The Order was organized on December 1^st, 1894 at 40 Mile, YT, Canada, before any law organization existed in the Yukon Valley and as a substitute the first Pioneers adopted this rule which became the Motto of the Order: "Do unto others as you would be done by". Over the years various Lodges existed on different places and died off again as miners moved to other discoveries.

At the present, two Lodges remain, Lodge #1 in Dawson City and Lodge #2 in Whitehorse.

The governing body of both is the "Yukon Order of Pioneers grand Lodge."

It is composed of the yearly elected Executive, all Past Grand Presidents, all Presidents and Past Presidents of the Subordinate Lodges and elected Delegates at the rate of one for every fifteen members. The annual general meeting of the Grand Lodge is held in April, alternating between Dawson City and Whitehorse. All questions which arise during the year within the Subordinate Lodges, such as amendments, alterations or addition to the constitution shall be put on the agenda for the AGM of the Grand Lodge to be decided by a two-thirds vote. Subordinate Lodges hold meetings ten times during the year. The months of July and August are considered summer recess. The new executive is elected at the December meeting and installed at the January meeting. Rules of Order are governed according to "Bourinot's Manual of Parliamentary Low" in all proceedings.

New applicants for membership have to fill out an application which has to be signed by two recommending members and three investigating members. When it is presented at the next meeting and a short history of the applicant is given, a vote is held by secret ballot. If favourable, the applicant is invited to the next meeting for initiation. At this initiation ceremony the President points out to the applicant the laws, rules and purpose of the Order, establishing a bond of friendship in brotherhood and remembrance of those who blazed the trail of early days. After signing the Roll Book and being invested with the Regalia the new member is introduced to the Lodge and made welcome. There is a provision to become a Life Member, with the stipulation to be a member in good standing for ten years and sixty-five years of age or older. Since receiving the yearly dues from the regular members is the only source of income, having yearly raffles by the Lodges is a way to generate some extra funds to be able to sponsor some special events. The Dawson Lodge has the Gold Poke Draw. Tickets are sold and the draw is for three Prizes of Gold Wavers of different weights. The Whitehorse Lodge gives two $ 1,000.00 bursaries to two graduate students for further studies and sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Yukon for their scheduled travels. When a Brother Pioneer passes away, it is the decision of the family to choose the funeral arrangements. If they purchased a plot in the Pioneer Section of the graveyard it will be most likely a Pioneer Funeral, consisting of church service and internment. As many members as possible shall attend, wearing the regalia, sitting together as a group in church and going to the grave side afterwards. Little cards are passed to the members to write their name on. The President and the Chaplain address the congregation, the Warden collects the signed cards from the members which are placed on the coffin as it is lowered in the grave. After wishing the departed Brother a peaceful rest, a well meant reminder for the living with our Motto: "Do unto others as you would be done by".

By Jo Lehmann
Past Grand President

Yukon Order of Pioneers is a male fraternity with members residing in the Yukon for over 25 years. YOOP consists of a Grand Lodge which oversees the subordinate Lodges #1 in Dawson City and #2 in Whitehorse. Organized at Forty Mile, Yukon Territory, on December 1st, 1894.

Many stories derive from the early days of Yukon history. Where did people come from and when? Stories state of early day explorers and traders that were here almost since time began.

One organization that we can relate to is the YUKON ORDER OF PIONEERS. It all began when the earlier prospectors arrived to stake their claims at the town site of FORTY MILE on the YUKON RIVER near the Alaska border. At that time it was a trading centre where people could purchase some food, clothing and tools of the trade to locate the elusive gold.

Many of the transients were not too truthful and might overstake someone else's claim. This caused many a disagreement. A group got together to form some sort of law and order as there was no police force here of any sort. And that is how the "Order of Pioneers" came into being.

In the late 1890's, Skagway and Dyea, Alaska were hotbeds of violent crime. The Arctic Brotherhood was the Alaskan equivalent of the Yukon Order of Pioneers (whose motto was "do as you would be done by"). It was formed during the Gold Rush era to ensure stampeders' rights were protected. The 1899 Arctic Brotherhood Hall can still be visited in Skagway. With 20,000 pieces of driftwood tacked to the front of it, it's hard to miss. The Arctic Brotherhood Hall, established in 1899, remains a historic site in Skagway, Alaska today.

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When a person was apprehended for his misdemeanour there was a short court session and if proven guilty the culprit was immediately ordered out of the Territory.

Back row: Gordon Bettles, Pete McDonald, Barney Hill, Frank Buteau, Geo Matlock, Al Mayo, John Nelson, Billy Loyd, J.O'Donnel, L. LaFlem
Center: Jas Kenedy, H. Scales, Pete Nelson
Front row: H. Hamilton Hart, Bill McPhee, N. Picotte, L.N. McQuesten, Frank Boker, Harry Rivers, Jo Navarro

The lodge at FORTY MILE was formed after some other meetings throughout the year 1894 on the 1st DECEMBER with the election of officers and JACK LEROY McQUESTEN was the first president.

The first application for a charter was from a town on the YUKON RIVER but this was issued to CIRCLE ALASKA which became Lode #1 on April 1895 and another charter was issued to RAMPART ALASKA a short while later and it was Lodge #2.

After the Bonanza Gold was discovered these lodges were disbanded in a short time as most prospectors flocked to the new town of DAWSON on the YUKON RIVER.

The first Lodge then formed in the town of DAWSON was called KLONDIKE LODGE. Though this order was named YUKON as part of CANADA at the time was the NORTH WEST TERRITORIES.

By 1912 many of the miners had all moved to SEATTLE and applied to form a Lodge there, but as Historian I cannot fathom the reason for a charter being granted there as the Lodges were to be on the YUKON RIVER watershed but never the less it was done only to last a short time.

The International Sourdough Group derived from this under the new name in time. As did the Alaska Pioneers were also formed by past members from the Yukon, in towns of Alaska they still exist today but are called IGLOOS instead Lodges.

The Vancouver Yukoners Association was started mainly by former Lodge members but most certainly former YUKON residents.

The MAYO YUKON LODGE was formed about 1913 and was given the number #3 as these numbers had been disbanded earlier as Lodges closed down.

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MAYO Lodge was quite active for many years and they built a large log building as a meeting hall in 1921 and it was used until the early 1950's. The building remained and was used by the community as a movie theatre and dance hall and also local meetings were held there.

The records of this lodge were taken to DAWSON CITY where they were lost in the fire of 1967, plus a lot of Dawson City history.

Whitehorse Lodge was formed in 1914 and was number 4. It is not known how long it really has existed, but we do have a certificate duly signed by the Grand Lodge Officers of the day in 1915 to Issac Taylor who was a merchant in Whitehorse at that time. The records of this Lodge were no doubt lost in the 1967 Dawson fire. The building where meetings were held is still standing and being used to this day. It used to be called the Moose Lodge and later became the existing Burns Building on Main Street in Whitehorse. It is not exactly known when this Lodge closed. In 1958 - 1960 there was interest to form again, which took some time, but was finally done. A charter was issued; an election took place, followed by an installation of officers on December 1st 1966. The Constitution is unchanged from the original in 1894. The emblem of the Order is an open Golden Rule in a Seath of Green. The motto is "Do Unto Others As You Would Be Done By", this is still the same today. Minor changes have been made to the residency clause: before it was ten years, today it is twenty-five years, and twenty years before an individual can even be considered as a member. There is a Ladies Auxiliary in Whitehorse, they have been operating for over twenty years; some of the same regulations apply as with the men's applicants. Any major changes that are requested must be approved by the Grand Lodge at their annual meetings. The present Grand Lodge is comprised of members of both the remaining active Lodges of Dawson City and Whitehorse. The President and Vice-President must be past Presidents of a subordinate Lodge. They meet at least once a year alternately in the two communities. This body has the distinction of never closing a meeting so it can be called upon at a moments notice with a quorum to decide on something important that has arisen. The annuals are always held in April.

We are looking forward to our 100th ANNIVERSARY in 1994 with various functions throughout the year still being planned. There are not many organizations still active in the country and able to celebrate their 100th!

L.A. Cyr, Historian of the Yukon Order of Pioneers - 1994

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