The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada

by
Nelson King, FPS

In Upper Canada, the earliest record of Royal Arch work is a document issued in 1787 by Lodge No. 156 , in the 8th Regiment of Foot that had been stationed at Niagara in 1782. It is written on a certificate given to Bro. Joseph Clements: "We have raised him in the Sublime degree of Master Mason and have entitled him as such to the mysteries and most secret work of the Royal Arch." These words show that this Lodge assumed to have Royal Arch powers, and that the degree was worked about two hundred and twelve years ago at Niagara. [ there is now some debate as to the wording "Royal Arch - some say the wording is Royal Art - NK]

Another actual record of Royal Arch work in the Province of Ontario and under supreme authority is in the issue of a warrant by R. W. Bro. William Jarvis, Provincial Grand Master, to a Royal Arch Chapter at Kingston on June 7, 1795, in connection with a Craft Lodge No. 6, now Ancient St. John's Lodge No. 3, G.R.C. Kingston, which just celebrated its 200 Anniversary as a Craft Lodge. Then a warrant was issued known as "St. John's Royal Arch Lodge No. 16 P.C.". In 1801 it was renamed St. John's Royal Arch Chapter, and in 1819 it be came St. John's Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, under the Provincial Grand Chapter of Upper Canada.

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 Royal Arch Chapters forming this Provincial Grand Chapter were Frontenac No. 1, Kingston, Union No. 9 Ernestown, and St. John's No. 4 York [Toronto]. The officers of this body were designated : High Priest, King and Scribe, following the United States system. The American Ritual and degrees of Mark Master Mason, Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch were to be worked.

In connection with Royal Arch Masonry there was at this period much friction especially in 1828 - 1829 in Upper Canada, and it seemed impossible to secure the reestablishment 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 that 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 know Province of Canada, a circular had been issue 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.

Comp. William Mercer Wilson presided with Ex. Comp. Charles Magill as Secretary.

Companion Wilson said the interest in the Royal Craft in Canada declined during the past thirty years, and this laxity was due solely to the diversity of the interests, and the want of uniformity in work and action 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, Past Master, and Most Excellent Master, and that, as this work was an essential feature in the Chapter of the United States; the Chapters of the Province were placed in an embarrassing position, as all Chapters in the Untied 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 a 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 as 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 of Chapter, and that, in conformity with the foregoing recommendations, the Most Worshipful Master be the First Grand Principal Zerebual; the Deputy Grand Master to be the Second Grand Principal Haggi, 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.

It was decided that the title of the Grand Chapter should be "The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada," and the it be declared duly established. Thus came into existence the present Grand Chapter of Canada with the following officers.

Most Excellent Companion 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."

And thus The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada came in to being.

This file is copyright The Philalethes Society and all rights including any redistribution rights are reserved by the copyright holder. Permission to quote from, redistribute or to otherwise use these materials must be obtained from the copyright holder directly by contacting The Philalethes, Nelson King, FPS, Editor, 2 Knockbolt Crescent, Agincourt Ontario Canada, M1S 2P6. Tel: 416-293-8071 Fax: 416-293-8634 or nking@freemasonry.org