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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-05-31, Page 7Wednesday, May 31, 2017 • Signal Star 7 comiiion t 190 Years of Freemasonry in Goderich The founding of Goderich on June 29, 1827 may have been part of a masonic conspiracy as John Galt and William 'Tiger' Dun- lop were brothers of the Freemason's craft. As one of the oldest lodges in Ontario, Goder- ich has been a hotbed of Freemasonic activity. Indeed, throughout the town's history, the Masonic order in Goder- ich has claimed many of the town's most promi- nent civic, military, busi- ness, religious and com- munity leaders. The Masonic Order probably has its origins in the medieval craft guilds. In order to ensure that nonebut qualified crafts- men practised their art, the early stone masons devised elaborate hand- shakes and rituals to dis- tinguish legitimate crafts- men from unskilled impostors. Over time, non-opera- tive masons joined Masonic Lodges. They kept the rituals and used the secrecy of the lodge as a place to engage in political and religious,dis- cussions and provide charitable relief to the families of ill and dis- tressed brethren. The Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717 to unite four existing Masonic Lodges in the London area. Its ideals of fraternity, free thought and charity allowed masonry to spread like wildfire throughout Enlighten- ment Europe. The British Army brought Masonry to Upper Canada after the American Revolu- tion. Governor John Graves Simcoe held the first meeting of the Legis- lative Assembly in a Masonic Lodge. Founded Huron History David Yates in 1792, the oldest lodge in Ontario is at Niagara -on -the -Lake. Freemasonry also thrived in the New World as many of the early Huron Tracttsettlers belonged to the order. It was a useful association as a mason was sworn to assist his brother mason when settling the frontier. Designated Union Lodge #720 on the Grand Registry of England, the first Goderich lodge was formed in 1840. Canada Company Commissioner, Thomas Mercer Jones, was the lodge's first Worshipful Master. It met in lodge rooms on Front Street on the harbour front. In 1845, Union Lodge became Goderich Lodge #33 on the Grand Registry of Canada. Dr. William 'Tiger' Dunlop was its first lodge master. A second Goderich lodge, designated Mait- land Lodge #112, was formed in 1859. Its first meeting was held at the Huron House Hotel on the Square. Its second meeting convened at the Albion Hotel where the Bedford is now. It seems to have rotated alehouses through most of its history. The Goderich and Maitland Lodges acted more like bitter rivals than a fraternal organiza- tion. It appears through the minute books that they continually slan- dered each other's candi- dates for membership. More than one poten- tial mason was `blackballed' because of the uncharitable words of brethren from the other lodge. In an unsolved act of arson, Goderich Lodge #33 was 'completely destroyed by fire' in January 1863. For the good of the Craft, both lodges knew the rivalry must cease. In 1883, the two lodges amalgamated to form Maitland Lodge #33. Alexander McD. Allan, 'the Fruit King of Canada" was the first master of the united lodge. Normally, the new lodge would have been re -numbered but the members of both lodges agreed upon keeping the #33 numerical designation. Some have speculated that they insisted on #33 because of the mystical significance of having 33 degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry but more proba- ble was the fact that many of the. Maitland masons belonged to the 33rd Huron Regiment. They identified their lodge number with the.Regi- ment number. One Goderich mason, John Varcoe, founded Morning Star Lodge in Carlow in 1874 and went on to become the 33rd Regi- ment's colonel in 1898. Goderich Freemasonry grew to include several masonic appendant bod- ies such as the Royal Arch Masons and from 1873 to 1896 Goderich was home to St. Elmo's Preceptory of the Knights Templar, which is the highest level of Freemasonry. According to Andrew Holman's book A Sense of Their Duty (2000), Vic- torian Canada viewed Masonic membership as entry into the middle- class. The hefty $20.00 membership fee in 1890 made it exclusive. In 1864, Malcolm Cam- eron declared at a St. John's Day dinner that having "occupied every position in the gift of the people of Goderich, I would rather be master of this Lodge than be Mayor" or Member of Parliament. As Freemasonry pros- pered in Goderich, a new building was needed to display its growing afflu- ence. In 1911, Dr. Charles Sale, a prominent dentist and civic leader, spear- headed a campaign that raised the astounding sum of $20 000 for a grand edifice that would showcase the Craft' s importance in town. The result is the present imposing three-storey red brick structure in the cen- tre of West Street. Its Ital- ianate facade showcases a rare example of an Arts and Crafts style lodge room. Erected in 1913, it was officially opened in May 1914. The Huron Signal described the stately building as "sparkling with dazzling brilliance" as befitting the Masonic Craft. Over 250 Masons dined in the banquet hall at its grand opening. The Blackstone Orches- tra serenaded diners from the lodge's impressive orchestra loft. It also housed the Goderich Board of Trade and the Menesetung Canoe Club. The 'Signal' declared the new lodge building "one of the most valuable assets this old town pos- sesses" and a Major Sale was killed during the Great War in France in January 1916. Hundreds attended his Masonic service at St. George's Church in Goderich. Maitland Lodge suf- fered one of the first Maitland Lodge of Ancient Freemasons civilian fatalities during the Second World War. Former lodge master, F. G. Weir, was drowned when the passenger ship, Athenia was torpe- doed by a U -Boat on Sep- tember 3, 1939 just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. Weir was the father of Reverend W. Weir of Knox Church. During the war, the banquet hall was used for dances and blood donor clinics. Several Com- monwealth airmen from the Port Albert and Goderich air stations joined Maitland Lodge. Becoming a mason for allied airmen was a rare act of courage as the Nazi's singled out freemasonry for persecution. Many Freemasons perished in concentration camps. The F-3 tornado that devastated the Town of Goderich on August 21, 2011, severely damaged the 97 year-old lodge building. The tornado rolled directly over the lodge and lay open its front facade causing extensive structural dam- age to the entire building. Its future was in doubt as the lodge membership weighted the advantages of razing the building and selling the prop- erty. However, under the contrbuted photo direction of Past Master Larry Parks a committee was formed to oversee the reconstruction of masonic lodge building. Just over a year after it seemed the lodge build- ing was fated for demolishion, the majestic edifice was restored to its former glory. It remains one of Goderich's most significant architectural and historic gems. Today, Maitland #33 is the oldest of Huron County's 8 lodges. Founded in 1919, Hullett #568 in Londesborough is the county's newest lodge. Ancient Freemasonry remains true to its origi- nal creed of 'Brotherly Love, Charity and Truth.' Freemasonry in Goderich has counted amongst its ranks one Senator, four Members of Parliament and a host of other prominent leaders. On Saturday, June 3, from 10 am to 3 pm, Wor- shipful Brother Ron Govier and the members of Maitland Lodge #33 is hosting an Open House for the general public to visit the oldest fraternal organization in Huron County to get a glimpse into the secrets and mys- teries of ancient freemasonry.