The Lodge was formed by Staff, Graduates, Students and Friends of the University of Toronto. In 2012, with now several Universities in Toronto almost all members continue to be graduates of a University. Several are active staff of Toronto institutions of higher education. The University of Toronto remains represented by retired staff while the Awards Fund begun in 1985 continues to provide annual scholarships in several faculties.

Through the years, members of the Lodge have given leadership in all areas of life some having served high office in the public domain. Prominent among these was the Charter Master M.W. Bro. John Gibson, Grand Master in 1892, who from 1910-14 was the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and knighted in 1912. Professor of Surgery Bro. Herbert Bruce also served as Lieutenant Governor 1932-37. M.W. Bro. W.J. Dunlop, Grand Master in 1937 created the University Department of Extension which in 1965 became Woodsworth College and from 1951-1960 he served as Minister of Education for Ontario. Two Presidents of the University of Toronto, Canon H.J. Cody and Sidney Smith were initiated, and many members of this Lodge have served as Deans and Chairmen. Several have served on the Board of Governors of the University.

Since 1910 many members have achieved high office in Grand Lodge. Grand Masters who were active members include M.W. Bros. J.A. Rowland, W.J. Dunlop, M.C. Hooper (hon) and N.E. Byrne. Honorary members who attained this highest rank included M.W. Bros. E.T. Malone (a Charter Member), D.F. MacWatt, W.K. Bailey, E.G. Dixon (who for 34 years served as Grand Secretary), A.J. Petrisor and several others.

Grand Lodge recognition included 3 Grand Treasurers, 5 active and 2 honorary Grand Senior Wardens, 1 Grand Junior Warden, 4 Grand Chaplains, 1 Asst. Grand Chaplain, 22 District Deputy Grand Masters, 1 Grand Senior Deacon, 4 Grand Junior Deacons, 2 Grand Directors of Ceremony, 2 Asst. Grand Directors of Ceremony, 2 Grand Sword Bearers, 1 Grand Organist, 1 Grand Superintendent of Works, 2 Grand Historians and 12 Grand Stewards, one R.W. Brother received the Grand Master’s Award of Merit, and two brothers received the William Mercer Wilson Medal.

Three members should be recognized for their extreme longevity as Masons. W. Bro. A.M. Fallis, affiliated 1936, died 2003 in his 76^th year as a Mason. W. Bro. Wm. Dowds initiated 1925, died in 2006 in his 81^st year as a Mason. R.W. Bro. C.A. Sankey initiated 1927, died in 2009 in his 83^rd year as a Mason. It is extremely rare for any lodge to have a 75 year “club” and this may be the fist 80 year “club” known in Ontario Masonry. Of the members starting the lodge year 2012-13 under these new By-Laws, four have or are eligible for the Grand Lodge 60 year pin while five others hold the 50 year pin. None now have 70 years or higher.

By 1925, during the period of rapid expansion following World War I, the original membership of 75 had grown to approximately 450. Since then, loss by death of elderly brethren reduced the number of members to a low of 96 in 2007. This was followed by a flood of applicants raising the membership to 113 in 2012. The age of the members in 2012 ranges from 24 to 92. The most senior masonically, W. Bro. Robert Owens initiated 1950 in Queen’s 578, remains an active member. The newest member as this By-Law revision takes effect is Bro. Geoff Bylund, Roll #1043, initiated April 26, 2012.

University Night in October has been a tradition since the first years of the Lodge when it was called Student’s Night. It has been a custom to have a speaker of eminence on this occasion, commonly a Masonic member of the academic staff of the University or Government, or a scholar expert in his field. This attachment to the University of Toronto has been strengthened since 1985 by the establishment of the Educational Awards Fund which now provides four scholarships annually at the University of Toronto to aid deserving students with a fifth now being funded.

With their wide diversity of interests, a surprisingly large proportion of the members have had some involvement with aviation ranging from the late Bro. E.R. Grange who became Canada’s first Ace in World War I along with Bro. D. McNaught also a WW I pilot, WW 2 pilots Bros. McClure, McBey, Scott and others who gave heroic service, and Bro. Soyka who later trained airforce jet pilots. Many other members have been private pilots, some owning their own aircraft, and we remember Bro. Dr. Wolf Leers an expert gliding instructor who sadly died while piloting a glider towplane.

The Lodge had its moments of social play with the weekly “Quid Nunc” luncheon group which met weekly from 1944 until 2010. Activities have shifted with the times and included social nights, parties for children and family. The 1960’s and 70’s featured an annual Lake Simcoe cruise on V.W. Bro Bill Cuttell’s cruiser The Dragon, lately reborn with W. Bro. John Breakey’s good ship Tritaibream in Lake Ontario.

The first ten decades of University Lodge were recognized on University Night in October 2010 when the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Raymond Daniels, attended the Centennial Celebration of the Lodge and authorized the members to henceforth mark this milestone by wearing aprons and other regalia trimmed with gold. This year was made special and extremely unusual as the Grand Master was that night supported by his three senior Right Worshipful Grand Officers, all members of University Lodge, Grand Senior Warden John Logan, Grand Junior Warden Steven Warren, and District Deputy Grand Master Mark Stoiko. This was an unusual rarity, being the only year in the 157 year history of Grand Lodge that both Grand Wardens came from the same lodge.

With almost all members being university graduates the Lodge has truly earned its name and served the purpose set by its founders. The brethren represent professionalism in many fields including Architecture, the Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Education, Engineering, Finance, Law, Pharmacy, Medicine and Modern Electronics. Our numbers have declined as have those of other Lodges, however the future remains bright. University Lodge continues to attract fine young men such that we have no hesitation in trusting the future of this historic Lodge to their care.

C.E.B. Le Gresley, Historian, April 2012.