On a Sunday afternoon in the fall of 1911, Mr. Edward L. Kepner invited a group of fellow masons to a get-together at his home on Front Street. This was the first concerted step towards the formation of a masonic lodge in Quesnel. They then asked permission of the masons of Cariboo Lodge No. 4 in Barkerville to form a lodge in their area. After that permission was granted, they proceeded to hold their first formal meetings in Quesnel on the upper floor of Mr. Kepner’s two-story building on Carson Street. It would be several years before all the formalities were completed and the Lodge was formally constituted by the Grand Lodge of British Columbia on September 22, 1913.
This year, the Freemasons of Quesnel Masonic Lodge No. 69 will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the official formation of their Lodge in Quesnel. In the coming months there will be a series of articles presented in this column recounting the history of the lodge as it paralleled the growth of our community. Some of the most significant people in Quesnel’s history have also been important members of Quesnel No. 69.
The articles presented here will also discuss the institution of Freemasonry, its charities, concordant bodies for men, women and youth, and other information regarding the organization. In addition, we’ll provide some insight into what actually goes on within the walls of a masonic lodge.
This column is just part of the celebrations planned by the masons of Quesnel which will culminate on the Labour Day weekend in September with a special lodge meeting and a visit from the Grand Master. We look forward to letting you, “read all about it,” right here each month.
Bill Cave is a member of Quesnel Lodge No. 69 and a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of BC and Yukon.
