James A. Marples, 32°

The Shrine Peace Memorial, erected in Toronto in 1930, serves as an ongoing reminder that Freemasonry actively promotes the ideals of peace, harmony, and prosperity for all humankind.

Photo: Courtesy of Rameses Temple, Toronto, Ontario, Press Corps
Ill. Leo V. Youngworth, 33°, a  Knight Templar and a very devoted Mason, served as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America during 1929–1930. He was from California, but he selected Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as the site of the June 10–12, 1930, Imperial Session. He said: "I was impressed with the wonderful possibilities of making this Session of the Imperial Council an outstanding Masonic demonstration. The fine feeling of our Canadian neighbors and their kindly attitude toward our own country prompted a desire to do something that would further develop the strong friendship which has existed between our English-speaking peoples for so many years."

A plan was devised to create the Shrine Peace Memorial. (See above.) The monument was to commemorate the friendship between Canada and America, as well as to evidence in a tangible way the friendship and Brotherhood among the Freemasons of both nations. The Shrine was the ideal sponsor for such a proposal, since it had International Jurisdiction covering the entire continent. Imperial Sir Youngworth sanctioned Bro. Charles Keck, a noted sculptor and a member of Kismet Temple in Brooklyn, New York, to erect the monument which was received by the Honorable George S. Henry, Potentate of Rameses Temple No. 33 of Toronto, accepting it on behalf of the citizens of Canada.

Toronto rolled out the red carpet and waited for the Shriners with open arms. The morning sun shone radiantly on the first detachment of Shriners marching 12 abreast, in perfect formation, in the midst of a street lined with hundreds of national banners. With fez tassels  waving in the breeze, every Noble presented the right-hand military salute when the color guard presented the national flags. Incredibly, some 7,000 school children (mostly from Toronto, but some from New York) paraded as well. A children's choir gave a concert in the Toronto Coliseum. Ill. Youngworth called upon the 600,000 Shriners to continue in thought, word, and deed their support of world peace.

The monument features an angel with uplifted open arms in front of a bench facing south (toward the United States–Canada border) inscribed with the Shrine motto: "PEACE BE ON YOU" and its response "ON YOU BE THE PEACE." Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King made his thoughts clear via radio: "I should like to add the thanks of the Canadian people as a whole for the inspiring monument which your Order has erected on the shores of Lake Erie and which you are now about to dedicate in the cause of peace. It is indeed a worthy addition to the art treasures of the province of which Toronto is the capital city. It will be cherished by Canada as a national possession and by our continent as an abiding symbol of international good will."

The Shrine Peace Memorial serves as an ongoing reminder that Nobles sincerely and actively promote the cherished ideals of peace, harmony, and prosperity in their communities and in Freemasonry. Those Masons who have joined the Scottish Rite and York Rite have sworn to do the same by extending their "Cable-Tow" of other Masonic Bodies. While often seen having fun, Shrine Masons have the mission of not only enhancing Masonic fellowship and philanthropy but also maintaining the union of the two Masonic roads which forked at the Third Degree. Each Masonic "road," whether a Rite or other Masonic Order, provides a path to travel as we all seek to improve ourselves while helping humanity.

By its very nature, Freemasonry promotes sincere friendship, nurtures good character, and bestows deserved honors. These qualities are the fruit of a vine called Peace.

James A. Marples
is a Life Member of Mulvane Lodge No. 201, Mulvane, Kansas; the El Dorado, Kansas, York Rite Bodies; and the Lincoln, Nebraska, Scottish Rite Bodies. He is also a member of Isis Shrine Temple, Salina, Kansas, and Associate Member of Anezeh Shrine Temple, Mexico City, Mexico. He is a Life Member of The Royal Order Of Scotland.