Summary

of

History of St. John’s Lodge, F. & A.M.

by

R.W. Bro. William F. Bunting, PGM

Published: Saint John, N.B.: J. & A. McMillan, 1895.

This work chronicles the first century of St. John’s Lodge, from its founding in 1802 through 1894, and places the lodge within the broader development of Freemasonry in New Brunswick.

Founding and Early Development

- St. John’s Lodge was formally constituted on April 5, 1802, under a warrant from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.
- Early meetings rotated among several locations in Saint John.
- The lodge observed the traditional Masonic festivals of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, which became important social and ceremonial events.

Alignment with the United Grand Lodge of England

- In 1837, the lodge shifted its allegiance to the United Grand Lodge of England, receiving a new warrant and becoming Lodge No. 632 on the English registry.
- This marked the beginning of a more structured and internationally recognized phase of its history.

Formation of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick

- St. John’s Lodge played a central role in the establishment of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick in 1867.
- This transition ushered in the lodge’s “third era,” characterized by local autonomy and renewed organizational growth.

Public Events, Ceremonies, and Community Presence

- The lodge organized Masonic fairs, bazaars, and public celebrations, strengthening its ties to the community.
- Members participated in cornerstone-laying ceremonies, public processions, and Masonic funerals.
- The lodge contributed significantly to the construction of the Masonic Temple in Saint John, including participation in the ceremonial laying of its cornerstone in 1878.

Membership and Leadership

- By 1894, the lodge counted 852 members, including many of the city’s civic leaders—mayors, judges, merchants, and military officers.
- The book includes biographical sketches of founders and past masters, highlighting their influence on both the lodge and the wider community.

Charity and Benevolence

- St. John’s Lodge maintained a strong charitable tradition, offering support to widows, orphans, distressed brethren, and other lodges facing hardship.
- These acts of relief were considered essential expressions of Masonic values.

Challenges and Endurance

- The lodge endured periods of anti‑Masonic sentiment, financial strain, and internal difficulties.
- The Great Fire of 1877, which destroyed much of Saint John—including lodge property—was a major setback, yet the lodge rebuilt and continued to thrive.

Masonic Education and Ritual Work

- Education was a priority: the lodge hosted lectures, readings, musical programs, and established a Lodge of Instruction to improve ritual proficiency.
- These efforts strengthened both the intellectual and ceremonial life of the lodge.

Other Masonic Bodies in New Brunswick

- Bunting’s history also surveys the development of numerous related Masonic organizations in the province, including:
  - Royal Arch Chapters
  - Councils and Encampments
  - Royal and Select Masters
  - Knights of the Red Cross

- This broader context illustrates the growth of a vibrant Masonic ecosystem in New Brunswick.

Legacy and Publications

- As the lodge approached its centennial in 1902, the author expressed optimism for continued progress and stability.
- Saint John was also home to several Masonic periodicals, including:
  - The Freemasons’ Monthly Monitor and Acadian Craftsman
  - The Masonic Mirror
- These publications helped document and promote Masonic thought in the region.

History of St. John's lodge - The Complete Book by R. W. Bro. William F. Bunting (in PDF form - Click Here)

MALLARD INN BUILDING

The very first meeting place for Saint John’s Lodge

April 1802

Situated on the south side of King Street—on what is now Prince William Street—stood the building later occupied by the Royal Hotel. The lot, No. 393, was originally drawn by William Ryan, a Loyalist, who sold it on August 4, 1785, to Thomas Mallard for nine guineas. The structure erected there was among the earliest buildings in the city. It served both as a hotel or inn and as a venue for important public functions.

The first session of the Provincial Legislature convened within its walls in 1786, and the Common Council of the city met there from December 1785 until March 1797. A serious riot occurred at this house in November 1785 during an election for representatives to the General Assembly, in which several persons were severely injured.

As St. John’s Lodge was constituted and held its early meetings in this building, it deserves particular notice and remains of special interest to members today. The Lodge met here from April 1802 to May 1805, and again from March 1813 to May 1814. The original structure was forty feet wide and two storeys high, the upper floor containing the hall in which the Lodge assembled.

Partially destroyed by fire in 1829, the building was rebuilt with significant internal and external alterations. In 1850 the premises were leased to the late John D. Frost, who demolished the old structure along with an adjoining house and erected upon the foundations a brick building containing stores on the lower floor and a hotel above. With subsequent alterations and additions, this is the same building now known as the Royal Hotel. The property was owned by the heirs of the late George Bonsall.

All pictures on this page are from the Book "History of St. John's lodge - by R. W. Bro. William F. Bunting"

From the Saint John’s Lodge’s Minutes from August 4, 1812

—The beneficence of freemasonry is contained in the following extract:

” Resolved, That Bros. William Durant, John Dean and James Holly be a committee to wait on the American prisoners now confined in our gaol, and if any of them belong to our ancient order, to see if we can render them any assistance.”

Although there were no freemasons among the prisoners, and thus the charitable impulses of the brethren were not then practically brought forth, the intention was illustrative of freemasonry in its humane and universal characteristics ; and it became specially marked in this instance, as the three Brethren appointed to visit the gaol (jail) had, a few years previously, been driven forth from their homes, to seek shelter in New Brunswick (Loyalists), by the inexorable outcome of the American revolutionary war.

The feelings of humanity and of brotherhood overtopped all others under the benign sway of ” brotherly love, relief and truth.” Scarcely a meeting was held without an entry in the record shewing that money, provisions or fuel were granted to some deserving brother, widow or orphan.

Master Mason Certificate for Brother James Hillsgrove, of 104^th Regt.

Entered (EA) Jul 2^nd 1811 Passed (FC)Aug 6^th, 1811 Raised (MM) Aug 6^th, 1811

Signed by

Worshipful Master:	John Grant
Senior Warden:	William Durant
Junior Warden:	John S. Clarke
Secretary:	Cornelius Van Horne

Certificate Presented: June 5^th 1812

Saint John’s Lodge Banners

Original Warrant

April 23rd 1836

Saint John’s Lodge No 632

Granted under warrant from United Grand Lodge of England.

AI Enhanced Version

(Not a perfect rendition)

April 23rd 1836

Saint John’s Lodge No 632

Granted under warrant from United Grand Lodge of England.

AI Enhanced Version

Masonic Temple, prior to the Jan. 26^th, 1929 fire that gutted the building.

Notice how the Main entrance was located on the right side of the building entering on the 2nd floor where the Grand Secretary Office is today.

After the fire the main doorway was boarded up and moved to the front of the building Also notice the original single Gable Mansard and full steeple

Before the fire gutted the structure, the building had a fully intact fifth floor

As a final note, Saint John’s Lodge is approaching its 225^th anniversary in July 2027, marking an extraordinary milestone in our long and distinguished history.

Constituted under warrant of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.
—	April 5th, 1802	Saint John’s Lodge, No. 29
Granted under warrant from the United Grand Lodge of England.
—	April 23rd, 1836	Saint John’s Lodge No. 632
Renumbered on the registry of the United Grand Lodge of England.
—	Sept. 1st, 1863	Saint John’s Lodge No. 436
Granted under warrant from the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick.
—	Oct. 10th, 1867	Saint John’s Lodge No. 2

Summary

of

History of St. John’s Lodge, F. & A.M.

by

R.W. Bro. William F. Bunting, PGM

Published: Saint John, N.B.: J. & A. McMillan, 1895.

History of St. John's lodge - The Complete Book by R. W. Bro. William F. Bunting (in PDF form - Click Here)

MALLARD INN BUILDING

The very first meeting place for Saint John’s Lodge

April 1802

All pictures on this page are from the Book "History of St. John's lodge - by R. W. Bro. William F. Bunting"

From the Saint John’s Lodge’s Minutes from August 4, 1812

” Resolved, That Bros. William Durant, John Dean and James Holly be a committee to wait on the American prisoners now confined in our gaol, and if any of them belong to our ancient order, to see if we can render them any assistance.”

Master Mason Certificate for Brother James Hillsgrove, of 104th Regt.

Saint John’s Lodge Banners

Original Warrant

April 23rd 1836

Saint John’s Lodge No 632

AI Enhanced Version

April 23rd 1836

Saint John’s Lodge No 632

AI Enhanced Version

Masonic Temple, prior to the Jan. 26th, 1929 fire that gutted the building.

As a final note, Saint John’s Lodge is approaching its 225th anniversary in July 2027, marking an extraordinary milestone in our long and distinguished history.

Master Mason Certificate for Brother James Hillsgrove, of 104^th Regt.

Masonic Temple, prior to the Jan. 26^th, 1929 fire that gutted the building.

As a final note, Saint John’s Lodge is approaching its 225^th anniversary in July 2027, marking an extraordinary milestone in our long and distinguished history.