Bytown Bulletin – Vol. 44, No. 2
LODGE NEWS
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED FOR 2024-2025
The brethren of Bytown Lodge cast their ballots April 18th for a new slate of officers, which included recently raised MMs who are filling in the long vacant stewards’ chairs, and up the line to assume other officer positions. The elections coincided with step-up night, which gave the brethren an opportunity to prove themselves in their new chairs. By any measure, the evening was a success, and showed that the newly-elected officers are ready for their new assignments. You will find a list in the About section of the website.
We wish them good luck and thank them for their dedication to the Craft.
DUES INCREASE
Our annual membership dues were increased to $275 at the end of the 2023 calendar year to help offset overall increasing costs, largely due to the departure of two of our sister lodges from the Westboro Masonic Hall. If you have any questions, you may contact our Lodge Secretary, Bro. Brodie Fraser, by email at: bytown722@gmail.com.
CAL BELLAMY MEMORIAL CHILI COOK OFF
The lodge dining room was packed with chili testers and tasters April 26th, for the annual Cal Bellamy Chili Cook Off.
There was a generous offering of seven different chilis this year, ranging from mild to “Five Alarm Spicy.” The first-place winner in the Judge’s Choice category was R.W. Bro. Charles Singh from Ionic Lodge; and the first-place winner in the Peoples’ Choice category was our own Worshipful Master’s spouse, Mrs. Holly Hawkins.
Prizes included a selection of beautiful hand-made kitchen boards donated by V.W. Bro. Scott Macdonald, and a bottle of rum, from W. Bro. Ernest Nelson.
More than $1,200 was raised and another 25 percent donated by the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. The proceeds went to the Ottawa District 2 charity, Cornerstone Housing for Women.
WESTBORO MASONIC TEMPLE TO RECEIVE HERITAGE DESIGNATION
‐By Charlie Senack
The century-old Westboro Masonic Hall was one of five buildings the City of Ottawa’s Built Heritage Committee gave the stamp of approval on January 16, 2024.
The two-storey red brick building located at 430 Church Ave. N.*will almost certainly get full heritage designation when it goes before council. Built in 1924, city staff argued it’s a “representative example of a purpose-built masonic temple featuring integrated masonic symbols,” and is “associated with growth of Freemasonry in Ottawa.”
The building, with its symmetrical front façade, central bay, parapet roof and stone inserts, was designed by Hugh Archibald Richards and William James Abra of local architectural firm Richards and Abra.
Its official name “Ionic Acacia,” is carved on a stone plaque. Ionic was an order of ancient Greek architecture and acacia is a flowering tree which, with corn, is used in masonic emblems.
Westboro resident David Keynes, who has lived in the community for 45 years, was a delegate in support of the heritage designation. He said it has strong historical ties in Westboro Village.
“This is definitely a landmark. It really stands out,” said James, noting his great-great-grandfather was a stonemason. “The architects were both residents of Island Park. It has been a presence in the neighbourhood, initially built by two masonic lodges. By 2005, it was actually home to five different masonic lodges.”
Inside, the lodge room is decked out with old Masonic carpets, charters, and posters of King Solomon and other worthies, alongside other paraphernalia from between the wars.
The City of Ottawa is currently in a mad dash to save its historical buildings through designation before the end of the year. About 4,600 buildings currently make up the Heritage Registry List, which means the city must be notified at least 60 days before any potential demolition takes place. Out of those, 700 have been labelled “most critical.”
Whichever buildings don’t make the cut to be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act by the end of December, will be removed from the list for at least five years.
That is due to the More Homes Built Faster Act, which the Doug Ford-led provincial government enacted in 2022. The new changes could open up the historic properties to the possibility of demolition in favour of development.
Staff from Ottawa’s Heritage Department said they are looking to save properties from both suburban, urban and rural areas of the city. They are focusing on diverse styles, stories and neighbourhoods.
OUR NEW BULLETIN & SUMMONS ARCHIVE
What was Bytown Lodge Doing in 1969? You can now read for yourself in our archive.
Back issues of the Bytown Bulletin and summonses have been digitized for posterity. Some of the summonses go back to 1969—the year Bytown Lodge was founded. Though the documents look quite different than today, they offer a nostalgic peek at our lodge’s history.
The bulletin had humble beginnings. It was typewritten, which speaks to the limited layout options at the time.
Perhaps one of the most cherished documents is an invitation to the Ceremony of Institution dated September 15, 1969.
The Bytown Bulletin’s first issue was introduced to members on January 16, 1975. The names in the original documents will be familiar to charter members, and in subsequent issues, many of the names will be familiar to current lodge brethren.
You can browse the new archives through this link.
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR BANQUET FACILITIES
Do you know anyone who is looking for a dinner or reception hall for social events?
Our temple building is a popular spot for private get-togethers of all sorts. Here is some information about our facilities that you can share with friends and family:
Type of events:
Birthday parties
Baby showers
Weddings
Banquets
Celebration of life
Business seminars
Capacity:
100 officially – for a stand-up reception
90 – for a sit-down dinner without dance floor
80 – for a sit-down dinner with dance floor
Our facilities have everything clients could want, including a fully stocked bar with beer, wine, liquor and soda large kitchen facilities for food preparation, a fridge, gas stove with oven, an industrial convection oven, stove, and commercial dishwasher. Events can be catered or pot luck. We do not offer food services.
The rental cost options depend on the length of the event, optional amenities and which days are requested. The rate for a Saturday gathering will be higher due to the popularity of weekend events.
For any rental on site, facility management is required, as well as security or a bartender depending on event type and size. As with other facilities, the sooner renters book a spot the better; whether the event is days away or next year.
For more information, potential clients can reach us by telephone at: 613-454-5831 or by email at eventswmtl@gmail.com.
ODDS & ENDS
It was “standing room only” on February 24, 2024, for a Day of Masonry hosted by Ottawa District1.
Some 135 brethren were there, along with Most Worshipful Brother Thomas W. Hogeboom, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.
A group of three brethren from Bytown Lodge attended the event, pictured here with Most Worshipful Brother Thomas W. Hogeboom, third from the left.
A delegation from Bytown Lodge visited Cobden lodge (above), and once more, took home the Travelling Trowel.
Other lodges will have to go a long way to beat our attendance.
