The first Freemasons' lodge in British Columbia was formed in 1860. Holding its 19 March 1859 charter from the Grand Lodge of England, the lodge was styled Victoria Lodge No. 1085 E.R. [English Registry]. It was followed by Union Lodge No. 1201 E.R., formed at New Westminster in 1861. During the colonial period seven other lodges were established on Vancouver Island and the mainland. The lodges were: Vancouver Lodge No. 421 S.C. [Scottish Constitution; i.e. chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland], established in Victoria in 1862; Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 E.R. and Caledonia Lodge No. 508 S.C. (both formed in Nanaimo in 1867); British Columbia Lodge No. 1187 E.R. (Victoria, 1867); Cariboo Lodge No. 469 S.C. (Barkerville, 1867); Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 491 S.C. (Burrard Inlet, 1869); and Quadra Lodge No. 508 S.C. (Victoria, 1870). In October 1871 representatives from the various lodges agreed to establish an overall governing body for Freemasonry in the province: the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of British Columbia. Dr. Israel Wood Powell was elected first Grand Master. A new constitution, acknowledging both the English and Scottish rituals was adopted and affiliated lodges were renumbered in accordance with a separate British Columbia Registry [BCR]. Thus, Victoria No. 1085 became Victoria Lodge No. 1 BCR; Vancouver No. 421 S.C. became Vancouver Lodge No. 2 BCR, and so forth. The records of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia form the bulk of MS-0002. However, the collection also includes records of various affiliated lodges, correspondence of the Vancouver Lodge of Perfection (The Scottish Rite), account books of Masonic temple associations, as well as historical notes on Freemasonry in British Columbia. Because of its disparate nature, the collection has been organized and arranged under several distinct categories: I. GRAND LODGE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Includes general correspondence (1852-1939), minute books and porch books i.e. attendance books (1868-1917), Board of Benevolence correspondence (1923-1938), applications for initiations (1953-1956), and financial statements (1936-1955). Also includes early records of Mt. Hermon Lodge (formed in Moodyville, 1869 and relocated in Vancouver, 1886). II. MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS Mainly correspondence, minutes, and financial records of Vancouver Masonic Temple Association (1910-1927) and Victoria Masonic Temple Association (1877-1962). These associations were legal entities having responsibility for the halls and meeting rooms used by the various lodges in Victoria and Vancouver. III. INDIVIDUAL LODGES A. Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1 BCR (formed by the amalgamation of Victoria Lodge No. 1 and British Columbia Lodge No. 5 on 29 Mar 1877) includes original correspondence and minutes of Victoria Lodge No. 1085 E.R. (1860) and British Columbia Lodge No. 1187 E.R. (1867); B. Vancouver and Quadra Lodge No. 2 BCR [Victoria] (formed by the amalgamation of Vancouver Lodge No. 2 and Quadra Lodge No. 8 on 10 Mar 1877) includes records of predecessor lodges, Vancouver No. 421 S.C. (1862) and Quadra No. 508 S.C. (1870); C. Ionic Lodge No. 19 BCR [Chilliwack] minute books, 1893-1958. [Transferred to Chilliwack Archives, Oct 2000]; D. United Services Lodge No. 24 BCR [Esquimalt] correspondence, minute books, etc., 1893-1960; E. North Star Lodge No. 30 BCR [Fort Steele] minute books, pense books, miscellaneous correspondence, 1899-1942; F. Tuscan Lodge No. 39 BCR [Trout Lake] minute and porch books, 1903-1921. IV. VANCOUVER LODGE OF PERFECTION (THE SCOTTISH RITE) Records of the Grand Secretary and Registrar: Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Valley of Vancouver), 1927-1945. V. MANUSCRIPT AND HISTORICAL NOTES ABOUT FREEMASONRY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Manuscripts, indices, and notes gathered by John T. Marshall, Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge. Much of this material was used in the writing of Marshall's History of Grand Lodge of British Columbia, 1871-1970 (Victoria: Grand Lodge of British Columbia, AF & AM, 1971). Draft histories of freemasonry by Robie Reid and W.G. Gamble.

Cornelius Bryant emigrated from England in 1856. He taught school in Nanaimo from 1857 to 1870, and then became a Methodist minister, serving in that capacity at Nanaimo, at several places in the Lower Mainland and Lower Fraser Valley, and at Bella Bella, before retiring in 1893. Records consist of correspondence, 1859-1895, including letters of introduction, letters inward concerning family matters and expenses, letters outward concerning the New Westminster congregation and mission work among Natives in the Nanaimo area, and a letterbook, 1870-1895; diaries, 19 August 1856 - 1 February 1857, 1 January 1857 - 6 January 1860 [A01745] and 1 June 1895 - 31 December 1902 (in letterbook, 1870-1895); sermon notes; scrapbook.

This volume contains miscellaneous court records, 1884-1912. County Court level: plaint and procedure book, 1884-1890; cash book, 1894-1912; naturalization register, 1884-1897; record book, 1884-1904; sheriff's book, 1884-1893; fee book, 1884-1893; bench book, 1884-1893; debt attachment book, 1892-1894. Small Debts Court level: cash book, 1905-1909. Police Court level: receipts, 1903. Magistrate's Court level: fees for magistrate, 1903. The volume also serves as a record book for Sumas County Court 1884-1893.

This series consists of declarations in support of applications for land formerly within the limits reserved for purposes of the "Sumas Dyking Act, 1878", for the years 1887-1888. Each declaration is related to one individual. Declarations would have been submitted as part of the process of applying to pre-empt land in the Sumas area.

Series consists of one bench book for Chilliwack County Court civil and Supreme Court chambers cases heard before Judge William Norman (W.N.) Bole between 1889 and 1891. The volume includes records relating to cases heard at his residence in New Westminster. It also frequently includes his reasons for judgement.

Most of this volume is a cash book for the sale of law stamps, 1951-1959 (p.34-219). It is also the Debt Attachment book (indexed), 1892-1895 (p.1-15) & 1910 (p.28-29). Records relating to expenses and results from the "1900 Provincial Election for the Riding of Chilliwack" (p.17-20) and expenses of the "Provincial Election - Chilliwack Electoral District, 1907" (p. 21-24).

Pages from a plaint and procedure book outlining the opening ceremonies for the Chilliwack Court House, 1894.

Series consists of Chilliwack County Court plaint and procedure books (1898-1977) as well as a Small Debts Court cause book (1903-1907), a list of naturalizations (1913), and a list of probates (1913). Indexes are included for some volumes.

Plaint and procedure books contain primarily civil cases. The volume covering 1970-1977 contains primarily criminal cases, including appeals and cases under the Speedy Trials Act.

Series consists of two bench books for Chilliwack County Court cases heard before Judge William Norman (W.N.) Bole between August 1898 and Apr 1905. Volume 1 also include entries from the Chilliwack Small Debts Court between 1898 and 1902.