2013 DDGM Official Visit

The Brethren of Brant Lodge No. 663 were humbled, and perhaps a little amazed at the massive turnout at this year’s DDGM Official Visit. Eighty Five Masons turned out for dinner and fully 91 attended Lodge for the evening! Brant Lodge hasn’t been this well-attended in decades, and the energy and enthusiasm in both the Banquet Hour and Lodge was palpable.

Visitors included the District Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Allan Quainton on his Official Visit to Brant Lodge No. 663 for the 2012-2013 Masonic Year. Members of almost all of the Lodges from Hamilton District A were in attendance, including 7 sitting Masters, and a delegation of visitors from Living Stone Lodge No. 255 F&AM from Colden, NY. It was wonderful to have so many visitors, who outnumbered Brant Lodge members by more than three to one!

After our business meeting, in which Bro. Berardinelli proved his proficiency in the EA degree, all members and visitors retired for our banquet – the hall was overflowing, and so we had a dozen members of Brant Lodge eat in the foyer of the building to accommodate our visitors. The meal was superb, a succulent strip loin cooked to perfection, and the Fellowship was evident in the way the toasts were proposed and responded to. The Social Committee did a superb job of arranging a top-notch banquet this year – many thanks to them both for their hard work and dedication to making the evening a memorable on for everyone who attended.

Bro. Berardinelli is to be commended on his exemplary work, proving his proficiency and then being Passed in fine form. After the degree was over, W. Bro. Lee Collins addressed the Lodge about the trademark of the Canada Maple Leaf, Square and Compass logo. W.Bro. Marshall announced the 2013 Date Nite at the Scottish Rite Cancer fundraiser, to be held at 5:30PM on September 21 with proceeds going to the Juravinsky Center and Carpenter Hospice. R.W. Bro. Quainton gave an interesting piece of Masonic education to round out the evening, and joined W.Bro. Maennling in presenting the visitors from Living Stone Lodge No. 255 with pins from the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

The Lodge was closed in Harmony, and the Brethren retired to the Banquet Hall for refreshments, Fellowship and to share stories about their Masonic Travels.