In May 1908, Kenilworth Lodge No. 29 of the Freemasons was chartered.

It was an indication of the growth not only of the freemasonry in Red Deer and area, but also the great growth and development of the community as a whole.

While Masonic Lodges have not often had a high public profile, they have long been an integral part of the community and have quietly done a great deal of benevolent and charitable work.

The origins of freemasonry in Red Deer go back even farther to the very first years of the community. Red Deer was populated with newcomers, so it is not surprising that men who had belonged to Masonic Lodges in their home communities would seek out fellow Masons when they arrived to start new homes and new lives.

Hence in June 1894 — three years after the townsite of Red Deer was first established —eight Masons met in the old school room, above Burch’s Store on the corner of Gaetz Avenue and Ross Street. It was agreed that the time had come to pursue the formation of a lodge in the fledgling hamlet.

While all of those present were Masons, they had diverse backgrounds. One was a veterinarian and the village overseer (reeve), another was Red Deer’s first lawyer, two were merchants, one was the local school principal, two were local farmers and the eighth man owned the local brickyard.

With this promising indication of interest, Red Deer Lodge No. 59 was instituted under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. Almost immediately, two more members were proposed.

One was a local merchant who had acted as the community’s first postmaster. The other was the local CPR station agent.

Unfortunately, despite the promising start, the initiative floundered. Ten members were not enough to have a viable lodge. There was a problem in securing enough officers to open the lodge. Meetings became increasingly infrequent. As a result, the dispensation for the lodge was lost.

The root of the problem was a severe economic depression which beset Western Canada. The little village of Red Deer barely grew.

Many residents were too busy trying to keep their financial heads above water to be able to get involved in other activities.

By the late 1890s, prosperity returned to Central Alberta. New settlers began to arrive in Red Deer. Soon new meetings were being held to organize another Masonic Lodge.

A new dispensation was issued in 1899. Six original Lodge members were joined by six newcomers to make up 12 charter members.

On Sept. 4, 1899, two important events were held. One was the laying of the cornerstone of St. Luke’s Church. The other was the formal institution of Red Deer Lodge No. 73.

The lodge was soon off to a roaring start. Initiation fees were set at $30 and annual dues were set at $3, considerable sums when one remembers that $2 per day was considered a pretty good wage.

Nevertheless, a number of new members soon joined.

The lodge became active in community and benevolent work. The first donation was for the India Famine Fund. Contributions were made towards the construction of the Red Deer Memorial Hospital and to help the victims of the San Francisco earthquake. When one of the local Masons died, a small house was built for his widow and family.

In 1901, when Red Deer was incorporated as a town, the mayor and almost all of the town councillors were Masons.

Over the next few years, Red Deer began to grow even more rapidly. The community was soon large enough to allow the creation of a second Masonic Lodge, Kenilworth, with this second lodge following the Canadian freemasonry rite instead of the York rite.

One of the key members in the formation of the Kenilworth Lodge was the highly respected William Botterill.

In 1910, he became the master of the lodge. In 1919, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. In 1920, he was honoured with the first life membership in the Kenilworth Lodge.

In 1948, the Masonic Temple Co. was formed with representation from Kenilworth and Red Deer No. 12 Lodges and the Keystone Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons.

In 1954, the new Temple was completed on 52nd Street. In 1964, a third Masonic Lodge, Beacon Lodge No. 190, was formed.

The Masonic Lodge remain a vital part of the community. Red Deer has greatly benefited from the presence and activities of freemasonry.