History
1974 – 2010

Masonry in Southern Ontario seems to have originated at Fort Niagara on the American side of the Niagara River, where the Kings (8th) Regiment of Foot met under the Field Warrant No.156 from 1773 –1785. On the Canadian side of the river, St. John’s Lodge of Friendship No.2 was warranted to meet at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) and Queenston in 1782, prior to the first Provincial Grand Lodge of 1792 under William Jarvis, Provincial Grand Master.  In 1795 the first Lodge in Hamilton, The Barton Lodge, held its first meeting at Smith’s Tavern. A second lodge in the area was established in 1799 at Forty Mile Creek (now Grimsby) and was named Union Lodge.

Sir Allan MacNab was named Provincial Grand Master of the 3rd Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West on August 28th 1844, with the first meeting held in Hamilton on August 9, 1845, which later became the Ancient Grand Lodge on Canada on September 9, 1857.
The formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada in Hamilton on October 10, 1855 was but the culmination of a process that had begun nearly a century before. On July 15, 1858, these two Grand Lodges became one – the Grand Lodge of Canada, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In 1855, four Hamilton lodges were placed in the Western District or that portion of Upper Canada lying west of Toronto. A year later that area was divided into the Districts of Hamilton and London. At the conclusion of World War I (1914-1918) there were twenty-one Lodges in this vicinity, and this number grew rapidly to thirty-one lodges. Thus in 1923 the former Hamilton District was split into Hamilton “A” District consisting of 16 Lodges and Hamilton “B” District with 15 Lodges.

During the ensuing years, eleven more Lodges were granted charters in the Hamilton area. Commencing in 1972, several meetings were held under the leadership of their respective D.D.G.M.'s. The outcomes of these meetings lead to the formation and the operating procedures for our Hamilton Masonic District “C” as approved by Grand Lodge in July 1974. With this redistribution of Lodges there was now three Masonic Districts referred to as Hamilton “A”, Hamilton “B” and Hamilton “C”, each consisting of 14 Lodges.

1972

In 1972 the masons of Hamilton Districts “A” and “B” were asked to consider a proposal for the formation of three Masonic districts. Although there was a general acceptance in principle, there was also some reservations as to the makeup of the new districts. Hence the District Deputy Grand Masters, R.W. Bros. Fred Scott and Marshall Capel forwarded a questionnaire to all lodges, the results of which formed the basis for the division of the lodges and advice to assist the new Districts in their organization.  A petition for the authority to reduce the number of lodges in Hamilton Masonic Districts “A” and “B” and to form a new district to be known as Hamilton Masonic District “C” , was presented to and approved by Grand Lodge  on July 18th, 1973. It was to become effective at the Annual Communications of Grand Lodge in July 1974, M.W. Bro. William K. Bailey, Grand Master, and M.W. Bro. John A. Irvine, Grand Secretary.

Hamilton Masonic District “C” will consist of the following Lodges:

1973

The Committee of the District and Past District Deputy Grand Masters who prepared and presented the petition to Grand Lodge , arranged a meeting at Valley Lodge on Sunday October 28th, 1973, for senior officers and as many Past Masters as wishing to attend.  Forty members were in attendance.

The purpose of that meeting was to explore all procedures, rules and regulations and their alternatives in order to set up a well-organized and well-regulated District for the good of Freemasonry, but also to meet all the requirements of the Constitution prior to Grand Lodge next July.  At that meeting, Hugh Lord was appointed Chairman, and Roy Middleton was appointed Secretary to act as temporary officers in the formation and development of the operating procedures for the new District. Several suggestions were made, which the lodges were to take back to their membership. These were voting privileges, method of submitting candidates for the office of D.D.G.M., regalia purchases, dates for Official Visits and rules and regulations for District meetings.

Dec. 2, 1973

Agreed upon:

1. Voting at District Meetings, one vote per lodge, by the W.M. or his proxy
2. D.D.G.M. to be elected on a rotational basis
3. District pays for dress regalia of D.D.G.M. and District Secretary on a per capita basis
4. Dates for Official Visits (keeping in mind that C.M.T. lodges were dispersed to area buildings because of the Sept 20th 1968, James Street fire).

Tentative Official Visits schedule

1974

All Worshipful Masters and Secretaries were invited to attend a meeting on June 13, 1974 to discuss agenda items such as:

1. Selection of a Regalia Committee.
2. To have an excellent report to Grand Lodge  at the completion of the first year that would include
• strong and effective Blood Donor campaign
• new approach to Masonic Education
• making meetings more interesting
• better banquet programmes.
3. To nominate candidates for D.D.G.M. at the May Past Masters’ meeting
4. Upon election in July, the new DD.G.M. should appoint:
• District Secretary
• District Chaplain
• District Chairman of Benevolence
• District Chairman of Masonic Education
• District Blood Donors Chairman.

June 13, 1974

A meeting was held at Valley Lodge with 46 brethren in attendance, with Buchanan Lodge being absent.   Vern Dawdy was elected as Regalia Chairman.  R.W. Bro. Hugh Lord, P.D.D.G.M., was to represent the new District at Grand Lodge in July, 1974. The District was to have a strong, energetic Blood Campaign with each Lodge appointing a Lodge Chairman, with set Lodge targets.  District Education Meetings, were to be convened by three different lodges in first half of year, and three different lodges in the second half.  The D.D.G.M. was to advise lodges of possible dates for them to accompany him on his Official Visits.

Hamilton Masonic District “C”
1974 - 1984

Approval to form a new District known as Hamilton Masonic District “C” was granted by Grand Lodge on July 18th, 1973 by the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. William K. Bailey, to become effective with the Communication of Grand Lodge in July 1974.

In the year following, several meetings were conducted, chaired by R.W. Bro. Hugh Lord and R.W. Bro. Roy Middleton, as Secretary, who served as temporary District Officers to explore procedures, rules and regulations for the new District. The Masons of the new Masonic District “C” totalled 3547, working out of fourteen founding Lodges within the Hamilton area.

The committee of Past Masters and senior officers agreed that:
i)   The District would have one vote per Lodge, by the W.M. or proxy.
ii)  The D.D.G.M. would be elected on a lodge rotational basis.
iii) The District would pay for the dress regalia of the D.D.G.M. and the District Secretary on a per capita basis.
iv) A schedule of Official Visits would be produced.

In June of 1974 at a meeting held at Valley Lodge to which all W. M.s and Secretaries were invited, Vern Dawdy was elected the Regalia chairman and R.W. Bro. Hugh Lord, P.D.D.G.M., would represent the new Hamilton “C” District at Grand Lodge  in 1974.  The District would also established a strong Blood campaign with appointed Lodge chairmen, and two District Educations meetings were be held in the year. The D.D.G.M. would advise Lodges of possible dates for them to accompany him on his Official Visits.

In the next few years, the matter of the cost of the regalia for the D.D.G.M. and the District Secretary was a matter discussed at the fall and spring District “C” meetings.  With an initial per capita regalia assessment of seventeen cents, due to factors such as declining membership and increased costs of the regalia, it reached 35 cents by 1984. The D.D.G.M.’s fee or allowance changed to $25 from $10.  The D.D.G.M. s during this period selected a number of brethren to assist as Committee Chairmen or District Officers so that several programs would be available for the members of the District. The Blood Donor program was continued with V. W. Bro. Wm. Hoyle, of The Electric Lodge No. 495, being appointed Blood Donor Chairman Emeritus of the 3 Hamilton Districts.  Numerous education Nights or special programs were presented to the brethren such as “Horizons for the Eighties”, “Towards the Square”, “Ladies of Active Masons” (L.O.A.M.) and Brotherhood Nights.  The lodges participated in District Divine services at various places of worship and started a combined District A, B, C Sunrise service in 1984.  A relocation of the Grand Lodge Library to Hamilton was assisted by District “C” members.

Hamilton Masonic District “C”
1985 – 1995

The Hamilton Masonic District “C” lodges during this period continued to experience a continuing decline in membership, which was also evident in the entire jurisdiction.  The D.D.G.M., with the support of the lodges, continued to implement and to carry on with many Grand Lodge programs which Lodge members participated in to enhance our Craft. The D.D.G.M.s promoted the Mentorship Program and the role of Masonic Education within the District. The Blood Donor program and Lodge members participation in this program was recognized with the presentation of the Bill Hoyle Memorial trophy while Lodge attendance at the Sunrise Divine service was recognized by a trophy donated by Hugh Murray Lodge. 

The business and organization of the District events was conducted with spring and fall District meetings and was put into a document in 1986 entitled the “Guidelines” as a way of strengthening Hamilton Masonic District “C”.  The cost of regalia and District operations continued to increase the per capita levy for regalia and assessment for the D.D.G.M., on his official visits.  The nomination and election of R.W. Bro. Norman E. Byrne from Meridian Lodge No. 687 as the D.G.M. was actively supported by the District and culminated with his subsequent election as Grand Master in 1992.  Hamilton Masonic District “C” through its Lodges and District events continued during this period to support several benevolence projects such as the Walk-a-thon, Nip Drugs in the Bud, Mother’s Day telethon, McMaster Neo-natal research, Masonic Foundation of Ontario, Hamilton Districts’ Board of Relief, and the Charelene Nye Educational bursary.  On Dec. 11, 1990 the District was expanded to fifteen lodges with the addition of Centennial Daylight Lodge No. 679 G.R.C. assuming the charter from Centennial Lodge of Niagara Falls when it went into darkness.

Hamilton Masonic District “C”
1996 – 2006

During this period Hamilton District “C”, was lead by D.D.G.M.s who oversaw the operational matters of the District, as well as programs of the Lodges and the programs of Grand Lodge.
The payment of the D.D.G.M.’s dress regalia and that of the D.D.G.M.’s appointee was addressed at many District meetings which saw the regalia per capita assessment move from 75 cents to $1.05 while the D.D.G.M.’s Official Visit assessment increased to $105.

Numerous district benevolence projects were engaged in by the members of Hamilton Masonic District “C” such as the Jenny Lyne fund, Camp Trillium which raised $7,500, Paul Reeve Memorial Walk for charity, Jason’s House which is operated by the March of Dimes, the Board of Relief fund raising initiatives for the McMaster Neo-Natal Clinics, St. Peters Hospital Alzheimer foundation, and support funds for the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome /22qI3 project.

The District Newsletter continued to be produced and eventually was combined to include all three Hamilton Districts and was recognized at Grand Lodge with a merit award.  The Blood Donor program continued during this period and for a while saw a reduction in activity which was later revived.   The District Webmaster was able to launch a District Web Site to record various Lodge and District events for those having access to computer system.  The District’s composition changed with Hamilton Lodge No. 562 moving into darkness in 2001, while Doric Lodge No. 382 from District “B” completed a successful amalgamation with the Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks No. 654 in 2005.  The Hamilton Masons paid tribute to M.W. Bro. Norman E. Byrne by naming the Cathedral at the Masonic Centre Hamilton, ‘The Norman E. Byrne Cathedral’ as a memorial on Friday Oct.14, 2005. The Hamilton Masons celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Grand Lodge by erecting a historical marker in front of the Grand Lodge offices on King St. W.,Hamilton. R.W.Bro. Donald Jagger was elected Worshipful Master of Millennium Lodge in July,2005.

Hamilton Masonic District “C”
2007 - 2009

The members of Hamilton Masonic District “C” held District meetings in the Fall, Jan. (mid-term), the Spring as well as their Annual Meeting as part of the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge in July.  On May 3, 2008 the newly adopted ‘Guide for the Operation and Management of Hamilton Masonic District “C” was introduced and accepted unanimously by all the Lodges.  The members of the District were very supportive of District “C” Charities such as the Cancer Assistance Program, Partners In Nutrition, and Ronald McDonald House. The members and friends of The Electric Lodge No. 495 celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2009.  Several members from the District were appointed or elected to Grand Lodge officer positions in this period and travelled extensively with the D.D.G.M. on his Official Visits.  In 2009 a District “C” Christmas levee was held for the first time at the Masonic Centre Hamilton for masons and families. In Sept. 2010 the Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks/Doric hosted a Grand Lodge officers recognition evening for all three Hamilton Masonic Districts with the Grand Master, M., W. Bro. Raymond S. J. Daniels, in attendance.  The members continued to support the Canadian Blood Services clinics and also participated in several child identification clinics – MASONIChIP.   The District supported both the Spring and Fall Divine Services to aid the Board of Relief, as well as assisting in the Masonic Beef and Corn Roast held in Ancaster which annually attracted over six hundred people.  An excursion to the Detroit Masonic Temple was held in Oct. 2009 and being enjoyed so much that a follow-up trip was organized to the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, The House of the Temple and George Washington Memorial in Washington D. C. for Oct. 2010.

Ad Hoc History Committee Report
June 30th . 2010

Further details on the specific events of each year, as extracted from the District Meetings record book, can be obtained by a contacting the District “C” Historian.