King Hiram in Toronto

On Friday, Feb 7, the GJW, RWBro Mark Kapitan, and I visited King Hiram 566 at the Annette Street Temple in Toronto West District on the occasion of the Official Visit of RWBro John McLaughlin, DDGM, and to witness an Initiation on this evening, led by WBro John Lebedev, who was ably assisted by a wonderfully skilled line of officers, who were joined in the South by WBro Jamie Low, as King Hiram's JW had to attend family matters.
Sidebar. John North Willys was a Freemason - in addition to Bros Ford, Chrysler and Olds - and it was his company that eventually created the Jeep... "Traced back to the purchase of the Overland Automotive Division of the Standard Wheel Company in 1908 by John North Willys, this young and initially struggling company was renamed the Willys-Overland Motor Company in 1912," as taken from this site.

And the connection as taken from King Hiram's own Lodge History to the Canadian side of his company is found on their website: "In the year 1920, immediately after the first World War, there was a great influx into Masonry and a group of Masons from the Willys Overland plant (a pioneer and manufacturer of the Jeep 4 wheel drive vehicle) situated in West Toronto, feeling there was a need for a new Lodge in this area, formed themselves into a committee for that purpose.

This group was headed up by W. Bro. W.L. Abernathy of Stanley Lodge # 426, Toronto and ably assisted by W. Bro. W.L. Clark and Bro. J.G. Bruce, both of Victoria Lodge, Toronto.

Having fulfilled all the necessary requirements, the Institutional Meeting of King Hiram Lodge, U.D., G.R.C., was held in the Annette Street Temple on April 29th, 1920.

After the dispensation, the Most Worshipful,The Grand Master, M.W. Bro. F.W. Harcourt authorized W. Bro. W.L. Abernathy and Charter Members to meet as a Lodge to be known as “King Hiram”.

On the 15th day of November, 1920, the Lodge was duly instituted and consecrated. W. Bro. W.L. Abernathy was installed in the Chair of King Solomon and the Officers were invested to their several stations in King Hiram Lodge #566, on the register of Grand Lodge.

The name “King Hiram” was selected as being the most suitable to fulfill the hopes of the petitioners which was to build a strong Lodge appropriately named after King Hiram Abif the chief architect and overseer of the building of King Solomon’s Temple.

It was resolved that the Initiation Fee be set at $ 75.00, the Affiliation Fee at $15.00 and the Annual Dues at $6.00. The Tyler’s salary was set at $100.00 per year.

The Worshipful Master appointed a Visiting the Sick Committee, a Musical and an Entertainment Committee. A committee to set up the by-laws, a committee to arrange for a Ladie’s Night and a committee to arrange for and provide Christmas Entertainment.

The first candidate to be initiated was Mr. John Rutherford on June 4th, 1920.

The Work for the year consisted of 42 – E.A. Degrees, 32 – F.C. Degrees and 19 – M.M. Degrees."

* Reprinted from the King Hiram Lodge #566 “Consecration Night” Booklet, November 15, 1920

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