OLIVER MASONIC HALL

In 1935, Southern Gate Lodge was established in the community of Oliver, B.C., some fifteen miles from the United States border. Dispensation was issued by the Most Worshipful Brother George Cleveland Derby, Grand Master, on November 6, 1935, and the Lodge was instituted by the District Deputy Grand Master for District 10, South Okanagan, on the same day.  The Lodge took its name from the location of the town of Oliver and its proximity to the southern gateway to the Okanagan from the United States. The first Worshipful Master of the Lodge was Worshipful Brother S. Daines, and he served in that capacity from 1935 to 1937.  

The Lodge Charter was granted on June 18, 1936. Southern Gate Lodge No. 124 was constituted and consecrated on August 12, 1936, by Most Worshipful Brother Henry Benjamin Morley, Past Grand Master (1931-1932), under a Commission from the Grand Master. The ceremony took place at the Anglican Church in Oliver. The Brethren adopted the Canadian work for its ritual.

Our lodge, like many in the jurisdiction, has had to address declining membership with innovation. In efforts to increase public awareness in the Lodge and Freemasonry in general, the Lodge has worked to increase our profile within the community. Limited success gives hope, as the Lodge very recently initiated two new members in December 2024 and have increased our membership with three new affiliate members. 

In efforts to assist the community of Oliver, Southern Gate Lodge has recently partnered with Desert Sun, a counselling and resource centre. Through cooperation with this valuable community service, and their assistance in financing our combined efforts, our kitchen facilities have been upgraded with commercial grade appliances. These upgrades to the kitchen allow Desert Sun to run a Community Kitchen Programme, which provides instruction on budgeting and hands-on preparation of food for young parents, as well as a play area for their children. Our facility is used weekly for Free Lunch and Social events for Seniors, with over fifty regular participants. The Southern Gate Brethren have contributed many volunteer hours in renovating the kitchen and the floors, and providing new paint to the interior walls.

For many years, Lodge Brethren have administered a Bikes for Books Programme involving three local Elementary Schools.  These schools each select a deserving student who has made significant progress in his or her reading over the school year.  In June, each year, we present the three top achievers with a bicycle during their year-end assemblies.

Southern Gate Lodge administers a bursary program for students from the local high school. With available funds growing in size, the Lodge has recently amended our by-laws to enable funding for a deserving local charity. One significant such donation was in 2014, when the Lodge presented funding that was to assist in the recruitment of medical doctors to the Oliver area.

The Brethren of Southern Gate meet regularly with Brethren of other Lodges during our annual spring and fall barbecues.  The Lodge invites the community to attend other periodic events, such as an annual Robbie Burns dinner. Southern Gate Lodge shares this valuable community facility with the local Order of the Eastern Star, Similkameen Chapter No.78.

For more information on Freemasonry in British Columbia, go to freemasonry.bcy.ca.