A Brief History of Our Lodge 1922 - 2008 Birch Cliff Lodge was founded in 1922 as a daughter Lodge of Wilson Lodge No. 86, which was located in Toronto. This Lodge was named for William Mercer Wilson, the first Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of Canada in The Province of Ontario. At that time, the City of Toronto was growing rapidly, and Freemasonry's growth matched its pace. A number of Masons of Wilson Lodge were Toronto Hydro employees, and with the rapid growth of Toronto's Eastern suburbs, in the post World War I period , a number of them moved out to what was then a near wilderness, to found The Scarborough Hydro Electric Commission. It was a significant distance to travel to the Yonge Street Masonic Temple in those days, and these Masons began to desire a Lodge closer to their new homes. With this plan in mind, on March 23rd, 1922, some 99 Masons of skill and learning met at the hardware store of W. Bro. John Taylor, a Past Master of Wilson Lodge, to discuss the creation of a new Lodge. This store was located on Balsam Avenue, at Kingston Rd., Scarborough. There were 84 brethren who signed a petiton of Charter to Grand Lodge. One of their number was W. Bro. John A. Carveth, who was chosen to become the first Master of the new Lodge. The name "Birch Cliff" as the neighbourhood was known, was adopted as the name of the new Lodge. It soon received dispensation from Grand Lodge, and was denominated No. 612 on the register of Grand Lodge. Birch Cliff Lodge held its first meeting "Under Dispensation" on September 8th, 1922, in a renovated house on Birchcliff Ave. at Kingston Road, Scarborough, which was to be its home until it was destroyed by fire in 1954. The Lodge was consecrated by the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. William J. Drope, on November 23rd, 1923. The new Lodge prospered and grew very quickly. W. Bro. J.A. Carveth was to preside as Master until December of 1923, and during his term of office 27 new Masons were initiated, and 13 were affiliated. For his great service to the Lodge, he was granted the first Honourary Life Membership in the history of the Lodge. Until 2006, he was the only Master to serve more than one full term in office. It is fitting that his great-grandson, W.Bro. R.G. Carveth, was elected as the Worshipful Master of Birch Cliff Lodge to mark the millenium year of 2000. In 1961 the Lodge, along with a number of others from the Scarborough area, moved to the new Scarborough Masonic Temple, located at what was then a dirt road intersection at Ellesmere and Markham Roads. The first meeting of Birch Cliff Lodge was held in the new building on February 10th, 1961. In the years that followed, Birch Cliff Lodge grew to become one of the largest Lodges in Ontario, with some 385 members at one point, and has always been at the forefront of Masonry in Toronto District No. 3 since its formation in 1961. In July of 2006 the Districts of Toronto were reorganized into East, West, Central and North Districts, with Birch Cliff Lodge becoming part of the Toronto East District. Our current Master is W. Bro. C.E. Frankland, our 85th Master, who has presided since December of 2007. Historian - W.Bro. James Pickett historian@birchclifflodge.com Webmaster - Bro. Alex Hunter webmaster@birchclifflodge.com Top of Page Return to Home Page