The third quarter century started with W.Bro. Charlie Carle being installed in the chair of King Solomon for the third time.  Three other Masters have served twice but Charlie holds the distinction of being the only Master to serve for three terms, namely, 1969, 1970 and 1972.  The Lodge was not in trouble but several senior officers had left the lodge for various reasons and rather than have someone unprepared in the Master's chair, Charlie, with customary "big heart" took on the challenge.  As with his other two years, this year was a busy year filled with fun.

In October of 1972, our Worshipful Master had arranged for the R.C.M.P. Degree Team from the Edmonton area to preside at the 16th Annual Services Night.  The team was under the direction of V.Wor (later M.Wor) Bro. Stan Harbin.  212 brethren filled the lodge room on this evening when Bro. Bruce Hamilton, the son of our long time Secretary-Treasurer and founder of the Services Night V.Wor Bro. Bill Hamilton, was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.  The afternoon meeting was followed by a first class banquet in the lower hall.

1973 saw an amendment to our By-Laws allowing for paid life memberships.  The matter was well researched by the proposer which assisted in a decision being reached to allow the amendment to be accepted.  Although there was strong debate on both sides of the question, the brethren accepted the change in true Masonic fashion.

In September of 1973 attended the home of Bro. Fred Casey in British Columbia and presented him with his 50 year jewel on behalf of the members of Concord #124.  Bro. Casey was also awarded an Honourary Life Membership at the September meeting.

At the Annual Services Night in October of 1973, Wor Bro. Harold Cameron, Charter Member, presented 50 year jewels to Wor. Bro. Tom Lumley and Wor. Bro. Bill Solomon.

Times change and so has Concord Lodge.  Originally, all members were Travellers or associated with that business but in the 70's this had changed so that the membership was comprised of brethren from all walks of life.  In appreciation of that fact, a motion was presented at the May 1974 meeting to move the meeting night of Concord Lodge from the traditional first Saturday of the month to the second Friday.  After much debate, the motion was defeated and Concord continued to meet on the first Saturday.

Concord has always been active in the affairs of Grand Lodge and have always been in the forefront of change.  Some of the ideas put forward by Concord Lodge have been successful while some have not.  In 1975, recognizing that it would be difficult to have the Grand Lodge Constitution amended to suspend members after one years non-payment although the presence of non-paying members was a sever financial drain to the Lodges, a different tact was used.

The following was proposed:

"Where a Member is suspended for non-payment of dues, Grand Lodge will credit the Lodge of which he was a Member with the amount paid on his behalf to Grand Lodge for its purposes and undertakings during his period of non-payment of dues.  This credit may only be claimed by the Lodges in question on the semi-annual return immediately following his suspension."

Unfortunately, this did not pass but it certainly drew attention to a problem existing within many lodges in the Province.

June 1975 saw a Past Masters' Degree Team under the direction of R.Wor. Bro. Dave Cumming which was capped by a presentation to R.Wor Bro. Marsh Irvine to mark his 50th Anniversary in Freemasonry.

After some years of non-visitation, bi-annual visitations with Lethbridge #39 were resumed in April 1976 with brethren of Concord Lodge and their wives going to Lethbridge.  The brethren raised two candidates to the Third Degree of Freemasonry at an afternoon meeting.  The evening saw a banquet at the Lethbridge Stampede Grounds with the brethren and wives of both Lodges enjoying a pleasant evening.

At the September, 1977 meeting, one of our members, V.Wor. Bro. Rabbi L.N. Ginsberg was invested by the Deputy Grand Master R.Wor. Bro. Bob Costigan as the Grand Chaplain.

Always eager for a trip to some other lodge, numerous Lodge brethren travelled to Cyprus Lodge at Three Hills where they exemplified the Fellowcraft Degree.

January 4th, 1979, saw the passing of our last living Charter Member.  Wor. Bro. Harold Cameron passed to the Grand Lodge Above at the age of 93.  He was a tireless Mason and active until near his passing.  A large number of brethren attended his funeral services.  all pallbearers were members of Concord Lodge.

1981 saw the 60th Anniversary of Concord Lodge.  The celebration was held in May with the Grand Master, M.Wor Bro. W.E. Curly Foster being present.  In recognition of the need to look to the future while celebrating the past, a "Side Bencher's" degree team, under the direction of Bro. (later W.Bro.) Lang Sloan passed two candidates to the second degree in an excellent fashion.  Also, a fifty year jewel was presented to Wo. Bro. G.J. Kelley by the Grand Master

A celebration banquet was held following the meeting with the Grand Master giving an address at that time.

September 7th 1983 saw the passing of a brother of the Hindu faith, Bro. Bob Sharma.  A large number of Lodge brethren attended the Service at the Queens Park Crematorium and our Worshipful Master, W.Bro. (later R.W. Bro.) Alex Richardson gave a eulogy on Bob's activities within the Masonic Fraternity.  An unusual event which was well received by all persons present at the service and a demonstration of the universality of Freemasonry.

In May of 1984, an afternoon meeting was followed by an open evening.  During the evening, both Job's Daughters and Demolay Chapters made presentations to the Brethren, their wives and friends which was followed by Mrs. Mary Houssain making the presentation of a ceremonial sword in memory of her late husband, Bro. Cliff Houssain whose sword it was.  Bro. Cliff had been a member of Concord Lodge for twenty three years until his passing in October, 1983.  This sword is used as the Tyler's sword in Concord Lodge.

1987 started off with a presentation of a 50 year jewel to R.Wor. Bro. Norm Lukes, a long time and active member of our Lodge.  The presentation was made by the Grand Master, M.Wor. Bro. Norm Oslund and Norm's son, Bro. Ken Lukes, was also in attendance.

A year and a month later in February 1988, additional 50 year presentations were made to V.Wor. Bro. Roy Austin and Wor. Bro. Stanley Knight.  However, the night proved to be a historic one for Concord Lodge as described in the Lodge Notice for the following month: 

The three principal officers of 1948 were photographed at their respective chairs.  V. Wor. Bro. Roy Austin, who was presented with his 50 year jewel, as Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Murray Lloy who was celebrating his 92nd birthday as Senior Warden and W. Bro. Stan Knight, what also received his 50 year jewel, as Junior Warden.  It was and historic evening and it is doubtful if we will ever again have the three principal officers sitting in their respective chairs forty years after their terms of office.

In October of 1988, W.Bro. Murray Lloy was presented with his 50 year jewel by the Grand Master, M.Wor. Bro. Dave Bruce.

The following year, in February 1989, Bro. Jack Michell was presented with his 50 year jewel by V.Wor. Bro. Bob Sharp.  This was indeed most timely, as Bro. Michell passed to the Grand Lodge above in December of that year.

Always the travellers, brethren and wives of Concord Lodge travelled by bus to Regina to pay a fraternal visit to Wascana #2 in that City on October 28th 1989.  This trip was arranged by our Worshipful Master Jim Kenny who travelled frequently to Regina and had visited this Lodge many times.  On arrival in Regina, we were hosted at an evening reception by members of Wascana Lodge and the following day, while Concord brethren raised a candidate to the Third Degree, their wives were entertained.  In the evening a most enjoyable banquet was held.  Concord Lodge was able to reciprocate the hospitality when brethren and wives from Wascana Lodge travelled to Calgary in September of the following year.

A short meeting was held in February 1990, followed by a banquet and a Roast of R.Wor. Bro. Hugh Young on the occasion of his 25th anniversary in Freemasonry.  Many "true" stories were told and a very enjoyable evening was had by all in attendance.

The travel urge got to the membership again in August 1991 when brethren and wives travelled by bus to Great Falls where we were met by a bus load from Wascana Lodge in Regina and where we had the opportunity to confer a Third Degree of Freemasonry on a candidate in the beautiful Great Falls Lodge Hall.

October 1991 saw the official visit of the Grand Master, M.Wor. Bro. Cal Shaver on the occasion of our 70th anniversary celebration.  The Third Degree of Freemasonry was conferred on four candidates at the afternoon meeting which was followed by a formal banquet.

The District Meeting held in November of 1991 was the last one for District 18 as a reorganization of the Masonic Districts had reduced the number and the decision had been made to give each District a name instead of a number.

Concord Lodge proposed the name Phoenix as the name of the new District.  The reason was that just as the Phoenix bird arose from its ashes so the new District arose from the ashes of the old.  Indeed as Canada Lodge #165 was re-joining this District after having been transferred from it in the 1970's, all of the bird's feathers were now in place.  Phoenix was adopted as the name of the new District.

October 9th to 12th, 1992, saw yet another bus trip for the brethren of Concord and their wives.  This time to the city of Spokane, Washington, where we conferred the third degree on Bro. John Westbury of our Lodge.  There was a large gathering of Masons from the Spokane area and beyond.  (In 1995, the author attended the Grand Lodge of Idaho and met a brother from that Grand Jurisdiction who was present at the meeting in Spokane).  The Saturday evening saw a banquet and the Sunday morning we attended at a different Lodge hall in Spokane for breakfast hosted by a local Bethel of Job's Daughters.

Recognizing the need for public awareness of the Fraternity, Concord Lodge held an Open House for family and friends on Saturday 5th March 1994.  The Grand Master, M. Wor. Bro. Myron Lusk was present on the occasion.  The large amount of planning which went into the evening was very obvious as it progressed with many lodge brethren taking an active part in the evening.  Although all brethren did an excellent job, one is worthy of note.  Wor. Bro. Jim Kenny gave a talk on the sensitive area of Masonic Symbols and Symbolism including the symbols within the Lodge.  The talk was clear, understandable and well presented.  This was one of the last times that W.Bro. Kenny presented in the Lodge as he passed away suddenly in October of 1994.

May of 1994 saw a trip to the Museum of the Regiments where a special tour had been arranged.  Two of our brethren had been heavily involved in developing one of the four museum areas in this Museum.  Both V.Wor.Bro. Alex McIntosh and V.Wor.Bro. Bob Sharp worked hard and long on this project and the brethren had an opportunity to see first hand the fruits of their labour.

In September, 1994 a dinner theatre evening was held in the Banquet Hall of the Temple (Freemason's Hall) with a first class meal being provided and the Movie "Mrs. Doubtfire" being shown.

Both 1995 and 1996 saw trips to the Rosebud Theatre for Dinner and Theatre.  The 1996 trip was most memorable with a bus load attending the production of Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" and then hitting a Spring storm on the way back to Calgary.  All the brethren were grateful that only the bus driver had to drive.

Overall the 75th year has been an unusual one in that our Worshipful Master suffered heart attacks after being installed in December 1995.  As a result, he has not had the opportunity to preside at a Lodge meeting during the first half of the year.  However, it is noteworthy that the strength of Concord Lodge is seen in the on-going operation of the Lodge by the remaining officers under the capable direction of the Senior Warden.

At this time, Concord Lodge boasts 126 members and is well set for the next quarter century.

Conclusion