One of the groups in New Westminster that can trace its community connections to the first days of the new town and capital is the Masons, or more fully, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Men associated with this order living in the new town gathered privately, as did other groups, in homes, saloons, restaurants or any available meeting space.
All similar groups met to talk about their own fraternal aims and personal interests, and to be with friends and like-minded individuals in this outof-the-way frontier location in the new colony of British Columbia on the banks of the Fraser River.
Talk among the Masons in this new city most certainly led to the decision to apply to the Grand Lodge for the permission and right to form their own lodge. New Westminster in those early days was a very simple place, with one main road near the river's edge lined with the buildings, shops, amenities and services of a new city.
Front Street then was a row of docks, while Columbia Street was the main and central street, with other roads both crossing the hillside and heading uphill into the area that was being rapidly cleared for the throngs of people arriving regularly by steamboat.
In mid-December of 1861, the Masons of New Westminster, who had requested a lodge of their own, learned that their application was approved and Union Lodge No. 1201 was granted. The following year, in June, the lodge was formally opened in a room in the Hick's Hotel.
One hundred and fifty years later this Lodge, today named Union Solomon Lodge No. 9, continues to meet. A week ago they gathered, with due ceremony and festivities, to honour this anniversary.
In 1861 the Hick's Hotel, a well-known hostelry with meeting space on its upper floor, was the home of the new lodge.
This was a simple but striking structure on the riverside of the city's main road, with a broad balcony overlooking Columbia Street a short distance from the corner where Mary Street (today's Sixth Street) headed uphill away from the river.
Over the years, the Masons of the Royal City have served their community well and continue to do so. Many of those involved have played prominent roles in a variety of positions over the decades in business, service, volunteering and much more. This continues to be a recurring description of the members of this order.
Coming up next year, you will want to watch for and take in some presentations that will provide more on this particular part of New Westminster's history.
There are a number of events planned including a walking tour, a cemetery tour, a visual program on local Masonic history and perhaps a few other surprises as well.
Congratulations and happy anniversary to the Masons of Union Solomon Lodge No 9.
