Extinquishing Lights

Extinguishing of The Lights of Central Masonic Temple - Hamilton
by R.W. Bro Robert R. Beckett

On June 24th 2003 over 160 masons gathered
at the Central Masonic Temple, in Hamilton, to witness history being made and history revisited.

They were there to observe the Extinguishing of The Lights Ceremony as the masonic lodges of that hall prepared to move to their “new premises” at the Hamilton Masonic Centre. (Scottish Rite building.)

The CMT houses 15 lodges with a combined membership of approximately 2,100 members.

Hamilton lodges starting meeting in a central
Masonic Hall as early as 1852, when their temples were situated at the corner of John and Main Streets.

This was the location of the formation of Grand Lodge in 1855. New facilities were constructed on James Street in 1873. The lodges remained there until a fi re in 1968 caused them to build the new Central Masonic Temple on Main Street. The lodge rooms were consecrated in 1976 and for 28 years Masonic traditions have been observed in the true spirit of our fraternity. Unfortunately, Freemasonry like many other fraternities in this modern era, felt the decline in its membership with the resultant decrease in financial assets. By selling their premises and relocating at the Hamilton Masonic Centre they hope to achieve “Growth by Change”, a truly noble endeavour.

The lodge was opened under the Warrant of The Barton Lodge No.6 with W.Bro Ronald J MacNair, in the chair.

The Worshipful Masters of all the lodges that meet in that building plus the First Principals and Grand Preceptor were the officers for the day. M.W. Bro. Terence Shand, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario accompanied by M.W. Bro. Norman E. Byrne PGM was escorted into the lodge under the wands accompanied by the three Hamilton District D.D.G.M.’s R.W. Bros. J. Pollock (A), M. C. Smith (B) and G. Cuthbertson (C) plus members of Grand Lodge.

Greetings to our Grand Master were extended by the W.M. who graciously handed over the lodge to R.W. Bro. Wayne Elgie the V.P. of the CMT who introduced the following brethren who eloquently reminisced about the 27 years of masonry at the CMT; V.W. Bro. R. L. Green, President of CMT; R.W. Bro. J. Hamilton, Treasurer and longest serving officer of CMT; W. Bro. D. Brimmicombe, Secretary of CMT and V.W. Bro. B. Walters, the only living member of the original CMT committee.

The Grand Master opened a time capsule that had originally been placed in the cornerstone of the James Street Temple by M.W. Bro. Wm. Mercer Wilson in 1873. As each item was revealed the Grand Master regaled us with comments and anecdotes about the items. He read from newspapers circa 1873, displayed photographs of the same era and showed coins and paper currency from that period. There was a Book of the Work and an old Constitution but the highlight had to be a gavel and the original Charter granted to the Temple Board by the M.W. Bro. Wilson. The artifacts stored in this time capsule are priceless reminders of our
past and their relevance and importance to our fraternity cannot be understated. This was a live Masonic happening bridging 130 years.

The lodge was closed in harmony in the prescribed manner and then the W.M., the Grand Master and Officers performed the impressive ceremony of Extinguishing the Lights. This dignified ceremony does not forebode the closing of a lodge but rather the end of an era as all the lodges move forward to a new facility, a new day and a renewal of their faith in our tenets and principles.

The brethren then retired to the banquet hall where they celebrated this auspicious occasion and prepared to meet the future with confidence.

The Grand Master and Grand Lodge will dedicate the third lodge room in the Hamilton Masonic Centre on Tuesday, September 30th, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. The Rekindling of the Lights Ceremony and a Banquet will follow. All masons are welcome to attend in regalia.