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Article CENTENARY OF ST. JOHN LODGE, No.2, HALIFAX, N.S. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREAT PRIOR OF CANADA. Page 1 of 1 Article ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREAT PRIOR OF CANADA. Page 1 of 1 Article ARMS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Centenary Of St. John Lodge, No.2, Halifax, N.S.
was also at this time a small block house and battery opposite the old Dutch Church in Brunswick-street , and a similar one at the north end of that street . There was also a barrack in Jacob-street called Grenadier Fort , afterwards known as Maynard-place , for some years the residence of thc late Rev . Dr . Cochran —now the site of Trinity Church . Before 17 S 0 thc original forest in the immediate vicinity
of the little old town mu .-t have been Idled to a large extent for building purjnv . cs , and also to deprive the hostile Indians of a cover f 11 * their attacks on the settlers . Government House was t ! i 11 a ittle low wooden building , situate on the square nov -ccupied by the Province Building * - . 'The site of the present Government House was then occupied by a wooden building used as oflicers' quarters . The House of Assembly met in the old building still standing on the
northwest corner of Harrington and Sackville streets , long afterwards known as the Halifax Grammar School . The site of the present City Court House was the market place . The Court House of that day was on thc north-east corner of Argyle and Buckingham streets , known as Northup ' s-corner . Halifax abounded at that time in houses of entertainment , under the various names of inns , taverns , coffee houses , & c . The most noted of these for a lung period
was the "Great Pontac , " situated at the foot of Dukestreet ( now occupied by Mr . Bond ' s hardware store)—the scene of many swell balls and public dinners during the days of its glory . Amongst other fashionable places of the same character were the " British Coffee Arms , " north of the Ordnance Yard , and the " Crown Coffee House , on the beach near the Naval Yard , and "Jerusalem Coffee House , " where Jerusalem warehouse now stands . Without
mentioning other places of Ihe sort , of which there were many , we come to thc sign of the " Golden Ball , " where , one hundred years ago , on St . John the Baptist Day , Bros . John George ' Pyke , W . M . ; John Fillis , S . W . ; John Cleavelan ' d , j . W . ; Leonard Homer , Treas . ; Joseph Peters , Sec ; John Fell , S . D . ; Saul King , J . D . ; Collis Glen , John O'Brien , Jones , Pawson , and Fitzsimmons , and some visiting brethren dined together , as they always did in those
good old days , both on St . John the Baptist's Day and John the Evangelist , at the early hour of two o ' clock , and closed the festivities at eight and nine o ' clock in the evening—a pretty long day's work , as the lodge invariably met at ten o ' clock in the morning in those days . 'There is one thing very certain , that our ancient brethren could not give the same excuse as modern Masons are said sometimes to do to suspicious wives when out rather late at night—that
they been at the lodge . The Golden Ball of that day was a fashionable place of resort fur the gentlemen of the town , and was situate in what was then the suburbs of the town , on the site of what is now the residence of James Scott , corner of Pleasant and Harvey-streets . It was one of the very few houses which had then been erected outside of the town proper , i . e ., between Salter-street and Freshwater . Here the
Lodge of St . John held its meetings for seven years , until they moved to the new lodge room on Grafton-street , on the 4 th June , 17 S 0 .. In the meantime a movement had been inaugurated , in which St . John Lodge took a prominent part , fiir the erection of a new Masonic Hall for the accommodation of the Craft , and at an emergency meeting , held on the 19 th September , 17 . SG , a subscription list was opened for that purpose in the lodge , amounting to £ 114—the original
signatures to which are inscribed in the minute book of that period . This was probably the inception of what we now call thc old Masonic Hall , the corner stone of which was laid on the 5 th June , 1 S 00 , by H . R . H . the Duke of Kent , Grand Master , on the site of the old Guard House . Some years previous to this at an emergency meeting , held on the 22 nd Nov ., 17 S 1 , at which representatives ' of Lodge No . 155 and Union Lodge were present , a resolution was
passed to apply to the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant to hold a Provincial Grand Lodge , and Bro . John George Pyke , the first Master of St ! John , was unanimously recommended as the first Provincial Grand Master . The original records of St . John ' s Lodge were well kept and preserved for the first sixteen years of its existence , up to 179 G . From that time up to 1 S 10—a period of fourteen years—thc minutes are missing , which is much to be
regretted , as it embraced a most interesting period of the world ' s history . Just previous to the Peninsular War there were many of the army and navy on this station who were made Masons in St . John ' s Lodge , some of whom , no doubt , distinguished themselves in the Peninsular battles ; but , as thc records have been lost , we have no means of
tracing even their names . 1 he minutes and proceedings of the lodge from 1 S 15 to 1 S 20 , from the years 1 S 30 , ' 34 , ' ' 35 , ' 4 S , ' 49 , ' 31 , and ' 52 arc also missing , and it does not reflect much credit upon the honesty of those who , having obtained possession of them for some purpose , have failed t j restore them to their rightful owners .
Notwithstanding these breaks in the roll of her members , the books of St . John contain the names of men celebrated in their day and generation , of whom any people and any country may well be proud . Illustrious soldiers , sailors , lawyers , doctors , statesmen , merchants , orators , and Divines , men whose names are written high up in the scroll of fame , who first saw the light of Masonry under the banner of St . John ; of these foremost in
point of time , ns he was afterwards foremost in gallant deeds of arms on the battle field , comes Captain John Moore , of 11 . M . S 2 nd Regiment , afterwards Sir " John Moore , of Corunna , who was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry at an emergency meeling of St . John Lodge , held at the Golden Ball , on the 12 th March , 17 S 1 . Of the subsequent brilliant career of tbis brave soldier , during thc leninsularAVar , unlil at the fatal battle of Corunna he
_ foremost fighting fell , " it is unnecessary to enlarge . It is recorded 011 the page of history , and his deeds arc familiar to us as household words . We all recollect the circumstances of his funeral—at the dead hour of night , on the battlefield—with the foe before him , and behind his own little army silently and sullenl y retreating to their ships . I he incidents connected with his tragic death have been immortalised in verse . ( To be continued . )
I he Alcxandr .-i Palace Fruit Show will be held September 3 rd , 4 th , Oth , and 7 U 1 . Olcl Matured Wines and -Spirits . — J . E . SIMXD & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and Valuers ) , 2 , Albert Mansions , Victoria"rcct , London , S . W . Price fists on applications . —[ ADVT . ]
Annual Report Of The Great Prior Of Canada.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREAT PRIOR OF CANADA .
'The following report was read by Col . MACLEOD MOORE before the National Grand Priory , at Guelph , Ont ., on the 13 th July , 1 SS 0 : Fratres of the National Great Priory of Canada : I feel more than satisfied that the suggestion made by me , and confirmed by your resolution at our last meeting of
Great Priory , of distinctly declaring our independent position as a national body , and the peer of all other Templar Institutions , was the correct course to pursue—the action taken by the Grand Encampment of the United States in arrogating to itself a pre-eminence over the ruling body in Canada being an assumption on their part that required prompt refutation and explanation , to prevent its marring
the kindly feelings existing between the two Templar branches , arising , no doubt unintentionally , from not understanding the wide difference that exists between their Templar system and that of the British Empire , or the relative position " Convent General " and " Grand Encampment " bear to each other . It may bc as well to explain our position as regards the
union of the Great Priories of England and Ireland , which led to tlje mistaken supposition of our not being an independent body . For some time previous to our joining the Union as a National body , a convention had existed between England and Ireland to establish a uniform Templar system , based upon the practices of the old Chivalric Order , and we came
in , taking things just as wc found them . The Order has been lately revised , through the instrumentality of Sir Patrick Colquhoun , the Chancellor of the English branch , and much irrelevant matter struck out , which had crept into its ceremonies from adhering too closely to the Masonic style of working of the 17 S 0 theorythe Dunckerly fable . 'These changes , and the formation of
a Convent General , were not received favourably by a large majority of the English body , being distasteful to the prejudices of many of the old members , who looked upon them as innovations , and so created a regular schism—one district of England against the other . 'The democratic party in England , which outweighed all the others in "Convent General , " being one that cared nothing for the sister Great Priories of Ireland and Canada ,
it was evident a disruption must take place , and this was brought to an issue when a special Convent General met in London to review and set aside the decisions of the regular meeting of the Convent General held in Dublin the year before . The English brethren , who long used to rule matters with supreme authority in England , could not endure that the Irish should have any share in the administration and reversed the decisions made in the Dublin Conven General .
1 he Irish members felt themselves aggrieved , but behaved with equal forbearance and spirit , quietl y laid aside the Convent General altogether , and just took their own way as before . 'There is no doubt the whole of the proceedings of this special meeting were illegal , and ought to have been vetoed , as by section three of the Anglo-Hibernian Convention , any constitutional alterations should be made in the
several Great Priories before being submitted to Convent General . The Statutes undoubtedly contain a provision for altering them , and advantage was taken of this by the stronger party . Canada , feeling that she has no chance of [ holding * her own in Convent General , strongly protested against these acts , expressing her disapproval of any material changes in rules
she had promised to obey ; for , as a National Great Priory , she has an equal voice with the others , and no faction or party had a right to pass , without due notice and behind her back , a series of resolutions of which she disapproved . In this state of affairs no other course seemed left but that of dissolution of the Union , but rather than proceed to this extremity , and for the sake of peace , the Great Priory
of Canada agreed to a compromise suggested by the Great Sub-Prior of England , by which wc are now left to take care of ourselves , and are certainly the gainers , so far as the abolition of the capitation tax to Convent General , which in Canada had always been looked upon as a very unnecessary one to impose upon us ; but it is to be feared the result of the compromise will be to establish three
separate systems , which in time will become more and more dissimilar , and thus defeat the object of the Union . 'The root of the failure lay in the Convent General . To assemble a Convent General annually anywhere was unnecessary ; and the idea , however specious , of meeting in London and Dublin alternately ended in a collapse of the whole system . The meetings of Convent General should
never have been fixed at all , but summoned when required by the Grand Master ; and I am happy to say that this has now been decided upon . Our representative at the Great Priory of England , V . E . Frater Emra Holmes , informs me officially that he has ascertained that the meetings for thc future of Convent General rest upon the ipse dixit of our Royal Grand
Master alone . 'To my mind there cannot be a doubt lhat the revised system , by reverting to first principles , is calculated to raise thc status and dignity of the Templar Order in the British Dominions , as correctly representing the once celebrated Chivalric Order from which it derived ils name ; whilst the attempts to continue it as a mere fanciful Degree of
Masonic invention ispreposterous , having neither historical facts nor truth to recommend it . 'The lack of interest shown in thc history of the Order is principall y the cause of the ignorance that prevails , so few brethren will take the trouble to read or stud y the subject , taking things just as they found them , and thinking nothing more about tbe matter .
My views with respect to the origin of the Templar Order and its connection with Freemasonry have been considerably modified ; however , it is the privilege of every one to change his views as new sources of information are brought to his knowledge . I cannot agree with the learned author of a "Concise History of the'Templar Order , " who does not think the Ancient Order ever found any shelter in the
Masonic body ; he holds that Masonry as a speculative malter did not exist until the time of Elias Ashmole , at the commencement of the last century . There is very little doubt that duiing the early days of the Templar Order , when in the zenith of their power and wealth , a connection did exist between the two bodies . Those warrior Monks , when assisting at the erection of
Annual Report Of The Great Prior Of Canada.
the magnificent churches and cathedrals that still remain , and constructing their houses and preceptories , employed the Fraternity of Freemasons skilled in ecclesiastical architecture , not the mere builders of walls or stone masons , but the scientific leaders of the Craft , many of whom were of high rank and great learning , and whose chief patrons were the Order of Benedictine Monks , who had
also drawn up the Rule for the Templars , this affinity between them probably tended to promote a feeling of sympathy at the time of the persecution of the Templar Order , when its members denounced and dispersed sought refuge and concealment amongst those they had at one time cmployed in their service . Although the rules of the Order required the knights to be of noble birth , men of all
professions and ranks of society were to be found , who had allied themselves to the Order , either by affiliation , or by joining the class of " Freres Scrvientes , " such as the squires , men-at-arms , artisans , & c , & c , to whom , in common with the knights , the confiscation of the property of the Order had brought utter ruin and desolation . The Masonic Fraternity , no doubt , were glad and proud
to assist men who had belonged to an Order so famous as the Templars , and who were still capable and anxious to render themselves useful to the secret Fraternity of Builders , whose intercourse ( from their wandering life ) with people of various nations , views , and beliefs , disposed them to offer shelter to a body of men persecuted for the more liberal opinions they had entcitained in advance of the
age . B y this connection of the Templars with the skilled architects and workmen of the Masonic Fraternity , who were patronised and constantly employed in the architectural services of the religious bowses , vmttt about tbe period of the Reformation , we may infer that the usages and ceremonies of the Templar Order were preserved from complete annihilation . This is the theory of the origin of the present Templar
Society , known as the "direct descent theory , " to distinguish it from that of the Masonic origin of Templary , so frequentl y and incontcstably shown to be a mere fiction . lt certainly bears the mark of reason and probability that some of the members of the Great Order of the Temple at its dissolution found refuge and protection by joining a secret society , with the leading members of which they had been formerly intimate . ( To bc continued . )
Arms Of The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.
ARMS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS .
'The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , March 10 th , 1 SS 0 , just published , are remarkably interesting . Indeed , I doubt if they have ever been equalled in the specialty for which they are so valuable and remarkable .
It appears that in March , 1 S 57 , upon thc motion of Most Worshipful Bro . Winslow Lewis , a Committee was appointed to " procure a new banner for the Grand Lodge , and to prepare a new motto as a substitute for the present one , " which , if approved , was in future to bc the seal of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . The report submitted in June of the same year was adopted . Though in many
respects of a most erroneous character , several of the statements were quite opposed to the true facts of the case , but were not questioned , and so thc seal was altered accordingl y . 'The objections urged against the old seal were mainly to the effect that " it bore nothing significant of Freemasonry , save thc arms of the city of York , England , and that the supporters were two nondescript
animals , perhaps beavers , perhaps lizards , " or perhaps something else ! The motto— " Follow Reason " —was declared to be " in still worse taste , and might serve for the anarchists of the French Revolution ! " and evidently the Committee , save as to thc guess of the " Lizards , were quite unable to grasp the subject thoroughly , from a sheer lack of the knowledge requisite . It is sufficient on
this head to say that the arms were not those of the cit y of York , as the report declared , but of the Freemasons ! This fact and numerous others are clearly pointed out in an admirable communication by Bro . W . T . R . Marvin , of Boston , which article was prepared by express desire of thc Committee appointed latel y by thc Grand Lodge , and which Committee reported in favour of a change of the
seal , & c , at the Grand Lodge held March 10 th , as noted . Most Worshipful Bros . John T . Heard and W . Sewell Gardner have long been anxious for a return to the main characteristics of the old seal , which the Committee have traced back to the year 1752 , when it was cut in silver , and adopted "for the use of all the lodges in Boston , to be kept by the Grand Secretary . " 'The trust has been faithfully observed , for this seal is actually still in the possession of the
present Grand Secretary . It is gratifying tonot that the same worthy brother has possession of the original seal of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge ( " Ancients" ) , which is the same as the former ( " Moderns " ) save as to the inscription of title , which slightly varies . There cannot be too much care taken to preserve these , and all other such invaluable souvenirs of " yc olden tyme , " and especially as the growing convictions of the Craft are all tending towards the reproduction , as far as possible , of these old customs and
manners . The article by Bro . Marvin ( the accomplished author and compiler of the grandest work ever issued on " Masonic Medals " ) is most carefully written , and deals quite exhaustively with the whole enquiry , beginning at the beginning , and tracing all the successive changes down to the last of 1 S 37 , as also exhibiting the character of tbe general
arms of the Freemasons , according to the most trustworth y authorities . All who can consult Bro . Marvin ' s able report should do so , for the heraldic information as it affects the Masonic Craft is certainly arrayed and explained in a most concise and pleasing manner . His laborious researches , and the Committee ' s careful consideration , have happily been consummated in their recommendation to resume
" the earliest seal and armorial bearings in use by Massachusetts Masons , id thou t any change , save the addition of the arms of the State . " The report was ordered to be printed , and to be duly considered in December next . " A rms . —Per pale . Dexter , sable , a chevron or , between
three castles proper , masoned of the field ; on the chevron a pair of compasses extended chevronwise , proper sinister , azure , an Indian armed with bow and arrows proper ; in dexter chief a mullet or , for Massachusetts . " " Crest . —A dove , close , bearing an olive oranch in its beak , all proper . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Centenary Of St. John Lodge, No.2, Halifax, N.S.
was also at this time a small block house and battery opposite the old Dutch Church in Brunswick-street , and a similar one at the north end of that street . There was also a barrack in Jacob-street called Grenadier Fort , afterwards known as Maynard-place , for some years the residence of thc late Rev . Dr . Cochran —now the site of Trinity Church . Before 17 S 0 thc original forest in the immediate vicinity
of the little old town mu .-t have been Idled to a large extent for building purjnv . cs , and also to deprive the hostile Indians of a cover f 11 * their attacks on the settlers . Government House was t ! i 11 a ittle low wooden building , situate on the square nov -ccupied by the Province Building * - . 'The site of the present Government House was then occupied by a wooden building used as oflicers' quarters . The House of Assembly met in the old building still standing on the
northwest corner of Harrington and Sackville streets , long afterwards known as the Halifax Grammar School . The site of the present City Court House was the market place . The Court House of that day was on thc north-east corner of Argyle and Buckingham streets , known as Northup ' s-corner . Halifax abounded at that time in houses of entertainment , under the various names of inns , taverns , coffee houses , & c . The most noted of these for a lung period
was the "Great Pontac , " situated at the foot of Dukestreet ( now occupied by Mr . Bond ' s hardware store)—the scene of many swell balls and public dinners during the days of its glory . Amongst other fashionable places of the same character were the " British Coffee Arms , " north of the Ordnance Yard , and the " Crown Coffee House , on the beach near the Naval Yard , and "Jerusalem Coffee House , " where Jerusalem warehouse now stands . Without
mentioning other places of Ihe sort , of which there were many , we come to thc sign of the " Golden Ball , " where , one hundred years ago , on St . John the Baptist Day , Bros . John George ' Pyke , W . M . ; John Fillis , S . W . ; John Cleavelan ' d , j . W . ; Leonard Homer , Treas . ; Joseph Peters , Sec ; John Fell , S . D . ; Saul King , J . D . ; Collis Glen , John O'Brien , Jones , Pawson , and Fitzsimmons , and some visiting brethren dined together , as they always did in those
good old days , both on St . John the Baptist's Day and John the Evangelist , at the early hour of two o ' clock , and closed the festivities at eight and nine o ' clock in the evening—a pretty long day's work , as the lodge invariably met at ten o ' clock in the morning in those days . 'There is one thing very certain , that our ancient brethren could not give the same excuse as modern Masons are said sometimes to do to suspicious wives when out rather late at night—that
they been at the lodge . The Golden Ball of that day was a fashionable place of resort fur the gentlemen of the town , and was situate in what was then the suburbs of the town , on the site of what is now the residence of James Scott , corner of Pleasant and Harvey-streets . It was one of the very few houses which had then been erected outside of the town proper , i . e ., between Salter-street and Freshwater . Here the
Lodge of St . John held its meetings for seven years , until they moved to the new lodge room on Grafton-street , on the 4 th June , 17 S 0 .. In the meantime a movement had been inaugurated , in which St . John Lodge took a prominent part , fiir the erection of a new Masonic Hall for the accommodation of the Craft , and at an emergency meeting , held on the 19 th September , 17 . SG , a subscription list was opened for that purpose in the lodge , amounting to £ 114—the original
signatures to which are inscribed in the minute book of that period . This was probably the inception of what we now call thc old Masonic Hall , the corner stone of which was laid on the 5 th June , 1 S 00 , by H . R . H . the Duke of Kent , Grand Master , on the site of the old Guard House . Some years previous to this at an emergency meeting , held on the 22 nd Nov ., 17 S 1 , at which representatives ' of Lodge No . 155 and Union Lodge were present , a resolution was
passed to apply to the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant to hold a Provincial Grand Lodge , and Bro . John George Pyke , the first Master of St ! John , was unanimously recommended as the first Provincial Grand Master . The original records of St . John ' s Lodge were well kept and preserved for the first sixteen years of its existence , up to 179 G . From that time up to 1 S 10—a period of fourteen years—thc minutes are missing , which is much to be
regretted , as it embraced a most interesting period of the world ' s history . Just previous to the Peninsular War there were many of the army and navy on this station who were made Masons in St . John ' s Lodge , some of whom , no doubt , distinguished themselves in the Peninsular battles ; but , as thc records have been lost , we have no means of
tracing even their names . 1 he minutes and proceedings of the lodge from 1 S 15 to 1 S 20 , from the years 1 S 30 , ' 34 , ' ' 35 , ' 4 S , ' 49 , ' 31 , and ' 52 arc also missing , and it does not reflect much credit upon the honesty of those who , having obtained possession of them for some purpose , have failed t j restore them to their rightful owners .
Notwithstanding these breaks in the roll of her members , the books of St . John contain the names of men celebrated in their day and generation , of whom any people and any country may well be proud . Illustrious soldiers , sailors , lawyers , doctors , statesmen , merchants , orators , and Divines , men whose names are written high up in the scroll of fame , who first saw the light of Masonry under the banner of St . John ; of these foremost in
point of time , ns he was afterwards foremost in gallant deeds of arms on the battle field , comes Captain John Moore , of 11 . M . S 2 nd Regiment , afterwards Sir " John Moore , of Corunna , who was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry at an emergency meeling of St . John Lodge , held at the Golden Ball , on the 12 th March , 17 S 1 . Of the subsequent brilliant career of tbis brave soldier , during thc leninsularAVar , unlil at the fatal battle of Corunna he
_ foremost fighting fell , " it is unnecessary to enlarge . It is recorded 011 the page of history , and his deeds arc familiar to us as household words . We all recollect the circumstances of his funeral—at the dead hour of night , on the battlefield—with the foe before him , and behind his own little army silently and sullenl y retreating to their ships . I he incidents connected with his tragic death have been immortalised in verse . ( To be continued . )
I he Alcxandr .-i Palace Fruit Show will be held September 3 rd , 4 th , Oth , and 7 U 1 . Olcl Matured Wines and -Spirits . — J . E . SIMXD & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and Valuers ) , 2 , Albert Mansions , Victoria"rcct , London , S . W . Price fists on applications . —[ ADVT . ]
Annual Report Of The Great Prior Of Canada.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GREAT PRIOR OF CANADA .
'The following report was read by Col . MACLEOD MOORE before the National Grand Priory , at Guelph , Ont ., on the 13 th July , 1 SS 0 : Fratres of the National Great Priory of Canada : I feel more than satisfied that the suggestion made by me , and confirmed by your resolution at our last meeting of
Great Priory , of distinctly declaring our independent position as a national body , and the peer of all other Templar Institutions , was the correct course to pursue—the action taken by the Grand Encampment of the United States in arrogating to itself a pre-eminence over the ruling body in Canada being an assumption on their part that required prompt refutation and explanation , to prevent its marring
the kindly feelings existing between the two Templar branches , arising , no doubt unintentionally , from not understanding the wide difference that exists between their Templar system and that of the British Empire , or the relative position " Convent General " and " Grand Encampment " bear to each other . It may bc as well to explain our position as regards the
union of the Great Priories of England and Ireland , which led to tlje mistaken supposition of our not being an independent body . For some time previous to our joining the Union as a National body , a convention had existed between England and Ireland to establish a uniform Templar system , based upon the practices of the old Chivalric Order , and we came
in , taking things just as wc found them . The Order has been lately revised , through the instrumentality of Sir Patrick Colquhoun , the Chancellor of the English branch , and much irrelevant matter struck out , which had crept into its ceremonies from adhering too closely to the Masonic style of working of the 17 S 0 theorythe Dunckerly fable . 'These changes , and the formation of
a Convent General , were not received favourably by a large majority of the English body , being distasteful to the prejudices of many of the old members , who looked upon them as innovations , and so created a regular schism—one district of England against the other . 'The democratic party in England , which outweighed all the others in "Convent General , " being one that cared nothing for the sister Great Priories of Ireland and Canada ,
it was evident a disruption must take place , and this was brought to an issue when a special Convent General met in London to review and set aside the decisions of the regular meeting of the Convent General held in Dublin the year before . The English brethren , who long used to rule matters with supreme authority in England , could not endure that the Irish should have any share in the administration and reversed the decisions made in the Dublin Conven General .
1 he Irish members felt themselves aggrieved , but behaved with equal forbearance and spirit , quietl y laid aside the Convent General altogether , and just took their own way as before . 'There is no doubt the whole of the proceedings of this special meeting were illegal , and ought to have been vetoed , as by section three of the Anglo-Hibernian Convention , any constitutional alterations should be made in the
several Great Priories before being submitted to Convent General . The Statutes undoubtedly contain a provision for altering them , and advantage was taken of this by the stronger party . Canada , feeling that she has no chance of [ holding * her own in Convent General , strongly protested against these acts , expressing her disapproval of any material changes in rules
she had promised to obey ; for , as a National Great Priory , she has an equal voice with the others , and no faction or party had a right to pass , without due notice and behind her back , a series of resolutions of which she disapproved . In this state of affairs no other course seemed left but that of dissolution of the Union , but rather than proceed to this extremity , and for the sake of peace , the Great Priory
of Canada agreed to a compromise suggested by the Great Sub-Prior of England , by which wc are now left to take care of ourselves , and are certainly the gainers , so far as the abolition of the capitation tax to Convent General , which in Canada had always been looked upon as a very unnecessary one to impose upon us ; but it is to be feared the result of the compromise will be to establish three
separate systems , which in time will become more and more dissimilar , and thus defeat the object of the Union . 'The root of the failure lay in the Convent General . To assemble a Convent General annually anywhere was unnecessary ; and the idea , however specious , of meeting in London and Dublin alternately ended in a collapse of the whole system . The meetings of Convent General should
never have been fixed at all , but summoned when required by the Grand Master ; and I am happy to say that this has now been decided upon . Our representative at the Great Priory of England , V . E . Frater Emra Holmes , informs me officially that he has ascertained that the meetings for thc future of Convent General rest upon the ipse dixit of our Royal Grand
Master alone . 'To my mind there cannot be a doubt lhat the revised system , by reverting to first principles , is calculated to raise thc status and dignity of the Templar Order in the British Dominions , as correctly representing the once celebrated Chivalric Order from which it derived ils name ; whilst the attempts to continue it as a mere fanciful Degree of
Masonic invention ispreposterous , having neither historical facts nor truth to recommend it . 'The lack of interest shown in thc history of the Order is principall y the cause of the ignorance that prevails , so few brethren will take the trouble to read or stud y the subject , taking things just as they found them , and thinking nothing more about tbe matter .
My views with respect to the origin of the Templar Order and its connection with Freemasonry have been considerably modified ; however , it is the privilege of every one to change his views as new sources of information are brought to his knowledge . I cannot agree with the learned author of a "Concise History of the'Templar Order , " who does not think the Ancient Order ever found any shelter in the
Masonic body ; he holds that Masonry as a speculative malter did not exist until the time of Elias Ashmole , at the commencement of the last century . There is very little doubt that duiing the early days of the Templar Order , when in the zenith of their power and wealth , a connection did exist between the two bodies . Those warrior Monks , when assisting at the erection of
Annual Report Of The Great Prior Of Canada.
the magnificent churches and cathedrals that still remain , and constructing their houses and preceptories , employed the Fraternity of Freemasons skilled in ecclesiastical architecture , not the mere builders of walls or stone masons , but the scientific leaders of the Craft , many of whom were of high rank and great learning , and whose chief patrons were the Order of Benedictine Monks , who had
also drawn up the Rule for the Templars , this affinity between them probably tended to promote a feeling of sympathy at the time of the persecution of the Templar Order , when its members denounced and dispersed sought refuge and concealment amongst those they had at one time cmployed in their service . Although the rules of the Order required the knights to be of noble birth , men of all
professions and ranks of society were to be found , who had allied themselves to the Order , either by affiliation , or by joining the class of " Freres Scrvientes , " such as the squires , men-at-arms , artisans , & c , & c , to whom , in common with the knights , the confiscation of the property of the Order had brought utter ruin and desolation . The Masonic Fraternity , no doubt , were glad and proud
to assist men who had belonged to an Order so famous as the Templars , and who were still capable and anxious to render themselves useful to the secret Fraternity of Builders , whose intercourse ( from their wandering life ) with people of various nations , views , and beliefs , disposed them to offer shelter to a body of men persecuted for the more liberal opinions they had entcitained in advance of the
age . B y this connection of the Templars with the skilled architects and workmen of the Masonic Fraternity , who were patronised and constantly employed in the architectural services of the religious bowses , vmttt about tbe period of the Reformation , we may infer that the usages and ceremonies of the Templar Order were preserved from complete annihilation . This is the theory of the origin of the present Templar
Society , known as the "direct descent theory , " to distinguish it from that of the Masonic origin of Templary , so frequentl y and incontcstably shown to be a mere fiction . lt certainly bears the mark of reason and probability that some of the members of the Great Order of the Temple at its dissolution found refuge and protection by joining a secret society , with the leading members of which they had been formerly intimate . ( To bc continued . )
Arms Of The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.
ARMS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS .
'The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , March 10 th , 1 SS 0 , just published , are remarkably interesting . Indeed , I doubt if they have ever been equalled in the specialty for which they are so valuable and remarkable .
It appears that in March , 1 S 57 , upon thc motion of Most Worshipful Bro . Winslow Lewis , a Committee was appointed to " procure a new banner for the Grand Lodge , and to prepare a new motto as a substitute for the present one , " which , if approved , was in future to bc the seal of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . The report submitted in June of the same year was adopted . Though in many
respects of a most erroneous character , several of the statements were quite opposed to the true facts of the case , but were not questioned , and so thc seal was altered accordingl y . 'The objections urged against the old seal were mainly to the effect that " it bore nothing significant of Freemasonry , save thc arms of the city of York , England , and that the supporters were two nondescript
animals , perhaps beavers , perhaps lizards , " or perhaps something else ! The motto— " Follow Reason " —was declared to be " in still worse taste , and might serve for the anarchists of the French Revolution ! " and evidently the Committee , save as to thc guess of the " Lizards , were quite unable to grasp the subject thoroughly , from a sheer lack of the knowledge requisite . It is sufficient on
this head to say that the arms were not those of the cit y of York , as the report declared , but of the Freemasons ! This fact and numerous others are clearly pointed out in an admirable communication by Bro . W . T . R . Marvin , of Boston , which article was prepared by express desire of thc Committee appointed latel y by thc Grand Lodge , and which Committee reported in favour of a change of the
seal , & c , at the Grand Lodge held March 10 th , as noted . Most Worshipful Bros . John T . Heard and W . Sewell Gardner have long been anxious for a return to the main characteristics of the old seal , which the Committee have traced back to the year 1752 , when it was cut in silver , and adopted "for the use of all the lodges in Boston , to be kept by the Grand Secretary . " 'The trust has been faithfully observed , for this seal is actually still in the possession of the
present Grand Secretary . It is gratifying tonot that the same worthy brother has possession of the original seal of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge ( " Ancients" ) , which is the same as the former ( " Moderns " ) save as to the inscription of title , which slightly varies . There cannot be too much care taken to preserve these , and all other such invaluable souvenirs of " yc olden tyme , " and especially as the growing convictions of the Craft are all tending towards the reproduction , as far as possible , of these old customs and
manners . The article by Bro . Marvin ( the accomplished author and compiler of the grandest work ever issued on " Masonic Medals " ) is most carefully written , and deals quite exhaustively with the whole enquiry , beginning at the beginning , and tracing all the successive changes down to the last of 1 S 37 , as also exhibiting the character of tbe general
arms of the Freemasons , according to the most trustworth y authorities . All who can consult Bro . Marvin ' s able report should do so , for the heraldic information as it affects the Masonic Craft is certainly arrayed and explained in a most concise and pleasing manner . His laborious researches , and the Committee ' s careful consideration , have happily been consummated in their recommendation to resume
" the earliest seal and armorial bearings in use by Massachusetts Masons , id thou t any change , save the addition of the arms of the State . " The report was ordered to be printed , and to be duly considered in December next . " A rms . —Per pale . Dexter , sable , a chevron or , between
three castles proper , masoned of the field ; on the chevron a pair of compasses extended chevronwise , proper sinister , azure , an Indian armed with bow and arrows proper ; in dexter chief a mullet or , for Massachusetts . " " Crest . —A dove , close , bearing an olive oranch in its beak , all proper . "