Articles

• 150 Yrs in Brantford
• History of "45"
• Accommodation
• September 13, 1927

• W.Bro. D.W. Clarkson
• W.Bro. D.L. Ritchie
• W.Bro. J.H. Revell
• W.Bro. W.E. Knoepfli
  

• 10 Years Ago
• 20 Years Ago
• 30 Years Ago
• 50 Years Ago

Brant Lodge 150 Years in Brantford

Brant Lodge No. 45 was constituted by the Grand Lodge of Ireland on June 6, 2003. This year we celebrate 150 years in Brantford. To start our celebrations the Worshipful Master W. Bro. Carl Leeson was installed in the chair of King Solomon by W. Bro. David Leslie in January.

February saw us honour W. Bro. Gerald Money for his many years of being an officer in Brant Lodge, more than 25 years. He was presented with certificate and a pair of glasses with our Anniversary Logo and an inscription of W. Bro. Gerald Money Night. His family was present for the presentations.

In March our District Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Ralph Baldwin made his official visit and 25 year pins were presented to W. Bro. Michael Campbell, Bro. James Ray, Bro. Andrew McNeish, Bro. William Martin and Bro. Victor Disyak. 50 year pins were presented to Bro, Robert Strople and Bro. Leonard Ellins. Bro. Stephen Clarke was presented with his Grand Lodge Certificate. The District chairmen gave their reports.

Mr. Wayne Wolski was initiated into the Mysteries and Privileges of Ancient Free Masonry in April by the Officers of Brant Lodge No. 45.

May saw W. Bro. Duane Bobyk W. M. of Brant Lodge No. 663 Burlington make their biannual visit to Brant Lodge to pass Bro. Wayne Wolski to the fellowcraft degree. This is the 53 visit between our Lodges since the visitations started in 1951. The work was well done as always. Following the degree work W. Bro. Duane Bobyk presented a plaque to our Lodge honouring our inter district visits and Brant Lodge No. 45's sesquicentennial birthday.

On May 24 M. W. Bro. Terence Shand, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario visited our District and helped us celebrate 150 years of Masonry in Brantford with a reception at the Brantford Golf & Country Club on Ava Road. This event was attended by more than 200 masons their wives and friends.

As our birthday was really June 6th we had a weekend of celebrations. On Friday June 6 M. W. Bro. C Edwin Drew, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario was present along with many Grand Lodge officers and R. W. Bro. Albert Arthur Barker Past Grand Senior Warden was made an honourary member of Brant Lodge. When he signed the bylaws he became the 1853rd member of Brant Lodge. Quite a coincidence since Brant Lodge was constituted on June 6, 1853 that Bro. Barker became the 1853 member on June 6, 2003. Letters of congratulations were received from M. W. Bro. Terence Shand, Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Donald Mumby, Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Bro. David Bell, Grand Registrar and R. W. Bro. Gary Atkinson, Member of the Board of General Purposes. Present were R. W. Bro. Donald Campbell and R. W. Bro. John Hough, Members of the Board of General urposes. R. W. Bro. John Ault, DDGM Wilson North and R. W. Bro. John Pollock, DDGM Hamilton A. The Mayor, Chris Friel presented the W. Bro. Carl Leeson with a plaque from the City and spoke about the research he had done on Joseph Brant’s Masonic career as best he could as Mayor Friel is not a Mason. Certificates were received from Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of
Canada, John Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, Ernie Eves, Premier of Ontario.

R. W. Bro. R. William L. Clarke spoke on some supplemental history of Brant Lodge which didn’t appear in the History Booklets distributed. He spoke on accommodations, honourary memberships and pin presentations. Bro. Harry Wilde presented a large pair of Compasses to W. Bro. Carl Leeson on behalf of Carl Leeson. W. Bro. Harry McClelland presented a magnificent
Inner Guard sword on behalf of W. Bro. Jack Herron to be used by the Inner Guard. W. Bro. Harry McClelland delivered a heart provoking address during the presentation. The highlight of the evening was the presentation by W. Bro. Jack Herron on the life and masonic career of R. W. Bro. Albert Barker and the response by R. W. Bro. Barker as he compared his Masonic career to that of a Baseball team’s organization. Following the meeting a banquet was held in the lower air conditioned hall.

Saturday June 7, 2003 was the arrival of the members from St. John’s Lodge 209a, London who came an exemplified the 3rd degree in the Irish Ritual. W. Bro. Dennis Jackson volunteered to be the representative candidate. A social hour and buffet followed the ceremony and a good time was had by all. R. W. Bro. Ralph Baldwin is also a member of St. John’s Lodge and it wonderful
to have his Lodge come to his district to exemplify the 3rd degree and also help us celebrate our 150th Anniversary as we were also a constituted Irish Lodge.

Sunday saw us up bright and early and we held a Widow’s Tea at the Lodge and presented the Widow’s who could come with Widow pins. This was followed by an Open House in the lodge Room. Later we held an Olde Fashion Picnic in Mohawk Park where members brought salads and desserts. The Lodge supplied hotdogs and hamburgs. As we were barbecuing a torrential storm
arrived an even though we were in the shelter the cooks were standing in two inches of water. A great time was had by all who attended. This certainly was a memorable weekend for all who attended.