A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBERTY LODGE NO. 419, A.M. & F.M.

Liberty Lodge traces it's history from June 13, 1887, when the opening meeting was held under the name of Point Edward Lodge No. 419. The lodge met in Point Edward Ontario with many of the members being railroad men.

On November 8, 1888, the name was changed to Bismarck Lodge. While the lodge flourished for the next few years, signs of weakness crept in as a result of the railyards and the rail tunnel and many of the lodge members being relocated to Sarnia. Eventually, in 1911, Bismarck Lodge moved to the Barr building at 152 Front St. where Victoria and Tuscan Lodges already met.

Due to perceptions relating to World War I, exception was taken to the name Bismarck which led to the decision to change the lodge name to Liberty. The first meeting as Liberty Lodge No. 419 was held on October 10, 1919.

Shortly afterward, the Sarnia lodges jointly purchased a property at the corner of Victoria and Lochiel Streets. After major renovations, the lodge room, located on the third floor above Charman Feeds, was officially dedicated by Grand Lodge on January 26, 1921. This was home for the Sarnia lodges for the next 60 years until the building was demolished in 1981 to make way for Bayside Mall, Sarnia's first downtown shopping mall.

During 1980, Sarnia Masonic Hall Ltd., purchased the Bethel Pentecostal Church at 245 Essex St. and with major renovations, the building became the home of 5 Masonic lodges and several concordant organizations. Liberty Lodge held their first meeting in these new facilities on Feb.16, 1981. The lodge building was dedicated on April 11, 1981, in a ceremony directed by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, M.W. Bro. N. Richard Richards.

At the Regular Meeting held on February 15, 2010, a request from St. Paul Lodge No. 601 to amalgamate by joining with Liberty Lodge was accepted. A Ceremony of Amalgamation led by officers of the Grand Lodge of Canada was held on September 20, 2010. Immediately following the Ceremony, a new slate of officers from members of both the lodges was invested.

The William Mercer Wilson Medal was created in 1945 to recognize longstanding extra-ordinary service in Masonry, as well as service in civic, community, and religious aspects of life. Liberty Lodge No. 419 claims three recipients: Bro. Harry Cooper (1972), Bro. Lyle James (2001), Bro. Harry Junior Cooper (2007). This is the only instance where Sarnia District, Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M of Canada in the Province of Ontario a father and son example have received this honour. It is an indication of the way Masonic ideals are passed from generation to generation.

Liberty Lodge No. 419 has welcomed degree teams from workplaces including Polysar, and Shell. In addition, some concordant bodies have developed teams of their members that have conferred the three established degrees of Masonry in Liberty Lodge No. 419. These include degree teams comprised of Masons from Hiawatha Chapter, Lambton Shrine Club, and York Rite College.

During its existence, nine members of the Lodge have served as DDGM: R. W. Bros. Benjamin J. George (St. Clair 2, 1896 - 1897), J. B. Livingston (St. Clair 2, 1908 - 1909), William J. McCormack (St. Clair 2, 1914 - 1915), William Edward McKelvey (Sarnia, 1927 - 1928), William J. Aitchison (Sarnia, 1939 - 1940), Ernest L. Treitz (Sarnia, 1947 - 1948), John C. Craig (Sarnia, 1967 - 1968), Hugh MacDougall (Sarnia, 1987 - 1988), Kenneth G. Wood (Sarnia, 2009 - 2010) and Hugh F. Fleming (Sarnia, 2015 - 2016).

R. W. Bro. Allan R. Milner served as Grand Director of Ceremonies (2005 - 2006), and V. W. Bro. Ernest L. Treitz served as Grand Organist (1940 - 1941), V.W. Bro. Raymond L. Pierce as Assistant Grand Chaplain (2018 – 2019), R.W. Bro. Hugh Fleming as Grand Director of Ceremonies (2024 – 2026).

Other members have given distinguished service to our Grand Lodge as Grand Stewards including: V. W. Bros. J. Fraser (1897 - 1898), Orlando S. Clark (1915 - 1916), William E. C. Workman (1927 - 1928), William John Alcock (1928 - 1929), Edward James Everett (1934 - 1935), James Henry Aitchison (1948 - 1949), George W. Gough (1968 - 1969), J. H. Watt (1980 - 1981), Robert J. Gabriel (1988 - 1989), Michael T. Adam (2004 - 2005), Bryan Bouck, (2010 - 2011) and Michael J. Adam (2015 - 2016).

Liberty Lodge No. 419 meets on the third Monday of each month from September to May inclusive at the Masonic Hall, 245 Essex Street, Sarnia.