Alpha-Tuscan in Toronto
Alpha-Tuscan Lodge No 384 - in my own Toronto East District - held its Installation and Investiture of Officers on Thursday, September 19, and it was a very well-attended evening and a wonderful ceremony, enabled by an excellent Installing Board, led by WBro Brad Guinn. Alpha Lodge was formed in 1880 and Tuscan Lodge received its charter in 1918. They amalgamated in 2008, and they proudly share a rich history of achievement.
In 2005, at the time of the realignment of the 5 Toronto Districts, Alpha and Tuscan were among only 3 lodges from the old District 7 to become part of the new Toronto East District (of which The Beaches Lodge was to also join, leaving the former District 3). The 3rd was Cathedral Lodge and it has since gone dark. A complete history of the first 125 years of Alpha Lodge was compiled and printed by WBro. Martin Sckulnick, also in 2005, and limited copies are still available from him.
According to the current Toronto East District website, "Alpha and Tuscan had always been close and always attend each other’s Installations and special events. With the realignment of the Districts, an even stronger bond developed. This developed into talks related to a merger. Both lodges were relatively strong individually; and membership from both could see the potential to be even stronger, and; what better time to amalgamate than from close to the beginning in a new District. The wheels were put into motion and on June 5th, 2008; we became Alpha Tuscan Lodge number 384. The committee leading to the amalgamation decision consisted of R. Wor. Brothers David Mead and Don Perry as well as R. Wor. Brother Darwin Willoughby, who has since passed to the G. L. above.
The ceremony was held at the East Toronto Masonic Temple with M. Wor. Bro. Alan Petrisor and R. Wor. Bro. Donald Campbell present.
The first Wor. Master of the newly amalgamated Lodge was Wor. Bro. Kevin Kelly and the first elected Master for the next term was R. Wor. Darwin Willoughby. The first slate of Officers consisted of 11 from the former Alpha and six from the former Tuscan."
In 2005, at the time of the realignment of the 5 Toronto Districts, Alpha and Tuscan were among only 3 lodges from the old District 7 to become part of the new Toronto East District (of which The Beaches Lodge was to also join, leaving the former District 3). The 3rd was Cathedral Lodge and it has since gone dark. A complete history of the first 125 years of Alpha Lodge was compiled and printed by WBro. Martin Sckulnick, also in 2005, and limited copies are still available from him.
According to the current Toronto East District website, "Alpha and Tuscan had always been close and always attend each other’s Installations and special events. With the realignment of the Districts, an even stronger bond developed. This developed into talks related to a merger. Both lodges were relatively strong individually; and membership from both could see the potential to be even stronger, and; what better time to amalgamate than from close to the beginning in a new District. The wheels were put into motion and on June 5th, 2008; we became Alpha Tuscan Lodge number 384. The committee leading to the amalgamation decision consisted of R. Wor. Brothers David Mead and Don Perry as well as R. Wor. Brother Darwin Willoughby, who has since passed to the G. L. above.
The ceremony was held at the East Toronto Masonic Temple with M. Wor. Bro. Alan Petrisor and R. Wor. Bro. Donald Campbell present.
The first Wor. Master of the newly amalgamated Lodge was Wor. Bro. Kevin Kelly and the first elected Master for the next term was R. Wor. Darwin Willoughby. The first slate of Officers consisted of 11 from the former Alpha and six from the former Tuscan."
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