R.W. Bro. Robin J. Colville

AS SHOWN BELOW:
THE ARMORIAL BEARINGS OF CLAN BUCHANAN
"JUVO AUDACES: I ASSIST THE BOLD OR THE BRAVE"
"CLARIOR-HINC-HONOS: BRIGHTER HENCE THE HONOUR"

Buchanan Lodge No. 550 was named after the Honourable Isaac Buchanan, who was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on July 21st, 1810 less than two years before the battle of Stoney Creek was fought. He arrived in Canada about 1833 and by 1841 was first elected to parliament as a member for Toronto. He was also the elected representative for Hamilton in 1857, 1861 and 1864. In 1853, he built his home on the mountain at Fennel Ave. and West Fifth Street to accommodate his wife Agnes and their eleven children. He called his home ‘Auchmar’ meaning ‘Field by the water’ after his father’s home that overlooked the ‘Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond’ in Scotland. The park surrounding his home, he called ‘Claremont’ which means ‘clear mountain’. Today the ‘Claremont Access’ arrives at the top of the Hamilton ‘mountain’ near the spot of the original entrance to his lands. Isaac Buchanan’s home was the meeting place for many of the government officials including several Governor-Generals and Sir John A. MacDonald, Father of Confederation and Prime Minister of the Dominion who was a frequent visitor.

Early in the year of 1919, a few Master Masons on the mountain top conceived the idea of forming a Masonic lodge in their neighbourhood to avoid the necessity of members having to go either to the city or to lodges at a considerable distance in the rural district. They had already received permission from W. Bro. James Isaac Buchanan of Pittsburgh, son of Isaac Buchanan, to call it ‘The Buchanan Lodge’ in honour of the Buchanan Family, who were early pioneers of the district and highly esteemed citizens.

On June 23rd, 1919, a meeting was held in Barton Township Hall, on Upper James St. which had been rented exclusively for one year. At this meeting the lodge was instituted and the dispensation from Grand Lodge was presented by the D.D.G.M., the Right Worshipful Brother Judge John G. Gauld. W. Bro. J. C. Springsteed was installed as the first Worshipful Master.

James Isaac Buchanan was born in Hamilton on August 3rd, 1853. He became a very accomplished man in the realm of business. He was raised to the S. degree of a M.M. in Strict Observance Lodge No. 27, Hamilton, and later became a Royal Arch Mason and a member in several concordant bodies. He was Commander-in-Chief of Pennsylvania Consistory from 1889 to 1893. As a note of interest, a portrait of him is on the landing between the first and second floor, right-hand stairs of the Scottish Rite building in Hamilton. On July 3rd, 1919, W. Bro. James Isaac Buchanan requested that he be permitted to furnish the Altar, Bible, Square and Compasses and the three lesser lights. On October 2nd, 1919, following the motion duly moved, seconded and balloted on, he was declared an Honorary Life Member, with full rights and privileges of Buchanan Lodge No. 550. W. Bro. James Isaac Buchanan, Past Master of St. John’s Lodge No. 219, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A. was then escorted by the D. of C. into the lodge and formally introduced to the members of the lodge. On February 12th, 1920 Buchanan Lodge held an ‘At Home’ in the Parish Hall of Holy Trinity Church. The speaker of the evening was W. Bro. James Isaac Buchanan and he was accompanied by his two sisters, Miss Jane M. Buchanan and Miss H.E.J. Buchanan more commonly known as Elsie. Sadly, W. Bro. Buchanan passed to T.G.L.A. on January 2nd, 1931.

On May 6th, 1920, after a motion duly moved and seconded, the By-laws of The Electric Lodge No. 495, with a few necessary changes to conform to the needs of our lodge were adopted.

In September 1920, we received our charter under the number 550 at the hands of R. W. Bro. H. A. Graham, D.D.G.M. who constituted and consecrated the lodge and dedicated our hall in a most impressive manner.

On December 2nd, 1929, it was reported that the Hall Committee had completed arrangements with the Barton Township for the purchase of the Hall. The W.M. appointed a Board of Trustees to act on behalf of the lodge.

On February 4th, 1932, W. Bro. T. H. Simpson was duly declared an Honorary Life Member with full rights and privileges of Buchanan Lodge No. 550. On October 5th, 1933, R. W. Bro. T. H. Simpson, D.D.G.M. of Hamilton District ‘B’ honoured us with his official visit. In July, 1947 he was elected and installed as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

On April 4th, 1935 the officers and members of Longbranch Lodge No. 632, Mimico, Ontario made a Fraternal visit to our lodge. Here it is some 76 years later and we still visit each other from time to time.

On May 5th, 1938, the officers of Buchanan Lodge started to wear the Buchanan Tartan to welcome the visit of the Scottish Masonic Craftsmen of St. Catharines and District. The Buchanan Clan that wore this tartan from the 13th century came to an end in 1919 when the last Chief of the clan, J. H. Buchanan passed away. By strange coincidence, Buchanan Lodge No. 550 started in that year.

The first visit of Western Star Lodge No. 21 of Youngstown, Ohio took place on April 29th, 1939 and the biennial fraternal visits by both lodges continue to this day. On May 25th, 1940 we visited Youngstown and in attendance at that meeting, were 810 visitors representing 119 American lodges and 7 Canadian lodges.

On November 2nd, 1944 at our 25th Anniversary celebrations, the brethren of Buchanan Lodge burned the mortgage that was held on our building. Sadly, due to overbearing maintenance and other expenses, the Buchanan Hall Board decided to sell the building in 1986 and it was sold in that year.

On Saturday, October 5th, 1946, we were honoured with a large delegation of members from Western Star Lodge No. 21. They were headed by their Ruling Master and 93 visitors. Our speaker in the banquet hall was Mayor Samuel Lawrence, who welcomed our visitors to Hamilton, this being the city’s Centennial Year.

We have also enjoyed for many years fraternal visits from the St. Mark’s Lodge No. 105, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Each year we, in turn, conduct the Elections for each other and participate in the Installation and Investiture of the Officers of the lodge.

In the year 1969, Buchanan Lodge celebrated our 50th anniversary under the direction of W. Bro. David C. Lane, Worshipful Master and the 50th Anniversary Chairman, V. W. Bro. Joseph Hobson.

A big jump in time, in 1994 we were honoured with the presence of the Grand Master, M. W. Bro. C. Edwin Drew at the celebrations of our 75th anniversary which was very enjoyable and a great success.

Perhaps just prior to 2019, the year of our 100th anniversary ceremonies, a more detailed history of our modern times may be written.

Compiled by R. W. Bro. Michael J. Kingsley, Historian
Buchanan Lodge No. 550 G.R.C.

PAST MASTERS OF BUCHANAN LODGE A.F. & A.M. NO. 550 G.R.C.

• Regular meeting
  Thursday November 07,2024
• DDGM OV: Buchanan
  Thursday December 05,2024
• Regular meeting
  Thursday January 02,2025
• Regular meeting
  Thursday February 06,2025
• Regular meeting
  Thursday March 06,2025
• Election of Officers
  Thursday April 03,2025
• Installation of Officers
  Thursday May 01,2025
• Buchanan BBQ
  Thursday June 05,2025