Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIO -THE ACTION OF THE GRAND CHAPTER OF CANADA ON THE MEMORIAL OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIO ASKING FRATERNAL RECOGNITION.

HE Fourth Annual Assembly was held on the 25th day of August, 1874, in the City of Toronto. Amongst those present were Illustrious Companions Spry, McLellan, Menet, Bigelow, Sargant, Nixon, Joshua G. Burns, of Toronto, all belonging to Adoniram Council; Illustrious Companions J. W. Wilson, H. S. Broughton, Gibson Cook, W. H. Porter, W. H. Walkem, and J. G. Graham, of Zabud Council, Bradford; Illustricus Companions John Dumbrille and George C. Longley, of Khurum Council, Maitland; William Gibson, and Richard Brierly, of Salem Council, Hamilton, and Illustrious Companions James O'Connor, of Enoch Council, London, Ont. The Grand Master, in his address, was called upon to mourn the loss of Rt. Illustrious Companion T. B. Harris, a Past Right Puissant Grand Master, and Inspector-General of the Hamilton Division, He died on the 18th of August, 1874. The difference which existed in Craft masonry in the Province of Quebec had so crippled the energies and impaired the usefulness of all grades of Freemasonry, that the Cryptic Rite had not flourished as well as it might have in that section of Canada. The Grand Master referred to the address, which, at a former meeting of Grand Council, had been prepared for presentation to the Grand Chapter of Canada, asking for fraternal recognition. He said that:-" At the Annual Convocation of Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, (1872), a memorial was presented by your Executive Committee, asking that Body to extend fraternal recognition to this Grand Council. With our approval, no action was taken at that session, and so far as we are concerned, the subject, has remained in abeyance, and I would not again have alluded to the subject, had not M. E. Companion S. B. Harman, in his able address to Grand Chapter, at its Convocation (1873), in a very kind manner brought the subject

prominently under the notice of that Grand Body. The Executive Committee, however, in their report, did not consider it "advisable to extend recognition to any other Orders than those at present recognized by Grand Chapter." I am certain that members of this Grand Council will not desire to seek recognition from any body that does not wish to exchange the usual Masonic courtesies, and, I feel assured, such action will not interfere in the slightest degree with those Masonic bodies that are making such rapid progress in the Dominion. In explanation of the degrees conferred in our Council I may be permitted to give the following quotation for the information of the uninitiated, from the Report of the Grand Council of Pennsylvania :

"The Council degrees are the historical or explanatory degrees. The Royal Master's has exclusive reference to the three symbolic degrees-more particularly to the Mark Master's degree. The Super-Excellent Master's degree is the connecting link between the M. Ex-Master and R. A. Degrees, and accounts for those events, Jewish and Masonic, which took place from the dedication of the first Temple, to the effort made in rebuilding the second Temple, a period of 470 years; whilst the Select Master's degree accounts for, and explains, the discovery made in the R. A. degree.

"These degrees are as important as many others, and those who are familiar with our beautiful Ritual will continue to take a deep interest in the secrets of the Ninth Arch."

The Grand Master referred to the want of uniform work, titles, etc., and said "The New York Convention having adopted a uniform 'work' I have been made acquainted with it, and beg to recommend that it be adopted by the Grand Council. I cannot, however, agree with our Ill. Companions in every respect, and cannot, therefore, at present recommend any change in regard to the Super-Ex. Master and Red Cross Degrees.

"A resolution was adopted, declaring it to be the opinion of those present that the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters should be made pre-requisite to the orders of Knighthood. It is not advisable that we should take any such action in this jurisdiction, as, in my opinion, it is better that the Cryptic Rite should occupy an entirely independent position, and that no efforts be made to induce those to take the degrees, who are not likely to be active workers. Masonry in all its branches has far too many drones in its busy hive, and I trust every caution will be exercised in the admission

of candidates to the Ninth Arch, so that none will be admitted who desire only to take all the degrees they can get,' without any regard to the further obligations and duties thereby entailed upon them."

The Committee on the Address, in their report, referred particularly to the portion which alluded to the Grand Chapter of Canada, and said :

"Your Committee are desirous of placing before the Grand Council its opinion respecting recognition of the various superior and inferior grades of Masonry by the Grand Council, and the reciprocal compliment of a recognition by them. It is believed the application of this Grand Council to the Grand Chapter of Canada for recognition, that body having previously extended recognition to kindred bodies, was more with a view of conforming to custom than endorsing a principle which is, in fact, vicious. It is certainly courteous in the Grand Chapter to recognize the Grand Priory, or the Supreme Council of the A. & A. Rite; but while this courtesy is being extended, how little does the Grand Chapter know whether or not the tenets and traditions of these systems are not really subversive of the existence of the Royal Arch degree. And it may fairly be doubted whether the Grand Chapter ought to lend its countenance to any Rite, no matter how well recommended, whose teachings and traditions are withheld from its knowledge-for by doing so, they perform that too common exercise of voting blind.' Moreover, every system should be allowed to stand or fall by its own intrinsic worth. The growth, without this friendly commendation, may be slow, but it is sound and enduring. It is apprehended this Grand Council will not decline the friendly salutations of her co-workers in the Masonic harvest-field, yet it will be well to keep in mind the difference between a recognition based upon principle and a recognition prompted by courtesy.

"Your Committee cordially concur with the M.P.G.M. on the advantages resulting from a uniformity of work in the various jurisdictions, and also in his views respecting the S. E.M. and Red Cross degrees being made a pre-requisite to the Temple. It is apprehended the Templar Orders are the best judges of the qualifications of candidates for the degrees conferred by them. The importance of the Cryptic Rite might be much magnified in the eyes of a few, were its degrees made a pre-requisite to the Templar grades—and the Rite might gain a few members by thus holding the key which unlocks the secrets cherished in the hearts of valiant

defenders of Christianity; but it appears like asking an extraordinary concession from our cautious' friends-one in fact equivalent to the right of existence.

A notice was given that at the next Annual Assembly the names of the officers of the Subordinate Councils be changed so as to coincide with the recommendation of the New York Convention. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:

M. I. Companion Daniel Spry, Most Illustrious Grand Mas

ter.

R. I. Companion David McLellan, Deputy Grand Master. R. I. Companion Thomas Sargant, Grand Principal Conductor of the Work.

M. I. Companion Fred. J. Menet, Grand Treasurer.

R. I. Companion James B. Nixon, Grand Recorder.

R. I. Companion H. S. Broughton, Grand Captain of Guard. R. I. Companion W. H. Porter, Grand Lecturer.

R. I. Companion John L. Dixon, Grand Sentinel.

R. I. Companion W. Gibson, Inspector-General Hamilton Division.

R. I. Companion J. W. H. Wilson, Inspector-general Toronto Division.

R. I. Companion Wm. Kerr, Inspector-General Ottawa Divi

sion.

R. I. Companion J. G. A. LeBlanc, Inspector-General Quebec Division.

V. I. Companion James O'Connor, Grand Master of Ceremonies.

V. I. Companion Richard Brierly, Grand Conductor.

V. I. Companion J. G. Burns, Grand Organist.

V. I. Companion G. Cook, W. M. Somerville, Grand Stewards.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

R. I. Companion C. Schomberg Elliot, Orillia.
R. I. Companion Geo. C. Longley, Maitland.
V. I. Companion J. G. Burns, Toronto.

V. I. Companion Richard Brierly, Hamilton.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE FIFTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF ONTARIOTHE COUNCIL OF RITES-REASONS FOR ITS FORMATION.

N the 15th July, 1875, a special Assembly of Grand Council was held in the rooms of Enoch Council, London, for the consideration of business pertaining to the formation of a Grand Council of Rites, and for conferring of Degrees upon such Royal Arch Masons as had been balloted for and accepted in subordinate Councils, but who had not been able to be present at the assemblies of such Council to receive the Degrees.

A Council of Royal Masters having been opened, the M. Ill. Grand Master requested R. Ill. Companion James B. Nixon, T. I. M. Adoniram Council, No. 2 Toronto, and V. Ill. Companion James O'Connor, T. I. M., of Enoch Council, No. 10 London, to perform the work.

Companions J. K. Kerr, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, A.F. and A.M., Toronto; Chauncey Bennett, D. D.G.M., Port Rowan; Jas. H. Benson, D.D.G.M., Seaforth; D. McG. Malloch, Grand Registrar of the Grand Lodge of Canada, Clinton; T. F. Blackwood, Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Canada, Yorkville; A. L. Wilson, Eglington; Henry L. Vercoe, Seaforth, were then admitted, and honoured with the Degree of "Royal Master."

A Council of Select Masters having been opened, the same Companions were admitted and respectively "chosen as a Select Master." The same companions were then regularly advanced to the degree of Super-Excellent Master, and were also regularly dubbed Knights of the Red Cross or Babylonish Pass. The M. Ill. G. M. stated that it had been suggested that a Grand Council of Rites might be formed for the Dominion of Canada, and as it was a matter of considerable importance, he urged the representatives present to bring the subject under the notice of the several Councils, so as to be prepared to give an intelligent vote on the proposed scheme at the annual assembly of Grand Council, to be held in Toronto on the 10th of August next.

« PreviousContinue »