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| We were a bit late to their meeting - I having to work until 6:30, and Dad having forgot something once we did get going. However, that didn't compromise the warm welcome we received. As I said at the time, there were a number of inducements above and beyond a wish to get to every Bethel that made me want to attend. The Honoured Queen and I had been on ritual team together, and one of the younger members had been the only visitor at my Bethel's friendship meeting the prior term. Poor Bethel, it seemed like everyone was sick. But it was a good meeting nonetheless, and there was food and fellowship to be had afterwards. | | |
| The DA Snowball took place a few hours after the Concordant Bodies Meeting - so our poor International Congress Secretary of the DeMolay was spoken for for his whole birthday. However, as the Presiding Grand Master quipped I can think of worse ways for a young man to spend his evening then surrounded by Jobies (and practically the only male, too).
For those who don't know, the DA Snowball is a relatively new thing (which is to say that it started happening during my Jobie career) - meant to take the pressure off Bethels to hold a dance after every Installation. After all, some Installations must, of necessity, fall on the same night, and a dance was the surest way to attract numbers. To this end, each Presiding and Immediate Past Honoured Queen is escorted into the room and presented to everyone. On this occasion, Miss International and myself were also escorted.
This year's Snowball was a little different, as DA had elected to make it a boat cruise instead of a regular dance. After some debate, we settled on a cruise around Vancouver harbour. They had initially hoped to sell 100 tickets or 10 tickets per Bethel, but sold twice that (and would have sold more save that we'd reached the vessel's capactiy). It's unheard of for a dance not taking place at Grand Session to attract so many.
So it was off to the Plaza of Nations, from whence the ship was departing. It was a bit of a walk through the rain - not a big deal (this is Vancouver, after all), although I was less impressed at having to descend the incredibly steep (and now wet) gang plank in my strappy little heels. I must admit, I was a little apprehensive at first that we'd be able to get everyone in without standing on each other, but it all worked out. Each Bethel had brought something to eat and drink so there was plenty for everyone, and the dance floor turned out to be more than big enough, once the chaperones had moved to the sides - or most of them anyway, some of the adults danced just as much as any of the Jobies. For myself, it wasn't long before I ditched my regalia and joined in. I think I barely sat down the entire night.
The affair was well decorated, with pretty white lights and (what else) snowflakes on the ceiling. Some of the smaller Jobies, bored with dancing, made a game out of trying to snatch some of the higher up decorations. For those who wanted some air, there were ship decks to stroll and city lights on both sides of the inlet to gaze at.
Too soon it was over, and the DJ hoped that we'd had a good Dry Grad...uh...Snowball. | | |
| It was off to Grand Lodge again this Saturday to a very special meeting of the Lodge of Education and Research. At the Grand Master's behest, every concordant body active in British Columbia was to send a representative to address the Lodge so that we could all learn a little more about one another.
Unfortunately, circumstances threw a bit of a monkey wrench into things, as the senior surviving Past Grand Master of British Columbia and the Yukon passed away just prior to the event, with his memorial service to be held the same day. Since he couldn't be at the event himself, the Grand Master asked one of his predeccesors to wear his regalia. Some of the Masons present assured me that since the current Grand Master was not, at the moment 'presiding' this was not a breach of protocall (Past Grand Masters aren't supposed to wear the regalia of a Grand Master because there can only ever be one presiding at a time). I thought it was a nice gesture, myself - since the Grand Master couldn't be there himself, he wanted to make sure that his invited guests were received by as close to a Grand Master as possible. I also know that it meant a lot to Mr. Walls to preside over a meeting which he had very much wanted to have happen. We're so lucky to have so many prominent Masons who want to work closely with us.
In any case, the Lodge of Education and Research opperates under lisence from a Blue Lodge, so they had to do the opening before we could come in. All the delegates must have been quite a site - the regalia that the representative from the Order of the Secret Monitor was wearing was quite something. He says that it doesn't travel very well, though (which he should know as he came all the way from Ottawa), and needed lots of ironing when he got to the hotel room. When we had all processed into the room, we had to seperate ourselves into three lines so that we would all fit. Then the (presiding) Grand Master and his suite came down to greet us, and shake our hands. They tried to shake mine, but got a hug instead - I continue to maintain that handshakes are not Jobie appropriate. During this time, I happened to notice that the Mr. Walls' collar was askew and reached up to fix it. He was a bit bemused, saying "Only a Jobie would do that to a Grand Master."
Once we were all seated - which took some doing as there wasn't enough room for all of us in the East, despite the Grand Lodge room being rather large - the speeches could begin. To be honest, some of them weren't that interesting, but I learned a lot listening to all the representatives - some of who came from Orders I'd never heard of before. Both Miss International and myself were asked to speak, I wasn't sure if that was going to be the case (every other Order only got one speaker), but I'm glad that I got a chance to address such an illustrious assembly. Matt Ross was the last one to speak, and, as today was his 21st birthday, he ended his remarks by signing a petition for membership in Mount Lebanon Lodge. Mr. Walls told me afterwards that he'd tried to intersperse we young people in amidst some of the drier speakers (!)
After all the presentations were done, the rest of us retired to the fourth floor for refreshments while the Masons closed the Lodge. I was really neat to get to talk to such a wide variety of people inluding a UBC student with no prior connection to the Masonic family who wanted to see what all her Freemason friends were up to, and a young Australian Mason who had come to find out how we do things over here. Upon hearing that he was interested in finding out more about Job's Daughters, Mrs. Windbiel and Mrs. Pritchard apparently attacked him with pins (he had several Jobie enblems on his lapel by the time I talked to him) - Chelsey and I exhorted him to come to a meeting sometime. | | |
| I had been working during the day, so it was an unusually quiet car ride to Grand Lodge, as I tried to preserve my voice for the evening. Needless to say, Grand Lodge is quite an impressive building. Everytime I'm invited there, whatever the reason, I really feel like someone important. The members of Bethel's #9 and 22 had all ready begun to gather at the reception hall on the fourth floor by the time we got there. The caretaker tried to direct us to the Mary Kay demonstration going on next door before we explained to him what we were there for.
After a short delay, we were ushered downstairs and marched into the lodge room to "Onward Christian Soldiers." The Daughters then preformed the living cross, with Stacey doing the signing and I gave the Cross Talk - or tried. In truth, I realized that night just how much I've come to take my strong vocal chords for granted. Usually, I'd be able to fill a large room such as Grand Lodge with little effort, but this evening I had to practically shout to be loud enough. Thankfully, I had some great support from the Daughters in the cross, who had no such trouble, and the Masons assembled gave us a standing ovation.
The Grand Master and his suite came down on the level to greet us, and par for the course, we group hugged him. He then asked myself as well as the two Honoured Queens present to say a few words, and my two companions spoke most eloquently. | | |
| My reception was held at Eureka Lodge in Langley - a bit of a trek for those of us from North Vancouver, but far more central for most everyone else. Our hall also has about three steep flights of stairs which visitors must climb in order to get to the banquet hall, which can be prohibitive for some. The commitee did an excellent job with the decorations - there were pink table clothes on the tables, and carnations in vases all over the place. Mom had also made a photo board and a number of the Bethels chipped in squares to make a quilt for me (aw!). We got there early to help set up, but I was still feeling a bit under the weather, so I mostly just hid in the kitchen downing cough drops and warm pop. Apparently, I wasn't the only one not feeling well - as people began to arrive, they carried with them the regrets of many others who were sick. Serves us right for having a reception in February, when everyone is still mired in the winter blahs, I suppose.
Instead of a guestbook, the commitee had put out two sheets of poster board for people to sign as they came in - which is a good idea, I think, as it's less expensive and allows people to write as much as they want rather than feeling limited to a single line. I tried to greet everyone as they came in while also satisfying the inevitable desire for pictures. At some point or other, the table where the quilt was displayed became the 'present' table. Thanks to everyone who gave me gifts and cards.
Once everyone had had a chance to sample to buffet and take a seat at the small round table of their choice, the programme for the afternoon began. I must admit, I was a bit concerned, because these receptions usually turn into a bit of a roast - but about the worst I got was 'you drink more diet coke with lime than anyone I know', which is quite true. The Honoured Queen from my Bethel initially presided over the order of events, but unfortunately, she wasn't quite feeling her best today either, so I eventually took over, spending most of the time telling everyone the best stories from my term. | | |
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