Frederick Charles Morris

Brother

(died June 1946, aged 65)

Temple Lodge, No. 33

Here is a brief biographical sketch of Brother Frederick Charles Morris taken from local newspaper reports of his death and funeral:

Morris – The death occurred on Saturday at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, of Mr. Frederick Charles Morris, , who has for many years been connected with the progress of Queen Alexandra Solarium, Mill Bay, near which he resided.

Born in England in 1881, the late Mr. Morris, as a small boy, came to Canada with his parents and for a time lived in Minnesota. He returned to England at an early age to serve an apprenticeship as a carriage builder.

Returning to Canada in 1898 he took up residence in the Cobble Hill district, where he operated small farms and served the communities of Cobble Hill and Shawnigan Lake as a building contractor.

In 1925 he moved temporarily to Saanich to take charge of the construction of Glenmorgan Farm buildings.

Four years later, when the need of a treatment centre for crippled children was realized, Mr. Morris was chosen to build the first unit of Queen Alexandra Solarium.

Later, the Solarium required a brace maker and he was sent to Portland, Ore., to learn the art of making these supports for crippled persons. This was supplemented by a course in welding at Victoria.

Serving under the guidance of Dr. Cyril Wace and later under Dr. Glenn Simpson, medical superintendent, Mr. Morris was, through natural ability, acquired skill and a truly benevolent nature, a master craftsman and a friend upon whom many handicapped persons have depended on for alleviation of their distress.

His passing is felt acutely by the directors and staff of the Solarium, who realize, they state, that his iate sense of supplementing muscles with splints, coupled with masterful hands, was a rare genius.

Apart from an absorbing interest in his craft, Mr. Morris enjoyed a mechanical problem and took his greatest pleasure in producing in wood and steel some device to replace a more cumbersome or time consuming piece of equipment. This quality, in a hospital worker, won for him the esteem and friendship of numerous physicians, nurses and all those who knew him.

During recent years he resided on a small farm near the Solarium. He was a member of Temple Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Duncan.

While he had not enjoyed good health for several years, news of his death came as a shock to the community.

Besides his widow he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. William Knight, Nanaimo, and Mrs. Russell Yates, Youbou, and two sons, Harry, Cobble Hill, and Fred, Victoria.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon in Victoria, with the Rev. E.M. Willis, Cobble Hill, officiating.”

Source: Cowichan Leader, 6 June 1946

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Brother Frederick Charles Morris was Initiated an Entered Apprentice and Passed to a Fellow Craft in Temple Lodge, No. 33 in 1911. He was Raised to a Master Mason in 1912.

He remained a member of Temple Lodge, No. 33 until his death in 1946.

As a building contractor, Brother Morris built the first portions of Queen Alexandra Solarium (now Brentwood College) at Mill Bay. He became an expert in producing medical devices for the handicapped at Queen Alexandra Solarium.