IONIC RED COAT DEGREE TEAM AND SASKATCHEWAN GRAND LODGE OFFICERS VISIT GREAT FALLS TEMPLE

 

THEY CAME. WE SAW. THEY IMPRESSED!

 

On the left is our Worshipful Brother Bernie Meisner who is Worshipful Master of Ionic Lodge in Saskatchewan. He also performed the role of Worshipful Master in the Third degree ceremony and did a sterling job. Pictured next to him on the right is the Most Worshipful Brother Donald A. Finan, Grand Master of Saskatchewan.

This is our Canadian Br. Joe Meehan who plays the role of the Scout for the Degree Team. His job is to symbolically look us over to see if it is safe for the Mounties to come in. That made sense when he later told us that Montana was reason for the formation of the Mounties. It seems that Montanans from Ft. Benton were trading whiskey and guns for furs with the Canadian Indians. So we were basically a 19th century version of drug dealers and gun smugglers. The Mounties were formed to clear us out of Canada. We all laughed at this, and are kinda proud we had a hand in the formation of such an august and honorable institution.

This is Br. Tom L. and Worshipful Brother Dave B. They are not really Canadians. They were complaining I ignore them, and never put their picture on the website, or mention them in the newsletter. So basically I took this picture  just to placate them, so they would quit pestering me. Plus, they had to promise me not to eat all the chocolate donuts at Saturday Therapeutic Coffee hour if I posted this to the website.

Our Most Worshipful Brother Donald A. Finan, Grand Master of Saskatchewan, poses with Our own Most Worshipful Brother David Prewett, Grand Master (and Grand Pooh Bear) of Montana after the Canadian Red Coat Third Degree Ceremony and Visitation held at the Great Falls Masonic Temple on April 30th, 2005.
       

 

Here the Canadian Mountie degree team is piped into the Lodge room. It was a very stirring and grand sight and done with great ceremony and precision. Most impressive. The Stewards present the Canadian and Saskatchewan Flags and explain the symbolism behind each before they are placed in a position of honor in the East. After the ceremony, The Grand Master, and Past Grand Master of Saskatchewan, and the Worshipful Master of Ionic Lodge present The Grand Master of Montana, Grand Secretary of Montana, and the Worshipful Master of Euclid Lodge of Great Falls with gifts of thanks. Our Canadian Brothers bid us farewell and later receive a standing ovation before being piped out to the tunes of "Scotland the Brave" and "The Wearing of the Green"! A fine chicken dinner with all the fixin's was served to all the brothers afterwards.

 

Here some of the brothers enjoy a World Famous Euclid Lodge -Brother Roger Sandwich bar lunch. There was roast beef, smoked ham, turkey, and cheese for sandwiches plus an assortment of salads, chips, relishes, pickles, cookies and fruit cups. This is another picture of the Brothers enjoying a Br. Roger's world famous Euclid Lodge Sandwich bar lunch. Even today, Mounties continue to train at their headquarters in Regina,Sask. to ensure Montanans never again invade their country to sell liquor and weapons in Alberta. This is our Worshipful Master Keith H. He's actually been a pretty good Master of the Lodge and we're pretty proud of him. Like all of us, he very much enjoyed our Canadian brothers visit.