Jul 15, 2017 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

A brief history, written by Rt. Wor. Bro. D.A. Massie P.D.D.G.M. at Hiram.net, mentions the early Greenwood Masons Lodge:

"The Eastern region of the Boundary District first saw the influx of sizeable numbers of settlers during the last two decades of the 19th century. These people earned their livelihood by lumbering, mining, farming and laboring in service industries. Because of the fluctuating nature of the lumbering and mining industries, men were drawn to the Grand Forks Valley from all parts of North America and, because so many of them were "birds of passage", it is not surprising to discover that the more permanent inhabitants knew but little of the backgrounds of these men. Thus, when the creation of a Masonic Lodge was first mooted in the summer of 1902, the Brethren in charge of the movement were astonished to discover that no less than forty Masons were living within the district. Further, not only were these Brethren drawn from Lodges in every corner of the continent, but in addition, the majority had not attended a Lodge of any kind for periods up to twenty-five years."

Writing in reference to his own lodge in Grand Forks, Massie writes:

"This brief history would not be complete without mention of King Edward Lodge No. 36 of Phoenix B.C. & Greenwood Lodge No. 28 - which amalgamated into the present King Edward Lodge No. 28 in Greenwood B.C.; and Ferry Lodge No. 111 of Republic, Washington which amalgamated with Kettle Falls Lodge No. 130, Kettle Falls, Washington. It was to these lodges that Brother F.A. Sinclair appealed for help when he first began to draw together that small nucleus which was our beginning. This cry did not go unheard and ever after these sister lodges have been ever ready to help aid and assist us in time of need. (Interesting to note, King Edward and Harmony lodges were both Under Dispensation at the same time).

Today, many of those Freemasons who were raised to the Sublime Degree in Harmony Lodge are scattered across the face of North America; many more have gone to the Grand Lodge on High, including all of our Charter Members and those whose names appear on our Roll of Honour; but new Brethren continue to come forward to fill the vacant chairs and our Lodge continues in strength.

Truly, when our Charter Members first gathered together so long ago they laid a stone which has proved a sure foundation for the building blocks of Freemasonry, and which under God's Will, will continue to support the growing edifice as long as Freemasons, those men of good will, are abroad in this land."

King Edward Lodge No. 28 — 375 Copper Street, Greenwood
[ Photo courtesy Freemasonry.bcy.ca ]

In the year of their founding, 1897, the Greenwood Freemasons were known as Greenwood Lodge No. 28. The Phoenix Lodge, warranted in 1903, was know as King Edward Lodge No. 36. In 1922, these two lodges merged under the banner of King Edward Lodge No. 28,_[1] and Greenwood remains so today.

When Freemasonry arrived in the British Colonies in North America in the 1730s, there were two main branches: one was known as the "Ancients" (sometimes called the "Antients"), and the other was the "Moderns". Greenwood's King Edward Lodge No. 28 identifies itself with the Ancient branch (although the two branches re-merged circa 1880).

Interior of the Greenwood Masonic Lodge
[ Photo courtesy Freemasonry.bcy.ca ]

Still maintaining a presence in Greenwood, their Lodge is located at 375 Copper Street, Greenwood, where the Masons meet on first Thursdays. Persons interested in joining the brotherhood (or women of the Eastern Star), are encouraged to make contact with one of the local members.

Constable Geoffrey Aston

One of Greenwood's prominent early Freemasons was remembered just a few years ago, in a posthumous ceremony in Penticton. Constable Geoffrey Aston was a master Mason in Greenwood Lodge No. 28. Born in Cheshire England, he was a decorated Army veteran and a member of the Northwest Mounted Police and the B.C. Provincial Police. Constable Aston was shot while escorting two robbery suspects to Kelowna on board the S.S. Okanagan paddlewheeler, on March 19, 1912. He died of his wounds nine days later.

In 2012, the Greenwood Lodge made arrangements with their brothers in Penticton to hold a special ceremony in his honour. Penticton Orion Lodge member Richard Porter told the Kelowna Daily Courier:_[2]

"Aston was born in Cheshire, England, in 1858. He served for eight years in the army and four years in the army reserve with the 17th Lancers. He was awarded the South Africa medal with Clasp in 1879 for gallantry in the South African and Zulu War. Later that year, Aston served in India until 1888, when he received his discharge.

According to records, Aston served in the North West Mounted Police from 1888 to 1903 and the B.C. Provincial Police from 1903 until his death.

He was initiated into the Freemasons in 1908 and raised to a master Mason later that same year in Greenwood.

Aston was shot during a stop in Peachland. One of his two prisoners, Walter James, asked to be released from his irons to get some water before pulling out a concealed pistol and shooting Aston."

Further details of the shooting are found in a 2012 article by Deborah Pfeiffer, entitled: "1912 — Murder on a Paddlewheeler":_[3]

"In March 1912, Aston, a recent transfer to Penticton, was notified by the British Columbia Provincial Police in Kelowna that two robbery suspects were headed south. Having notified local hotels of the situation, a Mr. Art "Lucky" Thompson informed the police the suspects were last seen in the BC Hotel on Front Street.

The men, Frank Wilson and Walter Byde James, were arrested there and Aston booked passage on the S.S. Okanagan to escort them back to Kelowna.

As the C.P.R. paddle wheeler made a scheduled stop in Peachland, James shot Aston in the head with a pistol, and he and Wilson escaped. The two suspects were later captured by a posse, lashed to the mast of the Okanagan and taken to Kelowna to stand trial.

Aston could not be saved and died soon after. His loss was felt by many as he accomplished much in his 54 years. Born in Cheshire England, he went on to be a decorated Army veteran, a master mason in Greenwood Lodge No. 28 and member of the Northwest Mounted Police and the BCPP."

In 2012, a traditional Masonic funeral rite was held for Constable Aston in the old Penticton graveyard, where a procession of freemasons led by a bagpiper, RCMP officers in traditional uniform, and firefighters stood near the gravesite to honour one of Greenwood's finest Masons.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Freemasonry.bcy.ca
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/lodges/dark.html

[2] "Memory of sacrifice survives a century" — Kelowna Daily Courier — March 24, 2012
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/news/local_news/article_6ab75ebe-feef-5d5b-9425-8f9ac65b8e83.html

[3] "1912 — Murder on a Paddlewheeler" by Deborah Pfeiffer
http://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/72952/1912-Murder-on-a-paddlewheeler