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Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
"With reference to your further paragraph—That it appears to your ist Grand Principal that the question -whether the said Victoria Chapter existed prior to the Grand Chapter of Canada , has no bearing on the matters at issue , I am likexvise commanded to say that the ist Grand Principal of England regrets he cannot agree xvith this viexv ; on the contrary , his Royal Highness considers
that the fact of our chapter having existed previous to the formation of your Grand Chapter is a very vital point , more especially remembering the reservations stipulated for as to out lodges at the time of the applications for recognition from your Grand Lodge , vide my predecessor ' s letters of the 31 st March , 1 S 75 , and 6 th December , 1 S 77 . " I amtherefore , commanded by the ist Grand
Princi-, pal of England to inform you that his Royal Highness is unable to find in your letter of the Sth October last any reasons for setting aside the decision notified in my letter to you of the 20 th August , 1 SS 0 . —I have the honour to remain , sir and R . E . companion , yours fraternally , " S HADWELL H . CLERKE , Colonel , " Grand Scribe E . England . "
"THE GRAND CHAPTER OK ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF QUEBEC . " Office of the Grand Scribe E ., " Montreal , P . O ., Canada , June nth , 1 SS 1 . " R . E . Comp . Col . Shadxvell H . Clerke , G . S . E . G . C . of England ( London ) . " Dear Sir and R . E . Companion , —By command of the M . E . Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons of the Province of Quebec , I have ( after some unavoidable delay , xvhich 1 beg you kindly to excuse ) the honour to reply to your communication by authority of H . R . H . the M . E . thc ist Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter of England of date January 1 st , 1 SS 1 , in ansvier to mine of date August 20 th , 1 SS 0 , re the late Victoria Chapter 440 E . R ., Montreal . _ .
, , " Yours of the above date contains the following extract : ' I am directed to point out that there is evidently some error in your ( our ) information , as our Grand Supertendent of Montreal ( R . E . Comp . Badgely , late judge , & c , we suppose ) himself distinctly denies that such was the case , but explains that the charter in question xvas secretly abstracted by a portion of the then members of the
chapter , who were about to secede therefrom , and xvithout the knoxvledge or consent of the remainder , and that it xvas never placed in his hands . He further states that the chapter did not dissolve in 1 S 63 , but that , having in vain attempted to obtain the abstracted charter , he applied here for a charter of confirmation , xvhich xvas duly granted , and he has very recently reported that the chapter is still in
existence . . ... In fraternally replying to the above , I am commanded to state that the most searching enquiries of every kind , supplemented by the testimony of officers and members of the said late Victoria Chapter , 440 , E . R ., for the year 1 S 62-63 , several of whom are still alive , fail to show that there is any i-. rror in our information , or in the facts of the case as
communicated to you heretofore by me ; and 1 am further commanded to forxvard through you to H . R . H . the ist Grand Principal of England the legally certified documents appended hereto , from the Past Grand ist Principal ot the Grand Chapter of Canada ( noxv Ontario ) , from the present Grand Scribe E . of the same , from the Past Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , C . R ., and Past Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada ; from the last ist Principal of the late Chapter 440 , E . R ., and Past Grand Superintendent of Montreal District CR . and O . R ., and from txvo Past Masters of St . George ' s Lodge , 440 E . K . ; and marked respectively A to F , inclusive , which we are of opinion , will conclusively prove H . R . H . the Grand ist Principal of England , that
most , if not all , of the statements of your ' Grand Superintendent of Montreal , ' contained in the forgoing extracts from your letter are , to speak in the mildest terms , * wholly unfounded in fact . ' "It moreover appears to the Grand ist Principal of Quebec that , if the said Victoria Chapter , 440 E . K ., has received a duplicate charter and has been in existence
since 1863-64 that such would be apparent from the Records of the Grand Chapter of England , and that you would be pleased to inform me of the same , and to communicate to me for the information and use of this Grand Chapter , and the names of the officers and members of the said Chapter , 440 E . R ., ' . for the past 17 years , or at least of those xvho daim to be or to have been officers and
members of the same for the last four years , that is , since the establisment of the Grand Chapter of Quebec on December , ^ , 18 9 6 . I am directed to express the hope that this most reasonable request will speedily be complied with by you . " Leaving certain other incidental matters aside for the present , at least , the question at issue is : Does the Grand Chapter of England intend to cause or to alloxv the said
Chapter , 440 E . R ., formerl y ; situated in the city of Montreal , within the territorial jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , to be resuscitated under the auspices or by the action of the Grand Chapter of England , 17 years after thc constitutional dissolution of thc said Chapter No . 440 , its regular re-organization by unanimous vote and petition of its then acting members into Mount Horeb
Chapter , C . R ., by the Grand Chapter of Canada , and by enrollment of the same on its Registry as No . 25 , and four years after the formation of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , in the organization of which the said Mount Horeb Chapter constitutionally took part , and is noxv enrolled as No . G on its Registry ? If so , the Grand Chapter of Quebec could not hold otherwise than the Grand Chapter of England would , in such
case , be committing a grievous Masonic xvrong against the Grand Chapter of Quebec , against capitular Masonry in this Province of the Dominion , and against the Craft in general . " The Grand Z . of the Grand Chapter of Quebec confidently hopes , however , that H . R . H ., the ist Grand
Principal of England , will , on the contrary , unhesitatingly comply with the just and fraternal request in my former letters , by recalling and cancelling the said charter , and by the obliteration of the ! said 440 from the Registry of the Grand Chapter of England . —1 have the hononr to remain , yours fraternally , "ANGUS GRANT , Grand Scribe E ., G . C . of Quebec . "
"COPIES OK DOCUMENTS REKERRKD TO IN LETTER OK DATE J 11 , 1 SS 1 . " Extract from thc address of thc M . E . Grand ' / ,., T . D .
Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
Harrington , Esq ., delivered at the seventh annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Canada , held in the City of Quebec , on the 9 th day of August , A . D . 1 S 64 . ( See printed proceedings of the aforesaid Grand Body , at page 24 S , for the said year ) : — "Our Subordinate Chapters are , I have reason to believe , xvorking harmoniously and successfully , but the reports of the several Grand Superintendents will give full information on this head . I havc to report one additional
Chapter , viz : 'The Mount Horeb , ' held at Montreal . The petition came from certain companions belonging to the ' Victoria' R . A . Chapter , on the Registry of England , and was accompanied by a formal surrender of their English Warrant . Under the circumstances , and after consulting the Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , 1 looked upon it in thc light of the affiliation , and ordered a Canadian Warrant to be issued instead , free of fee except for registration , which action I request Grand Chapter to confirm . "
Extract from an official letter , of date Sept . 24 , 1 SS 0 , to the Grand Chapter of Quebec , R . E . Comp . David Mc Lellan , Grand Scribe E . of the Grand Chapter of Canada , ( Hamilton , Province of Ontario ) : "IN RE VICTORIA CHAPTER , E . R . "In the report of R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson , Grand Superintendent Montreal District , presented at the annual convocation held in Quebec 1864 , I find the folloxving :
" The old Warrant xvas surrendered to me for transmission to England , together xvith an application for a nexv Warrant under Canada . I forwarded the Warrant and the documents connected with it to the M . Ex . the Grand ' / .., who was pleased to comply with the request of the companions , and to grant a xvarrant authorising the
formation of a new Chapter , under the name of the ' Mount Horeb' R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , and I had the pleasure of constituting the chapter and installing the charter officers at the regular convocation in January , 1 SG 4 . In April a new election took place , and I had also the pleasure of installing the officers elect at thc next regular convocation . "
" Montreal , Province of Quebec , March 12 , 1 SS 1 . " 1 . H . Stearns , Esq ., M . E . First Principal , Grand " Chapter of Quebec . " Dear Sir and Most ExcellenfCompanion , —In ansiver to your enquiry respecting the surrender of Victoria Royal Arch Chapter , I have to say that in the fall of 18 G 3 I was appointed Grand Superintendent of R . A . Masons for the
Montreal district , and that soon after my appointment the companions of Victoria Chapter , then working under the Grand Chapter of England , unanimously resolved to surrender their English xvarrant and apply for a nexv xvarrant from the Grand Chapter of Canada . On receipt of the English warrant I forxvarded it , together xvith the application for the nexv warrant , duly recommended , to the then Grand Principal Z . ( M . E . Comp . T . D . Harrington ) , who
was pleased to authorise the formation of a nexv chapter , under the name of' Mount Horeb' R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , and in January , 1864 , 1 constituted the chapter and installed the officers under the nexv warrant . On the election of nexv officers in Apri of that year , as provided for in their Bye-Laws , I installed the ofiicers elect at the folloxving regular convocation . The matter was reported upon by me to the next annual convocation of Grand Chapter , and
the action taken in regard to this subject was cordially approved by Grand Chapter . The printed report of the proceedings of Grand Chapter , 1 S 64 , xvill corroborate the forgegoing statements , if any corroboration | be necessary . " " I am certainl y very much astonished to learn that any doubt should exist in any quarter respecting the regularity of the transaction , and it is almost incredible that any Royal Arch official in this neighbourhood should for a
moment dream that Victoria Chapter is still in existence . It has had no existence since the period mentioned , 1 S 6 3 . The proceedings were all perfectly regular . The members xvere perfectly unanimous , and there cannot be a doubt whatever that any attempt to resuscitate a chapter under the old Victoria xvarrant , or a duplicate of it , ought to be strenuously resisted by the R . A . authority in this province . Victoria Chapter ceased to exist in the year above stated ,
and it is strange that any one should , after the lapse of such a period , manifest any disposition to have the question revived . To talk of the xvarrant being abstracted secretly in 1 S 63 and no enquiry made regarding it until 1 S 80 or 18 S 1 , would certainly indicate a very singular state of affairs . But , M . E . Sir , there xvas no abstraction—there was no difference of opinion amongst the members as to the course they xvere pursuing . Their whole proceedings ,
from first to last , xvas perfectly unanimous , regular and constitutional , and if ever there was a chapter legally dissolved in this xvorld , that one xvas Victoria Chapter . Why , M . E . Sir , 'this thing xvas not done in a corner . ' The papers of the day and the Masonic journals duly chronicled what had taken place , and it was known as generally as any other event to the Masons in the district , and up to this day I have never met one Mason who had any doubts
as to the facts of the case or thc regularity of the proceedings . I think there must be some mistake xvith regard to it . Is it not some other xvarrant than that of Victoria Chapter which is meant ? It surely must be , for certain no member of that chapter ever complained , so far as my knoxvledge extends , and for the best of all reasons—that there was nothing xvhatever to complain about or object to , and if that were the case , so far as its membership xvas concerned , xvho else has any right to create trouble about
it noxv ? R . E . Comp . Milton xvas cognizant of the xvhole case , and I have no doubt xvill confirm xvhat I have above stated . " Sincerely trusting that this matter may not be thrust as an element of strife into the Masonic jurisdiction , I remain , M . E . Sir , yours most fraternally , "A . A . S TEVENSON , " P . G . Supt . of R . A . Masons for the Dist . of Montreal , " and P . G . M . G . L . of Canada .
"St . Gabriel , January 31 st , 18 S 1 . "I . H . Stearns , "Esq ., Grand Z . Grand R . A . Chap . Quebec . " My Dear M . E . Grand '/ .., —I have much pleasure in forwarding to you , through our Grand Scribe E ., ansxvers to Questions mentioned in the communication to you of our
M . E . P . G . Z ., dated the 20 th inst . I trust they will be satisfactory , and I beg to say that should 1 at any time be able to give further information , 1 xvill be most happy to do so . Yours fraternally , "THOS . MILTON . " 1 st . Victoria R . A . Chapter , No . 440 E . R ., was formally dissolved on the 13 th day of January , 18 G 4 , xvith the
Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
consent of the parties concerned , xvhen the charter was handed over to R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson , Grand Supt . of Montreal Dist ., in exchange for a nexv xvarrant from the Grand Chapter of Canada ( Mount Horeb Chapter , No . 25 , Giand Chapter of Canada , noxv No . G , Grand Chapter of Quebec ) , said Victoria Charter to he returned by the Grand Chapter of Canada to the Grand Chapter of England .
2 nd . 1 he charter of Victoria R . A . Chapter was no-, secretly abstracted by any one ; it xvas placed in my charge during the time negotiations xvere pending regarding its surrender , and was safely laid axvay in the chapter room until said negotiations were completed to the satisfaction of all concerned .
3 rd . 1 cannot say xvhether the said charter xvas ever placed in the hands of Judge Badgley ; it was placed in the hands of R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson by myself and the other members of the chapter , to be returned to England . " 4 th . During the six months that intervened betxveen the last meeting of Victoria Chapter and the first meeting
of Mount Horeb R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , no inquiries xvcre made and no communication took place betxveen Judge Badgley and the members of . Victoria R . A . Chapter regarding the charter of said chapter , and no duplicate charter xvas received by him from England ; he may have received a duplicate charter subsequent to , but not previous to , the surrender of said charter .
'' 5 th . Victoria R . A . Chapter , No . 440 , E . R ., has no existence . Its last convocation xvas held on the 25 th day ° f J ' y . 1 SG 3 ; it has not met since except to dissolve as such and reform as Mount Horeb R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , C . R . —it consequently has no officers , no members , and no
place of meeting . "The xvhole respectfully submitted . "THOS . MILTON , " P . Grand Supt . Montreal Dist . ( Mayor of the Municipality of St . Gabriel , near Montreal , P . Q . ) »
' •Montreal , Province of Quebec , April 29 , 1 SS 1 . " The undersigned , a Past Master of St . George ' s Lodge , No . 440 , E . R ., located in the city of Montreal , hereby testifies that there is not now , and there has not been a chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the English or any other Constitution attached to such lodge or in any xvay connected xvith the same during the term of my office as
Worshipful Master of said lodge , nor within my remembrance , and I hereby also affirm that I have been credibly informed that the Victoria Chapter , formerly attached to the aforesaid St . George ' s Lodge , xvas , by the unanimous vote of its then members , dissolved , and the charter thereof delivered to the Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , Col . A . A . Stevenson , to be duly returned to the Grand Chapter of England during the year 1 S 63-64 .
CHARLES E . TORRANCE , P . M . St . George's Lodge , 440 , E . R . ., „ „ "Montreal , 25 th May , 1 SS 1 . " I . H . Stearns , Esq ., Grand Z . Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Quebec ( Montreal ) . " Dear Sir and Most Excellent Companion , —In reply to your enquiry in regard to Victoria Chanter , formerlv
attached to St . George ' s Lodge , 440 E . R ., I beg leave to say that , as far as I can learn , the said chapter has neither been opened or had any existence since some time in tS 6 ^ or G 4 . J " A fexv companions in St . George's Lodire ( sav 7 or SI
have all , with the exception of R . E . Comp . Badgley , been exalted in chapters under the Grand Chapters of Canada or Quebec , , Yours very truly , . ., „ "J . S . MCCONNELL . "hrst Principal / .. Carnarvon Chapter , R . O ., and P . M . Lodge 440 . E . R .
"UNITED GRAND LODGE OK ENGLAND . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , " 21 st November , 18 S 1 "R . E . Comp . Angus Grant , G . S . E . Grand Chapter of Quebec . "Sir and R . E . Companion , —I have duly received and submitted to his Royal Highness , the M . E . ist Grand
Principal of England , your further letter of the 14 th June last , on the subject of chapter 440 , Montreal , of our Registry , and I am commanded to inform you in reply that , after careful consideration of the same , His Royal Highness regrets he is unable to alter his decision in the matter as conveyed to you in my letter of the ist January last , I have the honour to remain , Sir and R . E . Comp . " SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Colonel , " Grand Scribe I- ; , of England . "
"GRAND CHAPTER OK ROYAL ARCH MASONS OK QUEBEC " Montreal , 25 th January ! . 1 SS 2 . "Shadxvell II . Clerke , Esq ., Colonel , G . S . E . of England , " Sir and R . E . Companion , — Yours of 21 st November , anent Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , duly received and submitted tothe M . E . the ist Grand Principal of Quebec . " I am instructed to state that the Grand " Chapter of
Quebec requests a further consideration of the documents accompanying my communication of nth June , 1 SS 1 , as these documents contain positive evidence that the statements made by others to the Grand Chapter of England in reference to this matter are incorrect , and not founded on facts , but on the contrary , my communications are the only true account of this matter xvhich you have received .
"The most diligent enquiries recentl y made among the craft here proves conclusively that no such body as the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , is claimed to be , is in existence here , or has held a convocation or conferred any degree in Masonry on any candidate since the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , surrendered its warrant to the Grand Chapter of England in A . D . 1 SG 3 .
"The Grand Chapter of Quebec , through its duly qualified officers , refuses to acknowledge any of the claims made b y the Grand Chapter of England in behalf of this so-called chapter , and hopes that the Grand Chapter of England xvill not do anything to disturb the peace and harmony of the craft in this jurisdiction by any act of aggression under
its authority in behalf of this fictitious body , but will , on further consideration of documents already submitted , have the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , removed from its official list , I have the honour to remain , Sir and R . E . Companion , Yours fraternally , __ ANGUS GRANT , Grand Scribe IL ., Grand Chapter of Quebec , ''
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
"With reference to your further paragraph—That it appears to your ist Grand Principal that the question -whether the said Victoria Chapter existed prior to the Grand Chapter of Canada , has no bearing on the matters at issue , I am likexvise commanded to say that the ist Grand Principal of England regrets he cannot agree xvith this viexv ; on the contrary , his Royal Highness considers
that the fact of our chapter having existed previous to the formation of your Grand Chapter is a very vital point , more especially remembering the reservations stipulated for as to out lodges at the time of the applications for recognition from your Grand Lodge , vide my predecessor ' s letters of the 31 st March , 1 S 75 , and 6 th December , 1 S 77 . " I amtherefore , commanded by the ist Grand
Princi-, pal of England to inform you that his Royal Highness is unable to find in your letter of the Sth October last any reasons for setting aside the decision notified in my letter to you of the 20 th August , 1 SS 0 . —I have the honour to remain , sir and R . E . companion , yours fraternally , " S HADWELL H . CLERKE , Colonel , " Grand Scribe E . England . "
"THE GRAND CHAPTER OK ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF QUEBEC . " Office of the Grand Scribe E ., " Montreal , P . O ., Canada , June nth , 1 SS 1 . " R . E . Comp . Col . Shadxvell H . Clerke , G . S . E . G . C . of England ( London ) . " Dear Sir and R . E . Companion , —By command of the M . E . Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons of the Province of Quebec , I have ( after some unavoidable delay , xvhich 1 beg you kindly to excuse ) the honour to reply to your communication by authority of H . R . H . the M . E . thc ist Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter of England of date January 1 st , 1 SS 1 , in ansvier to mine of date August 20 th , 1 SS 0 , re the late Victoria Chapter 440 E . R ., Montreal . _ .
, , " Yours of the above date contains the following extract : ' I am directed to point out that there is evidently some error in your ( our ) information , as our Grand Supertendent of Montreal ( R . E . Comp . Badgely , late judge , & c , we suppose ) himself distinctly denies that such was the case , but explains that the charter in question xvas secretly abstracted by a portion of the then members of the
chapter , who were about to secede therefrom , and xvithout the knoxvledge or consent of the remainder , and that it xvas never placed in his hands . He further states that the chapter did not dissolve in 1 S 63 , but that , having in vain attempted to obtain the abstracted charter , he applied here for a charter of confirmation , xvhich xvas duly granted , and he has very recently reported that the chapter is still in
existence . . ... In fraternally replying to the above , I am commanded to state that the most searching enquiries of every kind , supplemented by the testimony of officers and members of the said late Victoria Chapter , 440 , E . R ., for the year 1 S 62-63 , several of whom are still alive , fail to show that there is any i-. rror in our information , or in the facts of the case as
communicated to you heretofore by me ; and 1 am further commanded to forxvard through you to H . R . H . the ist Grand Principal of England the legally certified documents appended hereto , from the Past Grand ist Principal ot the Grand Chapter of Canada ( noxv Ontario ) , from the present Grand Scribe E . of the same , from the Past Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , C . R ., and Past Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada ; from the last ist Principal of the late Chapter 440 , E . R ., and Past Grand Superintendent of Montreal District CR . and O . R ., and from txvo Past Masters of St . George ' s Lodge , 440 E . K . ; and marked respectively A to F , inclusive , which we are of opinion , will conclusively prove H . R . H . the Grand ist Principal of England , that
most , if not all , of the statements of your ' Grand Superintendent of Montreal , ' contained in the forgoing extracts from your letter are , to speak in the mildest terms , * wholly unfounded in fact . ' "It moreover appears to the Grand ist Principal of Quebec that , if the said Victoria Chapter , 440 E . K ., has received a duplicate charter and has been in existence
since 1863-64 that such would be apparent from the Records of the Grand Chapter of England , and that you would be pleased to inform me of the same , and to communicate to me for the information and use of this Grand Chapter , and the names of the officers and members of the said Chapter , 440 E . R ., ' . for the past 17 years , or at least of those xvho daim to be or to have been officers and
members of the same for the last four years , that is , since the establisment of the Grand Chapter of Quebec on December , ^ , 18 9 6 . I am directed to express the hope that this most reasonable request will speedily be complied with by you . " Leaving certain other incidental matters aside for the present , at least , the question at issue is : Does the Grand Chapter of England intend to cause or to alloxv the said
Chapter , 440 E . R ., formerl y ; situated in the city of Montreal , within the territorial jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , to be resuscitated under the auspices or by the action of the Grand Chapter of England , 17 years after thc constitutional dissolution of thc said Chapter No . 440 , its regular re-organization by unanimous vote and petition of its then acting members into Mount Horeb
Chapter , C . R ., by the Grand Chapter of Canada , and by enrollment of the same on its Registry as No . 25 , and four years after the formation of the Grand Chapter of Quebec , in the organization of which the said Mount Horeb Chapter constitutionally took part , and is noxv enrolled as No . G on its Registry ? If so , the Grand Chapter of Quebec could not hold otherwise than the Grand Chapter of England would , in such
case , be committing a grievous Masonic xvrong against the Grand Chapter of Quebec , against capitular Masonry in this Province of the Dominion , and against the Craft in general . " The Grand Z . of the Grand Chapter of Quebec confidently hopes , however , that H . R . H ., the ist Grand
Principal of England , will , on the contrary , unhesitatingly comply with the just and fraternal request in my former letters , by recalling and cancelling the said charter , and by the obliteration of the ! said 440 from the Registry of the Grand Chapter of England . —1 have the hononr to remain , yours fraternally , "ANGUS GRANT , Grand Scribe E ., G . C . of Quebec . "
"COPIES OK DOCUMENTS REKERRKD TO IN LETTER OK DATE J 11 , 1 SS 1 . " Extract from thc address of thc M . E . Grand ' / ,., T . D .
Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
Harrington , Esq ., delivered at the seventh annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Canada , held in the City of Quebec , on the 9 th day of August , A . D . 1 S 64 . ( See printed proceedings of the aforesaid Grand Body , at page 24 S , for the said year ) : — "Our Subordinate Chapters are , I have reason to believe , xvorking harmoniously and successfully , but the reports of the several Grand Superintendents will give full information on this head . I havc to report one additional
Chapter , viz : 'The Mount Horeb , ' held at Montreal . The petition came from certain companions belonging to the ' Victoria' R . A . Chapter , on the Registry of England , and was accompanied by a formal surrender of their English Warrant . Under the circumstances , and after consulting the Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , 1 looked upon it in thc light of the affiliation , and ordered a Canadian Warrant to be issued instead , free of fee except for registration , which action I request Grand Chapter to confirm . "
Extract from an official letter , of date Sept . 24 , 1 SS 0 , to the Grand Chapter of Quebec , R . E . Comp . David Mc Lellan , Grand Scribe E . of the Grand Chapter of Canada , ( Hamilton , Province of Ontario ) : "IN RE VICTORIA CHAPTER , E . R . "In the report of R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson , Grand Superintendent Montreal District , presented at the annual convocation held in Quebec 1864 , I find the folloxving :
" The old Warrant xvas surrendered to me for transmission to England , together xvith an application for a nexv Warrant under Canada . I forwarded the Warrant and the documents connected with it to the M . Ex . the Grand ' / .., who was pleased to comply with the request of the companions , and to grant a xvarrant authorising the
formation of a new Chapter , under the name of the ' Mount Horeb' R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , and I had the pleasure of constituting the chapter and installing the charter officers at the regular convocation in January , 1 SG 4 . In April a new election took place , and I had also the pleasure of installing the officers elect at thc next regular convocation . "
" Montreal , Province of Quebec , March 12 , 1 SS 1 . " 1 . H . Stearns , Esq ., M . E . First Principal , Grand " Chapter of Quebec . " Dear Sir and Most ExcellenfCompanion , —In ansiver to your enquiry respecting the surrender of Victoria Royal Arch Chapter , I have to say that in the fall of 18 G 3 I was appointed Grand Superintendent of R . A . Masons for the
Montreal district , and that soon after my appointment the companions of Victoria Chapter , then working under the Grand Chapter of England , unanimously resolved to surrender their English xvarrant and apply for a nexv xvarrant from the Grand Chapter of Canada . On receipt of the English warrant I forxvarded it , together xvith the application for the nexv warrant , duly recommended , to the then Grand Principal Z . ( M . E . Comp . T . D . Harrington ) , who
was pleased to authorise the formation of a nexv chapter , under the name of' Mount Horeb' R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , and in January , 1864 , 1 constituted the chapter and installed the officers under the nexv warrant . On the election of nexv officers in Apri of that year , as provided for in their Bye-Laws , I installed the ofiicers elect at the folloxving regular convocation . The matter was reported upon by me to the next annual convocation of Grand Chapter , and
the action taken in regard to this subject was cordially approved by Grand Chapter . The printed report of the proceedings of Grand Chapter , 1 S 64 , xvill corroborate the forgegoing statements , if any corroboration | be necessary . " " I am certainl y very much astonished to learn that any doubt should exist in any quarter respecting the regularity of the transaction , and it is almost incredible that any Royal Arch official in this neighbourhood should for a
moment dream that Victoria Chapter is still in existence . It has had no existence since the period mentioned , 1 S 6 3 . The proceedings were all perfectly regular . The members xvere perfectly unanimous , and there cannot be a doubt whatever that any attempt to resuscitate a chapter under the old Victoria xvarrant , or a duplicate of it , ought to be strenuously resisted by the R . A . authority in this province . Victoria Chapter ceased to exist in the year above stated ,
and it is strange that any one should , after the lapse of such a period , manifest any disposition to have the question revived . To talk of the xvarrant being abstracted secretly in 1 S 63 and no enquiry made regarding it until 1 S 80 or 18 S 1 , would certainly indicate a very singular state of affairs . But , M . E . Sir , there xvas no abstraction—there was no difference of opinion amongst the members as to the course they xvere pursuing . Their whole proceedings ,
from first to last , xvas perfectly unanimous , regular and constitutional , and if ever there was a chapter legally dissolved in this xvorld , that one xvas Victoria Chapter . Why , M . E . Sir , 'this thing xvas not done in a corner . ' The papers of the day and the Masonic journals duly chronicled what had taken place , and it was known as generally as any other event to the Masons in the district , and up to this day I have never met one Mason who had any doubts
as to the facts of the case or thc regularity of the proceedings . I think there must be some mistake xvith regard to it . Is it not some other xvarrant than that of Victoria Chapter which is meant ? It surely must be , for certain no member of that chapter ever complained , so far as my knoxvledge extends , and for the best of all reasons—that there was nothing xvhatever to complain about or object to , and if that were the case , so far as its membership xvas concerned , xvho else has any right to create trouble about
it noxv ? R . E . Comp . Milton xvas cognizant of the xvhole case , and I have no doubt xvill confirm xvhat I have above stated . " Sincerely trusting that this matter may not be thrust as an element of strife into the Masonic jurisdiction , I remain , M . E . Sir , yours most fraternally , "A . A . S TEVENSON , " P . G . Supt . of R . A . Masons for the Dist . of Montreal , " and P . G . M . G . L . of Canada .
"St . Gabriel , January 31 st , 18 S 1 . "I . H . Stearns , "Esq ., Grand Z . Grand R . A . Chap . Quebec . " My Dear M . E . Grand '/ .., —I have much pleasure in forwarding to you , through our Grand Scribe E ., ansxvers to Questions mentioned in the communication to you of our
M . E . P . G . Z ., dated the 20 th inst . I trust they will be satisfactory , and I beg to say that should 1 at any time be able to give further information , 1 xvill be most happy to do so . Yours fraternally , "THOS . MILTON . " 1 st . Victoria R . A . Chapter , No . 440 E . R ., was formally dissolved on the 13 th day of January , 18 G 4 , xvith the
Correspondence Between The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Chapter Of England.
consent of the parties concerned , xvhen the charter was handed over to R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson , Grand Supt . of Montreal Dist ., in exchange for a nexv xvarrant from the Grand Chapter of Canada ( Mount Horeb Chapter , No . 25 , Giand Chapter of Canada , noxv No . G , Grand Chapter of Quebec ) , said Victoria Charter to he returned by the Grand Chapter of Canada to the Grand Chapter of England .
2 nd . 1 he charter of Victoria R . A . Chapter was no-, secretly abstracted by any one ; it xvas placed in my charge during the time negotiations xvere pending regarding its surrender , and was safely laid axvay in the chapter room until said negotiations were completed to the satisfaction of all concerned .
3 rd . 1 cannot say xvhether the said charter xvas ever placed in the hands of Judge Badgley ; it was placed in the hands of R . E . Comp . A . A . Stevenson by myself and the other members of the chapter , to be returned to England . " 4 th . During the six months that intervened betxveen the last meeting of Victoria Chapter and the first meeting
of Mount Horeb R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , no inquiries xvcre made and no communication took place betxveen Judge Badgley and the members of . Victoria R . A . Chapter regarding the charter of said chapter , and no duplicate charter xvas received by him from England ; he may have received a duplicate charter subsequent to , but not previous to , the surrender of said charter .
'' 5 th . Victoria R . A . Chapter , No . 440 , E . R ., has no existence . Its last convocation xvas held on the 25 th day ° f J ' y . 1 SG 3 ; it has not met since except to dissolve as such and reform as Mount Horeb R . A . Chapter , No . 25 , C . R . —it consequently has no officers , no members , and no
place of meeting . "The xvhole respectfully submitted . "THOS . MILTON , " P . Grand Supt . Montreal Dist . ( Mayor of the Municipality of St . Gabriel , near Montreal , P . Q . ) »
' •Montreal , Province of Quebec , April 29 , 1 SS 1 . " The undersigned , a Past Master of St . George ' s Lodge , No . 440 , E . R ., located in the city of Montreal , hereby testifies that there is not now , and there has not been a chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the English or any other Constitution attached to such lodge or in any xvay connected xvith the same during the term of my office as
Worshipful Master of said lodge , nor within my remembrance , and I hereby also affirm that I have been credibly informed that the Victoria Chapter , formerly attached to the aforesaid St . George ' s Lodge , xvas , by the unanimous vote of its then members , dissolved , and the charter thereof delivered to the Grand Superintendent of the Montreal District , Col . A . A . Stevenson , to be duly returned to the Grand Chapter of England during the year 1 S 63-64 .
CHARLES E . TORRANCE , P . M . St . George's Lodge , 440 , E . R . ., „ „ "Montreal , 25 th May , 1 SS 1 . " I . H . Stearns , Esq ., Grand Z . Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Quebec ( Montreal ) . " Dear Sir and Most Excellent Companion , —In reply to your enquiry in regard to Victoria Chanter , formerlv
attached to St . George ' s Lodge , 440 E . R ., I beg leave to say that , as far as I can learn , the said chapter has neither been opened or had any existence since some time in tS 6 ^ or G 4 . J " A fexv companions in St . George's Lodire ( sav 7 or SI
have all , with the exception of R . E . Comp . Badgley , been exalted in chapters under the Grand Chapters of Canada or Quebec , , Yours very truly , . ., „ "J . S . MCCONNELL . "hrst Principal / .. Carnarvon Chapter , R . O ., and P . M . Lodge 440 . E . R .
"UNITED GRAND LODGE OK ENGLAND . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , " 21 st November , 18 S 1 "R . E . Comp . Angus Grant , G . S . E . Grand Chapter of Quebec . "Sir and R . E . Companion , —I have duly received and submitted to his Royal Highness , the M . E . ist Grand
Principal of England , your further letter of the 14 th June last , on the subject of chapter 440 , Montreal , of our Registry , and I am commanded to inform you in reply that , after careful consideration of the same , His Royal Highness regrets he is unable to alter his decision in the matter as conveyed to you in my letter of the ist January last , I have the honour to remain , Sir and R . E . Comp . " SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Colonel , " Grand Scribe I- ; , of England . "
"GRAND CHAPTER OK ROYAL ARCH MASONS OK QUEBEC " Montreal , 25 th January ! . 1 SS 2 . "Shadxvell II . Clerke , Esq ., Colonel , G . S . E . of England , " Sir and R . E . Companion , — Yours of 21 st November , anent Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , duly received and submitted tothe M . E . the ist Grand Principal of Quebec . " I am instructed to state that the Grand " Chapter of
Quebec requests a further consideration of the documents accompanying my communication of nth June , 1 SS 1 , as these documents contain positive evidence that the statements made by others to the Grand Chapter of England in reference to this matter are incorrect , and not founded on facts , but on the contrary , my communications are the only true account of this matter xvhich you have received .
"The most diligent enquiries recentl y made among the craft here proves conclusively that no such body as the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , is claimed to be , is in existence here , or has held a convocation or conferred any degree in Masonry on any candidate since the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , surrendered its warrant to the Grand Chapter of England in A . D . 1 SG 3 .
"The Grand Chapter of Quebec , through its duly qualified officers , refuses to acknowledge any of the claims made b y the Grand Chapter of England in behalf of this so-called chapter , and hopes that the Grand Chapter of England xvill not do anything to disturb the peace and harmony of the craft in this jurisdiction by any act of aggression under
its authority in behalf of this fictitious body , but will , on further consideration of documents already submitted , have the Victoria Chapter , No . 440 , removed from its official list , I have the honour to remain , Sir and R . E . Companion , Yours fraternally , __ ANGUS GRANT , Grand Scribe IL ., Grand Chapter of Quebec , ''