Home > Vancouver Island Masonic History Project > Cemeteries > Cowichan Valley Cemeteries > St. Mary's Somenos

St. Mary's Somenos Anglican Cemetery, North Cowichan, B.C.

St. Mary's Anglican Cemetery, Somenos is located on Somenos Road, North Cowichan, B.C., land donated to the Anglican Church by the pioneering Drinkwater family in 1874.

An Anglican Church, St. Mary's Somenos, was built on the site in 1874. In 1909 the original church was torn down and replaced with a new church building.

The second church stood on the site until 1970, when the Anglican Church deconsecrated the church and donated the building and contents to the Town of Port Renfrew. The church building was then moved to its present site in Port Renfrew.

At this time, the Vancouver Island Masonic History Project is only aware of twelve Masonic interments in St. Mary's, Somenos. One of these was a Past Grand Master. Six of these were Past Masters of Temple Lodge, No. 33 in Duncan, B.C. These Past Masters include a Charter Member of Temple Lodge, No. 33 and two former Mayors of Duncan.

 

 

 

Here is a list of the Masonic interments we are currently aware of in St. Mary's Somenos Anglican Cemetery:

The first grave is that of Samuel Robinson (1856-1928 ), a Charter Member and Past Master of Temple Lodge No. 33, Duncan, B.C.

Samuel Robinson was a builder and the VIMHP is aware of one extant building in Duncan, B.C that was built by Wor. Brother Robinson. This building is at 126 Ingram Steet in downtown Duncan and is now known as the "Green Door.". It was originally built in 1908 by W. Bro. Robinson for another member of Temple Lodge, Wor. Brother A.H. Peterson. The building currently contains several offices, including the local constituency office of the area's present Member of Parliament, Jean Crowther.

The second interment is that of Major James Mitchell Mutter, a Scottish farmer and stock breeder who settled in Somenos in 1891. Major Mutter was a Charter member of Temple Lodge, No. 33 in 1899. His son James Islay Mutter (died 1950, aged 76), a local businessman, Reeve of North Cowichan (1914 and 1918) and Mayor of Duncan from 1924 to 1928.

Hugh George Savage (1882-1957) and George H. Savage (1887 - 1959) were cremated but their ashes are buried in the Savage family tomb in St. Mary's Somenos. George H. Savage served as Mayor of Duncan from 1943-46. He ran a carpentry and cabinet making business called Cowichan Joinery Ltd. Hugh George Savage was a journalist who was owner, editor and publisher of the Cowichan Leader newspaper between 1914 and 1956. Hugh Savage also had a seat in the B.C. Legislature between 1933 and 1937.

M.W. Brother Claude Green served as Master of Temple Lodge, No. 33 in 1941 and Grand Master of British Columbia and Yukon in 1957.

The other St. Mary's Somenos Masonic interments the VIMHP currently knows of are: Brother Frank Brettingham, Brother Ben Churchill, Brother Alexander Davidson, Brother William Harrington Purver, Wor. Brother Roland Clayton Fawcett and Wor. Brother Wor.Thomas Frederick Young and Brother Eide Henry Peterson.

 

 

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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