The History of Georgina Lodge
A. F. & A. M. No. 343 G. R. C.

Statistics (Distribution Charts based on age)

Wednesday Evening Nov. 10th 1875 Sutton Ontario 
Pursuant to notices issued by Br. E. Fry a meeting of the Craft convened in the Odd Fellows Hall in this place on above date for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of organizing a Lodge of Freemasons in this place. 
The Meeting organized by appointing Br. A. Williams Chairman and R. Price Sec. 
Move. by Br. W. Ramsay sec. by Br. A Ego that steps be taken to form of Freemasons in this place. Carried

Moved by A. Ego. sec. by E. Fry that the name of the Lodge  be Georgina Lodge 

1875 - 1895 Sutton and the removal to Toronto
On November 10th 1875 Bro. Edward H. Fry of Rising Sun Lodge, Aurora met to consider the wisdom of organizing a lodge of Freemasons in the village of Sutton, Ontario. W. Bro. Alexander Williams was the first Master in 1876, he was Grand Steward in 1877.  M. W. Bro. James Kirkpatrick Kerr was the Grand Master who issued and signed the Charter of Georgina Lodge. The lodge would meet on a Thursday on or after a full moon.

The Lodge took its name from Georgina Township, in which the Village of Sutton is located.

The name Georgina is linked to with the history of Upper Canada. It was the wish of Governor Simcoe to establish the capital of Ontario where the city of London now stands. The name Georgina was in honor of King George III. His plan was not carried through, but was remembered by those who named the Post Office of Georgina and the Township itself.

The charter members where
 

The First meeting was held on Thursday, March 16th, 1876 in a drafty, noisy room, located above a driving shed in Sutton, Ontario. Sufficient moneys had been collected ($135.00) to outfit the lodge with regalia and the other necessities for the work of masonry. The first applicant for initiation was black balled. later William Brooks would be the first Initiate of Georgina Lodge and was later the W. M. in 1885 Georgina prohibited the serving of malt and spirituous liquors. In 1877 Georgina Lodge held  First Ladies night. but it was an uphill road because between 1890 - 1895 only 4 new members where admitted. The visits of the D. D. G. M. once involved rather rugged traveling conditions than nowadays. John Ross Robertson, when he visited Georgina Lodge in 1884, had to be driven from Sutton to Roche's Point, and then conveyed by hand-sleigh across the ice of Lake Simcoe to Lefroy, in order to catch the train back to Toronto. At so period following 1st January 1886 Georgina Lodge fell upon evil days. Just what caused this deteration in not quite clear at this distance, but through in the year 1886, seven new members joined, 1887 12 joined, 1888 5 joined 1889 2 joined, 1890 1 new member. 4 members from 1891 - 1895. In 1893 total membership was 27. In 1894 during a visit by the D. D. G. M.  it was reported that "This body I found in a fully worse condition then Robertson, if that could be, and when I paid it my official visit, although my coming was duly announced and the night was favorable, I was received by the smallest audience with which I was greeted in any of my official visits, comprising as it did only six souls." (The Master W. Bro. Wilson, the two Wardens, the secretary W. Bro. Tremaine, regular attendee W. Bro. Dr. Bentley)  Because of low attendance and Georgina Lodge was in debit it was suggested by R. W. Bro. John A. McGillivray, of Zeredatha Lodge, Uxbridge that Georgina Lodge surrender its charter and removed to Toronto. The last meeting in Sutton was held on April 11th, 1895, when members clasped hands around the altar and sadly sang "Auld Lang Syne" together; closing the first chapter of Georgina's History with the strong hope that its removal to Toronto might restore the lights which had grown so dim.

1895 - 1909 Georgina Temple at Brunswick and College
Our first Toronto home was in a hall on College Street near Spadina Avenue, and the first meeting there was on June 1st 1895. 

The Roll Numbers where restarted after this move. The Roll number stops at 103 in the Sutton records. The Toronto roll records start from 18. The living Sutton members where made honorary members of the lodge in Toronto and where renumbered in the Toronto books making the first roll numbers 1- 17. Bro. William S. Ramsay is member No. 1 under our current Roll number system but number 6 under the Sutton system. 

Bros. John Browne, John McKay, Frank Harrison, John Webber, Chas Levey where initiated on that same day (June 1st 1895.) .  

In the same year the Lodge moved to the corner of College Street and Brunswick Avenue, where we met until 1909

1898, The first appearance of the Phoenix on our summons June 24th, 1898. In this year The Toronto District was split into Toronto District's West and East. Georgina Was assigned Toronto District East.
 
1901, Our charter's 25th Anniversary W. Bro. G. O. Merson was the master
1903, the custom of presenting candidates with a M. M. Apron was inaugurated.
1907 Georgina lodge assisted in the formation and progress of University Lodge.
1908 Bro. R. J. Hoidge was associated with W. Bro. Robert Campbell and W. Bro. Albert E. Gordon, in presenting to Georgina Lodge, and through it to the Temple Corporation, the marble and tile Mosaic Pavement and Skirting now in the large Blue room of the Masonic temple 888 Yonge Street. it is now used as a TV studio.

1909 - 1918 Temple Building Bay and Richmond Streets
On April 3rd, 1909 Georgina met in the Masonic Temple at Bay and Richmond Streets until January 5th 1918.
1910  Georgina Lodge passed a motion of profound sorrow on the death of His Majesty King Edward VII
during the The Great War in Europe 1914 to 1918 Georgina lost these Brothers

Bro. Herbert Marshall Upton
Lieutenant Killed on August 30th 1918 Buried H.A.C. Cemetery, France Canadian Infantry

Bro. Charles Bradley Templeton
Corporal Killed on December 6th 1918 Buried Charmes Cemetery, France Canadian Infantry

Bro. Albert Thomas Skill
Lieutenant Killed on October 26th 1917 Memorial Ypres Menin Gate, Belgium Regiment Canadian Infantry

Bro. Norman Victor Cliff
Captain Killed on August 30th 1918 Buried Valley Cemetery, France Regiment Canadian Infantry

Bro. Charles Porter
Private Killed on December 8th 1916 Buried Villers Station Cemetery, France Regiment Canadian Infantry
 

1918 - 1933 Masonic Temple 888 Yonge Street
When Georgina moved in to the Davenport Temple it presented the marble and Tile Mosaic Pavement and Skirting in the Large blue room, and with an emblem for 3rd Degree work.

1920 was our 25th Anniversary of the removal to Toronto W. Bro. D. Urquhart was the master
1923 the custom of presenting candidates with a V. O. T. S. L. was inaugurated.
1926 was our charter’s 50th Anniversary W. Bro. J. G. Billinghurst was the master.
1926 Toronto Districts East and West where split and renamed to Toronto Districts A B C D. Georgina was assigned Toronto District B.

1933- 1965 York Temple on 5 Eglington Avenue E. 
1940 R. W. bro. Stuart Crouch was elected D. D. G. M. for Toronto District "B"  W. Bro. P. W. Davies was the District Secretary.

During World War II 1939-1945 Georgina Lodge lost

Bro. Wallace Dicker Stroud
Lieutenant Died on July 18th 1944 Buried Ottawa Beechwood Cem. Canada Royal Canadian Air Force

1951 was our charter’s 75th Anniversary W. Bro. A. C. Lewis was the master. at this point Georgina 1095 Initiations and 247 Affiliations. Its membership was at 350.

1957 Toronto District B was split into Toronto District B1 and B2. this was because of the growth in the number of lodges. B2 later became Toronto District 4 and we still have many meetings together and maintain a District Association. 

1960 Installation night was moved to November to coincide with other lodges in the district. Toronto District B1 was being renamed to Toronto District 3. Because of this W. Bro. Art Fox served for six extra months.

York Temple 1100 Millwood 1965 - March 2004

1967 V. W. Bro. G. A. Phare appointed Grand Steward
1971 R. W. Bro. J. Lloyd Mellor appointed Grand Director of Ceremonies
1971 V. W. Bro. A. H. Middleton Grand Organist
1971 M. W. Bro. W. K. Bailey Elected Grand Master
"Phoenix News" made its first appearance in April 1972 for back issues click here

1975 was our charter’s 100th Anniversary W. Bro. R. A. K. "Tony" Richards was the Master. From here on we wear Aprons with gold trim. Tony Was listed as a contributor in the 1980 book Whence Come We? : Freemasonry in Ontario 1764 - 1980 Published by our Grand Lodge.
 

1976 M. W. Bro. C. E. Drew elected D.D.G.M. Toronto District No. 3.
1977 V. W. Bro. Sam Gilmore appointed Grand Steward
1978 R. W. Bro. John MacCallum elected Grand Senior Warden
1979 V. W. Bro. Bert Wiggins appointed Grand Steward
1983 V. W. Bro. Elmer Davies appointed Grand Senior Deacon
1985 M. W. Bro. C. Edwin Drew elected to the Board of General Purposes
1986 R. W. Bro. Ralph W. Lewis elected to D.D.G.M. Toronto District No. 3.
1987 V. W. Bro. Ron E. Gibson appointed Grand Steward
1989 Bro. John Filshill received the William Mercer Wilson medal for meritorious service to Masonry
1991 R. W. Bro. Gordon Brittain elected Grand Junior Warden
1992 R. W. Bro. C. Edwin Drew elected Deputy Grand Master
1993 M. W. Bro. C. Edwin Drew elected Grand Master
1993 R. W. Bro. Tom Hansen appointed Grand Director of Ceremonies
2001 R. W. Bro. George McCowan elected to D.D.G.M. Toronto District No. 3. W. Bro. John Nick appointed District Secretary
2002 V. W. Bro. John Nick appointed Grand Junior Deacon

1999 V.W.Bro. Sam Gilmore Becomes the 1st "Mason of the Year" for Georgina Lodge

2001 Georgina Celebrates its 125th Anniversary we have 148 members; dues are set at $120.00, initiations are $350.00. W. Bro Kevin Patrick Murtagh is the Master
 

April 26, 2002 "Mason Of The Year" evening recognizing R. W. Bro. Gordon Brittain

May 23 2003 "Mason of the Year" evening recognizing R.W.Bro. J. Lloyd Mellor

3100 Keele Street 2004 - Present
In march 2004 Harry S. Pedwell became the first master to preside in the Rameses Temple. a new elevator was installed to accommodate the brethren  among other renovations that continue to be made.

R.W.Bro. Ralph W. Lewis was named Mason of the Year 2004

M.W.Bro. Ed Drew was named Mason of the Year and receives his 50 years a mason pin by the Grand Master M.W.Bro. Atkinson Nov. 11 2005. The lodge was opened in the Rameses II room as there where 400+ visitors that night.

March 10 2006 Georgina Hosted the first known United Empire Loyalist Degree team for Bro. Matthew Warner a descendant from a UEL

V.W.Bro. Iain B. Mackenzie was appointed Assistant Grand Chaplain by our grand lodge and was named Mason of the Year by Georgina Lodge 2006

October 31, 2001 Georgina Lodge web site becomes official and is approved by the Grand Lodge of Canada. the website existed as a feasibility study with W. Bro. Narvin Ramkissoonsingh in 1999. The idea was initially turned down because the Lodge wanted to support the Toronto District 3 Web site. However because of that meeting interest was stirred and a prototype was created. At first the web site was on Bro. Timothy Edwards' home computer, but because there where times when the server was down we needed to have the site on a more reliable remote server. In July 2000 the web site was located at http://www.geocities.com/georginalodge It was decided by W. Bro. Kevin Murtagh that Georgina Lodge needed a Web site of their own so the one on Geocities was presented as a possible choice. The topic was discussed in the Committee of General Purposes and it was decided. that the lodge would like the web site to be Officially accepted by Grand Lodge. After the the 146th Grand Lodge communication the site was relocated to http://www.georginalodge.com the Major contributors are Bro. Timothy Edwards Webmaster, JSoft Consulting  Internet Service Provider, Bro. Neil Sinclair editor of the Phoenix news, Bro. Mark Drew Photo Journalist, Bro. Stanley Poon and Bro. Andrew Toth consultants.

 

Past Masters of Georgina
 

PAST MASTERS OF OTHER LODGES

distribution charts of Georgina members grouped by age from 2000 to present

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005  

2008