News And Events

The next Regular Convocation of Tzouhalem Chapter No. 26 will be held at the Duncan Masonic Temple , 163 Canada Avenue, Duncan, on Tuesday, 20 November 2018 at 6:30 pm. Please note that our Festive Board will be held before the meeting at 5:30 pm.

All Visiting Companions are very welcome to attend.

For Visiting Companions, here is a map showing the location of Duncan Masonic Temple, 163 Canada Avenue in downtown Duncan.

Would you like to leave a comment or question about anything on this post?

There will be a Celebration of Life for our late Brother Art Bossons, who died suddenly and unexpectedly following a heart attack. Art was very active in Freemasonry in the Cowichan Valley and on Vancouver Island. At the time of his death, Art Bossons was President of the Cowichan Valley Shrine Club.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, 29 September 2018, 1:00 p.m., at H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, 5285 Polkey Road, Duncan, B.C.

Here is a map showing the location of H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, 5285 Polkey Road, Duncan, B.C.:

Here is a Google Street View image showing the Polkey Road entrance to H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, 5285 Polkey Road, Duncan, B.C.  There is plenty of parking at the H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre:

Tzouhalem Chapter No. 26 regrets to inform you that E.C. Bob Crawford passed away this morning after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Bob Crawford was a very valued and highly respected member of Tzouhalem Chapter No. 26. He will be missed by all of us. Our condolences to his family.

We will post details of funeral arrangements for Bob Crawford as they are released.

FIRST PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE SEPTEMBER 2017

Companions:

Greetings All.  I hope everyone has had a very pleasant summer and enjoyed our sunny summer despite our lack of rain and sometimes smokey skies.

This years’ BBQ/Picnic was held on 15 August hosted by REC Dick Nesbitt at his riverside property. The turnout was excellent with approximately 30 Companions, spouses and friends in attendance. A very great acknowledgement and thanks for the efforts of EC Art Graff and Barbara and EC Rick Mellson for their contributions, which made the overall event so successful.

The upcoming September meeting will be our last before the October Installation. There will be a vote for next year’s slate of Officers, so hopefully we will see a good turn out.

The details of our next Installation have been settled and this will be held on the third Tuesday of October 2017 here at the Tzouhalem Chapter, Duncan, BC, with the usual participation of our Fellow Companions from Pacific Rim.

Again, hopefully, we can maintain our great attendance for the May Meeting.

I look forward to seeing you all.

Best Wishes and Fidelity.

EC Paul Philcox

1^st. Principal – Tzouhalem Chapter No.26

First Principal’s Message – May 2017

Companions:

Well Spring is finally upon us and we have enjoyed the beginnings of 2017 with well attended meetings, great food and fine fellowship from fellow Companions and visitors. The Official visit from the Grand Superintendent has been successfully accomplished and Tzouhalem Chapter is continuing to successfully meet its obligations and duties within the Grand Chapter. An Honourable Mention and a large Thank You to EC Art Graff and EC Rick Mellson for their efforts in providing the excellent fare for our dinners and raffles.

The May meeting will be our last before Summer and hopefully we will see a good turn out.

The details of our next Installation have been settled and this will be held on the third Tuesday of October 2017 here at the Tzouhalem Chapter, Duncan, BC, with the usual participation of our Fellow Companions from Pacific Rim.

Also to note, our Summer Picnic will be held on the Third Tuesday of August (15 August 2017), starting at 2:00PM. R.E.C. Dick Nesbitt has generously offered his Library Property on Cowichan Lake Rd. as the venue. Details and Confirmation of date and time will be announced.

Again, hopefully, we can maintain our great attendance for the May Meeting.

I look forward to seeing you all.

Best Wishes and Fidelity.

EC Paul Philcox

1^st. Principal, Tzouhalem Chapter #26

Companions:

We enjoyed another great meeting this past February. The attendance was good with twelve Tzouhalem members and 3 Visitors (EC Pat Fyffe, 1^st. Time visit), a note of thanks to EC Art Graff for providing an excellent Chinese fare for our dinner.

In Education, I presented a lecture on Royal Arch Banners, their history, colours, use and placement. Some confusion arose concerning the colour of the banners as the Tzouhalem Banners differed in colour from those described in the lecture. I followed up with Grand Chapter to clarify this matter and found that what I had presented was a U.S. lecture and it naturally had differences from Canadian ritual and practices. The important point stressed by Grand Chapter however, was that it is the symbols of the Banners (Lion, OX, Man, and Eagle) which are important and not the Colours. These are generally prescribed by the Grand Chapter of any given Region.  I hope that clears everything up for all companions and my thanks to MEC Norm McEvoy for his help in is matter.

The new Chapter By-Laws being adopted were issued to all Companions present and the remainder will be mailed. Scribe Ezra will have extra copies should anyone require them.

Hopefully, we can maintain our great attendance for the March Meeting (on 21 March 2017).

I look forward to seeing you all.

Best Wishes and Fidelity.
EC Paul Philcox
1^st. Principal
Tzouhalem Chapter #26

FIRST PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE FEBRUARY 2017

Companions:

The January 2017 Meeting came off very well, as it was my first meeting as 1^st. Principal, I was very appreciative of all the support and help I received. The attendance was good with twelve Tzouhalem members and six Visitors from Columbia #1, Majuba and Pacific Rim.

REC Alex Muir, Grand Superintendent Dist. #1, attended and installed REC Danny Dyke as Director of Ceremonies and EC John Fenmore-Collins as Scribe Nehemiah and Historian. Unfortunately REC Dick Nesbitt could not be installed as Tyler due to pressing family commitments, but we will take care of that bit of business soonest. Our newest Companion, Brad Galavan was presented with his Royal Arch Certificate and EC Art Graff was presented his Past 1^st. Principals’ Jewel. The Past Grand Superintendent Dist. #1, REC Doug Watson was present to receive his Past Grand Superintendents’ Jewel Sash and Apron. This was partially accomplished with the presentation of the Jewel, but the Apron and Sash were deferred to a later date as they were unavailable for the meeting.

In business arising the new Chapter By-Laws were adopted and are now in force. MEC Norm McEvoy gave a brief lecture on the History of Royal Arch Masonry and stressed that there is absolutely no doubt that The Holy Royal Arch is the Completion of the Master Mason Degree and essential in assisting every Brother in the completion of his “Personal Spiritual Journey”.

As a follow-up and reminder, REC Alex Muir re-stated that it is correct and approved that all Companions can and should wear their Royal Arch Jewel (on the Right Breast) when attending Craft Lodge. This not only identifies you as a Royal Arch Companion, but is a subtle advertisement for MMs to consider joining Royal Arch.

The Annual Report and Financials due to Grand Chapter were completed and submitted on 31 Jan 2017. Many thanks to diligent work by VEC Ron Coulter and the assistance provided in the review from EC Tom Mitchell and EC Robert Parmenter.

Hopefully, we can maintain our great attendance for the February Meeting (despite winters’ snowy blast).  I look forward to seeing you all.

Best Wishes and Fidelity.

EC Paul Philcox

1^st. Principal

Tzouhalem #26

Companions:

It has been just less than a month since my installation at Pacific Rim Chapter No. 44 in Sooke. The partnership between Tzouhalem and Pacific Rim for these joint installations has proven to a great success and the excellent presentation of this last installation just proved the point. Our sincere thanks to all Companions of Pacific Rim.

Just a bit of a med update from me, as most of you already know, I am undergoing a regime of Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer (which I am assured they cut out last September), I am in the midst of my 3^rd. Treatment and can only say it is akin to be struck by a small truck every two weeks. But the discomfort aside, all is going well.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the January 17^th. Meeting. I have been informed that R.E.C. Alex Muir, Grand Superintendent Dist. #1, will be in attendance to Install R.E.C. Danny Dyke as Director of Ceremonies, E.C. John Fenmore-Collins as Scribe Nehemiah and Historian and R.E.C. Dick Nesbitt as Tyler.

It is my objective this year to carry on from our immediate Past 1^st. Principal, E.C. Art Graff, and recruit at least five new companions. You can all help by lobbying any M.M. you know and exemplify the benefits and rewards of achieving a Royal Arch Degree.

It is also an objective to encourage all of you to come out to our meetings. The Chapter simply can not function with out you! Let’s do this for ourselves and at the same time show Grand Chapter we are the best on the Island.

My Best Wishes to all of you and your families for a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

E.C. Paul Philcox, 1^st. Principal, Tzouhalem #26