Maitland Masonic Lodge #33: ‘Making good men better’

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Freemasonry has always been shrouded in mystery, and the Maitland Lodge #33 in Goderich contains one of the most architecturally beautiful lodge rooms in the country.

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Few know of its existence, but now Goderich’s oldest fraternal organization dedicated to “making good men better” is actively seeking new members.

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The Masonic Order probably has its origins in the medieval craft guilds. In order to ensure that none but qualified craftsmen practised their art, the early stonemasons devised elaborate handshakes and rituals to distinguish legitimate craftsmen from unskilled impostors.

Over time, non-operative masons joined Masonic lodges. They kept the rituals and used the secrecy of the lodge as a place to engage in political and religious discussions, and provide charitable relief to the families of ill and distressed brethren.

The Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717 to unite four existing Masonic lodges in the London area. Its ideals of fraternity, free thought and charity allowed Masonry to spread like wildfire throughout Enlightenment Europe.

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The British Army brought Masonry to Upper Canada after the American Revolution. Gov. John Graves Simcoe held the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly in a Masonic Lodge. Founded in 1782, the oldest lodge in Ontario is at Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Freemasonry entered the Huron Tract with “Tiger” Dunlop. Dunlop and several of the early settlers belonged to Masonic lodges in the British Isles. It was a useful association, as a Mason was sworn to assist his brother Masons when settling the frontier.

The present Maitland Lodge #33 can trace it roots back to three early Huron lodges. The oldest Goderich lodge was chartered in 1840 under the Grand Registry of England and designated Union Lodge #720. Virtually nothing is known about its meeting place or when it was disbanded. All that remains of the English Lodge’s existence are two tattered degrees on the Maitland Lodge’s wall.

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In 1845, Goderich Lodge #33 was established with William “Tiger” Dunlop as first lodge master. A second Goderich lodge, designated Maitland Lodge #112, was formed in 1859. Its first meeting was held at the Huron House Hotel on the Square. Its second meeting was convened at the Albion Hotel. where the Bedford is now. It seems to have rotated alehouses through most of its history.

The Goderich and Maitland lodges acted more like bitter rivals than a fraternal organization. It appears through the minutes books they continually slandered each other’s candidates for membership. More than one potential Mason was “blackballed” because of the uncharitable words of brethren from the other lodge.

For the good of the Craft, both lodges knew the rivalry must cease. In 1883, the two lodges amalgamated to form Maitland Lodge #33. Normally the new lodge would have been renumbered, but the members of both lodges agreed upon keeping the #33 numerical designation.

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Some have speculated they insisted on #33 because of the mystical significance of having 33 degrees in Scottish Rite Masonry, but more probable was the fact that many of the Maitland masons belonged to the 33^rd Huron Regiment. They identified their lodge number with the regiment number.

According to Andrew Holman’s book A Sense of Their Duty (2000), Victorian Canada viewed Masonic membership as entry into the middle class. The hefty $20 membership fee in 1890 made it exclusive. In 1864, Malcolm Cameron declared at a St. John’s Day dinner that having “occupied every position in the gift of the people of Goderich, I would rather be master of this lodge than be mayor” or member of Parliament.

As Freemasonry prospered in Goderich, a new building was needed to display its growing affluence. Dr. Charles Sale, a prominent dentist and civic leader, spearheaded a campaign that raised the astounding sum of $20,000 for a grand edifice that would showcase the Craft‘s importance in town.

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The result was the current West Street building. Its Italianate façade showcases a rare example of an Arts and Crafts-style lodge room. Erected in 1913, it was officially opened in May 1914. The Huron Signal described the stately building as “sparkling with dazzling brilliance” as befitting the Masonic Craft. More than 250 Masons dined in the banquet hall at its grand opening. It also housed the Goderich Board of Trade and the Menesetung Canoe Club.

Major Sale was killed during the Great War in France in January 1916. Hundreds attended his Masonic service at St. George’s Church in Goderich. Maitland Lodge suffered one of the first civilian fatalities during the Second World War. Former lodge master F. G. Weir was drowned when the passenger ship Athenia was torpedoed by a U-Boat on Sept. 3, 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. Weir was the father of Rev. W. Weir of Knox Church.

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During the war, the banquet hall was used for dances and blood donor clinics. Several Commonwealth airmen from the Port Albert and Goderich air stations joined Maitland Lodge. Becoming a Mason for allied airmen was a rare act of courage as the Nazi’s singled out Freemasonry for persecution. Many freemasons perished in concentration camps.

The lodge room was a prime venue for Goderich’s societies. The campaign to raise funds for the Goderich cenotaph started in the lodge’s banquet room, as did the Goderich Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Women interested in Freemasonry opt to join the Order of the Eastern Star.

On Aug. 21, 2011, the Maitland Lodge was heavily damaged by the F3 tornado. With the front wall collapsed and lying on West Street and the lodge ceiling on the floor, it seemed the old historic building must certainly be demolished. Yet, Masons are builders. True to their origins, the Maitland members rallied to their lodge and reconstruction began. Within a year, the venerable old building was rebuilt, restored and stronger than ever. It is a monument to the dedication of the Masonic Craft to Goderich. The building proudly displays its tornado scars in the line of discolouration in the brick work.

In its 179 years of history, the Maitland Lodge has counted amongst its ranks one senator, four members of Parliament, and dozens of civic, religious and community leaders. The lodge is seeking new brothers to continue its long and storied history of public service.

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