No history of Kerrisdale Lodge would be complete without some reference
to the origin of Its name.
About 1905 the B.C. Electric Co. leased from the C.P.R. the line running
through what is now known as Kerrisdale, to transport cannery workers to
and from Steveston. The various stops along the way were mostly named after
the Districts whey were in. A Mr. R.H. Sperling, the General Manager of
the B.C. Electric, visiting friends, the McKlnnons, who had settled In
the area we now know as 42nd Avenue, asked Mrs. McKlnnon to give a name
to the stop at Wilson road nearby. She suggested Kerrisdale after her old
family home Kerrydale,in Garlock, Scotland.
Zion Lodge No. 77 was constituted in 1913 and by 1924 had grown to
an extent that prompted some members to think of creating a new Lodge in
the district. But nothing was done for another four years, when Zion Lodge
had sufficient members and finances to warrant such action. Then, in 1928,
a group of members decided to petition and proceed towards obtaining a
dispensation to formanother lodge, to be known as Kerrisdale Lodge.
Prime movers of this action were R.W. Bros.Charles Bailey and R.L.
Rice, W.Bros R.H. Carson and H.W. Nye, Bros.H.S.Abbott,F.G.J.Bezsau, W.T.Ewing,
E.A. Gibbs, John Hall, John Hall Jr., L.A. Howe,S.G. Percy Martin, John
Muir, A.D. McKay, T.A. Kierahan, Neil M. McNeil, J. Russell Oliver and
Sldney A. Smith.
This petition, bearing 63 signatures, was presented to Zion Lodge for
waiver on June 5th 1928, and on being approved was endorsed by the then
District Deputy Grand Master (R.W. Bro. John Warwlck). Institution was
delayed for confirmation of some documents and it was not until January
8th 1929 that this finally took place.The Charter from the Grand Lodge
was granted at their communication of June 20th 1929 and the new lodge
numbered 117 on the Register of the Grand Lodge.
Later that same year the great depression struck. Anyone who lived
through that decade, now known as the "dirty thirties", will
never forget the profound and universal effect this unhappy period had
upon everyone. We can only guess at the forbearance and fortitude of these
early builders in keeping the fledgling Lodge alive In very difficult times.
The first emergent meeting following Constitution was held September
24th 1929 when Mr. L.E.C. Manley was the first to be initiated as an Entered
Apprentice into Kerrisdale Lodge. Interestingly, Lodge Hall rent at this
time was $20.00 per month; the Secretary was given $10.00 per month, and
lodge dues were $10.00 per year, payable half-yearly.Times, as Dickens
might say, were very hard and getting harder. In December 1930 it was proposed
that tea and coffee only be served at refreshments; the savings to be donated
to the Masonic Service Bureau. This gives some Idea of the difficulties
of the period.
But by 1931 the tide seems to have turned - the secretary's honorarium
raised to $15.00 per month and in 1932 annual dues Increased to $20.00
for the year.The election of officers In 1933 was postponed due to the
Illness of the Worshipful Master elect, and there also was a problem in
finding an organist (has anything changed?). A call was made to masons
in the area to fill this position - at $1.00 per meeting!!! Late that same
year the bank balance stood at $80.00, with outstanding dues at $230.00
- a secretary's nightmare at any time.
Conditions must have worsened during 1934 and 1935 - rent was reduced
to $12.00 a month and Secretary stipend cut to $10.00.But life, particularly
Masonic life, must go on. In 1933 W. Bro. S.G. Percy Martin became the
first member of the Lodge to be appointed D.D.G.M. and In 1934 R.W. Bro.
R.L. Rice (our first W.M.) was honoured by being elected a Life Member.
Even the weather seemed to be against them then - in early 1935 an
emergent meeting had to be canceled because of heavy snow, and later that
same year no special invitations were issued for the installation ceremony
- to keep down costs.
In 1937 W. Bro. W.G. Kitchen, the Lodge's first chaplain, became Grand
Chaplain and the Lodge received new regalia, in memory of the late R.W.
Bro. R.L. Rice.Nevertheless, the Lodge flourished, and during the decade
of the Thirties initiated 19 new members and affiliated another 13 - proof
that under the greatest adversity masonry can thrive.
Even before the great depression ended the Second World War burst upon
the world - one great tragedy after another. In October 1939 Bro. L.G.
Swann became the first Initiate of Kerrisdale Lodge to be installed as
W.M. of the Lodge. On December 9th 1941, the second day of the war with
Japan and the second night of the official black-out, 15 members attended
lodge, doubtless In a state of high excitement. Our original secretary,
W. Bro.J. Russell Oliver was made D.D.G.M. and in 1943 W. Bro.K.Charles
appointed Grand Steward.
On January 11th 1944, the 15th Anniversary of the Institution of the
Lodge, 14 founding,10 Initiate and 10 affiliate members attended. Peace
in Europe was announced May 8th 1945, the day of a Lodge meeting. Although
a national holiday had been declared, 23 members attended and prayers of
thanks said. Seven members of Kerrisdale Lodge served in the armed forces
during the war, thankfully all survived. That same year Bro. S.A. Wamsley
became the first affiliated member to be Installed as W.M. During the six
war years our Lodge initiated 16 and Affiliated 15 new members - a remarkable
record. With peace came post-war recovery and recovery for the Lodge as
well. In the period 1946 - 1950, just over 5 years, a total of 46 initiates
and 35 affiliates joined (15 in 1950 alone).
In June 1947, Grand Lodge changed the districts around and Kerrisdale
found itself in the new District No. 20, and that same year for the first
time, a new secretary was elected - W· Bro. E.E. Barnes. In 1948,
W. Bro. A.D. McKay, another of our founders, was appointed D.D.G.M. of
District No. 20 and at Roll Call night of 1949, 58% of the total membership
attended and over 90% were accounted for. Then in 1950, W. Bro. James E.
Lord was appointed Grand Standard Bearer. The Fifties saw further remarkable
growth of the Lodge. In this time, no fewer than 80 were initiated and
another 16 affiliated. How, one now wonders, did they manage it all. R.W.
Bro. J. Russell Oliver was elected a Llfe Member. In 1951 and in 1952 several
members from the Lodge were prominent in the creation of Evergreen Lodge
#148 and a member of Kerrisdale Lodge, W. Bro. S.A. Walmsley, was its first
W.M.
In 1953 M.W. Bro. Laurence Healey and R.W. Bro. C. Bailey were elected
Life Members.W. Bro. W.H. Jamieson was appointed D.D.G.M. In 1954, and
was actually invested on our 25th Anniversary; commencing his duties immediately
by paying his first official visit to his own Lodge. July 12th 1956 was
a very sad day for Kerrisdale Lodge; R.W. Bro. J. Russell Oliver P.G.L.A.
This revered brother, who probably more than any other was instrumental
in the founding and early nurturing of the Lodge, was Its first secretary,
and remained so, with the exception of the years he took to progress through
the chairs of Zion Lodge No. 77, until he retired as secretary in 1947.
He was also at one time Grand Treasurer and acting Grand Secretary. A sad
and great loss. This year also saw the appointment of Bro. John T. Freeman
as Secretary of the Vancouver Masonic Service Bureau.
In 1959, V.W. Bro. James E. Lord was appointed to his second Grand
Lodge office - Grand Pursuivant. Although the decade of the Sixties was
hectic with activities, the Lodge now had settled down to a steady programme
in a reasonably harmonious world. No longer the traumas and alarms of economic
upheavals and war; no longer the bustle of post-war activity. And perhaps
a reflection of changing times and radically different attitudes was the
drastic reduction in the number of initiates and affiliates, 37 and 14
respectively.
In 1962, W. Bro. Horace Evoy was appointed D.D.G.M. and In 1964 Bro.
W.G. King became the youngest W.M, of Kerrisdale Lodge - one day before
his 3oth. Birthday. W. Bro. Stanley G. Ford, in June 1969, became the first
Initiate of the Lodge to be appointed D.D.G.M. and that same year Bro.
P.W. Barton attained his 50th year in Freemasonrv. To celebrate the 40th
Anniversary of the Lodge in September 1969, ladies were admitted after
a short meeting and with the aid of a professional musician who doubled
as M.C., enjoyed a dance demonstration, music and singing.
Early the next year, on February 20th, 1970; Kerrisdale Lodge and Freemasonry
lost a great and good friend In the passing of M.W. Bro. Laurence Healey.
He was Life Member and had Installed every Worshipful Master of the Lodge
since its constitution. His passing caused much sorrow. R.W. Bro. W.H;
Jamieson reached his 50th year In Freemasonry In 1971.Another member of
Kerrisdale Lodge, Bro. John T. Freeman, was President of the Masonic Relief
Association of the U.S.A. and Canada In 1972 and 1973. Also In 1973 Bro.
William -M. Miller was elected a Life Member. A 50-year button was presented
to V.W. Bro. James E. Lord In 1972 and in 1974 the Lodge celebrated his
90th birthday with a cake and the presentation of a scroll by M.W. Bro.
J.H. Nordan, P.G.M.
In 1974 also, W. Bro. P. Rive achieved his 50th year In Freemasonry.
W. Bro. John C. McGregor was appointed D.D.G.M. In 1976, and the following
year W. Bro. Fred C. Blades became the first to serve as W.M. for the second
time. In 1978, W. Bro. Vernon Halverson was elected W.M. of the Vancouver
Lodge of Instruction, Education and Research, and enjoyed a most successful
year in office.
By the beginning of 1979 three charter members remained, but early
in year two of them - V.W. Bro. James E. Lord and W. Bro. Philip Rive P.G.L.A.
V.W. Bro. Lord attended lodge regularly until a few months before his passing
at the age of 94.
The Lodge lost another of its revered older members In April 1979 with
death of M.W. Bro. Rev. Canon G.H. Crane Williams. He was In his 97th year,
other sad but not unforeseen loss. Bro. John T. Freeman has completed a
quarter century as Secretary of the Vancouver Masonic Service Bureau -
and is still going strong and successfully.
To date this leaves Kerrisdale Lodge with only one surviving charter
member, Bro. W.S. Anderson, who lives on Vancouver Island and cannot travel.
Long-time friend M.W. Bro. W. Tyre Is still very active. This distinguished
Brother was D.D.G.M. of District 15 when Kerrisdale Lodge was constituted
a remembers the occasion well. At present, in mid-1979 Kerrisdale Lodge
finds Itself facing difficulties common, It seems, to the Craft, as well
as to many other organizations.
Membership (now about half the level of the late 1950's) and attendance
has fallen sharply and very few new members have been Initiated or affiliated
during the 1970's. Of necessity, officers are being "re-cycled"
and filling chairs is a constant problem. As a result of these changing
circumstances, commencing in January 1979 only one meeting a month Is now
held on the second Tuesday, combining emergent and regular meetings whenever
necessary.
But Lodge activities, although somewhat curtailed, are still performed
to the high standards set in earlier days, and despite what are hopefully
temp setbacks, confidence Is high that Kerrisdale Lodge will flourish and
celebrate many more anniversaries.
