A copy of the Petition shows that while most of the petitioners were members of Prince Edward Lodge, other belonged to Lodges outside the Jurisdiction prior to moving to the Hunter River area. The list included W.Bro S.M. Daniel (King Hiram Lodge No. 6 in Fredericton, New Brunswick), W.Bro. J.A. Lefurgey (Mount Lebanon Lodge No. 6 in Summerside), W.Bro. McCoubrey (Sydney No. 84 in Sydney, Nova Scotia), W.Bro. Murdock Cutcliffe (Lodge No. 8 in Amherst, Nova Scotia) and W.Bro J.A. MacMillan who was raised in Alexandra Lodge No. 5 in Port Hill. (File document) It is interesting that the Petition is dated May 6, 1923 but the copy of the resolution states that Prince Edward Lodge approved the petition on January 6, 1923. Records tell of a meeting on May 8, 1923 in Dr. George Green’s Office in Hunter River “to consider and discuss the proposal to organize a Lodge of A.F. M at Hunter River.” Bro. Murdock Cutcliffe presided and Dr.Green was the Secretary for the meeting. The meeting reached consensus on building a new hall rather than renting the Orange Hall. The meeting also considered the response to W.Bro. D.M. McLeod from the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. J.M. Murley, to the Petition of May 6, 1923 The letter also admonishes Bro. McLeod for not having gotten busy with this project in the previous fall. (File document) What became of the 1923 initiative is unclear but the effort to establish the new Lodge appears to have begun anew in 1925.

All correspondence related to those matters seems exclusive to the File in the Library of Prince of Wales Lodge. The issue of a new Lodge in Hunter River was first referenced in the Minutes of Prince Edward Lodge No. 14 on January 6, 1926 when the Petition was heard. The first reference in the Proceedings of Grand Lodge appeared in 1927 when the Grand Master reported that he had issued a Dispensation for the new Lodge on October 26, 1926.

On December 7, 1925 a meeting was held in the Bank Building in Hunter River “with the object of starting a masonic lodge in this district.” W.Bro. Cutcliffe was once again the chairman with W.Bro. J.A. Lefurgey acting as Secretary. Eight Brethren were present. A committee of three was appointed to select a suitable lodge room and to ascertain expenses in setting it up. The committee reported at a meeting one week later that a two-year lease of a room in Bro. D.M. MacLeod’s store could be arranged. It was decided firstly to await the authority of Grand Lodge to establish a Lodge and to approve the proposed Lodge Room. (File document)