Travel, for those with vehicles, to Ladysmith from Victoria is like a stroll in the park (once one is on the Island Highway, one either travels North or South) An explanation as to why there was membership in both Kamloops and Ladysmith is likely to be found at the second link. The idea of anyone travelling distances on British Columbia's highways is not uncommon. I've driven to the westcoast of Vancouver Island (Tofino) from the eastcoast of Vancouver Island to have a cup of coffee at Pacific Rim Park's Long Beach. I know of persons who travel that same distance repeatedly in a 24 hour period for various reasons (uncommon) or live in or around Nanaimo (Extension is just south of Nanaimo), Ladysmith or Lake Cowichan and commute to work in Victoria or Vancouver (given the price of housing in the metropolitan areas this often makes econimic sense) St. John's Lodge A.F. & A.M - Ladysmith http://ibnd.com/masons/ "Councils of Royal and Select Masters meet in Victoria, Courtenay, Ladysmith, Kamloops, Creston, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Langley and Chilliwack" http://www.grandchapter-bc-yukon.ca/Further_Light.htm Lists Chapters http://www.grandchapter-bc-yukon.ca/chapters.htm Regards, Dennice researching: Brulè, Poirier, McFadden, Stephens, Michelsen, French, Brooks, Brown, Goudie, Vautrin http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~goudied/ > The orbit for Richard VALENTINE, who died 1948, late of Tranquille and > Vancouver, BC, and who had been a resident of Ladysmith and Extension for > many years, states that he was a member of St. John's Lodge A.F. & A.M. > G.R.B.C. No. 21 of Ladysmith, also Kamloops Chapter No. 18 Royal Arch Mason. > A friend of mine in New Brunswick has pointed out that Ladysmith is about 50 > miles north of Victoria; Kamloops hundreds of miles away in the interior of > the mainland part of the province. He says it raises an interesting question > as to why he was a member of lodges so far from Victoria. > Is anyone able to answer this question please? Also would I be able to > contact anyone over any records that may have been kept by these lodges? > Last, but not least, are there any websites for these lodges please? > Barbara Colquitt > Ashton In Makerfield, > Wigan, Lancs, England.