Robbie Burns Night at Sharbot Lake Legion

Feb 02, 2014

Members of the Frontenac Masonic Lodge and the Sharbot Lake Legion joined forces for the first-ever Robbie Burns Dinner at the Legion, which took place on January 25 and was a sold-out event.

Bill Bowick, who is the Master of the Frontenac Masonic Lodge No. 621, initiated the idea for the event after a member suggested having a dinner. Bowick then approached Legion president Dave Whalen thinking that the Legion would be an ideal place to hold it. “The Legion is not only a great service club but they are better set up with the facilities to put on an event like this,” Bowick said.

Dave Whalen said that he was on board from the get-go. “My mother is from Aberdeen, Scotland and I love everything Scottish and have been there a number of times. When Bill asked me to partner with him for this I jumped at the chance.” Whalen credited Bill and Rosemarie Bowick, and his wife Kathleen for organizing the event.

Robbie Burns, who was born January 25, 1759, was a very well known Mason who made numerous Masonic references in his poetry. He was regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. He inspired the founders of both liberalism and socialism as well as contributing to the value systems of Freemasonry. He influenced the leaders of the French and American revolutions, many of whom were Masons. His birthday is celebrated across Canada and around the world and he has become a cultural icon to Scots everywhere.

The celebrations in Sharbot Lake got underway with over 80 guests in fancy attire sipping beverages and snacking on hors d'oeuvres as volunteer cooks for the evening, Kathleen White, Peggy Muldoon and Sharon Quinn, managed the seven pots on the stove. They served up a meal that included cock-a-leekie soup, roast beef, haggis, mashed potatoes and turnips, and for dessert, sticky pudding with toffee sauce and ice cream.

A number of Masons assisted with the meal. Former master of the Frontenac Masons, Simon Spanchak, obtained the haggis, which were made by expert haggis maker Kalvin Holland of Kemptville. Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made with oatmeal, and the lung, heart, kidney and liver of a sheep, which is all stuffed into a sheep's stomach. Mason Bill Kennedy of Kingston made the cock-a-leekie soups, one of which was made with pheasant and the other with wild turkey. Both included prunes, leeks, onions, carrots, and pearl barley.

Prior to everyone tucking in, Legion piper Jeff Donnelly “piped in the haggis” with his version of "Highland Laddie", after which Bill Bowick made a toast to the famed Scottish delicacy.

The evening included numerous toasts and readings of Burns's poems, and was dedicated to the late William “Scotty” Meldrum, who was the founding president of the Sharbot Lake Legion, and also the first member of the Frontenac Masonic Lodge to be appointed officer of the Grand Lodge of Canada. Meldrum, who was a resident of Sharbot Lake, originally came from Scotland and after arriving in Canada he enlisted and served at Passchendaele.

The two clubs shared the profits from the event, with the funds going to the Legion's Bursary Fund and to the Canadian Blood Services. Judging by the sold-out event, it will not be the last time that the two clubs join forces to celebrate Robbie Burns Day. Whalen said he would definitely be on board should he be asked again next year. “It's a great opportunity for both service clubs to benefit from helping each other," he said. Whalen said that in his nine-year history at the Legion it is the first time that the two organizations have come together to put on an event.