On June 16, 1988, three masons – R. W. Bro. John De Young, V. W. Bro. Walter Simpson and W. Bro. Melvin Devins met to discuss the subject of a Daylight Lodge for the city of Hamilton.

The first topic was to increase the size of the committee to include R. W. Bro. James Curtis, W. Bro. James Bramley, W. Bro. David Dawson and W. Bro. Thomas Pocock. By August 24, 1988, they had a meeting with the Grand Secretary, M. W. Bro. Robert Davies, and were told another group was attempting to form a Daylight Lodge and that they had first call on the idea. Our committee waited until May 17, 1989, before we could send in a petition to the Grand Master showing that arrangements had been made regarding the meeting place in the Central Masonic Temple, the printing of notices and the equipment of the Lodge to get started.

On October 4, 1990, a letter to meet with the Grand Secretary gave the news that a Lodge in Niagara was handing in its charter and if our committee would agree to accept that charter and Lodge name we were in business.

The proposal was accepted and Centennial No.679 would become Centennial Daylight No.679 in Hamilton on December 11, 1990, in the Central Masonic Temple, Main Street East, Hamilton.

The inaugural meeting would have the Grand Master, M. W. Bro. David Bradley, the Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Norman Byrne, Grand Secretary, M. W. Bro. Robert Davies and other Grand Dignitaries in attendance and V. W. Bro. Joseph Hobson as Installing Master.

The first Officers to be Installed and Invested would be: W.M. - R.W. Bro. John De Young, I.P.M. - R. W. Bro. Fred Scott, S.W. - W. Bro. Mel Devins, J.W. - V. W. Bro. Walt Simpson, D. of C. - R. W. Bro. Roger Parliament, Treasurer -W. Bro. Lloyd Williamson, Secretary -W. Bro. Tom Pocock, Chaplain, -W. Bro. Dave Dawson, S.D. - Bro. Gord Stewart, J.D. - Bro. Wm. Best, I.G. -W. Bro. Dave Rogers, S.S. - Bro. Wm. Holcombe, J.S. - Bro. Art Stewart, and Tyler - Bro. George Plester.

Centennial Daylight now holds its meeting in the Masonic Centre of Hamilton, 4 Queen St. S. on the third Tuesday of September, October, November, February, March, April, May and June at 10 a.m. with lunch served after the meeting.

We are a Lodge in the full sense of the word and can take in new members for initiation, but the best use of the Lodge would be to provide a meeting place for those masons who find it difficult to attend Lodge in the evening.

Submitted by R. W. Bro. Cliff Tootell