October 2009 - Mocha Shriners

Friday October 2nd 2009 proved to be a very exciting
evening for The Lambton Shrine Club.
This was the first night and meeting in their new home,
located in The Masonic Hall at 245 Essex Street, Sarnia.
Attending this gala event were members of The
Lambton Shrine Club, and a welcomed visit from
Potentate Kevin M. Wilson and his Divan.
Highlights of the evening were many and enjoyable, a
great dinner, refreshments, good conversation, and also
- a time to reminisce about past events of The Lambton
Shrine Club.
Kevin Wilson, Potentate, gave a brief talk on Shrine
activities, plus entertained questions regarding the role
of The Lambton Shrine Club.
Speaker for the evening was Ambassador Emeritus
Noble Don Stewart, his subject being the history of The
Lambton Shrine Club.
Excerpts of his speech included:
The year was 1933, when in the great depression, a
group of far sighted Shriners of this area, decided that
some form of association should be started in Sarnia - a
place where they could meet together from time to time,
and be involved in the Greatest Philanthropy of all
CLUB NEWS
Lambton S.C. Submitted by Noble George Pitfield
L-R Assistant Rabban,
Noble Jack Cumming,
President Lambton S.C.
Noble Edgar McKenney,
and Ambassador Noble
Leslie Hastie, from
Montreal QC.
Lining up and digging in for the great nourishment,
are Potentate Kevin Wilson, P. Pres. Lambton S.C.
Noble Randy Charge, Motor Corp member Noble Paul
Kelly, Lambton S.C. Pres. Noble Edgar McKenney,
Noble Ray Hardy, and Vice Pres, Stuart McKenney.
(What's for Dessert?)
L-R Nobles George
Spence, Mike Adams,
and Ambassador
Emeritus Don Stuart,
take a relaxing break
after the great festivities
of the evening.
Great food, refreshments,
and conversation, make
for a great evening
and a good welcome
to our new home.
L-R Potentate Kevin Wilson,
Lambton Shrine Club Motor
Corp Pres. Noble Jim Sayers,
discussing the new home,
and opening for The Club.
times, that of assisting Crippled
Children.
It was so noted that in 1950 - Noble
John A. Smith bestowed a great
honour on the club, as he was the first member to
become Potentate. Since that time we have had (4) other
members achieve this exalted rank. Noble Frank
Harkness (1976), Noble Ron Leckie (1984), Noble
William (Bill) Gerrits (2000), and Noble John
McLaughlin (2002).
The club seemed to enjoy taking on worthy and sometimes
complicated projects and then fmding innovative
ways to raise money to meet the commitment. One
good example, in 1988, during National Burns
Awareness Week, a project to raise $90,000.00 and
build a children's burn care unit was completed and
dedicated at the Sarnia General Hospital. Throughout
the 80,s and 90's annual donations to Mocha Temple
were always equal to or greater than other Mocha
Temple Clubs and units.
There were some very talented and dedicated people in
1933 that had a vision and started this whole thing.
Over the years other very talented and dedicated people
have followed, all faced with different challenges and
have always managed to make the decisions required to
succeed.
The Lambton Shrine Club, bringing Nobles together to
enjoy each other's fellowship, and at the same time dedicate
their efforts, for a very worthy cause.
Page 20 November 2009 MOCHA NEWS