THE PATRIOTIC ARM
Visually Representing the Order
Message from our 4th Degree Assembly
TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE 4TH DEGREE , IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE FR PATRICK MCQUAID ASSEMBLY. THE FR PATRICK MCQUAID ASSEMBLY 2293 WAS FORMED IN 1992 AND NAMED AFTER FR PATRICK MCQUAID, A PRIEST WHO SERVICE IN THE LEDUC AREA AND IN THE MILITARY IN THE EARLY DAYS. TO BECOME A 4TH DEGREE MEMBER YOU MUST FIRST ACHIEVED YOUR 3RD DEGRREE AS A BROTHER BEFORE ADVANCING TO THE 4TH DEGREE AS A SIR KNIGHT. THE 4TH DEGREE CAN ONLY RECRUIT ITS MEMBERS FROM THE 3RD DEGREE. YOU ARE ALWAYS A 3RD DEGREE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
THE ASSEMBLY NOW COMPRISES COUNCILS FRON DEVON, LEDUC, BEAUMONT AND ST PETERS COUNCIL IN EDMONTON. PRIOR TO COVID, IT WAS AN EXTREMEMLY ACTIVE ASSEMBLT FORMING NEW ASSEMBLIES IN WETASKIWIN, STONY PLAIN/SPRUCE GROVE , SOUHTWEST EDMONTON AND THE FLIPPINO ASSEMBLY IN EDMONTON. IT ALSO CONDUCTED EDUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN LEDUC AND DEVON ON CITIZENSHIP, HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN FLAG AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CANADIAN AS WELL AS PROVIDING AN HONOR GUARD IN THE ANNUAL LEDUC DAYS PARADE. IT RECEIVED LOCAL AND SUPREME RECOGNIZATION FOR ITS COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THE CANADIAN AND KNIGHTS FLAG YOU SEE IN THE CHURCH WERE DONATED BY THE 4TH DEGREE. THE ASSEMBLY AND ITS SIR KNIGHTS ALSO PERFORM FUNERAL HONOR GURADS, REMEMBER DAY AND NUMEROUS OTHE RFUNCTIONS.
SINCE COVID, OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS STAGNATED. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A NUMBER OF YOUNGER MEMBERS, OUR OLDER MEMBERS WHO ARE GETTING TIRED CARRY OUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR ACTIVITIES. WITHOUT OUR YOUNGER MEMBERS STEPPING FORWARD, OUR ASSEMBLY WILL EVENTUALLY DIE WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT SHAM. WITHOUT FRESH IDEAS AND LEADERSHIP, WE WILL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME SURVIVING. OUR MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN HONOR GUARDS, STROVE TUESDAY, PANPAKE BREAKFAST, REMERBANCE DAY, POPPY DRIVE, HOCKEY CAMP TO NAME BUT A FEW. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO STEP FORWARD AND TAKE OVER THE LEADERSHIP. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STEP FORWARD, LEARN ABOUT THE 4TH DEGREE AND BECOME PART OF SOMETHING LARGER THEN OURSELVES. AT THE STROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST TODAY A COMMENT WAS MADE BY THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL. ALL THE VOLUNTEERS HERE TODAY ARE OLDER KNIGHT WHO MUST BE GETTING TIRED. WHAT HAPPENS TO STROVE PANCAKE BREAKFAST WHEN THY CAN NO LONGER VOLUNTEER. DOES THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST DIE. THIS MADE ME THINK AND IS A VALID QUESTION. DOES ALL OUR GOOD WORK DIE BECAUSE YOUNGER MEMBERS DO NOT WANT TO VOLUNTEER. OUR FUTURE AS A KNIGHT IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS. DON’T BE A DISAPPOINTED TO THOSE WHO ARE NOW PASSING THE TORCH.
