The first Masonic Lodge meeting in Nanaimo, B.C. was held on 15 May 1867 in Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090, which had been issued a Warrant by the United Grand Lodge of England.

Several Freemasons in Nanaimo decided to form a new Lodge in Nanaimo and petitioned the United Grand Lodge of England for a Charter in November 1865. This Petition was duly granted and a Warrant was issued to Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 E.R. on 16 January 1866.

The original Warrant was sent from London but was lost in the wreck of the Hudson’s Bay Company steamer Labourchere on the voyage north to Victoria from San Francisco.  A request for a duplicate Warrant was sent to the United Grand Lodge of England in London but the duplicate was not received in Nanaimo until May 1867. Once the Warrant was received in Nanaimo, the first meeting of Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 was held in Nanaimo soon afterwards, on 15 May 1867.

Captain William Hales Franklyn, circa 1870
William Hales Franklyn, circa 1870

The leading figures in this effort to start a Masonic Lodge in Nanaimo were Captain William Hales Franklyn, a Magistrate in Nanaimo, Edward Beverley Bogg and Captain Daniel Pender, a “Master and Commander” in the Royal Navy.

William Stewart joined Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 on 15 May 1867 but soon became disenchanted with Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a Charter, which was duly granted to Caledonia Lodge, No. 478.

When the Grand Lodge of B.C. was formed in 1871, Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 and Caledonia Lodge, No. 478 came under its authority and were chartered as Nanaimo Lodge, No. 3 and Caledonia Lodge, No. 6. in 1871. In 1873, the Grand Lodge of B.C. decided to combine Nanaimo Lodge, No. 3 and Caledonia Lodge, No. 6 into one Lodge, Ashlar Lodge, No. 3, a situation which has continued to this day.

For anyone interested Nanaimo history, here are the Worshipful Masters of Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 and Nanaimo Lodge, No. 3.

From United Grand Lodge of England records, here are the members of “The Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090, Nanaimo, Vancouvers Island”. We have included all information noted about these men in the United Grand Lodge of England records of Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090.

Charter Members

From United Grand Lodge of England records, here are the members of Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 who joined after the Warrant was received in Nanaimo in 1867. The first meeting of Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 was held in Nanaimo on 15 May 1867:

  • William CLARKE, aged 33, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Master Mariner; a member of “[United Grand Lodge of England Lodge No.] 783″; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • James Miller BROWN, aged 35, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Farmer; a member of “[Grand Lodge of] California Hiram [Lodge No.] 43”; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • William STEWART, aged 33, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Constable; a member of “[United Grand Lodge of England Lodge No.] 562[? difficult to read in original] 397[? difficult to read in original]”; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • William Henry PHILLIPS, aged 33, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: M.D; a member of “[Grand Lodge of] Ireland Lodge No.] 157″; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • James HARVEY, aged 24, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Clerk; a member of “[Ancient Grand Lodge of Scotland Lodge No.] 156 Scotland”; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • Solomon D. LEVI, aged 37, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Merchant; a member of “[United Grand Lodge of England Lodge No.] 899”; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • Edward WILSON, aged 27, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Mechanic; a member of “[United Grand Lodge of England Lodge No.] 872”; joined Nanaimo Lodge No 1090 on 15 May 1867
  • Arthur James FENNEY, aged 33, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Carpenter; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 12 June 1867, Passed 31 July 1867,  Raised 20 September 1867
  • Thomas HINDLE, aged 35, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Shoemaker; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 July 1867, Passed 31 July 1867,  Raised 20 September 1867
  • Archibald MUIR, aged 36, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Miner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 July 1867, Passed 31 July 1867,  Raised 20 September 1867
  • Archibald McALISTER, aged 27, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Blacksmith; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 July 1867, Passed 14 August 1867,  Raised 20 September 1867
  • Henry William ALEXANDER, aged 39, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Merchant; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 July 1867, Passed 31 July 1867,  Raised 20 September 1867
  • John SABISTON, aged 39, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Colliery Overseer; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 7 August 1867, Passed 13 September 1867,  Raised 16 October 1867
  • William Martin DORAN,  aged 45, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Boatswain; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 13 September 1867, Passed 16 October 1867,  Raised 19 November 1867
  • Charles Augustus ALPORT, aged 34, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Clerk; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 6 November 1867, Passed 4 December 1867,  Raised 1 January 1868
  • Samuel Jackson CLIFF,  aged 29, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Miner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 1 January 1868, Passed 3 February 1868,  Raised 4 March 1868
  • Joseph RODELLO,  aged 30, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Miner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 5 February 1868, Passed 4 March 1868,  Raised 1 April 1868
  • George Lewis BEVILOCKWAY,  aged 24, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Miner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 6 May 1868, Passed 11 June 1868,  Raised 8 July 1868
  • Robert BURNABY, residence: Victoria, occupation: Merchant; Affiliated with Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 June 1868. A member of “[United Grand Lodge of England Lodge No.] 783″
  • Mark BATE, aged 24, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Accountant; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 March 1869, Passed 7 April 1869,  Raised 5 May 1869
  • George Henry BOOTH,  aged 32, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Steward; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 7 July 1869, Passed 4 August 1869,  Raised 1 September 1869
  • James [McLay(?) difficult to read in original] SABISTON, aged 31, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Liquor Dealer; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 4 August 1869, Passed 1 September 1869,  Raised 6 October 1869
  • Matthew Amry AUSTIN, aged 31, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Master Mariner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 8 September 1869, Passed 12 October 1869,  Raised 9 December 1869
  • Joseph WEBB, aged 40, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Liquor Dealer; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 3 November 1869, Passed 3 December 1869,  Raised 4 January 1870
  • Edward QUENNELL, aged 23, residence: Nanaimo, occupation: Mariner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 4 May 1870, Passed 11 July 1870,  Raised 4 September 1870
  • John Peter MURRAY, aged 26, residence: Newcastle Island, occupation:  Horse [(?) illegible in original]; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 4 May 1870, Passed 14 January 1871,  Raised 7 February 1871
  • Tom Frederick EATON, aged 29, residence: Nanaimo, occupation:  Horse [(?) illegible in original]; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 1 February 1871, Passed 1 March 1871,  Raised 2 April 1871
  • Adam Grant HORNE, aged 40, residence: Comox, occupation:  Merchant; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 13 June 1871, Passed 15 August 1871,  Raised [blank space in original record]
  • George W. BELL, aged 28, residence: Nanaimo, occupation:  Labourer; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 4 August 1871, Passed 1 September 1871,  Raised 4 October 1871
  • Thomas Jacks[on(?)] AINSLEY,  aged 28, residence: Nanaimo, occupation:  Master Mariner; Initiated in Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 on 4 November 1871, Passed [illegible] December 1871,  Raised 17 January 1872
Mark Bate statute on the Nanaimo Harbour Walk
Mark Bate statue, Nanaimo Harbour Walk

Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 G.R.E. became Nanaimo Lodge No. 3 B.C.R. following the formation of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia in 1871. The United Grand Lodge of England records indicate that the Warrant for Nanaimo Lodge No. 1090 was returned to the United Grand Lodge of England in 1873. The delay was likely due to the Warrant being returned to England by sea.

Here is some more information about Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 ER:

First, the text of the original Petition to the United Grand Lodge of England for a Charter for a new Masonic Lodge in Nanaimo:

“Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, November 20th 1865

To the M.W. Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of England

We, the undersigned, being regular registered Masons of the Lodges mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the Art: and for the conveniency of our respective dwellings and other good reasons we are desirous of forming a New Lodge, to be named the Nanaimo Lodge. In consequence of this desire we pray for a Warrant of Constitution, empowering us to meet as a regular lodge at Nanaimo, Vancouver’s Island on the First Wednesday of every month [note: Ashlar Lodge No.3 still meets on the first Wednesday of each month] and there discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional manner, according to the forms of the order and the Laws of the Grand Lodge: and we have nominated and do recommend Brother William Hales Franklyn, J.P., Govt. Agent, to be the first Master, Brother Edward Beverley Bogg, M.D., R.N. to be the first Senior Warden and Brother Daniel Pender, Master & Commander, R.N., to be the first Junior Warden of the said Lodge. The prayer of this petition being granted we promise strict obedience to the commands of the Grand Master and the laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge.

signed,

This article about the formation of Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 appeared in the History of the Grand Lodge of B.C. & Yukon, 1871-1971:

“Encouraged by the actions of the Freemasons of Victoria, the Brethren in Nanaimo did not long delay in following their example. Captain William Hales Franklyn who had been sent to Nanaimo as Stipendiary Magistrate and was a member of Grand Master’s Lodge, No. 1, London, the Premier Lodge of England, was the leader of the movement. Meetings of the Freemasons in the little town were held in 1865, and after due consideration it was agreed that a Lodge should be formed there and a petition to the Grand Lodge of England be drawn up and forwarded to London. It was favourably received, a dispensation was issued and the warrant for Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 was issued forthwith.

The low number given to Nanaimo Lodge is due to the fact that in 1863, before the petition was sent to the Grand Lodge of England, that body had renumbered its Lodges to fill up gaps which had appeared in the Roll of Lodges, and in consequence Victoria Lodge which was originally No. 1085, became No. 783, and Union Lodge which was originally No. 1201 became No. 899. The charter got as far as San Francisco in safety, but was lost in the wreck of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s steamer Labourchere on the voyage north to Victoria. A duplicate had to be obtained from London, and it was not until early in 1867 that the warrant arrived and the establishment of the Lodge could be proceeded with.

The first meeting of Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090, as the warrant named it, was held in that city on May 15, 1867. A large contingent of the Victoria Lodge Brethren attended, with several from Vancouver Lodge. The steamer Sir James Douglas was engaged for the trip, and to add to the pleasure the band of the Volunteer Militia was taken along. Unfortunately Brother Burnaby was unable to attend.

The meeting was held in the Lodge room, at that time a one-storey house at the south-easterly corner of Hecate and Caven Streets, since torn down. The Lodge was duly constituted by RW Brother Henry Holbrook of Union Lodge assisted by W Brother Richard Lewis of Union Lodge and others. The proceedings concluded with a banquet and ball at which all present made merry, and good Mark Bate, the friend of all Nanaimoites, although not then a Freemason, was so intrigued by what he saw from the outside that later he joined the Lodge and became one of the most prominent members of the Craft in Nanaimo.”

We will add more information about Nanaimo Lodge, No. 1090 as we uncover it with future research.

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