A Simple Kindness May Save a Life - You Too Can Make a Difference

(Submitted by R. W. Bro. Morley Allan – Chairman of the P.E. D. Donor Committee)

Let me share with you a story of an act of kindness. I heard it the other day and I thought that this might well be about you or someone you know, my Brother.

In his first year of high school, Bob was walking home from school and saw a bunch of kids who ran toward a classmate, knocking a huge pile of books out of his arms, tripping him and knocking his glasses flying. Bob ran over and handed him his glasses. The classmate looked at Bob and said, “THANK YOU”.

Bob helped him pick up his books, and asked him his name and where he lived. As it turned out, Dave lived near Bob. They talked all the way home and Bob asked Dave if he wanted to play football on Saturday with him and his friends. The more Bob and his friends got to know Dave, the more they liked him.

Monday morning came, and there was Dave coming to school with the huge stack of books again. Over the next four years, Dave and Bob became best friends.

Dave grew and filled out during high school, became popular and had more dates than Bob. Dave was valedictorian and at graduation started his speech with “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. It could be your parents, teachers, siblings, but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story…”

Bob just looked at his friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day they met. Dave had planned to kill himself over that weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

Dave looked hard at Bob smiled and said “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable”.

Bob heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. Bob saw Dave's mom and dad looking at him and smiling.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life. Donating Blood is an act of kindness to someone who thinks of you as a friend. “Would you give – if it were in your power?” Only you can properly assess this question. The demand continues to grow; the supply is lagging behind demand. It is within your power, please be a donor.

GRAND LODGE OF CANADA DECLARED
FEBRUARY 20 – 25, 2012
THE ‘SECOND ANNUAL MASONIC – BLOOD DONOR WEEK’
AS A ‘PARTNER FOR LIFE’.
REGISTER YOUR DONATION AS NUMBER MASO11078

During the Blood Donor week consider giving ‘THE GIFT OF LIFE’, it is in yours to give.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

(For a picture presentation go to http://www.princeedwardmasons.ca/photo-gallery/ )

Join the Journey of Hope

(Extracts from presentations made by V.W. Bro. Jim King – Chairman of ‘Journey of Hope’ District Project)

Brethren, I invite you to join the Journey of Hope with a donation to the District Project, knowing that you would be helping some child or children to get the necessary hospital for appointments, treatment or surgery.

Some of you may be thinking, OH Man here we go again, another fund raising project. I know that in the past there were some projects that I really couldn’t get excited about and didn’t make a donation unless I was confronted face to face by the Secretary or a Committee Chairman asking for a donation.

If I wasn’t confronted, and my lodge made a contribution I thought I don’t have donate because I will support the lodge fund raisers and that will be good enough.

Christmas is upon us and after looking after your family it would be really great if you could give yourself a present. Christmas is a special time of being reminded of our charge and be charitable that will give us the warm feeling of Faith, Hope and Charity.  - Christmas is for Children - 

The ‘Journey of Hope’ is specifically for children who are in need of your help. The Masons of Prince Edward District have already shown that they care about kids through many programs, such as student bursaries to local schools. Also we are active by sponsoring a number of free Children Identification Clinics. Masons have already taken the step to keep thousands of children safe by this ‘MasoniChIP’ program.

Now it’s time to help those children in need of specialized medical care. Those children who are in a long term care program – often for years need to be transported to different centres, were they receive that special loving care our Shriner Hospitals can provide.

This year’s project needs our whole-hearted support to transport these children and their Guardians to and from their treatment centres. The support is needed from each individual Mason with a personal donation as well as the support of fund raising projects by each of the District Lodges.

So how about giving yourself a gift. What better present could you give yourself that would give you a warm feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. 

My brethren, we don’t know what the next day, year or even the next step will bring to us but be assured that if you pay it forward now, it will be returned to you sometime in the future and quite often with interest.

 
We only get one chance to live today – did you do anything today that gave you a feeling of warmth inside – a feeling that made you feel good that you were alive today – did you help someone in need today – If not, you still have a chance for the day isn’t over.

With the ‘Journey of Hope ’you won’t have to drive any child to Montreal or Boston, you won’t have to buy and deliver train, bus or plane tickets to a waiting child - all that will be done for us by a dedicated committee of Shrine Masons – a committee at Rameses Temple in Toronto that administers the transportation fund and makes sure that every child in need of transport will get it.

Remember my Brethren; it takes sunshine and rain to make a rainbow. By paying it forward in supporting this project we can create a rainbow that will form a bridge from hope to healing 

Together we can make a difference in the lives of many children; we can help many children on their journey of hope and leads them to and across the bridge to healing, good health and a fruitful life.

So another present you can have is the tax receipt you can use at year end. Please get behind this important project and give your cheque to the lodge Secretary. Cheques should be made out to the Masonic Foundation and should Show the District Project number 2461. Your Secretary has the information and recoding sheet to ensure that you get a tax receipt at the end of 2011 or 2012 depending on when you made your donation.

(Lecture to the newly initiated Mason)
“…You now stand, to all external appearance, a just and upright man and a mason and I strongly recommend you ever to continue and act as such. Indeed, I shall immediately put your principles in some measure to the test, by calling upon you to exercise that virtue which may justly be denominated the distinguishing characteristic of a mason’s heart: I mean Charity…”

Final Inspection 11/11/11

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God, which must always come to pass..
He hoped his shoes were shining, just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you soldier, how shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek? to My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent, because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny, that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place, among the people here.
They never wanted me around, except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, but if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne, where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly, for the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you soldier, you've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell.'

~Author Unknown~

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS AND GUARDIANS - Prince Edward Lodge # 18 Sponsors a Masoni-Ch. I. P. Clinic in Picton

(announce by W. Bro. Dale Porter – W. Master Prince Edward Lodge # 18)

W. Bro. Dale Porter announces that Prince Edward Lodge # 18 is sponsoring a MASONI – Ch.I.P. (Masonic Children Identification Program Clinic) on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at the Crystal Palace, 375 Main St. E., PICTON – Ontario (Picton Fairgrounds) from 9:00 a.m. through to 12:00 p.m. 

The clinic will be held just prior to the Santa Clause Parade and invites all Children and their Parents and Guardians to take this opportunity to record the identity of the children at NO CHARGE. The clinic is hosted and provided exclusively by dedicated Masons from the Prince Edward District and surrounding area.

All information about the child’s identification is kept strictly confidential and is turned over to the parent or guardian. No records of any sort are kept at the clinic. The identification program consists of five major components – vital child information, digital fingerprints, digital photographs, video and a dental bite impression or Intra Oral Swab for DNA identification. All of this data is burned onto a CD and given to the parents or guardian. 

It is hoped that no family will ever need the resources provided in our kits, but if the need should arise, the information that is provided from the program will be instrumental to law enforcement agencies in the recovery of any missing children. It only takes a few minutes from the time the CD-Rom is loaded into the Police computer for the AMBER ALERT broadcast to be sent throughput North America. 

For further information on MasoniCh.I.P. Ontario or future events, please contact the District Chair: Harold Newton – haroldnewton46@gmail.com - 613-966-3546, or Prince Edward Lodge # 18 Ch.I.P. Chairman: John Zandarin – howhardcanitbe@sympatico.ca – 613-476-5510 or Terry Young td.young@kos.net -613-393-1966

Sponsoring Champions - Kids in Bancroft:

This year our Intermediate Team won the over-all League Championship!

The Bancroft Lodge is a sponsor of a kids soccer team age groups are:

• Tykes 4-6
• Juniors 7-8
• Intermediates 9-11.

R.W. Bro. Frank Wilson, Lodge Historian and Reporter