Much is to be said of the perseverance of it's founding members who remained undaunted in their vision of seeing the Lodge survive and grow. Perhaps it was the Loyalist stock that engendered such tenacity, or that of the pioneering spirit that pervaded a country in its fledgling state. Which ever it was, we owe much to those dedicated brethren of a time long since past.

It would be interesting to go back in time and sit in on the conversations that took place some one hundred and seventy one years ago to determine what motivated these men to be desirous of forming a new lodge. Several Lodges were already in operation in the City of Saint John, Saint Johns Lodge No.29 and Union Lodge No.38, of which all of the petitioners, with the exception of three, belonged.

Suffice to say that in July of 1825, fifteen Master Masons set their hand to a petition to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, seeking a warrant to form a new Lodge to be called "Albion".

The contents of that petition were as follows:

" To the Right Worshipful the Grand Master of the fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Province of Nova Scotia and Masonical jurisdictions thereunto belonging.

We the undersigned, being regular Registered Master Masons of the lodges mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the art, and for the convenience of our respective dwellings and other good reasons, we are anxious of forming a new Lodge to be named "Albion". In consequence of this desire we pray for a warrant of Constitution, empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge at Bro. Robert Welch's on the first Monday of every month, and there to discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional manner according to the forms of the Order and the laws of Grand lodge: and we have nominated and do recommend Bro. William Durant to be the first Master, Bro Robert Ray to be the first Senior Warden, and Bro, Charles Gloyne Brownsword to be the first Junior Warden of the said Lodge. The Prayer of the Petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the Grand Master and to the Laws and Regulations of the Grand Lodge. And as in duty bound we will ever pray. (signed)
H.N.H. Lugrin - Saint John's Lodge No.29
William Austin - Union Lodge, No.38
Thomas Leavitt - Saint John's Lodge No.29
Thomas Raymond - Union Lodge No.38
Samuel Stephen - Union Lodge No.38
Thomas McR. Abel - Union Lodge No.38
Hiram Smith - Saint John's Lodge No.29
John Prosser - Athol Lodge, No.7, Jamaica
Samuel Cobb - Saint John's Lodge No.29
James Condle - Saint John's Lodge,No.29
Alexander Simpson - Union Lodge, No.38
Robert Godfrey - Union Lodge, No.38
Edward I. Chamberlain - Solomon Lodge, No.22
Jacob R. Sneden - St. Adrian's Lodge,No.287 Scot
Robert Welch - Saint John's Lodge No.29

This petition was forwarded to Rt.Wor.Bro. T. Wetmore, Deputy Grand Master for the Province of New Brunswick who resided in Fredericton, who added the following note at the bottom of the petition;

I beg leave to recommend the prayer of this petition to the favourable consideration of the Right Worshipful Grand Master.
(signed) T. Wetmore
Deputy Grand Master, New Brunswick
Fredericton, July 23, 1825

The petition was accompanied by a letter from the brethren who were chosen to preside over the new lodge. It's interesting to note that the names of the brothers chosen to be officers in the new lodge, with the exception of H.N.H. Lugrin, do not appear on the original petition. The letter sent to the Grand Secretary was as follows;

Saint John, N.B.
July 1825
Right Worshipful Sir and Brother

We the undersigned regular registered Master Masons residing in the city of Saint John in the Province of New Brunswick being chosen from among our fellows to preside as the first officers of a new Lodge to be formed in the city do humbly request you will be pleased to present the enclosed petition to the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia at their next quarterly or other meeting. The new Lodge to be called Albion will be composed of persons of respectability and it will be their constant care to preserve inviolable the tenets and to enforce the precepts of Masonry by their example and well doing. Should the said petition meet with a favourable reception and the warrant not ready to be sent, please advise our acting secretary of the issue, in order that we may obtain Jewels and everything requisite for the instalment, when the costs of the warrant (are known) will be transmitted to you through Brother William Austin whose letter will accompany this.

We remain Right Worshipful Sir and Brother your very humble servants and Brethren (Signed)
H.N.H. Lugrin, acting secretary
William Durant, Saint John's No.29
Robert Ray, Saint John's No.29
Chas.Gloyne Brownsword, Union No.38

These documents were forwarded to the Grand Secretary of Nova Scotia with a covering letter from the acting secretary of the Lodge, H.N.H. Lugrin.

The petition of the aforementioned Brethren was favourably received in Halifax and a Dispensation forwarded to allow the Lodge known as Albion to begin work. This dispensation is mentioned in a letter from the acting Secretary to the Grand secretary in Nova Scotia wherein he confirms receipt of correspondence and the Dispensation on the 20th August, 1825.

The warrant for the Lodge was prepared and dated the 30th, November, 1825. This date is confirmed in a letter to the Honourable Thomas Wetmore, Deputy Grand Master for the Province of New Brunswick. This letter which carries the official seal of The Grand Lodge also served as a Dispensation for the forming of a Grand Lodge pro tem for the purpose of installing the Worshipful Master and officers of the newly constituted Lodge. The Provincial Deputy Grand Master, the Honourable Thomas Wetmore being infirm, appointed by note written at the end of the letter, Worshipful Brother Benjamin L.Peters to act in his stead.

On January 23, 1826 a meeting of a Temporary Grand Lodge was convened for the purpose of installing the worshipful Master and officers of Albion Lodge No.52. The minutes of the proceedings of that notable night are as follows;

Minutes of Proceedings of a Temporary Grand Lodge holden at Saint John on Monday the 23rd day of January 1826 under and by virtue of a Dispensation from the Right Worshipful John Albro Esq. Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in Nova Scotia and Masonical Jurisdiction thereunto belonging, for the purpose of installing the Officers of Albion Lodge no.52 to be holden at Saint John in New Brunswick.

After Prayers Proceeded to Business

The Secretary by orders from the chair read aloud to the brethren assembled the warrant received from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia to congregate, hold and form a Grand Lodge pro tem. at the City of Saint John in the Province of New Brunswick for the purpose of installing and constituting the officers of Albion Lodge No.52 to be holden at the City of Saint John aforesaid.

A communication was then received from the officers and brethren of Albion Lodge No.52 intimating that they had received a Warrant from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia authorising them to form and open a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and being desirous that their Lodge should be constituted and their officers installed agreeably to the ancient usages and customs of the Fraternity.

They were then assembled for the purpose at their Lodge Room in Masonic Hall where they waited the pleasure of the R.W. Grand Master. A procession was then formed by the Grand Lodge and moved to the hall of the new Lodge and on being admitted were received with usual Honors, the officers resigning their seats to the Grand officers, the necessary precautions being taken. The Deputy Grand Master informed the Grand Master that the brethren then present had been working under a dispensation for some time past and that the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge had been pleased to grant them a Warrant of Constitution and they prayed to be constituted with usual formalities. the Grand Secretary then read the dispensation and Warrant of Constitution granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia as also the proceedings of the lodge under dispensation which being approved.

Brother William Durant after having been duly examined and vouched for as being well skilled in our Rites was presented to The Grand Master as the Master elect of the New Lodge and being approved by the brethren, the Grand Marshall formed the brethren of the new Lodge in front of the Grand Master and the ceremonies of constituting commenced with solemnity. After which an elegant and appropriate Oration was delivered by the R.W. Brother B.G. Gray, Grand Chaplain who then consecrated and dedicated the New Lodge with usual formalities after which the Grand Master proceeded to constitute the lodge and install the officers. Brother William Durant having given his assent to all the Ancient Charges was duly installed in the Oriental chair of Solomon. Brother Robert Ray was presented by Wor Bro Durant as Senior Warden and Brother C.G. Brownsword as Junior Warden who were regularly installed and appropriate charges delivered by the Grand Master severally to each of the officers.

The Grand Master then in the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia proclaimed the New Lodge Thrice by the name of Albion No.52 to be duly constituted with all the Rites and privileges of our Ancient and Honourable Fraternity.

The Grand Master then directed Wor Bro William Durant to open his lodge in due form. A procession was again formed and the Grand Lodge returned to their Lodge Room accompanied by Albion Lodge No.52 and a number of visiting brethren when the Grand Lodge was solemnly closed in Peace and Harmony in Form at half past 2 o"clock a.m.
(signed)
J. Thurgar Benjamin Lester Peters
Secretary, pro tem Deputy Grand Master

While this is an auspicious start to the history of Albion Lodge, nothing further can be offered for the year 1826 with the absence of any minute books or other records. Minutes of regular communications do not commence again until December of 1829.