J.B. Hall 145
1861 - present
1861 - present
148 years of Masonry
In completing one hundred and forty-eight years of freemasonry in Millbrook and district, J.B. Hall Lodge offers as gratitude to the great architect of the universe for his guidance and for the men who gave excellent leadership. Their individual contributions and profound dedication to a common goal have provided the vehicle by which the tenants and principals of our time honoured institution has been, and are being transmitted pure and unimpaired from generation to generation.
History of J.B. Hall Lodge.
As JB Hall Lodge continues to flourish in its one hundred and forty-eighth year of existence, it is with a great deal of pride that we associate ourselves with Masonry in Millbrook and district. We follow in the footsteps of many great men whose wisdom and dedication have provided us with a sound Masonic heritage and a legacy of many fine accomplishments. As we look forward to the future with enthusiastic optimism we gather strength from the knowledge that past hopes, dreams and aspirations are still held in reverence, and that time only serves to polish the bright and shining torch of freemasonry. With the thoughts of the future in mind, we now pause to reflect upon the past, and once more take comfort in reminding ourselves "from whence we come".
Joseph B Hall
J.B. Hall Lodge No. 145 AF & AM in Millbrook, Ontario was established early in 1861. It is named after one of the great masons of Ontario, Joseph B Hall. Prior to this, Right Worshipful Brother Hall had served as the fourteenth Worshipful Master of Moira Lodge No. 11 in Belleville in 1850-1851. He later moved to Port Hope where he first attended Ontario Lodge, as a Visitor, on October 21st 1852. Early in 1854 after many visitations, Joseph Hall affiliated with Ontario Lodge. On November the 20th of that same year He was elected Worshipful Master. After serving Ontario Lodge in this capacity for the year 1855 he subsequently was re-elected for the following year as well.
This of course, was a number of years before Confederation and the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.What is now the Province of Ontario was at that time part of Upper Canada. Up to 1855 the majority of Masonic Lodges in the area between Kingston and Oshawa were under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of England.
In these early days of the Masonic order in Upper Canada many lodges had insufficient members well enough skilled in the craft to perform the senior degree. J.B. Hall was well known at the time as an accomplished ritualist and on numerous occasions he aided surrounding lodges in performing the work of the degree.
The Grand Lodge of Canada
Right worshipful Brother Hall is often referred to as one of the “Fathers of the Grand Lodge of Canada”, and on its organization in the year 1855 he was designated worshipful master of Ontario lodge no. 26 in the “New Charter” granted to it from the newly formed Grand Lodge of Canada.
Masonry in Millbrook
Through the association of Joseph B Hall and the citizens from the Village of Millbrook and the adjacent rural localities, the idea of forming a Masonic lodge in the area began to grow. It was largely due to J.B. Hall's initiative and enthusiasm that this eventually became a reality. In 1861 Joseph B Hall served the young grand lodge of Canada as District Deputy Grand master for the Ontario District. It was on February 21st of this same year that the first meeting at the lodge at Millbrook took place. It was held under dispensation only and was directed by R.W Brother Hall and F.E. Gould, District Deputy Grand Secretary. T. Crossin and Robert Kerr of Port Hope lodge served as senior and junior wardens during the “institution ceremony”. After a few opening remarks a dispensation was read by right worshipful Brother Hall. It outlined a proposed name for the new Lodge as well as the slate of officers for the upcoming year. After a unanimous vote, the name J.B. Hall Lodge AF&AM No. 145 G.R.C. was adopted. The officers for the first year are as follows:
Applications for membership in the new Lodge were received from William Staples, A. Mc Bain, S.J. Howell, Richard Howden, Dr. James Might, Charles Clark Jr., William Graham, Dr. Henry Turner, and Dr. S.W. Davidson.
A number of emergent meetings were called to receive and initiate new members. On more than one occasion meeting went on to the early hours of the morning, with a June thirteenth meeting closing at three AM after raising five members to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. On March twenty-ninth Right Worshipful Brother Joseph B Hall was made an honorary member of the Lodge. After further meeting in April, May, and June to confer degrees, past by-laws and complete the organization, the lodge was formally instituted and dedicated on 24th June, 1861.
Through out his whole life Joseph Hall continued to take the warmest interests in the Lodge bearing his name, and attended meetings frequently. The last record of his attendance was 27th December, 1879. He died in 1896 and was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Port Hope.
The Early Years
The years following the dedication of J. B. Hall saw much enthusiasm as many of the growing pains of a new lodge were dealt with. The first meetings were held in an upper room of the home of Dr. James Might, one of the charter members. They were later moved to an upper hall in the Gardiner Block on 26 King Street West. In 1889 the Lodge rooms were mover to the Collins Block on the South side of King Street and later to the Kells Block (17 King St East) where they remained for many years. Then under the guidance of Very Worshipful Brother George Burnham new furniture was acquired, some of which was the work of Worshipful Brother Thomas Campbell a skilled wood worker.
The Coming of Age
Over the years J.B. Hall Lodge continued to thrive and holds a prominent place among the various Lodges in the area. There were good times and bad, from the setback caused by a fire in the second year of its existence, to the many celebrations held by the brethren, to mark the numerous special occasions.
The greatest celebration however was held in 1961 to mark the centennial year of the lodge. The opening paragraph of the newspaper report on the event read as follows. "Masons of Peterborough district joined on Tuesday night with the members of J.B. Hall Lodge No.145 of Millbrook in celebrating with them the 100th anniversary of the granting of the charter to their lodge. More than 450 sat down to a banquet at the Rock- haven Restaurant which also marked the visit of The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario to the Peterborough District. Most Worshipful Brother C. M Pitts of Ottawa held a reception prior to the dinner."
The Building of the Temple.
Spurred on by a renewed enthusiasm resulting from the centennial celebration in 1961,J.B. Hall Lodge started into its second century of existence. It soon became evident however, that a new meeting place must be obtained. The third floor rented lodge room, which had been used for so long, was no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the Lodge. It was heated with a wood stove, had outdated wiring and there was no plumbing. The two long flights of stairs were just too much for some of the older members, and the only fire escape was a rope ladder that was hung from the third floor window.
A "building committee" was established and many ideas for new quarters were discussed and examined. A major fire almost adjacent to the lodge had left some vacant land on the south side of King Street, in the main business block of the village. In 1964 amid considerable controversy, the committee purchased the lot for $1500.00 with the dream of eventually constructing a brand new lodge. For the next few years there was little progress towards this objective, although a building fund had been set up, it wasn't growing very quickly, with only a few donations trickling in from time to time.
In 1968 through the efforts of several zealous brethren the Millbrook Masonic Temple Corporation was founded, in order to clear the legal barriers involved in the construction of the new Lodge Building. The" Charter Members" of this committee of the Lodge were W.Bro. George Kinsman, RW. Bro. Mervyn Gray, W.Bro Don Sargent, W.Bro. Russell Andrus, W.Bro. Merton Thompson, R.Wor.Bro Stewart McGill, R.Wor.Bro. R. Larmer, W.Bro. Harry Kennedy- President, and W.Bro Allen Earle.
In the early 70s an element of the membership still felt that the construction of a new lodge building was not practical and that the Lodge should rent space from in the Peterborough Masonic temple to hold its meetings. In Late 1972 following problems with the electrical wiring, the lodge did move into Peterborough for a few months. However, attendance dropped off drastically and the lodge hurried back to the third floor quarters in Millbrook.
By the end of the summer the roof was on and the interior finishing went on into the winter of 1973-74. The new Lodge was build almost entirely by volunteer labour of the membership saving many thousands of dollars in costs. Also, many materials were donated not only by J.B. Hall brethren but other interested Masons from the district as well.
Many brethren could be named for their contribution, both before and during the completion of the temple. But, in the true sense of the nature of the craft, they did it for the love of the fraternity, not for recognition. To mention the great effort of a few would be to overlook the perhaps smaller, but equally important part played by a great many masons. The building of the temple in Millbrook was indeed the accomplishment of many.
At long last the temple was complete and on March 12, 1974 a proud group of masons watched the first initiation in the new Lodge Room.
For more information on Freemasonry or the PDMA please contact Peterborough District Masonic Assn. VW Bro. A. Baker, Secretary. [email protected]
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario grandlodge.on.ca
