Lodge
Southern Cross #44 AF & AM
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon
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44 YEARS HISTORY OF by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller
THIRTY-FIRST MASTER On October 9th, 1936, Brother Lionel Guselle was Installed the Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller, Installing Master. The Prince of Wales Lodge of which W.Bro. Withers was the Secretary paid a Fraternal visit. During the year Bert A. Emery became a member of the Lodge, and Bro. W. J. Brown the revered Tyler, was made a Life Member. A son of W.Bro. Simmons was Initiated a Freemason. A son of W.Bro. Simmons was Initiated a Freemason. King George VI was crowned and a Pledge of Allegiance was given by the brethren of the Lodge and recorded. Bro. Rev. A. E. Redman lectured on "The Spirit of Christmas". R.W.Bro. John Cowan, D.D.D.G., of that year visited officially. M.W.Bro. Frank Lindsay Pools, Grand Master of Washington, was honoured with Life Membership in the Lodge. On July 12th the Lodge conducted the last sad rites for W.Bro. J. W. Prescott, the fourth Master of the Lodge, and for some years the Secretary, a Charter Member. The Freemasons in the crew of the "Niagara" paid a fraternal visit.
THIRTY-SECOND MASTER On October 8th, 1937, Bro. Harry Adams was Installed Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller. Distinguished visitors were: M.W.Bro. Rev. J. W. Henderson, Grand Master of British Columbia, M.W.Bro. Frank Pools, Grand Master of Washington, and R.W.Bro. A. E. Walker, D.D.G.M. A few days before Christmas the Lodge conducted the last sad rites for Bro. William Rosie the devoted Tyler. Bro. William Queen Stirling became a member of the Lodge. The Lodge paid a visit to George Washington Lodge in Seattle and exemplified the Australian work to an interested company of over 300 Masons. The resignation of M.W.Bro. Dr. DeWolf-Smith, Grand Secretary, was reported and M.W.Bro. Frank McKee appointed in his stead. W.Bro. Withers was congratulated on celebrating the 59th Anniversary of his wedding. April 22nd, "J.J." Night was observed when Bro. J. C. Woodside was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. The death was reported of Mrs. W. C. Kingsford-Smith, Sydney, Australia, wife of the first Secretary of the Lodge and mother of the famous flyer, Sir Charles KingsfordSmith. April 21st the Lodge conducted the last sad rites for Bro. Charles Joseph Barker. Fernhill Lodge Tacoma Washington paid a fraternal visit May 27th.
THIRTY-THIRD MASTER On October 14th, 1938, W.Bro. Fred Simmons was Installed Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller, Installing Master. The D.D.G.M., R.W.Bro. W. J. Moore was present on an official visit. Empire Lodge paid a fraternal visit when Remembrance Day was observed and M.W.Bro. Rev. A. U DePencier, Archbishop, delivered the address "Armistice Day and 20 Years After." W.Bro. Charles Ouimette affiliated with the Lodge and King David Lodge paid a fraternal visit. Bro. Royden McDougall Campbell was initiated and Mt. Lebanon paid a fraternal visit. The Worshipful Master delivered a Lecture "The Five Points of Fellowship". On May 26th, "J. J." night, R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller was presented with an oil painting of himself done by Bro. David Blair, an old member of Lodge Southern Cross. Bro. Rev. George Hamilton affiliated. The Lodge conducted the last sad rites for Brother Albert Barker.
THIRTY-FOURTH MASTER On October 13th, W.Bro. Carl Bingham was installed Worshipful Master by W.Bro. Simmons. R.W.Bro. Clarence Pratt, D.D.G.M., paid an Official Visit. The death was reported of W.Bro. Harold Kingsford-Smith in California, the second Master of the Lodge. Bro. Rev. George Hamilton delivered a lecture "The Scottish Bard as a Freemason". "J. J." night, February 23rd, R.W.Bro. Mulligan presented a High Twelve Bell to strike twelve. The Lodge mourned the death of M.W.Bro. Rev. Dr. J. S. Henderson, P.G.M. W.Bro. C. G. Gilpin delivered a Lecture "The Evolution of the Telescope" and R.W.Bro. Healey delivered a Lecture "Freemasonry and the Fifth Column". Fernhill Lodge Tacoma paid a faterna1 visit and exemplified the work of the E. A. Degree American form. W.Bro. Stickney was Installed Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge.
THIRTY-FIFTH MASTER On October 11th, 1940, W.Bro. John Edward Graham was Installed Worshipful Master by W.Bro. Carl Bingham, in the presence of a large contingent from George Washington Lodge, Seattle. R.W.Bro. R. A. Leigh, D.D.G.M., paid an official visit. The Lodge mourned the death of Bro. Ross Smither, a young member of the Lodge, a Flying Officer shot down over the City of London, buried in Rockwood Cemetery, England. English papers paid a high tribute to his memory and his bravery. The Padre who buried him wrote "We all loved him and when he went anywhere he carried a cheeriness which did us all good. All Canada ought to be proud of him too for helping to save humanity's cause." Mrs. Vincent Massey, wife of the High Commissioner, wrote also a fitting tribute to his memory. Southern Cross is very proud of such a worthy son of the Lodge. At this time Bro. Rev. George Hamilton was serving as Chaplain in the Canadian forces. The Lodge was called upon by Tsimpsean Lodge, Prince Rupert, to conduct the last sad rites for a Past Master of that Lodge, W.Bro. Thomas McClymont, Mayor of that City. M.W.Bro. A. M. Manson, P.G.M., read the burial service. George Washington Lodge paid a surprise fraternal visit and Brother William Donald Young was Initiated into Freemasonry. W.Bro. W. D. Wallace, Prince Arthur Lodge, delivered a lecture, "Bridge Building in Palestine". W.Bro. Stickney, the indefatigable Secretary, was called away north on duty and W.Bro. Guselle was appointed Secretary to carry on. Kilwinning and Empire Lodges visited and also George Washington Lodge when W.Bro. George Main of that Lodge delivered a Lecture, "The March of Militant Masonry". At "J. J.'s" night, June 13th, each Master told of his experiences during his year of Office as Worshipful Master. At Grand Lodge, R.W.Bro. Healey was appointed D.D.G.M. The Worshipful Master was called out of town on duty and W.Bro. Bingham took up the reins of office in his absence, and one of the fraternal visits he made was to Grandview Lodge and the Banquet to the Grand Master at the Georgia Hotel.
THIRTY-SIXTH MASTER On October 10th, 1941, R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller, the First Master, was Installed Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. H. E. McDonald who was Worshipful Master of Cascade Lodge at the time Lodge Southern Cross was Instituted, and was present on that occasion. It was a great evening this Second Installation after 36 years, and many were the congratulations and good wishes. R.W.Bro. Lawrence Healey, D.D.G.M., visited on the occasion. The Lodge attended a Reception honouring the brethren from H.M.S. "Warspite", a Lodge Meeting, and a Banquet. R.W.Bro. Rev. Charles Batzold, Grand Chaplain, delivered the Christmas Message. Death was reported of Brother Isaac Thomas Morris, of the widow of the late Brother Rosie, and of the wife of Brother Hugh Steen. Brother Herby Richardson attended Lodge in a wheel chair to pay his respects to the Worshipful Master. This was the last time he ever attended. A New Year's Dance was held which netted but $33.00. It always netted over $100.00. The death of Past Grand Master A. McC. Creery was mourned as well as that of Bro. John Warden at Windsor. He was an old member of the Lodge, and that of M.W.Bro. the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of England, killed in an airplane accident. Fraternal visits were made to Kilwinning, Trinity, and Composite Lodges and Whatcom Lodge from Bellingham visited on Past Masters' night when there was a Roll Call and Past Masters gave their reminiscences and W.Bro. Hon. R. H. Maitland delivered a lecture "Masonry and the War". "J. J." celebrated the 50th Anniversary as a Past Master and was presented with a Victory Bond for $50.00. The members of the Australian Club were entertained in the dining room when movie pictures of Australian life were shown. Attended a Church Parade with Unity Lodge and also a Church Service at Chilliwack, Rev. A. R. Redman, a former Chaplain of the Lodge, officiating. The Scottish Rite entertained the Lodge at dinner in the dining room.
THIRTY-SEVENTH MASTER October 9th, 1942, Bro. Bertram A. Emery was Installed Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller. R.W.Bro. Russell Oliver D.D.G.M. officially visited. In November the Lodge conducted the last sad Rites for Brother Milton Oppenheimer, one of the first Initiates of the Lodge. Britannia Lodge of Victoria paid a fraternal visit and W.Bro. Freeman Smith with a party of brethren of the Flying Corps visited and were entertained by the Lodge, and later the Lodge paid a fraternal visit to Britannia Lodge in Victoria. The Lodge deeply mourned the death of Wor. Bro. G. W. C. Withers, the beloved Secretary of the Lodge for many years, and also conducted the last sad Rites for Brother Frederick Hunt, and the report was received that a son of Brother Roy Perry had made the supreme sacrifice in Germany. May 28th was another big "J. J.'s" night when the Worshipful Masters of his other Lodges occupied the chairs and raised Brother Cecil Steatlan to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
THIRTY-EIGHTH MASTER On October 8th, 1943, Brother Stanley Snyder was Installed the Worshipful Master by W.Bro. Bert Emery. R.W.Bro. John McGlachan, D.D.G.M., made an official visit. W.Bro. Bert Emery was presented with a Past Master's Jewel and Bro. Redman for Mrs. Emery presented him with a Souvenir Bible. W.Bro. Freeman Smith with brethren from the Air Force visited and presented the Lodge with a fine Union Jack. Britannia, Composite, and Kilwinning Lodges paid fraternal visits. It is reported that R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller and Wor. Bro. Maurice Hodgson were welcomed after an absence through illness. W.Bro. Stickney delivered a lecture on "The Alaska Highway". R.W.Bro. Mulligan presented the Lodge with a sword for the Inner Guard. Bro. Rev. Angus Miller delivered a lecture on "Pathagorus". "J. J.'s" night was held May 30th and a banquet was held at Stanley Park. Jimmy McDougall affiliated with the Lodge. M.W.Bro. H. H. Watson, M.W.Bro. F. J. Burd, and R.W.Bro. Hugh McDonald, who attended the first meeting of the Lodge, were present. The Lodge mourned the death in California of W.Bro. William Miller, the third Worshipful Master of the Lodge.
THIRTY-NINTH MASTER On October 13th 1944, Bro. William Queen Stirling was Installed Worshipful Master by the retiring Master, W.Bro. Stanley Snyder. R.W.Bro. John D. Moffitt, D.D.G.M., officially visited, and George Washington Lodge, Seattle, paid a fraternal visit. Bro. Rev. George Hamilton delivered a lecture on "Remembrance Day" and Grandview Lodge paid a fraternal visit, as did also Empire Lodge. Bro. William J. Brown, the faithful Tyler, was presented with a purse and a Life Membership Certificate in the Lodge on his 80th birthday and the Lodge was called upon to mourn his death shortly afterwards and conferred the last sad Rites for him on August 11th, M.W.Bro. Rev. Dr. J. G. Brown officiating as Chaplain. The death of Brother President Franklin Roosevelt was reported, for whom the whole civilized world mourned, and W.Bro. Pete Anderson died October 14th and R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller conducted the last sad Rites. George Washington Lodge paid a fraternal visit and exemplified the work of the Master Mason Degree according to the American work. W.Bro. J. W. Rainey from the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was a guest of the Lodge. A visit was paid to Bellingham Bay Lodge accompanied by the Grand Master of British Columbia. Bro. Herby Richardson was reported very ill.
FORTIETH MASTER On October 12th, 1945, Brother Ray M. Kerr was Installed Worshipful Master by R.W.Bro. J. J. Miller. R.W.Bro. L. A. Howe, D.D.G.M., paid an official visit. The Worshipful Master had a busy year visiting Sister Lodges, namely Ancient Light, Mount Hermon, Zion, Prince Arthur, Burrard, Vancouver, Vimy, Western Gate, Lewis, St. James, Plantagenet, Kilwinning, Cascade, Melrose, and travelled to Seattle to visit George Washington Lodge and exemplified Southern Cross Master Mason Degree to a packed Lodge, and received visits from Zion, Western Gate, Britannia, and Delta Lodges. The Lodge also attended Divine Service at Chilliwack, Bro. Rev. A. R. Redman, a former Chaplain of the Lodge, officiating. During the year the Lodge was called upon to mourn the death of W.Bro. Hon. R. L. Maitland, a Past Master of the Lodge, Bro. B. Franks, Bro. W. H. Dumas, Bro. H. McLean, and Bro. Herby Richardson, the latter being an invalid for some years. During the year the Lodge conferred no less than 45 Degrees, a very busy year. "J. J.'s" night was another big night, many attending who were present at the first meeting of the Lodge. The Anniversary Dinner and Dance was also a big night, no less than 250 sitting down to dinner. There were guests present from Seattle and Tacoma. It was the 40th Anniversary. The Worshipful Master represented the Lodge at Grand Lodge at Victoria, but unfortunately was taken ill and had to return home. March 29th, W.Bro. Mulligan presided at Past Masters' night, when the Entered Apprentice Degree was conferred upon Mr. William Milbourne and Mr. Francis P. Robinson.
Introduction
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© 2006-2008, Lodge Southern Cross No. 44, BC&Y |
