Fonds PR-1757 - Freemasons Grand Lodge of British Columbia fonds

The first Freemasons' lodge in British Columbia was formed in 1860. Holding its 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 1962; 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.