Founded 1860 Installation December Official Visit October

Meeting on 1st Thursday of the Month (except July, & August) at 7:30 PM at the Aurora Masonic Hall Click Here For Aurora Masonic Hall History 57 Mosley St. Aurora

Officers for 2010/2011
Worshipful Master	W. Bro. Kenneth Cromarty
Immediate Past Master	W. Bro. Michael Redman
Senior Warden	Bro. Peter Ferrante
Junior Warden	W. Bro. Bruce Bellows
Chaplain	Bro. Michael Anderson
Treasurer	Bro. Brian Calverley
Secretary	W. Bro. Scott Ryckman
Senior Deacon	Bro. Adam Kunopaski
Junior Deacon	Bro. Leslie Gough
Director of Ceremonies	R.W. Bro. Robert Butler
Inner Guard	Bro. Steven Christodulou
Senior Steward	TBA
Junior Steward	TBA
Tyler	Bro. Robert Katzman
Historian	V.W. Bro. Ted McClenny

History of The Rising Sun Masonic Lodge #129 GRC

The Rising Sun Lodge was Instituted in 1860 and the first Master of the Lodge was W.Bro. Robert Lyon. The first Lodge meeting was held that same year in a room over Lundy's Wagon Shop on Yonge Street in Aurora. That building was destroyed by fire in 1865 and although the Warrant was saved, all other charter records and regalia were lost.

The lodge was then moved to a room over the Fitzgerald Stove Factory on Wellington Street East. Later the brethren bought the northern half of this property and erected a Masonic Hall which was used until 1885.

In that year an event that affected a nearby church had a profound effect on The Rising Sun Lodge. The Episcopal Methodist Church, which was located at 57 Mosley Street in Aurora, became part of the amalgamation of all Methodist bodies. As a result, their church building was no longer needed, was closed, and became available for purchase. It was bought by the Lodge and converted to use as the Masonic Hall. The Rising Sun Lodge has occupied this building since that time.

Financing of the building proved to be a trial for The Rising Sun Lodge. To purchase the building a mortgage was negotiated with a Mr. Matchell in the amount of $1800.00 dollars. In 1887, when Mr. Matchell refused to lower the interest rate, he was paid off and a mortgage was taken with the Freehold Mortgage and Savings Company.

Brother Wilfred Adams, who wrote the centennial history of the Lodge, states -"From the many minutes dealing with the mortgage payments, it appears that this company was one of our most persistent correspondents. Things became so desperate that in 1891 a committee was appointed to wait on the High School Board (which holds a property next to the Lodge building) and try to dispose of the hall." The problem was finally solved in a very enterprising way. "In 1900 a Mortgage Fund was organized by the Lodge which offered shares to the lodge members at $5.00 dollars per share. There was such a generous response that the mortgage was discharged in 1905, and in turn, the last of the shareholders were paid off from Lodge funds in 1911."

A truly notable property and heritage building had been saved.