MAPLE RIDGE, July 6—A full Chapter room at the Prince David Masonic Hall, Maple Ridge, greeted Mr. Ken Overy, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and his suite, tonight, as Fraser Valley Chapter paid special tribute to members of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Overy was accompanied by Mssrs. Don Mackenzie, Immediate Past Grand Master; Art Smith, Deputy Grand Master; and Mark Forster, Senior Grand Warden, along with several other Grand Lodge officers and officials of individual Lodges.
The Honorary Legion of Honour degree was conferred on Mr. Mackenzie by a team consisting of Senior DeMolays and Chevaliers of Lodge Southern Cross No. 44 in Vancouver.
After a formal opening of the Chapter, an alarm was sounded and Dad Nicholas S. Biss, Executive Officer, entered on his first Official Visit to the Chapter. He was attended by several Past Chapter Sweethearts and Mom Karen Boyd, Past President of the Mothers Circle of Golden Ears Chapter, which formerly met in Maple Ridge. Dad Biss is a Past Master Councillor of Golden Ears Chapter.
To explain the teachings and purposes of the Order of DeMolay, Bro. Wilson McLean, Senior Councillor, gave the Father Talk, while Bro. River Peatman, Master Councillor, recited part of the Dad Land talk, which was written a number of years ago by Bro. Reive Doig of Golden Ears Chapter and is used in several jurisdictions in North America. The late Dad Frank S. Land was the founder of DeMolay and a Past Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America.
A special award for assistance to the Chapter was presented to Mr. James Woron of Pacific No. 16, Abbotsford, the Chapter’s sponsoring body.
Bro. Peatman received the Founder’s Membership Award for signing five new members for the Order, Dad Biss received his 25-year pin, and Dad Jim Bennie, Immediate Past Executive Officer, was presented with his 50-year pin in the Order, having been initiated in Abbottsford Chapter, Abbotsford, in October 1971.
A moment’s silence was observed for Bro. G. Murray Webster, a Past Master Councillor of Maple Leaf Chapter, Vancouver, a member of the Legion of Honour and a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, who passed away last month.
In his remarks, Mr. Overy admitted he had never attended a DeMolay meeting until this evening, but urged members of the Masonic fraternity to support the young men of the Order in whatever way they can. In fairness to Mr. Overy, there has not been a DeMolay Chapter (Newcastle) where he lives for almost 40 years.
Dad Bennie explained how he came to join DeMolay and urged the Victoria chapter to stage a similar Masonic recognition event. Dad Biss thanked Bro. Peatman for his hard work in organising the proceedings.
The Valley chapter was assisted in its ceremonies by Beaver Chapter, New Westminster, whose entire active membership and three Advisors turned out to lend their support.