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Section 1, Page 38 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973
MASONIC LODGE — The first Masonic Lodge meeting was held in a tavern in Francistown in 1860 and
since that time many of Exeter's most prominent citizens have belonged to the lodge. The lodge is pictured
above as it appeared in 1948. In the back row left are: Ernest Cerson, Wellington Brock, Ken Hodgins, Bert
Borland, Garnet Johns, Clarence Knight, Allen Fraser, Ed Dignan, Dalton Finkbeiner, unidentified, Maurice
Quance, Andy Snelgrove, Andy Easton, Sylvester Taylor. Middle row left: Ted Pooley, Ray Mills, unidentified,
John Prance, Bob Fields, Torn Pryde, Bill Taman, Bruce Fields, unidentified and Max Turnbull. Front row left:
J. M. Southcott, Bill Middleton, R. N. Creech, Herb Walter, George Lawson, Jim Bowey, Ernie Buswell, Albert
Traquair, Chester Mawhinney. (photo by Doerr)
Organizers met in tavern
to make start in 1860
over old times. Dr. Harvey Cowen
The history of Masonry in
Exeter is contemporary with that
of the town itself.
In the little hamlet of Fran-
cistown masonry had its birth,
and with the change and growth
of the two villages into the
prosperous town of Exeter, so has
been the change and rise in
Masonry.
Passing through the stages of
meeting in a tavern room with
only a few chairs and candles
for light, to various halls with
make-shift furniture and coal-oil
lamps and on to the present
rooms, furnished entirely on
Masonic lines with Masonic
furniture, regalia and proper
electric lighting.
Prominent members of the
lodge have always been in the
forefront of the affairs of the
town, in church matters,
Government, school affairs,
sports, and in business, taking a
leading part in all progress, ever
ready to give their services for
the betterment of the community.
The early records of the Lodge
note the travel on horseback
horse and buggy, carry-all, stage
coach and the big event of the
arrival of the railway in 1876
The first meeting of Lebanon
Forest Lodge was held in Madill's
Tavern on the south west corner
of highways four and eighty-three
in the village of Francistown, on
the 28th of May 1860 and their
charter was received on Sept 26th
of the same year.
The names of the charter
members were William
Diamond, John Dempsey, Hugh
Dunseith, Robert Brabson,
Patrick Jamieson, John
Collingwood, George McLeod and
Wm Verity.
Wor. Bro Diamond was the first
master, Bro. John Dempsey,
Senior Warden; Bro. Hugh
Dunseith, Junior Warden; Bro.
George McLeod, secretary; Bro.
Patrick R. Jamieson, treasurer;
Bro. William Verity Senior,
Deacon; Bro. Brobert Brabson,
Junior Deacon;and Bro, John
Collingwood, Tyler.
On Sept. 7, 1860 the Lodge met
at Robert Bissett's. Tavern
Francistown about 50 yards south
of the bridge and west of Main
street. From Feb. 25 1861 - June
1864 they met in Wm, 136.1kwill's
Tavern on the site of the late Wm.
May's residence. There were
many moves after this, first to
Robert Bissett's Tavern, then
Mace's hall, Samwell's Hall,
David John's Hall, Fitton's Hall,
Joseph Senior's Hall, and finally
on Apr. 26, 1915, the first meeting
was held in the rooms the lodge
still occupies. °
When Exeter was incorporated
in 1873 the first Reeve was Isaac
Carling and the first clerk
Michael Eacrett both past
masters of the lodge, and with
few exceptions the heads of the
council and many of his
assistants have been Masons.
As the town grew and
prospered so did Lebanon Forest,
in 113 years the Lodge has had no
set backs and many of its
members have brought credit to
the lodge and to Exeter. We have
had six District Deputies; Rt.
Wor. Bro. R.H. Collins, Rt. Wor.
Bro. L.H. Dickson, R.Wor. Bro.
D.W. Collins, Rt. Wor. Bro. Thos
Pryde, Rt. Wor. Bro. Wm Cann,
Rt. Wor. Bro. Harry Strang, ,and
two members of the Ontario
Legislature Thos. Pryde and
Chas MacNaughton.
There are three members
living who were initiated over 50
years ago John Prance, Dr,
Weekes and John L. Routledge.
Several unusual events may be
worth mentioning On March 23,
1910 a resolution of regret was
adopted regarding the death of
His Imperial Majesty, King
Edward VII himself a member of
the craft, and known to the world
as the "Peacemaker". The altar
was draped for a period of 3
months.
On May 31, 1926 Wor. Bro. R.G.
Seldon had the honour of
presiding over the Lodge during
the ceremony of the initiation of
his son Harry Seldon. His father
Richard Seldon was a past
master and his other son Wallace
is a member. This is the only
instance of three generations of
one family being members of this
lodge.
Bro. Sam Sweet was Tyler
from Jan 1899 for over thirty-five
years.
An outstanding event was our
100th anniversary in 1960.
Benevolence has always been a
feature of Masonry both in the
Lodge and outside and over the
years quite a tidy sum has been
used in this way, although
financial conditions did not
always permit giving amounts
the size they would liked to have
given. To mention a few: the
Local Santa Claus fund; the
Home for Incurable children; the
Sick Children's Ho§pital ; the
Muskoka Hospital; the War
Memorial hospital. and Byron
Sanatorium have all had
assistance.
Our present master Wor. Bro.
Hugh Boyle and his officers will
hold a Visitation meeting July 4th
at 8 p.m. to meet any visiting
brethren, Come to the Lodge
rooms on the above date and talk