Brethren,

It was great to see so many brethren engaged and out travelling in February. With a busy month capped off with the very successful visit of our DD and Brother of Bytown R.W. Bro. George Ingraham, it was a month full of fellowship. I would like to thank all of the brethren who played a role in the evening, but particularly to Bros. Bosche and Oliver for their work in the kitchen—both the night before and the night itself. We planned for 50…and fed 70!

At our Official Visit, our Ottawa District 2 sister lodge at Westboro Temple, Ionic Lodge no. 526, brought out a staggering 17 members to win the Travelling Trowel—and according to their summons, they are planning to keep it at both Pembroke and Cobden. I encourage you to make the trip up the valley so that we might bring the Trowel back to Bytown!

I also encourage all brethren to attend the Day of Masonry on March 14, as well as our Regular Meeting where the potential officers for next year will try out their new roles, and we will be conferring Second Degrees on two worthy brethren.

Lastly, March is when we begin the work for our final fundraiser of the year; the Cal Bellamy Memorial Chili Cookoff, which will take place April 25. I am looking forward to tasting as many secret family recipes as I can!

“Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.”
– Bro. Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989)

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

Brethren,

As the winter months move along so does our Masonic year. I am extremely proud of the team and their stellar work in welcoming our newest member into the Craft. It was a great night that I am sure he won’t forget.

Thank you all as well to all who put on another successful Robbie Burns Night. We are all a little more Scottish because of the wonderful night of food, merriment, music and prose.

February will be another exciting month! I implore all members to come out to as many events as you can, but in particular, our Regular Meeting where we will host our DDGM on his Official Visit to his home lodge and pass a worthy brother to the Second Degree.

Lastly, the Ottawa Masonic Charity Ball will be an excellent opportunity to raise money for both district charities, so I hope to see a goodly number of Bytown brethren.

Remember brethren, Brotherly Love is the cement which unites us. Without it, our sacred institution would crumble. Yet with it, we can build ever higher. So please come out to support new and experienced brethren alike.

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

This year’s Robbie Burns Dinner is sold out. Thank you to all who will be attending!

Bytown Lodge No. 721 is hosting Robbie Burns Night, Saturday January 17, 2026.

Brethren, Happy New Year!

While we had the chance to enjoy some time off, I know that the holidays can be a busy and sometimes stressful time. I hope you were able to participate in some classic traditions or even make some new ones. We spent time with family, ate too much, and watched the staple Christmas movies.

Speaking of traditions, thank you to everyone who attended the holiday social at V.W. Bro. Macdonald’s home. The food and fellowship were wonderful, and it was great to see so many smiling, and full faces.

The New Year is a time for renewal, so we will exemplify this with the First Degree for Mr. Oliver at our Regular Meeting. Thanks to all who have stepped up for roles and agreed to back up.

We also have our annual Robbie Burns Night on January 17, so come out, try some haggis and embrace your inner Scott.

Happy 2026!

“Oh would some power the gift give us,
to see ourselves as others see us.”
– Bro. Robert Burns

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that our Brother, R.W. Bro. John G. Hawkins, Past District Deputy Grand Master (2019-2022), has passed to the Grand Lodge Above, today, September 25, 2025.

R.W. Bro. Hawkins was a devoted Mason and proud member of Bytown and Renfrew Lodges. He served as Worshipful Master of Bytown in 1986 and again in 2004, and his leadership extended well beyond the walls of our lodge. He was Potentate of Tunis Shriners in 2014, initiated into the West Lawrentian Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in 1972, Master Councillor in 1974, and served as Grand Master of the Canadian Order of DeMolay from 1997 to 1999. His Masonic journey and service to the Craft left a profound mark on our Lodge and the wider fraternity.

On behalf of Bytown Lodge, we extend our heartfelt condolences to V.W. Bro. Jeff Hawkins, his mother Julie, his sister Jackie, and their extended family. They have expressed their appreciation for the kindness and support shown by the Masonic family during this difficult time.

Greetings Brethren,

With the change in temperature, and our first meeting under our belts, pumpkin spice season is definitely upon us.

I enjoyed seeing so many brethren and visitors out in September. Thank you to Bro. Bosche for the wonderful meal and to everyone who contributed or stayed to assist with clean up. Thank you as well to the brethren who made the trip from Pembroke to deliver the Traveling Gavel.

As you can see from the summons, we have a busy October with multiple District 2 events as well as our own two First Degrees including fraternal visits from our DDGM, a trip to Ashlar to present the Travelling Gavel and our first annual Oktoberfest event. Please promote this in your social circles and point your friends to the new Bytown Instagram account for details.

And remember:

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

– Bro. Franklin D. Roosevelt

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

Brethren,

I hope you all survived the heat and had an enjoyable summer with many good memories. I spent the summer traveling around Southern Ontario and the United States as my 16-year-old had his first foray into travel baseball. While the travel was intense, I truly appreciated the opportunity to spend time with my son as he gains his independence. It is amazing how time flies.

I also want to say that it was a pleasure to see so many members and prospects at the Bytown BBQ, and other social events over the summer—a huge thank you to Bro. Walden for hosting, to the sun for shedding its rays upon us, and to everyone who brought a dish.

Thank you as well to the Brethren who attended Grand Lodge in July, and those who made it out to the Ottawa District 2 meeting in August. Our DDGM appreciated our support at both events.

I also want to show my appreciation for the Officers who made it out to the first annual Bytown Officers Retreat. While we have a busy year ahead of us, I know this team will make it successful.

We indeed have a packed schedule, with a number of degrees to confer and no less than four activities in September alone. Further to our CGP and Regular Meeting where we will be opening and closing in all three degrees, and balloting for two applications for affiliation, we also have our annual visit to attend the Golden Rule Lodge Third Degree at the top of Owl’s Head Mountain on September 27, and Grand Lodge Appreciation Night on September 29. We will also try to fit in a Finance Committee meeting.

I am looking forward to the year ahead and the inclusion of masonic education at as many meetings as possible, so please sign up on the spreadsheet. Simply find a topic that interests you and put together no more
than 5 minutes. Speak to one of our Past Masters if you need help finding a resource. This is a great opportunity to hone your public speaking skills and explore our system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity
in every difficulty.”
– Bro. Winston Churchill

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

Brethren,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those responsible for my installation in May. To the Past Masters’s of Bytown, particularly V.W. Bro. George Ingraham and W Bro. Brodie Fraser, thank you for organizing the Ceremony of Installation—it was a night I will never forget!

To R.W. Bro. Richard Loomes, thank you for agreeing to be my Installing Master. While you didn’t know it during your time as DDGM in 2016, you played a key role in my masonic journey, and I might not have made it here otherwise. I am truly honoured that you agreed to be a part of this milestone in my life. Please let this be a lesson to all that you never know the impact you will have on the lives of others, so take every moment to act with uprightness and kindness.

To W. Bro. Peter Ruttan, thank you for your mentorship and leadership over the past year. As always, you are a hard act to follow, but I am very glad to have you by my side for the upcoming year. Thank you as well  for agreeing to “move back a chair” for the initiation we have planned for June 5th.

To my mother, my son, and my beautiful wife, as well as to Holly Hawkins and Tamara MacDonald, thank you for cooking, serving, and cleaning up after my installation meal. I was honoured to have you as part of my installation night as well—you allowed us to make the most of the night. A big thanks to V.W. Bro. Scott Macdonald for the dessert, and to my wonderful sister-in-law for the masonic ashlar cake. Everyone agreed that, while we strive for the perfect side, the rough side is sometimes tastier.

Lastly, and certainly not least, thank you to the many brethren who participated in the Board of Installed Masters and/or the investment of the  officers of Bytown Lodge, as well as to the visiting brethren from around the district.

To the brethren who have accepted officer positions within lodge—a very special thank you to you. While we will be learning together, I am excited to face the upcoming year with such a great group.

Finally, to all the brethren of Bytown Lodge, thank you for your faith in me as your Worshipful Master. I will strongly uphold my duties while maintaining our “Friendly” reputation.

As Henry Ford said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

Sincerely & Fraternally,

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge