Keene 374

History

The settlement was originally called Gilchrist's Mills in 1825 after it's founder Dr. John Gilchrist. In 1832 the name was changed to Otanabee in 1832 and later corrected to Otonabee. In 1858 Gilchrist renamed it as Keene after his home town of Keene, New Hampshire (40 miles west of Manchester).

At the 24th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada (September 10, 1879, Kingston), the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. William Henry Weller, noted in his address (1879 Annual Proceedings, p35-6) that he had continued the dispensation for Harmony Lodge and had also issued dispensations for the formation of eleven new Lodges, including one for Keene Lodge at Keene, Ontario District. The DDGM of Ontario District, R.W. Bro. E. Peplow, noted (1879 Annual Proceedings, p56) that he recommended two petitions to form Lodges at Keene, Peterborough County and Omemee, Victoria County, which the Grand Master had approved and the DDGM now recommended warrants be issued to each of them. The Board of General Purposes recommended (1879 Annual Proceedings, p98-9)that warrants be issued to all of the Lodges referred to by the Grand Master with the exception of Kinistino in respect of which it recommended the dispensation be held over for a second year "in consequence of the absense of the books of that Lodge, and of the short time it has been working." Keene Lodge was instituted on September 10, 1879 and later received Warrant No. 374.

Early By-Laws of the Lodge (February 27, 1880 and April 29, 1885) indicate that the Lodge was to met "on the first Thursday on and preceeding the full of the moon in every month (July and August excepted) and on the festivals of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist (or should they fall on a Sunday then on the following day) at such hour as the Master shall appoint..."