250TH ANNIVERSARY BURNS CLUB FREE MASONS OF MEDICINE HAT. Robert Burns

Transcription

1 FREE MASONS OF MEDICINE HAT BURNS CLUB THE FREEMASONS OF MEDICINE HAT BURNS CLUB MEMBER ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION 3rd Annual Burns Night Celebration 250TH ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR PROGRAM Robert Burns `The Selkirk Grace` Some hae meat and canna eat, and some wad eat that want it, but we hae meat and we can eat, and sae the Lord be thankit. Saturday, 24 January 2009 The Cypress Centre Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

2

3 WELCOME FROM THE CLUB Welcome to the Freemasons of Medicine Hat Burns Club s 3rd Annual Robert Burns Night Celebration is the 250th anniversary of the Immortal Bard. It is also the 2009 Homecoming Scotland Celebrations. We intend to do our part to support the festivities. Who was Robert Burns? The son of a farmer, he was born 25 January 1759 in Alloway, near Ayr, Scotland. Throughout his life he produced and adapted over 500 poems, ballads and songs. All of these whilst working as a farm labourer and land holder, and in later years fulfilling the post of an excise officer along the Ayrshire coast. He was a passionate poet and lyricist as well as a witty satirist of his religious and political peers. He was also a dedicated Freemason. His most famous work is perhaps Auld Lang Syne, the song that celebrates friendship. Burns died 21 July 1796 at the young age of 37. Interesting enough, on the day of his burial, more than 10,000 people came to watch and pay their respects. However, his popularity then was nothing compared to the heights it has reached since. Robert Burns left all of us with a wonderful legacy of joyous songs and poems that celebrate humanity and touch the hearts and minds of people the world over. He reminds us of many things, including that we are not perfect, we and others have flaws, and to thing of others in need, even a little mouse without a home. When one understands this, one then starts to understand why this man is so revered. To better appreciate the influence of Burns we direct your attention to the two stamps depicted above. These were issued in 1959 by the Soviet Union to commemorate Robert Burns and the 200th anniversary. One has to wonder why the USSR considered this foreigner so worthy. We hope you enjoy the evening. Please feel free to enter into the spirit and allow the spirit to enter you. Kenneth Hugh Montgomery President

4 HONOURED GUESTS John D. Hart, Honourary Club Patron Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Alberta Ancient Free & Accepted Masons LaVar Payne Member of Parliament - Medicine Hat Hon. Rob Renner M.L.A., Medicine Hat, Minister of the Environment His Worship Norm Boucher Mayor of the City of Medicine Hat Lieutenant - Colonel Malcolm Bruce, C.D. Base Commander, Canadian Forces Base Suffield Colonel Ben Edwards, O.B.E. Base Commander, British Army Training Unit Suffield Dr. Ralph Weeks President & C.E.O., Medicine Hat College Club Executive Ken Montgomery, President Albert Fyfe, Vice-President, Neil Chisholm, Secretary/Treasurer, John Ellis, Gaird & Chaplain & D Arcy Morrow, Club Piper Directors: Craig Elder, Mike Duffy, Jim MacFarlane, Tim Oland, Lorel McNeely, Don Turnbull, Kevin Van Der Kooy, Bill Turner, Brian Kenworthy, Neil McConnachie, Alex Montgomery, Ian Cameron & Andy Harrower Club Vocalist: Jennifer Brown

5 Bill O FARE Complimentary White and Red wine, Chieftain o the puddin race, warm, reekin rich Haggis wi McBride s Baps and Butter, and Aberdeenshire Strip Loin and Kintyre Scottish Salmon, Bashed Neeps, Champit Tatties & Wee Baby Peas, followed by Coffee, Highland Cheese and traditional Scottish Oatcakes & Shortbread THE HAGGIS Hagginasus (or Haggis for short) is endemic to Scotland where the Picts and Scots, using the now extinct Haggis Hound, hunted it for its fur. Some genetic trait ensures that as a rule every adult Haggis is exactly 12 inches or 30 cm long. Haggis is a great delicacy in many parts of the world but especially in Scotland, where traditionally it is hung by its toes for 7 days in a pine forest before eating. This brings out the true flavour of the animal. The formation of the Professional Haggis Handlers Association, to monitor Haggis farms and prosecute farmers who are cruel to their beasts, has been a welcome move, especially by Aggie MacTumshy, chairperson of the Haggis Action Group (HAG). This evening you will benefit from the work carried out by these groups and MacEwan s Meats of Calgary, Alberta, the official supplier of Haggis to many Burns clubs and Scottish cultural organizations including the Edmonton and Calgary Burns Clubs. We hope you enjoy your environmentally friendly Haggis. Oh Lord. Since we ha e feasted thus, Which we sae little merit Let Meg noo tak awa the flesh, And Jock bring in the spirit.

6 PROGRAM Master of Ceremonies Craig Elder Cocktails and Pre-Dinner Entertainment Entrance & Introduction of Club Executive & Honoured Guests O Canada Video Greetings from Scotland Alex Salmond, M.P., M.S.P., First Minister of Scotland Address to the Haggis Neil Chisholm, Secretary/Treasurer Grace John Ellis, Gaird & Chaplain Dinner Toast to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II Colonel Ben Edwards, O.B.E. Feature Entertainment Johnny Bagpipes Johnston Toast to Sodger s Awa Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Bruce, C.D. A Lament Pipe Major Eric Kean, South Alberta Pipes & Drums Toast to the Lassies Mike Duffy, Director Highland Dance The McConnell School of Highland Dancing Music The South Alberta Pipes & Drums The Immortal Memory Kenneth H. Montgomery, President Songs of Burns Jennifer Brown, Club Vocalist Auld Lang Syne (sung by all with hands entwined)

7 the freemasons scotch bar Where a cash bar is available and complimentary red & white wine is offered with dinner, for a wee fee we also offer our own now famous Scotch Bar featuring; the six classic malts of scotland Glenkinchie Lowland 10 years old Sweetly aromatic. Smooth taste. Hint of dryness. Dalwhinnie Highland 15 years old Gentle, delicate with a heathery Honey finish Cragganmore Speyside 12 years old Firm body with malty, Smoky finish Oban West Highland 14 years old Delicate peat aroma, Full bodied yet mellow finish Talisker Skye 14 years old Sea aroma with smokiness Lingering peaty taste 1½ ounce serving - $8.00 each And for this event only we also feature THE OFFICIAL ROBERT BURNS SINGLE MALT WHISKEY 250 YEARS ANNIVERSARY EDITION Produced by the Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd and the only Scotch authorized by The Robert Burns World Federation. For this release the Isle of Arran Distillery Manager hand-selected 15 ex-sherry Casks from their 1998 Distillation. Limited to 6000 bottles worldwide, this superb single malt is the perfect way to toast the life of Robert Burns. Taste: Aromas of milk chocolate and vanilla mingle with a fresh burst of citrus. This is a beautifully rounded malt that dances on the palate. Notes of heather honey baked apples and cinnamon. Pure liquid poetry. 1 ½ ounce serving - $13.00 each LIQUEURS - DRAMBUIE or ATHOL BROSE* (*As made by the Queen s Own Highlanders) 1½ ounce servings - $ 5.00 each and as a special treat, 250th ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR GLASSES Only 250 available - $6.00 each Lagavulin Islay 16 years old Powerful and robust. Smoky peaty taste. Dry finish SOUTHWEST WINE AND LIQUOR Ofiicial Purveyor of Fine Scotch Whiskies for the Freemasons of Medicine Hat Burns Club 418-7th St. SW Medicine Hat

8 THE TH ANNIVERSARY BURNS PROJECTS The Proclamation To officially kick off the 2009 celebrations the Club stormed Medicine Hat s City Hall on Friday, 16 January With kilts a swirling and with pipes, drums and song the club presented themselves and a freshly killed haggis before his worship Mayor Norm Boucher and City Council. After a sampling of that treat and a wee dram of Athol Brose the mayor signed an official proclamation confirming the week of January 2009 as Robert Burns Week. Raising the Flags To further commemorate the event the Club next proceeded outdoors, where with all proper decorum and ceremony, Scotland s official flags, the Saltire and the Lion Rampant (the Royal Standard) were raised. These flags will remain up outside city hall until the end of the proclaimed week of recognition.

9 The 2009 Burns Bust To additionally celebrate the memorable 250 years since Robert Burn s humble birth in Alloway, David Cornell, a leading sculptor whose work is in the Royal Collection and other important collections, created the first hand carved life sized marble and bronze bust of Burns to be available for over 120 years. The Presentation & Unveiling A Gift to Our College Where this bust will be available for viewing at the Burn s dinner it will be officially presented and unveiled at the Medicine Hat College, Sunday, 25 January 2009 with a special ceremony commencing at 1:00 pm. The Club will again be offering Scottish entertainment and this event is free and open to the public. We also hope to have as many people come out as possible as we will be part of a worldwide effort to make application for Guiness world record for the most people simultaneously conducting a toast to the Immortal Memory. Hope to see you there! Medicine Hat College Sponsorships Be Part of History! There are of course costs to finance and subsidize the various 250th Anniversary projects. We are dependant on sponsors and those involved up to the time of printing this souvenir program are named and recognized on the next page. On review you will see that many of our sponsors thus far are varied and come from many locations. It s not too late to help out! Additional sponsors still have time to participate and will be recognized and identified on the plaque on the base of the bust. Sponsors will also be recognized on a one page commemorative notice published in the Medicine Hat News!

10 sponsors at time of printing gold sponsors Medicine Hat Lodge No. 2, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. Mizpah Lodge No. 35, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. Medicine Hat News (Medicine Hat, AB.) Edward & Marni Jakubowsky (Medicine Hat, AB.) Ken & Brenda Montgomery (Medicine Hat, AB.) Oland Construction 2000 Ltd. (Medicine Hat, AB.) Colin Binding & Family (Medicine Hat, AB.) A. Craig Elder & Family (Medicine Hat, AB.) Medicine Hat Monumental Co. Ltd. (Medicine Hat, AB.) (Medicine Hat, AB.) (Medicine Hat, AB.) silver sponsors Edmonton Burns Club (Edmonton, AB.) Calgary Burns Club (Calgary, AB.) Swift Current Lodge No. 26, A.F. & A.M., G.R.S. MTM Granite (Medicine Hat, AB.) Caroline & Mike Duffy & Family Robert Barry Miskuski, Muriel A. Miskuski & Oliver James McLennan Power Loney Ltd. (Medicine Hat, AB.) Rodeo Ford (Medicine Hat, AB.) B&J Signs (Medicine Hat, AB.) bronze sponsors Grand Lodge of Alberta, A.F. & A.M. (Calgary, AB.) Eureka Lodge No. 10, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Lacombe, AB.) Gleichen Lodge No. 36, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Gleichen, AB.) Harmony Lodge No. 75, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Sedgewick, AB.) Excelsior Lodge No. 80, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Daysland, AB.) Kitchener Lodge No. 95, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Rimbey, AB.) Exemplar Lodge No. 175, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Edmonton, AB.) Drayton Valley Lodge No. 182, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Drayton Valley, AB.) Alberta Justice, Traffic Sherriffsí (Medicine Hat, AB.) John & Lynn Bradford (Calgary, AB.) Albert Fyfe & Family (Medicine Hat, AB.) Prairie Pre Cast (Medicine Hat, AB.) Brian Shimmons (Bragg Creek, AB.) William Turner & Family (Medicine Hat, AB.) Alexander Hugh Montgomery (Medicine Hat, AB.) MacKenzie John Montgomery (Edmonton, AB.) Spencer Muir Montgomery (Edmonton, AB.) Medicine Hat Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection (Medicine Hat, AB.) Law Inspection Services Inc. (Lethbridge, AB.) King George Lodge No. 59, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Calgary, AB.) St. Johnís Presbyterian Church (Medicine Hat, AB.) Medicine Hat Shrine Club (Medicine Hat, AB.) Southwest Wine & Liquor (Medicine Hat, AB.) James C. MacArthur (Medicine Hat, AB.) Calgary Highlanders (Calgary, AB.) Scottish Shoppe (Calgary, AB.) Stuart & Theresa Hardiker (Medicine Hat, AB.) Mark & Maureen Wilson (Bow Island, AB.) (Medicine Hat, AB.) (Medicine Hat, AB.) (Swift Current, SK.) Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, A.F. & A.M. (Regina, SK.) Calgary Lodge No. 23, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Calgary, AB.) Bruce Lodge No. 36, A.F. & A.M., G.R.S. (Francis, SK.) Jim & Joanne MacFarlane (Redcliff, AB.) Oyen-Crocus Lodge No. 82, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Oyen, AB.) Lochearn Lodge No. 151, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Rocky Mountain House, AB.) Mosaic Lodge No. 176, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Calgary, AB.) Redwood Lodge No. 193, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Edmonton, AB.) Elmer Bly (Edmonton, AB.) Ken Cameron (Drayton Valley, AB.) Dr. Clay Johnstone & Family (Kenosee Lake, SK.) Shaun P. Muldoon, Investors Group (Grande Prairie, AB.) South Alberta Pipe & Drums (Medicine Hat, AB.) Atlas Realty Inc. (Medicine Hat, AB.) Paul A. Jerry, W.M., Medicine Hat No. 2, (Medicine Hat, AB.) Saskatchewan Roughrider Fans (Medicine Hat, AB.) Adolf Seiler (Medicine Hat, AB.) Len Mitzel, M.L.A. Cypress-Medicine Hat (Medicine Hat, AB.) Lorel & Sandra McNeely (Dunmore, AB.) Jolly Goods Candy Stop (Calgary, AB.) Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (Medicine Hat, AB.) Cascade Lodge No. 5, A.F. & A.M., G.R.A. (Banff, AB.) Callaghan Inn (Medicine Hat, AB.) U.F.A. Bulk Fuel (Medicine Hat, AB.) Rev. Donal Stewart (Calgary, AB.) Jim Osborne (Calgary, AB.) LaVar Payne, M.P. - Medicine Hat (Medicine Hat, AB.)

11 FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT Johnny Bagpipes Johnston More than just plaid, Johnny Bagpipes Johnston delivers a hilarious comedy performance with a Scottish twist that bowls audiences over. From appearances at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, to opening shows for Wide Mouth Mason and Rich Little, Johnny serves up good natured laughs for audiences from all walks of life. To most properly celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Burns we are priviledged to offer this special entertainment for your pleasure and enjoyment. The Scottish Shoppe White Heather Imports (1997) Ltd th Avenue, SW., Calgary, AB Canada. T2T 0B8 Jim Osborne Phone (403) scotshop@telus.net To view photographs of the 2009 anniversary events please go to Photographs may be purchased. A percentage of the proceeds go to the Club and the Canadian Military Family Fund.

12 auld lang syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind, Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld Lang Syne! For auld Lang Syne my dear, For auld Lang Syne, We ll tak a cup o kindness yet, For auld Lang Syne. And there s a hand, my trusty fere! And gie s a hand o thine! And we ll tak a right gude-willie waught, For auld Lang Syne. Burns added the third and forth verses to this ancient air making it universally his own. He composed his version of the song in Now an international anthem, it is sung at the close of gatherings all over the world. Its charm lies in the easy intimacy and simplicity of the lyrics, the remembrance of old friendships and the desire to be transported back to the days of childhood. The Executive and Members of the Freemasons of Medicine Hat Burns Club would like to sincerely thank our sponsors and those others who have contributed their time, effort and resources to assist us support and promote Scottish culture and traditions, and most importantly in preserving the memory of the Immortal Bard. In Heaven itself, I ll ask no more, than just a Highland welcome. Robert Burns