MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES FAMOUS FREEMASONS GRAND MASTERS

George W. Baldwin GRAND MASTER, 1985-1986 18 July 1928 - 30 September 1987 George Walter Baldwin was born at Vegreville, Alberta, and grew up in the nearby village of Lavoy where his father was a grain buyer and a Past Master of St. John's Lodge No. 25 in Vegreville. His maternal grandfather had been a District Deputy Grand Master in Manitoba, prior to 1900. His schooling was completed at Mission City, BC in 1945, following which he attended the University of British Columbia where he graduated with degrees in Arts and Law in 1951. Because his family had moved back to the USA while he was at university, he enlisted in the US Air Force, leading to a commission as a Second Lieutenant. In the spring of 1953 he petitioned Alisal Lodge No. 321 in Pleasanton, California and was accepted. However, in the summer of 1953 and before he could be initiated, he was released from active duty and returned to British Columbia to pursue a legal career. He subsequently petitioned Nechako Lodge No. 86 at Prince George, where he was initiated in April, 1958. He was called to the bar of British Columbia in September, 1954 and a week later he married Daphne Syson (1924-2015) of Victoria. They had four children: Andrew, Elizabeth, Matthew and Jennifer. He was honoured professionally by an appointment as Queen's Counsel in 1971, and was admitted to the bar of the Yukon Territory in 1972. He served his lodge as Master in 1968 and was Senior Grand Deacon in 1972. He affiliated with Cariboo Lodge No. 4 and later with Yukon Lodge No. 45. He is a founding member of Prince George Lodge No. 178 and Mackenzie Lodge No. 186. Active in both the Royal Arch and Scottish Rite, he was also a member of the National Sojourners of America, at Seattle, and was honoured by being made an honourary member of his brother's lodge, The Lodge of Antiquity No. 11, at Brentwood, New York. He was also active in community affairs and, among other roles, was president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, promoter of the establishment of the University of Northern British Columbia and, at the time of his death, Registrar of the Anglican Diocese of Cariboo. Initiated: 1958/04/04 Passed: 1958/05/02 Raised: 1958/06/06 Nechako Lodge, No. 86 Affiliated: 1967/10/04 Cariboo Lodge, No. 4 Affiliated: 1984/06/09 Mackenzie Lodge, No. 186 Affiliated: 1985/05/11 Yukon Lodge, No. 45 Affiliated: 1986/09/12 Kaslo Lodge, No. 25 Robert J. Ferris, "Grand Historian's Report", Annual Proceedings 1977, Grand Lodge of British Columbia. p. 114.

ANTI-MASONRY | FAMOUS FREEMASONS | HOME | ESSAYS & PAPERS | SITEMAP

© 1871-2021 Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon A.F. & A. M. Updated: 2017/11/05 freemasonry.bcy.ca/grand_masters/baldwin_g/baldwin_g.html