Chemainus Lodge No.114, BCY AF&AM

05/30/2026

RWB Pat Fyffe and VWB Terry van Seters were pleased to present President Kathy Asp and the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association with our annual $700 donation on behalf of Chemainus Lodge, to support them in their programs and facility upgrades. We were given a brief tour of the “comfort facilities” (bathroom and shower) constructed over the past year with assistance from last year’s donation.

05/23/2026

Congratulations to Lyla Larizza, our third recipient of the Slim Prichard Memorial Bursary, presented to former Job's Daughters of Bethel 11, in Ladysmith. The award was presented by RWB Pat Fyffe at our Lodge dinner on May 11, 2026. We wish her great success in pursuing her career in nursing.

04/30/2026

Congratulations to our newest Master Mason, Bro. David Thompson on receiving his 3rd Degree on March 13th. He’s an enthusiastic addition to our Lodge.

04/18/2026

On April 13th, at our Lodge dinner, the Worshipful Master, RWB Pat Fyffe, was pleased to present the Slim Pritchard Memorial Bursary Certificate (and bursaries) to two former members of Job's Daughters, Bethel 11, in Ladysmith. Olivia Espey will attend VIU in Nanaimo to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and Audrey Skarvig is enrolled in the Nursing, Baccalaureate of Science Program at Camosun College in Victoria. We wish them every success in their studies and future careers. (Proud Grandpa, Tom Skarvig, in the background).

03/20/2026

From the minutes of the 1st Regular Communication of Chemainus Lodge No.114, held on May 26, 1926, when the first slate of Principal Officers were installed. It was penned by the Grand Secretary, RWB DeWolf-Smith, and signed by the Grand Master, MWB A.M. Manson.

03/14/2026

Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, the third son of Queen Victoria, was a lifelong Freemason who served as Grand Master of the U.G.L.E. from 1901 to 1939. Elected Grand Master upon his brother’s accession (King Edward VII), he was re-elected 37 times, overseeing the construction of Freemasons’ Hall in London between 1927 and 1933. Prince Arthur, as Duke of Connaught, was the 10th Governor General of Canada, serving at the behest of his nephew, King George V, from 1911 to 1916. Prince Arthur’s daughter, Patricia, was the patron and founder of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), formed in 1914, and its first Colonel-in-Chief. Princess Patricica designed and hand-sewed the orginal regimental colours of the PPCLI, known as the “Ric-a-Dam-Doo”, carried into battle in the First World War.

02/24/2026

Yes...it's on another feed...but it's perfect.

02/11/2026

Excellent turnout to the Lodge last night. It’s always great to have a full house.

11/12/2025

An interesting read on the genesis of Freemasonry in North America, with the arrival of British Military Lodges.

The Military and Freemasonry
James M. Pollard

Freemasonry came to the new world in large part with the military Lodges attached to various British regiments. Thus, it is that almost from the very beginning to this country Freemasonry and the military have gone hand in hand through our history. Unfortunately, the written history of our Fraternity in the early years is almost non-existent.

The Warrant or Charter of the early military Lodges was usually given to the Regimental Commander and all of a Lodge's furniture, ornaments, lights, jewels, etc., as well as the Warrant itself, was usually limited in size to that which could be carried in one small military chest. Membership in these Lodges was usually limited to officers of the regiment; normally, civilians were not admitted although in some few cases this rule seems to have been overlooked.

The first Warrant for a military Lodge was issued by the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1732 to the First British Foot Regiment. Within a few years the Grand Lodge of Scotland and both the Grand Lodge of England, Modern and Antient were issuing Warrants to military Lodges. By 1755, twenty-nine Warrants had been issued by theses for Grand Lodges combined. The naval service was not very active in the formation of military Lodges, with only three such lodges known to have existed, all being warranted by the Modern Grand Lodge of England.

There were also military Lodges formed on the continent of Europe but these did not follow the form of the English Lodged. The continental Lodges were all stationary in nature rather that traveling Lodges. This, I think, was mostly due to the empire building of the British, as opposed to the continental power staying mostly land locked to Europe.

The first record of a military Lodge Warrant being issued in the new world happened during the French and...

Continue reading: https://bit.ly/4osxlSY

11/10/2025

"We will remember them"...

Worshipful Brother Colin George McInnes was born on July 1st, 1896, in Vancouver, B.C., the son of Mr. A.G. McInnes and L.G. McInnes. The family moved to Chemainus when Colin was a child. After finishing school, Colin took employment as a machinist’s apprentice in the Victoria Lumber Manufacturing Company.

At the outbreak of war in Europe, Colin enlisted and was sworn in to the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on April 19, 1915, in Victoria, swearing allegiance to His Majesty, King George the Fifth. He was assigned to the 48th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, later designated the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, where he entered the Signallers Corp. Among many honours, his battalion received battle honours for battles in the Somme (1916), ARRAS (1917-18), and the battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917.

Private McInnes arrived in England July 10, 1915, embarking to France on March 9. He served with distinction in France until February 18, 1919. On June 15, 1916, Pte. McInnes received a shrapnel wound to his right thigh, and spent his recovery at the No. 1 Convalescence Depot, in Boulogne. A picture and story in the local newspaper in the Cowichan Valley reported that his father had received a telegram informing him that Colin had been admitted to hospital “wounded”. His injuries were not sufficient to keep him from action, and he returned to duty on August 12, 1916. However, on discharge, with issues persisting from the injury, he was reported to be permanently disabled.

As with all enlistments in the Canadian Expeditionary Force who fought in the Frist World War, Pte. McInnes regular pay was assigned to a relative, his mother, in Chemainus. He was required to prepare a Will before shipping off to France. His will, dated December 3, 1915, and handwritten by him states “In the event of my death, I give the whole of my effects and property to Mrs. L.G. McInnes, Chemainus, B.C.” signed Pt. C McInnes”. Pte. McInnes was discharged on April 1, 1919, and he returned to Chemainus.

On November 11, 1937, Colin was reunited with a number of Chemainus veterans, all of whom saw action on the front lines in the First War, a number of them Charter Members and Past Worshipful Masters of Chemainus Lodge.

Worshipful Brother McInnes was a Charter Member and key participant in the formation of Chemainus Lodge No.114. He served the Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1931/1932. Worshipful Brother McInnes is interred next to his wife, Miriam, at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens, in Cedar, B.C.