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A Brief Historical Sketch of Orono Lodge Over one hundred years ago on December 17, 1874, eight of our forefathers, banded together by masonry, met for the purposes of forming Orono Lodge and receiving applications. These men were all members of Durham Lodge No. 66 and felt that the small agricultural village of Orono was now capable of supporting and benefitting from a Masonic Lodge. Through the labour and aspirations of this zealous brethren, Orono was granted a charter in July, 1875 numbered 325 of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the province of Ontario. The first meetings were held in the Sons of Temperance Hall Orono. After mature consideration, it was decided that the meetings should be held on the Thursday on or before the full moon. The charter members were soon joined by four additional Durham members almost causing the demise of our sister Lodge. As more permanent quarters were required, the members selected the hall adjoining James Hallett's Hotel (recently used by) Dr. McKenzie for an office). Within one year of being granted a charter, thé-Lodge membership had tripled. Despite their loss of members, fraternity with Durham Lodge was very strong. In October, 1876, the entire membership of Durham travelled to Orono for the monthly meeting. Joint installations were held annually. By 1888 the membership had risen to fifty-two brethren. This increase was possibly due to a booming Canadian economy and the Grand Trunk Railroad which passed through the. growing village. Many employees of the railroad were stationed in Orono and joined the Fraternity. Orono's economy at this time depended to a large degree on her agricultural environs, An interesting point, when checking the various occupations of the members is to note that few who joined, were farmers. It has also been suggested that the increase in membership was due to the oyster suppers held in the banquet room. The following decade saw a reversal in membership patterns. Farmers now started applying for membership but their numbers were offset by the number of brethren demitting or being suspended. This was partly due to a cancellation of Reciprocity and the declining fortunes of the Grand Trunk. With the advent of the First World War our membership swelled as many men wished to be both Masons and fighting for the Empire, In 1918, the D.D.G.M. of Otonabee District presented Orono Lodge with a gavel made from oak obtained from Vimy Ridge. With the rising membership and continuing complaints about the Lodge moms (absentee landlord) new lodge rooms were obtained over Armstrong's Store. These rooms were used for many years and some of our members will remember the oven-like conditions in the Lodge Hall during the summer months. Orono Lodge experienced healthy growth in the Roaring Twenties. Some problems of jurisdiction occurred. The village of Tyrone was within the jurisdiction of Orono but several men there'wished to be initiated into Jerusalem Lodge, Bowmanville. This led to lively discussion at several meetings with Orono finally waiving jurisdication to Jerusalem Lodge. As this decade drew to a violent closing, our Treasurer reported a healthy surplus of Lodge funds. This was very fortunate as the first- few years of the subsequent Depression saw a large number of demits. In fact, over a dozen demits were received in the, first six meetings of 1931. Orono was honoured to provide many men to the Durham Regiment and a team of officers of this regiment attended the April, 1931 meeting. Under the direction of Major Bonnycastle performed the work of the evening. The Durham Regiment's Orono members returned in May 1937 and presented a large Union Jack to the Lodge. Two members of this famous regiment were to later become masters of the Lodge. These two occasions provided Orono Lodge with great pleasure in this troubled decade. In October, 1942, the Presbyterian church was offered for sale to the Masonic Lodge and the offer was quickly accepted. It was not until May 10,1945 that the new Lodge Hall was dedicated. Major renovations had taken place and the overflow crowd of four hundred masons present were quite impressed with the building. Much effort had been made to make the Masonic Temple a tribute to Free Masonry. Most of its' furnishings were provided by the District Lodges. Orono Lodge has continued to flourish and today has a membership of 121. The community has gradually evolved from its' agricultural base to industry. The proximity of larger centres has drawn many of our members, but to quote St. Matthew 8; 24,25, "...I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the wihds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock". Considering the successes and failures of Orono Lodge we must have been built on solid foundations. EXCERPTS FROM MINUTE BOOKS First recorded minutes December 17, 1874. Jan. 21, 1875 - Mr. Thomas Venner initiated as the first candidate in Orono Lodge. Aug. 12, 1875 - Trustees were empowered to rent a hall from James Hallet àt thirty dollars per annum, Feb. 6, 187a - Bro. Borland was paid $20.00 of the $40.00 lost in a burglary. Feb, 8, 1879 - an oyster supper was held at the North American Hotel. Cost 30 cents per head. Mar. 30,1893 - moved that the salary of the Secretary be reduced from $12.00 to $9.00,- motion was eventually laid over until the next meeting. April 3, 1906 - following the meeting a phonograph concert was held in the Temperance House, all provided by Bro. Armstrong. Feb. 17, 1916 - dues were raised to $4.00 per year. Jan. 25, 1927 - Orono Brethren conveyed the Travelling Square to Lebanon Lodge. April 6,1933 - members unable to pay dues could pay postage to remain in good standing. June 9,1938 - accounts passed include W. J. Martyn, 5 hr. labour at 35 cents per hour. May 10, 1945 - Most Wor. Bro. Logan presented a handmade square to the Lodge. May 5,1949 - Over 200 attended Pharmacy night under the direction of Wor Bro C, B. Tyrell. Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, May 30th, 1975--9 School Region hikes solid waste disposal rates conditions A recommendation increa sing the regional rate for solid waste to $5.30 per ton from $3.30 per ton was,endorsed Thursday by Durham Region finance committee. It will be presented to council next Wednesday as a joint works-finance committee committee recommendation. The rate will be used as the sole source of funds for operating and maintenance costs of the landfill sites. Consultants Gore and Stor- rie Ltd, of Torono suggested a similar rate be established based on providing attendants to all sites but the parks and finance committees agreed that only the Oshawa, Whitby and Darlington sites should be staffed with an attendant. The 1974 deficit which the region experienced in landfill site operations will be charged charged back to the area municipalities municipalities based on their share of regional assessment. In addition to the $5,30 per ton for operating and administration administration costs, the existing rate of $1.45 per ton must be added for capital costs bringing bringing the rate to $6.75. The finance committee also discussed other recommendations recommendations of the Gore and Storrie report urging the adoption of The NDP Durham East Association has called a Durham East nomination meeting for May 4th and is the first to call such a meeting for the new riding of Durham East. The NDP meeting will be held at the Vinent Massey School on Harmony Road in a regional water and sewer rate structure. No decision was taken on water rates. The committee decided to wait until more information from the works department could be obtained. obtained. Mr. Gartley however, did recommend that the finance committee adopt a regional sewage rate structure to be used as the prime source of revenue for sewage current expenditures. No decision was taken on the recommendation however. however. Mr. Gartley said the finance department concurs with the reasoning used in the Gore and Storrie report on sewer rates. "We feel that sewer debt should be regionalized and either distributed on the basis of the regional levy or funded as a surcharge on the water bill. . . "The larger base is available available when costs are applied regionally," Mr. Gartley stated stated in a report to the committee. Preliminary figures indicate indicate a shortfall in revenue in the regions sewer operations, said Mr. Gartley. The deficit could run as high as $1,800,000 in 1975. Oshawa. The guest speaker for the NDP meeting will be MP Jack Stokes of Thunder Bay. Mr. Doug Moffatt of the Kendal area, was nominated a year ago for the Durham riding and is expected to contest the nomination for the stated deplorable Following an inspection on Monday of last week of the Pine Ridge Training School the grand jury issued a report on Wednesday in which they stated that conditions of the school in certain areas was deplorable and emands immediate immediate action to be corrected. corrected. The report was made to Mr. Justice Edson Haines of the Ontario Supreme Court. The jurors reported that areas of the school, including dormitories, washrooms, offices offices and visitor's, rooms were found to be extremely dirty and in need of general repair. The grand jury was appalled by these deplorable conditions and fail to see how a child in this environment could develop develop self-discipline and respect for other persons or property, the report states. The report however, was not negative as they found the library facilities good and the kitchen and dining area satisfactory. new riding of Durham East. The Northumberland-Dur- ham NDP Association for the federal riding will hold a meeting in the New Pines Senior Public School for the purpose of electing delegates to attend the federal NDP convention to be held in Winnipeg later this year. Lome Nystrom, MP for Saskatchewan will be the guest speaker at the Pines meeting to be held on May 13 th. Neither the Liberals or Conservatives have announced announced founding meetings for their respective associations regarding regarding the new Durham East riding which takes in all of the Town of Newcastle as well as a northern section of the city of Oshawa. Nor have these two parties announced nomination nomination meetings. Clarke and King City exchange visits CLARKE HIGH SCHOOL BAND NEWS success. Publicity Department C.H.S. Senior Band NDP nominations called for May 4 The Clarke High School Senior Senior Band arid Choir had a terrific time on the band exchange with King City Secondary School Symphonic Band. The Clarke students arrived in King City on Thursday, April 17th, and came home Saturday, April 19th. While there, students took part in a public concert, roller skating, parties, and a trip to the McMichael Art Gallery and the new Metro Zoo. On Monday, April 21st, the King City students came here. There was a public concert on Monday night at Clarke High School, followed by a dance played by "Nostalgia". This group recently travelled to Europe and played their dance band selections. "Nostalgia" "Nostalgia" is now independent of the school. On Tuesday the bands and choir went to Peterborough for a tour through Trent University, a film there, and then to Port Hope Anglican Church to see a clavichord. There were some parties, and the King City Students left for home Wednesday morning. The exchange.,was Clarke's first, and it was a real