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By Jason
Perrin
Staff reporter
Canada was only 35 years old, the railway ruled and Victoria was
still the queen of England the year Bill Donald was born in Malpeque,
P.E.I.
The year was 1902. That same year, Lodge #16 of the Freemasons built
their new home, beginning a connection that has lasted for the past
century.
Donald marked his birthday on March 15. This year also marks 76
years since his initiation as a member of the most famous, ancient,
and perhaps misunderstood brotherhood in the western world.
Sitting in a quiet corner of his room surrounded by an arrangement
of plaques comemorating both his birthday and his time with the
organization, Donald modestly describes his active days as a Mason.
"I don't remember how old I was when I joined, but I meet a
lot of good friends there," he said.
Donald has seen many changes in the past century. He has seen small
planes turn into jumbo jets, hand plows evolve into air-conditioned
tractors and chalk and slate turn into home computers. One thing
which hasn't changed,however is the role Freemasons have played
on the Island.
The organization has been misunderstood by many non-members, said
George Doughart, a brother and Freemasons historian.
"People are under the impression the Freemasons are a secretive
group who block out their window's and have strange ceremonies,
but that's not the case," said Doughart.
The Mason's motto is brotherly love, relief and truth. They're devoted
to finding the deeper meaning to life's truths, says Doughart.
It's the oldest fraternity in the world dating back to the Middle
Ages. The fraternity was formed by ancient masons, slaves to feudal
masters. They used hand signs to indicate their level of skill in
masonry when they worked under new masters. These signs have remained
a vital part of the brotherhood, although now the signs simply indicate
a person is a member, not that they actually work with stone.
"The stone workers would sit with a master in the evenings.
The master would teach them new stone working skills and life skills
as well," said Doughart. "The master would also teach
them the hand signals, much like those kids use if they have a private
club."
The Masons are also the oldest fraternity on P.E.I., said Doughart.
The first lodge on the Island began in Charlottetown in 1781 and
it built the St. John's Temple in 1797. The original building has
long since disappeared, but the lodge still has a building on the
same grounds.
Besides being a place for men to discuss life's mysteries the lodge
has been instrumental in supporting Island charities, especially
for young people, says Doughart.
"We don't give to hockey teams but we do give to a lot of other
sport activities such asfigure skating," said Doughart. "We
also
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Bill Donald
poses with plaque marking his 100th birthday. (Perrin photo)
give to the
Prince County Hospital, especially theburn ward for children."
Donald was raised in the King Edward Lodge #16. To be "raised"
is the term masons use to indicate their membership to one particular
chapter. He was 24 years-old when he became a brother. Donald doesn't
remember who introduced him to the brotherhood but he would have
had to ask about membership, said Doughart.
"We aren't allowed to recruit members. People are supposed
to see the way we live and want to become a member because they
see the lodge is influential in our lives," said Doughart.
Donald was a fairly low-key member of the lodge throughout the years,
but he did secure a loan in the 1950s for the Malpeque lodge.
He also played an essential role in setting up a major ceremony
in 1945 for members who came home from the Second World War, said
Doughart.
At that time Donald was the Master Mason for the lodge, which means
he was the leader for a year.
Once a person becomes a Master Mason he can never lose the title,
but he is referred to as former Master Mason, said Doughart.
The lodge had a major impact on the way Donald has lived his life,
says Clifford, Bill Donald's nephew.
"Bill is a good man who lived by the principles of the Masons,"
said Clifford Donald. "Bill doesn't have any children so I
look after his affairs. People all over will tell you Bill is a
good, honest and decent man who never caused trouble with anyone."
His membership with the Masons probably contributed to Donald's
mild-manners and friendly disposition, said Clifford.
"I know the Mason's believe in helping one another and supporting
their community," said Clifford. "Bill was always the
type of guy who would help you out if you needed money or were in
some kind of trouble. I think being a member of the lodge helped
Bill become that kind of man."
Membership has been declining in the Freemasons on the Island for
the past 20 years. Self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous mean
people who have specific problems can gather to help each other
rather than relying on a fraternity that wouldn't understand their
problems as well, Doughart said.
"Membership peaked in 1965 when we had 1,500 brothers on the
Island. Today we only have a thousand."
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