A number of Australians settled in Vancouver after the turn of the last century and formed a social club. Among them were Masons. A few had joined lodges in Vancouver but they wanted a lodge which followed the Masonic customs they were familiar with from back home, both in the lodge room and the festive board. A meeting was held Feb. 9, 1906 where it was formally agreed to form a lodge called “Lodge Southern Cross” and practice the ritual of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales. 23 Masons signed the petition for dispensation and the lodge was instituted on June 15, 1906; the Grand Master gave special permission to the lodge to use the New South Wales ritual.

 

The first Master was J.J. Miller. He had been W.M. of Lodge Cootamundra St. John No. 124 in N.S.W. in 1892 and a District Grand Inspector of Workings. He was made an honorary Past Grand Master of our Grand Lodge in 1947. He was also an Alderman who founded the P.N.E. in 1910. The father and uncle of Bro. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, the Australian flying ace, were among the Lodge founders. The lodge has had many prominent and colourful members. One was W. Bro. Pat Maitland, opposition leader in the B.C. Legislature in the 1930s. Another was M.W. Bro. Lawrence Healey, a customs officer from Ireland who was Grand Master in 1952. Our Membership got so large, the lodge spun off Commonwealth No. 156 in 1954. A few other of its founders belonged to Dunbar No. 145. Dedication has helped the lodge weather the downturn in Masonry and today it has a small but eclectic mix of members following the old Australian customs.