A.F. & A.M. (G.R.C.) No. 561

Tag: Stephen Plummer

Master’s Message, May 2019

My Brethren,

During our April regular meeting we elected the Worshipful Master and Officers for the ensuing Masonic year. The following week at our Emergent meeting we held a step-up night where the Worshipful Master Elect and his Officers proved their proficiency. I must say that it appears the ensuing Masonic year is going to be memorable as the Worshipful Master Elect and his Officers have shown much enthusiasm for their new rolls.

Last May I was very humbled to be elected as your Master for the 2018/ 2019 Masonic year and proud to sit at the East. I must also thank every one of you who assisted me over the last 12 months. I never had to look far when I had a question or needed someone to help. I believe this is a testament to our Fraternity and to our Lodge. As my year as Worshipful Master is coming to a close I can only look back at the last 12 months that passed in what seems like the blink of an eye, I am very proud of how the year went. We were fortunate to always have had a good turnout at our meetings and received visitors from all over the world. At each meeting I would look around the Lodge where I would see many friendly faces that I am proud to call my Brother.

I wish the incoming Master and his officers much success at his installation and for his upcoming year in the East.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, April 2019

My Brethren,

We are now truly into the spring season, warmer temperatures are welcome after the long cold winter we had here in Ottawa.Our March regular meeting was another enjoyable night. As I sat in the East I always appreciate a full Lodge room
with many Acacia Lodge members. There were also a large number of visitors including a visitor from Nickel Lodge in Sudbury as well Bro. Brad Landers from Doric Lodge. Bro. Landers was recently raised to the degree of a Master Mason
and the apron he wore belonged to his great grandfather Bro. Howard Orr who was a member of Acacia Lodge.The work of our regular meeting was Masonic education where W. Bro. Doug Campbell, R.W. Bro. Burchill and R.W. Bro. Jenkyns presented pieces of education that were well received and inspirational.

The night ended with many remaining for the festive board where R.W. Bro. Jenkyns read a Masonic poem. Brethren remained long after the food was gone to enjoy some fellowship. Two nights later a very large group of Acacia
Lodge members assisted me with delivering the travelling gavel to Mississippi Lodge in Almonte where we were treated to a packed Lodge room and witnessed a worthy brother being passed to the second degree.

Our April regular meeting is an important one as it is election night for the 2019/2020 Masonic year. We will also be having step up night on our emergent meeting. I hope you are able to make it out to both to cast your vote and watch the proficiency of next year’s Lodge Officers. Should you require transportation please contact myself or the Secretary and we can help make arrangements.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, March 2019

My Brethren,

With the beginning of March brings longer days and hopefully warmer weather as we get ready for spring. This winter brought cold temperatures and lots of snow to Ottawa. I hope you and your families were able to get outside and enjoy some
winter activities.

Our February meeting was a memorable night. Sitting in the East I can tell you nothing is more pleasing than seeing a full Lodge room. Our meeting began by Acacia Lodge welcoming
Members of Sidney Albert Luke Lodge who arrived to present the travelling gavel. They were followed by the Shrine Degree Team who attended and Raised a worthy brother to the Degree of a Master Mason. I also had the honour of presenting
a 25-year pin to W.Bro. Uhrig, recognizing his years of service to the Craft.

Our March meeting will include three short pieces of Masonic Education which I hope will inspire and expand our understanding and appreciation of the history of our Fraternity.

March also brings Acacia Lodge’s turn to present the Traveling Gavel. I hope your cable tow will allow you to join me on March 21st at Mississippi Lodge for this presentation.

I have been very pleased to see many new and old faces at our meetings this year and I encourage you to join us in Lodge even if you haven’t been able to make it out for a while and feel a little rusty. I believe one of the most important parts of being a Mason is attending Lodge. Should you require transportation please contact myself or the secretary and we can help make arrangements.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, February 2019

My Brethren,

We are now well into the winter months and the deep freeze is keeping many of us inside. I hope you are surrounded with family and friends and also finding time to go out and enjoy the season.Our January meeting was a busy one as we were joined by R. W. Bro. Adam Thompson on his official visit to Acacia Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master, Ottawa District 1. The meeting as always included the roll call and was followed by a worthy Brother being passed to the second degree. I know in speaking to R.W. Bro. Thompson he was pleased with the night and work put on by the degree team. Our newest Fellow Craft also expressed that the Degree was very well received and he is excited to get working on his Third Degree.

I hope you are able to join us for our February meeting where the Shrine Degree team will be attending the Lodge and conducting a Third Degree on a worthy brother. After the Degree the members of the Shrine will take a few minutes to explain the work they do, which I am personally looking forward to.

On February 26th I hope to have a Friend to Friend night at Westboro Masonic Temple. If you know of someone who has shown interest in the Craft and would make a good Mason please invite them out where they can ask questions and learn more about our Craft.

Brethren I hope you are able to make it out for our regular meeting. I have been pleased that at every meeting this year new and old faces have been in attendance. Should you need assistance getting to the |Lodge don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, the Secretary or one of the Wardens we would be happy to help and happy to see you in Lodge.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, January 2019

My Brethren,

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had time to be around and end enjoy the company of family and friends over the holiday season. It is a very busy time of year for many of us but also a time to reflect on the past and set goals for the
future.

While we conducted the business of our regular December meeting in the Lodge Room our family and friends were in the banquet hall below having a great time, we joined them after a very brief meeting. It was great to see such a large group of
friendly and familiar faces, judging by all the smiles and laughter everyone had a great evening.

W.Bro Dave Gravel arrived after our meeting to share that on his way into the lodge he came across a woman who had fallen to the ground with pain. Dave called 911 and remained with her and comforted her until help arrived. It is believed that she may have had a heart attack. The paramedics were thankful for the complete strangers who came to her aid. I would like to thank Dave for making a huge difference and likely helping to save her life.

Our January meeting is always a special one as we welcome our District Deputy Grand Master into our lodge on his official visit. The night will be memorable and as always we will be having the Acacia Lodge roll call followed by a second
degree.

Brethren I look forward to seeing you all in the
New Year.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, December 2018

My Brethren,

It looks like the snow came early this year and is here to stay. I have little doubt we will be having a white Christmas and holiday season.

During our regular October meeting we initiated Brother Adam Hacker into Masonry, and our lodge. It was a great evening and I would like to thank everyone who played a large and small role to make the initiation special for our newest member and brother. The evening also saw a large number of brethren who were able to make it out to be part of the night which I have no doubt will not be forgotten by our newest Brother. The meeting was followed by a festive board with lots of fellowship.

Our December meeting will be followed by the traditional Christmas Pot Luck including your family and friends. I hope to see many of you out as this night is always a fun night of socializing together in the banquet hall after the meeting. I always enjoy evenings that include those who have supported our masonic journeys over the years.

On a very sad note, last month we received news of the loss of one of our own, Bro Duncan Lillico. Duncan passed suddenly and unexpectedly on November 21st, 2018. This news came as a shock to all of us. Duncan is also the son of our historian W. Bro. Neil Lillico. Duncan left behind his wife, Kari and three children. All of our thoughts are with Neil and Duncan’s family through this very difficult time.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, November 2018

My Brethren,

September 21st saw a violent storm like none I recall every seeing in our region where 6 tornados reportedly touched down causing damage and power outages across many parts of our city. You’re Wardens and I made calls to many of you that we have not heard from in person or online to make sure you and your families were safe and did not require relief. We also used this opportunity to invite those we haven’t seen in awhile out to the lodge for our regular meeting, after all a big part of being a Mason and member of the lodge is attending Lodge and interacting with one another. I am happy to report that everyone fared well through the storm other than some food that had to be thrown out due to extended loss of power.

We had a very enjoyable and educational October Regular meeting which was dubbed a rusty mason night. During the meeting, we went up to the Third-Degree making stops in each degree to allow W. Bro. Sam Roberts to provide some information and education along the way. Very often this led to further discussions and education by various members of the lodge in attendance. It was announced at the meeting that all money collected in the Junior Wardens box will be donated to the Red Cross who are working to support those affected by the storms that hit the Ottawa area in late September. I am happy to say that a generous donation was collected and I thank everyone who contributed.

Our November meeting will include a 1st degree where we will welcome a new member to our lodge. I hope many of you can make it out to enjoy the evening and support our newest brother.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, October 2018

My Brethren

Last month we held our Grand Lodge Appreciation night which had a great turnout of Grand Lodge officers including the Deputy Grand Master, District Deputy Grand Masters from
Ottawa District 1 and 2 and a large number of grand lodge officers, visitors and Acacia lodge members.

During our meeting the Decons carried a message from the worshipful master and retrieved a package containing the apron and past master jewel worn by W.Bro. Proudman, who served as the Worshipful Master of Acacia in 1949-1950. W.Bro. Lillico presented some personal and Masonic history about W. Bro. Proudman along with a book containing many biographies ofAcacia Lodge Members which really delivered the message of how important it is to submit or update your biographies.

Our guest speaker was Deputy Grand Master R.W. Bro. David J Cameron who delivered a speech talking about possible directions that masonry may take in the future which I found
brought forward some excellent ideas and thought.

This month on our regular meeting we will be holding a rusty mason night. W. Bro. Sam Roberts will help sharpen our tools. I am sure we will all learn something we did not previously know. I also hope that many Acacia Lodge members can
make it out and if you have missed a few meetings, months or years I hope this night will inspire you to attend lodge and re-ignite the flame that brought you into masonry.

I look forward to seeing you in lodge.

Fraternally,

Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

Master’s Message, September 2018

My Brethren,

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the warm weather this summer and were able to have some time off to spend time with those close to you. I would like to express special thanks to our Junior Warden Bro. Frank Sigouin for organizing a successful summer barbeque and for V.W. Bro. Gordon and his wife Ann for hosting the event. The food was delicious and company excellent. We also enjoyed a perfect day to sit in the shade and enjoy some fellowship with our brothers and their families.

With the weather starting to cool and the days getting shorter it signals the coming of fall and also the start of our Masonic year.

Our first meeting of the Masonic year as always will be Grand Lodge Appreciation night which will begin with a delicious meal put on by the Daughters of the Nile. Our guest speaker for the evening is R.W. Bro. David J. Cameron, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. I am also planning some education where I will bring two pieces of Acacia Masonic history back into the lodge.
I am very much looking forward to my year in the East and I also hope this year will bring many members who have for one reason or another not made it out to lodge over the last few years. If you haven’t been out in a while please make the time once or twice a month to attend if your schedule will allow and never worry if you are rusty in your work the important thing is to attend the meeting.

Fraternally,

W.Bro. Stephen Plummer
Worshipful Master

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