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Freemasonry in Canada
1606-1871
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Spallumcheen Lodge No. 13, Lansdowne, 1890. |
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1606 |
The
so-called
Masonic Stone of 1606 was discovered near the settlement of
Port Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1827.
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1634 |
First
record of a freemason in Canada, then known as New France:
Lord Alexander, Viscount Canada, son of the first Earl of
Stirling, Scotland, Master of Work to King Charles I, founded a
colony of Scots on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Lord
Alexander was a member of Edinburgh Lodge No. 1 at Mary’s
Chapel, which has records dating from
1599 and — tradition maintains — was in existence in 1491.
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1738 |
First
masonic lodge in Canada is instituted at Annapolis, Nova Scotia.
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1843 |
Fort
Victoria is established to bolster Britain’s claim to
Vancouver’s Island.
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1854 |
October
25th. Lieutenant Alexander Dunn is awarded the Victoria Cross
for saving the lives of two men during the famous Charge of the
Light Brigade at Balaclava. Dunn, a freemason, is the first
Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
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1858 |
July 10th.
A
Victoria newspaper ad calls all interested freemasons to a
meeting with the object of forming a masonic lodge in Victoria.
The publisher of the paper is
Amor de Cosmos, a freemason who would later become the
second
premier of the province of British Columbia.
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1859 |
September
7th. The first masonic funeral in the Colony was held for Samuel
Hazeltine, Government Steamboat Inspector, who died from
injuries received in a marine accident at Victoria.
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1860 |
Victoria Lodge No. 1085, is formally
constituted in Victoria, in the colony of Vancouver’s Island.
Robert Burnaby, for whom Burnaby, B.C. is named, installs
the first officers. Russian born John Malowansky, a Victoria
news agent and tobacconist, is the first person to be made a
freemason in the colonies.
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1862 |
Thomas
Harris, a freemason, is elected the first mayor of Victoria.
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1867 |
The
Dominion of Canada is established on July 1st. Freemason
Sir John A. Macdonald becomes Canada’s first
Prime Minister.
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1871 |
United Colony of British Columbia joins
Confederation and becomes the Province of British Columbia.
October 21st. The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons of British Columbia is
founded in Victoria, British Columbia. The Grand Lodge is
consecrated and dedicated on December 26th, 1871. Israel Wood
Powell is the first Grand Master while Robert Burnaby becomes
the first Past Grand Master.
November 13th.
John Foster McCreight, the first Deputy Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of British Columbia, becomes the first premier of
the Province of British Columbia.
Israel Wood Powell, for whom Powell River, B.C. and Powell
Street in Vancouver are named, refused the offer to become the
first Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia and becomes the
first Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Freemason John Jessop becomes the first Superintendent of
Education. |
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