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The Round Table

Nipissing Muskoka District

Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M of Canada in the Province of Ontario

Volume 15, Issue No. 1 January

Grand Master M.W. Bro. Donald A. Campbell

Deputy Grand Master R.W. Bro. John Cameron Green

Grand Secretary M.W. Bro Terence Shand

District Deputy Grand Master

R.W. Brother Terry P.A. Taylor

Nipissing Muskoka District, GRC

1105 Taylor Road, Bracebridge, ON P1L 0A1

(705) 645-8150 phillip6700@outlook.com

District Secretary

W. Bro. Shawn Dougan

2025 Avery Lane, Orillia, ON L3V 6H2

705-329-3729 the_dougans@rogers.com

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Editor

R.W. Bro. Garnet E. Schenk

gschenk@cogeco.ca

District Web Site

www.nipissingmuskoksmasons.com

In this issue

Address on the Official Visit to Corona Lodge No. 454 and the work of the evening. P2 & 3

Things of Interest P4

From Darkness toward Light P5 & 6

Special Notices P6

Words of Wisdom P6

Directory P7

The Sankey Lecture Series P8

R. W. Bro. Terry P.A. Taylor,

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Address by R.W. Bro. Terry P.A. Taylor on his Official Visit to

Corona Lodge No. 454— December 4, 2014 The Origin and Duties of the Inner Guard

Thank you Bro for that thoughtful toast to Grand Lodge, and you Brethren for the way in which you received it. There is very little written about the Inner Guard when compared to other officers in the Lodge. One reason that could be considered is that Masonically speaking, the office of the Inner Guard is of com-paratively recent origin - 1816 being the first recorded mention of that office. For nearly a hundred years preceding that date the visitors would have been admitted and the candidates received in due form by the youngest entered apprentice or a brother appointed by the Junior Warden. It is interesting to note that the rank of Inner Guard is unknown in most American Lodges where the Junior Deacon, under the command of the Junior Warden admits visitors and receives the candidate. The office of Inner Guard is recognized in the English, Scottish and the Irish Lodges as well as most lodges overseas where Masonic traditions are descended from these constitutions.

The word Guard: The name guard or guardian is evolved from the same origin as the word Warden. In Bernard E. Jones’ book “Freemasons Guide and Compendium” we are informed that the word Wardian or Guardian are one and the same. A scholar noted in 1605 that the French, Italian and others whose lan-guage comes from the Latin, turned the “W” of such words into a single “U”. A further quote from Bernard Jones’ book “because their alphabet hath no acquaintance with the “W” at all, but then to mend the mat-ter– they used before the U to put a G, and so Warden or Wardian to make Guardian, or Ward to make Guard. Thus it was explained that Wardian, Warden and Guardian are all one, a keeper or attender to the safety of that which he hath in charge. The Inner Guard, then is in fact the Door Warden, and in some ear-ly lodges he was the first serving Brother under the control of the Outer Guard or Tyler, who was also a serving Brother.

The first recorded instance in an English Lodge where the use was made of a “Door Keeper” was in 1734 at the Old Kings Arms Lodge No. 28, where more than likely he was the youngest Entered Apprentice, and he would use a Trowel as his Weapon. It was about the beginning of the 19th century when the “Door Keeper” or “Inner Tyler” began to be called the Guarder or Guard and it was not until about 1814 when there was an official recognition of the actual office of Inner Guard.

The Tyler’s Assistant: There are a number of old minutes where it is recoded that the Inner Guard or Inner Tyler was in fact regarded as an assistant to the Tyler, and as a serving Brother he was, like the Tyler, en-titled to receive an allowance for his duties. In the minutes of the Lodge of Honor and Friendship, Blan-ford, (ceased 1838) it was recoded a Brother was made an “allowance of one shilling for each lodge night and one shilling for every newly initiated Brother to take on himself the office of Inner Guard and to assist the Tyler - as he had been admitted under the dispensation of the Provincial Grand Master and was initiat-ed without a fee.”

The Royal Agustus Lodge of Monmouth (erased 1830) it was recorded, had the office of an Outer Tyler and a Junior Tyler. The office of Inner Guard is recorded in the 1816 records the Lodge Love and Honor No. 75 Falmouth. The United Grand Lodge of England authorized the Inner Guard’s Jewel, the Crossed Swords in 1819.

In researching for this paper one discovers that the weapon that the Inner Guard, as traditionally armed, was in fact the pointed trowel and it would appear that there is ample evidence to support a valid argu-ment that the Inner Guard should continue to be so equipped today, particularly as the sword has been the weapon of the Outer Guard or Tyler. It would appear to be a rather strange decision that the Grand Lodge of England made nearly 195 years ago when it seemed it broke away from the Tradition when crossed swords were adopted in the place of the Trowel for the Inner Guard.

The Trowel - the Inner Guard’s traditional weapon: It would appear strange that in spite of a long standing

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Tradition, our Craft seems to have overlooked the trowel in its ceremonial workings. Bernard E. Jones suggests that the operative Mason of old was largely a cutter and shaper of stone, whereas the trowel is a stone layers tool. There is no doubt at all that in the eighteenth century the use of the trowel was much more in evidence then it is now. In 1754 a lodge in Carmathen has recorded the purchase of five trowels and the mending of twelve others, which seems to suggest that in the old lodge, trowels had a considerable part to play, but what part Masonically we do not know.

In the present day the trowel is used for the purpose of laying a foundation stone with Masonic Ceremo-nial, where it is appropriate, as the only surviving link with operative masonry, The trowels used for this purpose are usually of silver, highly decorated and preserved as a memento for posterity, and are often to be found in a Masonic Museum. The trowel is still in use to this day in a few old English Lodges, par-ticularly in the Cities of Bristol and Bath, where it has a place in the First and Third Degrees. Particularly in the Third Degree we are informed “the trowel is used for the noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherhood and affection which unites us in a sacred bond as a Society of Brethren, amongst whom no contention should ever exist”. In the ritual of the First Degree, in the charge after initiation we hear “In every age Monarchs themselves have been promoters of the art, have not thought it derogatory to their dignity to exchange the Septre for the Trowel…” This statement may be interpreted as referring to the ancient practice of arming the most recent initiate, or the Junior Entered Apprentice with a Trowel as a means of keeping off all cowans and intruders.

The Grand Lodge of Ireland, in 1769 decreed “that the design for the lodge seals shall consist of a Hand and a Trowel. An Irish Masonic crest of 1738 showing a hand holding a pointed trowel as a stab-bing weapon provides a key to the use of which the tool was put in early speculative lodges and possi-bly in the old operative lodges which preceded them. It was the Tyler’s or the Inner Door Keeper’s weapon. In some Irish lodges a flat of the trowel is extended to the candidate to receive his gift when inviting him (in the first degree) to give to the cause of Masonic charity. The hand and the trowel are found on some of the earliest known jewels used by the Modern Lodges.

There are some lodges in England where the trowel is used as the weapon of the Inner Guard or Tyler. In the Royal Sussex Lodge now extinct, a silver trowel was presented to the Inner Guard or Tyler. In the lodge of Love and Honor No. 75, in Falmouth it is recorded in 1808 “that there should be two Tylers, Williamson to act on the door inside and Symons outside, Williamson should wear his badge of office, consisting of a Trowel”. That trowel is still worn by the inner guard of that lodge today.

There are some lodges in New Zealand where the trowel is a working tool of the third degree, and there are some lodges where it is the jewel of the Junior Deacon.

The trowel has also been described as the implement of the Inner Guard, with which he is enabled to seal up the door of the Lodge Room when all qualified brethren seeking admission have been admit-ted.

The Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, the working tools of the Master Mason Degree are “All the tools of Masonry, and the Trowel…” and the ritual goes on from there . Just thought I would share that with as a side note, but it is interesting that the Trowel would be the instrument or weapon of the Inner Guard. Thank you for your attention here this evening. Our motto is:

2B1 ASK1.

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The February issue of The Round Table will carry the full coverage of the Official Visit of the District Deputy Grand Master R.W. Bro. Terry P.A. Taylor to Nipissing Lodge No. 420. It will include his address to the Brethren and several pictures showing the warm reception and the pleasant surroundings of Club 183.

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The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teach-er inspires.

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Things of Interest

Official Visits:

The Official Visit of R.W. Bro. Terry P. A. Taylor, DDGM for Nipissing Muskoka to Unity Lodge No. 376 is set for February 11th, 2015. Dinner at 6:30 pm at All Saints’ Anglican Church located 130 High Street, Huntsville, ON. Lodge starts at 8:00pm. The lodge location is 1 Crescent Road, Unit 212, Huntsville, ON P1H1Z6.

The Official Visit of R.W. Bro. Terry P. A. Taylor, DDGM for Nipissing Muskoka to Mattawa Lodge 405

is slated for March 3rd, 2015. Dinner will be at 6:00 pm at Club 183, 183 First St. W. Lodge will open at 7:30 pm.

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Rorab Shrine Club:

Rorab Coffee Klatch, every Wednesday at 9:30 am. Rorab Cycle Unit Breakfast: Sunday, January

25th, open to all. Rorab Ladies Luncheon: January 25th, starting at 12:30 pm, open to all.

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Rorab Shrine Club Trip—To Shriners’ NEW Hospital for Children in Montreal.

Three day Trip Begins on October 23rd and returns on October 25, 2015.

Transportation is via coach buses at $100.00. Hotel rooms at about at about $150.00 per night.

Contact Rorab’s President Rob “Tinman” McDonald at 705-474-1570 or rob.mcdonald@sympatico.ca

(More reminders will appear in subsequent issues)

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Lakeland Chapter No. 245 O.E.S., Charity Project 2014-2015

This year the Worthy Matron will be supporting The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation in raising funds for the Dyslexic Learning Centre, (Muskoka satellite centre).

To this end a licensed draw is being held during the year, with numerous prizes.

For more information on the draw and on the learning centre please contact

Helen MacNaughtan, Worthy Matron (705) 645-2422

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From Darkness toward Light By R.W. Bro. Garnet E. Schenk

Something significant happens, or at least should happen for Masons when an initiate confirms in whom he puts his trust. The response can easily be overlooked but it does have importance for all three de-grees. When we witness that response and let it pass as mere formality we miss part of the beauty, knowledge and understanding we as Masons are challenged to seek in this life.

The initiate is told that he is in the hands of a true and trusted friend whom he can follow with firm but humble confidence. It is useful for each Mason to reflect upon the meaning and the implications of that statement in the larger sense. Every man seeks answers to the fundamental questions of his existence: What am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Our Masonic art guides and directs each man to know himself by providing a carefully constructed course in self-improvement, self-examination, self -discovery, self-analysis, self-realization along with an understanding of his relationship with the Creator. Of itself, Masonry does not, nor can it, make good men better, but that great work of moving from Darkness to Light must be done by the Mason striving each day to be a better man before the Deity in whom he puts his trust.

Regarding initiation as a mere ceremony may mean very little. However, in a symbolic sense initiation is really a picture of a man starting on the journey of life. It is a journey of moving from darkness toward light through the three degrees. It is a journey from the unreal to the real, from darkness toward light and from out of the shadows of mortality into the way of life everlasting. The candidate sets out on a mystic journey on an unseen road, traveling West to East and East to West by way of South seeking the loca-tion where truth is known and life reveals both meaning and mystery. The journey makes him fully aware of the moral lessons contained within the lectures and how they should be used in building character and understanding and trust in the Deity.

It is a fact that from the time of our birth until the time that we pass through the valley of the shadow of death we need a guide to keep us on that path. It does not lie within man to direct his own steps on that path. Freemasonry sets out the principles along with many guideposts in its teachings. Simply, but un-mistakably stated, from our first steps to the last we live and walk by Faith and not by sight. The V.O.S.L. lays out the path in clearly defined terms.

The Freemason, who understands the concept of needing guidance from a Higher Power, has arrived at the beginning of wisdom. Man cannot find his way alone in the rough and tumble of life nor can he, as an initiate find his way in lodge without humbly trusting his guide and his mentor. He leans on his guide, he follows him and he fears no danger. Trusting his guide is a model for trusting God in whom he vows to put his trust.

Freemasonry is a moral science and it teaches that we must learn the way and the will of God, not in or-der to use Him for out own purposes, but to be used by him for His own ends. The difference may seem minor at first; it is really the difference between true faith and a false faith – between religion and super-stition. In Freemasonry morality occupies first place and without it Freemasonry would not be Freema-sonry.

The journey out of Darkness toward the Light has a deep and abiding meaning. It offers answers to the persistent questions that are as old as creation. What am I? Whence come I? Whither go I? It tells us that the West is the symbol of this world and the East is the world of above and beyond

The Mason properly instructed and guided learns the secret that the soul has its setting from beyond the world of sense and time and is given by the Creator to discipline and develop us. Our life on this earth is not a futile quest in which we are engaged but that life has meaning and purpose. Freemasonry teaches that we are guided and guarded by a Friend who knows the way and can be trusted to the end. There is the promise that we can penetrate the veil that dims our eyes. We will be able to see and hear the truth of the V.O.S.L. and the lessons contained therein when we a ready and worthy to receive it. There is a biblical injunction that tells Mason to let their light shine. The light however, will not shine unless the

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Mason takes the time to fill the lamp with oil.

What the candidate and/or member gets out of Freemasonry starts with his rebirth - initiation. What he ends up with depends on himself, for what the Mason is sent to seek is the beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. If the Freemason seeks diligently he will get more out of it than he puts in - not materially but mentally and spiritually.

We need to learn that truth again and again. It is emphasized in the ritual line by line, precept by precept as we move around the Altar and up the winding stairs and beyond that into the light and joy of eternal life. The Freemason needs always to consider the summary statement by an eminent theologian, “Remember light shines into darkness – never let the darkness remove the light.” So when the initiate re-sponds by saying that he puts his trust in God we rejoice with him welcome him to the Fraternity that has a true and trusted guide in this world and in the next.

References: Book of the Work: Short Talk Bulletin, MSA and material published by the Curriculum Group and the Committee of Masonic Education, GLCPOO.

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Special Notices

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Words of Wisdom

Masonic Education should be a pleasure to be enjoyed not a chore to be endured.

Comment by M.W. Bro. C. Edwin Drew, PGM

Rorab Shrine Club in North Bay is organizing a trip to the newest state of the art Shriners Hos-

pital in North America. It is being built right here in Canada. The trip is scheduled for October 23

- 25, 2015. Montreal, Quebec. Contact: Shrine President 2015 Rob "TINMAN" McDonald (P.M.

Powassan Lodge) for details at either rob.mcdonald@sympatico.ca or 705-474-1570. Only 24

seats are left on the second bus.

Videos by the Mentors Team

The Mentors Team has produced four short Video presentations that are available for viewing in

the Members Section of the Grand Lodge Web Page. The videos are professional in content and

in presentation. The subject matter is of interest to every Mason in this Grand Jurisdiction in gen-

eral and every Sponsor and Lodge Mentor in particular. Make them a part of your digital refer-

ence library and your lodge educational program.

Brethren: A few weeks ago, at a recent Masonic function, it was announced that one of the Breth-ren of our District has been inducted into the Royal Order Scotland. This great honour has been bestowed on V.W. Bro. Lloyd Fleming, a member and PM of Muskoka Lodge No. 360, a Past District Secretary of the Muskoka Parry Sound District, Past Grand Steward and a 33 degree Ma-son of the Scottish Rite – Valley of Barrie.

I would ask you to join with me in offering our warmest congratulations, on an honour so well de-served. (Posted by R.W. Bro. Iain D. Wates)

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Directory

GRAND LODGE OF A.F. & A.M. OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE

OF ONTARIO

www.grandlodge.on.ca

Web Site Members Area Access USERNAME: your six digit Grand

Lodge Certificate number

NIPISSING MUSKOKA DIST.

www.nipissingmuskokamasons.com

HERITAGE LODGE NO. 730

www.heritagelodge730.ca

TEMPLUM FIDELIS LODGE No. 746

www.templumfidelis.com

MASONICHIP PROGRAMS

INFO & EVENTS

www.masonichip.ca

BLOOD DONOR CLINICS

www.blood.ca

SHRINE CLUBS

Shrine International Headquarters

www.shrineershq.org

Rameses Toronto Headquarters

www.rameses-shriners.ca

Rorab Shrine Club

www.rorabnorthbay.com

Muskoka Shrine Club

www.muskokashrineclub.com

ORDERS OF THE EASTERN STAR

www.easternstar.on.ca

SOCIETAS ROSICRUCIANA

IN CANADA

www.sric-canada.org

YORK RITE

Royal Arch Masons

www.royalarchmasons.on.ca

Grand Council of Royal and

Select Masters of Ontario

(Cryptic Rite Masons)

www.grand-council-rsm-on.ca

The Sovereign Great Priory

Of Canada (Preceptory)

www.knightstemplar.ca

SCOTTISH RITE

Supreme Council Website

www.scottishritecanada.ca

Note: Information for the Nipissing Muskoka Web Page and Nipissing Muskoka Newsletter (The Round Ta-

ble) should be sent to Garnet Schenk at gschenk@cogeco.ca. Please forward your upcoming events so that it

can be included in the Calendar of Events on the Web Page and in the Lodge News Section of the News-

letter. Digital photos of past events, presentations or significant milestones are most welcome.

Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, Happy to Meet Again

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