Visitation was literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you missed this year's meeting, you might try again in ten centuries, which I suppose is why the lodge was called "Millennium".

Don't mistake this time-time cycle with a surrendering a charter or folding operations. This lodge just has a long time between regular meetings.

Even to non-Masons, the meeting which was held in the Canadian Room of the Royal York Hotel, could easily identify as a Masonic setting. There were knockers on the door, officers' chairs were situated in the centre of the east, south, west, and north walls, an altar was in the centre of the floor, and the Volume of the Sacred Law (the Bible) lay open. (Everyone was wearing a "stonemason's apron", another dead giveaway.)

But there was one subtle difference.

Three stones.

Anyone who has visited a Masonic Lodge has seen two stones at the front; one rough-hewn rock on the left, the other situated to the right and finely polished. Millennium Lodge had a third stone, located front and centre and incorporating features of its neighbours. Both ends are rough and the centre was perfectly finished. It differed in having a repository for a time capsule to be opened by a future Grand Master when the lodge meets in 3000.

According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, large square-cut stones used for building, like a cornerstone, are called "ashlars". A coarse stone is the "rough ashlar" and a finished stone is the "perfect ashlar".

Members of Millennium Lodge dubbed their 350 pound piece of Queenston limestone the "Time Ashlar." Getting it into the lodge for official dedication took a special litter and eight bearers with strong backs.

There was nothing secretive about the dedication. In fact, the general public could appreciate the sentiments underlying the ceremony. The Chaplain, Sidney Whitely presided over its dedication.

"The rough ashlar is what we were," he explained. "The perfect ashlar is that perfection towards which we strive. Today we have another ashlar in the east, a 'Time Ashlar'", he explained, noting that "time both links and separates all of us. Every generation falls heir to the riches of those who went before."

"Technology advances from age to age. Two thousand years ago men feared falling off the edge of the earth. Just one thousand years ago Vikings sailed the Atlantic. The 20th century saw exploration of space. In our current millennium we are collecting images from the dawn of creation."

"Technology constantly changes," he noted, " but morality is absolute. Brotherly love, relief, and truth were bequeathed to us. Honesty and fidelity, the virtues of our fathers, are the treasures we leave to our heirs."

"In creating a Time Ashlar," the Chaplain pointed out, "we continue the tradition of communicating with future generations." He listed some of the Time Ashlar's contents; the Volume of the Sacred Law, the book of ritual, a list of charitable projects, and the lodge history. Of special interest is inclusion of the William Mercer Wilson Medal, awarded to brethren who lead by example.

"And most important," he said, "we are enclosing the random thoughts from our brethren, personal notes addressed to their descendants 50 generations in the future."

The Time Ashlar was dedicated to Masons who have gone before. It honoured today's members of The Craft. And it was addressed to Masons ten centuries in the future.

"In addressing this time-capsule to brethren a thousand years in the future," he said, "we are demonstrating our faith in the craft, our confidence in Man, and an unshakeable belief that brotherhood will continue until time shall be no more."

The stone is a tangible remembrance. Less tactile is the gift of sound. In its one year of activity, Millennium Lodge raised more than $100,000 for the Help-To-Hear project, the Grand Lodge project launched to insure neo-natal auditory of every newborn in Ontario. The lodge was part of the combined effort that boosted the fund over its $2 million goal.

The closing was eloquent in its silence. Douglas Rowbottom, Past Master of St. Clair Lodge in Milton is a retired teacher of the hearing impaired. His hands, communicating words without sound, gestured the closing Masons know so well, all brethren joining with hands over the heart to signify "Fidelity."

The lodge closed leaving many questions unanswered.

Who holds the warrant?

It was entrusted to the care (not retired) to Grand Lodge until the next meeting.

Who will open the lodge since the current officers might not be available?

A cure for aging and cryogenics were suggested possibilities.

Will our descendants be able to read our messages? After all, English didn't exist a thousand years ago. Will our descendants ten centuries in the future be able to decipher our archaic script?

The Rosetta Stone discovered in Egypt in the 1800's gave us the key to hieroglyphics. Our descendants hopefully will be smarter than we are, and they'll find their own "Rosetta Stone."

Will there be Masons from now until then to keep the Time Ashlar, and will there be Masons to open it?

Unless something better comes along to replace The Craft, they will be there, and likely they would have some surprises for us.

The Grand Master could be a lady.

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