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PIONEER SQUARE - MASONIC INTERMENTS

Andrew Phillips tombstone, Pioneer Square, Victoria, B.C.Pioneer Square (known originally as the Old Burying Ground) is located on Quadra Street between Meares St. and Rockland Ave. in downtown Victoria. It is Victoria's second oldest cemetery - the oldest was originally at what is now the busy downtown intersection of Douglas and Johnson streets - and was used for burials between 1855 and 1873. The bodies from the original cemetery at Douglas and Johnson Streets were disinterred and removed for reburial in other locations, possibly Pioneer Square or Ross Bay Cemetery. Burials in Pioneer Square were discontinued after Ross Bay Cemetery opened in 1873.

Approximately 1300 bodies were interred in Pioneer Square during its 18 years of operation. These include many well known names among Victoria's early pioneer families and residents.

After its closure in 1873, Pioneer Square was neglected and allowed to deteriorate.

In the mid 20th century, the City of Victoria removed most of the tombstones from Pioneer Square and placed them in storage. Other tombstones were moved from their original locations to a small area on the eastern side of the cemetery.

All the tombstones that were removed from Pioneer square are now in the custody of the Old Cemeteries Society, a non profit organization devoted to preserving old cemeteries.

Several Freemasons are known to be buried in Pioneer Square. Masonic tomb markers left in their original locations are those of:

 

The tombstone of Brother James Orr was moved to the eastern section of the cemetery, so although Brother James Orr's tombstone is still in Pioneer Square, his grave is now unmarked and its location unknown.

Freemasons whose Pioneer Square tomb stones were removed and placed in storage and who are therefore now in unmarked graves with unknown locations are:

 

[Note: this list may not be complete. We will add additional names if or when we discover them.]

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Be sure to check our Announcements & Upcoming Events Page to stay up to date on what is going on at Temple Lodge No. 33 and neighbouring Lodges............

 

 

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WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S MESSAGES

Go to our Worshipful Master's Page for the latest announcements from the East.....................

 

 

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HISTORY & HERITAGE

Temple Lodge, No.33 was formed in December 1899 and has a long and honourable history in Duncan and the surrounding Cowichan Valley.

Our Lodge History page contains links to a lot of historical information about Temple Lodge and its members.....................

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HISTORIANS, GENEOLOGISTS & OTHER RESEARCHERS

Many historians, geneologists and other researchers visit our site. We have included a lot of information of interest to researchers and will be adding more over time.

Our Lodge History page has links to historical information about Temple Lodge History, our Historic Membership Lists, Principal Officers, the Vancouver Island Masonic History Project and much more.......

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DUNCAN MASONIC TEMPLE

The Masonic Temple in Duncan, B.C. was built by Temple Lodge members in 1912 and has been a downtown Duncan landmark ever since.

Here is more information on the Duncan Masonic Temple and its history.....

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HISTORIC BUILDINGS & TEMPLE LODGE MEMBERS

There are a number of local historic buildings in Duncan, Mill Bay and the Cowichan Valley built by, or for, or otherwise connected to, Temple Lodge, No. 33 members or other Freemasons.

Here are some of them.......

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VANCOUVER ISLAND MASONIC HISTORY PROJECT

The Vancouver Island Masonic History Project is an ongoing volunteer effort, coordinated by Temple Lodge No. 33, to document the rich heritage of Freemasons and Freemasonry on Vancouver Island.

 

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MASONIC EVENT CALENDARS

Here are links to Masonic Event Calendars for Vancouver Island and other areas through British Columbia & Yukon:

|| Vancouver Island || Greater Vancouver || B.C. Interior & Yukon ||

 

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LODGE SECRETARY'S PAGE

In Masonic Lodges, the Lodge Secretary is responsible for all matters of administration. We have a Lodge Secretary's Page containing contact information and other information about Lodge administration and communications

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GRAND LODGE OF B.C. & YUKON

The Grand Lodge of B.C. & Yukon has an excellent Masonic website, with links to e_Bee (the online Bulletin), Masonic Event Calendars, Masonic History, Answers To Our Critics, Freemasonry In B.C., Masonic Bulletin and much more.........

 

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INTERESTING CONNECTIONS

During research or travels we often come across Interesting Connections to Masons and Freemasonry. Our Interesting Connections Page has Masonic connections uncovered by members of Temple Lodge, No.33, like Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, shown at left.......................

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MUSIC BY MASONS - BOOKS BY MASONS

Masonic musicians and composers range from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Howlin' Wolf. Writers include Rudyard Kipling. For music fans and book lovers, here are some links to the works of Masonic musicians, composers, movie makers and writers..............

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Copyright: Temple Masonic Association 2015