grand River Lodge № 151.
Canadian Blood Services
Approximately every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. In fact, according to a recent poll, 52 per cent of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment.
The good news is that one blood donation - in just one hour - can save up to three lives! It’s in you to give. http://www.bloodservices.ca/
Congratulations
Grand River Lodge No. 151 would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following brethren on their elections/appointments.
M. W. Bro. Raymond S. J. Daniels on being elected to the position of Grand Master. R.W. Bro. Jim Willamson was elected as District Deputy Grand Master of Waterloo District. R.W. Bro. David Cameron was elected to the Board Of General Purposes and V.W. and Bro. Lou Primeaux was appointed Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, both are from Grand River Lodge No. 151.
Grand River Lodge No. 151 congratulates R.W. Bro. Garry Dowling of London who was elected Deputy Grand Master.
In Memory
It is with great saddness that we report the passing of the following brethren, Wor. Bro. Richard Adams passed away in May 09. Bro. Robert Henry passed away in July 09. Bro. David Mitchell passed away Sept. 09 and Bro. Cliff Eaton passed away Oct. 09.
We Cherish Their Memories In Our Hearts
Masonic Education
Here you will find a collection of masonic education pieces that have been presented by or for members of Grand River Lodge № 151.
The Symbol of Stone
Why do members of a gentleman's society choose to be know as 'Masons' ? Why does a school of philosophy adopt the terms and adapt the tools of a stonemason's art to illustrate and symbolize principles of morality and virtue? Stone is the oldest, most durable and enduring natural building material known to man. Stone is worked, refined, and polished by removing the excess to reveal the inner beauty of the material. Freemasons, as builders of character, work on the inner man to polish and refine the raw material, go within to discover and bring out the best in each of us.
from the pamphlet "To A Mason's Family" http://grandlodge.on.ca/Masonic_Education/Masons_Family.htm
Masonry is a Philosophy for Life
In simple terms, Masonry is primarily an educational institution teaching a moral way of life and an ethical code of behaviour based on the Golden Rule: 'always do to others what you would have others do to you.' Through a disciplined and systematic course of self-improvement a Mason endevours to become a 'better man' - self-exploration, self-discovery, self-analysis, self-realization, self-fulfillment. Masonry caters to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the individual by pointing a man in the right direction, and then guiding his way in his quest for greater knowledge, deeper insight, and fuller understanding.
The Ashlers
In the Junior Warden's lecture we are told that two of the immovable jewels are the rough ashler and the perfect ashler.
Two questions come to mind In the first place, isn’t it nonsense to call these two huge stones “jewels”? and secondly, what moral lessons can we possibly draw from them?
The Deacons
Deacons - derivation Greek diakonos meaning servant, helper or messenger[^i]
Duties - we hear every opening.[^ii]
“Three Distinct Knocks”, the 1760 expose of Antients’ practice - in the calling off, the WM whispers to the SD “ ‘tis my Will and Pleasure that this lodge is called off from Work to Refreshment during Pleasure” The SD carries it to the SW. The SW whispers to the JD who goes to the JW and the JW announces it in a loud voice to the lodge.[^iii]
We have a remnant of this in the collection of the grips.[^iv]
In the days when lodges performed their work while eating at table, the Deacons stood behind the WM and SW[^v], and you can imagine it being useful during a noisy banquet to have someone to communicate messages down to the other end of the table.
Forget Me Not
The preserved records of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Security Main Office) show the persecution of the Freemasons. While the number is not accurately known, it is estimated that between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons were exterminated under the Nazi regime.
In 1926, the little blue Forget Me Not was first used by the Grand Lodge Zur Sonne as a Masonic emblem at the Annual Convention in Bremen. Then in 1934, the Nazis introduced the Winterhilfswerk, a supposed charitable organization, which actually collected money used for rearmament. The contributors received a badge that changed each winter. In March 1938 the Forget Me Not badge - made by the same factory as the Masonic badge - was chosen, enabling Freemasons to wear it as a secret sign of membership.
After the Second World War, the Forget Me Not flower was used again as a Masonic emblem at the first Annual Convention in 1948 of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. The badge is now worn in the coat lapel by Freemasons around the world to remember all those that have suffered in the name of Freemasonry, and specifically those during the Nazi era.
-- from Wikepedia
