The International - Travelling Gavels

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merchant, lawyer and several hunters and traders are included in their list. The problem
was that the hunters and traders were itinerant and could not be relied upon to remain in
the town for any length of time. It was discovered that the Ponoka lawyer (*see below)
was an Entered Apprentice Mason. The Brethren appealed to Eureka Lodge No. 65
G.R.M. to help them pass and raise the valuable Entered Apprentice. It was then that
Eureka Lodge was able to sponsor the establishment of a lodge in Ponoka which was to
be called Britannia. The dispensation arrived in due course and Britannia Lodge was
instituted on December 31, 1904.
Fire of Premises
While the Lodge was under dispensation a disastrous fire destroyed all possessions of
the Lodge. Such was the enthusiasm that it took but four days for the Ponoka Masons
to find new quarters and recommence their preparations for consecration. The Charter
for Britannia Lodge No. 98 G.R.M. was issued on June 15, 1905 by the Grand Lodge
of Manitoba. Despite their need for new members the Brethren did not allow a desire to
grow overshadow the quality required for Masonic initiation. An early record states
that "the Brethren were very careful with the ballot."
Outstanding Visitation Meeting
80 visitors, in 16 automobiles, journeyed from Edmonton Lodge No. 7, on Saturday
November 8, 1929, for a special meeting to exemplify the Master Mason degree.
Britannia’s Third Degree Team
Until 1958, the Britannia members of their Degree Team ‗cast‘ wore business suits. At
that time Britannia Lodge purchased special regalia from Edmonton No. 7 (for
$900.00). From that time onward, Ponoka‘s Degree Team was costumed. In one 11
year period, this Degree Team performed the drama of Hiram‘s Legend on 56
occasions.
Overseas and other Road Trips
In 1983, 48 members of Britannia Lodge, and their wives, made an overseas trip to
Scotland, for the primary purpose of visiting five Lodges in Scotland, and exemplifying
the 2nd section of the Third Degree.
In 1984 the degree team journey to Prince of Wales Lodge No. 100 G.L.B& Y in
Vancouver B.C. and exemplified the 3rd Degree and visited the Lodge at White Rock.
In 1985, after a lot of work by Brother John Low, a Charter tour of Germany by 88
Ponoka Masons, wives and Masonic friends, was made for the primary purpose of
exemplifying our Third Degree to West Germany‘s Britannia Lodge No. 843. In
November that same year, the team bussed to Athabasca to raise a Brother of
Tawatinaw Lodge No.71.
The Third Degree team continued to travel: Eastgate No. 192 (1986); Lloydminister,
Saskatchewan, to emulate the 3rd degree to Britannia No. 23 G.L.S. (1987); Forestburg
No. 128 and Lockern No. 151 at Rocky Mountain House (1988); St. Johns No. 25 in
Vegreville and Bowden No. 42 (1990); Ionic – Landmark No. 45 (1992); Wetaskiwin
No. 15 (1995); Edmonton No. 7 and Meridian No. 129 in Stony Plain (1996); an Open
Air Lodge at Bassano No. 55 (1998); Crossfield No. 48 to raise 7 members of the
newly formed Airdrie Wild Rose Lodge No.2001 (2001); and Camrose No.35 (2003).