The Luminaries - Summer 2013

The Northern Lights Luminaries 1 SUMMER 2013

Northern Lights District

Grand Lodge of Alberta

Vol. 4 - Issue 4 SUMMER 2013

In this Issue… 26 pages! Message: DDGM’s Year-End by K. Glazebrook

Message: DDGM-Elect’s First by K. Culbertson

Notice: District Information

Event: DDGM Official Visits and Installations

Article: A New Social Contract by S. Krause

Event: Masonic Spring Workshop Pictures

Article: Alchemy In Our Masonry by M. Bayrak

Event: Evergreen’s Wild West Rite Nite

Notice: Masonic Speakers’ Bureau

Article: The Language of the Lodge by R. Carson

Event: Edmonton Queen River Cruise

Event: Grand Lodge Communication

Events: District & Perpetual Calendar Notice: Northern Lights now online Notice: Lodge Directory

AMALGAMATION!AMALGAMATION!AMALGAMATION!

Mayerthorpe Lodge #148 amalgamates with Whitecourt Lodge #153

On May 9, 2013, the twenty or so members of Mayerthorpe Lodge #148 officially amalgamated with the approximate fifty members of Whitecourt Lodge #153 making Whitecourt Lodge the second largest lodge in the District. Several Grand Lodge officers were in attendance and the Installation and Investiture ceremony went off without a hitch and the lodge looks forward to the future.

Kananaskis Country


As we come to the end of this chapter in our District’s history it is a time to pause and reflect on what has tran-

spired over the last year.

This year our goal was to unify the district and provide opportunities to create unique experi-ences that allow the brethren to connect on a different level or establish new connections.

We can confidently say we achieved that goal through:

1. The changes we made to the District Meeting format, instead of having the meeting in the host lodges hall we move it to Onoway not only as a central location for the meeting to a majority of the lodges but a way to support the rural lodges and cre-ate a buzz with the activities within the community. We also decided to have a la-dies program and banquet which was ex-tremely successful.

2. The Northern Exposure tour is officially on a three year rotation for the District where we will have a large scale contingent of brethren and guest attending the weekend in Yellowknife to celebrate the lodes instal-lation.

3. We found ways to communicate and pro-mote the District and Lodge activities, therefore with the tremendous effort put forth by W. Bro. Mike Bayrak (142) North-ern Lights District Education Chairman we are now on the web and with the introduc-tion of social media networking, new web-site and continuation of the popular Lumi-naries Newsletter we are well on our way.

I would like to take the time to thank my wife Kirsten and our daughters Kenna and Kallista for their patience understanding and support. I want to thank V. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson, W.

Bro. Mike Bayrak and W. Bro. Wayne Barker for their dedication and contributions to the district. R. W. Bro. Angus Stewart and R. W. Bro. Jack McBride for their guidance and support. I want to acknowledge V. W. Bro. Stuart Krause, W. Bro. Martin Brown and Bro. John Lochtie for their doing what ever was needed, thank you.

This has been an exciting, challenging and re-warding year and I thank the brethren of North-ern Lights for the opportunity to serve as District Deputy Grand Master and your support. I know the District is in good hands with V. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson and I look forward to supporting him and the lodges in our district.

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

District Deputy Grand Master’s YearDistrict Deputy Grand Master’s Year--End MessageEnd Message

We Unified, Connected, & Communicated


G reetings Brethren,

As DDGM Elect 2013-2014, I thank the brethren for their support in electing, encourag-ing and helping with the planning for the upcom-ing year. The Grand Master’s theme for the up-coming year will be announced in his address to the Grand Lodge Communication on Saturday June 15th in Edmonton. It is the duty of all Grand Lodge officers to bring this theme and message to the brethren while attending lodges through-out this jurisdiction, which will be my pleasure. As district deputies we have also a duty to over-see the running of all the lodges in our particular districts. It is not the purpose to rule over any lodge but to encourage, assist, and report the successes and not so successful operations of those.

You will be seeing the brothers who have agreed to be part of the Northern Lights District team throughout the year. They are W. Bro. Mike Bay-rak (142) continuing as District Education Coordi-nator and Newsletter Editor, W. Bro. Aaron Batty (92) as the Masonic Higher Education Bursary Representative, and W. Bro. Wayne Barker (166) as District Secretary and Masonic Foundation Representative. I thank them for their dedication to our Masonic Fraternity.

I do look forward to my official visits to lodges, my first being West Edmonton Lodge #101 Wednesday September 4th, tyling at 7:30pm Freemasons Hall. This is a personal choice for myself as West Edmonton was where my father and grandfather were members. While they passed long before my being made a Mason, their way of living brought my brothers and my-self up with proper morals, good manners and a healthy work ethic.

I want to bring one message in this year we need to remember and always maintain a very im-portant part of Freemasonry:

“I will uphold your good name in your absence as I would in your presence.”

I am not perfect in this regard, but as I move from the rough ashlar to a more perfect ashlar, it will be utmost on my mind and behavior in the coming years. There is nothing that I can possibly think of that beguiles a brother more than a hurtful remark that when said may seem minor but as we all know rumours whispered in one setting often run the way of a oversized monster. Please be thoughtful to your fellow Brothers. He may the next person to sooth your afflictions and relieve your necessities.

In closing, I want to thank you for the opportuni-ty to serve you and thank you for your support.

Sincerely, R. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson District Deputy Grand Master-Elect 2013/2014 Grand Lodge of Alberta AF&AM GRA Northern Lights District

District Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Deputy Grand Master--Elect’s MessageElect’s Message

“I will uphold your good name…”


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 August 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 individual members.

District Committee 2013-2014 The following brethren will assume their duties and titles upon declaration by the Grand Master at the June 2013 Communication:

R. W. Bro. Kenn Culbertson (166) District Deputy Grand Master 780-914-3952 [email protected]

W. Bro. Wayne Barker (166) District Secretary, Masonic Foundation Coordinator 780-475-1500 [email protected]

W. Bro. Michael Bayrak (142) Masonic Education Coordinator, Newsletter Editor 780-982-5985 [email protected]

W. Bro. Aaron Batty (92) Masonic Higher Education Bursary Coordinator 780-995-5117 [email protected]

R. W. Bro. Angus Stewart (166) District Nomination Committee Chairman

About The District

Founded as District 12 on 30 May 1917, the Northern 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 work-ing. The geographical area covered by the District con-stitutes one of the largest in the history of Freemasonry.

The District Deputy Grand Master

The district is headed by the District Deputy Grand Mas-

ter (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 be-

ginning at the official installation of the Grand Lodge

officers at the Communication in June. To be nominat-

ed, the brother must have served as Worshipful Master

of a regularly constituted lodge.

Official Visits

The DDGM is required to visit all lodges in the district (with exception) and receive standard report returns from the lodge secretaries. The DDGM inspects the lodge to ensure it adheres to proper Masonic regulari-ty. The DDGM is received “in form” by the lodge after the opening of the lodge.


DDGM Visits and Lodge Installations

Whitecourt #153 Installation following the Amalgamation on May 9, 2013

DDGM Official Visit to Mayerthorpe Lodge #148 on Thursday, March 14th, 2013. This would be the Lodge’s last meeting.


A New Social Contract I

t pleases any organization when they see growth in their membership; it is some-how comforting to see the numbers on the page increasing as time passes. Freema-

sons are especially vulnerable to this stimulus, simp-ly because we hear so much talk of our decline, that membership numbers are dropping quickly, and that we must “correct” that problem.

When it comes to the Masonic Lodges, I think we need to chart a new course, do what the Craft as a whole should seriously consider; focus on the quali-ty of our membership, not the quantity.

In the years since I was granted the privilege becom-ing a Freemason, I have the pleasure of meeting with many fine brethren, either on the road, or in Lodge, or at a casual encounter intended for some other purpose.

One theme that has occupied many of our discus-sions was membership; our numbers, are they growing or shrinking, what should the membership expectations be, and questions of this nature. In amongst those chats and conversations was another theme, one that is much less appealing; all too often I have heard from many of you that we spend far too much of our time chasing certain of our mem-bers.

We track them down to see where they are at, or perhaps to ask why they have not been out; we in-vite them to our next meeting or social event; and, all too frequently we are placed in the difficult and awkward position of having to chase them down to obtain our dues payment.

It seems to be the case that all too frequently is it among our least active members that we find the greatest degree of challenge with these issues.

(Continued on page 7)

V. W. Bro. Stuart Krause (191)

Photo by Bro. Joe Zasada


What then, is the social contract inherent with membership in the craft? Is it merely a commercial contract, an exchange of fees for initiation and an-nual dues, when they are paid…. In return for which the “member” is given privilege of membership? Or, is it something more? The opportunity to be a part of a lodge, call themselves a Freemason, in ex-change for which the true Mason will take an active role in what we do, and become an essential part of who we are?

I challenge each of you to consider what belonging to the Craft means to you, and what you expect to gain from this organization. Further, I believe we must carefully consider what we have a right and duty to expect and require from each of our mem-bers. Too frequently inside Freemasonry is the ten-dency to treat our multiple memberships like check-list items, meaningless cards in a wallet that, once obtained are largely ignored.

These are questions your lodges should ask, and attempt to answer, as we re-write our “Social Con-tract” with one another and set the expectations for current and future members.

My Brothers, I believe that our Craft has a duty to “add value” to the lives of its Members; that said, I also strongly believe that we must require that each of our Members make a positive and meaningful contribution to our lodges, beyond the regular pay-ment of dues. What do you think?

(Continued from page 6)

A New Social Contract continued...


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

April 27- 29, 2013 Photos by Mike Bayrak

Keynote speaker: Pete Normand

Guest author Cliff Porter with Bros. Dave Buffel, Joe Zasada, Ruben Kufeld in the Ivanhoe Hospitality Suite

MWBro. David Roth, Bro. Lawrie Bruton

Bro. Doug Bewick giving his talk on the 3-Legged Stool Bro. Mike Bayrak on his talk on Education in Lodges


Bros. Normand, Chairman John Hayes, and Porter

2013 Chairman Bro. John Hayes gives report

Presentation to Bro. Garth Cochrane on his long ser-vice to the Workshop

Bros. McIntyre, Bewick with wife, and Highlands-Unity brethren: Choptiany with wife, Kampjies, Allen, and Mansell

Ivanhoe brethren Bewick, Wright, Bayrak, Kristensen, Shutt, and Kufeld pose with their lodge shirts

Gift presentation to Bro. Normand

More Workshop...


B rethren, my educational topic for this past year in our district is about something that plays a profound role in our Masonic ritual, if not one of the most profound, yet we as stu-

dents of the Craft rarely discuss it. The words and sym-bols of this topic are presented to us all the time during degrees but we tend to pass them over and not spend much time contemplating their meaning. I myself, being a Mason of over 15 years am just getting around to un-derstanding them. Tonight, I hope to open your mind as much as it has opened mine as of late.

Algebra, Alcohol, and many other words that start with “Al” passed from the Arab world many centuries ago also passed us the word Alchemy, which eventually became Chemistry. Al-KHEM, where Khem is known as the land of Egypt.

So what is Alchemy? From Wikipedia…

Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners' claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base metals into the noble metals gold or silver, as well as an elixir of life conferring youth and immortality. Western alche-my is recognized as a proto-science that contributed to the development of modern chemis-try and medicine. Alchemists developed a framework of theory, terminology, experimental process and basic laboratory techniques that are still recogniza-ble today. But alchemy differs from mod-ern science in the inclusion of Hermetic principles and practices related to mythology, religion, and spirituality.

So we can see that alchemy is an unusually difficult topic to discuss because at first glance we’re not sure if we’re talking about actually doing science experiments with chemicals in various forms to transmutate them into oth-er substances, or if we’re just contemplating on the sym-bolism of such substances and how they equate to as-pects of our own human character and how we fixate on them emotionally or spiritually to transform ourselves into better men.


Alchemy In Our Masonry? W. Bro. Michael Bayrak (142), District Education Chairman


It’s actually both, but we’re more interested in the latter… on the symbolism and metaphor, because Free-masonry, is it not “illustrated by symbols”?

The first time I encountered alchemy was in the great Masonic author, Manly P. Hall’s encyclopaedia of a book “The Secret Teachings Of All Ages” (see left). There were numerous chapters, complex diagrams, zil-lions of symbols, and pictures galore it was very difficult to comprehend. I’ve read this over many times. I think it confused me even more to a degree. But one symbol stood out and that is the Philosopher’s Stone. And yes, I actually do mean in the Harry Potter sense. More on that later.

But then, W. Bro. Timothy Hogan (left-middle) who was the featured author at the 2011 Masonic Spring Workshop wrote a simple, easy to read book called “The Alchemical Symbols in Masonic Ritual”. It plainly sheds light on alchemy and actually how prominent of a role it plays in our degrees, and in the Holy Bible.

That’s right, Alchemy is rife throughout our rituals and symbols. Its main purpose is to connect the physical with the spiritual and that’s exactly what we try to do in Freemasonry. Let me explain.

Let’s start with the basics of alchemy and that is with the four ancient elements: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.

Now let’s look at where these four elements are men-tioned in:

The Symbolic Penalties and Signs

EA – Earth, Water

FC – Air, Earth

MM – Fire, Earth, Water, Air

If we violate our oath, our honour, the penalties are executed immediately within and our souls are symboli-cally subjected to their punishment via interaction with the physical world of earth, air, water, and fire. The penalties are horrific and they should be. Do you think a slap on the wrist would have as much of an impact on your mind than being burned to death?

The signs of each degree are also related to the symbol-ic penalties and our physical body.




Now let’s look at other symbols and words in our Masonry that really have nothing to do with carv-ing and measuring stones. Why are they men-tioned?

FC PW

An interesting word. But not being able to use the Hebrew letter Shin wasn’t because the tribe had a lisp, but because they had a “defect in aspiration”. What were they aspiring to be? Certainly not Je-sus-like being that His actual Hebrew name, Yahushua, is simply the Ineffable Name with the letter Shin placed in it. In a sense, without being able to pronounce Shin, you had no aspiration to improve yourself into a spiritual being and there-fore weren’t allowed to cross the River Jordan. You remained earth-like, physical, and could not even transform into water. Ssshhhame on you.

That password, we are told, is depicted by an ear of corn near a stream of water. Of course it is. Corn you say? Corn? What the heck does corn have anything to do with rocks and measuring lines and squares?

Well, translating the password into Greek it means “I revere a stone”. Well there we go. I hope you do revere a stone. So speaking of corn….

Corn, Wine, and Oil

These symbols are mentioned in the SW’s lecture on how EAs were paid their wages. They are also actually used during our formal cornerstone laying ceremony by the GM himself. Can anyone tell me what happens during this ceremony? Can anyone tell me why this happens? Doesn’t make any sense why you’d pour oil and wine on a stone, does it? Serves no practical purpose. But there we go and do it, like we had some magical powers to make the cornerstone even better than it is.

Corn, Wine, and Oil are traditional alchemical par-ticulates and relate to salt, mercury, and sulphur. “Corn represented the body, or salt of the herb, wine carried the symbolic mercury or spirits, and the sulphur or an herb was its oil.” (Hogan)




Miraculous Pillars

Further in the SW lecture, he tells us about the “Miraculous Pillars of Fire and Cloud which gave light to Pharaoh and his followers”. There we go with fire and water (or air) again.

Ecclesiastes

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

There we go with the earth, the original state from whence our bodies came. But our spirits return.

Point Within A Circle

This is likely the most important symbol in our noble craft. Why? Well, we go on and on about it for some reason in the opening of the MM degree, and closing of the FC degree.

Yes, understanding where the centre of a building is definitely related to constructing a building and Ma-sonry, but read or recite the MM opening catechism again. Then do the same for the FC degree closing…

So, we’re looking for those Ss in the C of the building where we cannot err. Yeah good luck with that, Mr. Perfect. Good thing we Hail the MH when we do.

But without that journey to find the C, that point, where one end of the compasses and skirret sits to “mark out the foundation of the intended structure”, we can’t build anything in the first place because we have to know where to start.

Without the desire and passion to transform yourself, you have nothing to build upon.

That point within a circle is also the starting point that keeps us within due bounds too.

That point within a circle? Funny thing about it, it is also the alchemical symbol for Gold. GOLD!

In mathematics, there is the Golden Mean, or Golden Ratio that we find prominent in the natural propor-tions of the universe—in spiral galaxies, in hurricanes, in seashells, in tree growth, in flowers, in the geome-try of our own pretty faces and bodies. This ratio is equated with beauty and perfection. These spirals and repeating fractals must begin at a single point.




The closer we find out where the point is, the closer we are to that perfection.

Perfection—an impossible state for us to achieve, but worth the journey.

Now as promised, back to the Philosopher's Stone… the ultimate achievement in Alchemy.

Philosopher’s Stone

We mentioned Corn, Wine and Oil pertaining to salt, mercury, and sulphur. And who got paid Corn, Wine, and Oil for their efforts? Apprentices did. Apprentices?! Are you kidding me? Right from the get-go. Sure they might have them, but do they know what to do with them?

In Masonry, we also study philosophy. In Greek, it literally means you are a “lover of Sophia”, or wis-dom.

So labouring on your stone, you are rewarded with the key ingredients. Once you’ve made that stone square and perfect enough and suitable for place-ment at the corner, only then can you apply those ingredients to transform the stone into a higher state—from the earth into fire, from the physical into the spiritual, from a perfect ashlar into the Phi-losopher’s Stone.

Brethren, there are even more examples of symbol-ism and metaphor in our rituals related to Alchemy than what I have described here. I challenge you to pay close attention next time you are watching or participating in a degree or even during the open-ings and closings.

I hope I have illuminated and opened your minds to

the study of Alchemy in our Masonry as much as it

has for me. Now, let’s get to work!



The Wild West Rite Evergreen’s Annual Wild West Rite on May 27, 2013 saw M. W. Bro. David Roth and R. W. Bro. Ken Glazebrook get inducted into the Rite in fine style!

Pictures by Bro. Joe Zasada (191)


Yippie Eye Ay!


The New The New

Edmonton Masonic Speakers’ BureauEdmonton Masonic Speakers’ Bureau

W. Bro. Doug Bewick (142) [email protected]

“Scottish Freemasonry (of its own Freewill and Accord)” Investigating the structure of the Scottish craft, its uniqueness and why it is important to unravelling the roots of speculative 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). Suitable 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) [email protected]

“Lifting The Veil” An exploration of esoteric ideas. In this presentation, I discuss the con-cept of the Veil from our own ritual work, and Jungian concepts of Archetypes and Individ-uation. It is a 20 min presentation 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. Includes Pow-erPoint presentation.

L odges in Edmonton have been seeing more and more Masonic educational presentations as part of regular meetings and festive boards. While

the Grand Lodge website has a Speakers Bureau list, a group of Edmonton brethren have decided to offer local lodges their services in giving interesting and interactive presentations regarding 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) [email protected]

“Alchemy In Our Masonry” A 15 minute talk on the basics of Al-chemy 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 Freema-sonry (with graphs), my own experience, and Internet tools your lodge can easily use to communicate effec-tively with members and the public. Suitable for any-one, including the public. Presented at the Masonic Spring Workshop 2011.

"n-Dimensional Masonry" A 30-minute Powerpoint presentation on Masonic meta-physical geometryand the dimensional progression of the working tools.

W. Bro. John Hayes (168) [email protected]

"The Poetry of Freemasonry" How to understand and improve ritual through an understanding of what po-etry 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 with-in 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 ne of the first surprises an initiate has when the hoodwink is removed is that the very formal and precise English he has been hearing is being spoken, ap-

parently, spontaneously. When one of the brethren forgets, though, and is prompted or corrected by the D of C, it becomes apparent that the language has been memorized and is not spontaneous at all. After the break, when street clothing and new aprons have been donned, the initiates are in a posi-tion to truly appreciate the amazing effort of memory made by the JW in his tracing-board lec-ture.

A later shock to the new brother is that he himself is expected to participate in the workings of the lodge, and may not progress as a Mason until he has prov-en his ability to do so through memorization. Since part of the EA OB is never to write the Ss (and by extension, the ritual itself), two of the most basic types of learning in a literate society—reading and writing—are removed. All that is left is the kindness of other brethren to teach by rote to the new ma-son a very complicated and relatively unforgiving text. Even worse to the new brother is that he is ex-pected to repeat that text from memory before the entire lodge.

Writing is a relatively new invention. If we leave aside cave-paintings seen in the Pyrenees, the first true writing we know of is only about 5000 years old from the time of the Babylonians. Since modern man is at least 30,000 to 50,000 years old, that leaves an enormous gap for our illiterate human an-cestors to fill. Before writing, how did people re-member history? How did people pass on stories? What did people do before writing?


by Bro. Robin Carson (166)

First delivered to Evergreen Lodge #166, February 7, 2005

The Language of the Lodge


The answer is that people relied on memory far more than we do today. Today, if we have an event in the future to remember, we write it down (or add it to our calendar in our phones! - Ed.). If we have an event in the past to recall, we do so in a journal or diary. Written histories recall for us the great events of the past. With the exception of live poetry read-ings or audiobooks, all of our literature depends on being able to read from a book, or from a screen. But it has not always been this way.

There is an entire branch of literature and history called the ‘oral tradition’. In this tradition, nothing is written (because in pre-literate or illiterate societies it cannot be), but is passed along with extraordinary care from generation to generation strictly by word of mouth. In the past, men called bards (or trouba-dours or trouvières or scops) learned history and literature in great chunks, all orally, and did so as the core of their highly respected profession. The storyteller would have apprentices who would work with him just to learn those stories verbatim. These apprentices would practice and try their memories against the originals of their master until every word would be perfect. That was the only way history or literature could be passed along without error to subsequent generations. Freemasonry is part of this oral tradition with our insistence on memorization with every word correct.

Those who work in the oral tradition have tools to assist memory called mnemonics. We use mnemon-ics all the time to remember tricky things such as the number of days in the month of May. To find out, we either count on our knuckles, or use the little rhyme, “Thirty days hath September ….” A mnemonic is just a trick to get the mind to remem-ber difficult material.

Bards used to be able to memorize huge amounts of poetry. The poem Beowulf, for example, has over 3100 lines. Any bard with Beowulf in his repertoire not only knew that entire poem, but could access it at any point, for example retelling on request just the part that deals with Beowulf and the dragon. In addition, this poem would only be one of many that




the bard would be capable of reciting flawlessly. How is such a feat possible? Through mnemonics. A poem like Beowulf is structured so that the lines dovetail through alliteration, the repetition of con-sonants that begin words. In addition, there is a strict rhythm to the lines. If the rhythm is lost or the lines do not dovetail during performance, the bard becomes aware that he is in error.

Work that isn’t poetry is harder to memorize; but even good prose has a poetic quality to it. Shake-speare’s plays are mostly written according to strict rhythm; and any actor will tell you that Shakespeare is easy to memorize. The King James Bible is prose, but highly poetic prose. It sticks in the memory too.

The language of the lodge is prose, as well; but un-like the VSL, its poetic quality is not obvious at first glance. In fact, it seems to almost have a deliberate quality of difficulty to it. For one thing, although modern ritual dates to around 1720, many of the words in it were archaic or obsolete even at the time it was composed.

Take the word ‘hele’, for example, found in the sol-emn OB of an EA. Even in the early 1700s, that would have been a word to send the EA scrambling for interpretation. Of course it just means ‘hide’, and the meaning is pretty clear from the context; but to the newly initiated, it is new, and must be memorized just as if it were a totally foreign word.

Another word that is difficult is the word ‘slipshod’. In modern usage, ‘slipshod’ means ‘bad work’. To the new initiate, he finds that he has been ‘slipshod’, but not at all in the modern meaning of the word.

What about ‘specie’? Or the long-standing debate about a cable-tow? One of the working tools of the MM degree in the Canadian Rite is not even in the dictionary, but neither is the word made up.

Ritual is full of such words, and it would be wrong to assume that they were current when the ritual was first composed. Rather, it seems probable that those responsible for the making of the ritual deliberately set little traps so that the learning would not be too




easy. There is no doubt, though, that the usual mnemonics that bards, poets and actors use do not work with our ritual.

Similar difficulties can be found in the style of the ritual, too. Take, for example, the response to the question asked of the EA who wishes to pass to the second degree: “How do you know yourself to be a ….?” The answer begins with the pattern ‘by this, and by that’ but then turns a right angle with an “and I am willing” plunked into the middle of the sentence. Stylistical-ly, the ear predicts that the sentence should conclude with rep-etition of more of the little ‘by’ phrases; but it does not. Again, it is not hard to find many of these stylistic speed bumps in the language of the lodge.

In this way, the standard mnemonics that might be used to learn ritual are eliminated, or at least diminished. Considering the importance of what is to be learned, it is highly unlikely that those who composed it were malicious in their choice of language. Rather, it is likely that they intended the learning not be too easy. Little difficulties cause the learner to pay attention and to have to render the material into memory using mne-monics of his own invention. Such a struggle means that the learner must interpret—and think. Besides, difficult tasks ac-complished are always rewarding in and of themselves.

Masonic language, therefore, has its difficulties, but is still enormously beautiful. In a way, it is rather like a rose with its thorns: wonderful to contemplate and to experience, but just a little prickly!


Edmonton Queen River Boat Dinner and Cruise

On Sunday July 14, 2013 the Northern Lights District will be having an evening of fellowship aboard the Edmonton Queen. There are at the moment 50 seats reserved on the boat. The evening starts with Boarding at 5:30pm, Dinner Buffet at 6:30pm and at 7:30pm a Cruise on the North Saskatchewan River. Please reserve your tickets with Kenn Culbertson as soon as possible, they go fast. Payment and reservations for the Cruise must be made before Saturday June 30, 2013. This function is open to all Masons, family and friends. Cost for the Evening is $55.00 per person, tax and gratuity included.

Sunday July 14, 2013, 5:30 PM

For Reservations Contact: Kenn Culbertson 780-456-2181 Home 780-914-3952 [email protected]


Thursday, June 13th, 2013 7:00 PM: Grand Master's Social informal gathering - Open to all Freemasons & guests with tickets – bonaniCa Lounge Friday, June 14th, 2013 8:00 AM: Registration/Balloting Opens Convention Centre Lobby – Wildrose Ballroom Under the direction of: Grand Registrar 8:00 AM: Board of General Purposes Meeting – Wildrose Ball-room 9:15 AM: Formation of Grand Procession 9:30AM: Grand Lodge Procession Reception of: - Past Grand Masters - Visiting Grand Lodges - Concordant Bodies - Special guests Presentation of the Colours Excuse non-Masonic guests Opening of the 108h Annual Communication (Tyled) - Motion of Loyalty - Confirmation of the Proceedings of the 107th Annual Communication - Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving - Grand Chaplain - Rules of Order 11:30 to 1:00 – Lunch 1:00 PM: Reconvene the 108h Annual Communication Presentation of the following reports: Block A – Reports - Operations a) Jurisprudence b) DGM’s Implementation c) Committee on the Condition of Masonry d) Masonic Higher Education Bursary Block B – Reports – Information e) Grand Librarian f) Grand Historian g) Committee on the Grand Lodge Bulletin h) Public Awareness & Communication i) Masonic Spring Workshop Block C – Reports – Financial j) Grand Treasurer k) Finance Committee l) Auditor and Financial Statements m) Board of Benevolence Block D – Reports – Administration n) Fraternal Relations o) Publication and Forms Committee p) Grand Secretary’s Report 2:30 PM: Grand Secretary's Announcements

- Correspondence and regrets - Recognition of Grand Representatives 3:00 PM: Adjournment 6:00 PM: Balloting and Registration suspended 5:30 PM: GRAND LODGE BANQUET Wildrose - 5:30 Reception - 6:45 Seating - 7:00 Dinner Toastmaster: Junior Grand Warden 8:00 PM: Entertainment 8:45 PM: Presentation of Symbolic Bursary Award Saturday, June 15th, 2013 8:00 AM: Balloting and Registration resumed in the 9:00 AM: 108th Annual Communication reconvenes Any reports not completed from Friday’s session Block E – Reports – Legislation q) Committee on the Work r) Board of General Purposes 1. Appointment of Auditor 2013 2. Approve 2014 Capital & Operating Budget 3. Confirm Grand Secretary Appointment 4. Notices of Motion 10:00 AM: Balloting and Registration Close - Report of the Credentials Committee - Report on the Elections - Other Masonic Awards 10:30 AM: Grand Master’s Address 11:00 AM: General and Unfinished Business - Election of Grand Tyler Any unfinished business of Grand Lodge will be tabled to next Communication - Grand Master’s Comments 12:00 Noon: Lunch 1:30 PM: 107th Annual Communication Reconvenes - Installation of the Grand Master and Investiture of the Grand Lodge Officers for 2013-2014, under the direction of MWBro Peter Dunlop 3:30 PM: Grand Lodge Closes 3:45 PM: 2013-2014 Officers' Pictures 5:30 PM: Incoming Grand Master’s evening - BBQ ** Ladies’ Hospitality botaniCa Lounge NOTE: There will be an enjoyable Ladies’ Program (details to be forwarded to the Lodge Secretaries) NOTE: Tuxedos to be worn by Grand Lodge Officers at the Grand Master’s Banquet, Grand Lodge Banquet and Installation of the Grand Master and Investiture of the Grand Lodge Officers.

June 13-15, 2013 Ramada Hotel Edmonton Inn (11834-Kingway Ave.)

Grand Lodge Communication


Lodge Degrees / Presentations Lodge Event Date Ivanhoe #142 Education Night June 20, 2013 Freemasons’ Hall, Edmonton Evergreen #166 FC Degree June 24, 2013 At Fort Edmonton Park Masonic Hall

Lodge Installations

Patricia #91 June 11th, 2013 West Edmonton #101 & June 12th, 2013 Mystic Tie #188 Joint Installation

DDGM Official Visits 2013/2014

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

Wed. Sep. 4, 2013 West Edmonton #101

Wed. Sep. 25, 2013 Onoway #138

Thu. Oct. 3, 2013 Ivanhoe #142

Thu. Nov. 7, 2013 Whitecourt #153

Tue. Nov. 12, 2013 Patricia #91

Sat. Nov. 30, 2013 Jasper #14

Wed. Jan. 8, 2014 Yellowknife #162

Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 Evergreen #166

Thu. Feb. 13, 2014 Saskatchewan #92

District Calendar Other Events and Meetings...

Sunday July 14, 2013 District Dinner and River Cruise Edmonton Queen Northern Lights District is presenting an evening on the Edmonton River Queen as a Masonic Fellowship Gathering. The information on the event is: Date Sunday July 14, 2013 Boarding of the Ship at 5:30pm Buffet Dinner 6:30pm and Sailing on the North Saskatchewan River 7:30pm all Masons, Fami-ly and Friends are welcome to attend. The cost for this wonderful evening in Edmonton is $55.00 this includes Gratuity and Taxes. For tickets contact VWBro. Kenn Culbertson 780-914-3952 Cell or 780-456-2181. Payment would gratefully be received by June 30, 2013 Reserve you tickets now don't be dis-appointed.

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.

September 8, 2013 DDGM Training by R. W. John Slade, DGM Masonic Hall, Red Deer Anyone interested in becoming DDGM can get valuable training from an experienced brother. 10:00 AM Training begins 12:00 PM Lunch 1:00 PM Training continues 5:00 PM Close

Saturday, October 5, 2013 Annual District Meeting Freemasons’ Hall, 103 St. 100 Ave., Edmonton 10:00 AM Registration 11:00 AM Education Presentation 12:00 PM Lunch ($15) 1:00 PM District Meeting and Elections


Year Month Visiting Lodge Hosting Lodge

2013 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 research

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. Chris Uchman R.W. Bro. Al Vickery

(as of June 11, 2013) 780-469-7259


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. Chris Mackenzie 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

Whitecourt #153

1st, Thur, Forest Interpretive Centre, Whitecourt, 8:00 pm www.whitecourtmasoniclodge.ca


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/





Documents

The Luminaries - Summer 2013