Alexandra-Inwood Lodge No. 158 - Oil Springs, Ontario - Established 1863

Meeting Info

First Monday at 7:30pm

Closed July and August

Location

4581 Victoria Street, Oil Springs, Ontario

Contact

Alexandra-Inwood Secretary

The formation of Alexandra-Inwood Lodge No. 158 coincided with two world-changing events: the birth of the Canadian petroleum industry, and the American Civil War. An entrepreneur started mining local “gum beds” and the hydrocarbon was distilled to produce illuminating oil. This drew hundreds of people to the community which adopted the name Oil Springs in 1861. A drilled oil well became the first ‘gusher’ in 1862 and launched a boom in the population. Many of the new arrivals were Americans, and some were Freemasons.

The first municipal clerk of Oil Springs was a Freemason, and he convened a meeting of men interested in forming a Masonic Lodge. The result of discussions and supplications to the Grand Lodge was that Alexandra Lodge was instituted on October 29, 1863, and the first WM, W. Bro. George S. Jarvis, was installed. Alexandra Lodge received Warrant No. 158 bearing the date July 14, 1864.

There has been much conjecture as to why Alexandra was adopted as the name. The most plausible explanation is that the name was chosen to honour the wife of King Edward VII. It was common to choose a lodge name connected with royalty.

At the 12th Annual Communication of Grand Lodge held July 10-12, 1867, at Kingston, the DDGM of London District, R. W. Bro. Francis Westlake, reported that Alexandra Lodge had lost its rooms and contents to fire and had “no alternative but to build a hall for themselves” with great difficulty. The brick building served well until the 1980s. Then the brethren decided to build a new lodge hall on Victoria Street in Oil Springs. M.W. Bro. David C. Bradley officiated at the dedication of the new edifice on March 9, 1991. Alexandra Lodge was originally a moon lodge and met on the Thursday on, or after, the full moon. In 1940 – 1941 the Lodge changed its meeting night to the second Thursday of the month.

Inwood Lodge was formed in late 1911 and instituted on May 16, 1912. The DDGM of St. Clair District, R. W. Bro. John W. McDonald reported that he believed it to be the “most-up-to-date Lodge in the District.” Warrant No. 503 was issued on July 17, 1913, and the Lodge was Constituted and Consecrated on September 22, 1913. The brethren of Alexandra Lodge and Inwood Lodge have always enjoyed a close relationship.

Inwood Lodge No. 503 met for a number of years in rented accommodations in the Village of Inwood. In the 1930s, with a membership numbering over 100 Masons, the brethren purchased a two-story building that served as the lodge home for over 60 years. But with increasing costs of upkeep, the brethren of Inwood Lodge decided to sell the building and use the more modern Oil Springs Masonic Hall. This worked out well and the brethren of both lodges saw the advantages of pursuing amalgamation.

On November 22, 2005, Alexandra Lodge No. 158 of Oil Springs and Inwood Lodge No. 503 amalgamated under the auspices of Grand Master M.W. Bro. Gary L. Atkinson to become the Alexandra-Inwood Lodge, No. 158 GRC, Oil Springs.

Alexandra-Inwood Lodge No. 158 meets on the first Monday of each month from September to June inclusive at the Masonic Hall, 4581 Victoria Street, Oil Springs.