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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 50R. B. Williams Walter Cutbush Frank Sheere Maurice Quance Louis Day George A. Hawkins Oat coq Weddings FLOWERS exclusively our business Our dewy fresh blooms have enhanced the appearance of rooms, homes and' people for almost every occasion you can think of. We're proud of our customers' loyalty and are continually welcoming new friends to our shop. We'd like to add you fo the list next time a special event comes up. Proud to be celebrating our third an- niversary on the occasion of Exeter's 100th. PALMER'S Flowers and Garden Centre Ltd. 41 Maih St, Exeter Frank Triebner Asa J, Penhale Section 2 , Page 30 THE EXETER T.IME$,ADVIZKAT .E JUNE 28, 1973. 100F have held over 4,650 meetings Writing the history of a Lodge covering a period of 100 years requires a great deal of research, In preparing this short sketch we were fortunate in having a committee of two honourable veterans, two past district deputies and a past recording secretary. Exeter Lodge No. 67,100Fwas established Jan. 27, 1871. During the past one hundred years we have held about 4,650 meetings and there has been a total of 759 members initiated into Odd- fellowship in our Exeter Lodge. Some of the names of our charter members might be familiar to many. They were: Bro. James Gillis, clerk; Bro, Young Cowan, physician; Bro, Alex Lewis, painter; Bro. Abraham Sanders, merchant; Bro. William Rollins, livery proprietor; Bro. David Johns, tinsmith. Three new members were initiated at that first meeting - Bro. Robert Pickard, Bro, W. Earl Wilkie and Bro. Charles Wilkie and by the end of 1871 there was a membership of 25, We find that the Lodge had no permanent home; space was rented in the Fanson block (now Gaiser). In 1887 our present lodge rooms were built. The history of a Lodge is practically the history of a B. M. Francis community and its people, and Exeter Lodge has been no ex- ception to this rule. Its work of social and fraternal progress through these years has shown a sound, steady improvement year by year. It has been active and instructive to its large mem- bership and of great value to Exeter and the community. According to the records, a real spurt took place in 1901 and the next few years when Bro. George Brooks, Bro. R,H. Sweet and Bro. J.G. Stanbury were Noble Grands twenty-five new mem- bers joined the Lodge. At this time it would be ,in- teresting to think back to 1904-5-6 and draw a mental picture of what our town and conditions were like. No hydro, no cars, no paved highways and our Lodge rooms were heated with two wood stoves - the wood carried up each meeting night and fires started. In 1911 our Lodge was honoured with the election of Bro. Samuel A. Poplestone as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ontario. Bro. George Hawkins our oldest member joined on March 2, 1905; Bro. Shirley Bobier, Nov. 13, 1906 and became N.G. in 1910; Bro. Louis Day, Oct 9, 1909 became N.G. in 1922; Bro. Frank Sheere, Oct. 3, 1911; Bro, Asa Wilbert Rivers Penhale, April 2, 1912 became N.G. in 1921; Bro. Frank Triebner, 1913; Bro. Bert Rivers, 1914; Bro, Maurice Quance, June 8, 1915 became N,G, in 1923; 13ro, R.B, Williams, March 23, 1920; Bro, B.M. Francis, March 23, 1920, became N.G. in 1937; Bro, William Birney, Jan. 20, 1920; Bro. Walter Cutbush, March 23, 1921, Oddfellows owe a great deal to these veterans for their wisdom end their loyalty to the Lodge, Their many years of service to the order speak for themselves of the devotion and esteem in which they held the fraternity, The motto, "Friendship, Love and Truth", has been their goal through the years. In checking the records we found an interesting comparison in taxes paid to Grand Lodge also Municipal taxes. In 1910 taxes to Grand Lodge were $51.45 and in 1970 were $649,20. In 1910 municipal taxes were $45,90 and in 1970 were $1095.00. These figures are about the way our modern trend of progress is advancing. A cemetery committee was appointed in 1905 and we have held Decoration Day, or it may be more properly named Memorial Day, when the members set out an 100Fmarker and flag on each grave of a departed brother. At the present time we decorate 210 graves. Several years ago the Exeter branch of the Royal Canadian Legion joined with us in our services on Decoration Day. Our annual Church service started in April 1878 and has carried on continuously. The policy has been' to worship in the old-established churches in the community and in the later years the Pride of Huron Rebekah Lodge has joined in our services, During the hundred years we have had a very fine showing of District Deputy Grand Masters from our Lodge. This is a very important position and the welfare of the different lodges under their supervision during the year depends very much on whether the D.D,G.M. is a con- scientous hard worker or not, Our DistrictDeputies have been outstanding in this respect. Their names follow:- Bro, R.N, Taylor; 13ro. J.G. Stanbury; Bro, W.J. Murray; Bro. W.W. Taman; Bro, EX. Dignan; Bro. Chas. Salter; Bro. A. Garnet Hicks; Bro. Clark Fisher; Bro. Albert Keys; Bro, Gerald McFalls; Bro. Roy Hunter. Exeter Lodge No, 67 has prospered financially from the beginning until the present time. The original building was renovated in 1935 when a thirty- five foot addition was built on the rearend and a hot water heating system installed, The Lodge room proper was extended and the paraphernalia room made larger, also a large club room was furnished with a pool table and card tables. Here you will find all the card experts in the afternoons, A well-equipped kitchen with stove and refrigerator has also been in- stalled. The lower part of the building has been occupied by the Hopper- Hockey furniture store since 1936. Although the Lodge has spent considerable money on the surroundings it has not neglected its financial obligations to its members. No records are available to show the many thousands of dollars paid out in sick claims, funeral expenses, and widows benefits, besides other donations to community charitable, causes. Uniting their efforts with the Rebekahs under the C.P.T. program, head office records show that Exeter is one of the leaders in the province. A great number of people in this com- munity have used free of charge crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds etc. when needed, The C,P.T. also supports the United Nations pilgrimage. In the late 1870's the Exeter Encampment which is associated with the subordinate Lodge secured a charter. While it has not carried on continuously an enthusiastic group reconstituted the Lodge in March 1963. On June 2, 1947 the Pride of Huron Rebekah Lodge was instituted and many of our brothers joined this branch of our Order. The addition of these two Branches of our Order has strengthened the Subordinate Lodge to a great degree as all work together harmoniously. These few brief notes are only a sketch of some. of the highlights during the past century. Let us go forward and make the next hundred years more exciting.