Freemasonry - Making Good Men Better

A Condensed Snippet of Our Early History
Alberta Lodge No. 37 Grand Registry of Manitoba
Precursor to No. 3 Grand Registry of Alberta

As the saga of the history of Alberta unfolds, further to the West, the Northwest Mounted Police post of Fort Macleod was growing in importance. It was the crossroads of the American traffic from the South and the Edmonton travellers from the North. The actual history of local Freemasonry goes back to the year 1884 when a Blacksmith by the name of Rufus Payne arrived wearing a pocket watch and a huge golden chain. The inscription on the watch declared that it had been given to him by the Masonic Lodge in Fort Benton, Montana. The news spread around the small settlement and Freemasons began to make themselves known to each other. They arranged a meeting and Duncan J. Campbell was directed to take the necessary steps to form a Lodge. He corresponded with the Grand Lodge of Canada and was referred to the United Grand Lodge of England who in turn suggested that he contact the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. Manitoba decided that Fort Macleod was much nearer to the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and suggested Bro. Campbell correspond with that body. British Columbia was not about to enter the field as a missionary with the unknowns across the mountains so they sent the Fort Macleod request back to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. This time the Grand Lodge of Manitoba agreed to grant a dispensation to form a Lodge.

Meanwhile the Dominion of Canada was experiencing some rough times. The Riel Rebellion broke out in 1885 and threw the N.W.M.P. into a state of frenzied activity. Officers and men were transferred without much notice to the troubled areas. Since many of them were Freemasons and were to be the real foundation of the Lodge all activity was suspended.

When conditions settled down a little bit and the N.W.M.P. barracks again had a semi-permanent group, Bro. Duncan J. Campbell requested Bow River Lodge No. 28 G.R.M. to sponsor a Lodge in Fort Macleod. The result was that Alberta Lodge No. 37 G.R.M. was granted a dispensation on May 7, 1886. One of the Charter members was Robert Paterson, who was to have a long and distinguished career in Freemasonry and was to be a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta.
Although RW Bro. A. M. Morden of Pincher Creek, a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, was requested to institute the Lodge there is no record of this being done. Alberta No. 3 not noted, throughout its long history, as being a Lodge that allowed authority to stand in its way, apparently installed Officers and proceeded to work. D. W. Davis was the first Treasurer and the name Davis was to become inscribed not only on the Masonic Lodge but in the historical annals of the town. Bro. Davis was not a Charter member, there is no record of him affiliating with the Lodge nor of paying any dues until December 1888. His attendance at Lodge meetings was regular and his interest great. The first application for Initiation was presented by Captain John Cotton of the N.W.M.P. on August 3, 1886. He was initiated on August 30th at an Emergent Meeting because he was being transferred and received his other degrees in Battle Lodge. William Denny Antrobus was the first Worshipful Master and presided over the first meeting on August 3rd, 1886 but then was transferred to North Battleford. He was in the Master's chair just once. John Breadon was the first Senior Warden but in September he too was transferred. That left Duncan John Campbell, as Junior Warden, the senior Officer. This condition existed for sixteen months and brought on much conflict and confusion in the Lodge. Peace and harmony did not prevail under Bro. Campbell.
The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba in 1888 records a report from R.W. Bro. N. J. Lindsay, who was supposed to constitute Alberta No. 37 which says he did not go to Fort Macleod because he had not received his regalia. He says further - "I consider the action of Alberta Lodge No. 37 in obstinately proceeding with the ceremonies in so hasty a manner unwarranted from the circumstances of the case. " The Charter, nevertheless, was granted in May 1887.
Alberta Lodge No. 37 never in its history has lacked ability to voice its feelings, replied: "We note that R.W. Bro. Lindsay grossly violated the Constitution by taking upon himself the issuing of a dispensation, and for a questionable purpose of allowing Brethren of Bow River Lodge No. 28 to wear regalia at their Annual Ball. Such a gross display of ignorance of the requirements of the Constitution prompts us to recommend that the Grand Lodge take action. We regret very much that the D.D.G.M. did not carry out the arrangements made with the Brethren of Fort Macleod to constitute Alberta Lodge and install its Officers on December 13. We voice the opinion of the Brethren of Alberta Lodge when we say that they would not have shown any less respect of R.W. Bro. Lindsay's high office, had he appeared with them in apparel not quite so gorgeous as that of King Solomon, in all his glory."
In 1889, Duncan J. Campbell, the first Junior Warden of Alberta No. 37, was elected Worshipful Master. When it became evident that W. Bro. Campbell would be appointed District Deputy Grand Master in 1890, Alberta Lodge objected strenuously and declared that an official visit by R.W. Bro. Campbell would result in the dissolution of Alberta Lodge No. 37. The Lodge wrote to the Grand Master asking him to direct R.W. Bro. Campbell not to visit the Lodge as "the Brethren of Alberta Lodge No. 37 cannot conscientiously receive W. Bro. Campbell as D.D.G. M." Finally it appears that cooler heads prevailed and on November 4th he was received in Alberta No. 37 with Grand Honours. Regrettably the peace was uncomfortable. Bro. Campbell, although he lived in Fort Macleod until his death in 1920, took a demit in 1897 and was never at a Lodge meeting again.
The independence of Alberta No. 37 surfaced again in October 1889 when the formation of the Grand Lodge of Alberta was proposed. This motion appears in the records - "This Lodge is of the opinion that the formation of a Grand Lodge of Alberta is premature and that this Lodge, Alberta No. 37, would still continue its affiliation to the Grand Lodge of Manitoba and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to North Star Lodge in Lethbridge." North Star agreed with the attitude of Alberta No. 37 but when the Province of Alberta was formed in 1905 both Lodges cooperated.
The enthusiasm of the Brethren in Fort Macleod for the basic fundamentals of Freemasonry undoubtedly motivated many of its difficulties for the early Freemasons protected zealously what they considered right and proper. During the years that followed, Masonry in Alberta was to be enriched by the determination of Alberta No. 37 to maintain our ancient customs and usages. It also contributed to the Grand Lodge of Alberta some of the most devout and dedicated Masons.