The last member of the local Masonic fraternity to pay the supreme sacrifice during the Great War was Arthur W. Snider.
Arthur Snider was born during the year 1863 in Wyndham, Norfolk, England, son of George and Elizabeth Snider. As a young man Arthur left for Canada and found a new home in Essex County.
On February 2nd 1898, Arthur was initiated into Freemasonry as a member of Central Lodge No. 402 in Essex Centre, his occupation was listed as a Teamster. Brother Snider was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on April 6th 1898.
During this time Brother Snider met his future wife Ida of Walkerville and married in 1899. Shortly after their marriage the two left Essex County and moved to Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In Swift Current Arthur entered the real estate business.
With the outbreak of the Great War in Europe Brother Snider enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He was assigned to the 209th Battalion of the Central Ontario Regiment, Canadian Infantry. In the infantry unit Arthur was regiment paymaster achieving the rank of Captain.
In 1916 Captain Brother Snider was sent overseas with the 209th battalion. For the next 18 months Captain Snider fulfilled his duties within the regiment as paymaster. In the fall of 1917 Captain Snider became ill and was deemed unfit for service. In October of 1917 he returned to Canada deathly ill.
Ida and Arthur moved back to the Windsor area after his return from overseas. As Arthur grew weaker and weaker Ida enlisted the help of her family and friends in Windsor tending his needs.
After struggling with his illness for over a year Captain Brother Arthur W. Snider passed on to eternity at the age of 56. His final resting place is in Oakwood Cemetery at Simcoe Ontario. Captain Snider's name appears on page 543 of the Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Athough Brother Snider had been away from the Windsor area for over 18 years, he did maintain his masonic membership with Central Lodge No. 402 at Essex.
