Please note that Ashlar Lodge No. 3 will be having its January Regular Meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of January, not the 1st Wednesday. This is to move the meeting from New Year’s Day.
Mike Gains, of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 in Victoria, has provided us with some photographs he took during a recent visit to the McMillin Memorial Mausoleum in Roche Harbor, Washington.
Freemasons travelling to Roche Harbor may want to visit this site, which contains a lot of Masonic symbolism.
John S. McMillin was a lawyer who went into the lime business in 1886. Lime is a key component of cement, which was the key component of concrete. After 1876, concrete was becoming an increasingly popular building material and McMillin’s Roche Harbor Lime Company was a key supplier of cement in the western US.
John S. McMillin was a friend of Robert Pym Butchart, whose limestone quarries and cement factory at Tod Inlet is now the Butchart Gardens.
John S. McMillin and Robert Butchart were both Freemasons and Masonic symbolism is openly visible throughout the McMillin Mausoleum.
The entrance stairway consists of 3 steps, followed by 5 steps, followed by 7 steps. This is covered in the Fellow Craft Degree.
The Broken Column is a frequent feature of Masonic graves.
The circumference and diameter of the columns are the same as those of King Solomon’s Temple.
Here are some pages with more information on the McMullin Memorial Mausoleum:
Brotherly love, relief and truth, three great tenets that are taken seriously by the members of Ashlar Lodge No.3.
Our aim at Ashlar is to provide a meaningful fraternal experience to those who wish to join us, as well as the Masonic community at large. The growing ranks of younger Masonic applicants has created a more vibrant and exciting trend in freemasonry here on Vancouver Island.
I feel that this trend is for a number of reasons:
-curious minds seeking out what the secrets of freemasonry holds for them;
a general passion to find fraternal friendships;
-the desire to belong to a time honoured order which makes good men better;
From the early days of coal miners and settlers that founded Ashlar Lodge (1873) and its predecessors (1867), to the modern day Freemasons which arrange under our banner today, Ashlar Lodge has stuck tightly to our old traditions. From our Scottish ritual and unique regalia to the heritage building in downtown Nanaimo which we call home. This pride and respect that we hold for Ashlar is meant to translate to the respect that we hold for all Freemasons far and wide.
If you are a Freemason, please come visit us. If you are curious about belonging to our ancient order there is a tab on our homepage that will direct you to make your inquiry.
Thank you for taking the time to review our website.
Ashlar Lodge No. 3 will be holding its annual Installation of Officers at Ashlar Masonic Temple , 101 Commercial Street in downtown Nanaimo, on Saturday, 14 December 2019 at 1:00 p.m.
Lodge will be opened at 12 noon with the Installation starting at 1:00 pm.
Please note that Ashlar Lodge No. 3 will be having a special education night as part of the 2 October Regular Meeting. Here is a message from the Worshipful Master:
“An important note re: the October 2nd Regular meeting.
This is going to be a very special night. I’m excited to announce that MWB Ian J. Bowman has agreed to come to Ashlar Lodge to present his highly acclaimed education piece on Scottish Freemasonry: Robert the Bruce, Dunfermline Abbey, the Knights Templars, and the St Clair’s. Are they connected?
He has presented this piece several times already on the mainland to rave reviews and I’m so pleased he has agreed to come and present it at Ashlar Lodge on Oct 2nd, 2019. This will likely be the only opportunity for most north Island Masons to see this work and I’m expecting a good attendance. There will be a nominal charge for dinner and we’ll be expecting it’ll be pre-sold in order to accommodate the limited seating (approximately 70 people max). Initially we’re promoting this event within District 5 lodges and our closest neighbours in Parksville and Ladysmith. Truth is I’m really hoping we don’t have to turn anybody away. I understand that the presentation has been particularly popular with younger Masons so we’ll be making a special effort to ensure EA’s and FC’s get a fair chance at tickets. MWB Bowman has assured me there are no Masonic secrets in his presentation. In fact he has already presented it to a crowd which included ladies.
Details will be confirmed shortly, but I expect it’ll be:
Drinks and social. 5:15- 5:45
Education presentation. 5:45- 6:15
Dinner. 6:20- 7:00
Lodge tiled. 7:30
Because there is limited space, we’ll be insisting on an RSVP list. If interested you must get your names in to our Secretary by Sept. 25th. There will be more info and confirmations coming out shortly, but please circle this important date on your calendars. You won’t want to miss this.”