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 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. 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 De grees. 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. On the 10th August, 1875, the Fifth Annual Assembly convened in the Masonic Hall, Toronto, the Grand Master, M. Ill. Comp. Daniel Spry, in the chair. From Adoniram Council there were Ill Comps. D. Spry, David McLellan, N. G. Bigelow, J. B. Nixon, W. J. Morris, J. G. Burns, and S. B. Harman; from Zabud Council, at Bradford, there were Ill. Companions Thos. Sargant, J. W. H. Wilson, W. H. Porter, and Gibson Cook. From Khurum Council, at Maitland, there were Ill. Companions Geo. C. Longley, Jno. Dumbrille, Jno. Easton, and A. G. Hervey. Gedeliah Council, at Ottawa, was represented by Ill. Companions Wm. Kerr, and W. M. Somerville. Salem Council, of Hamilton, sent Ill. Companions William Gibson and Hugh A. Mackay. Enoch Council, of London, was to the fore with Ili. Čompanion James O'connor. Cryptic Council, of Peterboro', had Ill. Companion Jno. O'Donnell, and Nineveh Council, at St. Thomas, Ill. Companion Robert McKay. Cryptic Council, at Peterboro', had been opened by dispensation on the 7th of May, 1875. The petition was signed by Ill. Companion C. D. Macdonnell, Past Grand Z. of the Grand Chapter of Canada, James Millar, John O'Donnell, and a number of Companions from Peterboro'. Nineveh Council was organized 2nd July, 1875, on an application from Ill. Companion Robert McKay and a number of companions from St. Thomas, in the County of Elgin, and was opened for work on the 18th of July. A number of visitors from different parts of the jurisdiction were also present. The Grand Master was exhaustive in his address. He congratulated the Companions on the advance and progress of the Rite in Canada. With regard to fraternal recognition as asked for from Grand Chapter, he said, " At the Second Annual Assembly of Grand Council a petition (see Rep. 1872, p. 21), was prepared and presented by the Grand Chapter of Canada praying fraternal recognition. With the approval of the Executive Committee, this matter has not been pressed, as there were many reasons why recognition might, with much wisdom, be delayed. Among others, it was considered inadvisable to urge upon the members of the Grand Chapter the consideration of a subject with which they might not be familiar, as the Cryptic Rite was but recently introduced into Canada, and it was not then known to what extent the Craft might give it countenance. The time has now arrived when we can with more confidence respectfully ask to be recognized as one of the Orders of Masonry in Canada, entitled to be placed in the regular Order of Masonic progression. In addressing the Companions on the subject, the Grand Master said: "From the number of our Councils, the character and standing of our members, and the ability we have shown to organize, maintain and direct an independent Grand Body, I am warranted in recommending Grand Council to again ask Grand Chapter to extend to us the usual courtesies, and acknowledge us as fellow-workers in the vast field of Masonic knowledge." In allusion to those who had passed away, a kindly reference was made to the death on 16th Jan., 1875, of Col. Wm. Mercer Wilson, the M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada and the first Grand Master of that body The Grand Master referred at length to the special Assembly which had been called at Londom, with the object of forming a Council of Rites. This action was found to be necessary from the fact that there were so many appendant orders in Canada that to work each with a separate executive would entail a large amount of work, a great portion of which would have to be duplicated by Companions who were active in Cryptic Masonry. Therefore, a Council of Rites. was proposed so as to cover all the outside degrees, and thus keep them under control of Grand Council. Concerning the proposed Grand Council of Rites, the Grand Master said: "You are aware that the Masonic and Military Order of Knights of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine was introduced into Canada in 1869 by our esteemed M. Ill. Comp. W. J. B. McLeod Moore 33 ⚫, Grand Cross of the Temple and Grand Prior for the Dominion of Canada, who was appointed Chief Intendant-General for this Dominion. The history of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine can justly claim a higher antiquity than any other order of Knighthood. It had its actual origin from the circumstance of a vision which the Emperor Constantine saw prior to the 'decisive victory of the Milvian Bridge,' fought October 28th, A.D. 312, at a place called Saxa Rubra, near Rome. According to the Christian writer, Eusebius, Constantine saw the appearance of a flaming cross in the sky at noon-day with the motto, In hoc signo vinces, (In this sign shalt thou conquer.) The Emperor communicated this vision to the learned Eusebius, and, as our traditional history states, afterwards instituted the Order of the Red Cross as a memorial of the Divine miracle which effected his conversion to the Christian faith, and as a reward for the valour of his soldiers. The Order teaches Faith, Unity and Zeal; it inculcates the Christian virtues and urges us to carry out, in our daily lives, the Divine principles of Charity and Truth, based on that high and holy law, which will secure to every true and faithful follower of the Lamb a holy rest upon the bosom of Infinite Love. The degrees pertaining to this Order are conferred in assemblies called Conclaves, and are-Knight of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine, Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, Novice and Knight of St. John the Evangelist, Knight of the Christian Mark and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. The two latter degrees are conferred under the designation of a Sanctuary, all of these degrees being confined to those who have attained to the rank of a Royal Arch Mason. The same M. Ill. Companion introduced into Canada the Ancient Order of Royal Ark Mariners, and a Grand Lodge of this body has been formed for the Dominion of Canada. The creation of so many Grand bodies has created some confusion, and it has appeared to many of the leading members of the Craft that some means might be devised whereby the degrees conferred in Councils, Conclaves and Lodges of Royal Ark Mariners, might, with much benefit to Masonry, be placed under one Grand body, to be called the Grand Council of Rites for the Dominion of Canada, or, should you prefer to curtail your jurisdiction, for the Province of Ontario only. Our M. Ill. Companion McLeod Moore, as head of the two Orders I have named, highly approves of this scheme, and has called a convention of the Conclaves of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine, to meet in this city this evening, when this matter will be submitted for their consideration and decision. The Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners has also been summoned to meet at the same time, when the brethren composing that Order will be asked to co-operate in organizing the Grand Council of Rites as proposed. I cannot too strongly recommend Grand Council to give its approval to the arrangement suggested, thereby dispensing with so many Grand bodies, which at present demand too great a sacrifice of the valuable time of the members of the Craft. Should the Grand Council of Rites be formed as proposed, the Grand bodies of Canada then will be: Grand Lodges, Grand Chapters, Grand Council of Rites, Grand Priory, Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree A. and A. Rite -quite sufficient governing power to control and direct the whole of Masonry, and to meet all the requirements of the Craft." The Committee on the Grand Master's Address commended the views of the Grand Master, and said : |