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THE HISTORY of WHITEWAY LODGE |
The namesake of our Lodge was a former Prime Minister of Newfoundland and for upwards of thirty years, the District Grand Master in Newfoundland of the District Grand Lodge of England. Sir William Vallance Whiteway, PC, KCMG, KC, was loved and respected by the fraternity and because of this, numerous Brethren sought out ways to perpetuate his memory in some tangible manner. The Memorial on the East wall of the Lodge Room of the Masonic Temple and Whiteway Lodge itself are only two of the many enduring tributes. A very special meeting was called on April 28, 1911, to discuss the formation of a new Lodge to be named "Whiteway" and the following brethren were summoned to attend: T.L. Hallett PM, T.J. Duley PM, W. Barker PM, all from Avalon Lodge; and J.A. Robinson PM, J.R. Bennett PM, W. Martin PM, all from Saint John's Lodge, and Brothers Doctor Herbert Rendell MD, A. Knight, R. Goodridge, and A. MacPherson. It was unanimously agreed that Brother Dr. H. Rendell, Senior Warden of Saint John's Lodge at the time, act as chairman of this special meeting. During the meeting, Brother Dr. Rendell agreed to become the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge. Worshipful Brother Duly was given the responsibility of organizing the Petition for the new Lodge and placing it before the proper authorities for approval. It was decided from the outset that the Installation of the Worshipful Master and the Investiture of the Officers each year would be held on the first day of April, being the actual birthdate of our namesake, Sir William V. Whiteway. The Warrant of Whiteway Lodge No. 3541 is dated June 16, 1911. The Consecration of the Lodge was on January 23, 1912 with nearly three hundred Brethren in attendance. The Ceremony was conducted by the Right Worshipful Brother J.A. Clift, District Grand Master and the Officers of District Grand Lodge. The first applications for initiation were received from Cyril C. Duly, John W. McNeilly and Harold MacPherson. Founding members included all who attended the first special meeting in 1911 with the addition of Brothers William Campbell and Mark Chaplin. The average age of the Founders was 47 years. In 1997 Whiteway voted to become a Founding Lodge of the proposed new Grand Lodge and was assigned number 8 on the Registry of the Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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