Most Worshipful Brother
Gordon Lockhart Bennett, PGM
Grand Lodge of
Prince Edward Island, A.F. & A.M.;
Grand Master 1967 – 1968

On Saturday, June 24, 1967, Hon. Gordon Lockhart Bennett was installed Grand Master of Masons in Prince Edward Island.

Most Worshipful Brother Bennett is a native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where he was born on October 10, 1912.

He attended West Kent School and Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown, and Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from that University.

He has been engaged in Education in Prince Edward Island for thirty-two years, teaching at Saint Eleanors, a two room rural school for three years, West Kent School, Charlottetown, for two years. In 1939 he was appointed to the faculty of Prince of Wales College, Department of Chemistry. In 1957 he was appointed Registrar and Director of Studies. He is now on leave of absence from Prince of Wales College, having been elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislature, May 30, 1966 and in July of the same year he was named President of the Executive Council and Minister of Education.

Brother Bennett has been actively engaged in the civic life of his native Province for many years. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Prince Edward Island Hospital. He is prominent in Music Festival Work, being a past president of the Prince Edward Island Festival and a past vice-president of the Dominion Association. He is chairman of the Charlottetown Recreation Council, He has served in labor relations disputes as Chairman of Arbitration and Concilliation Boards.

He has done much to promote sport in Prince Edward Island first as an active participant, later as an organizer and leader.

He is active in curling circles and has been Secretary-Treasurer of the Prince Edward Island Curling Association for many years and a Past President of the Charlottetown Curling Club and President of the Dominion Curling Association for 196667.

Brother Bennett is a member of Trinity United Church, Charlottetown. For several years he was Superintendent of the Sunday School and is now a member of the Church Session and Secretary of the Official Board. Brother Bennett married Doris Bernard, Saint Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, a daughter of one of Prince Edward Islands outstanding and prominent citizens and mason. He has one daughter, Mrs. David Campbell, whose husband is a member of Victoria Lodge No. 2, Charlottetown, and one granddaughter.

Brother Bennett’s Masonic career began October 26, 1953, when he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Victoria Lodge No. 2, Charlottetown. He immediately went in line and in 1961 was installed as Worshipful Master of his Lodge.

In the Grand Lodge, after serving in various appointive offices and committees, he was in 1964 elected Junior Grand Warden and June 24, 1967, elected and installed Grand Master of Masons in Prince Edward Island. In 1965 he was honored by the Grand Lodge of Vermont by being appointed Grand Representative of that Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island.

He has also been active in other concordant Orders of the Craft.

He was Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in Alexandra Chapter No. 11, Charlottetown, Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons N.S., P.E.I. & Nfld.

Consecrated a Knights Templar in Prince Edward Preceptory No. 35 Sovereign Great Priory of Canada.

A Companion of Garden of the Gulf Council No. 9 Royal and Select Masters, Eastern Jurisdiction.

In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite he is a P.T.P.G.M. of Albert Edward Lodge of Perfection and a member of St. Lawrence Chapter Rose Croix (Presently called Gordon L. Bennett Chapter Rose Croix), Valley of Summerside and Nova Scotia Consistory, Halifax, N.S.

He has many hobbies, but his special ones are curling, gardening, and bridge in which he is very proficient.

With the great experience Brother Bennett has gained from his many activities in public life and trust, the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island can inscribe his name with pride as its seventy-eventh Grand Master.

From the Proceedings of the 92nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island A.F. & A. M. (1967).