Officers 1966
Bro. Harmes is the 78th Master to preside in the East.
The Lodge has taken on the project of furnishing a double room in the new Dawson Memorial Hospital which was opened this year. (1966)
This was a ‘Centennial Project’ for Acacia Lodge’s Centennial which is this year, 1966, as well as the Grand Lodge’s Centennial of 1966.
R. W. Bro. Lawrence Mader and his Committee are to be congratulated for their services in bringing about this project to a successful conclusion and the members of the Lodge should indeed feel proud of this achievement.
John W. McMillan
Held the office of Tyler from 1866-1915 — a period of 49 years. Salary was $10.00 per year. He received fifty cents (50c) for each Brother raised to the Master Mason’s Degree.
Robert Newcombe
Served as Treasurer from 1910-1936 — a period of 23 years. He was in office when he was at the age of 83.
James A. Curll, P.D.D.G.M.
Served as Wor. Master for 2 years. Was Secretary from 1885-1914 — a period of 29 years.
He received his 50 year jewel from the Grand Lodge on September 10th, 1935. He was raised in 1870. On October 13th, 1936, the Lodge held a Banquet in his honour to celebrate his 90th birthday and his 66th year as a Mason.
Robert R. fiendel, P.G.P.
Brother Robert Fiendel was first elected to the office of Treasurer in 1940. With the exception of a few year when he was away, he has held the “Purse Strings” of Acacia Lodge, giving approximately twenty-five years’ service and now active at the age of 85 years, will likely continue to hold the office of treasurer for some years to come. Brother Fiendel was raised in March, 1905. Received his 60 year Bar to his jewel in 1965.
George E. Mitchell, Past Master
Brother Mitchell was elected Secretary in 1995 and in 1965, asked to be relieved of the office. However before his successor, Brother Longley had been in office for a year, he moved to New Glasgow. Brother Mitchell consented to fill the office for the remainder of the year and is at this time Acting Secretary. He received his medal for over ten years’ service as Secretary.
David A. O’Neil, P.G.M.
Brother O’Neil was made a Mason in Acacia Lodge in 1910. He held several offices and in 1923 was elected Worshipful Master.
In 1948, Brother O’Neil was honoured by being elected Grand Master of Masons in Nova Scotia, thus bringing honour to himself and Acacia Lodge.
Brother O’Neil has been an active Mason and now well over his ‘Three Score and Ten’, can be found at the regular Meetings of his Lodge (except when he is basking in the Sunny South).
Captain James Publicover
Brother Publicover received a Gold Watch and a Citation from the President of the United States for his bravery in rescuing a crew of eight men from an American vessel in the North Atlantic during a heavy storm.
Captain Wilson Publicover
Captain Publicover was also recognized by the President of the United States during the Second World War for running the blockade to France. Brother Publicover retains his membership in Acacia Lodge though living for some years in the States.
Two or three years ago he received his 50 year jewel while visiting in Nova Scotia.
R.W. Brother W. H. Owen
He was the first P.D.D.G.M. from Acacia Lodge. He visited the Lodge officially June 8th, 1889.
Notes from records
On November, 1892, Committee reported re: electric lights for the Lodge Room. The cost for eleven lights in the room would be $13.75 and ante-room, $6.00 a year. Cost of cleaning the carpet to be $3.00 — an extra dollar if carpet taken up.
St. John’s Day, 1892 — met in afternoon and Church Service. Dinner in the evening at Clark’s Hotel. Would supply supper for 100 for $75.00.
Tyler was paid $10.00 a year and 50c for each Master Mason raised.
By-Law No. 5 — No candidate shall be admitted if there appears two black balls against him.
By-Law No. 16 — If any Brother residing in town who shall be absent for three regular Lodge Meetings without sending a just and reasonable excuse in writing, shall be summoned to attend the next regular meeting and in case of disobedience, may be excluded from the Lodge by vote, subject to appeal to the Provincial Grand Master.
A Brother desiring to affiliate must visit the Lodge at least once and been proposed in open Lodge.
Any visitor after his first visit is required to donate 25c to the Charity fund.
I think this briefly covers some of the outstanding events in the history of the Lodge. During the past years, the Lodge has held their regular meetings in the usual Constitional manner. Thus, I bring to a close what I have, in my humble way, endeavoured to put on record for future generations. to each one who shall read this work, I beg to say — “I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading as I had in the writing.”
M. M. Gardner, P. G. M.
Historian of Acacia Lodge,
A. F. & A. M., No. 39.