History
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TUSCAN LODDGE No. 541

FIRST INSTALLATION

HISTORY OF TUSCAN LODGE No. 541, G.R.C.
(a "remembrance" written by V.W. Bro. Sam Nichols in 1978)

Introduction
A short history of Tuscan Lodge No., 541, G.R.C. as prepared by V.W. Bro. Samuel Nichols.  This contains his personal memories of some interesting events.  Events up to 1929 are summarized.

Origin
A number of Masons living in the west section of the City of Toronto, feeling that another lodge was desirable, called a meeting to consider the advisability of forming a new lodge whereby these Masons could become affiliated and interest themselves in the further advancement of Freemasonry.

Name
A committee was appointed on October 25, 1917 for the purpose of carrying out the choice of a name and among the names suggested was the name Tuscan in reference to the Tuscan Pillar in Architecture.  The name incidentally was the name of R.W. Bro. John Boyd’s mother lodge in Sarnia, Ontario.
The meeting place was to be Freemasons’ Hall at 491 College Street, Toronto.

Institution
Tuscan Lodge was instituted on March 15, 1918 by R.W. Bro. A.B. Rice, the District Deputy Grand Master for Toronto District 11.  This later became District D and still later Toronto District 7.  Many other Grand Lodge Officers assisted him.
R.W. Bro. John Boyd was appointed the first Worshipful Master.  A complete list of Officers is located above.

Warrant Granted
At the annual meeting of Grand Lodge, held at Windsor, Ontario, the warrant No. 541 G.R.C. was granted in July 1918.

Constitution and Consecration
Held on September 20, 1918.  R.W. Bro. R.W. Brennan, a Past D.D.G.M. conducted the Ceremony.  It was a large meeting with Charter Members present, as well as the initiated and affiliated members who had been accepted after the Lodge was instituted.  There were 49 Charter Members.
In R.W. Bro. Boyd’s notes of preliminary meetings before the Lodge was constituted and consecrated he stated:  “It was also decided that each candidate be presented with a copy of the Holy Bible on which he was obligated.”
Another fortunate decision that was made in the first year of the Lodge was “to remember the widows of departed brethren at Christmas-time.”  Committees under the direction of a handful of Chairmen, including the late V.W. Bro. John C. Carter, whose work in Tuscan should never be forgotten, V.W. Bro. Wm. E. Whittingham, and W. Bro. John Smith for two years, has seen to it that every widow has been remembered each year.  So that the early traditions have been honoured by the brethren from that day to the present – through sixty years.
Of the nine masons who got together to organize the Lodge, (I cannot recall their names and occupations,) John Boyd was Weights and Measure Chief for the Grand Trunk, (C.N.) and had his own Railway car as an office so he could get all over this country and the U.S.A.
He would often come long distances to attend lodge by having his car attached to a passenger train coming through, even from the Deep South.  James Hetherington was a steamship agent and at one time president of the Bloor Street Businessmen’s Association.  Frank Saunders, who’s greatly respected nephew is our W. Bro. Clint Craig, was a builder, Lorne Henderson was in charge of Security at the T. Eaton Company and the first secretary of the lodge.
In those early days the Master had to see that degree work was well in hand and that entertainment was provided for the fourth degree.  On good nights we had between 200 and 300 members and visitors.
Enthusiasm sometimes led to unusual requests;  one member made a request that his funeral service be held in the Lodge Room – this request was fulfilled.  Another member who was connected with a musical organization asked for a Band.  We confined that part of the service to the Lodge Room.
The first Installation took place on December 20, 1918, under the direction of R.W. Bro.’s H.C. Scully, Past D.D.G.M.  The three principal officers, installed and invested, were:  Worshipful Master – R.W. Bro. John Boyd, Senior Warden – Wm. F. Bowerman, Junior Warden – Elihu G. Morris. 

Initiations and Affiliations
1918 – 113, 1919 – 123, 1920 – 75, 1921 – 53, 1922 – 31.  It should be noted that the depression in 1921 affected the jobs of many prospective Masons.

Other Activities
q At the regular meeting on June 20, 1924, an appropriation of $175.00 was
    set aside to provide a Picnic to be held at the CNE Park on July 19, 1924.
q In September 1924 the second annual “Father & Son” night was held.  There
    were 192 members and 60 visitors present.
q Our annual Members and Friends night was held at the Palais Royale on
    October 24^th.  It was in the form of a Turkey Dinner, a musical show of first class
    talent, and lots of laughter and song – something doing every minute.  There were
    card games for those who did not want to dance to a splendid dance orchestra.
    There were 532 attending this long remembered night.
q In 1927 the Ladies Night Committee reported an attendance of 550 people for dinner,
    show, and dance.  R.W. Bro. Wm. Scott, on behalf of the committee, presented the
    lodge with a set of wands with the Tuscan column, square and compasses, which
    are still with us.
q At the regular meeting in October 1929, there were 190 members and 110
    visitors present for the annual Senior Wardens Night.

Meetings
For possibly 10 years or more, our regular meetings were held in the banquet room, where often, at the room capacity which was 330 in those early days, before radio and of course television.  It was the duty of the entertainment committee to provide entertainment at our fourth degree which consisted of a first class speaker such as Dr. Cody, (St. Paul’s,) W.D. McPherson, Secretary, W.J. Dunlop, (University,) Mr. Sorsoliel, (Schools,) and Napier Moore, (Editor of McLeans.)  We enjoyed speeches on many subjects, from “This Land of Ours – Canada” to Robbie Burns.
We have had the steaming Haggis with the Ode by Burns and usually in March we had our Irish Night, with decorated green tables and shamrock, and the long clay pipes.  Before radio became established as an entertainment factor, many artists were singing at various types of gatherings, and we could get very fine people for a modest sum.
Artists such as Wishart Campbell, who went on to CBC, have sung at our Ladies nights as also Eleanor Watts (daughter of our P.M.,) Lawrence Defoe and Mary Smith, Jessie Butt and Harry Binns.  We have had as mentioned instrumentalists, whistlers, reciters such as Pearl Carter, and ever so many people with talent to give.
In the early years of our lodge Vaudeville was a big factor in entertainment.  Shea’s Victoria and Richmond and then Shea's Hippodrome, Bay and Queen, beside the Burlesque shows Star and Gaiety, Richmond east of Bay.  Some of the male artists were Masons and sometimes we had artists come and give us an act without any cost because the manager had mentioned Tuscan, as one of the leading and most highly attended Masonic Lodges in the city.
We had great success with picnics, which were held at the CNE grounds in particular, and in High Park.  At the CNE we had cover in case of rain.  Every child received a prize and the winners a very good prize.  The members contributed a prize or gave $2.00.
The members took their own food and the lodge supplied ice cream, tea, coffee and milk.  “Clowns” and helping members gave candies and balloons away.  You never saw such happy faces of the children.  We had a printed program.  This was a children’s party.  We had as many as 500 present including the children.
The work in Tuscan Lodge has always been of a very fine order and I have always felt that aside from the desire of the Officers to do good work, that a tribute should be given to John Boyd for his insistence of observance to detail.  He was a great stickler for correctness and uniformity, in the lodge room and 4^th degree.  There was hardly anyone who did not profit in some way from his help or suggestions.
I should add about John Boyd’s picture, painted by Canadian artist Wyley Grier, R.C.A.  Gord Couper arranged to bring it from the College St. Temple to the York Temple which now appears to have been lost to use, should be kept tab of so that it will not disappear from its present place on the wall of York Temple and lost to posterity.  It is too fine a piece of painting alone to deserve such a fate.  It belongs to Tuscan.  John Boyd paid it for.
We used to entertain, at the degree meeting and the 4^th degree, Veterans from Christie St. Hospital who were Masons and had seen service in World War 1.  The head of the hospital was a Mason, a Doctor, as were a number of others on the staff including our own Dr. Oliver Rogers and Dr. Carson who later became D.D.G.M. for District D (1926).  This was an annual event enjoyed by all including the District Chaplain Syd Lambert, a clergyman.  Many of the men had very unfortunate disabilities; one could only move his head.  He was always carried in and sat by the W.M. on the dais.  The Tuscan members always looked after the transportation of these fine people.
There was another thing in connection with those early days; the newspapers had no restrictions with printing reports about installation of officers and sometimes about speeches in the 4^th degree.  Andy Passmore of the Telegram often attended 4^th degree meetings and I have sat in the Editor’s office of the then Globe, with Wm. Watts, and given particulars of officers elected.
Those in charge led by the Master always seemed to be on the alert to give the members something “out of the ordinary.”
For example: I think it was in 1921 when the Breakwater, extending from the Humber river to Cherry St., & costing $21 million was built, and the “big fill” took place, from Sunnyside to Cherry St. & hundreds of acres of lands obtained.
The Harbour Commissioners Bldg., now on Harbour St., and some distance from the docks and water, was actually right on the water.  By arrangement with the Harbour Commissioners, Tuscan Lodge was invited for a trip around the harbour itself with one of the Toronto Harbour Commission representatives giving an explanation about the new breakwater and details of its construction.  It was to provide 16 miles of “inland water” for canoeing and paddling.
I think it was in 1922 when arrangements were made to have members visit the then under construction, big hydro development at Niagara-on-the-Lake.  The widening of Chippewa Creek for about 4 miles with the making of a big fore bay where the water goes through the penstocks into the Niagara River was then one of the major developments of electric energy of that time.  It was a big party, which took the trip, going over by the Cayuga Steamship and returning in the evening.  The Hydro people were very kind in providing guides.
Another interesting experience was on the Bluenose 1.  When Capt. Angus Walters brought the big sailing vessel to Toronto they had to take eight feet off the keel so she could get through the Eastern Gap.
She could handle over 100 passengers and we arranged to have members of Tuscan spend an evening sailing in Lake Ontario.  About eighty members took advantage of sailing in this winner of many races when she was really a fishing schooner.
One of the things I have appreciated is the active interest that the members showed in regard to the entertainment and functions that were run by the Lodge.  It seems that only after radio and TV became so prominent in people’s lives that the attendance of the members at Lodge began to fall off from the high records we have previously enjoyed.
It is interesting to note that we had some very interesting Father and Son nights, and as time went on the many sons of members became members of Tuscan Lodge.
Although, sometimes at the 4^th degree reference was made to the members of Tuscan Lodge coming from certain parts of Ireland, and John Boyd was Irish we were not an Irish Lodge.  We had a number originally who came from Ireland but in fact the lodge membership consisted of many Scots and many from England and Wales.  It is about the same today except that most were born in Canada.

Conclusion
V.W. Bro. Nicholls concludes by writing:
I sincerely believe that if more top men in Church, Government, and in Industry and Manufacturing, including research, mining and development would seek Masonry, the work they are in would prosper.  They would find it easier to accomplish by the help and comfort that Masonry provides through its beautiful ritual and its gracious code of ethics.

Presentation of 25 Year Awards
Anniversary Night - March 20, 2001
Bro. Marcus Strachan, W. Bro. James Saunders, W. Bro. Norm Pridham, Jr.
V.W. Bro. David Hauraney, (also W.M.), R.W. Bro. Darwin Willoughby,
Bro. George Stewart, W. Bro. Keir MacMillan
BackRow - V.W. Bro. Fred Halpern (Dufferin Lodge), Member of the Board.

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Last modified: October 11, 2003