St. George’s Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 15 fonds, 1846-1985

St. George’s Lodge was founded around 1814 in what is now St. Catharines, but at the time was known as the Twelve or Shipman’s Corner. In 1855, when the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario was formed, St. George’s Lodge was assigned the number 15, which it retains to this day. A lack of interest in Masonry from 1826 to 1845 caused operations to close temporarily. The lodge resumed activities in 1846, shortly after the Third Provincial Grand Lodge was formed. Many of the founders of the lodge were officers in Butler’s Rangers who subsequently settled in Niagara. Many prominent community leaders and businessmen were active in Freemasonry. Some early and well-known members of St. George’s Lodge include Samuel Zimmerman, Dr. Theophilus Mack, W.H. Merritt (grandson of William Hamilton Merritt), Lucius Oille (mayor of St. Catharines in 1858) and William Bartlett Burgoyne (founder of the St. Catharines Standard). Some of the early meeting places of the Lodge included Samuel Dobson’s Tavern on Queenston Street and Mittleberger Block. In 1954, the Lodge moved to its present location on Centre Street, along with several other lodges and bodies known as the Masonic Memorial Temple Association. The Lodge has also been involved in the establishment of sister lodges including Maple Leaf Masonic Lodge No. 103 in 1858 and Temple Lodge No. 296 in 1873. The Lodge remains active and supports several local charities financially and through volunteer work, as well as organizing social events for its members.Fonds contains material about the activities of St. George’s Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 15 in St. Catharines. Most of the materials are minute books that record initiation of new members, advancement of existing members, financial matters, funeral services for deceased members, charitable donations and social occasions. Some attendance registers and financial ledgers are also included. Some of the entries make reference to prominent community members who belonged to the lodge including Samuel Zimmerman, Dr. Theophilus Mack, W.H. Merritt (grandson of William Hamilton Merritt), Lucius Oille, William Bartlett Burgoyne, and several members of the Woodruff family. Some books have papers enclosed including annual reports, Treasurer’s reports, Secretary’s reports, membership forms, news clippings about Masonic events, obituaries for Lodge members, and annual programs