…presented at Ozias Lodge No.508, Burford, November 8, 2006.

Right Worshipful Sirs, Very Worshipful Sirs, Worshipful Sirs Distinguished East and Brethren All.

Tonight, I would like to express my respect and admonition for a highly esteemed brother of this lodge. Most times it only takes one spark to light the fire of enthusiasm. This emotion then continues to snowball until the force of its inertia is completely and utterly unstoppable.

Brethren I am referring to one man, Right worshipful brother Ralph Baldwin.

Ralph Started his legacy of Masonry in London being initiated passed and raised at St. John's 209A in London Ontario in 1990. and was chaplain from 1990 to 1994. On moving to Brantford he affiliated with Ozias Lodge No 508 and became Master in 1996-97. Ralph was involved with the whole spectrum of Masonry by joining the Royal arch masons, As a member of the London Shrine Club joining in 1994 and the Brantford Shrine club in 1996.

I personally remember the very first time that I met Right Wor Brother Baldwin as he was preparing to leave a Masonic service in Brantford . Ralph at the time was travelling with Worshipful brother McEcheran. He took the time to stop introduce himself and exchange courtesies with myself in the parking lot of the funeral home. This small act left quite an impression on me I must say.

Right Worshipful Brother Ralph Balwin was a natural leader. He would lay the seeds of a project that he wanted completed, then proceed to supervise the work until it was completed to his satisfaction. If not he would give more of his time and energy until it was finished.

Right Worshipful Brother Ralph Baldwin was happy to have masonry in his life he believed and he showed it every day that masonry can change your life. Ralph's childhood was harder than most and this fact led Ralph to try to help those that were less fortunate than him. He did this by hiring people that others with stricter guidelines would have turned away.

The people that were weaker than he, Ralph would try to help. The people that were hurt and crippled Ralph would try to help. Ralph's biggest concern was not with the burden to himself but with the relief of others.

Ralph also had a life outside of Masonry although the time that he dedicated to the craft this is hard to believe. He worked for eleven years at Ford followed by eleven years at Canada Post then shorter stints as a restauranter and salesperson. With the full support of his wife Janice he started his own transport Company.

He played slo pitch baseball on Championship teams winning two provincial and one national title. He was a member of the auxiliary police and a volunteer and supporter for Habitat for Humanity.

Ralph is survived by his Wife Janice two children Andrea and Jason and one grandchild Noah.

To the members of Ozias Lodge I personally wish you continued to remember what this one spark plug has done and may be continuing to do for your lodge in particular and masonry in general. For without Right Worshipful Brother Ralph Baldwin this lodge would and could not be the same today.

Brethren, I thank you for the kindness that you have afforded me this evening and I close with words of wisdom from Right Wor Brother Ralph Balwin: "Masonry has developed me as a husband Father Employer and has been a guiding influence in how I live my life."

Brethern if we may all stand for a moments silence for Right Wor Bro Ralph Balwin.

May we cherish his Memory in our hearts.