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Freemasonry in Moncton, Keith Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. |
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Freemasonry in Moncton, Keith Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. |
| THE HISTORY OF: Keith Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. |
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Keith Lodge is the oldest organized Society which has met most regularly and without interruption, since its Constitution in the Town and City of Moncton. Since its first meeting on January 21, 1853 preceded the formation of a Grand Lodge in the province of New Brunswick by almost fifteen years, the petitioners made their supplication to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia whose juristiction for the United Grand Lodge of England included New Brunswick. The petition was favourably received and a Dispensation was granted by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Alexander Keith, whose name this new Lodge, in company with three others, would proudly bear. When the Lodge was constituted on January 21, 1853, it was known as No. 927 on the Registry of The Grand Lodge of England. On June 26, 1855 their first Charter was received, just 2 1/2 months after Moncton was incorporated as a Town. In 1863-64 a renumbering of the English Lodges took place and Keith Lodge was assigned No. 644. At the Lodge meeting on July 3, 1868, by unanimous vote, agreed to surrender its Charter to the Grand Lodge of England and join the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, becoming No. 23 on its Register. In 1868 the membership numbered thirty. Records indicate that in 1905 when R. Percy Dickson was Worshipful Master, the Lodge held what was referred to as a "Semi-Centennial" in the beautiful Lodge Room over the Royal Bank. On January 21, 1933 the Lodge observed the 80th Anniversary of its founding. The speaker for this occasion was Wor. Bro. George Ackman, former Moncton Fire Chief. On June 20, 1953, Keith Lodge No. 23 observed its Centennial, the proceedings being chaired by the late Wor. Bro. John J. Hunter. Lotus Lodge No. 623 of Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A. were the Centennial visitors with the proceedings being held in the Royal Canadian Legion Hall and a dinner held at the Moncton Stadium attended by some 550 Masons. Many of the brethern listed in the organization of Keith Lodge played a prominent role in the growth of Moncton as noted in the books written on the City of Moncton. (Rewritten from a talk given to Keith Lodge by Rt. Wor. Alex Pincombe, January 29, 1982) |
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As noted above, our history section is under construction by our Historical Research Committee and will be updated as information becomes available.Also, if you know any further facts or information which may be of some relavance, please send an E-mail to our Webmaster and he will see that it is fowarded for review to our Committee for inclusion in the next update. |
| HISTORICAL MEETING LOCATIONS OF:Keith Lodge No. 23 F. & A. M. |
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From it's begining in 1853, Keith Lodge members held their meetings in various locations around the city;
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