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The 150th Anniversary of The A. & A. S. R. of Freemasonry in Canada: A View From the Ground

“A Mason is obliged, by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law, and not to be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine; that is,

Masons are to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour, by whatever Denomination or persuasion they may be

distinguished; whereby Masonry becomes the Centre of Union and the means of conciliating True Friendship among persons

that must otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance.”Pennell's Book of Constitutions, Dublin, 1730

The establishment of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Canada may be

attributed to the indefatigable zeal of Colonel William James Bury McLeod Moore.

Colonel Moore was born on January14th, 1810 in Kildare, Ireland, the eldest son of

Captain N. J. Moore. He received his early education in Aberdeen, Scotland, and 1825

attended the Military School at Sandhurst. In 1831, he received an Ensign's

commission in the 69th Regiment of Foot,

in which he served for twenty years, in 1852 being appointed Staff Officer of Out-

Pensioners to Canada. His first place of residence here was Kingston, followed by

Ottawa, and Laprarie, Quebec. In 1884 we find him in Prioral (Knights Templar)

House, Prescott, Ontario where he lived until his death in 1800.

Colonel Moore was made a mason, passed

and raised on the 17th of August 1827 at only seventeen years old. This was

a special meeting of Glenkindel Lodge No. 333, held in the house of the Master, Major General Sir Alexander Leith, K. C. B. at Aberdeen, Scotland. In

1831, he was made a Mark Master grew further when his regiment was in Dublin, and became an authority on Christian and Chevalier Masonry

establishing the Malta Encampment, under a warrant from the Supreme Grand Conclave of England and Wales when he was stationed in Malta. When

he arrived in Canada in 1852 he continued Masonic networking and leadership including shepherding of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite

until he closed his earthly career and was laid to rest in Mount Royal

Col. Wm. J. B. MacLeod Moore

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Cemetery, Montreal. Colonel Moore was twice married had four children and

when his son, Captain William MacLeod Moore was accidentally killed in Belgium, in April 1919 his death broke a line of family soldiers going back

almost two hundred and sixty years.

While on a visit to the United States in 1863, Col. Moore visited New York and there received the

degrees of the Rite and Honourary Membership in the ‘Cerneau’ Council being named by that body as

its ‘Deputy for Canada’. In 1868 the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic

Jurisdiction, with which the Cerneau Council had

since merged, Ill. Bro. Josiah Hayden Drummond, in an address to his Supreme Council recognized

that Canada, now a Nation and being a part of the British Dominion, properly fell under the jurisdiction

of the Supreme Council of England and Wales. He recommended that Illustrious Brother McLeod

Moore apply to be affiliated with that body and request a Charter from them to establish Scottish

Rite bodies in the Dominion of Canada.

It had been the Supreme Council of the Northern

Jurisdiction that had issued a Patent October 26, 1845 to Dr. Robert Thomas Crucefix of Gravesend,

Kent to establish in accordance with the Grand Constitutions of 1786, a Supreme Council and

acknowledged him as Sovereign Grand Commander.

Both Drummond representing the Northern

Jurisdiction and Albert Pike of the Southern Jurisdiction are recorded as having written the

Supreme Council in England providing the

necessary evidence for Col. MacLeod Moore's rank and the Supreme Council of England and Wales

then claimed jurisdiction over Canada and offered to appoint MacLeod Moore as a member of their own Council with authority

to introduce the Rite into Canada. The minutes of the Supreme Council England of February 12, 1868 we find reference to a certificate granted

Moore giving him authority to open a Consistory of 320 in Canada. Further in a petition of April 4th, 1868 Moore 330, Allegiance - Northern Jurisdiction, of

Laprarie P of Q; John Walter Murton 320 , Allegiance - Southern Jurisdiction, of Hamilton Ontario; and Alex Allan Stevenson 320 , Allegiance - Northern

Josiah Hayden Drummond

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Jurisdiction, of Montreal P of Q; and Wm. M.

Wilson 320 , Allegiance - Northern Jurisdiction, of Simcoe Ontario submitted a

petition:

"…..grant us charters to open and hold a Lodge of Perfection 140 Council of

Princes of Jerusalem 160 Chapter of Rose Croix 180 and Consistory of

S.P.R.S. 320 in the City of Hamilton, Province of Ontario and Dominion

aforesaid. ….."

Col. MacLeod Moore later forwarded the

obligations of allegiance dated April 9th of T. Douglas Harrington 320 on whom Moore had

conferred the degrees of the Rite.

Col. Moore also wrote in co-ordination with

Capt. Thompson Wilson 180 , for the establishment of a second Chapter of Rose

Croix in London Ontario. Thompson Wilson had received his 180 at Invicta Chapter

Woolwich England and it would appear that Moore was simply being thorough and also

respectful to Wilson, he being the only member in Canada who was actually obligated to the English Supreme Council.

With the Dispensation from the Supreme Council of England to open a

Consistory and a Chapter of Rose Croix in Hamilton, Ontario comes much

additional information:

"An application has been made to us by Capt. Wilson, but as you are now our Representative you have now the power to grant …..

I hope to send you …. next week your patent as S.G.I.G. 330 , the Rules and Regulations and list of members, rituals and the

Rose Croix degree and Installation of the M.W.S. of Chapter and the 31st and 32nd degrees. We never work the last in extentsia

in this country and find the ceremony I sent you sufficient…… you have no doubt a copy of Albert Pike's translation of the

Ancient Constitution ……. the 300 can only be conferred in the

presence of 3 Sov. Gd. Insp. Genls. 330 …… I would recommend you start only one Consistory of the 320 . We have only one here

and keep it entirely under our own care. ……."

"He had the air and manner of

a soldier, always free from

arrogance, or self-sufficiency,

being invariably a dignified

and courteous gentleman,

vera simplicitate bonus.

Candid, frank and sincere,

altogether a man of the old

pattern and withal a most

kindly, lovable man. Not

smiled upon by fortune in the

later years of life, not free

from vexations, annoyance

and heavycrosses, yet he bore

his disabilities of old age with

equanimity as a wise man

should, and to the last, stoutly

resisted any innovations of

the Knights Templar Order of

Canada, these seeming to

him, deprivations that would

vulgarize it. Albert Pike

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On May 6th, 1868, a dispensation was granted, and confirmed by a patent

issued later, but of the same date, authorizing Moore to establish Chapters and Consistories at London, Hamilton and Toronto. At the same time

authority was also given to Robert Marshall of St. John, N.B. in association with Colonel Moore and Thos. Douglas Harington et.al. to constitute and hold

a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix of Harodim at St. John New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada under the title Moore Chapter of Sovereign Princes Rose

Croix H.R.D.M.. The Warrant named Bro Robert Marshall 320 to be Most Wise Sovereign thereof.

The 'Known' Scottish Rite Membership in Canada 1868 with Allegience:

Name Residence Allegiance

NJ Northern Jurisdiction

SJ Southern Jurisdiction

Col. Wm. J.B. McLeod

Moore

33 LaPrairie Cerneau Council NJ

John Walter Murton 32 Hamilton Tennesee SJ

Alexander Allan Stevenson 32 Montreal NJ

Wm. Mercer Wilson 32 Simcoe NJ

Capt. Thompson Wilson 18 London Invicta Chapter London Eng

Thomas Douglas Harrington 32 Ottawa Ottawa April 9 1868

Rev. James D. Gibson 32 Hamilton SJ

Charles A. Birge 32 Hamilton NJ

William Reid 32 Hamilton NJ

William Edgar 32 Hamilton NJ

Hugh Alex MacKay 32 Hamilton NJ

Joseph C. Franck 32 Hamilton NJ

Thomas Bird Harris 32 Hamilton

Richard Ball 32 Hamilton

Robert Marshall 32 St. John NB NJ 1867

Christopher Besant 18 St. John NB

Colin Mackenzie 18 St John NB

Douglas G. Smith 32 St John NB

Robert Thomas Clinch 32 St John NB NJ 1867

William Henry Thorn St John NB

On July 10th, 1868 the Grand Lodge of Canada held their Thirteenth Annual Communication in London, Ontario. As many of the membership of the

Scottish Rite in Canada at the time would be in attendance Ill. Bro. McLeod Moore held an "Assembly of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret 320 "at 3PM

in the Hall of St. George's Lodge, York Rite Freemasonry. From the Minutes we know that there were "Ten Sovereign Princes" present who declared they

were prepared to accept the warrant of dispensation and accept Installation as First Officers of ‘Moore Sovereign Consistory’ to be established at

Hamilton with Moore as Illustrious Commander and Chief, Murton as 1st Lieutenant and Harrington 2nd.

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The Consistory was then closed in form and a Chapter of Rose Croix was

then opened at ¼ past 4PM with the same Brethren present. The Sovereign Grand Inspector General in agreement with the Brethren present installed

Ill. Bro. J.W. Murton first Most Wise Master and delegated the power to him to install the other Officers "as soon as appropriate at the next meeting of

the Chapter". The Chapter was then called from Labour to Refreshment at ½ past 5PM.

On July 4th the Supreme

Council in England had conferred the 330 on Bros.

John Walter Murton,

Thomas Douglas Harrington and Thompson Wilson. The

Chapter at London held its first meeting on July 13th

immediately after the institution of the Hamilton

Chapter with John W. Murton and his Officers

conferring the 40 to the 180 on several London Master

Masons. A Chapter of Rose Croix was then instituted

by Moore as the London Sovereign Chapter of Rose

Croix with Capt. Thompson

Wilson installed as Most Wise Sovereign.

On August 12th, 1868, Moore reported to the Grand Priory, Knight Templar

of Canada:

"I have already acted upon my authority and formed a Grand

Consistory at Hamilton, and a Rose Croix Chapter, as also a Rose Croix Chapter at London, Ont., and shortly purpose on issuing a

Warrant for one in this city (Montreal)."

The Hamilton Chapter then met on August 16th, 1868 at the Masonic Hall on the North-east corner of John and Main Streets. The Consistory followed suit

on December 8th 1868. Chapters of Rose Croix were later formed in Orillia and in Toronto. On December 8th, 1868 Moore, resigned as Representative

and Acting Sovereign Grand Commander in Canada with Harrington being named his successor. The next assembly of Consistory did not occur until

Great Western Railway Hamilton Towards London

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August 10th, 1871 at which time Harrington read his commission and

supplied the Warrant for the Consistory to the Grand Secretary. Fee structures were set and although regular meetings were to follow it was not

until receiving copies of the ritual from Albert Pike that degrees were actually exemplified. On March 7th, 1872, ten Sublime Princes were

advanced to the 300 , among whom we find John Morrison Gibson, Hugh Murray, John J. Mason and John Stevenson who all played superior roles in

the development of the Rite and City of Hamilton. Harrington found difficulty in attending meetings and on October 1st, 1873 resigned and John Walter

Murton became Commander in Chief.

Thus explains not only the establishment of the Rite but its location and the corresponding affinity and especial relationship that continues to exist

between the Scottish Rite membership and leadership of Hamilton and London. But what was it about Hamilton that Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal

lacked? Why did Hamilton become the Masonic Centre? The answer - Location and ambitious men. Also it was not Toronto which for years was

under the thumb of Bishop Strachan and the anti-democratic Family Compact which had led to the Upper Canada Rebellion. The decision of Sir

Allan MacNab to route the Great Western Railway through Hamilton made this city the industrial hub of Canada. Hamilton was teeming with men like

MacNab who was known to blow both ways on any number of issues and

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became a Roman Catholic in his last days to balance his odds. The maps

which follow clearly show Hamilton's connections to the world - railways, canals, lakes and rivers. In this City of Hamilton Directory for 1870 we see a

level of vibrancy, diversity and promise. You will find a review of The Craftsman a monthly Masonic periodical on page #55 and the List of Lodges,

Officers and Meetings on page #60. This was why MacNab brought Grand Lodge here and not Toronto, why Moore brought the Rite and eventually the

Supreme Council for Canada to Hamilton. Later Sir John Morrison Gibson would make Hamilton the first Electrical City in Canada and build our

Scottish Rite Cathedral in 1922. Hamilton was and is the home of Masonry in Canada.

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