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INTRODUCTION
Although I am much
pleased to do my best to write a brief Introduction to the
invaluable History of Freemasonry in Canada, by my esteemed Friend
and Brother, J. Ross Robertson, I find it extremely difficult to
even glance at the main features of the subject, or to describe the
chief characteristics of this colossal work, within the limited
space usually alloted for such an effort.
In the first place, this History has no equal of the class either as
respects its magnitude, its originality, its interest and
attractiveness, its literary skill, or its conspicuous success. Many
of the author’s extraordinary finds and well-directed researches, if
fully narrated, would surprise even those most familiar with his
indomitable perseverance and unwearying persistence in getting at
the foundation facts of the subject, the difficulties which would
have frightened or vanquished others being to him but incentives to
renewed and increased efforts until reliable information had been
obtained. In these Volumes will be found numerous indications of
Brother Robertson’s remarkable discoveries as an original and most
fortunate investigator. One may be mentioned at my own expense, that
of the portrait of the R. W. Bro. Simon McGillivray (P. M. Lo. of
Antiquity, London & P. J. G. W. England, Prov. G. M. of Upper
Canada), who was present as acting S. G. W. at the ratification of
the “Articles of Union” by the Grand Lodge (“Moderns”) on December
ist, 1813. Every effort on my part had proved abortive and the
search had virtually been abandoned, when a letter came from Bro.
Robertson, asking me to visit Admiral Dawkins, at Stoke Gabriel
(within a few miles of Torquay), as Mrs. Dawkins was a daughter of
the late Bro. McGillivray, and had a fine oil painting of her father
which she was willing to have copied. Alas, both the dear old
Admiral and his wife have since died, but until their lamented
decease they took the liveliest interest in my friend’s triumphs.
Other extremely valuable discoveries will be gratefully noted in the
following pages, such as the Warrant of the Lodge at Detroit of A.D.
1764, the Clearance Certificate of the “Select Lodge,” Quebec, of
1761, and the rare Grand Lodge Certificate of 1776, granted to the
celebrated Mohawk Chief, Captain Brant. This document is known as
the “Three Graces” variety and the oldest form adopted by the Senior
Grand Lodge of England. The most important and extraordinary of all,
however, is the finding of the warrant of appointment of the R. W.
Bro. William Jarvis as Provincial Grand Master of Upper Canada, A.D.
1792, with the Seal of the “Grand Lodge in London of Free and
Accepted Masons according to the old Institutions,” or "Ancients.”
A noteworthy feature of this great work is its interesting character
generally, the volumes being of considerable value, especially the
first of the trio, to Masonic students wherever located and
particu-larlv to our Brethren in the United States, as well as the
Craft in England,' Ireland and Scotland (including the Colonies and
Dependencies of the British Crown), all of whom have a direct
interest in all that concerns the origin, history and prosperity of
the premier Grand Lodge, about which so much is said, and well said,
in the following pages.
Information is also afforded as to the Grand Lodges of Ireland and
Scotland, based upon the latest researches, and narrated in such a
genial manner, that even what ordinarily would be deemed “dry
details,” are found to make quite pleasant reading. As the facts are
brought down to date, the Brotherhood in Canada, for whom the work
has mainly been written, may be congratulated on having the most
complete, reliable and interesting History of a Grand Lodge ever
published, and with such a wealth of details, illustrations and
invaluable fac-similes of most important documents, as to be almost
embarrassing, but the value of which, it is impossible to
exaggerate.
I cordially bear my testimony to the accuracy of Bro. Robertson’s
able and concise digest of the early history of the Craft, and feel
assured it will be much appreciated by brethren in Canada, who
consult the first Volume for Masonic information beyond the confines
of their own Grand Lodge, and so by others in the several Provinces
of that widespread and prosperous Dominion.
The plan of the Work could not be improved, as the whole ground is
covered, and what is more, so intelligently and helpfully are the
Chapters arranged, that notwithstanding their comprehensive and
elaborate character, the systematic divisions, into suggestive
sections and periods, together with the very full Indices, leave
nothing to be desired for facility of reference, chronological
sequence or general study. There is not another such Treatise that
so concisely explains all the Geographical or Territorial
characteristics of British North America in relation to the origin
and spread of the Fraternity, and from a numismatical standpoint the
third Chapter is of considerable utility: all the mysteries of
Colonial Currency being clearly described and explained by a
master-hand. Heraldry has also been ably treated from a Masonic
point of view, the numerous explanations and illustrations relating
thereto adding much to the instructive and useful character of the
Work. Historically and artistically the deeply interesting Chapter
devoted to the origin of Masonry, the researches of modern writers,
the MS. Constitutions and cognate inquiries, is a model compilation,
which, while it must have entailed considerable labour on the part
of the author, has amply repaid him for all the time devoted to the
enquiry. It cannot fail to prove most helpful to the younger members
of the Fraternity, who lack Bro. Robertson’s facilities in the line
of original research and in the possession of an ample Masonic
Library. In some respects he has been much more successful than some
of us resident in England, as witness the plates of the interior and
exterior of the old Masons’ Hall in Basinghall St. and the cuts of
the lately demolished “Goose and Gridiron Tavern,” London, with the
descriptive letter press.
As to Ireland, the History of the Craft in that country is
practically being rewritten by Bro. Dr. W. J. Chetwode Crawley, his
discoveries regarding the existence of the Brotherhood in the 17th
Century, and the Grand Lodge (which was at work for more years prior
to the start of the organization at Dublin 1729-30, than hitherto
known), being of special importance and are among the latest
surprises which have been sprung upon us by that scholarly and
diligent investigator.
Dr. Crawley has traced the Royal Arch Degree back to <1743, in
print, being a reference to a Procession of an old Lodge at Youghall,
Ireland, in which evidently R. A. Brethren took part. This is the
earliest intimation, typographically speaking, yet traced in the
world, but practically it goes no farther back than the several
particulars to be found in Dr. Dassigny’s “Enquiry” of the year
1744, that author stating that the Degree was worked in London,
Dublin and York some years before.
It is well to remember that though its earliest minutes have been
missing since the second decade of this century, the old Lodge at
Stirling (Scotland) claims to have been familiar with the ceremony
from 1743 or earlier, and to my mind fairly substantiates its
position, as being or having been the possessors of the oldest
actual Records relative to the Royal Arch, in Great Britain and
Ireland or elsewhere.
So far as is known at present, the arrangement and knowledge of the
Three Degrees of the Craft are due to the Grand Lodge of England,
started in 1717, but sufficient data has not been discovered to
establish the precise origin of Royal Arch Masonry, save that it was
probably British or Irish, but most likely English.
The Lodges under the premier Grand Lodge of England were at a
disadvantage in one respect, as compared with the “Ancients” or
“Atholl Masons,” because their Warrants did not cover the working of
the Royal Arch as those of the latter, hence from (say) 1740 to
1767, there was no governing Body to empower the “ Moderns ” (as
they were called) to hold meetings for the conferring of that
ceremony. However, the brethren acted on what may be termed their
“time immemorial” rights (as they did in forming Lodges before the
Grand Lodge era), and assembled as Royal Arch Masons, having the
Craft Warrant in the room to give the gathering an air of
regularity, or without such fictitious and needless authority.
In 1767, the “Moderns” Grand Chapter was organized in London to
control the Degree, separate warrants, and distinct enumeration from
the Lodges being features of the new arrangement, until the Union of
the two rival Grand Chapters in 1817 from which time these chapters
(remaining under England) have had to be placed under the protecting
wings of Lodges, and take their numbers on the Register. The only
Chapter formed under such auspices, 1767-1817 in Canada was the
Unity No. 19, Quebec, nth February, 1780.
In considering the origin of Chapters, in what may appear an
informal or irregular manner, during the period in question, one
should carefully guard against applying Constitutional tests of the
present time to any such cases, for under the then existing
circumstances, Royal Arch Companions were perfectly justified in
assembling in Chapters of their own creation, as well as in
conferring the ceremony on regular Master Masons, of any
Jurisdiction, who were residents in the neighbourhoods affected,
whatever may be said to the contrary.
Another point must also be considered, as it intimately concerns the
early transactions of several Lodges in Canada, as well as
elsewhere. I refer to instances of brethren who petitioned Jor the
right to hold Lodges and obtained Warrants, issued and signed by
Provincial Grand Masters, and duly paid the fees for the same, but
the local authorities either long delayed the remittances to head
quarters in London (England) or used the monies for their own
purposes, and made no returns whatever. In all such cases I have no
hesitation in declaring, that on proof of the payments having been
duly made on behalf of these Lodges, their precedence should be
reckoned from the dates of Constitution or Warrants, whether the
fees were unlawfully retained for years, or were never paid by the
Provincial Grand Masters or other responsible agents, to the Grand
Lodge to whom the sums belonged. These Brethren were the appointed
representatives of such Bodies and their receipts were a sufficient
discharge, being practically the same as if the Charters were
granted by the Grand Masters and the fees paid direct accordingly.
It will not do for me, however, to enter upon a consideration of the
topics so graphically treated herein, for any such remarks would be
beyond the scope of this brief Introduction. I should like, however,
to most heartily acknowledge my indebtedness to Bro. J. Ross
Robertson for this magnificent Work (as representing the Students in
the Old Country), the result of enormous labour and expense on his
part, and a monument to his untiring industry, persistent
researches, self sacrifice and a never failing enthusiasm, which has
placed in the hands of the Craft Universal, and especially his own
Grand Lodge, the finest Volumes of the kind ever published in
connection with the History of the Masonic Fraternity.
One great advantage in treating the History in Sections is the
number of Chapters that have been devoted to the origin and career
of Lodges, which are, or have been, on the Register. These are
really a series of Histories of Lodges, each being complete and
exhaustive, thus adding immensely to the interest and value of the
Work and making the Volumes as necessary to the individual Lodges as
to Masonic Students, or the Libraries of Grand Lodges or other
important and more or less public Societies.
I cannot conclude these remarks without once more expressing my
admiration of Brother Robertson’s magnificent services on behalf of
his Grand Lodge. Though he has given me a free hand to criticize his
great Work to any extent, and to point out any defects, I have
nothing but praise to offer, and heartfelt gratitude to tender, for
his amazing energy and unwearying efforts, in preparing and
publishing such a noble contribution to the Literature of the “
Fraternity of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.”
WM. JAMES HUGHAN. Torquay, England,
January 2nd, 1899.
Volume 1 |
Volume 2 |
