Mocha August 2011.indd - Mocha Shriners

Mocha Temple History
The year is 1886, London, Ontario and a lone Shriner
is living in the city. He together with members of
Knights Templar, who had been initiated in Detroit,
Michigan petitioned to form a Shrine Temple in
London. A dispensation was issued for “Sultanat
Temple: and for a short time London had the honour of
having Canada’s first Shrine Temple. However, the
time was not yet right for “Sultanat Temple” and it soon
became dormant and the dispensation was recalled.
Shrinedom in London dates from January 1, 1908 with
the foundation of Mocha Temple, and the seventh
Shrine Temple in Canada. Noble Harry Collins,
Potentate of Rameses Temple in Toronto, was instrumental
in obtaining the charter. Noble Collins late
became Imperial Potentate. The name “Mocha” was
chosen by the first Recorder Noble Ed Struthers.
The Shrine was seen as an organization where members
could relax and enjoy themselves. Shrine bands,
parades and elaborate costumes were part of the make
up. It was said that “the order was not much more than
a frolic for Masons of high degree”, and perhaps this
stimulated interest among Masons enough to steadily
increase the membership figures.
What was not so visible was that even in those years
considerable sums were raised for benevolence and
charitable projects. At one ceremonial a Union Jack
was carried around the hall and after the initial donation
of $500 a further amount of $466.60 was raised for
poor children of the city of London. This is much more
than it seems now when we think of what a dollar
would buy in those days. On another occasion the
Salvation Army, the schools and other organizations
supplied the names of 600 children who were in poor
circumstance and they were all supplies with Christmas
repast. 1917 saw a contribution to the fund for victims
of the Halifax explosion. In 1930 the bands and patrol
entertained the children from orphanages at the Western
Fair. A patriotic endeavor was the subscription of $500
for the Peace Memorial at the Exhibition forces and
war charities were supported. In the year of 1940
Mocha presented a $1,600 Ford ambulance to the
Minister of Militia. The children were not forgotten and
Shriners have provided transportation, entertainment,
films and other amusements for their enjoyment. Since
1920, Mocha’s main charity has been the Shriners’
Hospitals for Children and many hundreds of thousands
of dollars have been raised for this worthy undertaking.
Shrine activities continued to flourish through the
years. In order to provide a place for meetings and
other functions one of the stately old homes on Waterloo
Street in London was purchased. In 1955 this building
was sold for $38,000 and the Smallman residence at
468 Colborne Street was purchased for $35,000 with an
additional $847 for some of the contents. Additions
have been made, but the architectural beauty of the
original building has been maintained. The Trustees
work hard to maintain the grounds, rooms and furnishings.
In 1977, the banquet halls were added on for
meetings and social functions. In the recent past the
interior and exterior of the building has been refurbished
and redecorated completely with new furniture
in the main lounge area. Mocha Temple is a place
where any Shriner would be proud to bring his family
and friends for lunch or dinner.
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Page 24 August 2011
MOCHA NEWS