Lodge Harbour Grace #476

On April 2, 1868 Lodge Harbour Grace established a committee to contact the Conception Bay British Society regarding co-operation in the erection of a hall. On June 15th the sum of 77-10 sterling was voted to pay half the cost of the site of the new hall and 5% was authorized to be paid on any money raised on the loan for that purpose. The principle to be repaid in 5 years from date of borrowing.

The building was constructed on Victoria Street, Harbour Grace jointly by Lodge Harbour Grace and the British Society. The corner stone was laid July 2, 1868 and the lower part known as the British Society was formerly opened December 16, 1868. The upstairs part of the hall known as Lodge Harbour Grace was dedicated January 7, 1869 by Bro. T.H Ridley, R.W.G.M, assisted by other members of the District Grand Lodge.

The first meeting recorded anywhere was held on January 24, 1868, 4 o’clock p.m. The premises at which the meeting took place is unknown. The purpose of this meeting was for the installation of the officers of Harbour Grace, No.476 to the Registry of the Grand Lodge of Scotland by Brother W. T. Parsons, Master of the Tasker Lodge in St. John’s. The officers installed are as follows:

Brother George C. Rutherford – Right Worshipful Master
Brother Thomas Higgins – Worshipful Senior Warden
Brother H. T. Moore – Worshipful Junior Warden
Brother John Paterson – Treasurer
Brother John Syme – Secretary
Brother John Neyle – Senior Deacon
Brother N. O. Wood Junior Deacon
Brother W. H. Thompson – Steward
Brother Hugh Youdall – Steward
Brother James Warren – Inner Guard
Brother Samuel Congdon – Tyler
Brother Rev. J. S. Phinney – Chaplain

No where does it mention where they held the meetings, but on June 13, 1868, the members of the lodge appointed £77, 10 shillings be put aside to make half a payment on the piece of land on which the lodge was to be built. On June 25, 1868, the men discussed the laying of the foundation stone for the hall. The hall was to be shared by the Masonic Lodge and the British Society in the area. They next discussed the hall on December 3 of 1868. It was to be opened on the 29th and the dedication of the hall was held on January 7, 1869. Among other mentions of the hall, December 17, 1868 makes reference to a ball to celebrate its opening. November 11, 1880, mentions that the lodge would be out of debt that year. To commemorate the event, a jubilee was to be held for the brethren. Whether it was held remains yet to be found.

The dues of the lodge in 1887:

admitted as member – 10 shillings
admitted as mason – £5
monthly – 1 shilling, 3 pence

Some of the articles found in the upper meeting area date back to the first meeting. The Tessellated Pavement in the eastern center area of the room has the following inscription on its bottom:

Presented to Lodge Harbour Grace, No. 476 By Bros T. M. Kenzie, W. S. W. , G. Dicks, W. J. W. Lodge
Tasker, No. 454, January 25, 1868.” Tessellated Pavement

The silver trowel on the northeast corner wall bears the following inscription:

Presented by
THE MASONIC LODGES
of
NEWFOUNDLAND
to
Brother A. M. Mackay
Provincial Grand Master, R. S.
Upon the occasion
of the laying of the
FOUNDATION STONE
of the first
MASONIC HALL
erected in this colony at
HARBOUR GRACE
this second day of July
A. D. 1868, A. L. 5868

Many of the chairs in the room were donated by Joseph R. Smallwood in 1967. They came from the Czechoslovakian pavilion in Expo ‘67.

In 1945, the British Society decided to disband and Lodge Harbour Grace was able to buy that organization’s title to the property. Bro. Roy Janes P.M. of Lodge Harbour Grace was the last president of the British Society and was involved in the transaction.

The first Lodge outside the city of St. John’s, NL still working is Lodge Harbour Grace No. 476 of the Scottish Constitution. Its charter was dated November 4, 1867 and it was erected and consecrated in 1868 by Bro. A. M. McKay, who had been appointed Rt. Wor. Provincial Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in the same year. He also installed and invested the officers of Lodge Harbour Grace. At this time he also laid the cornerstone for their temple. On this occasion a contingent from the Lodges in St. John’s travelled to Harbour Grace and presented Bro. McKay with a silver trowel, which is still on display within the entrance way of Lodge Harbour Grace.