History of Blyth Lodge

AF &AM. No. 303, GRC

Our Lodge had it's beginnings July 9th 1874 when the warrant was issued from Grand Lodge. The dispensation and first dedication of the the original lodge was held on October 16th, 1874 and the Charter Officers & Members of the lodge were as follows.

Charter Officers
First Worshipful Master	R.W. Bro. William Wilson
First Senior Warden	Bro. Charles Hamilton
First Junior Warden	Bro. Donald Bruce McKinnon
Charter Members
	Bro. William Curtis
	Bro. William Lorne Hays
	Bro. William Tucker
	Bro. John Clark
	Bro. John Hutchinson

As many of the records etc. were destroyed in a fire on Sunday 3rd January, 1932 much of the earlier information is unavailable. It is said however that the original lodge premises were first located at its present quarters, so on March 18th, 1991 we returned home. It is also said that the lodge was later across on Queen Street from its present location, but no one living now recalls it being anywhere before our former location which is on northwest corner of Dinsley and Queen Street. The last meeting in that room was on May 15th, 1989, after which the brethren banded together to salvage any and all the unique Masonic material and structural platforms for use in a new facility at some future date. Our June 19th, 1989 meeting was held at Hullett Lodge, which we rented during the renovations of the new premises which we are dedicating today. At the first meeting in Hullett Lodge, the installation of the new officers was held and Wor. Bro. Richard Elliott was installed as Worshipful Master. Wor. Bro. Elliott remained in the Master's chair until June 15th, 1992 when we were back home in Blyth at the newly renovated premises. On that date Wor. Bro. Bryan H. Allan became Master in the first installation ceremony in our new/old lodge.

The rooms were restored from a very run down condition to a beautiful setting by combined efforts of many brethren, notably R.W. Bro. Edward East and W. Bro. James Walsh. Bro. Paul Dickson of Forest Lodge No. 162, Wroxeter donated to Blyth Lodge his remuneration for electrical work in the new quarters. A new Director of Ceremonies Wand head was purchased with this money in appreciation of Bro. Dickson and the stock of the wand was made by R.W. Bro. Edward East. Bro. Dickson was present at the December 16th, 1991 meeting when this new wand was first in the lodge.

The earliest minutes available are from the meeting of April 27th, 1926. W. Bro. James A. Snell was Worshipful Master, Bro. R.S. Pate was Secretary. The business included dealing with three applications for relief; two were granted and the third was referred to Grand Lodge. Presumably, the applications were widows of deceased brethren Two degrees were conferred: Mr. Kenneth Taylor was initiated and Bro. Charles Lockwood was passed to the Second Degree.

As intimated before the lodge was lost to fire on January 3rd, 1932 and after temporary quarters were used the new lodge was refurbished, and modeled after Old Light lodge No 184. Mr. George Chambers was landlord and he graciously agreed that the Lodge was to pay for only the electrical fixtures and decoration, rent to be as formally, being $85 for the remainder of the year. The lodge was completed and the first meeting was on December 27th, 1932 with Hullett Lodge participating. Blyth's Master was Wor. Bro. J.E. Munro and Hullett's was Wor. Bro. James Neilans.

Through the years preceding the Second World War the lodge business was with joint Installations and Ladies nights with Hullett Lodge No. 568 and the officers always had either regular degree work to confer or Masonic education for the brethren to moralize on. During the war years many sons and brothers of members were seeking active combat for the protection of our country. The Minutes of those meetings were very exciting with letters and words from our brethren who were on active duty. It was evident that Blyth Lodge was providing very Strong support.

Once the war had hushed, the work of the lodge escalated for many years with multiple applications, conferring degrees at all regular meetings and even emergent meetings to keep ahead of of the interest. Unfortunately, many of these new members left the area in search of work. Most remained members of their Mother Lodge and some demitted or were suspended for unpaid dues. For many years "At Home" gatherings were held, ladies invited for cards and lunch in the lodge rooms. Later "Ladies Nights" were dances held in the Blyth Community Centre (Memorial Hall) or at Family Paradise.

Blyhy Lodge celebrated its centennial, joining Wingham Lodge No. 286 in 1973 and a joint church service was held on the evening of September 23rd in the Blyth United Church. Wor. Bro. Warner Colling, in honour of our 100th year painted the Lodge's Working Tools , Gold and Wor. master William Campbell grew a moustache.

During the year of 1975, Wor. Master Gord (Bud) Chamney had an outstanding and busy year when he initiated five candidates, the first being his son Bro. Larry Chamney. Three Williams were initiated on April 7th being William (Bill) Buchanan, William (Bill) Reihl and William (Willy) Dougherty. They also all took their Second Degrees together on June 16th . The last candidate of the year was Wor. Bro. Con Van Vliet.

Blyth Lodge had held it's Installation on the fourth Monday in NOvember for many years . In compliance with Grand Lodges's request that all lodges hold their installation in June, Blyth began in 1989 to hold our election of Officers at the regular May meeting and the installation at the June meeting. Another change in 1992 was to hold our regular May meeting on the third Wednesday instead of the third Monday to avoid the holiday wekend. Bylaws of the Lodge were were rewritten and updated in 1991 to bring the wording more into line with Constitution of Grand Lodge. One of the more interesting changes had to do with the Notice of the Regular Meeting: " The Regular Meetings of this Lodge will be held on the First Monday on or after the full moon and also the fourthMonday of November. Visiting Brethern are cordially invited. " Regretably when we modernized ourselves , we lost a part of the unique communications of the past.

There have been many special times for the Blyth Brethern and visitors.

November 16th, 1987: Bro. Neil Elliott's third degree was conferred by a Funeral Directors' team. Wor. Bro. Douglas McBurney of Wingham Lodge 286, acting as Worshipful Master

March 19th, 1990: Bro. Mike Scott's First Degree was conferred by the District 6 Officers Degree Team of the Ontario Provincial Police, which took place in the hullett Lodge rooms.

January 18th, 1993: Our newest brother mason Bro. Mike Alexander was also initiated by the District 6 Officers of the ontario Provincial Police in these premises and Bro. Alexander was the second candidate to be initiated in the present Lodge rooms; Bro. Paul Josling being the first on April 20th, 1992.

Our present history which is being written today by the dedication of our Lodge premises by Most Worshipful, the Grand Master M.W.Bro Norman E. Byrne, other present and past Grand Lodge Officers, brethern of our Mother Lodge and those visiting, is a prestigious event. As the ink dries to paper and the sun sets on this day, it will be looked back on as another momentous occasion to remember. "

This was taken from the History of Blyth Lodge written for the dedication of their present Lodge rooms.