Good Morning -- to those of you who are here this morning that might not be familiar with the Fraternity of Freemasonry, I would like to say that the Masonic Fraternity strongly suggests, to all its members, that they attend, and actively support the church of their choice. To many members of the Masonic order in Amherstburg, this has been the Church of their choice, and we are here this morning to remember them, and to honour the window which they placed in this building one hundred years ago.
Adoniram Lodge was the first Masonic Lodge here in
Amherstburg. It
was established in 1800 by the Army Officers of Fort Malden.
Christ Church's first rector, Rev. Richard Pollard was closely
associated with them. He addressed the lodge several times, and his
name appears in the
minutes of Zion Lodge Detroit as being a special speaker there, on more
than
one occasion in the early years of the 19th
century.
It was here in Christ Church that on August 21st, 1849 that Thistle Lodge was consecrated and the first officers were installed in their several offices. This, the oldest brick church in Ontario has always been closely associated with Masonry in Amherstburg. One of those taking part and reading the service was Rev. Frederick Mack Rector 1836 - 1870.
In 1949 when thistle Lodge celebrated its centennial the Rev. Bro. H.A. Wright who was the rector from 1914 - 1946 - in writing as the historian of Thistle Lodge at that time wrote - Masons must have been associated in the building of the old church in 1818 - 1819. In 1873 when the east part was added to the church, they left their mark upon it, Masonic emblems were placed at the entrance to the chancel.
Rev. Bro. R.W. Lane Rector here 1946 - 1950 held the office of Chaplain in the Lodge.
On many of the memorial windows are family names of those who have been members of the Lodge.
It is in keeping with this long tradition between Christ Church, Amherstburg and the Masonic Lodge that we are here today.
Grant Golden, Historian
On Sunday, November 30, 1997, an historic association was marked at Christ church when the centenary of the Masonic stained glass window was observed by Freemasons and church-goers alike. Freemasons came from the local Thistle Lodge No. 34 and other lodges across Essex County.
The British Armed Forces carried Freemasonry to all parts of the world and Amherstburg was no exception where the Officers of Fort Malden established in 1800 the first lodge, Adoniram Lodge No. 18, which met at the Searle House on the Southeast corner of Bathurst and Richmond Streets.
During a meeting in 1812, the Lodge adjourned when the officers were called out to the Battle of River Canard where a successful defense was mounted against an invading American force.
The association of Masons and Christ Church dates from this early period when the Reverend Richard Pollard began his Anglican congregation in 1802 by conducting services at the Indian Council House of Fort Malden. Pollard’s name is mentioned as a regular attendee in the minutes of Zion Lodge No. 1 in Detroit, which minutes disclose his presence in Amherstburg as a speaker at the local Lodge.
During the War of 1812, the Indian Council House was burned to the ground and Pollard was taken prisoner-of-war at the Battle of Moraviantown where the brave Chief Tecumseh fell.
In 1818 work was begun on four churches, in Amherstburg, Sandwich, Colchester and Chatham, of which Christ Church in Amherstburg was the first completed in 1819, undoubtedly due to the efforts of the Fort’s Royal Engineers whose officers would have been Masons.
Adoniram Lodge never recommenced but, through the efforts of Zion Lodge No.1, Thistle Lodge No.34 was begun in 1849 and consecrated in Christ Church on August 21 of that year.
The Masonic tradition of the Rev. Pollard was followed by Reverend Brothers H.A. Wright, rector 1914 - 1946, and Reginald W. Lane, rector 1946 - 1950, the latter of whom celebrated 100 years of Thistle Lodge in 1949.
A careful eye reveals many small signs of Freemasonry around the church, such as a wooden carving of a square and compass by Lewis Goodchild in honor of the diver Harry Hamilton and emblems at the 1873 entrance to the chancel.
In 1897 two beautiful stained-glass windows were added to the body of the church to honor its long association with Freemasonry and with the Great Lakes mariners, many of whom were Freemasons.
In the 1980’s the church undertook the expense of releading the Masonic window and, for this reason, Thistle Lodge, in true Masonic generosity, used the centenary occasion to present a cheque for $2000 to reimburse a thankful church.
Masons played a prominent role in the service.
The Master of the Lodge, Worshipful Master William M. Atkinson, presented the cheque to the church Wardens, Bro. Terry Hall and Mrs. Diane Allen; Very W.B. William A. Atkinson, father of the W.M., read the psalms, Right W.B. Grant Golden presented a history of the Lodge’s association with the church, and readings were performed by Bro. Sean Frye and Bro. Jeff Wilson. Celebrating the mass was the Rev. Gary Alcock, assisted by Canon Barry Clarke, Rector of St. Paul’s Church in Lachine, Quebec.
Hall, Terry, The Amherstburg Echo, Tuesday, December 9, 1997.