ashlar lodge no. 3

On 23 January 2017 the Temple Lodge No.33 Historian and webmaster, W.B. Mark Anderson, attended a lecture at the Congregation Emanu-El synagogue in Victoria which focused on a University of Victoria Anthropology course, ANTH 395, which is using the Victoria Jewish Cemetery as a teaching aid for archaeological methods. (April 2017 Update: ANTH 395 has been reclassified as ANTH 367)

One of the projects this course is undertaking is to identify the unmarked burial plots of the Victoria Jewish Cemetery and identify the people whose grave locations have been forgotten.

The graves of Harry Burns and Lewis Lewis in Victoria Jewish Cemetery both display the Masonic Square and Compasses

One of those unmarked graves is that of M.W.B. Marcus Wolfe (died 1896), Past Grand Master, whose grave in Victoria Jewish Cemetery is unmarked and its exact location not known.

Here are the website and Facebook page for the ANTH 395 course.

We are very honoured that students in the ANTH 395 course have been regularly using our Temple Lodge No.33 website as a research tool for their work in the Victoria Jewish Cemetery.

Here are some graves of deceased Freemasons in Victoria Jewish Cemetery:

Morris Price died in 1861 and was the first interment in Victoria Jewish Cemetery.

Morris Price grave, Victoria Jewish Cemetery

Rabbi Elias Friedlander was the Chief Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El.

Rabbi Elias Friedlander grave, Victoria Jewish Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

Judah Phillip Davies and his son Joshua Phillip Davies were auctioneers and leading figures in the late 19th century Jewish community on Victoria.

The grave of Judah Philip Davies and Joshua Philip Davies (1846-1903), Victoria Jewish Cemetery

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Each month Temple Lodge, No.33 features a deceased member as a way of highlighting our Lodge history and the role Lodge members have played in the history of Duncan and the Cowichan Valley.

The featured Deceased Member of Temple Lodge for December 2016 is Christopher Dobson (died 1937, aged 74), who was the first new member Initiated in Temple Lodge in 1900 after Temple Lodge was formed in December 1899.

Christopher Dobson came to Duncan in the 1890’s and built what is now 101 Station Street (currently occupied by Leaf and Petal florists) for his wheelwright and carriage repair business. It is one of the oldest existing buildings in Duncan.

101 Craig Street was built circa 1893 by Christopher Dobson for his wheelwright and carriage making business. — 101 Station Street was built circa 1893 by Christopher Dobson for his wheelwright and carriage making business.

Christopher Dobson’s house is still standing at 220 Beech Road in Duncan.

Christopher Dobson house, 220 Beech Road, Duncan. B.C.

Christopher Dobson was an excellent carpenter. In 1927 and 1928 he built the altars which are still in use in Temple Lodge, No. 33 and in Ashlar Lodge, No. 3 in Nanaimo.

Christopher Dobson, circa 1928, with the altar he built for Temple Lodge. This altar is still in use today (photo copyright Temple Lodge, No.33)

Christopher Dobson is buried in St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican Cemetery.

Christopher Dobson grave, St. Peter's Quamichan Anglican cemetery — Christopher Dobson grave, St. Peter’s Quamichan Anglican cemetery

UVic Anthropology Course, ANTH 395, Uses Our Website As A Research Tool

Christopher Dobson – Featured Deceased Member of Temple Lodge For December 2016