Brethren, Our online Zoom meeting on April 1^st was once again well attended not only by Corinthian brethren but also from visiting brethren from around Georgian South District. I would like to thank our Grand Director of Ceremonies, RW Bro Daniel Graham for joining us and giving a talk on the Masonic Foundation of Ontario. RW Bro Jeff Johnson, our DDGM, was also able to join us and I can’t say enough what a pleasure it is to have these fine Grand Lodge Officers attend our gatherings.

The Communique from Grand Lodge came out in early April but seeing as our meeting was on the 1^st on the month I was not able to report on it. The Grand Master, MW Bro David J Cameron stated that we will not resume masonic activities in this Jurisdiction until enough of the population has been FULLY vaccinated and that he didn’t foresee this to be until summer at the earliest. He therefore announced that the moratorium on all INDOOR Masonic gatherings is extended until at least September 1^st, 2021 and all OUTDOOR gatherings until they make a subsequent announcement. He also advised lodges that because there may be a demand for the Grand Master to attend receptions once we resume in-lodge meetings that they may want to consider holding joint events if they are planning on trying to book him.

The Agenda for the Communication of Grand Lodge is now out with the schedule of all online events. The Annual Communication will be on Wednesday July 21^st , 2021 at 9am. The Election of all DDGM’s will take place electronically on June 18^th and 19^th and those eligible to vote must register online. Voter registration will take place from June 12^th through June 17^th with results being distributed as soon as available.

Once we are called back to masonic duties it has been said that we can expect a high interest from people looking to join our fraternity. They will come looking for many things, some will stay and start a lifelong journey, others will leave as fast as they came to our Westgate. Everyone knocking on our doors will be looking for something different, some will have a genuine interest in our Craft, others will simply join looking for fellowship and camaraderie. There will be those who come in search of secrets thinking that there is some great hidden prize to be found that only Masons can possess. It will be up to all of us as sponsors and mentors to ensure that they realize that the real secret is within each of us on our own personal journeys. We will give them nothing more than the tools with which they can discover themselves and present them with a mirror for self-reflection.

If they turn away quickly it will mean that they found nothing meaningful in our rituals or our teachings. They may have learned about our many modes of recognition but will never understand why we cherish our storied Craft and what it is truly about. Our fraternity is designed to teach morality and ethics, and help good men try to make themselves better. They should know that we are not a charitable organization, but promote charity to our membership and contribute in North America tens of millions of dollars each year to operate children’s hospitals, cancer clinics, burn wards, senior’s homes and other such facilities. All who join and become active discover a bond of brotherly affection and a community of mutual support that’s a practical extension of their own religious and philosophical beliefs. Most masonic lodges are composed of less than two hundred members of which perhaps one quarter are active and come out to lodge regularly. I have heard lots of talk recently from brethren about speaking to perspective candidates about Masonry during the Covid-19 break. Please be careful with your discussions and remember our lodges need quality, not quantity from its membership….so guard well our Westgate brethren, our reputation and survival will depend on it when we resume our Masonic duties.

W Bro Garry Perkins FCF

WM Corinthian Lodge No96, Barrie

“Once we stop asking questions, symbols stop teaching”