The 132nd Annual Sessions of
Supreme Council were held in Halifax Nova Scotia, from September
13th to 16th, hosted by the Valley of Halifax.
The setting in this historic city was the World Trade and
Convention Centre (WTCC), which is connected by pedway with the
four hotels which housed the delegates and their ladies.
Close to seven hundred gathered for the first event- the annual
“ Get Acquainted” party, an opportunity to meet and mingle with
friends, old and new, from all across the country.
On Thursday the annual Vesper Service was held in the oldest
Protestant church in Canada, St. Paul’s Anglican, built in 1749.
With the 30-member Scottish Rite choir adding greatly to the
occasion, Sovereign Grand Commander Orlan Weber and Lt. Grand
Commander Robert Townshend gave the readings, while Honorary
Chairman Matthew Todd lead the responsive reading and Grand
Prior Michael Farr delivered the sermon to the capacity
audience. All of which contributed to an inspirational service.
Immediately before the service, on the Grand Parade Square at
the church entrance, the United Way had their kick-off
ceremonies, which featured a rock and roll band with an
elaborate sound system, carrying their message for several
blocks. We wish them well, but either they got tired or we had
some kind of divine intervention, but thankfully, their last
number coincided with the beginning of the Vesper Service.
Following the service the members returned to the WTCC for the
opening of Supreme Council and the conferral of the 33°on
the sixty-seven candidates.
The representative candidate was Ill Bro. George Cooper from the
Valley of Moncton.
All of the new H.I.G.’s and their ladies (wearing the ladies
pin) were introduced at the Lt. Grand Commander’s banquet on
Thursday evening, where all were entertained by the 78th
Highlanders. The response to the toast to our newest members was
capably given by Ill. Bro. N. Kent Clarke from the Valley of
Halifax.
In the Executive session on Friday morning, forty-seven
nominations were approved to receive the 33°
in 2007. The 133rd Annual Sessions will be held
in Ottawa, Ontario from September 13th to 16th 2007. The
Vesper Service will be held in St. Paul’s Church Ottawa, on
September 13, 2007.
In the General Sessions, in addition to the Grand Master of Nova
Scotia, M.W. Bro. Roger Eisner, we were honoured to receive
three visiting Sovereign Grand Commanders :
from the Southern Jurisdiction, Ill Bro. Ronald A.Seale;
from the Northern Jurisdiction, Ill. Bro. John Wm. McNaughton;
and from Australia, Ill. Bro. Jack Ball,
who were all introduced, along with representatives from
concordant bodies, and who brought greetings from their various
jurisdictions.
Sovereign Grand Commander Orlan J. Weber gave a summary of his
allocution, which is available in written form to all Valleys,
and asked Grand Prior Ill. Bro. Michael Farr to lead us in a
memorial service, assisted musically by Ill. Bro. Lloyd Oakes
and Ill Bro. Allan Petrisor.
At the annual luncheon hosted by the Scottish Rite Charitable
Foundation, we heard of the introduction of credit card
donations, “Giving has never been easier”, and the opening of
the new Learning Centre on September 17 in Halifax (joining
London and Windsor as the third centre in Canada).
The guest speaker, Bill Carr an
award-winning writer, stage actor and journalist, who is heavily
involved with the work of the Alzheimer’s Society, reminded us
of the extensive work which is being done by researchers in all
parts of our country, funded by our Foundation, to begin to
solve the puzzles of the mind.
At the end of the luncheon we were regaled by a Halifax legend,
Ill. Bro. Wilfred Creighton, 102 years old, a survivor of the
Halifax fire of 1917, who walks 5 kms a day, rain or shine, and
still operates his own wood lot!
As is customary at the Luncheon, donations to the Foundation
from various activities across the country were received. The
Foundation Treasurer reported that nearly $100,000 had been
donated.
At the Sovereign Grand Commander’s banquet the 700 guests were
entertained by an excellent 30-member male voice choir, “Vova
Voice ”.
The recipients of the John Ross Matheson award were introduced:
Ill. Bro. George Calder from the Valley of Hamilton,
Ill. Bro. James DeWolfe from the Valley of Moncton.
Three members became Past Active, pursuant to. Art.8 iv of the
Statutes and Regulations: C. Edwin Drew, Donald Murray and Jack
Sproule. To fill these vacancies, on Saturday morning three new
active members were crowned:
Ill. Bro. William Fitzsimmons from Saskatoon
Ill. Bro. Gareth Taylor from Richmond Hill
Ill. Bro. James Wood from Winnipeg.
The Saturday morning saw the Installation of Ill. Bro. C. Robert
Townshend as the Sovereign Grand Commander and Ill Bro. Matthew
F. Todd as the Lieutenant Grand Commander. The other officers of
Supreme Council for the triennial
Ill. Bro. C. Robert Townshend, 33º Sovereign Grand Commander
Ill. Bro. Matthew F. Todd, 33º Lieutenant Grand Commander
Ill. Bro. Allard B. Loopstra, 33º Grand Chancellor
Ill. Bro. J. Carl Fairthorne, 33° Deputy for Ontario
Ill. Bro. Maurice Hrycyk, 33° Deputy for Ontario
Ill. Bro. Donald D. Thornton, 33º Deputy for Ontario
Ill. Bro. Donald R. Thornton, 33º Deputy for Ontario
Ill. Bro. Pierre A. Phaneuf, 33º Deputy for Quebec
Ill. Bro. Gordon S. Young, 33º Deputy for New Brunswick
Ill. Bro. Robert L. Taylor, 33° Deputy for Prince Edward Island,
Nova Scotia & Newfoundland
Ill. Bro. Roz. D. Iwanicki, 33º Deputy for Manitoba and Nunavut
Territory
Ill. Bro. Michael Ward, 33º Deputy for British Columbia and
Yukon Ter.
Ill.Bro. Marvin L.Munro Deputy for British Columbia and Yukon
Ter.
Ill. Bro. Loren W. Kline, 33º Deputy for Alberta and Northwest
Territories
Ill. Bro. Richard A.H. Brown, 33º Deputy for Saskatchewan
Ill. Bro. H. Edward Standish, 33º Grand Secretary-General
Ill. Bro. Thomas E. Lewis, 33° Grand Treasurer-General
Ill. Bro. Michael D. H. Farr, 33° Grand Prior
Ill. Bro. Brian W. Gilkinson, 33° Grand Master of Ceremonies
Ill. Bro. Ray T. Bryant, 33° Grand Marshal
Ill. Bro. Richard D. Quinton, 33º Grand Standard Bearer
Ill. Bro. Robert S. Whitmore, 33° Grand Captain of the Guard
Ill. Bro. Kenneth D.McComb 33° Grand Sword Bearer
The General Chairman of the Sessions Ill. Bro. Ronald MacDonald,
was presented with an award of a crystal vase from the City of
Halifax, which he graciously accepted on behalf of the whole
committee; after which the gavel, which has been used at all
sessions since 1993 in Hamilton, was passed on to Ill Bro.
Ronald Campbell to be used at the 2007 sessions in Ottawa.
The foregoing is a brief, and by no means complete, summary of
the events of a busy and successful 132nd Annual Session, hosted
so well by the members of the Valley of Halifax, who certainly
delivered on their various assignments!
Fraternally,
Ed. Drew and Gareth Taylor |
Content Page
