How it all began

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How your Grand Chapter was formed in 1857

TAKEN FROM THE 75th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - FEBRUARY 24, 1932

In Upper Canada ( now known as Ontario ) the earliest record of Royal Arch work is a document issued in 1787 by Lodge 156, in the 8th Regiment of Foot that was stationed at Niagara in 1782. This Lodge assumed to have Royal Arch powers, and that the degree was worked some 219 years ago at Niagara.

A Grand Masonic Convention met at Kingston in August, 1817, to reorganize the Craft and have a Grand Lodge established under the leadership of R. W. Bro. Ziba M. Phillips. It was decided also to form a Provincial Grand Chapter for Upper Canada, and this Body held its first meeting at Kingston, in February, 1818. The Officers of this body were designated: High Priest, King and Scribe, following the United States system. The American Ritual and degrees of M.M.., P.M., M.E.M., and R.A. were to be worked.

In connection with Royal Arch Masonry there was at this period much friction, especially in 1828-9 in Upper Canada, and it seemed impossible to secure the re-establishment of the Provincial Grand Chapter which had become inactive and finally lapsed about 1831. In February, 1842, it was revived, but it proved to be more local than general. It now came to be more fully realized that something must be done to get a governing body for Capitular Masonry in Canada to secure its future success.
For the purpose of considering the state of Royal Arch Masonry in the then known Province of Canada, a circular had been issued by suggestion of Most Worshipful Bro. Colonel William Mercer Wilson, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, for the calling of a "Convention" of Royal Arch Masons to meet in the Masonic Hall, Hamilton, on Monday the Nineteenth day of January, 1857. The first Convocation was attended by eight members of the Royal Craft and the proceedings were brief, yet comprehensive enough to suit all purposes.

Companion Wilson said that interest in the Royal Craft in Canada had declined durint eh past thirty years, and this laxty was due solely to the diversity of the interests, and the want of uniformity in work and axtion existing in the Chapters of the Province; bodies holding warrants from different Grand Chapters, working under different constitutions, had neither assimilated in their views nor feelings. That the system of work authorized by the Grand Chapter of England did not recognize the degree of Mark Master, Pat Master and Most Excellent Master, and that as this work was an essential feature in the Chapter of the United States; the cpaters of the province were places in an embarrassing position, as all Chapters in the United States absolutely required that all visitors should have previously received these degrees before they could be admitted.

Recognizing that the Grand Lodge of Canada had been legally and constitutionally established on the firm and permanent basis two years previously, it was decided to proceed to the establishment of the Grand Chapter of Upper Canada. The Constitution of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of England was adopted and taken a guide in the arrangement of officers except that the principle established by the Grand Lodge of Canada of having the Chief Officers elected annually be adopted by Grand Chapter, and that, in order to assimilate with Royal Arch Work of the United States, the three degrees not recognized by the Grand Chapter of England be recognized : namely - The Mark Master, Past Master and Most Excellent Master Masons’ Degrees, and that they be taken by all persons to entitle them to be admitted to membership in any Chapter in this Province when working in the Royal Arch degree, or on any degree which such visitor may have taken under a regularly warranted Lodge or Chapter, and that, in conformity with the foregoing recommendations, the Most Worshipful the Grand Master be the First Grand Principal Z; the Deputy Grand Master to be the Second Grand Principal H., the other officers to be left to the discretion of the Convention.

The meeting adjourned to meet at the Masonic Hall on Tuesday, the Twentieth day of January, 1857, when the following Chapters were duly represented:

The Hiram Chapter - Hamilton, Ontario
St. John’s Chapter - London, Ontario
St. John’s Chapter - Hamilton, Ontario

It was decided that the title of the Grand Chapter should be "THE GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF CANADA", and that it be declared duly established. Thus came into existence the present Grand Chapter of Canada with the following officers:

M. Ex. Comp. W. M. Wilson, Simcoe, Grand Z.
R. Ex. Comp. A. Bernard, Montreal, Grand H.
R. Ex. Comp. Thos. Duggan, Hamilton, Grand J.
R. Ex. Comp. Thos. B. Harris, Hamilton, Grand Scribe E.
R. Ex. Comp. Wm. Daniell, London, Grand Scribe N.
R. Ex. Comp. Wm. Bellhouse, Hamilton, Grand Treasurer
Comp. John Morrison, Hamilton, Janitor

Most Ex. Comp. Czar Jones, Past Grand High Priest of the Grand chapter of Michigan, installing the officers declared, "The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada duly formed".

The first Annual Concovation, after several special convocations, was held in the Masonic Hall, Hamilton, on Wednesday, the seventeenth day of February, 1858 A. D., A. I. 2388, with Most Excellent Companion William Mercer Wilson presiding.

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Revised: 12 September 2003