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Historical Notes on Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks No. 654
In 1931, Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks No. 654 A.F.& A.M. GRC received its name from Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks No.441, Grand Lodge of New York. Unfortunately that lodge closed in July 2008, but was merged with Queen City-Christopher G. Fox Lodge No.358 on May 6, 2009 to become Ancient Landmarks Lodge No.358, Grand Lodge of New York.
Many of the Ornaments, Furniture and Jewels in use at the present time were presented to the Lodge at its inception in 1931 and by others at subsequent dates.
The original Bible for use on the Altar was presented in that year by J. Alex Robinson. The three silver gavels were given to the Lodge by Ancient Landmarks No.
441. Buffalo, N.Y. The handles of these gavels were carved from a piece of mahongy actually removed from their furniture for that particular purpose. The Wands
were given to the Lodge by J. Howard Percy and the Charts by J.P.l MacKay. The engraved columns at the Warden's Chairs ere the gift of Ernest Ackerman, the
Tray of Benevolence from Grant McEwen and the original baton for the Director of Ceremonies from Wilfred Houser.
Subsequently, in 1961, Chester Boehmer presented the Working Tools to the Lodge and his skill as a craftsman and engraver are reflected in the work which adorns
them.
All the Furniture, Ornaments and Jewels, although stained by smoke and scorched by flame survived the fire which destroyed the Temple in 1967 and have been
replated and refurbished.
The Past Master's Jewel was chosen with very careful thought from a large selection of designs submitted to our Founding Fathers. The Jewel is a symbol of the
Craft and the original was embellished by three small diamond flakes.
In like manner, the original Regalia was designed as a distinguishing characteristic of the new Lodge. The Aprons were slightly smaller than the Aprons in
general use and the Collars narrower and shorter. The original Aprons and Collars were worn for many years, but did not survive the fatal fire previously
mentioned. The Collars and Aprons were then replaced by those of today and both Aprons and Collars conform to standard size,shape and colour. The Jewels
pendent to the Collars are the originals and although badly discoloured by smoke and flame were restored to their present splendour. |
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History of Doric Lodge No. 382
Unfortunately much of the valuable information relating to the history of Doric Lodge No. 382 was lost when fire destroyed the Masonic Temple that was located on
James Street North in September 1968
In 1879, M. W. Bro. Weller, G.M. of the Grand Lodge of Canada announced that the Grand Lodge of Ontario which had been incorporated on February 10th, 1876 had
ceased to exist and that all formalities for its extinction had been complied with.
One of the member lodges within the Grand Lodge of Ontario was Mount Sinai Lodge No. 20. The brethren of that lodge now had lost all rights and privileges
accorded to freemasons.
Informal discussions took place between the members of Mount Sinai Lodge and others representing regular Masonic Lodges within Hamilton. Eventually sixteen
brethren from these various regular lodges signed a petition for the formation of a new lodge. The proposed name at that time was to be Unity Lodge. A letter was
sent to M. W. Bro. James A. Henderson Esq. Q.C. requesting dispensation to form this new lodge.
Doric Lodge held its first meeting on December 11, 1879 under dispensation. A warrant was granted at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada on
July 13, 1880.
The first Worshipful Master was Ralph L. Gunn. His Senior Warden was Burwell Schram and the Junior Warden was George Midgley.
The first newly initiated member was Mr. Benjamin Lewis who received his E.A. degree on June 21, 1880.
To read a full Doric lodge history click here
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History of Hamilton Masonic District 'C'
Masonry in Southern Ontario seems to have started in the Fort on the American side of the Niagara River where a Kings (8th) Regiment of Foot would meet with Field
Warrant No.156. This Lodge met between 1773 and 1785. On the other side of the river St. John's Lodge of Friendship No.2 met a Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake)
and Queenston in 1782. In 1795 the first Lodge in Hamilton, The Barton Lodge, held its first meeting at Smith's Tavern. A second lodge in the area was established
in 1879 at Forty Mile Creek (now Grimsby) and was called Union Lodge. Initially the area between Grimsby and Oakville was referred to as The Gore Distict.
When the Grand Lodge of Canada was formed in 1855 the Hamilton Masons were in the Western District or that portion of Upper Canada lying west of Toronto. A year
later the area was divided into the districts of London and Hamilton. At the conclusion of World War I there were eight Lodges in this vicinity. This number grew
rapidly and in 1923 the former Hamilton district was split between Hamilton A consisting of sixteen lodges and Hamilton B with fifteen lodges.
During the ensuing years eleven more lodges were granted charters in the Hamilton districts and in 1974 there was another redistribution into three districts
referred to Hamilton A, Hamilton B and Hamilton C each consisting of fourteen. In 1989 Centennial Daylight Lodge joined Hamilton C and in 2001 Hamilton Lodge
extinguished their lights, within the same district.
The three Hamilton Districts are laid out in a very distinctive pattern with regard to geography. Consider the Masonic Centre as the point of intersection for
all districts since each has a number of lodges that meet within that facility. District A comprises all lodges on the North side of Lake Ontario from Oakville
to the Masonic Centre. District B consists of the lodges that meet on the South side of Lake Ontario from Grimsby to the Masonic Centre. District C encompasses
those Lodges that meet in the Western sector from Ancaster and Dundas to the Masonic Centre.
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