Victoria District

On December 9th a Masonic Memorial Services was held for R.W. Bro. Gordon Henry. The large venue of the local church event centre enabled respect for protocols of Grand Lodge and local public health. The family was comforted by the strong support of the District and visiting Brethren.

On December 4th a Masonic Memorial Services was held for R.W. Bro. Robert Webster. The large venue of the local church enabled respect for protocols of Grand Lodge and local public health. The family was comforted by the strong support of the District and visiting Brethren.

Brethren of Victoria District were invited guests on September 18th to attend an informal "Fly-In" hosted by the family of our dear departed W.Bro. Armin Mehnert.

W.Bro. Mehnert was the proprietor of the Lindsay Airport, an avid collector and flying enthusiast, and it was his sincere wish that his family host corn roast, BBQ, and social with a fly past of his beloved aircraft.
The day was spectacular, and the expansive Mehnert property allowed everyone to gather safely outdoors and honour the wishes of a respected Brother, well-known in District and beyond for his passion and mastery of the "Working Tools".

W.Bro. Mehnert's family appreciated that virtually every District Lodge was represented, and the District Deputy Grand Master was thanked by his grandchildren for their support at a very difficult time.

A Masonic Memorial Service will be held at a future time and W.Bro. Mehnert's family will be invited to participate, when permitted by Grand Lodge, and Public Health Guidelines.

No doubt you are aware from the Victoria District Communique that regular labours remain suspended for Lodges in the Jurisdiction.
Given that reality, I am scheduling a series of Fall Social and Educational Evening Virtual Meetings on the typical nights contemplated for Official Visits, and hosted by those respective Lodges noting that Official Visits with normal activity will be rescheduled with affected Lodges on future dates once the Grand Master and Grand Lodge have determined it is safe and permissible to do so. Those meetings will follow the following agenda consistent with the practice followed in Victoria District last year:

Proposed Agenda:

• Portal Open at 7:15 Brethren login.
• Brethren Visitation Social Time
• 7:30 Welcome and WM Remarks
• DDGM Message
• Masonic Education Topics in the months of October and November
• A Presentation on Mentoring in the month of December
• Roll Call and District Secretary's Remarks
• Announcements
• Brethren Visitation Social Time

The Hosts: Brock Lodge Oct. 8th, Oct 15th Verulum Lodge, Oct. 20th North Entrance Lodge, Oct 28th Arcadia Lodge, and Nov. 16th King Edward Lodge. Additionally, Lorne Lodge will host the Annual Fall District Meeting on Nov.10th, and finally Faithful Brethren Lodge will host a Mentoring Meeting on Dec.14th to close out the calendar year.

Lodges are requested to extend my particular invitation to Victoria District Brethren who have moved out of the area, or whose circumstances have limited their ability to attend Lodge in the past years. Concurrently, as Ritual is not a part of these meetings, I am extending my special invitation to Candidates whose Masonic Journey was interrupted by COVID, and to those prospects who have indicated an interest in joining our beloved Craft and have not been able to move forward during Lodge Closings due to an abundance of caution for health. It is my wish to extend to 'distant' Brethren a feeling that they are remembered and valued with this platform of social intercourse and learning. And to all Brethren and prospective Candidates, to inspire and fuel our collective interest in our Craft and the measurable benefits it contributes, so on that happy day, hopefully near at hand, when Grand Lodge determines we can safely attend regular meetings, we will come back with passion, pride and enthusiasm.

I will be reaching out to the respective host Lodges, the District Mentor and Education Chairman.

Stay safe, Stay in-touch, Be thoughtful of those in need.

Arcadia Masonic Lodge in Minden has reached the grand old age of 125 and members are hoping to celebrate the anniversary this fall.

Arcadia historian Gareth Kellett, a Past Master and Past District Deputy Grand Master, has written a short history of the Lodge. He notes that many of the men who settled in the area in the 1800s were Masons. The closest lodge was Spry Lodge in Fenelon Falls and it was difficult to attend the meetings due to the lack of roads.

?In 1896, eight brethren from The Spry Lodge, approached Grand Lodge with a petition to institute a lodge in Minden,? wrote Kellett.

?The request was granted and in August 1896, a new lodge was instituted in Minden as the Algonquin Lodge U.D. [under dispensation]. Very shortly it became Arcadia Lodge.?

Meetings were held over Donald Hartles? general store at the corner of today?s Water and Main streets. Most men in Minden and the surrounding area were Masons and by 1928 Arcadia had outgrown its space. The lodge built a two-storey building beside the Rockcliffe Hotel. By 1947 it was time to expand again, this time to the old parish hall for St. Paul?s Anglican Church.

In 2005 it was becoming apparent that the lodge foundation needed work and Arcadia learned the Minden Food Bank was looking for more space. The lodge and the food bank agreed to join forces.

?The end result is the building that we have today which houses the Masonic Lodge, the Minden Food Bank and Community Kitchen? on Newcastle Street. Community Kitchen is a food bank initiative that makes prepared foods available for those in need.

Along the way Arcadia was responsible for starting a new Masonic Lodge in Haliburton in 1903 and another in Kinmount in 1905.

In an interview with The Highlander, Kellett spoke of the Lodge?s community contributions beyond support for the food bank, such as bursaries and awards for students at the elementary school level.

As for marking the anniversary, ?we?ve been holding off, waiting until we were able to have meetings again, but we are planning to have a celebration towards the end of September as far as we?re aware of at the moment,? said Kellett.

?I would expect in the very near future that they [Grand Lodge] will be sending out word that we?re going to be able to meet in person again.?