Brethren:

The April Board of General Purposes meeting was turned into a practices session for our two candidates and the officers preparing for step up night in Meridian Lodge. I found it to be a fun, but informative session. Everyone was relaxed and with good humour. I can remember several years ago when I was going through the chairs all the good natured ribbing that took place. It is a happening where we get to know each other just a little bit better. This practice brought a lot of good memories back.

The practice paid off! Acting Worshipful Master Brother Mott had his team well prepared for the Regular Lodge meeting which was the 2nd degree. As much as you listen and watch the work being done, it is more difficult when applied. Congratulations on a job well done. Next year has a good slate of officers.

May 5th is the yearly Open Air Lodge shared by Edson, Hinton, Jasper and Meridian Lodges. The opening and closing each year is shared between Jasper and Meridian lodge. This year Jasper will open and close the Lodge; Meridian Lodge officers will do the degree work. This year we will have the Grand Master of Alberta, the Most Worshipful Brother Dunlop participating in the 2nd Degree, he has volunteered to do the Charge to the candidates.

I went to the Kananaskis Spring Workshop which was held on April 20, 21, and 22nd. As usual I thought it was a great program. The keynote speaker Robert LD Cooper the Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Scotland shared some interesting information in his keynote speech, but I liked his subject from his book the Red Triangle, Masonic phobia and conspiracies better. Masons and Masonic Lodges have been blamed for many problems throughout the world mainly because of the secrecy of the order.

Another session I sat in on was The Power of Myth by R.W. Brother Roth of which he explored the importance of myth in our lives. I talked with David about his session and he has volunteered to visit Meridian Lodge and give this talk. It will be his theme for his year as Grand Master.

In signing off from this message I hope you are all in good health and if there is anything Meridian Lodge can help you with and it is within our mandate, don’t hesitate to call us.

W. Bro. Gary Willis, Master