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Murray Temple #4
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The Order of
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Fountain Rebekah Lodge /
Scotia Lodge #11
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Star Lodge /
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Photo Feature: The Fire
Orange Lodge, Acadia L.O.L. No. 45
The following history of Westville’s Orange Lodge, Acadia L.O.L. No. 45, is being reprinted from a souvenir book of the 100th Session of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the L.O.A. of Nova Scotia that was held May 12 to 14, 1959, in Westville.
Acadia L.O.L., No. 45, and the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada, came into being in the same year, 1867 and has continued to meet regularly ever since.
In 1888 the cornerstone of the Orange Hall was laid, on July 12. Since that time, the Orange Hall has been a landmark in the town and the fraternal home of Acadia L.O.L., No. 45, and the Orange Young Briton Lodge, Johnston O.Y.B., No. 26, The Loyal True Blue Association, Acadia Sisters, No. 609, as well as a Girls’ Juvenile Lodge, J.O.L., No. 363.
The Orange Hall has also, down through the years, been the center of much of the social and entertainment life of the town. The lower hall was for many years known as the Empire Theatre, and many notable actors and actresses of Vaudeville, from the U.S.A. and Upper Canada, have from time to time appeared on its stage. It was also the first theatre to show the silent moving pictures.
These days have passed into history, but the Orange Hall is still much in demand for public meetings, church and school plays, and is available for any worthwhile cause.
When Westville was incorporated in 1896, Bro. George Munro, a life-long member of Acadia, No. 45, was chosen as first mayor and was re-elected to that office several times during his lifetime. There has never been a town council that has not had several members of Acadia serving as councilors. The present mayor and town councilors are members of the Order. The Orange Order has always been keenly interested in anything that was for the good for the community, and this has been reelected in the high esteem with which the people of Westville regard the Orange Order.
The late Bro. Wm. J. MacIntosh served the Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Master for three years, 1928-1930, and at the time of his death and for many years previous to that, served Acadia L.O.L., as Treasurer. The late Bro. Robert F. Kerr served the Grand Lodge as Grand Treasurer for 23 years, previous to his death in 1933. The present mayor of Westville Bro. Alfred L. Matheson for two years, held the office of Grand Master for two years, 1951 and 1952, and the office of Grand Secretary for one year.
Acadia L.O.L., for many years sponsored a brass band, known far and near as the Orange Band, and many of its members, in World War I, became members of the famous 85th Band.
Johnston O.Y.B., No, 62 was for many years a very active Lodge from which Acadia recruited many of its best members. The Lodge also maintained a baseball team for many years and numerous players became well-known in provincial baseball.
Westville, in World War I, had the highest voluntary enlistment of any town of its size in Canada, and this was reflected in Johnston O.Y.B. Lodge in that the membership enlisted almost to a man, and the Honour Roll shows that the Lodge was almost wiped out. The Lodge was revived after the war, but was again cleaned out by enlistment in World War II. This lodge has been revived since, but without the vital spark of interest it once had.
Acadia L.O.L. No. 45, was host to the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1902; at the time the Grand Lodge met in February. The Grand Lodge never met in Westville again until 1956. So the officers and members are proud to be host for this Centennial Year (1959) of our Grand Lodge and it is our wish that this year will mark the start of another 100 years in progress and advancement for our Noble Order.
It was not uncommon in the
early 1900s to see hundreds of Orangemen from across the
province converge on Westville for the annual July 12
Orangemen's Parade. Trains full of Lodge members would
arrive from points away, always with a special contingent
from Springhill