Notice Board

From Bro. Nigel Paterson our Junior Warden. (Please read and comment accordingly).

The Doors Open Banff was a great success. Along with Cascade Lodge #5, 16 other sites reported that many visitors had viewed their site. On Saturday June 19, 1050 total visitors were recorded and on Sunday June 20 another 678 were recorded.

For Cascade Lodge #5 there were 37 visitors on Saturday and another 56 on Sunday.

I attended the Lodge on both days and was joined by R.W.Bro. Butch Whitbread on Sunday. The prediction for this program for 2005, Alberta’s Centennial year, is expected to exceed the number of visitations in 2004 by many times. The doors Open Alberta (DOA) program will be a major part of the Province’s Centennial celebrations. I sit on the DOA Marketing Committee with three other DOA Board members. We will be meeting with Bob Scott, the new ADM for Tourism, Derek Coke-Kerr, the head of Travel Alberta and Sheryl Burns, the Alberta Centennial Coordinator, in Edmonton very soon to discuss integrating DOA into the overall Travel Alberta marketing plan for 2005. As many more committees get involve it is to be hoped many more Masonic Lodges across the Province will get involved allowing the Masonic order to demonstrate its great contributions the Masonic order has made in our communities over the last 100 years.

The Heritage Designation Application for the lodge was presented at the July 15 Heritage Corporation meeting. The meeting was held over until August 19 until more members could be present to make final decisions. I have to declare conflict of interest when Cascade Lodge #5 is discussed.

Troy Pollock of the Town of Banff prepared a report that presents four options regarding the financial incentive program. The following could be offered to the Lodge upon designation:

Finally within this report it states: “Administration is requesting the Board’s discussion on the financial incentive options prior to further review with the owner and recommendation to Council. The manner of the financial incentive must be agreed between the owners and authorized by council prior to the final passing of the By-Law to enact”.

At our September meeting I wish to discuss the four options and get some feedback from our members. Any of our Brethren who can not be at the September meeting but who may want to comment on any of the above are encouraged to call myself or WM

On June 24, 1954, (50 years ago) Bro. Edward (Ed) MacFarlan and Bro. Leroy (Roy) Nourse became members of Cascade Lodge. In my conversations with both brothers they advise me they were work colleagues and friends when they joined the Lodge and the same is true today. Both live in Calgary and see each other quite often. Bro. Ed is now 80 and recently had major heart surgery. Bro. Roy is 75 and has been active in the Royal Arch. It is many years ago since either was at Cascade Lodge but both have retained their membership and keep solid ties to the Masonic order. Bro. Ed advised that prior to joining the Lodge he had served in the armed forces with W. Bro. Frank Gourlay. Bro. Ed felt that his present health would not allow him to get to Banff for the presentation of his 50 year jewel and suggested that it be presented at his home in Calgary. He also liked the idea of having his friend and Brother, Bro. Roy with him at the time and perhaps they both could share the presentations. This will be organized. If you would like to join the WM for this special occasion call him at 762-5170 to arrange transportation.

As a matter of interest the following is the anniversary list of all our members who have been 50 years or longer in the Masonic order.

The following is a report on the use of our web page since it opened in 2003. It is interesting to see how many have viewed our site and as you see from all over the world. We have had a number of emails congratulating us on the quality of our website.

Not all the members that join a Lodge find what they had hoped to find. Freemasonry is not for everyone. As one person once said to me about sour kraut, you either love it or never eat it again, for some the same rules apply to Freemasonry. I guess you can argue that Freemasonry may offer a very simplistic view on life one of caring and sharing for others especially our brothers in the craft and their families. Perhaps some come looking for too much and see it as a dog and pony show. Others go searching for a deeper meaning and lose sight of the basics and get lost in their own confusion. Whatever it is some basic principals apply. Leaving the order by taking a demit is the correct way out whilst the SNPD is the incorrect way out. As secretaries we work hard at collecting dues, if we do not see dues coming in we raise a yellow flag sometime in October. In February the following year, a red flag is raised. Sometimes, whatever we say or do does not change the outcome. Right now I have 5 red flags and I am working hard on another 17 members to ensuring we have no new yellow flags in October.

Financially 2003 was a very good year for the Lodge. We gathered rent from three tenants. Tridon Communications our long term tenant in the preparation room, Arctos Bird for allowing the historic Crag a Canyon building to be parked on our lot whilst a building project is going on further down Bear Street. The Canadian Rockies School Division occupied part of the Fred King Room as a site office whilst the Banff High School was under modernization. They are now gone but the cabin is still there and so is our long term tenant.

Last year it was a struggle to get in the dues only $2,325 arrived, 50% did not show up but total receipts brought in $27,667 thanks to rentals. Meanwhile on the expenditures we spent $18,576. Yes, 2003 was a good year but $6,000 of our revenue is gone and probably by this time next year another $7,200 will be gone. Simple mathematics will tell us $27,667 – 6,000 – 7,200 = $14,467. Without the rentals a $4,000 loss would have been the outcome in 2003. We can conclude with membership dues alone we would never survive. Right now we have a healthy bank balance that will keep us afloat for some time but the sands of time will run out eventually. So brethren the act of being prompt in paying those dues is critical to our survival.

Our Senior Warden put together a budget that got approved at the March meeting it is as follows:

Income (Projected 2004)		Expenses (Projected 2004)
Membership	5,900	Donations	1,000
Rental	12,750	Grand Lodge	2,555
Interest	5,642	Insurance	1,400
		Utilities	7,000
Total	24,292	Other stuff	2,137
		Total	14,092
		Capital Improvements	5,000
		Total	19,092

The March meeting was a bit of a challenge. Our W. M. took sick just before the meeting and another three members were also indisposed. Luckily it all worked out, even though we had to patch and run the degree team.

The Notice of Motion to change the Bylaws was passed and awaits final approval from the Grand Master. The intent of the motion was to allow the Lodge to review annually (in November) the dues and fees structure. The wording in the motion permitted the Lodge to do this without having to seek approval from the Grand Master every time we need to make a change. The motion also allows the W. M. to choose a time to Tyle the Lodge for a Regular Meeting on the second Thursday of the month instead of having to ask permission from the Grand Master on every occasion a time change was needed. Once approved, Tyling will be any time after 6 pm.

“Freemasonry in Alberta is enjoying an era of great expansion and prosperity. Large numbers of applicants are crowding into our Lodge rooms”. If only this would be the case today! A well written 1954 Editorial by M. W. Bro. Sam Harris, makes for very good reading and can be found on the Grand Lodge Web page at http://www.freemasons.ab.ca/ABFm/GLB5403.pdf

The Ladies Night on February 28, 2004 was not well attended which was unfortunate as the meal was very good. We had the pleasure of sharing the evening with widows Edith Sorensen, Doris Lyster and Jackie Ferguson and a good time was had by all.

I had the pleasure to talk to Bro. Douglas Woodward on his birthday. Although he joined the Lodge in 1959 and his time in Banff was relatively short, loyally he retained his membership over all these years. We need to thank members like Bro. Woodward for their continued support.

In the March 18, edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook there was an article on the Lodge seeking official heritage status. It also contained a photograph of our W.M. in the Lodge Room. In our application there is a statement of significance which reads. The building is a two story stucco building with red brick trim on a large triangular lot bounded by Bear, Caribou and Lynx streets.

The Architect was James A. MacDonald of Calgary, designed in 1924. It was built by S.J. Unwin Contracting. (S.J. Unwin had been WM. of the Lodge in 1913, but died in WWI, in 1917 but in 1924 the company still carried his name). The Lodge has a commanding presence in downtown Banff. It is a purpose designed building, housing the Masonic Lodge Room and accompanying furnishings. The entranceway is imposing, with a concrete stairway leading to a large foyer. Masonic lettering and insignia are present on the building exterior and entry sidewalk. The original furnishings are significant to the continuous use of the building as a Masonic Lodge since 1925 or even earlier. The building is unique in Canada.

Cascade Lodge # 5 was originally chartered by the Grand Lodge of Manitoba in 1888. It was entered onto the Grand Lodge of Alberta in 1905, when the province was founded. The Lodge building was the hub of social life in Banff for many years and served as the meeting place for Freemasons, Shriners and members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Many notable citizens of Banff have served as worshipful masters of the Lodge, including W.H. McCardell, G.M. Fear, P.A. Moore, J.I. Brewster, W. Warren, L.S. Crosby, E.J. Langridge S.J. Unwin, H.A. Gourlay, Rev. T.H. Lonsdale, T. Brown, T.B. Ford, F.A. Gourlay to mention only a few. Dr. R.G. Brett was an affiliated past master and received a Masonic funeral in the Lodge, as did Jim Brewster. Cascade Lodge is the oldest fraternal organization in Banff.

Every now and then a lodge has a member who takes a great interest in Masonic Order and becomes very active and committed. R. W. Bro. H.E. (Butch) Whitbread is one such member. Butch joined Cascade Lodge in 1989. The Lodge clearly recognized his potential. In 1995 Butch became W. M. followed by three years as Secretary and another three as Secretary Treasurer. In fact since 1989 he as never had a year without an official chair. In 1998 he became District Deputy Grand Master; only six other members of the Lodge had gained this title in its 116 year history. Meanwhile during this period Butch and his wife Allie became involved in Zenith Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Cochrane, with Butch being Worthy Patron no less than five times. In 2003 he went even further and became Worthy Grand Patron. I feel very proud when I say I was one of his sponsors. Butch has been a wonderful ambassador for Cascade Lodge and we can only congratulate him and thank him for his loyalty and endeavors.

Installing Master, V. W. Bro. Tom Brown hands over gavel to our newly installed Master W. Bro. Butch Whitbread.

To recognize his achievements two copies of this Lodge Notice are in colour, as a special gift and keepsake for Butch and Tom.

At the Board of General Purposes meeting some interesting topics were discussed:

The Lodge is submitting an application to the Town of Banff for Municipal Historic Resource Designation. The membership will eventually have to approve the concept if the request is accepted.

What is a Heritage Resource? For the Lodge, it means recognition that our building structure has significant value by virtue of its design. That the Freemasons of Banff have contributed significantly to the historic development of the community of Banff and their presence has enhanced the character and quality of the town.

What is Municipal Historic Resource Designation? It is a legislative tool for recognizing and legally protecting the community’s significant Heritage Resource. If the Lodge became a Historic Resource a bylaw could be passed that ensures the features of the Heritage Resource be protected.

The building could not easily be changed or demolished and must be maintained in such a way as to keep its original features.

What are the Benefits of Designation? This could mean financial support in maintaining the buildings outside appeal and perhaps further support from Federal or Provincial incentive programs.

If the Lodge Building became a Resource within the Town of Banff, its historic presence could not easily be removed and the history of the Lodge and what it did for the community will be preserved for as long as the Designation program existed even if Cascade Lodge #5 itself on longer existed. More news will follow in the next Lodge Notice.

The year 2005 will the Centennial for the Province of Alberta and the Grand Lodge of Alberta. In 1905, Cascade Lodge #42 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba became Cascade Lodge #5 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. Cascade Lodge was placed in Masonic District #1 now known as Alpha District. To celebrate all this, a committee has been appointed comprising of W. Bro. Bryan Gerrie. Bro. Steven Moore and Bro. Nigel Paterson to put it all together. More news to follow.

Our Senior Deacon Bro. Ted Clark was in hospital recently. The message is, he has to take it easy for a while. Anyone who knows Ted will realize that this is not going to be easy for him. Meanwhile we wish him a speedy recovery.

At the last meeting we had more correspondence via the email than conventional mail. We heard from R. W. Bro Howard Morter, Bro Alan Hordyk and Bro Tim Guiler. For those who do not have email there is the phone. I had the good fortune to talk to Bro. Lorne Robinson, Bro. Eric Lomas, W. Bro. Les Gordon and R. W. Bro. Bill Robinson. It was nice to hear from them and to get a progress report on how they were doing.

V. W. Bro. Tom Brown was 95 on February 23, 2004. An Item appeared in the local newspaper congratulating Tom on this landmark. I called Tom at 10am on his birthday to wish him well but no answer. It was 10pm when I eventually caught up with him at home. Tom is still a very busy person.

On February 17, 2004, four members of the Lodge went with our W. M. to Perfection Lodge #9 for a visit. More visitations are to follow.

Bro. Bill Hunt is still on our missing persons list; again can any member help us find him?

The average age of our membership is 65.5 years. The range of age is 95 to 33.

We welcome a new member by affiliation, Bro. Henry (Hank) Mottl. Bro. Mottl was a member of Gateway Lodge #164, a Lodge that closed its doors some years ago. Hank has a very interesting job and travels a lot. We are looking forward to seeing him in Lodge so he can tell us more about himself.

Some of our members do not live in the Bow Valley and are unable to attend Lodge. I guess the old saying of 'out of sight out of mind' may also apply to our fraternal order but it should not. Today we have the technology to communicate information in prolific amounts but sadly some of this information is junk and worthless. One of our members said that what goes on in the Lodge is of interest to members who can not get to Lodge or why would they be members, and of course he is correct. Each month an attempt will be made to update you via this site and through the Lodge Notice of news and events from the lodge.

If you have any comments about our web site, please forward them to our webmaster, Bro. Tim Guiler at shelldrake@cascade5.org .

On January 8, W. Bro. Peter Nolan our then W. M., as he prepared to step down, made his last address to the Lodge. His farewell speech was very moving. He said that being the W. M. and having the power of the gavel had been a very humbling experience. It had been an honour to be the W. M. of the Lodge, an honour he never expected to have. He apologized to the Lodge for any errors he may have made, as it had not been his intention to upset anyone. He pledged his support for the new W. M. and his wish to keep on serving the Lodge.

Installation of our new W. M. was on January 17, 2004. There were 17 members and 43 visitors present. R. W. Bro. Whitbread was the installing master. The work was very well done and a credit to the team. Following the meeting there was a banquet, with Bro. Nigel Paterson our new J. W. being the master of ceremonies. The meal itself was excellent and something of a team effort. Our W. M.'s wife (Deb) saw to the steaks whilst our J. W.'s wife (Cheryl) saw to dessert. Meanwhile, our stalwart Steward W. Bro. Charles Riley prepared the rest. All in all it was a very nice evening.

Our W. M. has made mention in his message of the challenges of membership and attendance.

On January 1, 2004 the Lodge had 69 members, about the same number as in 1908. In its heyday 1928, the Lodge could brag a membership of about 180. Membership dropped, but by 1957 it was back up to about 170. Since then there has been a steady decline. The Lodge's average meeting attendance (from its members) in 2003 was 13. The average age of the membership has risen substantially. The challenge is to stop the decline. If any member has a friend or family member who they feel would make good candidates, now is the time to get them interested.

No of hits by year	2003	2004
(Total - including multiple hits)	525	1807
(Unique - no multiple hits)	425	1490

No of hits by country	2003	2004
United States	252	959
Canada	105	315
United Kingdom	6	25
Italy	0	13
Netherlands	0	9
South Korea	0	7
Germany	0	6
Denmark	0	5
Sweden	1	4
Poland	2	4
Australia	0	4
Mexico	1	3
Romania	0	2
New Zealand	0	1
Portugal	0	1
Pakistan	0	1
Japan	0	1
France	4	0
Iceland	1	0
Belgium	1	0
Russian Federation	1	0