Victoria Lodge – Masonic Lodge in Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Learn How to Become a Freemason

The Beehive is a symbol of industry and co-operation. The bee is traditionally the symbol of hard work by many to a common end, and perhaps was so chosen because operative builders all laboured to a common end in erecting great castles and cathedrals.

Social obligation, as a part of the symbol, is also seen in the harmonious working together of many units to a single end, living in peace and harmony with their fellow creatures.

The Beehive appears on the collar of the undress regalia of District Deputy Grand Masters. It symbolises his untiring work and dedication to the Craft, with particular attention to the Lodges in his District.

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The Masonic Foundation of Ontario, the registered charitable arm of our Grand Lodge, supports bursaries to university and college students.

It supports research into the causes and cures of deafness, and supports voice programs for children with hearing impairments.

The Foundation fights drug, alcohol and substance abuse awareness in schools. It funds teaching and research for Autism.

It supports youth programs of the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, 4-H, and other similar organisations.

Donations are fully tax deductible, and every Mason should be aware of its charitable works.

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The oldest Lodge in Canada is St. Andrew’s Lodge # 1, Halifax in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia. It was also recognised as being the oldest lodge in what used to be called, “The British Commonwealth, overseas”.

It was instituted in 1750, and was called, originally, “First Lodge”, and was  warranted under the St. John’s Grand Lodge of Boston (the then Grand Lodge for New England). It later came under the authority of the then Provincial Grand Lodge of England, and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.

In 1866, when the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia was formed, it finally became St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 1. The Lodge is an active one, and meets on the 1^st Tuesday in “Freemasons Hall” on Barrington St. in downtown Halifax.

The ritual used is the Ancient York ritual, which is mostly analogous to the Webb ritual used in the USA.

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The Lodge with the oldest records is believed to  be Lodge of Edinburgh #1, sometimes known as “Mary’s Chapel”.

Tradition says this Lodge was formed by skilled craftsmen brought over from the continent by King David I to build Holyrood Abbey in 1128 A.D.  It’s oldest minute is dated July 31 1599, but even at that time, the Lodge had been working for a considerable period.

The really remarkable fact is that from 1599 until the present day, only four years have been unrecorded by this Lodge.

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The “FREE” in Freemasonry refers to the days when attempts were made in 1712 to regulate building wages.

“Freemasons” were distinguished from “Masons” as a separate class of workmen, notably in their wages.  In numerous building accounts, “Freemasons were regularly distinguished from “rough” Masons, brick or stone layers, rough hewers, hard hewers, etc.

It was also quite probably the case, that Freemasons were not serfs or vassals, and indeed were free men, who had the opportunity, because of their station, to advance and excel in their profession.

Ordinary Masons were paid 1 1/2 to 3 pence per day, whilst Freemasons received 2 1/2 to 4 pence per day.

The term “Freemason” was also connected with “freestone”, meaning excellent quality. Freestone was a fine grained stone that could be worked in any direction, thus lending itself particularly to the carving of foliage, images and mouldings, window frames, and doorways.

The skilled worker in “freestone’ was an artist and a precision worker, so that the designation “Freemason” denoted superior qualifications in the mason trade.

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Bro. Rt. Hon. John George Diefenbaker (1895 – 1979) was the sixth Prime Minister of Canada who was a Mason. He was Initiated in Wakaw Lodge #166, Saskatchewan, on September 11 1922, affiliated with Kinistino Lodge #1 at Prince Albert, B.C. on May 7 1926, becoming a life member in 1959.

Bro. Diefenbaker was a Shriner and was coronetted a 33 Degree Scottish Rite Mason at Windsor, Ontario on September 9 1959. He was an active Mason, and in July 1975, he was unanimously elected Imperial Potentate of the new Tunis Temple in Ottawa, and was also honorary Grand Master of Canadian DeMolay.

Bro. Diefenbaker was  Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 – 1963. Also, in 1957 he was named to the Queen’s Imperial Privy Council. In April 1976 he received from the Queen the insignia of membership in the exclusive, “Companions of Honour” order, which is limited to the sovereign and only 65 members.

Following his death in 1979, a Canada Post stamp was issued in honour of our former Prime Minister and Brother.

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