MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES FAMOUS FREEMASONS GRAND MASTERS

W. A. DeWolf-Smith PAST GRAND MASTER (HON.) Pioneer Doctor DeWolf-Smith Dead at 86 Special to the Vancouver Sun NEW WESTMINSTER, Feb. 22 - New Westminster and the lower mainland lost a prominent figure in its cultural and civic life as well as a pioneering physicians when Dr. William Andrew DeWolf-Smith died Friday in Melrose Nursing Home. He was 86. Dr. DeWolf-Smith was born in New Brunswick of an old English family and came to New Westminster in 1888. His practice extended throughout the Fraser Valley. He was among the first to give up his horse and buggy for an automobile. He was one of the physicians who fought the smallpox plague among the Delta Indians and was one of the first medical health officers of New Westminster. For years he was attached to the B.C. Penitentiary. A talented musician and patron of the arts, he was manager of the old Opera House and president of the New Westminster Operatic Society. He was active in the New Westminster Tennis Club. In 1905 he was appointed grand historian and librarian of the Most Worshipful Grand Masonic Lodge in B.C. Dr. DeWolf-Smith lived in the early days in a palatial home at Marriville and Columbia, built of California redwood shipped by schooner and hauled from the waterfront by Indians. He had lived with his daughter, Mrs. Robert Southwick, Sardis, for the last few years. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. J. Burton Thomas at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Holy Trinity Cathedral under auspices of Union Lodge 9, A.F. & A.M. Burial will be Masonic Cemetery. Pioneer Royal City Doctor, W.A. DeWolf-Smith, Dies Special to The Daily Province NEW WESTMINSTER - Dr. William Andrew DeWolf-Smith, 86, pioneer Royal City physician and prominent Freemason, died Friday in Melrose Park Hospital. He had been ill a few days. Resident of New Westminster since 1888 when he came from his native New Brunswick, Dr. DeWolf-Smith retired to live with his only daughter at Sardis about 10 years ago. He was one of the oldest members of Union Lodge No. 9, A.F. & A.M., and a later years Port Coquitlam's DeWolf No. 98 Lodge was named in his honor. The doctor was a recognized authority on Masonic matters; some of his rulings were quoted throughout Canada. A talented organist and former member of the old Opera Society in New Westminster, he was one city health officer. Dr. DeWolf-Smith's home was one of this city's original and most elaborate buildings. Formerly at the corner of Merrivale and Columbia, it was torn down some years ago to make way for the city's modernization. Staircase of his beautiful home was brought from Italy, and packed up the hill on men's backs from the waterfront. He was an ardent philatelist, owning one of the finest stamp collections in B.C. or Canada, and kept an album of pioneer events in the Royal City which since has become an historical treasure. In the early days, when he was one of a handful of doctors throughout the whole Fraser Valley, he devoted his efforts to stamping out a serious smallpox epidemic among the Indians in the Delta area. He owned one of the first autos imported to the coast. Only survivor is his daughter, Mrs. R.E. Southwick, at Sardis. Funeral services will held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. from Holy Trinity Cathedral, under auspices of Union Lodge. Rev. J. Burton Thomas will officiate. S. Bowell and Son Ltd. are in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in New Fraser Cemetery. Source : Vancouver Sun, Monday, 24 February 1947 ; Province, February 22, p. 2.

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