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Loyal True Blue
Lady Princess May Lodge
#53. LTBA, was organized on July 10, 1895, in the Orange
Hall by Deputy District Grand Master J.W. MacKinnon,
Springhill, N.S. Meetings were held in the Orange Hall
until they moved to the Knights of Pythias Hall in 1976.
The work of the Order for many years was
contributing more then one-third of the upkeep of the
Protestant Childrens Home in Bible Hill, Truro. Following
the closure of the Home, it was decided in 1974 to support
the Kidney Foundation. Since that time several certificates
have been awarded by the Kidney Foundation for the financial
help from the Order. LTBA also supports all charitable
organizations and needy children.
Members of the LTBA who have become Grand Masters and Grand Mistresses are David Patterson, 1930; Mrs. Annie Wright, 1944; Mrs. Pearl Smith, 1951-52; Mrs. Lula Breen, 1962-63; Mrs. Loudelle Matheson, 1974-75 and Mrs. Gladys Perrin, 1978-79.
In 1984, Mrs. Ivy Stewart was honored when she was presented with her 50-year pin, an anniversary cake and other awards.
The office holders among
the Charter members were:
Worshipful Mistress
..................
...
...Miss Lottie
MacKay
Deputy Mistress
.....................
..Mrs. Archibald MacNeil
Recording Secretary
....................
..John R. Duff
Financial Secretary
.....................
...
..William K. Munro
Treasurer
.........................
...
William Gray
Chaplain
......................
..
Edith MacKay
Director of Ceremonies
..
....................
.Hector Carr
Inside Tyler
...
......................James Conn
Outside Tyler
.....................
Alexander Ross
There were 15 members at this time
Forest of Dean Lodge, Sons of England
The Forest of Dean Lodge, Sons of England, was active in Westville for many years.
In 1899 the president was George Cross and the secretary, Smith Dwyer.
In the late 1920s members included Eli Harris, Sr., Eli Harris, Jr., Weston Harrison, George Dawson, Harry Harris, Richard Saunders, William Hale, John Hale, Edward Davis, Robert Wright, Joseph Darby, Thomas, Joseph and Arthur Partington, Ernest Hallam, William Rundle, Joseph Slater, Frank White, and Sidney White.
A Decoration Day was held in August. Flowers were laid on all graves in St. Bees Cemetery and on graves of all members in other cemeteries. Meetings were held in every second and fourth Saturday in the Orange Hall.
Contact was kept with the home Lodge in England.
The Lodge discontinued in the late 1950s.
Westville Chapter No.24 Order of the Eastern Star, had 43 charter members. Forty-one received the Obligation, and the late Joseph and Margaret Wright were the candidates.
The list of charter members is as follows, with the first 18 as chapters officers:
Minnie MacQuarrie*
...........................................................................
Worthy Matron
John A. Murray*
............................................................................................
..Worthy Patron
Anna MacLeod*
...................................................................................
Associate Matron
Stewart T. Murdock*
............................................................................
.Associate Patron
Mabel Johnson
.............................................................................
Secretary
Marion Smith*
........................................................................................
.
..Treasurer
Charlotte Murray
..........................................................................................
Conductress
Alice Ross*
....................................................................
Associate Conductress
Elizabeth MacDonald*
.........................................................................
Chaplain
Dorothy Fraser
.........................................................................................
Marshal
Bella Oliver*
..............................................................................................
..Organist
Mary E. Whitman
...............................................................................................
.Adah
Estella MacLeod
.................................................................................
Ruth
Mary Harrison*
..........................................................................
Esther
Lydia Murray*
........................................................................
.Martha
Margaret Crawford
.....................................................................
.Electa
Pearl Smith*
..................................................................................
.Warder
Robert Hale*
...............................................................................
Sentinel
Joseph R. Wright* Jessie Smith* Lauchie Johnson* Louise Saunders* Andrew Roy* Sarah Sutherland* Francis Boyd* Hilda Murdock* James F. Smith* Mary C. MacKinnon Thomas D. Fraser* Kathleen Campbell Stewart MacLeod* Mary Jane Boyd* John Wm. Cameron* Bessie Beckwith* Fraser Oliver* Emily Rundle* James Beckwith* Joan Harrison Edward Crawford Margaret Wright* John Geo. MacKenzie* Ella MacKenzie* Samuel Harrison *deceased
Minnie E. MacQuarrie was the first Grand Representative of the state of Kansas in Nova Scotia; a three-year appointment.
The Western Star Lodge, Masonic
Temple, circa 1900.
(Photograph Collection, Public Archives of Nova Scotia)