Brant 45 History

• 150 Yrs in Brantford
• 1852-1980
• 1978-1997
• Past Officers
• Grand Lodge Officers
• Secretaries
• Generation of Members
• Member HISTORY
• Service Pins
• 50 Year Canes
• DDGM Regalia
• Bios of 2000 Officers

History 1978-1997

During our 125th year, Brant Lodge No. 45 made her 28th bi-annual visit to Brant Lodge No. 663, Burlington, Ontario. To remind us of our Irish heritage, the Officers and members of St. John's Lodge 209A, London, Ontario came and exemplified the third degree in the Irish ritual. As well, degree team from Alpha Lodge No. 384, Toronto, Ontario came and passed one of our brothers to the fellow craft degree. The official visit of R. Wor. Bro. Robert Edwin Davies, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, rounded out the celebrations of this 125th anniversary year.

Over the last 20 years, Brant Lodge has continued to hold its own. Membership has been on the decline, but in the last couple of years has begun to grow again. Brant Lodge has been quite active in helping the Masonic Foundation raise funds for its projects: Hearing for Every Living Person, which was the Project celebrating 125 years of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario; and the Nip Drugs in the Bud project celebrating 25 years of the Masonic Foundation of Ontario. Locally, Brant Lodge has helped with the following district projects of the donation of an organ for Mohawk Chapel and a Reading Machine at the library for the visually impaired.

R. Wor. Bro. J. Carl Creamer (1961) and R. Wor. Bro. R. William L. Clarke (1980) were District Deputy Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario for M. Wor. Bro. C. Edwin Drew, Grand Master in 1993-94. Bro. Creamer for Wilson North District and Bro. Clarke for Brant District. Bro. Creamer took his demit when he moved to Woodstock but he still proudly wears his Past Master's jewel from Brant Lodge. In 1999 he was restored to membership in Brant Lodge.

Brant Lodge has continued its reciprocal fraternal visits with Brant Lodge No. 663 in Burlington, which began in 1951.

At the present time, Brant Lodge has a good supply of young officers and the future of the Lodge looks good for a number of years.

On Dec. 21 1998, Bro. Frank William Palmer, who is now living on Manitoulin Island, was presented with his 70 year pin. This was presented for us by Wor. Bro. Allan E. Tustian, an old friend, at Manitoulin Lodge in Gore Bay. Many members of Gore Bay Lodge No. 472 and Doric Lodge No. 455 shared in the celebration after the brief presentation.

On Aug. 7, 1999, an open house was held to celebrate the 90th birthday of Wor. Bro. Wilford Knoepfli. He was born on July 22, 1909, initiated into masonry on Oct. 13, 1936, passed to his second degree on Nov. 24, 1936 and raised on Jan. 26, 1937. Bro. Knoepfli was Worshipful Master of Brant Lodge in 1945. He received his 50 year pin in 1986, his 50 year Past Master pin in 1995 and his 60 year pin in 1996. He has been a every active member of the Lodge for over 60 years. At the reception, Wor. Bro. Jack Herron commented that nearly every Brant Lodge member present was probably raised by Bro. Knoepfli. Another member who spoke was Wor. Bro. Harry McClellan who commented on the true ritualist that Wilf is and Worshipful Master Dennis Fulkerson congratulated Wilf on his 90th birthday. After the Knoepfli family had a tour of the Lodge room, an anniversary cake was cut and Bro. Knoepfli gave his heartfelt thanks to the Lodge from himself, his wife Olga and his family for honouring him in this way.

April 24, 2001, M. Wor. Bro. Norman E Byrne, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario was present to witness the initiation of Mr. Donald Lawrence Jackson and Mr. Gordon Lewis Staats into the Mysteries and Privileges of Ancient Free Masonry. Wor. Bro. Dennis Jackson, Worshipful Master of Brant Lodge initiated his father and a friend. M. Wor. Bro. Byrne spoke on becoming a Brother. A good evening was enjoyed by all.

On December 11, 2001, R. Wor. Bro. R. William L. Clarke initiated his son Mr. Stephen William Clarke into the Mysteries and Privileges of Ancient Free Masonry. This evening was Past Masters Night and many visiting brethren enjoyed a delightful evening. Bro. Stephen W. Clarke becomes a fifth generation Mason as far as we have discovered. On May 14, 2002, R. Wor. Bro. Carl Creamer lead a distinguished Past District Deputy Degree Team (calling themselves the Grumpy Old Men) from Wilson North and South and Brant and they raised Bro. Stephen W. Clarke to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.

On June 10, 2002, Wor. Bro. Jack Herron sat in the chair of King Solomon and Raised his son-in-law Bro. Samuel Bessey from Pembroke Lodge No. 128 in the Ottawa District 2 to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. Bro. Bessey is slated to return to the Peace Keeping force in Bosnia this fall.