Companions to represent the Grand Council near the different Grand Councils of the United States. The concluding paragraph in the address called the attention of the Companions to the fact that a convention of Cryptic Masons was to meet in St. Louis, Mo., in September, to take into consideration matters in connection with Cryptic Masonry, particularly with a view to bring about uniformity as to the order of conferring the degrees, the titles of each Grand and subordinate officer's ritual and work, as well as to devise measures in conjunction with the Grand Conclave of Knights Templars and the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States, which were to meet in St. Louis at the same time, so that in future the "Cryptic degrees" should be a pre-requisite for the commanding degrees. Further, that to support any movement calculated to effect results so desirable for the Rite, delegates should be appointed to attend the Convention. The suggestion of the Grand Master was approved of, and delegates were appointed. The usual routine business was disposed of, after which the Grand Officers were elected and appointed as follow: M. I. Companion Robert Marshall, St. John, M. P. Grand Master. R. I. Companion John E. Ellis, Carleton, Deputy P. Grand Master. R. I. Companion J. D. Short, St. John, Right P. Grand Master. R. I. Companion Hy. Leonard, Carleton, Puissant Grand Master. R. I. Companion Jno. Mullin, St. John, Grand Master. R. I. Companion, D. R. Munro, Portland, Grand Recorder. R. I. Companion Rev. G. J. Caie, Portland, N.B. Grand Chaplain. R. I. Companion Thos. H. Keohan, St. John, Grand Captain of the Guard. V. I. Companion Robt. Shives, St. John, Grand Master of Ceremonies. V. I. Companion W. C. Perley, St. John, Grand Conductor. The proceedings of this assembly closed with the usual installation and investiture of officers. This year an excel lent review of the proceedings of the sister Grand Councils of America was made by Illustrious Companion D. R. Munro, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence. In the proceedings of the Grand Council of Maine, Right Illustrious Companion Drummond, the Chairman of Foreign Correspondence for that State, in noticing the receipt of the proceedings of the Grand Council of New Brunswick, says, "Sister, at once, and daughter, we welcome with full hearts the Grand Council of New Brunswick to our family circle." CHAPTER XVII. THE THIRD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW BRUNSWICK-A REGULATION FOR INCREASING THE INTEREST IN THE WORK-INTRODUCTION OF THE RITE INTO NOVA SCOTIA. HE third annual Assembly of the Grand Council of New Brunswick met at St. John, on the 11th August, 1869, with Most Illustrious Companion Robert Marshall presiding. In his address to the Companions assembled, the Grand Master said that while he could not congratulate the Order on any great increase in their number, it gave him satisfaction to be able to say that peace and harmony prevailed throughout the jurisdiction, and the fact that the Cryptic degrees were attracting the attention of Royal Arch Masons, not only in New Brunswick, but also throughout the Dominion of Canada. In order to facilitate the introduction of Cryptic Masonry in Canada the Grand Master suggested to the Grand Council, for its serious consideration, the propriety of adopting a regulation in its constitution somewhat similar to a regulation of the Imperial and Ecclesiastical and Military Order of the Knights of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine and K.H.S., of England, as follows: "Right Puissant Inspectors-General of Divisions for the British Provinces may be commissioned by the Most Puissant Grand Master to act as his delegates in their respective Divisions or Provinces. These officers shall have, under the Grand Council, the general supervision of the affairs of the Order, in their particular divisions; and special power to create and instal Companions, Royal and Select Masters, may be conferred upon them by the Most Puissant Grand Master, in the exercise of his discretion, for the purpose of forming new Councils of Royal and Select Masters." The Committee which reported on the address concurred in the opinion of the Grand Master, and it was resolved "that Present and Past Right Puissant Inspectors-General of Divisions or Provinces, shall hold and enjoy the same rank in the Order as Present and Past Puissant Grand Masters." The proceedings of this year close with the re tirement of Most Illustrious Companion Marshall from the position he had so worthily filled, and the election of— M. I. Companion Dr. J. C. Hatheway, as Most Puissant Grand Master. R. I. Companion J. D. Short, Deputy Puissant Grand Mas ter. R. I. Companion Hy. Leonard, Right Puissant Grand Master. R. I. Companion D. R. Munro, Grand Recorder. R. I. Companion C. U. Hanford, Grand Treasurer. R. I. Companion W. T. D. A. Forster, Grand Captain of the Guards. V. I. Companion Hy. Duffell, Grand Master of Ceremonies. V. I. Companion G. H. Whiting, Grand Conductor. V. I. Companion W. W. Emslie, Grand Steward. V. I. Companion H. Card, Grand Organist. V. I. Companion H. Brown, Grand Sentinel. V. I. Companions S. F. Watkins, John Mullin, Finance Com mittee. V. I. Companion George F. Ring, Representative on Hall Committee. V. I. Companion Rev. G. J. Caie, R. I. Companion D. R. Munro, Committee on Correspondence. The Grand Master elect was then presented for installation, and having been installed, acknowledged and honoured, proceeded to instal the remaining Grand Officers, and the Grand Council closed in Ample Form. In 1870 a number of the Companions of the Cryptic Rite, residing in Halifax, in the Province of Nova Scotia, desired to organize and form a Council under warrant from the Grand Council of New Brunswick. A special session of Grand Council was therefore called on the 18th of July, 1870, at the Masonic Hall, St. John, the Most Puissant Grand Master, Companion Dr. J. C. Hatheway being in the chair. The application for a Warrant was read. The Companions asked for a dispensation or Warrant to open "Chebucto" Council, in the city of Halifax, with Most Puissant Companion Stephen Rowland Sircom as first Thrice Illustrious Master; R. E. Companion George T. Smithers, to be the first Right Illustrious Master, and R. E. Companion James Gossip, to be the first Illustrious Master of the Grand Council. The petition was granted, and "Chebucto" Council was duly constituted. J CHAPTER XVIII. THE FOURTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF NEW BRUNSWICK-THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE PLANTING OF THE RITE IN THE WEST-THE RED CROSS DEGREE-WHY IT WAS APPENDED TO THE CANADIAN CRYPTIC SYSTEM. HE fourth annual assembly of the Grand Council of New Brunswick met on the 25th of August, 1870, M.P. Companion Dr. Hatheway, presiding. The annual address of the Grand Master was full of interest. He opened by saying that "It has pleased the Grand Master of the Universe in the order of His kind Providence, to permit us again to assemble in annual convocation. He who 'never slumbers nor sleeps' has watched over and protected us for another year, and although the scythe of time has cut down many in our midst, some upon the right and some upon the left, yet the companions of our beloved Order have all been spared, 'the grasping hand of death' has taken none from our ranks, and here we are tonight to congratulate each other, to renew our vows of fellowship, and to stimulate each other in our progress in this our beloved and most interesting Cryptic Rite." He said that the Rite was prospering, and that he had appointed since the last meeting of Grand Council, “T. D. Harrington, the Most Excellent the Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada, as Right Puissant Inspector-General of the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, with authority to confer the degrees of Royal, Select and Super Excellent Masters on Companions of Royal Arch Masons, for the purpose of forming Councils in those Provinces," and also that he had appointed "J. Conway Brown, one of the Grand Principals of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Nova Scotia, a Right Puissant Inspector-General for Halifax and Windsor, with authority to confer the degrees of the Rite for the purpose of forming Councils in those places." He alluded to the formation of " Chebucto Council in Halifax, of which notice has been taken in the previous page. The Grand Master also called the attention of the Grand Council to a resolution passed by the Grand Council |