A registered Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Alberta for Ancient Free & Accepted Masonry since 1907

Our History

 

RW Bro. Jerry W Kopp did the initial research and compilation of the Lodge history. The report was given at the annual meeting of Dinosaur District in 1996 and was given as follows:

 

"With the arrival of missionaries who came to work among the Indian people, and the influx of ranchers and homesteaders looking for land of opportunity, a village soon sprang up at the divisional point, siding No. 12 west of Medicine Hat. The fact that the spot, where the village located on was the center of Blackfoot trails leading to Calgary and Montana, along with well worn cart trails to the Red Deer River and Rosebud, made this a suitable location for the birth of a prairie village.

 

With the completion of the C.P.R. station in 1883 and the roundhouse in 1885, the white population began to grow more rapidly and on July 24, 1899, Gleichen was incorporated as a village. Gleichen became a center for ranchers and homesteaders who came to the area in ever increasing numbers and was soon known as the "jumping off" place for settlers in search of a new way of life. Since it's beginning Gleichen's fortunes have risen and declined, from a peak population of nearly 2000 people in 1912 to a present population of approximately 500 people.

 

Gleichen was named after the German Count Albert Edward Wilfred Gleichen, who was born in 1863, the son of Admiral Prince Victor of Hohenlohe – Langenburg, an officer in the Royal Navy. He was a financial backer of the C.P.R. and traveled over the railway with the directors in 1883. When the village of Gleichen was erected by Order- in – Council dated January 24, 1899 and the name "Gleichen" was published in the Gazette dated February 15, 1899.

 

By 1907, Gleichen and district had grown into a thriving community, and with prospects of being a large center in the country, which had attracted many families. Of these families there were many Masons who wished to have their own Masonic Lodge.

 

The suggestion of a Masonic Lodge at Gleichen was initiated by Staff Sergeant McLeod, an officer in charge of the N.W.M.P., who broached the matter with Canon Stockmen who was a Past Master from Bow River Lodge #28 of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba (now Bow River #1 of the Grand Lodge of Alberta). Several meetings by interested members were held in the bank manager's office in the original Bank of Commerce and a decision was made, to make application to the Grand Lodge of Alberta for our own Lodge, sponsored by Bow River Lodge #28. The petition was submitted to the Grand Lodge of Alberta, on September 23, 1907 signed by : H.W. Gibbon Stocken, A. R. Yates, W.B McLeod, James Craig, William Ferguson, Duncan McBean, W.R McKie, I.H. Smith, and J.M. Telford.

 

On October 31, 1907, the Lodge was instituted by G.H. Hogbin, Deputy Grand Master. The Lodge became very active and while under dispensation, initiated seven candidates in the first month.

 

On May 30, 1908, the Charter of Gleichen Lodge was signed by:

G.H. Hogbin, GM                       

J.T. McDonald,DGM                 

J.J. Dunlop, Senior GW                       

A. E. Jami, Junior GW                       

G. MacDo,Grand Secretary

 

On June 25, 1908, M.W.G.H. Hogbin, Grand Master officially constituted and consecrated Gleichen Lodge #36 and officially installed the officers that had been appointed by Grand Lodge.

 

Gleichen Lodge has had several anniversary dates but June 25, 1996 was its 88th anniversary of Gleichen Lodge #36's official constitution and consecration of the Lodge by M.W. Bro. G.H. Hogbin, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta.

 

Gleichen Lodge has recently changed their Installation of Officers from January to June of each year.

 

The present Lodge membership totals 44. There were three suspensions for non-payment of dues as of December 31, 1995. We were fortunate to have no death in the past year.

 

On January 1st 1996, Gleichen Lodge moved its meeting place from the Gleichen Lodge Hall to the Strathmore Masonic Temple. The Lodge had been renting their previously owned building back from the town for the last 5 years and took the opportunity to move into these fine surroundings

 

The average attendance of members per meeting is 12, and the average number of visitors per meeting is 14. Thus the average attendance per meeting is 26.

 

One of the special events that Gleichen Lodge and Vulcan Lodge have been participating in for the past few years is reciprocating joint meetings. This came about due to the common meeting night that they share. Once a year Vulcan comes to Gleichen Lodge and each November, Gleichen Lodge moves its Charter to Vulcan to participate in their meeting by closing the Lodge, followed by the Annual Game Supper.

 

Our visitations to other Lodges have improved considerably due mainly to Bro. Alan Maygard who recently won the award for the number of visitations to other Lodges. Though there has only been one candidate raised to the Sublimed Degree of a Master Mason in the past year, there have been numerous educational papers presented by our own RW Bro. Jerry Kopp.