BURNS LAKE MASONIC HALL

The building we presently occupy was purposely built as a Presbyterian Church in 1921, with Rev. J.R. McCrimmon as minister.  In 1925, the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations in Canada came together to form the United Church of Canada, with the church building being renamed St. Paul’s Union.  

The building was lit with gas lamps during those days, until one Sunday sermon, when the minister, tired of pumping and filling gas lamps, preached a sermon on light. The eventuality of that sermon was a line from the village light plant, where-in light was provided to the church for one hour on Sunday evenings.

Building expenses were enhanced, in late 1930’s, by profits from the local newspaper, The Advance, which was produced and published by Rev. Frank Bushfield and his wife.  In 1943 the building was raised, and a basement dug out by hand with volunteers from the congregation.  A concrete basement was poured, again by hand, providing a much needed kitchen and common room for after-church functions and community functions.

It was around 1973 that this building was purchased for $17,000 by the Tweedsmuir Holding Company and the brethren of Tweedsmuir Lodge No.152.  The building has had numerous upgrades over the years, with the back room on the main floor extended to match the dimensions of the original structure.  The interior of the Lodge room was redone, the basement insulated and upgraded.

The old bell tower of the church was refitted with glass displaying the Square and Compasses on all sides, and a light installed.  The bell tower is illuminated during lodge meetings.  This building, a landmark in Burns Lake, is 103 years old at the writing of this paper. 

Prior to the purchase of this building, the brethren of Tweedsmuir Lodge would meet in a room above the Home Hardware building.  The history of Tweedsmuir Lodge in the Grand Lodge history records that the lodge received its constitution at “Brown Hall” in 1954.  As Home Hardware was owned by Freemason, Jack Brown (Sr.), it seems that Grand Lodge applied the more notable name of “Brown Hall”, as the meeting place for the constitution of the Lodge.  The Lodge formally met in the Anglican Church for just a few years before moving to our present location.