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Most Illustrious Companion
Clifford C. Hartmier CD2
Inaugural Speech
PMIGMs, Distinguished guests, Grand
Council Officers, Companions of all ranks, and the Beautiful Ladies,
Perhaps
new or has become a common household term is “Hunker Down” for this
pandemic. Being an employee of the Public Health Agency of Canada, I
have had a different view than most, as work has been consistent and
constant. Hunkering down has had a different meaning for me.
As my
father was a Shrine Mason, my mother was a member of the Daughters of
the Nile and I as a Past Master Councilor of Winnipeg Chapter Order of
DeMolay, I consider myself raised in a Masonic Family. Thus as I am
in my 37th year of being a "Brother of the Mystic Tie", it is an honor
to serve the Companions of Western Canada as the GM.
One thing
that I have learned from Masonry is that although you do not expect
things to come along, somehow people notice you. Thus, I thank each
one of you who out within this virtual setting today. Also for those
who are not, let us not forget those who have risen to the Grand
Council above.
The most
important person is my wife Deanna who I thank for her support, love
and allowing me to be busy with my masonic endeavors and the military
reserves.
We
applaud MIC Les Robinson on his two year tenure as our GM. Perhaps
now is the time for a rest or what could be the next Masonic office?
Contrary to poplar belief, he did do a most illustrious service during
his first year and was only repeating it due to the pandemic and
nothing else. Something about that expression “Try try again until
you get it right!”
We applaud
RIC Bill Fitzsimmons on moving up a notch but he is busy this year for
Saskatchewan Shriners being the Potentate of Wa Wa.
We applaud
RIC Jerry Kopp on his numerous years as our Grand Recorder and from
the outside looking in, he did a tremendous job and Western Canada
welcomes him to the line.
An
electronic election was held just over a year ago and we applaud RIC
Leif Hansen for allowing his name to be on the election ballot for the
Grand PCW office, his past endeavors and his passion for freemasonry.
I will mention that back in the fall of 2014, I had a short contract
of work in the Red Deer area. Leif and his late wife Hilda were most
generous hosts and we travelled frequently to numerous Masonic
meetings in the Calgary area.
We applaud
MIC Don Russel for his numerous years as our Grand Treasurer and for
his offering of conducting the Installation of Grand Officers today.
We also
applaud MIC Don Murray and VIC Kyle Burns for accepting the positions
of Grand Treasurer and Recorder.
If I had
been installed as the GM last year in Chilliwack BC, my planned and
busy year would have been coming to completion next week. I make will
mention that many plans were in place prior to April 2020. My wife
and I had air travel bookings to Chilliwack for the GC 2020 Assembly,
flight plans along with a car rental to attend the Supreme session in
Eastern Canada, along with flights booked to Ontario for their
session. Finally, let us not forget the handouts for the Companions
for which they are being carried over to this new modified Grand
Council year. Although they are dated for a year earlier, just ask me
for one when you see me.
I do like
to travel and such will be the case as your GM but bear in mind that I
am working full time and subject to any restrictions that may be in
place.
It is my
belief that many PGMs can still continue visiting other jurisdictions
which helps to maintain the fraternal relations on a higher level.
One ideal about visiting our jurisdiction is the opportunity to see
how others conduct their Grand Assemblies and perhaps acquire some
ideals for that thinking out of the box experience.
I along
with the available Officers look forward to travelling to Dawson Creek
for consecration of Enoch Council UD of Royal & Select Masters and
Jonah Lodge UD of Royal Ark Mariners.
The big
plans for this 2021 - 2022 Grand Council year will be to meet as many
of you that I am able to see whether it be at a Council meeting or a
Grand body gathering.
“TRAVEL SPARKS OUR IMAGINATION, FEEDS
OUR CURIOSITY,
AND REMINDS US HOW MUCH WE ALL HAVE IN
COMMON.”
Considering that by April 2022 the Grand Council will not have meet in
person since May 2019 in Alberta, a big and splashy Assembly will be
in the works for Winnipeg. For those who attended the April 2018 GC
of Manitoba HRA annual Convocation, the plans are for this one to be
bigger. As the Grand “Poobah” for the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes,
plans are to confer this degree during the 2022 Grand session and is
open to all.
"If you want happiness for an hour —
take a nap.”
“If you want happiness for a day — go
fishing.”
“If you want happiness for a year —
inherit a fortune.”
“If you want happiness for a lifetime
— help someone else."
Why is it
that some people step up while others step back?
Is it
because they know more; is it because they’re better?
Sometimes, it’s necessary to sit down, soak it all in, take a moment
to stop and think.
But when
the time comes to stand up,
what
makes some move forward boldly while others back down?
The
difference is in one’s passion — what are you passionate about?
What do
you believe in so strongly that it makes you bold; that it causes you
to lead a crusade even when no one else is following?
I have
adopted this expression “DARE TO DREAM” as it is the name of a song
performed by Olivia Newton John and John Farnham at the 2000 Olympic
Games in Sydney Australia. Not to mention that Olivia is my favorite
singer and I did get to meet her in Saskatoon back in October 2007.
There is a film
based on a real-life group of friends from Spokane Washington known
for playing a month long game of tag every February over a 28-year
period, governed by a contract written by one of the group. The group
was profiled in “The Wall Street Journal” in January 2013, after which
they began receiving offers to adapt their story into a film. They
sold the rights to their story the next month and was released on June
15, 2018. The moving message is that the game of “Tag” kept these
players meeting annually as a commitment to their friendship.
Therefore, may we as Freemasons and continue to meet frequently for a
lifetime and keep “Cryptic” as the reason.
As
Freemasons, we regularly meet up with each other in our common Lodge
halls, but for how many other masons can you say “we have been and
socialized at each others homes”? For this Grand Council “Cryptic
year, I challenge each of you to take action so that this questions
can be satisfied with the word “yes”. If you already can say “yes”,
challenge yourself with someone who you currently have to say “no”.
Fraternally
MIC Cliff C. Hartmier
Grand Master 2021 – 2022
Cryptic Rite Masons of Western
Canada Royal & Select Masters
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