From April 20-22, with about 180 other Masons, eight brethren from Ivanhoe attended the annual world-renowned Masonic Spring Workshop at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The Friday evening saw keynote speaker Bob Cooper, curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and THE foremost expert on Rosslyn Chapel give his presentation on the earliest Scottish Masonic ritual, which was followed by a lively discussion.
Then, most brethren passed through our Legendary Hospitality Suite where the finest of scotches were on hand, and excellent fellowship and discussion on Masonic topics into the wee hours.
The next morning, the brethren had breakfast and much needed coffee and attended Bro. Andrew Hammer’s inspiration talk on his recently published book “Observing the Craft”, which is a call to action for Freemasons to return to their lodge and to observe Freemasonry within our lodges by practicing the excellence that our Craft demands through quality ritual, meetings, proper dress, and festive boards and also ensuring that those who enter the West Gate are properly qualified and ready to dedicate themselves to their personal journey through the degrees.
After lunch, other seminars included Bro. B. Zawalsky’s popular historical lectures which this year featured “The Ancient Charges”. Bro. J. Zasada gave one on proper Masonic dress and many attended the panel discussion featuring the four candidates running for Junior Grand Warden and their thoughts and views on Freemasonry in Alberta. The afternoon seminars ended with a closing talk and discussion by Bros. Cooper and Hammer regarding their views on practicing Freemasonry into “Our Future Through Our Past”.
A couple hours of free time ensued and brethren of Ivanhoe invited Bro. Hammer on a nature walk to see the beautiful scenery that the Rocky Mountains offer. We then stumbled into Bro. Cooper and Workshop Chairman Bro. K. Parkyn and took some photos of the mountains on a beautiful day.
The banquet dinner food and fellowship was excellent and the evening saw more hospitality suites and brethren gathering at Woody’s pub. Once the morning interfaith devotional sermon was delivered by Rev Dr Sharam, breakfast was done and the brethren headed home. This webmaster then went skiing at Sunshine Village for the day.
Next year…
Workshop 2013 – April 19-21 – “Say No to Nostalgia”
Keynote Speaker: Bro. Pete Normand, Grand Lodge of Texas
Guest Authors:
– Bro. Christopher Hodapp, Grand Lodge of Indiana, author of “Freemasons for Dummies”, “Templar Code for Dummies”, “Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies for Dummies”, ” Solomon’s Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington DC”, and “Deciphering The Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths and the Mysteries of Washington D.C.”
– Bro. Cliff Porter, Grand Lodge of Colorado, author of “The Secret Psychology of Freemasonry”
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