Flower City Lodge
A.F. & A.M. No. 689 G.R.C.
Instituted March 13, 1957
Brampton, Ontario

Masonry in Brampton had its official beginning in the year 1870, when Ionic Lodge was instituted and since that time the membership has had a steady increase until in 1956 Ionic Lodge boasted a membership of over 340. For some time Members of the Fraternity had given some thought regarding the forming of a second lodge here.

On June 6, 1956, a meeting was held at the home of Bro. Archie Campbell in this respect, and as a result it was to ask Grand Lodge for a dispensation to form a second Masonic lodge here. Two names were suggested, viz., Flower City and Chinguacousy, Flower City being the one chosen. At this meeting the following brethren were present: R.W. Bro. E.J. Langley, D.D.G.M., Toronto District A.1; R.W. Bro. Orton Walker, P.G.G.G.M.; V.W. Bro. Charles Allan; V.W. Bro. C. Cheyne; W. Bro. G.E. Townsend; W. Bro. J.A. McCleave, W. Bro. F.F. Wilcox, Bro. W.A. Campbell; Bro. Gordon Kearns.

W. Bro. J.A. McCleave was proposed as the W. Master; V.W. Bro. Charles Allan, Senior Warden; Bro. Gordon Kearns, Junior Warden.

Request was made to Grand Lodge for a dispensation to proceed with the formation of a new lodge. W. Bro. McCleave, V.W. Bro. Allan and Bro. W.A. Campbell were invited to go to Hamilton and received every courtesy, advice and suggestions from the Grand Secretary, R.W. Bro. E.G. Dixon.

As soon as it became known that a new Masonic Lodge was to be formed in Brampton, 32 applications for charter membership were received. It is interesting to note that included in the list of charter members are the names of R.W. Bro. Orton T. Walker, V.W. Bro. Charles Allan, W. Bro. G.E. Townsend, W. Bro. J.A. McCleave, W. Bro. K.J. Davidson, W. Bro. C.F. Kline, W. Bro. V.A. Mountford and W. Bro. W.A. Campbell. There are 13 members from Ionic Lodge, 15 from other lodges in the G.R.C. in the province of Ontario and one each from Alberta, Manitoba, England and Scotland.

Special thanks to R.W. Bro. J.W. Grimmon, D.D.G.M., for his keen interest, excellent suggestions and valuable advice leading to the Institution of Flower City Lodge.

The first officers were as follows:
W. Master-W. Bro. J.A. McCleave
I.P.M.-W. Bro. G.E. Townsend
Sr. Warden-V.W. Bro. Charles Allan
J.W.-Bro. Gordon Kearns
Treasurer-W. Bro. W.A. Campbell
Secretary- W.C. Gillingham
Assistant Secretary- Bro. N.D. Davidson
Chaplin-Bro. L.P. Emerson
D. of C.-W. Bro. C.F. Kline
Sr. Deacon- Bro. Garf Cotton
Jr. Deacon-Bro. W.E. Kelly
I.G.-Bro. J.W. Elley
Sr. Steward-Bro. S.G. Haslam
Jr. Steward-Bro. A.G. Archdekin
Tyler-Bro. H.G.J. Hudson

March 13, 1957, was a red-letter day in the annals of Flower City Lodge and it was the day our lodge was instituted by R.W. Bro. J.W. Grimmon, assisted by present and past Grand Lodge officers, many of whom wished Flower City Lodge every success.

Messages of congratulations and good wishes were read by the secretary. Eight petitions for initiation were received and committees appointed by the W. Master.

Ionic Lodge was most generous in presenting Flower City Lodge with a full set of Officers’ Collars and Jewels, the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square and Compasses and the Working Tools. Bro. W. Clarke presented the twenty-four inch gauge.

The Masonic Trust allowed Flower City Lodge the use of the Lodge Rooms for the year 1957 without charge and the Masonic Central Bureau of Toronto also offered its services free of charge for 1957.

R.W. Bro. Orton T. Walker expressed the thanks of Flower City Lodge to R.W. Bro. Grimmon and the official board.

The Lodge was closed in Harmony and as many as could do so adjourned to the banquet hall to partake of the refreshments provided.

Toasts to her Majesty the Queen, the Grand Lodge of Canada (in the province of Ontario), the visitors and Flower City Lodge were given and responded to in the usual manner.

Many of the distinguished guests wished Flower City Lodge well and tendered many suggestions and excellent advice. The Junior Warden’s toast brought to a close a most momentous occasion in Masonic circles in Brampton.

On October the thirty-first, 1957, members of the Fraternity were shocked on learning that our beloved V.W. Bro. Charles Allan, a charter member of Flower City Lodge and our Senior Warden has been suddenly called to the Grand Lodge Above. His memory we revere, his passing we deplore, but such was the will of the Great Architect of the Universe.

November the twentieth, 1957, was the day Flower City Lodge No. 689 was constituted and consecrated. In the absence of the M.W.G. Master H.L. Marlyn, R.W. Bro. J.R. Rumball assisted by an official board of Grand Lodge Officers in a very solemn and impressive ceremony and which will never be forgotten by those who were privileged to be present.

At the close of the ceremony the Acting Grand Master handed the gavel to W. Bro. McCleave and Grand Lodge retired. After closing the Lodge, a banquet was held in the auditorium of St. Paul’s United Church.

Toasts to Her majesty the Queen, to Grand Lodge, the visitors and to Flower City Lodge were honored in the usual manner.

Congratulations and best wishes were again extended to Flower City Lodge and R.W. Bro. E.G. Dixon, the Grand Secretary, explained the significance of the ceremony of the Constitution and Consecration.

The Junior Warden’s toast brought to a close the most important event in Flower City Lodge’s short history.

November 28, 1957, W. Master J.A. McCleave was installed, and the instituted officers were invested by R.W. Bro. J.D.W. Cumberland and a board of officers.

An interesting item was performed by Bro. Bruce J. McCleave, son of the W. Master and who was the first candidate received into Flower City Lodge, Bro. McCleave gave the instructions to the Master at the Altar.

At the close of the ceremony R.W. Bro. Cumberland paid a touching tribute to the late V.W. Brother Charles Allan.

The R.W. Brother also acknowledged the assistance he had received from R.W. Brother O.T. Walker and the assisting W. Brethren.

January 9, 1958-The first installation of an elected Master and the investiture of the first elected officers was under the direction of R.W. Brother Orton T. Walker assisted by a board of distinguished Past Masters and Bro. Bruce McCleave giving the instructions at the Altar to his father. Previous to the ceremony Bro. W.C. Gillingham presented the Lodge with an Altar Cloth and Cushion. The brethren were very appreciative with their thanks.

The W. Master was installed, and the elected officers invested as follows:
W. Master-W. Bro. J.A. McCleave
I.P.M.- W. Bro. G.E. Townsend
Sr. Warden-Bro. Gordon Kearns
Jr. Warden-Bro. Garf Cotton
Treasurer-W. Bro.-W.A. Campbell
Secretary- Bro. W.C. Gillingham
Assist. Secretary-Bro. H.G.J. Hudson
Chaplain-Bro. R.E. Choate
D. of C.- W. Bro. C.F. Kline
Assist. D. of C.- Bro. N. Muir
Sr. Deacon- Bro. W.E. Kelly
Jr. Deacon-Bro. J.W. Elley
I.G.-Bro. S.G. Haslam
Sr. Steward-Bro. A.G. Archdekin
Jr. Steward- Bro. N.D. Davidson
Tyler-Bro. J.E. Hopcroft
Auditors-Bro C.H. Richmond
-Bro. C. Merritt
Representative to the Central Masonic Bureau of Toronto-Bro. J.P. Henderson

February 13, 1958.

W. Master J.A. McCleave is vacationing in the sunny south. R.W. Bro. O.T. Walker, W. Bro. Townsend and W. Bro. W.A. Campbell will act as W. Master during his absence.

Eleven months after Flower City Lodge was instituted the membership is fifty with eight petitions approved and two applications for initiation and one for affiliation received.

March 13 next is to be our first inspection night. R.W. Bro. J.D.W. Cumberland, D.D.G.M. of Toronto District A.1, assisted by the District Secretary, W. Bro. H.N. Elliot, will officiate and R. W. Bro. Orton T. Walker will be the acting W. Master.

This will be the exact date our Lodge will celebrate its first birthday.

May Flower City Lodge always have the loyal support of our members and may they work together in harmony for the good of Masonry in general and Flower City Lodge in particular.

Flower City Lodge is to be congratulated on the high caliber of our new members, men who show great promise and in whose hands the destiny of Flower City Lodge will be quite safe.

The secretary cannot close this report without expressing his appreciation and thanks to Bro. J.W. Elley, who very kindly offered to type the original and also the approved copies of the By-laws which follow.

W.C. Gillingham
Secretary
Brampton, Ontario, February 24, 1958