History - Alexandria Lodge Number 33

Fredericton has been a fertile ground for the advancement of Freemasonry. There have been at least eight lodges erected in the Fredericton vicinity, beginning with New Brunswick No 541, St George No 19, Solomon Lodge No 22, Hiram York Lodge No 23, Solomon Lodge No 764 later termed No 6 under the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, St Andrews No 364 late registered with New Brunswick as Lodge No 29.

Solomon No 6 and St Andrews No 29 amalgamated as Hiram No 6 saw both Solomon and St Andrews members becoming Charter members of Alexandria Lodge when it was formed under dispensation on 04 April 1877. William F. Bunting the Grand Secretary commissioned by the Grand Master placing the dispensation into the hands of Brother James Boone and the founding members of the new lodge.

The dispensation listed members of five of New Brunswick lodges as Charter members;

Solomon Lodge No 6, St Andrews Lodge No 29 providing the first WM, of Fredericton

Carleton Union Lodge No 8 of Saint John Midian Lodge No 9, Woodstock Lodge No 11

James Boone, St Andrews No. 29 was installed as Worshipful Master

Benjamin Close, Solomon No 6 Senior Warden

John VC Wetmore, Midian No 9 Junior Warden

Daniel McQueen, Carleton Union No 8 Treasurer

Edgar Hanson, Solomon No 6 Secretary

Daniel S Dougherty, St Andrews No 29 Senior Deacon

Alexander Sinclair, St Andrews No 29 Junior Deacon

Albert Boone, St Andrews No 29 Senior Steward

Roderick Haines, St Andrews No 29 Junior Steward

The first lodge by-laws were approved on 01 May 1877, the first Entered Apprentice Degree on 05 June 1877. The lodge’s first effort to extend aid was recorded on 18 July 1877 when the sum of $20.00 was forwarded for the relief of victims of the Great Fire of Saint John of that year. The 1877 year ended with the lodge approving their first petition for affiliation from a Brother Richard Waddell.

The lodge was formally constituted by the G M M Wor Bro Robert T Clinch on 28 February 1878. The only change to the officer slate were Jared Boone, St Andrews No 29 replacing Roderick Haines as Junior Steward, Haines moving to Tyler, Austin Dunphy became Director of Ceremonies, Horatio N Fradshaw the Inner Guard. The first record of a Chaplain being installed was Reverend Richard Waddell who was installed 05 May 1878. The intense heat of July 1878 caused the lodge to cancel their meeting for that month.

During the 1879 year petitions were received from two railway conductors, a train fireman, a locomotive driver and a baggage master.

Bro Daniel S Dougherty the elected Master for 1880 was not available to be installed at the 06 January 1880 meeting, the train of which he was the driver had left the tracks causing a late arrival at St Mary’s, the installation was held over until the February meeting.

During 1881-82 the office of W M was frequently occupied by a protempore Master often P M Wor Bro R M Pinder of Hiram Lodge No 6.

The Lodge in public procession conveyed the body of the late Wor Bro James Boone to the Anglican Church Sunny Brae Cemetery, for internment in solemn Masonic Ceremony in 1883.

There was no degree work in the lodge during the 1884 year, the first year since its constitution…

The 01 July 1890 communication closed with no record of business transacted, there was no August meeting, the 05 September 1890 meeting confirmed the Minutes of 03 June 1890 then closed. There was no October meeting; the Minutes of September were confirmed at the 02 December 1890 meeting.

The lodge while at The Gibson Hall, Marysville changed the time of to the First Wednesday at a 06 December 1893 meeting.

Bro Whitman Haines at the 07 February 1893 meeting was granted the first recorded Honorary Membership

The following year on 05 December 1894, the meeting night was changed to the First Monday.

The 02 December 1895 election required nine ballots to elect Bro C E Jones as Worshipful master Elect.

During May 1906 Alexandria and Hiram Lodge No 6 shared a joint lodge of instruction.

During 1906 committees were appointed through the year to research a new location for the lodge.

The Master being absent meetings for September, October and December were not held.

A 1908 audit of the lodge books revealed that the Treasurer had placed the funds in a personal account in an Ottawa bank, though he resigned the office and did turn over funds he had held, he refused to allow the lodge the interest earned. The Treasurer was suspended by the lodge.

The Lodge Incorporation was received on 03 August 1908, at a cost of $69.60.

The lodge was informed on 30 October 1913 that Hiram Lodge offered their Carleton Street Hall for the winter months, possible amalgamation with Hiram Lodge was discussed Both lodges struck committees, an answer was not received from Hiram Lodge until 04 May 1914, concluded that Hiram was not in favour of the amalgamation.

During the period 1908-1912 the lodge was meeting 12 months of the year, though during that period there were eleven months when no meetings were held.

The first recorded motion calling for a formal practice session appeared in the Minutes of 07 May 1917, the first record of the Antient Charges being read was confirmed in the minutes of 06 August 1917.

The November 1918 meeting was cancelled, due to the ongoing Spanish Influenza epidemic of that time.

Wor Bro Albert Boone, a charter member, first Senior Steward and then Master in 1883, was presented a 50 Year Jewel at the 02 April 1923 meeting.

During 1926 and 1927 jurisdictional rights between Alexandria and Hiram were discussed by a joint committee and when presented at the 1927 Grand Lodge Communication, Alexandria’s petition was denied.

During the latter part of the 1920s social events and picnics with other lodges and the ladies were common.

During 1930 seventeen meetings of the lodge were held four were considered emergent meetings.

The first member of the lodge to be appointed DDGM was Wor Bro Arthur Wheaton in 1927, the second member so appointed was Wor Bro N Jones in 1930.

The 27 December 1932 minutes record the appointment of an Assistant Tyler.

The lodge recommended a request by Minto brethren to form a lodge in that town, (which became Grand Lake Lodge No 47) be granted by Grand Lodge

During the 1930-1940 periods, two inner lodge clubs, for which there is little information existing the Possum Club and Owl’s Club were the providers of various furniture and furnishings items for the lodge.

A Past Master’s jewel was presented 27 December 1937 to Wor Bro Austin Dunphy the only Charter members still living, marking his 60 years of Masonic membership.

The lodge on 03 April 1944 remitted all dues for members who enlisted in the Armed Forces from the time of their enlisting.

On 28 November 1946 the lodge raised eight Master Masons in the afternoon, following a meal Hiram raised a further three, a reported 130 members and visitors attended.

During the period 1940-1948 the lodge held 130 regular meetings, 43 Emergent meetings for degrees and 14 Masonic Funeral Services.

Between March and April 1951 nine applications were received, eight of which were accepted, seven were initiated as Entered Apprentices.

Devon Chapter Order of the Eastern Star request to meet in the hall was approved in 1952; the annual rent was to be $1.00 per member but not less than $75.00 in any year. This rental was changed in 1959 to $15.00 per month. Their rent was increased to $30.00 per monthly meeting in 1968.

Alexandria and Hiram lodges attended a Divine Service at the United Church Boiestown on 20 June 1954.

Alexandria and Hiram agreed to set the Initiation/application fee set at $75.00 for both lodges.

The lodge’s old officer’s collars were presented to Landmark Lodge, Boiestown in 1956; the lodge also offered folding tables to Landmark Lodge, no longer needed by Alexandria.

The lodge owning a piece of property between Water Street and the Saint John River sold it to the City for $1326.66 in 1960.

The lodge’s Altar was completed by Brothers Donald Calhoun and Robert Jardine being placed in the Lodge for the 07 April 1958 meeting and dedicated the following month.

Brother Clair MacMillan is recorded as being appointed a member of the Lodge Audit Committee from 1957 continuing to the present time.

The lodge at a meeting of 02 May 1960 discussed a motion to change the by-laws, after a lengthy discussion the motion was deferred to an Emergent meeting on 16 May 1960, at which meeting it was recorded only ten officers including the Master were present voting to accept the by-laws changes.

In the 1960s a member of the lodge in hospital was remembered with a get well gift of a carton of cigarettes.

A Brother Ronald Tipple of St Andrew’s Lodge No 1139 of St John’s Newfoundland presented the lodge with a set of working tools carved from stone gathered from the original King Solomon quarries.

Alexandria and Hiram attended a joint service at Christ Church Cathedral at the invitation of Very reverend Harold L Nutter on St John The Baptist Day 21 June 1964

The lodge purchased a set of three new charts, for which Bro Donald Calhoun built a cabinet for them, which was dedicated to the memory of Bro Byron Calhoun who had died in an accident.

Bro Robert Burns Gillespie was elected Worshipful Master for 1968, unfortunately becoming ill he was hospitalized, his illness being very serious the lodge petitioned Grand Lodge to have Bro Gillespie installed as Worshipful Master in hospital, The petition approved the GM and Grand Lodge Officers met in his hospital room and with fitting Masonic ceremony installed him in office on 09 December 1967, he died on the morning of 01 January 1968 at the Victoria Public Hospital. Six members of Hiram Lodge served as pall bearers at his funeral.

Wor Bro Douglas Larlee was elected to serve as the 1968 Master.

An agreement having been reached, Alexandria and Hiram Lodge officers were jointly installed on 27 December 1968.

The lodge hosted the annual District meeting of 01 March 1969 at the Nashwaaksis Anglican Church.

Accepted by ballot for initiation at the 03 November 1969 meeting, was Glenn Scott, later serving two terms as WM, then when Wor Bro Chester Dorcas, the lodge’s Secretary for thirty years resigned, Wor Bro Scott assumed the office of Secretary continuing in that office to the present time.

Wor Bro Chester Dorcas, when the “Quinn Medallion” was inaugurated was the first District 6 recipient.

During 1970, the Virginia Craftsmen Degree Team representing the Grand Lodge of Virginia while touring the Maritimes arrived in Fredericton and were hosted by the lodge on 30 October 1970. It was at this time that the lodge and the Virginia Craftsmen exchanged Provincial and State Flags.

Alexandria and Hiram Lodges again held a joint church service, this time on 22 June 1975 at the St Mary’s Anglican Church.

The lodge on becoming a 100 year lodge donated their old regalia to Landmark Lodge No 51 and Centennial Lodge No 54.

Rt Wor Bro Dale I Steeeves, DGM and Alexandria Lodge member was elected GM at the 1981 Grand Lodge Communication.

Alexandria Lodge has donated $1500.00 to the Dr Everett Chalmer’s Hospital, in 1977, to furnish a room in the “Family Practice Unit”. There was a donation of $2700.00 made to York Manor during the 1980-1982 years. Then in 1985 the lodge donated a further $1500.00 towards the purchase of a CAT scan for the DECH.

The daughter of Rt Wor Bro Arthur Wheaton in memory of her father donated $1000.00 for the lodge’s use; this was the basis for the creation of the lodge’s Arthur Wheaton Scholarship.

Rt Wor Bro Wayne MacKay, DGM and PM of Alexandria was elected GM at the 2005 Grand Lodge Communication, unfortunately M Wor Bro MacKay passed to the Lodge Above in early 2006. The Masonic Service held for him at the Christ Church Parish Church was one of the largest in recent memory.

In 2006 the lodge introduced their “Spirit of Masonry” award; the first recipient was Wor Bro Sheldon Foster.

The Lodge during 1906 appointed committees at various times through the year to look for a new place of meeting. The 1973-1974 periods considered the possibility of moving the lodge to another location.

Hiram Lodge offered the use of the Carleton Street Masonic Hall to the lodge during the winter of 1913. Both lodges struck committees to consider amalgamation, apparently Hiram Lodge finally considered no to follow up the concept.

Constitutional rights between the two lodges were well discussed during 1926 – 1927, the position taken by Alexandria Lodge was denied by Grand Lodge.

When the Town of Devon and that of Fredericton were amalgamated as the City of Fredericton, the lodges Alexandria and Hiram received joint jurisdiction at the Grand Lodge Communication of 1945.

Hiram Lodge was offered the use of the Alexandria Hall in 1949 when repairs were being made to the Carleton Street Masonic Hall.

During 1961 inter-lodge committees were formed by Alexandria and Hiram to investigate the viability of one Masonic building for the City of Fredericton, to accommodate all Masonic Concordant Bodies. A final report in 1962 concluded the cost was too high and not practical solution was found.

When the Carleton Street Masonic Hall was sold, Hiram and other bodies met in Alexandria’s Hall. Hiram left the hall on 31 December 1962, moving onto the third floor of the Queen Street Zeller’s Building. A January 1968 fire caused Hiram and the other bodies to move back to space in Alexandria’s hall, remaining there until moving into the new Masonic Hall on Prospect Street in 1970.

Since its history began in 1877 the lodge has met at several different locations. Meeting first at the Whitman Haines’s Building, then moving for a short period to Gibson’s Hall, Marysville, then to the Dayton Building at St Mary’s Ferry. From the Dayton Building they moved and rented the hall of the Reverend William Jaffrey, sub letting space to the Foresters, its Companion Court, The Royal Arcanum , the ICH (Canada) and from time to time various church and prayer groups.

The lodge moved in 1920 to the F. B. Smith Building, occupying the second floor. These new quarters were opened with a reception on 28 January 1920. The building was for a time owned by the Saint John Valley Produce Exchange. Negotiations between the Produce Exchange and the lodge were entered into and the lodge at the 01 July 1935 meeting approved the purchase of the entire building. The Bank of Commerce had rented space on the ground floor from 1918 to 2000, when the lease was terminated by the bank to move to a new location. On the removal of the bank the lodge renovated the lower floor for the use of the lodge only. While occupying the Bowlen Street building the lodge purchased the adjoining property and when renovations costs were considered to expensive razed the building for a lodge parking lot.

The Mortgage held on the hall was ceremoniously burned; Bro Havelock Kelly an older member was accorded the privilege of burning it.

The lodge met on 14 June 2007 and the members present approved a proposal to sell the building to the Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

The lodge once more moved this time accepting the offer of the Masonic Hall Incorporated to share quarters in the Masonic Hall at 907 Prospect Street, with Hiram Lodge and the other Masonic bodies of Fredericton.

In retrospect the initiative, which commenced sometime in 1914 and again raised in 1961, has for the present time seen the housing of all the Masonic bodies of the City of Fredericton gathered under the one roof, been brought to fruition.