V.W. Bro. Joe Zenik

Brethren,

Most of you will have heard the sad news of our Brother VW Bro. Joe Zenik, who passed to the Lodge Above late on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Before going the the funeral on Thursday, May 8, 2008, we shall be opening the Lodge about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2008. We shall be going from Labour and then to the funeral, which will be at Foster & McGarvey, 100 Avenue and 114 Street at 7 p.m.

Following the funeral service, we shall be returning to Freemasons' Hall to close the Lodge.

Fraternally,

Jack Warwick-Foster, WM.

April's Message

First, my thanks to W.Brother, Ron Trant, who sat in for me while I was away. My thanks also to the Brethren who entered into the breach to replace those who were unable to attend their offices at the March regular meeting (March 15, 2008).

Congratulations to R.W.Brother Campbell and his team of Brothers Gago and Rosel, who won this year's Master's Millennium Cup Debate. I am informed that this debate resulted in the usual excellent discussions and arguments from both the Senior and Junior Wardens' teams. Thus continues this annual Lodge highlight of stimulating, spirited and sometimes humourous, but always intense discussions. Our acknowledgments and thanks to R.W.Brother Caldwell for having initiated and adjudicating these Cup debates.

It was good to hear that Brother George Douchet attended the March meeting (after 35 years of absence!), and was very warmly welcomed. During an interesting chat with Brother Douchet earlier this year, I suggested he shared his intriguing stories with us - my thanks to you, Brother Douchet, on your return to Commercial Lodge and for adding to the Festive Board events.

A further acknowledgment and appreciation is also due to R.W.Caldwell for the "Whisky Bacchanale" during Festive Board. For those who can remember, R.W.Caldwell, not only gave an absorbing history of whisky and its production, but also led a scientific practical investigation of sampling this historical product.

Our Junior Warden reminds us that Ladies' Night is on May 10, 2008, - please invite your family and friends to join in this annual festivity. Tickets are available at the cost of $40 each from our Junior Warden, David Lardner.

Brethren, please consider inviting "Good Men Who May Be Made Better" to our Festive Boards. Guests who share our activities and events may well be encouraged to contemplate joining the Craft.

I look forward to being back among you, Brothers, at our next regular meeting in April.

Fraternally,

Jack Warwick-Foster, WM.

March's Message

Roasting VW Ron James at February’s meeting involved humour, appreciation, brotherly love as well as recognition of an outstanding Mason in our Lodge. It was also good to see the Roastee returning some of the roasting!

The discussion about the Lodge on “Reasons for the Longevity of Freemasonry” produced many interesting and thought-provoking ideas and views. I feel that if a non-Mason had been present, he would have been impressed by, perhaps in awe of the sincerity and depth of feeling about and towards Freemasonry. It was rewarding to hear from a visitor how much he enjoyed our debate and learned from it. By such events, Commercial Lodge’s reputation as an interesting and lively Lodge will continue to grow and attract more visitors and potentially more new members.

Our March meeting will see the cut and thrust of the Wardens’ Millennium Cup Debate. The Senior Wardens’ and Junior Wardens’ teams will be arguing for and against the topic “Should our Rituals, including Obligations, be updated and modernized?” Regretfully, I shall not be able to attend. WB Ron Trant will be taking the Chair in the East, and WB George Findlay will be IPM. I look forward to hearing of the usual, lively interchange and to congratulating the winning team on my return.

At the Festive Board, we can look forward to an informative address and discussion by a Brother. We are in the process of approaching several speakers of interest to our Lodge to provoke thought, to bring information and to stimulate discussion. If any Member of Lodge has ideas for topics or events of import to add to our Festive Boards, will he please pass his ideas to the Junior Warden or to me. We welcome members’ contributions to encouraging lively discussions at our Lodge.

Brethren, please inform any of the Officers if you know of a Brother requiring assistance to attend Lodge. Commercial Lodge requires your help in increasing attendance at our meetings and events.

Fraternally,

Jack Warwick-Foster, WM.

Roast of a well known brother

We will be carrying on another Commercial Lodge tradition at our February meeting; the roast of a well known brother.

Our meeting is on Saturday, February 16 at 1:00 PM.

Hope to see you there!

February's Message

My thanks to all who contacted the Brethren or left them messages regarding the Roll Call we had at our January, 2008, meeting. We learned how our Brethren are faring and where we may possibly offer help if needed. One outcome of the Roll Call, for me, was a very interesting discussion from a Brother who has been unable to attend Lodge for some years. He has agreed to give us a talk on his work and experience at a future Festive Board.

Our February meeting will include a discussion on the reasons why Freemasonry has had such a long, continuous history - most Masons had little or vague knowledge or awareness of what Freemasonry is about before joining the fraternity, so why did they? Is curiosity a factor or the need for something apparently secret and meaningful? Perhaps the attraction was the reputation of famous masons over the ages.

We will also recognize our Mason of the Year and roast our well-known Brother, VW Ron James - an event certain to be lively!

Our thanks also to Brother Drew McIntosh. Bro. McIntosh shared his Cuban experiences/dramas with us: truly a Brother, who is blessed with a spirit of adventure. His reception and help from the Cuban Brethren reminded me of the poem, " I See You've Travelled Some", a verse of which tells us

' And if you are a stranger
In strange lands all alone,
If fate has left you stranded -
Dead broke and far from home
It's a grand and glorious feeling,
It thrills you - makes you dumb,
When he says with a grip of Fellowship -
"I see you've travelled some." '

Fraternally,

Jack Warwick-Foster, Worshipful Master.

January's Message

December's installation and investiture stands out as a memorable occasion for me. Under the direction of MW Brother Robert Juthner, I was privileged to step to the East with firm, but humble confidence. My thanks to all the participating officers and to the Brethren who attended this ancient and significant ceremony.

At the beginning of our regular meetings, the WM asks the Brethren to assist him to open the Lodge. Brethren, I am asking you also to assist me in making attending the Lodge a lively, meaningful event by attending regularly, as far as your circumstances permit. I am asking you to participate with your comments, thoughts and questions during discussions and debates about the lodge. As well, I am encouraging particularly the newer Brethren, to take on Lodge Officer duties to fill in especially when replacements are needed int he absence of regular Officers.

Stated in my comments from the East, the major ares for debate during the coming year will include the question: Why is Freemasonry the most ancient as well as moral institution that ever existed? We will discuss and compare views as to its wide-ranging and various forms and interpretations. We will also relate and consider some of the many historical stories and examples of and about Freemasonry.

The life-blood of our lodge is its members. The need for the continuing growth and strength of Commercial Lodge requires maintaining initiation of "Good men to be made better." Encouraging and interesting these men to join the Craft, who will be consistent in the attendance and contribution to the enrichment of the Lodge, will be one of our aims.

As last year, our January meeting will note the status of each of our members in a Roll Call. What help may they need? What visits or words of support and encouragement may we be able to offer? What good news may we learn?

There is much to look forward to in 2008 - Let us look forward together.

To quote MW Brother Robert Juthner, from the December 2007 edition of The Alberta Freemason, at the end of his editorial, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men. We are all Brothers of the Dust. Let us practice our Brotherhood 365 days of the year.

Fraternally, Jack Warwick-Foster, WM.

October's Message

Master' Message - October 2007

We had a great meeting in September, or as my 12 year old son would say "it was awesome".
Many thanks to VW Bro. Cam Mackay for his demonstration of an operative Mason's work and tools, and his explanation of how much of our ritual work is based on their worksite habits. Building a solid wall or edifice requires tools and techniques to ensure the finished product is upright, on the square, and level. So does the making of a Mason or good man require methodical progress from a solid foundation and adherence to ancient landmarks.
We have a busy month ahead of us with a key social event our annual Duck Dinner on Friday the 19th. Our Junior Warden has a great evening with a very interesting speaker arranged. Bring a friend, especially if he's interested in Masonry, and get your tickets early. The next day our regular meeting will feature the Official Visit of our District Deputy Grand Master and his entourage. As well as having some Brethren prove up in the Third Degree we will be discussing our annual budget, which is key to setting our dues for next year. The principal Officers for the upcoming year will also be elected and assistant officers confirmed.
Brother Jack Warwick-Foster is planning ahead for 2008 and would welcome input from any Brother interested in our Lodge's direction in coming years. I have heard from several Brethren who have not paid their dues or are thinking of demitting from Commercial Lodge. Some have had to move as their careers take them away, but others have had a gripe or two that looms large in their eyes. My view is that we're all among friends, no one should go away feeling ill treated, and a problem shared is a problem solved quickly. Brotherly Love is a fundamental principle of Masonry that goes beyond the 'golden rule'. We all want Commercial Lodge to thrive and be an enjoyable place to meet friends in many professions and age groups.
Ask not what your Lodge can do for you, but what you can do for your Lodge.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Fraternally,

WM Ron Trant