RONALD MILLS (Cheryl)                                                   Secretary

Illustrious Sir William (Bill) Hilton

2003 Potentate Tunis Shriners #179 Ottawa, Ontario
 

Ill. Sir Bill Hilton was born in Smiths Falls, Ontario August 7, 1944.  He was a graduate of the 1963 graduating class of the Smiths Falls and District High School.  Bill enrolled in the Canadian School of Embalming in Toronto, Ontario.  Completing the requirements Bill graduated as a Funeral Director and in 1979 Bill became the proprietor of the Lannin Funeral Home located at 32 Main St. E. Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Bill became a third generation mason in 1980 following in his father and grandfather's footsteps as a Master Mason in Osiris Lodge # 489 Smiths Falls, Ontario.  He later joined St. Francis Chapter # 133 in Smiths Falls and Gondemar Preceptor #16 Brockville, Ontario.  He is also a Life Member of St. Francis Lodge A.F.A.M. # 24 Smiths Falls.
 

Bill became a Shriner of Tunis Shriners # 179 at the Spring Ceremonial held in Pembroke, Ontario May 25, 1985.  He later became a member of Land O' Lakes Shrine Club, serving on the executive a number of years and elected Club President for 1994.  Also, the same year, Bill was invited by Ill. Sir Ronald Thompson to join the Tunis Divan.  While progressing through the ten year line, Bill has chaired a number of committees to include two Tunis Ceremonials, Imperial Sessions, N.S.A.  Field Days and a Tunis Visitation among many other responsibilities.

On January 4, 2003 at the Shriner elections Bill was elected and installed to the supreme Shrine position of Potentate of Tunis Shriners # 179 Ottawa, Ontario.  Ill. Sir Bill is the fifth member of Land O' Lakes Shrine Club to become Potentate of Tunis Shriners.
 

Bill is a chartered member of the Carleton Place and District Kinsmen Club, also a member and having served on the executive later becoming President in 1981 of the Smiths Falls Kinsmen Club.
 

He also served on the board of Trustees and was property Chairman of the Trinity United Church in Smiths Falls.

Bill served the town of Smiths Falls as a Volunteer firefighter retiring after eighteen and a half years of service.

Ill. Sir Bill and his Lady Sue Anne have been married for thirty-three years and have two sons.  Dale is employed in the family business and fourth generation Mason, and Ryan presently teaching English and residing in Taipei, Taiwan.

Well respected throughout the area for his dedication to Shrinedom, Tunis Shriners will be in very good hands during this Shrine year with the leadership of Illustrious Sir William Hilton Potentate.

Sincere wishes from the Land O’Lakes Shrine Club Members

 

YEAR	PAST PRESIDENT	LADY	PHONE
1961	Stuart H. Bell			Deceased
1962	Russ Robertson			Deceased
1963	Jack Saunders
1964	Jack Robinson	Marty	(613) 283-4441
1965	R.J. Jordan			Deceased
1966	George Livingston			Deceased
1967	G.C. (Bus) Couch			Deceased
1968	Harold Buffam	Erma	(613) 267-1918
1969	Neil Maddock			Deceased
1970	W.G. Kirkwood			Deceased
1971	J. Emerson Stitt			Deceased
1972	Ray Hughes	Jean	(613) 267-1755
1973	Thayer Robinson	Beatrice	(613) 283-2249
1974	Ken Barr
1975	Graham McInnis			Demitted
1976	Ken Carter			Deceased
1977	Don Montgomery	Barbara	(613) 253-5068
1978	Tom Stearns			Deceased
1979	Alex Cuthbertson	Dianne	(613) 267-2201
1980	George Nobes	Marjorie	(613) 257-3965
1981	Don Hagen	Shirley	(613) 283-2171
1982	Morley Whalen	Joan	(613) 257-2500	Deceased
1983	Sam Wilson	Estelle	(613) 283-2374
1984	Ormond Giles	Mary	(613) 257-2828
1985	Ron Van Meer	Marilyn	(613) 283-3999
1986	John Patterson	Eleanor	(613) 257-2603
1987	Gerald Code	Mary	(613) 283-6785
1988	Doug Guerard			Deceased
1989	Ken Cooke	Beverly	(613) 283-2169
1990	Omar Beckett	Beryl	(613) 283-2178
1991	Wayne Moodie	Irene	(613) 283-3901
1992	Art Rawes			Deceased
1993	Woody Drew	Shirley	(613) 283-1935
1994	Bill Hilton	Sueann	(613) 283-7225
1995	Doug Wrightly			Deceased
1996	Ken Berquist	Shirley	(613) 489-2005
1997	Borden Sheridan	Jessie	(613) 283-2269
1998	Andy Willett	Shirley	(613) 257-7794
1999	Jim Cassibo	Nancy	(613) 267-2396
2000	Gerald Lewis	Maria	(613) 284-0974
2001	Morley James Sr.	Joyce	(613) 283-9346
2002	Paul J. Perkins	Karen	(813) 283-9071
2003	Wayne Moodie	Irene	(613) 283-3901

 

 

The first social dinner meeting of the Perth Nobles of Rameses Temple was held in the Tea Room at Moon's Grill. Nobles present were: Stewart H. Bell, Robert Gamble, Robert Craig, Alfred Kirkham, Frank A. Cole, Russell Robert­son, James Barr, Garnett Ritchie, John Jordan, Hugh Rogers, Norman Moss, Cliff Butterill, Jack Rogers, Harold Buffam, Albert Stanton, Robert Echlin, Joseph Bingley, and Ferguson McVeety. (Dinner included cocktails – Cost a whopping  $3.25)

The Land Of Lakes Shrine Club was formed on April 15, 1961 and the first meeting was held in the Perth Hotel (Blue Room) on May 3, 1961. The Elected Officers were as follows: President - Stewart Bell, Vice President - Russell Robertson, Secretary Treasurer - Frank Cole, Directors - Bob Craig, Cliff Butterill, Thomas Bock, Alberta Stanton, and Alfred Kirkham. Potentate's Aide, Noble Bill Sparks and President of the Ottawa Shrine Club, Noble James Rain were in attendance for this occasion.

In 1961 there were 26 Nobles in Land Of Lakes Shrine Club and the bank balance at the end of the year was $46.90. Annual Dues at the time were $5.00. Through the years the membership increased and in 1987 a total of 170 members were on the roll.

Since the time of the Charter, the Annual Chicken and Fish Fry as well as the Annual Family Picnic have stood out as the most popular social gatherings for the Nobility. Bass Lake Lodge has been the continued home of the fish & chicken fry, while the annual picnic has been held throughout the area at various cottages of Nobles of the Club. In addition, the Club's participation in, not only Shrine parades, but other parades in the local area continues to be the envy of other Shrine Clubs.

Since the formation of Tunis Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. in 1975, the Club has had the distinction of having two of its members serve as Potentate of the Temple. Illustrious Sir Graham McInnis was Potentate in 1978 and Illustrious Sir Gordon F. Coons followed him in 1984. Illustrious Sir Gordon also served as President of the New York Ontario Shrine Association in 1985. In addition, many of the Club members have served both our order and our communities with distinction, some of whom are as follows:

·        Noble Dr. William Barnes served the Anglican Priesthood for more than 46 years and received his 50 year pin from Imperial Council in 1983.

·        Noble Roy Towle was honoured as Citizen of the Year (1972) in Smiths Falls and received his 50 year pin from Imperial Council in 1979.

·        Noble Seymour Keir was honoured as Citizen of the Year (1983) in Smiths Falls.

·        Noble Fred Aboud was a former Mayor of Smiths Falls.

·        Noble Gordon Durant was a former Mayor of Smiths Falls.

·        Noble George Gomme was a former Member of the Provincial Parliament and a former Minister of       Highways for Ontario.

·        Noble Des Code was a former Member of Parliament and served with distinction in the Federal Parlia­ment.

·        Noble John Matheson was a former Member of Parliament, noted Judge in the area, and assisted in forging the symbolism in the Order of Canada.

Club Meetings from 1961 to the present, have been held in various locations including: The Perth Hotel, Farrell Hall, Perth Curling Club, Carousel inn, The Walker House, The Rideau hotel Smiths Falls and Carleton Place, the Queen's Hotel, The Olympia restaurant, and the Skylark Motel in Lombardy.

In 1966 the Club adopted the Maple Leaf Tartan as its official 'Walking Out' dress, however because of its recent unavailability, burgundy jackets and grey lacks are gradually replacing the original choice.

As early as 1970 there was a movement to establish a Shrine Temple in Ottawa and on July 3, 1975 Tunis Temple received its dispensation with the stipulation that it had to have 500 members by the following year. Most Nobles in the area gave up their affiliation with Rameses Temple in Toronto, and Karnak Temple in Montreal, to join Tunis Temple. A flurry of Fez buying ensued (Velour fezzes with double beading at that time could be obtained for less than $50.) Tunis Temple was constituted the following year and Land O' Lakes Shrine Club has fully supported Tunis Temple ever since.

In 1977 the Perth Nobles chartered the Tay-Clyde Shrine Club with the blessing of Land Of Lakes Shrine Club and Tunis Temple. Land O’Lakes presented the new Club with our parade float and a cheque for $500. as a gesture of good will. The two Clubs have maintained a happy fraternal relationship with one another to the present.

The Club's name was changed to Land O'Lakes in 1978 and with Tom Steams as President and Graham McInnis as Potentate of Tunis Temple we had a busy year as we hosted the first Spring Ceremonial held in Smiths Falls. Karnak Temple, Media Temple, and Rameses Temple sent floats and units to the parade and the townsfolk backed the Club fully by turning out a tremendous crowd for the parade. More than 950 Shriners and their Ladies sat down to the Ceremonial Feast that night.

A building project was undertaken in 1983 and a steel structure was raised on the Lombardy Agriculture Society Grounds. This building provides storage space for the motorized units of the Club and its members. Land O' Lakes Shrine Club is known throughout the area for its numerous innovative parade units and is a regular participant in practically all local parades.

Land O' Lakes, under President Orm Giles, hosted the Tunis Temple Spring Ceremonial in 1984, Illustrious Sir Gordon F. Coons was Potentate of the Temple. This being the second time around, it was much easier for the Committee Chairmen and Nobles to prepare for what was again, a very successful weekend.

The Nobles of the Club are regular supporters of both the New York Ontario and the North East Shrine Association Fall Field Days. As well, the Club is always well represented at the Annual Imperial Council Sessions.

The Club annually recognizes the Widows of deceased Nobles, honours its Past Presidents, chooses a Shriner of the Year, and since 1986, beginning with its living Charter Members, has presented 25 year certificates to those with a quarter of a century of service to the Club.

Land O' Lakes Shrine Club has participated in many fund raising activities over the years. Some of which are as follows: Sale of Cheese Blocks; Sale of Christmas Cakes; the Beef Draw; Golf Tournaments; Food and Beverage Conces­sions; Crown and Anchor Booths; Travel Package Draws; Hosting of Dances; Hosting and Working at the Tunis Temple Shrine Circus; and Assisting Local Committees in Special Celebrations. The proceeds from these various activities have been used to support the following: Shriners Hospitals for Crippled & Burned Children; Tunis Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Transportation of Local Children to the Montreal Unit or to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Providing Local Crippled or Burned Children with specialized medical appliances; Smiths Falls Community Hospital; Carleton Place Community Hospital; Ottawa Civic Hos­pital, and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. A quick survey of the Treasurer's books indicate that in the period 1984-1987 more than $15,000 was distributed to the aforementioned projects.

 Land O'Lakes Shrine Club is an active vital force. Composed mostly of Shrine-Masons from St. Lawrence District, it continues to promote true fellowship and yet supports the great philanthropy of the Shrine in all of its endeavours.