Masons celebrate 100 years

Times Reporter

 

This year not only marked the 100th birthday of the town and a number of other organizations and groups, but it also marked the anniversary of the Strathmore Masonic Lodge 53. On Sept. 17 there was a re-consecration ceremony performed at the Civic Centre, which was headed by Albert’s grand master, Peter Dunlop. 

“It’s just like a centennial celebration, just celebrating 100 years. It’s not 100 years since the first meeting which I think was held in May the previous year,” said Geoff Scott, Secretary and Treasurer of Lodge 53.  

Though the first initial meeting was held 101 years ago, the Strathmore Lodge did not become a chartered, certified member until almost a year later. 

In order to have a Lodge opened there must be a minimum of seven members. To date there are 48 members in the Strathmore Lodge. 

“Like all organizations Lions whatever numbers diminish because young guys really don’t have enough time. As far as membership we do not solicit memberships, members have to ask to join,” said Scott. 

He said the theory behind that is that interested men will see these guys out in the community living full and productive lives, and want to copy or emulate it and find out how to go about it. When an application is made a committee is formed to interview the applicant. 

“In May of 2012 I’ll have been a member for 60 years,” said John Scheer, former Worshipful Master. 

Though the Lodge may not solicit new members, there can be hints. Scheer had an uncle gave subtle little hints to him. He had resisted for a few years, before finally deciding to join. For Scott, he had reached a point in his life when he had the time to commit to joining.

“I had a grandfather who’d been a master of a couple of Lodges in…Australia. I had reached a point in time where I (could) lift my nose from the grindstone a little bit, and see other aspects of life, and John was a good friend at the time,” said Scott, who joined in 1972. 

Glen Sollid joined the Masons in 1987.    

“I was gearing down to retirement from teaching, I had three or four years left to go. I thought I may as well look into something that could give me a little bit of something to do when I don’t have to chase kids anymore. I mentioned it to a friend of mine who was also a Mason and Shriner. I was processed very quickly and handed a whole lot of things, and all of a sudden I could find myself almost being swamped so I had to step back from too much involvement,” said Sollid.  

Another thing Scott made sure to pint out is that Masonry is not a cult. 

“There’s enough there to say, oh do they do that? But then it’s just a good story after that. There’s always just a bit of a grain of something but not enough to flavour a whole meal,” said Sollid. 

In early 1910 a small group of men met in the small North West Mounted Police Office to discuss forming a Masonic Lodge in Strathmore. Meetings began on May 16, 1910, and in 1913 the Lodge purchased the Opera House. The upper floor was used for meetings, and the ground floor was rented out as a community hall. In July of 1924 a fire burned down a number of businesses, as well as the Masons hall, destroying all records, charters and property. 

The Masons bought the Knox Presbyterian Church, where they stayed until the property was sold and demolished in 2005, when it became apparent renovations would be quite costly. 

The Strathmore Lodge was a “Moon Lodge,” meaning its meetings were held the Monday closest to the full moon. With country trails poorly marked and hazardous, the full moon’s bright light enabled Brethren to navigate safely. By 1921, district roads had improved to a point where the meeting night was set as the first Monday of the month.

Currently the Lodge is holding meetings in Irricana, and hopes to find a home again soon.