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A disastrous fire which occurred halfway through its first fifty years of existence destroyed all of the early authentic background material of Vancouver Council 1081. Files of great value in the preparation of a history were not adequately protected against the grim destroyer of flames, and it is with a feeling or reluctance that we generalize and present the early history of Council 1081, placing a large measure of dependence of facts and figures, as recalled in the memory of older members.
W.B. McDonald was the source of much of the information which follows and for his cooperation in the effort to provide a sound background of history the editor is greatly indebted.
Bill McDonald, as he was known to his wide circle of friends on the Pacific coast, came to British Columbia in 1903 and was a Charter Member of Council 1081. He gave a vivid description of some of the men whose names are on the original Charter. The following is a brief outline of some of the ones best remembered by him.
In speaking of the outstanding men who were initiated on March 4, 1906, he recalled to mind the sterling qualities and outstanding ability of J.D. Byrne, who became Territorial Deputy and later the first State Deputy elected.
In discussing the outstanding characteristics of men of that era in comparison with the men of today, he pointed out that there was a great individuality of character in both appearance and personality during the first years of the twentieth century. One can also agree with him that men of today are cast in much of a similar mould necessitated by reason of the speed of living and the exigencies of modern life.
Of the ones he knew best, and only a few will be mentioned in the early history of the Order in Vancouver, he recalled one whom many remember as “Hughie” Campbell; a Charter Member and always a strong exponent of the rules and constitution of the Order. H.C. Campbell was a member of the Vancouver Fire Department and came to the city in time to be present at the Great Fire of 1886.
P.A. Allan was a member of the Police Force and J.S. Foran was the Recording Secretary of the first council. He was the father of a well-known member of the Vancouver Council, Francis J. Foran, and grandfather of Reverend Father Paul Foran.
C.J. Higgins was elected Financial Secretary, T.J. Burns was elected Treasurer, and R.T. Powers was elected Warden.
Early in 1900, Thomas J. Walshe, who had joined the Order in New York, N0.174, in 1898, came to Vancouver to reside. During his earlier years here he met Mr. J.J. Disette, who was a contractor and had charge of the building of the concrete approach to Holy Rosary Cathedral. These two gentlemen became close friends and both had become members of the Knights of Columbus prior to coming to Vancouver.
Seeking further advice in respect to the formation of a council, they contacted members of the Seattle Council 676 and Spokane Council 683. Following several discussions, the formation of the council took place in March 1906.
The earlier years of council activities had as their central meeting place the building known as O’Brien Hall, and many of the early members belonged to the Holy Rosary Cathedral Parish. At that time only three parishes were operating in the city; they were the Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary Cathedral and St. Patrick’s.
Another remembered for his outstanding work in the earlier years of Council 1081 was P. Donnelly. It was he who organized the first trust company in Vancouver. His knowledge of finance and operating costs was at the service of the new council.
Still another outstanding member was Dr. F.X. Mc-Philips, who was the first Chief Medical Officer of St. Paul’s Hospital, and was a noted surgeon and general practitioner.
J.A. Teeporten, also a Charter Member, was a well-known druggist in the early history of Vancouver. He later organized and operated a wholesale drug company, which was subsequently sold and became part of a chain operated by the National Drug Company of Canada.
A.F. McMillan operated a jewellery store, while J.F. Reardon was a deep-sea captain.
Much of the early activity centered around the Archdiocese centre, which was Holy Rosary Cathedral. On the occasion of the arrival of Archbishop Casey, Mr. McDonald was chairman of the committee that organized the reception for the new Ordinary of the Archdiocese.
The reminiscences of W.B. McDonald were delightful and cover a wide range of early history of Council 1081 which, from its inception was the spearhead of councils throughout British Columbia and Alberta, and their inspiration. His record as an outstanding officer in the conferring degrees and exemplifying the principles of the Order is well known and has left its mark upon the dignity and solemn promises made on those occasions.
As already pointed out, the detailed history of the earlier year is fragmentary because of the loss of records, and the editors must rely on the reminiscences of older members of the Council for a pathway of history through those earlier years. Reminiscences recall personalities more clearly than incidents.