Welcome to St. John's Lodge Number 40

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St. John's Lodge has a rich history of Masonic Brotherhood in Hamilton, Ontario going back more than one-hundred and seventy years.

Today we are a group men and Freemasons, who continue that fraternal tradition.  As masons we come from all different backgrounds, experiences, and professions.  We Continue to hold our regular meetings at the Central Masonic Temple in Hamilton.

To be the most vibrant Masonic Lodge in the Hamilton Districts

To form a close knit and cohesive group with shared experiences, vision, and values

Freemasonry encourages it's members to live morally respectable lives, to give aid where able, to seek out continuous self improvement, and to promote the spirit of brotherhood.

In masonic terms we say simply; Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

St. John's Lodge organizes regular group blood drives in support of Canadian Blood Services.  In partnership with other masonic lodges in Hamilton, and various volunteer organizations across the city we have established an effective and ongoing campaign that contributes to a life saving charity.

Our entertainment committee works to organize ongoing social events for the members of our lodge.  Many of these are public events open to our friends, or are family friendly so that our brothers who are caregivers can attend.  Some of our events include:

• Monthly fellowship night
• December Festive Dinner
• June Strawberry Social
• July Junior Wardens BBQ

In the early months of 1852  eleven Master Masons from the area including members of The Barton Lodge No. 6 and St. Andrews Lodge No. 16 petitioned the Grand Lodge of Ireland to form a new Lodge in Hamilton, Ontario.  The request was granted several months later and a warrant was issued on July 2nd, 1852 numbered 231, stating:

"... having nothing more at heart than the prosperity of Masonry, and reposing special confidence in our said trusty and well beloved brethren, do by these presents constitute and approve them ... a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be holden in Hamilton, County of Wentworth, and Province of Canada West."

St. John's Master in its inaugural year T.B. Harris  went on to serve in the East 3 times, holding the chair for two years each in 1852, '53, '58, '59, '69, '70.  He also went on to serve as Grand Secretary at the formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada.

St. John's Lodge and its members played a significant role in the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West which helped unite the lodges chartered by Grand Lodge of Ireland, and eventually the formation of Grand Lodge of Canada, today known as the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

It appears there has been a tradition of military service among the members of St. John's Lodge since its very beginning.  

Among the men that helped form St. John's Lodge and Senior Warden in our inaugural year was a man by the name of Albert Booker Jr.  in 1855 Booker was the first recognized Battery Commander of what is today the 11th Hamilton-Wentworth Field Battery, RCA, having previously organized an informal artillery company.  He went on to become Garrison Commander in 1857 of Hamilton Garrison, and the Commanding Officer of 13th Battalion (now the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry) in 1865.

On June 2nd, 1866, Booker was in command of the 13th Battalion at the Battle of Ridgeway.  It appears that although his name was cleared after an inquiry, Booker's Military career was effectively ended afterwards.

At the conclusion of the Great War in February of 1919 the lodge was presented with a Service Flag with 52 stars, one representing each member of St. John's that had enlisted to serve King and Country during the Great War.  3 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

At the conclusion of the WWII another 29 names of members who had served in the military were added to the Honour Roll, totaling 81 men across 2 conflicts to put service before self.

It was during the Second World War that the masonic tradition of donating blood was established, which we happily continue. 

Today, there are still members of St. John's that are retired from their military careers, or continue to serve their local and national community through armed forces reserve units in the city

The decades after the Second World War saw the Golden Age of Fraternalism draw to a close.  The membership roles of our lodge swelled at its greatest to over 600 Members, and more than 100 masons attending each meeting.  However, masonic lodges everywhere saw a steady decline in membership during the second half of the century.

It was during the 60's and 70's our annual tradition of having a lodge picnic and ladies night were established.  These events eventually became our summer BBQ for members, friends and family, and our Partners Party to help us say thank you to the people that support our involvement in the fraternity.

1975 with 10 initiations was the first time since 1953 that there were more new members than deaths, resignations, and suspensions.  However, membership continued to decline

In 1976 St. John's Lodge moved to the Central Masonic Temple at 918 Main St. E. Hamilton.

 2002 marked St. John's 150th anniversary.  The Worshipful Master that year was R. W. Bro. Allan Quainton, who went on to be  the District Deputy Grand Master of Hamilton Masonic District 'A'.  At each meeting that year the master read the minutes of the corresponding meeting from 1852.

Events and celebrations that year included a Gala Ball with an 18 piece orchestra, and Fraternal Visit of the Grand Master at the time, M.W. Bro. Terrance Shand who was made an honourary member of St. John's. 

June 2002 saw the lodge move from Main St. E. to its current location at 4 Queen Street south.

Health regulations in Ontario prevented masonic lodges from meeting throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  In one instance an applicant who had been balloted on and approved in open lodge during our February meeting of 2020, and scheduled to receive his first degree in March of 2020 was required to wait until November 2022 when we resumed our regular meetings and activities.

Since 2022 we have redoubled our efforts to promote bonds of brotherhood, and deliver an impressive experience through strong ritual.  As our 175th anniversary approaches, the masons of St. John's Lodge proudly work to ensure another 175 years of rich tradition and Masonry in Hamilton.