MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES GRAND MASTERS OF BC HISTORY

(84)of Victoria Columbia Lodge, No. 1 at Victoria; a Past Master of The Belville Lodge, No. 123, at Belleville, Prince Edward Co. Ontario. During his term of office, he laid the foundation stone of the Y.M.C.A. building in Vancouver on July 24, 1890. At the time of his death in 1935, he was Senior Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge. Angus McKeown was a native of Belleville, Ontario, and a member and Past Master of The Bellevue Lodge, No. 123 of that City. He came to British Columbia in 1885, where he entered the employ of the Ames Holden Shoe Factory, became Superintendent of it, and later purchased it. He operated it for several years and then sold it, and went into the wholesale leather business, which he carried on until 1934, when he retired. He took an active interest in public affairs in Victoria serving for one year on the School Board of the City, and for three years as alderman. His ability and knowledge of Freemasonry was soon recognized by the Brethren, so much so, that on August, 1986, he was deputed by M.W. Bro. Dalby, the then Grand Master, to constitute Kamloops Lodge, No. 10, and install its officers. The Grand Master reported to Grand Lodge that this had been done to the satisfaction of the Lodge, 'and done as all Masonic work performed by Bro. McKeown is, in a very able and satisfactory manner'. He died at Victoria on March 5, 1935, See also G.L. Rept. 1935, pp 15 and 148." 1 . Grand Masters, 1885 to 1894 12th--MW Brother Angus McKeown, from his Installation on June 20, 1890 until June 18, 1891;.... a shoe Factory Superintendent and later wholesale Leather Merchant, active in civic affairs, who paid rent to the Masonic Temple Assn. of Victoria for many years...."2 . "1.4.9 E. Angus McKeown. b. 21 September 1848 Concession 8, Camden Township, Lennox & Addington County. m. 25 November 1872 at Kingston, Ontario. Lennox & Addington County. [Sarah] Angus spent some time in Rawden Township then went to Western Canada. At the time of his brother John’s death, he was in Victoria, British Columbia, so it is very likely they are buried out there."3 . "M.W. Bro. McKeown was a native of Belleville in the Province of Ontario, and was born in the year 1849. Early in life he joined Belleville Lodge, No 133, Grand Lodge of Canada in Ontario. He came to British Columbia in 1885, and on the first of October in that year, he affiliated with Victoria Columbia Lodge, No. 1."4 . The YMCA building cornerstone laid by M.W. Bro. Angus McKeown was the second YMCA built in Vancouver. The first, a two storey frame building at 139 West Hastings Street built in 1886, proved too small and a second was begun in April 1890 at 147 West Hastings Street. The building opened in May 1893.5 . David Oppenheimer, Vancouver’s mayor of the day, was an enthusiastic YMCA booster and a Freemason, which may explain Angus’s role in laying the cornerstone. 1. Historical Notes and Biographical Sketches 1848 - 1935, Robie L. Reid [Grand Historian 1930 - 1945]. Grand Lodge of British Columbia, Vancouver: 1945. p. 160. [trade paperback]. 2. History of Grand Lodge of British Columbia. John T. Marshall et al. Grand Lodge of British Columbia A.F. & A.M., Victoria: 1971. p. 159. [hardcover]. 3. McKeown Descendants, The. Patricia Solmes et al. Foxboro, Ontario: 1990. p. 38. spiral bound, 674 pages]. 4. Proceedings of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of British Columbia. New Westmister: 1935. pp. 15, 148. 5. Courage &: Conviction, The YMCA in Vancouver 1886-1986. Paul Dampier. published by the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, 1986. Sheila Kern, Senior Manager, Communications for the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, has no information on what may have become of the cornerstone. Notes Belleville Lodge No. 123 in Belleville, Ontario continues to work under the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, 363 King St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1B4. tel: +1-905-528-8644. Belleville is 50 miles west of Kingston. Victoria Columbia Lodge No.1 meets at 650 Fisgard St. Victoria V8W 1R6 "Grand Lodge of British Columbia Proceedings" for 1910 report that the Master of Whitehorse Lodge No. 46 was W. Bro. William Angus McKeown. No other information is noted. A signature by "A McKeown" can be found in the By-Law book of British Columbia Lodge No. 1187 ER affixed after 23rd Nov 1882. There is no record of him having been WM of that lodge or Victoria Columbia Lodge No. 1 BCR after consolidation in 1877.

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