FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR
R.W. Bro. David R. Dainard
My brethren as I write this message the snow of a very long winter is slowing receding, revealing a purple patchwork of Spring crocuses. It is a time of natures renewal.

It is also a time for renewal of the parameters of
submissions for the ‘Around the Jurisdiction’ segment of the Ontario Mason Magazine.

With the increase in the popularity of the Digital
camera your Committee has as never before been
receiving digital photographs in JPEG format. As
stated in the Magazine on several occasions, the
JPEG format is unacceptable. Yes it is unfortunately
unacceptable to the production facility in Owen
Sound. This digital format produces low quality
reproduction values which demand a high level of
color correction to clarify them to the stage where
the pictures become presentable for publication.

Perhaps an explanation of what the JPEG format creates when utilizing it would better define the point that your Committee is attempting to make.

In order to compress the picture file, thereby reducing it to a smaller size, JPEG strips away extra shades of colors, resulting in a grey, dull, less definable representation of the picture. To further illustrate the point, a tiff formatted digital picture would be around four (4) megabytes in size when saved in that format, while the same digital picture JPEG formatted would be saved at around seventy-eight (78) kilobytes. And what is viewed on the computer screen is seen at around seventy-two (72) dpi. However, what is seen on the screen is not the quality of what is reproduced for the Magazine.

So what does this mean? It means that we will no
longer accept JPEG formatted digital pictures as the
cost to reproduce them is prohibitive.

The Committee will continue to accept tiff formatted
digital pictures which may be burned onto a CD and
sent to the Committee. We will also accept a hard
copy photograph as well as one reproduced on the
printer from those submitting them. I must however
relate to you that if the copy of the photograph
presented for publication from the home printer is
poor, we cannot expend the costing for correction,
and it will be published as submitted.

 Your Committee is planning a 150th Grand Lodge
Anniversary Issue of the Magazine which should
be produced in the Fall of 2005. And we feel that
it is important to revisit the relevancy of digital
submissions at this time as we anticipate a wealth
of material submissions for that landmark issue.

Speaking of the 150th Anniversary, are your lodges
and Districts preparing for their celebration of this
historic event?

The 150th Committee of Grand Lodge has the following planned.

October 23, 2004 - Kingston - A one day
Celebration of Grand Lodge.

February 5, 2005 - Simcoe - A one day Celebration
of Grand Lodge.

April 30, - 2005 - Thunder Bay - A one day
Celebration of Grand Lodge.

July 21, 2005 - Masonic Play - “Then and Now”
- Fairmont Royal York.

July 22-23, 2005 - Annual Communication -
Fairmont Royal York.

July 23, 2005 - Divine Service - Fairmont Royal
York.

July 23 - 2005 - Spectacular Entertainment Event
- Roy Thomson Hall.

Remember this is your Magazine enjoy and contribute to it.

Correction
In the Fall Issue 2003 it was erroneously stated that the Grave Marker of the Unknown Mason was situated in Simcoe, it is in fact located at Jordan Station.

Cover Photo
Train Set
London, Ontario
Photo by: R.W. Bro. Paul Farrell
Layout: R.W. Bro. William Thompson