Masonic Temple - West Elgin Masonic Lodge No. 386 Rodney Ontario (3)
www.stthomasfreemasonry.com/lodges.html
The Chronicle article Aug 2005
Freemasons have been meeting for 125 years in West Elgin.
West Elgin Lodge 386 celebrated the anniversary with a black tie ceremony Nov. 5 at the Rodney Legion.
It's no secret the fraternity has been supporting the community.
By donating $21,000 for the Rodney pool when it was built and more recently $1,500 for St.Thomas-Elgin General Hospital the Freemasons have become the backbone of the area, said Andy Cipu, director of the ceremony Friday night.
Freemasons claim to be the oldest and largest worldwide fraternity dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of a Supreme Being.
At first, the Freemasons were stonemasons who built cathedrals in the 1600s. When cathedral building declined, the guild began to open its doors to other craftsmen.
The first recorded meeting in what is today, West Elgin, was the McColl Lodge, Nov. 6, 1879 at Trigger Hall, west of the village of Bismarck (West Lorne).
The first elected Master was Worship Brother Kenneth McKenzie and the first secretary was Worship Brother Hugh McColl, after whom the lodge was named.
The first meeting of the Rodney Lodge was held June 25, 1885, it is believed in the old Vogan Block on Furnival Road.
In the mid 1990s, both the McColl Lodge and the Rodney Lodge were declining in membership.
Cipu has been a Mason for 50 years. He recalls the work done to have the Grand Lodge and Board of General Purpose grant an amalgamation between the two Lodges.
On March 28, 2003 at the Rodney Temple, on Queen St., Cipu, the Grand Lodge Officer saw the West Elgin Lodge become a reality.
He said 14 new members joined the lodge last year and the fraternity is steeped with local prominence.
'We're really strong.' said Cipu.
Former mayors, doctors, funeral directors, church leaders and businessmen have frequented the lodge at its monthly meetings throughout the freemasons history here, said Cipu.
He said the group is not religious but religious in principle.
To be a member, the man must believe in a Supreme Being. No atheists allowed, said Cipu.
The fraternity is incorporated, serving the interests of local charities and morally supporting the leaders of local institutions.
?We do amazing things here,? said Cipu, adding the fraternity is open for more members.
At the 125 ceremony, Master Worship Brother Donald Mumby, from the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario greeted a large concourse of members and wives.
Also, District Deputy Grand Master, George Akers and Worship Master, Kevin Schleihauf made presentations.
Masonic Temple - West Elgin Masonic Lodge No. 386 Rodney Ontario (3)
www.stthomasfreemasonry.com/lodges.html
The Chronicle article Aug 2005
Freemasons have been meeting for 125 years in West Elgin.
West Elgin Lodge 386 celebrated the anniversary with a black tie ceremony Nov. 5 at the Rodney Legion.
It's no secret the fraternity has been supporting the community.
By donating $21,000 for the Rodney pool when it was built and more recently $1,500 for St.Thomas-Elgin General Hospital the Freemasons have become the backbone of the area, said Andy Cipu, director of the ceremony Friday night.
Freemasons claim to be the oldest and largest worldwide fraternity dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of a Supreme Being.
At first, the Freemasons were stonemasons who built cathedrals in the 1600s. When cathedral building declined, the guild began to open its doors to other craftsmen.
The first recorded meeting in what is today, West Elgin, was the McColl Lodge, Nov. 6, 1879 at Trigger Hall, west of the village of Bismarck (West Lorne).
The first elected Master was Worship Brother Kenneth McKenzie and the first secretary was Worship Brother Hugh McColl, after whom the lodge was named.
The first meeting of the Rodney Lodge was held June 25, 1885, it is believed in the old Vogan Block on Furnival Road.
In the mid 1990s, both the McColl Lodge and the Rodney Lodge were declining in membership.
Cipu has been a Mason for 50 years. He recalls the work done to have the Grand Lodge and Board of General Purpose grant an amalgamation between the two Lodges.
On March 28, 2003 at the Rodney Temple, on Queen St., Cipu, the Grand Lodge Officer saw the West Elgin Lodge become a reality.
He said 14 new members joined the lodge last year and the fraternity is steeped with local prominence.
'We're really strong.' said Cipu.
Former mayors, doctors, funeral directors, church leaders and businessmen have frequented the lodge at its monthly meetings throughout the freemasons history here, said Cipu.
He said the group is not religious but religious in principle.
To be a member, the man must believe in a Supreme Being. No atheists allowed, said Cipu.
The fraternity is incorporated, serving the interests of local charities and morally supporting the leaders of local institutions.
?We do amazing things here,? said Cipu, adding the fraternity is open for more members.
At the 125 ceremony, Master Worship Brother Donald Mumby, from the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario greeted a large concourse of members and wives.
Also, District Deputy Grand Master, George Akers and Worship Master, Kevin Schleihauf made presentations.