Service Jewels Awarded To Oddfellows And Rebekahs

Mar 28, 2013

Though Harrowsmith's Oddfellows and Rebekahs obviously have not been around for such a length of time, on March 23, some of their members were recognized for a total of 700 plus years of dedicated service to the organization.

The lodges’ award ceremonies take place every five years and at this year’s event a total of 23 men and women, accompanied by a large contingent of friends and family, attended the special jewel presentation at the Golden Links hall. The hall is the home of the 101-year-old Harrowsmith Oddfellows (Athena 306) and 68-year-old Harrowsmith Rebekahs (Princess Elizabeth #358) lodges.

The celebration was attended by over 100 guests, including representatives from Lyn, Cobourg, Brooklyn, Kingston and Gananoque, and was headed by MCs Wayne Gard and Sandra Clow. Following a sumptuous ham dinner with all the fixings that was prepared by two new Kingston members, Bob Dorey and Kevin Nickerson, the ceremony began.

Charles Benson, the Sovereign Grand Guardian of The Sovereign Grand Lodge, was one of the speakers and he spoke about this year’s theme: Make a Difference. “Looking at the number of the years that people here in Harrowsmith have served shows that these people are making a difference and following the principles of friendship, love and truth and are taking that out into their community. This is a great organization where people can learn about these three basic principles, and how they can be spread around the community, and put into practice in order to help make a better world with members working together for the betterment of everything and everyone,” Benson said.

The Oddfellows and Rebekahs serve the community wherever and however they are needed. The organization has raised funds for Camp Trillium and for eye and leukemia research and they also regularly raise funds for the purchase of hospital beds, wheelchairs and walkers for those in need while also tending to the immediate needs of individuals and organizations in the community. Benson also touched on how the general membership in the club has been on the decline for a number of years. “We are presently losing more members than we are gaining because for years we were not worrying about broadcasting to the community what exactly it is that we do. In the past we just did it for the sake of doing it. Now we see that we need to let people in the community know what is that we do and to shine that light out there so people know about us and understand the kind of work that we do,” he said.

That message seems to be getting out and early in the ceremony two younger members of the community, Samantha Rattray and Ryan Baker, received their new membership pins. Samantha said that she was encouraged by her mother, a Rebekah, to join and felt that joining the organization would be “a new fun thing to do”. The couple have children aged 6 to 16 who regularly attend the club’s youth dances they said that they are looking forward to helping out at the dances, dinners and bingos. “Our children love the youth dances, so helping out is our way of giving back to the community. Volunteer work is great thing to be involved in and it really helps out a lot of people in the community. We are hoping to encourage some of our friends to join too,” Ryan said.

It was by far the older members of the organization, many of whom have served over half of their lifetimes, who owned the spotlight at the ceremony. Sister Hilda Hodgson of Harrowsmith, who is 89 years of age, received her 55-year jewel. She was accompanied to the podium to receive the award by son David and daughter Darlene. She said she was happy to see many of her old friends and admitted that she has not been around as much in recent years because she no longer drives. “I have so many wonderful memories over the years and I am still in touch with many of the friends that I have made here,” she said.

Sister Barb Garrison received her 45-year pin and also a special certificate of service. Brothers Harold Benjamin, Howard Fellows, Lyle Crawford, Acton Hayes and Howard Warner also received their 45-year jewels as did many others their 5 - 40 year pins. Accompanying many of them were younger members of their families, perhaps demonstrating that these newly jeweled members of the organization are indeed doing their part in encouraging younger folks to step up and join the ranks.

Those interested in finding out more can contact Brenda Taylor at 613-372-2410 or Wayne van Alstine at 613-358-2533.