Emily Taylor, continued with the same policies as the Bell family.

The first recorded Masonic funeral was held on April 9, 1887, for Captain John McKay of the Rattenbury Road. At Christmas in the same year the Lodge members presented Mrs. Margaret McKay, his widow, with a $25.00 gift. This would be a generous gift at this time of the century. With this in mind, Dr. Roderick McNeill suggested that a Benevolent Fund should be established so that members would be able to assist the less fortunate if the need arose.. A contribution of ten cents per member per meeting was suggested. The same fund is in existence today. From this fund today, generous donations are given annually to the Hospitals and other charitable organizations.

During the World War I years the Lodge members across Prince Edward Island contributed money toward the Canadian Army Hospitals. Prince Edward Lodge members donated twenty-five dol— lars in response to the first request. At the present time Remembrance Day wreaths are purchased as

part of the group contribution towards the peacetime efforts.

While this organization is not primarily a money-making organization, the members do contribute to many worthwhile causes. Requests continually come from such organizations as heart, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. A recent organization which has been added to the list is the ALS Society. Another group which receives generous support is the children’s fund - especially the Isaac Walton Killam Crippled Children’s Hospital, in Halifax. The assistance given for the transportation costs for patients being sent to the “bums unit” in Montreal is certainly appreciated by all those who have had

a reason to use the Masons generosity.

With the advancement of the Masonic Order moving eastward from Kensington, there was a request from the Hunter River Masons to form a Lodge in their village. Prior to this many of the men were travelling from that area to Stanley bridge. The Prince Edward Lodge sponsored the Prince of Wales Lodge of Hunter River and in 1928 gave permission for twelve of its members to form a new group there. In addition to losing some men to Hunter River, other members were lost during WWI and some others left the area to find employment. The declining membership would be a financial drain on the Prince Edward Lodge. Despite this they continued their work for the less fortunate.

Bursaries given through the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island have been in existence for nearly thirty years. They are given to assist students attending University for nearly thirty years. At the present time two or three Prince Edward Island students are given bursaries annually which help to defray the costs of their studies. The Prince Edward Lodge contributes generously to this fund.

Gradually some changes occurred in the operation of the hall. The ‘pot-bellied stoves’ changed to oil—fired stoves and from oil and gas lanterns to electricity. The hall was wired for electricity in 1956. Another change was in 1958 when the hall had to be moved back in order to accommodate the widening of the road. A committee made up of Frank Bell, Oliver Bernard, and Elmer Fyfe engaged

Wesley Cole to move the building.

Over the years men and women have presented concerts and plays to help defray the general expens- es of the hall. For a number of years volunteers presented entertainment under the name of the “Stanley Bridge Dramatic Club”. One such performance was in 1924 which helped defray the cost of adding a kitchen to the hall. The cost was $1050.00. In 1958 the expense for an oil furnace to heat the whole building was shared equally between the members of the Women’s Institute and the Masons. A “baby grand piano’ was placed in the hall to enhance the concerts.

Many changes have taken place since the Masonic Lodge was formed in 1885. The greatest must have been the closing of the hall as a Lodge and the removal of their properties to the former Graham’s Road School in 1977. This ended a ninety-two year stay in the District of Stanley Bridge. The Hall was purchased and is still owned by the members of the Sterling Women’s Institute. This building stands as one of the most recognized and well-maintained buildings in the District.

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