Feature Events & News:
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The Annual Masonic Picnic is Back for 2022: Sunday July 3rd!!​
  • Heritage Acres - 7321 Lochside Dr Saanich, BC - Event starts at 10:00 AM
​Outside of Grand Lodge, the Saanich Annual Masonic Picnic is the largest gathering of Freemasons, friends and families from all-across British Columbia.  The event was cancelled because of COVID for 2020 and 2021, however, this year it is a GO! Food, displays, miniature train rides, a "bouncy castle" for young persons, and a great day for the whole family. Plan on attending!
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Most Worship Grand Master MacKenzie's April 8th, 2022 Direction In-Response to Provincial  COVID Safety.  Masks & Proof of Vaccination No-Longer Mandatory.
  • ​​As-of 12:01 AM April 8th, 2022, following directions from the Provincial Health Officer, in-person Lodge meetings in British Columbia may again be held without mandatory masks or proof of vaccination.  Please read the full MWGM's message which includes recommendations regarding respecting all Brothers' safety concerns. Download the MWGM's April 8th directive HERE
Our Regular Updates for Masonic Events and News:
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May 16th, 2022 ....
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​Grand Lodge Registration is now live at https://secretaries.bcy.ca/registration If the capacity limit for the facility is met, registration will cease.
  •  I have attached (HERE) an information sheet of possible accommodation for those travelling to Grand Lodge in Kimberly this June.  Please contact the agencies, hotels and/or campgrounds to make your own arrangements.  

COVID…
  • Although the rules have been relaxed with regards to meetings, assemblies, public events and other groupings we have people in the higher risk category. High risk can be related to age, general health or other illnesses. Not everyone may necessarily have the same comfort level as others within close quarters. Please be considerate of other people’s space. Some will continue to wear masks, others fist or elbow bump rather than shake hands and yet others, might prefer to stay home.
  • Lodge[s] on Vancouver Island have cancelled meetings due to an outbreak of COVID or COVID like symptoms.

Pitter, Patter, Stuff that matters…
  • I received the following from the Grand Secretary’s Office.
  • The Grand Secretary wishes to remind the brethren that the BC Gaming Control Act specifically prohibits liquor as a lottery prize and requires a Class D licence for regular raffles, 50/50 draws and the like.

Pat Bonser’s Obituary…
Ukraine Grand Lodge fundraising…
  • At our meeting on May 4th members & seekers donated financial support to the Grand Lodge of Ukraine. Further donations were received at the Monday morning coffee club. This was also an opportunity for donors to get rid of change including 3 ten pence coins and some US loose change.  When all was said and done we received $538 the evening of our meeting and a further $570 from the Coffee Club donation on Monday May 9th for a total amount of $1,108. Our Lodge has committed a matching amount of $1,000 so we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $2,108 to GLBCY in support of the GLU.
  • Although UP24 initiated this donation, it is important to acknowledge the donations have come from members of other Lodges who attended our meeting and/or the Monday morning coffee club. To you all, we say ‘thank you’.
  • WB Trant on behalf of the Monday morning coffee club has offered a further $500 to a yet undetermined cause in support of the Victoria Ukrainian Community.  We expect to have a speaker from the Victoria Ukrainian Community at our Monday morning coffee club on Monday May 30th.

Highland Games – Information table - May long weekend – Saturday and Sunday
  • WB Bruce Allan has taken the initiative [kudos to Bruce!] of arranging a kiosk table at the Highland Games on Saturday and Sunday of the May long weekend. Please contact Bruce if you are able to help with this initiative, ballan@shawcable.com.
  • To further encourage UP24 participation and support of this initiative the WM has agreed to reimburse the UP24 member’s admission fee [$25-$30] for the first 4 members of UP24 to sign up to staff the kiosk for a minimum of 3 hours.

​Victoria Day Parade
  • The parade on May 23rd is another opportunity to ‘show who we are’. The assembly point will be in Mayfair Mall with the Shrine Clown’s Smokey loci. Everyone should be in place by about 8:30 or 9:00AM.
  • Freemasons are encouraged to walk in the parade as a group, following the Banner prepared for the 150th celebration. The 150th Celebration Banner was placed in storage for safe keeping, but the person tasked with its safe keeping has forgotten where he put it. If you know where it is, please contact RWB Len Walsh so he can organize the contingent of Freemasons walking in the parade on May 23rd .
  • In the meantime our resourceful RWB Walsh has found another Banner we can use.

Canada Day Celebrations
  • July 1st long weekend will be busy this year. July 1st is a Friday and we expect to participate in the Sidney Day Parade [yet to be confirmed]. We plan to recognize our Scholarship recipients as special guests. If you know of someone who might have a suitable vehicle – such as a convertible –to host our Scholarship students, please let me know. We have had the students ride in previous years parades and they have always been well received and recognized.

Masonic Picnic
  • Sunday July 3rd [July long weekend] is the Masonic Picnic at Heritage Acres. Details are available above in the "Feature Section" The picnic is the largest gathering of Freemasons and family outside of Grand Lodge.
  • Arrangements have been made for a ‘bouncy castle’ and the miniature train will be providing rides in the afternoon. These will be available to children of all ages.
  • Although it may focus on our opportunity to chat & meet with other members it is also an opportunity to share time with our families and friends in a less formal environment.  All are welcomed, not just Freemasons or members of the Masonic family. Perhaps you have a neighbour who has expressed an interest, a workmate or someone else within your social circle.
Why are these public events significant?
  • There are stories of families not knowing their patriarch was a Freemason until the Funeral service when the Lodge members attended decked out in their aprons – some fancy, some not so fancy. It was too late for the men to ask their father, uncle or grandfather about Freemasonry. We are now in a bit more of an enlightened and in many cases a better-informed society. We now take the opportunity to share our experiences with other members of family, friends, and society in general.  If someone expresses a curiosity or interest we are encouraged to continue the conversation. Although we may still hold to “to be 1 ask 1”, in some jurisdictions members are invited. If someone were to express an interest or curiosity about Freemasonry, how would you respond: – “I can’t tell you because it’s a secret” or “let’s go for coffee and I can share with you my experience with Freemasonry”.
We are someone else’s impression of Freemasonry. These public events are our opportunity to show the world who we are and in some cases, what we do.

Open Air Degrees posters attached…(Please click on the links!) These are truly special way to confer degrees that all existing Master Masons should strive to experience at-least once!
  • Euclid Lodge is hosting an Open-Air Degree on June 4th with the MWGM attending
  • Goldstream Lodge is hosting an Open-Air Degree on June 18th – there is a festive board after the degree ($10). Limited parking available, so carpooling from the Goldstream Lodge Hall is recommended.  
  • A reminder – other than the candidates, these Open Air Degree meetings are only open to members who have received their MM degree.

Upcoming Meetings

United Peninsula continues with the Monday morning coffee club at 9:00AM.
  • We need someone to take charge of the MONDAY morning coffee club on the Holiday MONDAY If you can help with this please let Roger Trant know, otherwise it will be cancelled. All what is  required is someone to plug in the coffee urn and put the snacks out on the table around 8:00AM.

Meetings at UP24
  • 18-May - 7:00 PM - Lodge Officers planning meeting followed by Officers practice
  • 25-May - 7:00 PM - General Purpose meeting followed by Officers practice
  • 1 June - 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting – balloting and then discussion of Constitution changes
  • 11-June - 11:00 AM - Emergent Meeting – FC to be conferred - festive board after [Saturday]
 
Other meetings Victoria District #1
  • 1 June - 7:30 PM - Mount Shepherd Lodge – Sooke Masonic Hall - Regular Meeting
  • 1 June - 7:30 PM - Vancouver & Quadra Lodge – 650 Fisgard Street
  • 2 June - 7:30 PM - Victoria Columbia Lodge – 650 Fisgard Street
  • 2 June - 7:30 PM - Goldstream Lodge – Goldstream Hall – Regular Meeting
  • 18-June - 2:00PM - Goldstream Lodge – Open Air Degree – carpool from Lodge Hall (see details, above)
 
Other meetings Vancouver Island
  • 17-May - 7:30 PM - Doric Lodge Nanaimo – Cancelled
  • 18-May - 7:30 PM - Ashlar Lodge Nanaimo Election of Officers
  • 18-May - 7:30 PM - Malahat Lodge Mill Bay MM Degree Festive Board @ 6:00PM
  • 19-May - 7:30 PM - Malahat Lodge Mill Bay MM Degree Festive Board @ 6:00PM
  • 19-May - 7:30 PM - Euclid Lodge – Parksville – Regular Business & Masonic Education
  • 4-June -  - 12:00 PM - Euclid Lodge – Parksville – Outdoor Degree MWGM in attendance (see details, above)
  • 15-June - 7:30 PM - Ashlar Lodge – Nanaimo – Installation of Officers
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Standing Zoom Portal
  • UP24 established a permanent Zoom portal during the COVID virtual times of 2020 and 2021.  The portal will remain active in the event of a future need for virtual meetings.  Link HERE

Change in email address
  • Please use this email address up24lodge@gmail.com for all United Peninsula Lodge No. 24 Secretary correspondence rather than my personal accounts.  A reminder, the Canada Post address to use is:
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​United Peninsula Masonic Lodge
8105 Derrinberg Road, 
Saanichton, BC V8M 1T5

UP24 DuesDues are due at the beginning of the calendar year…
  • Treasurer Kees has installed the QuickBooks Accounting system for our Financial Reporting. This will bring a more formal and business-like presentation to our Finances and record keeping. Previously, Lodge Secretaries have had to chase members up for payment of dues. We are now able to produce monthly statements and billings to streamline the process. The preferred method of payment is by e- transfer to administration@unitedpeninsula.ca or by cheque payable to United Peninsula Lodge No. 24. Other options and details are available on our website www.unitedpeninsula.ca
  • If you have paid your Lodge dues, you will be issued a dues card. If you have not paid your Lodge dues, you will receive an invoice from our Accounting System.  We are still working out some of the finer details of how this is to work. If you have paid your dues and get what appears to be an ‘invoice’ please let Treasurer Kees know so the records can be further updated.
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Concordant Bodies – if you are interested: Scottish Rite – contact scottishritevictoria@gmail.com for application and further information.  

Some other events/items which may be of interest…

-Travelling Gavel and other paraphernalia
  • Many years ago it was the custom of Lodges to visit other Lodges which became known as a “Fraternal Visit”.  It was an opportunity for members of a Lodge to invite their least experienced Brethren to visit a Lodge without having to go through an examination of proficiency and to experience in some cases similar and yet in other cases different ritual.
  • Over the years, token[s] of recognition were exchanged – such as the travelling gavel, the travelling totem and I’m sure other souvenirs collected along the way.  RWB Rod McKenzie of Mount Shepherd Lodge has asked the question – “…does anyone know where these artifacts might be…” and is there an opportunity to use them as an incentive for Lodges to rekindle the opportunity for Fraternal and Lodge visits.
  • If you have any information of where these might be, please pass them along to RWB McKenzie at secmtshep159@gmail.com

-The Friend to Friend program is a recurring session hosted by the Oriental 20 Masonic Lodge in Mesa, Arizona.  This program is primarily geared toward people who are curious about Freemasonry, but the more Masons that join this session, the better perspective can be given to those curious about Freemasonry.  In addition to the agenda, a recurring book club starts approximately 45 minutes into the session.  Everyone is welcome.  If you would like to be part of this initiative, I suggest you send an email to Luke Evans - '18 Past Master - Oriental 20 Masonic Lodge - Mesa AZ luke.evans.us@gmail.com

-Ashlar College of Freemasonry – now has a web site www.ashlarcollege.ca  The website offers both to students already registered with the college, as well as brethren curious in becoming members of the college, - an opportunity to register. The website contains all the coursework as well as soon to have the ability to pay on line [Pay Pal or a Credit Card].

-Victoria Lodge of Education and Research [VLER]– As we have seen changes in our individual Lodges related to declining membership the VLER is facing similar challenges.  In addition to interesting and informative presentations; the VLER offers an opportunity for any Master Mason to present a paper exploring something of interest to them personally and then open the discussion afterwards to further explore their interest.  Please contact RWB Ron Cawthra at ron.cawthra@telus.net if you are interested in paying them a visit.

-EBee – Grand Lodge Electronic Bulletin/Newsletter - The latest issues of EBee are available online HERE.  Looking for Ebee archives from 2013 to 2106?  Please click HERE
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Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe
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PEOPLE JOIN AN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THE IDEALS, BUT THEY STAY BECAUSE OF YOU.
United Peninsula Lodge No. 24 & Mount Newton Masonic Hall Calendar
For District Calendars, please visit the Grand Lodge Of British Columbia & Yukon