Brethren… as we move from Fall into Winter, things in the Masonic world continue to be very active. Many Districts around our jurisdiction have adopted the Zoom and GoToMeeting communication tools to help stay in touch. On October 3^rd the Ontario Masonic Education committee hosted another “Masonic Education Committee Speaker Series”. There was an excellent talk given by Bro Mitchell Allison on “Sacred Geometry and Masonic Principles”. I have touched base with Mitch in hopes of having him come deliver this talk to our lodge once we are called back to labour and able to accept visitors. Professionally he is an Architectural Technologist and also does a talk on “Crop Circles, A Journey through the Mystery”. These lectures take place on the first Saturday of each month and start with fellowship at 6:45pm with the lectures beginning at 7:15pm and lasting 30 to 60 minutes. There was also a Zoom meeting on Oct 22^nd hosted by Templum Lucis No747, an Observant lodge that hosts education meetings each month. The topic was “Observant Masonry, a Charter Mason’s Perspective”. It was attended by over forty Masons province wide including the Grand Master himself. If any of you would like to participate in these lectures, drop me a message and I can forward the links to you…there is always something going on !!!

I will be assisting this coming month in preparing a power point presentation for the Grand Lodge Cornerstone project with RW Bro Mark Kapitan, our Grand Junior Warden. The Pillar Chairman for the various Grand Lodge committees have been asked to prepare online power point presentations of their committees work for the Jurisdiction. The Charles A. Sankey Lecture in Masonic Studies will also continue this year by doing their lecture online. This yearly education seminar at Brock University is always a great afternoon and I personally attend it every year. On Sunday November 15^th at 2pm you can join the lecture live at 2020.sankeylectures.ca to hear Prof Cecile Revauger, Professor Emerita of English from the Universite of Bordeaux, France give a talk on “Enlightenment, Gender and Race: Personal Reflections on Leading Issues in Masonic Studies”. Prof Revauger will also talk about her career as an expert on the history of Freemasonry in Europe and the Americas. It is free and will be approximately 2 hours in length. These lectures are always a great masonic education experience that all masons would enjoy.

As I mentioned in last month’s Message from the East, I recently completed developing the course module on “Ethics and Morals” for Grand Lodge which is now being reviewed by the GM and the DGM. I wrote a Masonic Moment based on my module pre-amble which is attached to this Summons. Corinthian Lodge will also once again be hosting a quick GoToMeeting online on Thursday November 5^th at 7:30pm. Last month we had about 12 members join us online for an informal briefing and we will keep doing these as long as there is interest from the membership. You will find further information on this in this summons from Bro Secretary !!!

As Remembrance Day occurs every November, it is appropriate that we as Corinthian Masons commemorate this special day. We should consider it an honour and a privilege that we are able to look back and reflect on its special meaning. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canadians come together as one nation to pause for a moment to remember. In this moment of remembrance, we are honouring the heroes of our country who gave everything to defend and maintain the security of not only Canada but the world. November 11^th is a reminder for us all, to pause and reflect on the efforts of many of our friends, family members and brethren who have served, or presently serve, our Country.

The Empty or Vacant Chair ceremony performed at many lodges dates back to 1875, a decade after the close of the American Civil War when it was used in Masonic lodges to pay tribute to those who did not return from the war. Since then it has been used by many lodges on Remembrance Day worldwide including in Canada to pay homage to those brother Masons who fell during WWI, WWII, and other global conflicts. During this ceremony an empty chair is decorated with an officer's collar or an apron placed over the back. It is then placed outside the closed door of the Lodge and a podium and wreath are placed in the South East angle of the lodge where a short ceremony takes place. We will hopefully be able to continue doing this ceremony at our lodge next year.

As Masons, let us continue to enjoy the rights and freedoms that were preserved for us by the men and woman who served our country with distinction. Let us also continue to support those that wish to join our Fraternity and to try to become better men. Let us continue to support Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth as we have sworn to do in our obligations. Let us continue with our pursuit to make the world a better place in which to live and a better place for future generations to follow. Remember the fallen in your thoughts on November 11^th and wear the poppy proudly because it represents pride, glory and the ultimate sacrifice…a sacrifice that was made for us by our national heroes who were our friends, our family and also our brothers.

W Bro Garry Perkins FCF

WM Corinthian Lodge No96, Barrie

“Once we stop asking questions, symbols stop teaching”