Acacia Lodge is named after the Acacia tree, which is an important symbol of Freemasonry. Our Lodge number is 561, which represents the order in which our Lodge received its Warrant. The older the lodge, the lower the number. Our governing body is the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.
Our beginning
Ionic Lodge, No. 526, Westboro, was instituted in December 1914 and had steady growth from that date until the year 1919. At that time the number of applications for initiation became so great that it was felt that the time was ripe for another Lodge at Westboro.
After discussing the matter with the members of Ionic Lodge, the D.D.G.M., R.W. Bro. F. A. Heney requested R.W. Bro. D. A. MacEachern, P.M., Acacia Lodge No. 71, G.R.Q., and D.D.G.M. of Ottawa District No. 6, G.R.Q., to undertake the formation of a new Lodge.
R.W. Bro. MacEachern consented, and a petition praying for a dispensation for a Lodge to be known as Acacia and created and signed by the Charter members.
This dispensation was presented to The Grand Master, M. W. Bro. F. W. Harcourt. The petition was granted and a dispensation was issued naming R. W. Bro. D. A. MacEachern, Master, Bro. J. Howard Halpenny, Senior Warden, and Bro. M. N. Cummings. Junior Warden. Acacia Lodge was constituted and consecrated on October 2, 1920.
The first Worshipful Master of Acacia Lodge, No. 561,
Right Worshipful Brother Donald A. MacEachern
Charter Members of Acacia Lodge - 1920
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| R.W. Bro. Donald A. MacEachern | Westboro, ON |
| R. W. Bro. F.A. Heney | Ottawa West, ON |
| W. Bro. Howard Halpenny | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. William F. Bell | Britannia, ON |
| R.W. Bro. Charles McBurney | Lachute, QC |
| R.W. Bro. C. J. Staniforth | Arundel, QC |
| R.W. Bro. Edwin Clarke | Ottawa, ON |
| W. Bro. William Louttit | Ottawa, ON |
| W. Bro. W. J. Cairns | Westboro, ON |
| W. Bro. H. A. Crain | Westboro, ON |
| W. Bro. D. N. Dwyer | Ottawa, ON |
| W. Bro. Thomas Shore | Shawville, QC |
| W. Bro. F. McNaughton | Montreal, QC |
| W. Bro. Malcolm McNaughton | Huntingdon, QC |
| W. Bro. A. H. Taylor | Beamsville, ON |
| W. Bro. Mortimer N. Cummings | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. G. Keith Stewart | Ottawa, ON |
| Bro. P. M. Hastey | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. A. P. McLennan | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. C. A. Roy | Woodroffe, ON |
| Bro. G. Jamieson | Ottawa, ON |
| Bro. G. T. Wild | Ottawa, ON |
| Bro. A. E. Kemp | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. John Gamble | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. W. L. Graham | Britannia, ON |
| Bro. A. H. Holloway | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. W. A. Dier | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. L. L. Derby | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. J. H. Pratt | Buckingham, QC |
| Bro. Percy May | Westboro, ON |
| Bro. H. J. Mullan | Hudson Heights, QC |
| Bro. M. Farquharson | Montreal, QC |