Lodge Building History — Brant Lodge No. 45

Over 170 Years in Brantford

Prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada in 1855, Brant Lodge operated as No. 323, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The Charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Ireland was dated June 6, 1853, and was signed by Augustus Frederick, Duke of Leinster, Grand Master; George Hoyte, D.G.M.; Richard, Earl of Donoughmore, G.S.W.; Sir John McNeil, G.J.W. of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. It was granted to Arunah Huntington as Worshipful Master; Charles H. Waterous as Senior Warden and Charles R. Wilkes as Junior Warden.

The Charter Members were:

David Curtis	Reginald Kenwood, M.D.	Arunah Huntington	Robert Scott
William Walker	Charles R. Wilkes	John Ashton Wilkes	James Yardington
John Foley	John Lennox Hodge	Luther C. Norton	John Skinner, M.D.
Charles H. Waterous	George S. Wilkes	Henry Yardington	Romeyn Mulligan

On July 19, 1855, at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in Niagara Falls, that Brant Lodge was well represented. It was this meeting where the delegates from all of the Masonic lodges in the province considered the propriety of establishing a Canadian Grand Lodge. Brant Lodge was again well represented at a meeting in the Masonic Hall, Hamilton, on October 10, 1855, where it was resolved “that the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Canada be and is hereby formed upon the ancient 93 charges and constitution of masonry.”

Col. William Mercer Wilson was then elected as the first Grand Master. Brant Lodge, upon being instituted under this new Grand Lodge, was assigned the number “22”, and received its new Charter dated November 24, 1855. The signature on the Charter was that of the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother William Mercer Wilson.

The Charter Members at this time were noted to be:

Worshipful Master David Curtis
Senior Warden Dr. John Skinner
Junior Warden George W. Malloch

On July 14, 1858, when the two Grand Lodges were finally united, with 129 lodges now under the one jurisdiction, the lodges were renumbered giving recognition to seniority. Brant Lodge was then assigned the new number “45”.

Brant Lodge No. 45, Brantford, has supplied the nucleus for the formation of other lodges in this district, including Doric Lodge No. 121, Ozias Lodge No. 508, Burford Lodge No. 106 and St. George Lodge No. 243. Brant Lodge became a grandmother lodge, when Doric Lodge No. 121 supplied the nucleus of members for the formation of Reba Lodge No. 515, and when Burford Lodge No. 106 supplied members for the formation of Scotland Lodge No. 193. On January 18, 1909, the lodge rooms that were to be occupied cooperatively by Brant Lodge No. 45 and Doric Lodge No. 121 were dedicated.

In the early 1950’s W. Bro. Lloyd Lawrence, Worshipful Master of Brant No. 45 and W. Bro. Petrie the Worshipful Master of Brant Lodge No. 663 in Burlington commenced a biannual fraternal visitation between our two Lodges named after Joseph Brant.

On June 13, 1953, the 100th Anniversary of Brant Lodge was celebrated with a reception for the Most Worshipful, the Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Nelson Collins Hart. (237 signed the Tyler's Register on this occasion).

Brant Lodge No. 45 was one of the four Brantford City lodges who worked co-operatively for the construction and equipping of the new Brantford 94 Masonic Temple, at 192 Greenwich Street, which became its home in 1955.

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; and a degree team from Alpha Lodge No. 384, Toronto, Ontario came and passed one of our brothers to the fellowcraft degree.

The official visit of R. W. 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 with a reception at Rossini Lodge 140 Grey Street in Brantford. R. W. Bro. J. Carl Creamer (1961) and R. W. Bro. R. William L. Clarke (1980) were District Deputy Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario for M. W. 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 again in Brant Lodge and made an honorary life member of Brant Lodge in 2013.

V. W. Bro. William Foster was R. W. Bro. Creamer’s secretary and was made a Grand Steward in 1994. 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 W. Bro. Allan Tustian, old friends, 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 W. Bro. Wilford Knoepfli. He was born on July 22, 1909, initiated into masonry on Oct. 13, 1936, passed 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 W. Bro. Jack Herron commented that nearly every Brant Lodge member present was probably raised by Bro. Knoepfli. Other members who spoke were W. 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. W. Bro. Norman E Byrne, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario was present to witness 95 the initiation of Mr. Donald Lawrence Jackson and Mr. Gordon Lewis Staats in the Mysteries and Privileges of Ancient Free Masonry. W. Bro. Dennis Jackson, Worshipful Master of Brant Lodge initiated his father and a friend. M. W. Bro. Byrne spoke on becoming a Brother. A good evening was enjoyed by all.

December 11, 2001 This evening Bro. Stephen William Clarke was initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Ancient Free Masonry by a Past Masters’ Degree Team headed by his father R. W. Bro. R. William L. Clarke. Many Masons from several Districts as well as many Lodges in Brant District attended this memorable event. May 14, 2002 R. W. Bro. Carl Creamer led a distinguished Past District Deputy Degree Team (call themselves the Grumpy Old Men) from Wilson North and South and Brant and they Raised Bro. Stephen Clarke to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.

June 10, 2002 W. 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 Ottawa District 2 to the sublime degree of a master mason. Bro. Bessey is slated to return to the Peace Keeping force in Bosnia.

February 11, 2003 W. Bro. Gerald Money was honoured for his many years as an Officer in Brant Lodge. After the Lodge closed many Masons spoke of Gerry’s work in Masonry. His son, Stephen spoke for the family and Gerry’s wife, Eileen was presented with a bouquet of flowers. He was presented with a certificate and a pair of glasses engraved with the 150th Logo and under the logo was inscribed W. Bro. Gerald Money, February 11, 2003.

In March our District Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Ralph Baldwin made is 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.

In May, W. Bro. Duane Bobyk, W. M. of Brant Lodge No. 663 Burlington made their biannual visit to Brant Lodge to pass Bro. Wayne Wolski to the fellowcraft degree. This is the 53rd 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 60 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 Purposes as well as R. W. Bro. John Ault, DDGM Wilson North and R. W. Bro. John Pollock, DDGM Hamilton A District, 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 and 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 97 Lodge and it was 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.

A special night was held on December 9, 2003 to honour W. Bro. David L. Ritchie an active Past Master of our Lodge who was WM in1966 and he tells me that when Brant Lodge had to bring in another Lodge brother to deliver the final charge he decided that he would learn it and he has delivered it at installation ever since. At W. Bro. Stephen W. Clarke’s Installation on June 10, 2008, W. Bro. David L. Ritchie delivered the Final Charge for the last time and W. Bro. Clarke presented him with a framed Final Charge as a memento of the evening. V. W. Bro. William L. Foster was made a honourary member of Brant Lodge on April 12, 2005.

In May 2005, The Masonic Temple at 192 Greenwich Street was sold and we refitted a room at the Brantford Shrine Club at 525 Colborne St. East to be our Room Lodge for now. After the Grand Master approved of our renovations we held our 1st meeting there on October 2005 and we held the District Warden’s night at that time. R. W. Bro. Thomas Forbes, Grand Senior Warden presented us with two Lecture Charts that were originally in Enniskillen Lodge No. 185 in York.

The first Worshipful Master to be installed in our new room at the Shrine Club was W. Bro. Harry R. Y. McClelland on June 12, 2006 and the installing master was his uncle W. Bro. Harry Y. McClelland. Oct. 24, 2006 M. W. Bro. Gary L. Atkinson, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada A.F. & A.M .in the Province of Ontario along with R. W. Bro. Allen J. Petrisor, Deputy Grand Master dedicated Brant Lodge’s new Lodge Room at the Brantford Shrine Club at 525 Colborne St. in Brantford. A reception at the Sherwood Restaurant was held following where The Grand Master presented R. W. Bro. R. William L. Clarke with his Lewis Jewel and R. W. Bro. Clarke presented his son, Bro. Stephen W. Clarke with his Lewis Jewel.

A special night was held on November 14, 2006 to present an honourary life membership in Brant Lodge to R. W. Bro. Allen J. Petrisor, Deputy 98 Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. A reception following was held at the Sherwood Restaurant. April 8, 2008 R. W. Bro. Jack L. Herron, District Deputy Grand Master made his last official to Brant Lodge. A reception was held at St. Judes Church prior to the meeting. The Lodge room was overflowing as 122 members and visitors signed the Tyler’s register. There were 6 DDGMs, Grand Senior Warden R. W. Bro. Ronald Bivens, 4 members of Board of General Purposes and 4 Grand Stewards. V. W. Bro. Dr. James Telfer, Grand Steward addressed the brethren on this historic evening.

W. Bro. Damon Smith initiated his son Brett Smith into Masonry on May 13, 2008. Past Grand Master M. W. Bro. Gary L. Atkinson was present that evening. At the installation of Brant Lodge on June 10, 2008 R. W. Bro. R. William Clarke installed his son, Bro. Stephen W. Clarke in the chair of King Solomon. The Grand Master, M. W. Bro. Allan J. Petrisor was present for this installation. Brant Lodge continues its reciprocal fraternal visits with Brant Lodge No. 663 in Burlington. It is a great joy to visit with our Burlington brothers.

Two blood clinics a year are sponsored by the Lodge in conjunction with Canadian Blood Services. Brant Lodge continues to hold its own. Membership has been steady the last several years. 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 an organ for Mohawk Chapel, a Reading Machine at the library for the Visually impaired and assist in the erection of Brant District Masonic Lodge 2006 in the Brantford Children’s Safety Village at Mohawk College on Elgin St. as part of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario’s 150th Anniversary.

In July 2010 The Corporation of Brant Lodge purchased a building on leased land at 117 Charing Cross St. Brantford and with the help of many members and under the direction of R. W. Bro. Jack Herron the building was transformed into our new lodge room with a lovely banquet room in the basement. Reba Lodge donated their half of the old furniture which was in 99 the Greenwich Street Lodge room and Bro. Michael Morrison’s wife refurbished the furniture.

On September 13, 2011 the Worshipful Master Brian Pickering held the first meeting in our new Lodge Room under dispensation of the Grand Master M. W. Bro. D. Garry Dowling. This evening was special for a couple of reasons: The Bible on the altar was the one used in 1869; Bro. Jonathan Cowper was passed to the fellowcraft degree; W. Bro. Robert Smith presented back to the Lodge a silver tray that his mother received after the death of his father W. Bro. Norman Lloyd Smith who died in 1949 while Master of our Lodge; and Bros. Brent Smith, Rodney Skokun and Carl Butler were presented with their Grand Lodge certificates. This was a memorable evening in the history of Brant Lodge. On October 29, 2011 M. W. Bro. D. Garry Dowling, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada A.F. & A.M .in the Province of Ontario along with R. W. Bro. Donald A. Campbell, Deputy Grand Master dedicated Brant Lodge’s new Lodge Room at the Brant Masonic Centre 117 Charing Cross St., Brantford.

Following the dedication a reception was held in the lower Banquet room. R. W. Bro. Damon Smith, Grand Senior Warden (2011) of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario and a member of Brant Lodge lead a Past Grand Senior Wardens’ degree team who passed Bro. Kieran Reed to the fellowcraft degree. Many Past Grand Senior Wardens attended. M. W. Bro. Ronald Groshaw who himself is also a past Grand Senior Warden (1976) and R. W. Bro. Albert Barker, past Grand Senior Warden (1993) is also an honourary member of Brant Lodge assisted with the degree Mar.13, 2012.

Even though the first meeting of Brant Lodge was held on Sept. 13, 2011 at the new Brant Masonic Centre at 117 Charing Cross St. Brantford, the first installation was held on June 12, 2012 when W. Bro. Michael Biro was installed in the chair of King Solomon.

There were 3 Worshipful Masters of Brant District in 2015 who either were or are members of Brant Lodge. They are W. Bro. Dean Bauer, Worshipful Master of St. George Lodge No. 243, W. Bro. Donald Wolan Worshipful Master of Onondaga Lodge No. 519 and our own Worshipful Master W. Bro. Ian Davidson In June 2016 M. W. Bro. John C. Green Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario was present at the installation of W. Bro. Kieran P. Reed and in July at Grand Lodge V. W. Bro. David L. Ritchie 100 101 was appointed Grand Standard Bearer. Also at Grand Lodge R. W. Bro. William Foster was appointed Past Grand Senior Warden (Hon.)

Brant Lodge continues to raise funds from our Golf Tournament, dinners, tasting and related events to support our charities Canada Blood Clinics and Juvenile Diabetes.Lodge No. 45