MASONS IN GUELPH
Our History...
The Craft Lodge Room of the Guelph Masonic Centre has been the home of Freemasonry in the City of Guelph since April 24th, 1914. This room has been consecrated ground for 110 years. The aim of our fraternity is to improve the morals and manners of men in society, to make them better than they were before, to the benefit of their friends, family, and community.
There is an original limestone building that was purchased by one of our brethren, Bro. Andrew Malcolm, and some time before 1914 he was convinced to make his planned addition suitable for the Masonic Temple, which at that time had rooms on Wyndham Street.
Bro. Malcolm was a real estate investor, and at his retirement in 1922, as a parting gesture of fraternal good-will, he gave the Masons of Guelph first opportunity to purchase the building. The Guelph Masonic Temple Limited was then formed, and shares were issued to members by a board of directors, in order to finance the $45,000 cost of the building.
The ornamental carpet was manufactured in Guelph specifically for this room. Bro. Joseph Saville Cook, who was the head designer at the Guelph Carpet and Worsted Spinning Mills, did some remarkable work in designing this carpet, which, as you can see, has some rather complex patterns.
The carpet was woven on a jacquard loom, in runners that are 27 inches wide, with a repeating pattern at intervals of approximately 36 inches. It is stitched together by hand when it is installed.
The carpet mill sold two versions of this carpet; one a Wilton, which you see here, which was of a higher quality, and a Brussels, which had a lower thread count, and a more velvety appearance. There are still several lodges in Ontario, as well as at least one on the East Coast which still have this carpet installed.
All of the wood furniture in this room was brought to this room from the old lodge rooms on Wyndham Street. It is part of a matched suite, made by the Armstrong Furniture Factory. There is still some research being done on this, but at the present time, it is believed to be the factory of Fred Armstrong, which was located here in Guelph.
These chairs are adorned with the universal symbols of Freemasonry, the square and compasses. The larger throne chair you see here has a plumb rule carved near the top centre, and it represents the office of the Junior Warden. The Senior Warden, whose chair you were recently in front of, has the level. Each of these tools is given a set of moral teachings, and advancement through these offices is
meant to further strengthen our responsibility to live and act accordingly.
Now, I’d like to direct your attention to the large chair in the middle. This is the Worshipful Master’s chair. The Worshipful Master is a title similar to Chapter President. The term “worshipful” is not associated with the religious or spiritual act of worship, but rather as a title of respect, as the mayor of a city would have, for example.
This is the seat of leadership in a Masonic lodge. It tempers the drive of natural leaders, and provides the opportunity to develop leadership skills in those less naturally inclined. It is symbolic of the throne of King Solomon, and those who assume its responsibility are charged to emulate Solomon’s wisdom in the discharge of their office.
Leaders in Freemasonry are often also leaders in their community, not because they are Masons, particularly, but because they are naturally leaders, and so gravitate to that position, regardless of where they are. There have been many prominent Guelph citizens who have been Masons, and not all of them have assumed the Master’s Chair.
Some of the names you might recognize are:
• Col. David McCrae – father of Lt. Col. John McCrae
• Alexander Petrie – Druggist – commissioned The Petrie Building
• James Goldie – Miller
• Thomas Rundle – Builder of The Wellington Hotel, Knox Presbyterian Church, and others
• William A. Mahoney – Architect, and one of seven Mahoney Brothers to belong to Guelph Lodge No. 258
• George Hastings – Mayor
• Frank Cooke – Co-founder of Cooke and Dennison
• T.G. Colley – Insurance Broker
• C. Jay Charron – Professional Football player
• William Tytler – Superintendent of Schools
• George A. Drew – Founded the 11 th Field Regiment, Mayor, Premier of Ontario, Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition (he was succeeded by John Diefenbaker, who became Prime Minister)
• Alf Hales – Member of Parliament
• William H. Day – Professor, OAC – developed irrigation techniques that made the Holland Marsh viable for farming
• Paul Mercer – Mayor
• John Counsell – Mayor
• John F. Ross – Educator
• Fred A. Hamilton – School Superintendent
• N.R. Richards – First Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College, after the formation of the University of Guelph
• C.W. Kelly – Music Teacher, Businessman
• G.E. Walker – Jeweller
• Jacob Pos – Engineering Professor, Author
• Don Hamilton – Carillonneur, St. George’s Anglican Church
• Garnet Johnston – developed the Yukon Gold potato at the University of Guelph
Freemasonry did not produce these men, but each of them believed that involvement in their lodge was worthwhile and meaningful in their lives.
The Masons of Wellington District, as a tribute to M.W. Bro. N.R. Richards as he concluded his term of office as Grand Master, established a bursary fund in his name in 1981.
At the present time, the fund is worth just shy of $115,000 and provides five, $1,000 bursaries per year to students in Wellington County and the only qualification is that they are in real need of the money.
That is to say, there is no qualification for field of study, school board, relationship to Masonry, or grades; only that a student is pursuing post-secondary education at some level, and requires some financial assistance.
If you know of anyone who is in need of such assistance, please reach out.
.
