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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
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Alexander Williams
James Anderson
George Frye
Joseph T. Sheppard
Willard Bennett
D. Robinson
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Edward Harrington Frye
William Smith Ramsay
Michael Heise
Robert Price
Hugh B. Cameron
S. Winch
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Angus Ego
George Wight
Rev. Canon W. Ritchie
W. E. Smith
L. Ashley
J. Thompson
J. Rafferty
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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.
In 1894 during a visit by the D. D. G. M. it
was reported that only 6 members had received him. 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. 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
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Alex. Williams *
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1876-77
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H. L. Crawford *
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1921-22
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W. Leonard Mason *
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1963
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Mark
E. Drew
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2003
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T. B. Bentley *
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1877-78
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J. H. Kent*
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1922-23
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Leslie C. barrett*
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1964
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Harry S. Pedwell
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2004
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Alex. Williams *
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1878-79
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R. W. Campbell*
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1923-24
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J.
Lloyd Mellor
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1965
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Timothy
Edwards
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2005
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W. S. Ramsey*
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1879-80
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G. C. McIntyre *
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1924-25
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Bert F. Wiggins *
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1966
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Andrew Toth
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2006 |
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Alex. Williams *
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1880-82
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R. G. Archer*
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1925-26
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Allan B. Ferguson
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1967
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Bryan Oram
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2007 |
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F. G. Tremayne
*
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1882-85
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J. G. Billinghurst
*
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1926-27
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J. Bruce Johnston
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1968
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Wm. Brooks *
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1885-86
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John Curtis*
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1927-28
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Bruce M. Kent *
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1969
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W. R. Mann *
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1886-87
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A. R. Haviland
*
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1928-29
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John A. MacCallum
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1970
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T.B. Bentley *
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1887-88
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A. H. Downs *
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1929-30
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Clare E. White
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1971
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Ezra Grant *
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1888-89
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A. E. Grodon
*
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1930-31
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Alvyn L. Bourne *
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1972
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T.B. Bentley *
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1889-90
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E. H. Stanners
*
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1931-32
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C. Edwin Drew
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1973
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T. C. Howard *
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1890-91
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S. S. Crouch *
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1932-34
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Philip J. Waltier *
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1974
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F. G. Tremayne
*
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1891-93
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R. B. Fowler *
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1934-35
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Ronald E. Gibson
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1975
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T. A. Wilson *
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1893-95
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P. W. Davies *
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1935-36
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R. A. K. Richards *
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1976
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C. C. Whale *
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1895-96
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J. E. James *
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1936-37
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Ian C. Filshill
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1977
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A. L. Malone *
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1896-97
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R. C. Berkinshaw *
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1937-38
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Ralph W. Lewis
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1978
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F. W. Flett
*
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1897-98
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J. M. Macpherson
*
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1938-39
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Maurice C. Leroeye
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1979
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A. B. Cordingly
*
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1898-99
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R. J. Haviland
*
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1939-40
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Ernest G. Lane
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1980
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H. T. White *
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1899-00
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F.E. Burroughes
*
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1940-41
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Kurt Losch
*
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1981
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W. M. Grant *
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1900-01
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A. Hulme
*
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1941-42
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Andrew D. McCrae
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1982
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G. O. Merson
*
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1901-02
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E.D. Renaud
*
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1942-43
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David McCulloch
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1983
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G. E. Levey
*
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1902-03
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Percy F. Ballou *
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1943-44
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Keith Way
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1984
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W. J. Sykes *
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1903-04
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Percy P. Corking *
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1944-45
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Alan C. Lewis
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1985
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H. W. Martin *
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1904-05
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James V. Trebell *
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1945-46
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Gordon R. Brittain *
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1986
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H. H. McKague
*
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1905-06
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Wm. F. Roberts *
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1946-47
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Cecil A. Morris *
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1987
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C. B. Murray *
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1906-07
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G. M. Downs *
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1947-48
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Thomas F. Dyer
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1988
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W. N. Shaver *
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1907-08
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O. H. Barrett *
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1948-49
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Thomas P. Hansen
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1989
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C. G. Smith *
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1908-09
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W. M. Lewis *
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1949-50
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Andrew D. McCrae
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1990
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J. J. Speirs
*
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1909-10
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N. J. Leach *
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1950-51
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Frederick G. McCabe
|
1991
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John Billinghurst
*
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1910-11
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A. C. Lewis *
|
1951-52
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George
McCowan
|
1992
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J. W. Gale*
|
1911-12
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A. H. Middleton *
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1952-53
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David J. McCulloch
|
1993
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H. C. Tugwell
*
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1912-13
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F. E. Belsham
*
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1953-54
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Donald H. Jeans *
|
1994
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W. R. Madill *
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1913-14
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F. Liversidge
*
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1954-55
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N. Ramkissoonsingh
|
1995
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H. F. E. Kent *
|
1914-15
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L. A. Vaughan *
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1955-56
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Wayne G. Drew
|
1996
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O. P. McGregor *
|
1915-16
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L. H. Pursley
*
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1956-57
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Iain
B. Mackenzie
|
1997
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J. W. Houston*
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1916-17
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G. A. Phare
*
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1957-58
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John G. A. Nick *
|
1998
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J. H. Hamilton *
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1917-18
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R. E. Finley *
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1958-59
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J. Harold Saunders *
|
1999
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J. S. Crofton*
|
1918-19
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Arthur W. Fox *
|
1960
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John G. A. Nick *
|
2000
|
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E. G. Hodgson *
|
1919-20
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Elmer R. Davies *
|
1961
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Kevin P. Murtagh
|
2001
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D. Urquhart
*
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1920-21
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Sam Gilmore
|
1962
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Pat Piccione
|
2002
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PAST MASTERS OF OTHER LODGES
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Cyril H. Lager *
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David Patterson *
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J. Beverley Milner*
|
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Joseph Thompson *
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William K. Bailey
*
|
Albert S Currie *
|
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Frank E. P. Arnott*
|
Ronald D. Robertson *
|
Howard M. Janes *
|
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Howard G. Parker
|
Ronald E. Groshaw
|
John Myers
|
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Grenville M. Joselin
|
Refik Yoney
|
Clemment A. Batson *
|
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Raymond S.J.Daniels
|
Percy Taylor
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Murray S. Black
|
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Terence Shand
|
Obafemi "Femi" Adeite
|
Gordon Mackenzie
|
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Barry Taylor
|
Edward Elcombe
|
G.P.R. Webster *
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