Westville Lodges /
Ladies Auxiliary
/
Knights of Pythias /
Murray Temple #4
/ Orange Lodge /
The Order of
the Eastern Star /
Acadia Sisters
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Fountain Rebekah Lodge /
Scotia Lodge #11
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Star Lodge /
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Photo Feature: The Fire
Knights of Pythias
On April 3, 1900, Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 21 was instituted at Westville by Grand Chancellor George Clark, and a staff of Grand Lodge officers. Some time previously, Col. E.A. Potter of Spring Hill was sent in by Grand Lodge to organize in the town.
On arriving in Westville, he made contact with John A. Roy, John D. MacKean, and other men prominent in other orders, and with their help quickly got a good list of candidates. He also got in touch with James White, Jr. who was bandmaster, and go applications from nearly the whole band.
So, with about three old members and 35 new, Maple Leaf was organized. The first meeting was held in the old IOOF Hall on Church Street.
For the next few years the Lodge grew slowly, and by October 1903, the membership was 60. The Lodge continued to meet in the Scotia Hall until October 1908 when they moved to Castle Hall.
In 1908, the Lodge began thinking of buying its own hall. The money necessary to finance the purchase and to pay for raising the roof of the building and making the Lodge rooms, was estimated at $1,200. The sum borrowed from James Roy, Sr.
The Lodge met for the first several years on Wednesday nights but, at the request of John W. MacLeod, changed the night primarily so that members could attend a prayer meeting.
In 1912, a team was organized in an effort to form the Pythian Sisters. On May 22, the Murray Temple, No. 4 (Pythian Sisters) was organized with a member list of 48 sisters and 27 brother knights.
The Lodge building was put to good use. The store under the Lodge room was first rented to a Mr. Hatt, a photographer, who stayed a few months. In 1910 they rented the store to a firm of MacKenzie & Sutherland. Later A.V. Sutherland was a tenant for 39 years.
The membership of Maple Leaf consisted of working or businessmen. They have had two members in the provincial Legislature: J. Welsford MacDonald and H.A. McQuarrie. Several served as mayor at different times, and a large number as councilors. On May 19, 1949, a Bible Class was held when Supreme Secretary Melvin Ewan was present and 18 members were installed.
The Maple Leaf Lodge Knights of
Pythias Baseball Team, Champions of Westville Town League
1922; l. to r.: back row: J. Dalling, R.F.; A. Clark, 3rd
B.; A.K. Ross, P.; J.D. Dunbar, C.F.; J.H. McLeod, 1st B.;
centre row; M.S. Grey, Mgr.; E. McMillan, L.F.; M.C.
Olivers, C. (Capt.); J.D. Thompson, P.; R. McGillivray,
Coach; front row: A.M. Olivers, 2nd B.; D. Holland Tonary,
Mascot; R.D. Dunbar, S.S.
In 1920 their bowling team, composed of Alex D. Marshall, A. Steele, Milton Oliver, Albert Oliver and John Sample, won the shield as county bowling champions.
In World War I they had a total of 25 members’ names on the Honor Roll, of whom two, Hugh D. MacKenzie and Wylie Stewart, paid the supreme sacrifice.
In World War II there was an Honor Roll of 22 members who had saw service in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Charter members of Maple Leaf Lodge include John D. MacKean, John A. Roy, James White, Jr., John Bell, M.D., Andrew Wallace, Robert A. MacDonald, John W. Murray, John J. Dooley, Thomas Leadbeater, Robert H. Gray, Henry S. MacKay, Joseph Wm. Hale, Thomas Roy, John Walter MacLeod, Samuel Quigley, Jr., Duncan W. Cameron, George Leadbeater, Sr., Joseph Hale, Mark Connors, Jr., Alex. M.K. Sutherland, James Roy, Jr. David MacPherson, Murdock E. Sutherland, Alex. C. MacMillan, John Hayman, Wm. John Wright, Charles MacDonald, Alonzo Gratto, Ephriam Colley, Daniel Dunbar, Wm. Gray, Jr., George S. MacLeod, Angus Cameron, George C. Wright, Daniel R. MacKenzie, Robert Walter Murray, Wm. H. Munro and Thos. J. Gray, Jr.