Masonic Lodge opening the doors in Englehart
ENGLEHART - The Englehart Masonic Lodge #534 will be hosting an open house Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visitors are welcome to visit the Lodge upstairs at 54 Third Street above the EarlyON centre.
Charles Laurila and other members of the Englehart Lodge will be on hand to greet interested visitors and answer questions.
Laurila was elected as Master of the Englehart Masonic Lodge in May and joined ten years ago, after the last open house that was held.
His hope is that this open house will give people an opportunity to learn more of what the Masonic Lodge is about, and to consider joining, as he did.
"It was just the sheer friendliness," Laurila said of what inspired him to join the Lodge.
"You got a sense of brotherhood there that I never saw before."
He is glad he joined.
"It's done so much for me to grow as a man and a member of the community."
Any man over the age of 21 is welcome. He must be "of good moral character because that's what we try to instill in our members," he said.
Members meet on the second Monday of every month throughout the year in Englehart, except during the summer months of June to September.
The Masonic Lodge promotes "strong moral convictions to society and family," said Laurila.
There are about 65 members in the Englehart Masonic Lodge. There are also Lodges in Elk Lake, Kirkland Lake, and two in Timmins, he related.
SELF-IMPROVEMENT
He wants the public to come out to learn more about the Masons.
"The Lodge is a fraternal organization," he said. He added that Freemasonry is "steeped in tradition. It gives a sense of accomplishment. It encourages self-improvement while being devoted to family, faith, country and fraternity. It also provides fellowship by belonging to a like-minded group of men."
He added that the Englehart Masonic Lodge supports a number of initiatives including Northern Ontario School of Medicine bursaries, and Englehart High School bursaries.
Other Masonic Lodges across Northeastern Ontario will also be holding an open house on July 6 as well. However, Elk Lake Lodge #507 will be holding its open house on August 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The different date is because more people will be in the Elk Lake area at that time, explained Laurila. The Elk Lake Lodge is located at 119 Ontario Street at the same location as the Elk Lake Public Library.
Laurila said that the Englehart Lodge opened in 1908.
He noted that the Grand Lodge of England opened the first Lodge in Canada in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, 285 years ago in 1739. The Grand Lodge of Canada was founded 169 years ago in 1855. There are now 571 Masonic Lodges in Ontario with about 46,000 members. There are about 200,000 members across Canada.
He added that Masonic Lodge members are welcomed into any other Lodge in the world as a brother.
Darlene Wroe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker
