August 13th, 2017
R.W. Keith Jordan was asked to write a short paragraph about National Lodge and forward it to the Hospice. It was to be incorporated into a story written by them about National Lodge's Legacy Donation of $20,000.00.
Below is that story as well as 2 pictures taken by Tom McKinley's daughter, Karen.
95 YEARS OF MASONIC TRADITIONS
IN THE TOWN OF CAPREOL
MASONIC LODGES ARE FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
WITH THE PURPOSE OF MAKING GOOD MEN BETTER.
FEBRUARY 13TH, 1919 A NUMBER OF BUSINESS AND RAILROAD MEN MET AT ROSSMAN'S HALL TO DISCUSS WAYS AND MEANS TOWARDS STARTING A LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS IN CAPREOL. SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS FOLLOWED, WHEN IT WAS DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH A BUILDING WITH STORES BELOW FOR RENTAL AND THE MASONIC HALL ABOVE.
FOR THIS PURPOSE A STOCK COMPANY WAS FORMED AND WAS KNOWN AS "NATIONAL TEMPLE COMPANY." A PETITION WAS SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF MASONS AND SUBMITTED TO THE GRAND LODGE OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, PRAYING FOR A DISPENSATION. ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1922 R. W. BRO. J. A. SMITH, ASSISTED BY GRAND LODGE OFFICERS FROM NORTH BAY AND SUDBURY PERFORMED THE CEREMONIES OF:
CONSTITUTING, CONSECRATING, & DEDICATING NATIONAL LODGE # 588
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THE LODGE GREW AND HAD A MEMBERSHIP TOTAL OF 191 UNTIL THE MINE CLOSURE AND RAILWAY CUTS IN THE LATE 1990’S. UNABLE TO SURVIVE ON ITS OWN, THE LODGE MOVED INTO THE BELROCK MASONIC CENTRE, SUDBURY. DECLINING NUMBERS CONTINUED TO PLAGUE THE LODGE AND RECENTLY A NOTICE OF MOTION WAS PRESENTED TO “GO DARK”. THE OUTCOME WILL BE KNOWN IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
