Fonds P262 - Lingwick Lodge, No. 79, Freemasons (Gould) fonds

Lingwick Lodge, No.79, held its first documented meeting on July 29, 1905, with members of Victoria Lodge, No. 16, Friendship Lodge, No. 66, Fidelity Lodge, No. 77, and even a member of Granite Lodge in Berre, Vermont. At this meeting it was resolved that it was in the interest of Masonry that a Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons be established at Gould in the Township of Lingwick and District of St. Francis to be called Lingwick Lodge. On August 16, 1905, by a unanimous vote, Friendship Lodge, No. 66, recommended that dispensation be granted to Lingwick Lodge by the Most Wor. Grand Master. Lingwick Lodge was instituted on January 16, 1906, at which time the officers of Friendship Lodge (No. 66) performed the ceremony of instituting Lingwick Lodge and the investiture of its officers. Already operating out of the Masonic Hall at Gould, it received its warrant on February 13, 1907, and was officially consecrated and chartered in 1908.

On November 23, 1963, Lingwick Lodge amalgamated with Fidelity Lodge, No. 77, whose members continued to belong to Lingwick Lodge. In 1980, the minutes begin to record that the lodge meets in the Masonic Chambers of Gould Hall, which appears to be the same location as the original Masonic Hall, since no dispensation has been found allowing them to change their meeting place. Then on March 13, 1989, The Grand Lodge of Quebec issued a dispensation giving Lingwick Lodge the permission to move to Chalmers United Church for the purpose of conducting its meetings due to the Town Hall having been sold and no longer available to Lingwick Lodge. It continued to rent the Chalmers United Church until 2012.

On September 14, 2011, Lingwick Lodge, No. 79, along with King Edward Lodge, No. 78, amalgamated with Friendship Lodge, No. 66, and its members continued to belong to Friendship Lodge, operating out of the chapel in North Hatley.

Now, in 2023, Gould Hall, located at 210 Quebec Route 257, Lingwick, is known as the town hall and possibly a community hall. Chalmers United Church, located at 17 Quebec Route 108 in Lingwick, still exists, with tourist descriptions and a commemorative stone in front.

Fidelity Lodge, No. 77, held its first documented meeting on November 14, 1898 and was instituted the same year, sponsored by Friendship Lodge, No. 66, Cookshire. It was established in 1900 and received its warrant on June 27, 1900. Lodge meetings were held in a rented hall in Agnes, adjoining the Town of Lac-Mégantic. The York Rite Ritual was used until the Lodge was obliged by the Grand Lodge to change to the Quebec Ritual, thus becoming a Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

The first meeting using the Quebec Ritual was held in June 21, 1910. At the December 31, 1910 meeting it was reported that a lot of Lac-Mégantic had been purchased, and also the old Presbyterian Church building, which was later moved to the lot. A mortgage of $1,200 was placed on the building to finance the project. Permission to change the place of meeting was granted on June 24, 1911.

Due to declining membership, it began amalgamating with Lingwick Lodge, No. 79, in the 1960s. On November 23, 1963, Fidelity Lodge, amalgamated with Lingwick Lodge, and its members continued to belong to Lingwick Lodge.