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Murdoch McLeod. Among the visitors were the Venerable and Illustrious Companion W. J. B. McLeod Moore, of Laprairie; Companions J. G. A. Le Blanc, Montreal; T. S. Atkinson and W. Ramsay, Orillia; G. W. Jessop, Munro Council, Michigan; W. C. Morrison, George Chanter, C. G. Forbes and J. F. Lash, of Toronto. The Chairman read the circular, which was as follows:

ADONRAM COUNCIL, No 6, G. R. N. A.,

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Masonic Hall, Toronto, July 24, 1871. To the Ill. Master of- --Council of Royal and Select Masters. DEAR SIR AND ILL. COMPANION :-The desire for a Grand Council for the Province of Ontario has been so often expressed, and the belief that its early organization would materially advance the interests of Cryptic Masonry, has induced this Council to take the initiative in calling a Convention to secure that object, with the approval of R. Illustrious Companion, T. Douglas Harington, Inspector-General for Ontario and Quebec.

We are, therefore, instructed to forward to your Council, a copy of Resolutions, unanimously adopted at a special Convention of Adoniram Council held this evening, and to respectfully request your hearty cooperation in securing the object contemplated, by calling a special convocation of your Council for the consideration of this important matter. Resolved, That the introduction of Cryptic Masonry, and the extension of the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters and Appendant Orders into the Province of Ontario, has been attended with beneficial results, and, considering the rapid increase of Councils working under the Grand Council of New Brunswick, and the desire expressed by many Companions for the organization of Councils in their localities, and the necessity that exists for a Supreme Council in this Province, it is desirable that a Convention, to be composed of the Inspector General for Ontario and Quebec, Past T. I. M.'s, Th. I. M.'s, R. Ill. M.'s of said Councils, be held in the City of Toronto, on Tuesday, the 8th of August, 1871, at the Council Chamber of Adoniram Council, at the hour of three o'clock p.m.

Resolved, That a circular, with copies of the above resolution, signed by the Th. Ill. M., R.Ill. M. and Recorder, be forwarded to the Inspector General for Ontario, and the various Councils meeting in Ontario, requesting them to appoint eligible Companions as delegates to said Convention, and aid in the formation of a Grand Council for Ontario. Resolved, That the Th. Ill. M., R. Ill. M. and Ill. M. of this Council are hereby authorized to attend any Convention that may be held having for its object the formation of a Grand Council for Ontario. Should your Council approve of the Convention, you will be good enough to provide your delegates with a certified copy of the resolution appo; nting them, duly sealed, and signed by the Th. Ill. Master and Recorder.

Approved,

T. DOUGLAS HARINGTON,

Yours fraternally,

Insp.-Gen. Quebec and Ontario.

DANIEL SPRY, Th. I. M.
DAVID MCLELLAN. R. Ill. M.
N. G. BIGELOW, Ill. M.
W. A. STOLLERY, Recorder.

And also his appointment by the Grand Council of New Brunswick, as Inspector-General of Cryptic Masonry for Ontario and Quebec, with authority to confer degrees and open Councils. He said:" Under the authority of this appointment the Councils represented in this Convention had been lawfully established, and as there were more than three Councils now working in the Province, a very natural desire had been expressed to have a Grand Council for Ontario. He heartily agreed with that desire, and he believed that the Grand Council for New Brunswick also acquiesced in the desire for a Grand Council for this Province. He therefore surrendered to this Convention the authority which he held, and would cheerfully aid them in securing the object for which they had assembled. After some consideration, it was moved by Th. Ill. Companion Daniel Spry, seconded by Th. Ill. Companion Robert Ramsay,

"That whereas the introduction of Cryptic Masonry, and the extension of the degrees of Royal and Select Masters and appendant Orders in the Province of Ontario, has been attended with beneficial results, and whereas the rapid increase of Councils has shown that it is desirable that a Supreme Council be organized, therefore it is resolved,

"That, in the opinion of this Convention, composed of the Inspector-General for Ontario and Quebec, and the delegates of more than three Councils meeting in Ontario, it is desirable that a Supreme Council should now be formed,

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Resolved, That the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ontario be and is hereby formed."

A constitutiou which had been prepared prior to the meeting by Ill. Companions Daniel Spry, N. Gordon Bigelow and D. McLellan, and approved by the Inspector-General, R. P. Companion T. D. Harington, was submitted, read and adopted, and the Grand Council of Ontario was fairly under way. The following resolutions were also passed:

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That, in consideration of the service rendered to Cryptic Masonry, and the zeal displayed in assisting to organize this Grand Council, the honorary rank of Past Th. Ill. Master be and is hereby conferred upon R. Ill. Companions T. Douglas Harington, Ottawa; Joseph G. A. LeBlanc, Montreal; G. H. Corbett and J. A. Ardagh, Orillia; David McLellan and Nelson Gordon Bigelow, Toronto; J. W. H. Wilson and M. McLeod, Bradford; T. M. Anderson and Wm. Elliott, Galt. That in consideration of the long and faithful services rendered to Masonry in Canada by Ill. Comp. W. J. B. McLeod Moore, the honorary rank of Past Right Puissant Deputy Grand Master be conferred upon him."

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The Province was divided into two districts. First-the Western District, to comprise that portion of the Province

lying between the extreme western boundary and the River
Credit. Second-the Eastern District, to comprise that por-
tion of the Province lying east of the River Credit and the
eastern boundary of the Province. The Council then pro-
ceeded to the choice of their officers, which resulted in the
election and appointment of the following companions:-

M. I. Companion T. D. Harington, Ottawa, M.P. Grand
Master.

R. I. Companion Daniel Spry, Toronto, R.P. Deputy Grand
Master.

R. I. Companion W. J. B. McLeod Moore, Laprairie, Past
R.P.D.G.M.

R. I. Companion Thomas Sargant, Toronto, Right Puissant
Grand Master.

R. I. Companion C. Schomberg Elliot, Orillia, Puissant Grand
Master.

R. I. Companion G. H. Patterson, Galt, Inspector-General
Western Division.

R. I Companion David McLellan, Toronto, Inspector-Gene-
ral Eastern Division.

R. I. Companion Nelson Gordon Bigelow, Toronto, Inspector-
General, Quebec.

R. I. Companion Robert Ramsay, Orillia, Grand Recorder.
R. I. Companion Thos. W. Anderson, Galt, Grand Treasurer.
R. I. Companion J. W. H. Wilson, Bradford, Grand Captain
of Guard.

V. I. Companion Rev. Canon Ramsay, Newmarket, Grand
Chaplain.

V. I. Companion M. McLeod, Bradford, Grand Master of Cere

monies.

V. I. Companion Wm. Elliot, Galt, Grand Conductor.

V. I. Companions G. H. Corbett, J. A. Ardagh, Orillia, Grand
Stewards.

I. Companion John L. Dixon, Toronto, Grand Sentinel.
V. I. Companions J. W. H. Wilson, Robert Ramsay, T. W.
Anderson and M. McLeod, Executive Committee.
After some discussion it was resolved:-

"That the Executive Committee draft and forward an address to our Mother Grand Council of New Brunswick, apprising her of the formation of this Grand Council, and praying a fraternal recognition, and that a circular letter of similar import be also forwarded to the other Grand Councils of the world."

Col. Moore and Companion LeBlanc addressed the Grand Council and requested it to take jurisdiction over the Pro

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vince of Quebec, which it was decided to do, and also "That the rank and titles of Officers and Companions shall be the Most Puissant Grand Master as Most Illustrious Companion. All elected officers as Right Illustrious Companions. All appointed officers as Very Illustrious Companions. Thrice Illustrious Masters of Councils as Thrice Illustrious Companions, and all Companions as Illustrious Companionsofficers in all cases being addressed by the names of their respective offices."

The system of having accredited representatives near Sister Grand Councils was adopted. Warrants were also issued to Shekinah Council as No. 1, of Orillia; Adoniram as No. 2, of Toronto; Harington as No. 3, of Galt; and Zabud No. 4, of Bradford. This brought to a close the Convention and the first meeting of the Grand Council of Ontario.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND LAST ANNUAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE Grand COUNCIL OF NEW BRUNSWICK-NEW SUBORDINATE COUNCILSINAUGURATION OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIO.

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SPECIAL Assembly of the Grand Council of New Brunswick was held in St. John, on the 13th of January, 1871, to consider applications from R. E. Companion Daniel Spry and others for a warrant of authority to open a Council at Toronto under the name of Adoniram Council. The application was granted. There are no printed minutes of this meeting, but the writer has in his possession the circular calling the Grand Council, and dated "St. John, N.B., 6th January, 1871." Another special Assembly was held on the 18th of April, 1871, in the Masonic Hall, St. John, N.B.,at which Most Illustrious Companion J. C. Hatheway presided. Among those present were Illustrious Companions John Willis, Robert Marshall, A. D. Goodman, D. R. Munro, R. Shives, J. D. Short, G. F. Ring, W. W. Emslie, Henry Card, D. Scribner, C. U. Hanford, and other Companions. In the printed proceedings of New Brunswick, the date of this second special Assembly in 1871 is given as occurring on the 13th January, 1871. Right Illustrious Companion D. R. Munro writes me that it is an error of the printer, that the date should be as I have given it, "18th April, 1871." Applications were read from Companions Royal Arch Masons residing in Moncton, N.B., for authority to open "Moncton " Council; from Companions Royal Arch Masons in Bradford, County of Simcoe, Ontario, for authority to open “Zabud Council; and from Royal Arch Companions in the town of Galt, Ont., for anthority to open "Harington" Council. The applications, being duly recommended and in proper form, were granted. On Friday, the 27th October, A.D. 1871, the fifth Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of New Brunswick was convened. M. I. Companion Dr. J. C. Hatheway presided. Past Grand Master Robert Marshall was among those present. Eight Councils were represented. The Grand Master in his opening address alluded to the formation of the new Subordinate Council, and then said:

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