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VANCOUVER ISLAND CEMETERIES - MASONIC INTERMENTS

ST. MARY'S SOMENOS, ANGLICAN CHURCH & CEMETERY

DOUGLAS WILLIAM BARKER, D.S.M., C.D.

 

Fig. 1 Douglas William Barker, circa 1986

Brother Douglas William Barker (1919-2003) was a member of United Service Lodge, No.24 (now United Peninsula Lodge, No.24) in Esquimalt, B.C. and Temple Lodge, No.33. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II and Korea. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during his World War II service.

After retiring from the military, he moved to Duncan, where he served on City Council for seven years before being elected Mayor of Duncan in 1983.

Here is some biographical information about Bro. Douglas William Barker:

"BARKER - Douglas William D.S.M., C.D., passed away of December 19, 2003. he was the second son of the late William Barker and Mabel Barker. Predeceased by his brothers Kenneth and Warren and his sister Beryl. He is survived by his loving wife Evelyn of 64 years; four children, Douglas, Elizabeth, James and Katherine; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Douglas was born in Somerset, England and came to Canada at the age of three. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a boy seaman and served in WW2 and the Korean War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in WW2. He retired and moved to Duncan and became involved with the Sea Cadet movement and was commanding officer of the Cougar and Admiral Mainguy Seacadet Corps. The cadet barracks at Maple Bay was dedicated to him and he was subsequently awarded the Centennial Medal for his 15 years of service. Douglas was the President of Duncan Rotary Club and of the Downtown Business Association and was respnsible for bringing the hanging baskets to the downtown area. After seven years as alderman he became Mayor of Duncan in 1983 and used his love of gardening to start landscaping the city. As Mayor he found a home for the city's Museum; he also initiated the Farmer's Market. He started the Honour Scroll at City Hall to recognize the many citizens who contribute to our community. Douglas negotiated with the Province to bring about the diking of the Cowichan River; he also initiated the landscaping of the highway through Duncan. He brought about the Totem Pole Project, giving the city the name of "City of Totems". Douglas was a member of United Services Lodge, No.24; Victoria and Sunset Chapter, No.44, Duncan. He was a member of the Chief and P.O.'s Association of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #53, Duncan. As a member of the Cancer Society he initiated the Daffodil Campaign and he sat on the Board of Variance for North Cowichan serving as chairman for a number of years.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 23, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, B.C. A reception will follow in the Sands-Arbor Reception Centre."

Source: Cowichan Leader-Pictorial, December 2003.

 

 

Fig. 2 Grave of Douglas William Barker, D.S.M.

Fig. 2 shows the grave of Douglas William Barker in St. Mary's Somenos Anglican Cemetery.

The GPS location of the grave is: N 48° 47.984 W 123° 44.166'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 3 Inscription on Douglas Barker's grave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CEMETERIES - VANCOUVER ISLAND

There are Deceased Masonic Brethren interred in most Vancouver Island Cemeteries.

Here is a list of the Vancouver Island Cemeteries we have explored so far and the Freemasons we have found interred in them......

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TEMPLE LODGE No.33, DUNCAN, B.C.

Temple Lodge, No. 33 in Duncan, B.C. maintains the Vancouver Island Masonic History Project.

 

 

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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.

 

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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.

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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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ARCHITECTS & BUILDERS

With Freemasonry's use of building tools and techniques as allegories, it is perhaps fitting that many of Vancouver Island's pioneer Architects and Builders were Freemasons.......

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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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