CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GRAND COUNCIL OF CANADA A YEAR OF ACTIVITY-A NEW DIVISION FORMED--CONTROL OF THE RED CROSS DEGREE ABANDONED.

RAND Council well up in years, met for the fourteenth Session in Toronto, on the 12th July, 1884, Most Illustrious Companion John Ross Robertson in the East. Quite a large representation was present, and among them were Illustrious Companions Robert Ramsay, from Shekinah Council; J. G. Burns, G. C. Patterson, J. B. Nixon, G. J. Bennett, G. G. Rowe, J. Patton, P. J. Slatter, all from Adoniram Council; Amos Chatfield, H. Martel Davies and John Moore, from Khorum Council; D. McLellan, from Salem Council; Rev. A. Anthony, from Enoch Council; Robert McKay, from Ninevah Council; H. K. Maitland and John Scoon, from Wellington Council; W. D. Gordon, G. M. Wilkinson and S. G. Fairtlough, from Lactantian Council. The opening address was brief. It alluded to the progress of the Rite during the year, claiming that it had been one of activity, and singled out a few Councils like that at St. Thomas, Guelph, Toronto, and Maitland, as doing good work. It noted the fact that Most Illustrious Companion George M. Osgoodby, of Buffalo, the General Grand Master of the General Grand Council of the United States, had been appointed as the Representative of the Grand Council of Canada, and wound up with the remark that the Grand Master elect would "find no serious obstacles in the path which it will be his duty to follow." The reports from the various Inspectors-General of the Dominion were on the whole favourable. The Report of the Committee on the Address cordially agreed with the views of the Grand Master. The report said:

"It is pleasing to note the activity displayed by the Grand Master in having the proceedings of the three preceding years printed and circulated, that the new certificates have been issued, and the business of the Council so arranged that it is calculated to give general satisfaction to this Grand Council. The appointment of M. Ill. Comp. George M. Os

goodby, of Buffalo, as our representative near the General Grand Council of the United States is one that will, no doubt, meet with the approbation of this Grand body."

The prospects for the advancement of the Rite in the Toronto Division, and a new division to be named the Georgian Division was formed, consisting of the counties of Simcoe, Grey, Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algoma. The Red Cross Degree had been taken charge of by the Grand Council of Rites, alluded to in a former chapter, and as it was thought that to a certain extent it hampered the work of subordinate Councils, by having too many degrees, a resolution was adopted to that effect A resolution was also passed changing the date of meeting to January, and the place of meeting permanently to Toronto; but this resolution was never carried into effect, as it was found that it was in the interest of Grand Council to meet with the other Masonic bodies in July.

On motion of M. Ill. Comp. D. Spry, seconded by M. Ill. Comp. J. G. Burns, it was resolved "That Grand Council surrender all control over the Red Cross Degree, as it is now given in the Preceptories of Knights Templars, where it properly belongs, and that the Grand Master is hereby authorized to direct the Councils in this jurisdiction to cease conferring the said degree upon candidates, and the Constitution be so amended."

The election of officers was then proceeded with, when the following were declared duly elected, and with the appointed officers were duly installed:

M. Ill. Comp. J. Ross Robertson, re-elected M. Ill. Grand Master.

R. Ill. Comp. A. E. Chatfield, Maitland, Deputy Grand Mas

ter.

R. Ill Comp. H. K. Maitland, Guelph, Grand Conductor of the Works.

M. Ill. Comp. David McLellan, Hamilton, Grand Treasurer. M. Ill. Comp. J. G. Burns, Toronto, Grand Recorder.

R. Ill. Comp. S. G. Fairtlough, Kingston, Grand Capt. of
Guard.

R. Ill. Comp. F. Wilmott, Hamilton, Grand Lecturer.
R. Ill. Comp. A. Anthony, Caledonia, Grand Chaplain.
R. Ill. Comp. John L. Dixon, Grand Sentinel.

The following Illustrious Companions were nominated by the representatives of the different divisions and approved by the Grand Master as Inspectors-General of Divisions:

R. Ill. Comp. A. N. Pettit, St. Thomas, London Division.
R. Ill. Comp. John Scoon, Hamilton, Hamilton Division.
R. Ill. Comp. G. C. Patterson, Toronto, Toronto Division.
R. Ill. Comp. C. F. Forrest, Winnipeg, Manitoba Division.
R. Ill. Comp. R. H. Butterworth, Ottawa, Ottawa Division.
R. Ill. Comp. I. H. Stearns, Montreal, Quebec Division.
R. Ill. Comp. W. D. Gordon, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Division.

R. Ill. Comp. R. Ramsay, Georgian Division.

The following Illustrious Companions were duly appointed by the Grand Master:

G. Ill. Comp. G. J. Bennett, Grand Director of Ceremonies.
R. Ill. Comp. R. McKay, St. Thomas, Grand Conductor.
R. Ill. Comp. H. J. Wilkinson, Kingston, Grand Organist.
V. Ill. Comp. D. McDonald, Ill. Comp. Dalhousie R. Ramsay,
and III Comp. G. G. Rowe, Grand Stewards.

M. Ill. Comps. J. G. Burns, D. Spry and R. Ramsay were elected members of the Executive Committee, and the Grand Council closed its annual meeting.

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY-THE RED CROSS DEGREE AND THE DEGREE OF ROYAL ARK MARINER-SOME PERTINENT SUGGES

TIONS WITH REFERENCE TO THEIR CONTROL.

HE Masonic Temple in Hamilton was honoured with the Fifteenth Annual Assembly. M. Ill. Companion J. Ross Robertson, the Grand Master, presided, with R. Ill. CompanionA. E. Chatfield, of Markham, Deputy, and R. Ill. Companion P. J. Slatter, of Toronto, as Principal Conductor of the Work. Among those present were M. Ill. Companions Spry, McLellan, and J. G. Burns, R. Ill. Companions Fairtlough, of Kingston; G. J. Bennett, of Toronto; R. McKay, of St. Thomas; G. G. Rowe, of Toronto; A. N. Pettit, of St. Thomas; John Scoon, of Guelph; R. Ramsay, of Orillia; Oronhyateka, of London; W. R. Howse, of Whitby; E. H. Raymour, St. Thomas; L. H. Henderson, of Belleville; W. Waddington, of Kingston; John Patton, of Toronto; and L. Slater, of St. Thomas. The address of the Grand Master dealt generally with the condition of the Rite and especially with the working of the Degree of the Red Cross of Constantine, and that of the Royal Ark Mariners. The Grand Master said::

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANIONS:

"Another Masonic year has been added to the roll of time, and once more we are permitted to meet together and take counsel as companions, who, during the years that are passed, have steadily stood with unbroken front, promulgating the principles that under the guardian care of the Holy One of Israel it is our privilege to foster and cherish. Let us be thankful that the Great Reaper has been merciful, and that of the select and happy few with whom we hold Masonic communion, none have been called away from the scene of earthly labours to that Grand Council where He who knoweth all things, and whose Holy Word is to us a lamp and guide, presides. It is with heartfelt gratitude that I meet my Illustrious Companions in our Fifteenth Annual Reunion, two years of which time I have had the honour of

presiding over the deliberations of this Grand Council. To me it is particularly pleasing, inasmuch as I have learned to esteem the friendship of many valued Companions, each of whom has favored me with kind words of encouragement, and all of whom have manfully contributed their share to the work in the various spheres allotted them by those who are banded together in promoting a Rite that is the peer of any in Masonic institutions. Our progress has, however, not been rapid, and in the brief allusions I shall make to the conditions of Cryptic Masonry, I do not desire to be hypercritical, but rather to bring to view a few of the reasons why we do not make a greater success of a Rite that all over the world has a myriad of admirers, and in many localities earnest workers. The companions will remember that at the last meeting of Grand Council it was decided that in future the annual meetings should be held in the city of Toronto. The date was fixed for the second Wednesday in January in each year. Some time, however, previous to the date, it was found that it would not be convenient for a great many members who have always taken an active part in the Cryptic Rite to be present in the month of January. I therefore, in the interest of the Rite, and after consultation with the members of the Executive Committee and others, directed that the Grand Council be not summoned to meet in January last, and have taken the responsibility of calling it as formerly, during the session of the other Masonic bodies. Grand Council I am satisfied will approve of my action, particularly when I point out that the resolution was in reality an amendment to the constitution, which requires notice to be given at the meeting preceding that at which the same shall be taken into consideration. I have had during the year many discussions with members of Grand Council with reference to having taken control of the degrees in the order of Rome and Constantine, and also the Royal Ark Mariners. This action was, as you are aware,

taken with the consent of the Grand Conclave of Rome and Constantine and the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners, I did at the time entertain a hope that we would add to our strength and render more attractive the interest in the Council by this action, but the system has been found impracticable, as the extra work involved clogs the wheels of our Councils, and does not find favour with the majority of our Companions. Now that the Templar degree of the Red Cross, which is worked in the Preceptories under the Great Priory of Canada, has been struck from the list of degrees