-
Articles/Ads
Article KNIGHTS TEMPLAR IN CANADA. Page 1 of 2 Article KNIGHTS TEMPLAR IN CANADA. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Knights Templar In Canada.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR IN CANADA .
THE third annual Assembly of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada was recently held in the Masonic Hall , Windsor , Ont ., under the presidency of Sir Knight J . A . Henderson , Q . C ., the acting Grand Master , who was supported by Sir Knight Henry Robertson as Deputy Grand
Master , the Provincial Priors of the London , Toronto and Kingston Districts , a number of past and present Grand Officers , and others . Great Priory , was opened in due form at ten a . m ., the acting Grand Prelate imploring
a blessing upon the proceedings . The Credentials Committee then reported that of the twenty-eight Preceptories on the roll , eighteen were represented by their regular representatives and five by proxy , leaving five
unrepresented ; this report was adopted , and then the admission to the Assembly of Great Priory of all Knights Templar in good standing was authorised . The minutes having been
confirmed , letters were read from several Grand Officers , among them being the Supreme Grand Master , expressing regret that unavoidable circumstances prevented their attendance . Petitions were received from several Kuisrhts
Templar , residing in Truro , Nova Scotia , and Melbourne , Victoria , praying for Warrants to open Preceptories at those places , which petitions were referred to the Grand Council .
The Deputy Grand Master then read the Allocution of the Supreme Grand Master , in which , after offering hearty greetings to his Fratres , the head of the Order proceeded to pay a tribute to the memory of those Knights
Templar of the jurisdiction who had died during the past year ; among them being Dr . Robert Ramsay , who was well known as a writer on the various occult degrees and rites of Masonry , and as a prominent member of several
High Degrees . The Grand Master next refers to the edict of non-intercourse with the Scottish Templars of New Brunswick , which he regrets to say is still in force . The existence of Scottish Encampments in the Dominion had always
been to him a matter of indifference , whether they remained an isolated body or amalgamated with the English juri . j diction , and none could deplore more than he did the necessity that Great Priory felt of issuing the edict , the
principle of which was so much at variance with the usages of Masonic law in England , by which , until of late , in Templar matters , they have been guided , viz ., " That a Grand Body , by its mere creation , cannot invalidate Subordinate Bodies
already existing in the territory over which it assumes jurisdiction . " Great Priory , however , on declaring soverei gn authorit y in Canada , adopted the "American system " of exclusive jurisdiction for governing Masonic powers ,
which was also established by the United States Templars as a fundamental principle . Such being the law of unanimit y on this Continent , it appeared to him incumbent , and a dut y to the whole Order , on the part of the Scottish
Encampments of New Brunswick , to join the Great Priory of Canada , after its separation from " Convent General , " it then being an acknowledged , lawfully independent governing power of the Dominion . There cannot be the slihtest
g doubt , he thinks , that the Chapter General of Scotland would have released the new Brunswick Templars from their allegiance , as readily as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales
did those of Canada , if they chose to ask for it , but it seemed to him that , at all hazards , they were determined to remain separate and isolated , by throwing obstacles in
Knights Templar In Canada.
the way of any amalgamation . This , he considered , was but a repetition of the old , much to be regretted , unwise , and unnecessarily-provoked quarrel by the Grand Lodge of Scotland with that of Quebec . It was essential for
Masonic peace and unity that one Masonic power should not create subordinates , or continue to exercise authority over such as did exist , occupied by another independent co-equal power . Even if the naked right existed , there were ample
considerations that forbade its exercise . This , he thought , was now the settled Masonic law , and alike applicable to tho Templar system . Great Priory , bearing all this in mind , felt it incumbent at the very outset to assert their
supremacy , and at once put down any attempt at innovation of their rights , by issuing an edict of non-intercourse with all foreign Templar bodies in the Dominion . But he could not help thinking that had a little more time been
taken for consideration , and less eagerness shown to precipitate matters , in their anxiety and determination for immediate independence , much of the present difficulty mig ht have been avoided . His opinion was strongly in
favour of establishing Provincial Priories in Quebec , Nova Scotia , and New Brunswick , & c , when a sufficient number of Preceptories had been organized in each—three at least
—and the members prepared to form the Provincial bodies , who should send duly appointed representatives to Great Priory acknowledging fealty to the Sovereign body ; this would leave the Provinces of tho Dominion in the same
position as Canada was formerly to England , and still bo a united body of Templars in Canada . He was satisfied that more interest would be taken in working and disseminating the Templar system if this plan was adopted . The
Province of New Brunswick having , with the Scottish Encampments , the legal number of Preceptories , the Grand Master suggested that the Great Priory , under all circumstances , should at once give the subject mature and deliberate
consideration , of making this proposition to tho New Brunswick Scottish body , to establish an independent Provincial Priory , and thus if possible harmoniously end a controversy so foreign and out of character to the
princip les of the Christian Order which they represent , and , in the words of a great statesman , prove " That concession of local government is not the way to sap and impair , but to strengthen and consolidate unity . " Dispensations granted
for the opening of new Preceptories having been referred to , the subject of the Revised Statutes receive attention . " The Rituals of the Templar System , " a sketch of the
history of the Templar Order , its rise and progress , and other matters of a kindred character , form the remaining portion of the Allocution , which , on motion duly made , was referred to the Grand Council for report .
Reports were then presented from the Provincial Priors of tho London , Hamilton , Toronto , Kingston , Quebec , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia Districts . The Provincial Prior of the London District resrrets that from his own
observations , and from communications received , it is his duty to report that there is not the same zeal and activit y manifested in Templary as in other branches of Masonry , and which he deems should be pre eminently shown forth
in the noble Christian Order . During the year , invitations were extended to all the Preceptories in the District , to witness the exemplification of the Templar Degrees by Windsor
Preceptory ; these were accepted by several 1 < nitres of London and St . Thomas Preceptories . After the conferring of the degrees , the Fratres sat down to a banquet , prepared by Windsor Preceptory , when a very enjoyable
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Knights Templar In Canada.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR IN CANADA .
THE third annual Assembly of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada was recently held in the Masonic Hall , Windsor , Ont ., under the presidency of Sir Knight J . A . Henderson , Q . C ., the acting Grand Master , who was supported by Sir Knight Henry Robertson as Deputy Grand
Master , the Provincial Priors of the London , Toronto and Kingston Districts , a number of past and present Grand Officers , and others . Great Priory , was opened in due form at ten a . m ., the acting Grand Prelate imploring
a blessing upon the proceedings . The Credentials Committee then reported that of the twenty-eight Preceptories on the roll , eighteen were represented by their regular representatives and five by proxy , leaving five
unrepresented ; this report was adopted , and then the admission to the Assembly of Great Priory of all Knights Templar in good standing was authorised . The minutes having been
confirmed , letters were read from several Grand Officers , among them being the Supreme Grand Master , expressing regret that unavoidable circumstances prevented their attendance . Petitions were received from several Kuisrhts
Templar , residing in Truro , Nova Scotia , and Melbourne , Victoria , praying for Warrants to open Preceptories at those places , which petitions were referred to the Grand Council .
The Deputy Grand Master then read the Allocution of the Supreme Grand Master , in which , after offering hearty greetings to his Fratres , the head of the Order proceeded to pay a tribute to the memory of those Knights
Templar of the jurisdiction who had died during the past year ; among them being Dr . Robert Ramsay , who was well known as a writer on the various occult degrees and rites of Masonry , and as a prominent member of several
High Degrees . The Grand Master next refers to the edict of non-intercourse with the Scottish Templars of New Brunswick , which he regrets to say is still in force . The existence of Scottish Encampments in the Dominion had always
been to him a matter of indifference , whether they remained an isolated body or amalgamated with the English juri . j diction , and none could deplore more than he did the necessity that Great Priory felt of issuing the edict , the
principle of which was so much at variance with the usages of Masonic law in England , by which , until of late , in Templar matters , they have been guided , viz ., " That a Grand Body , by its mere creation , cannot invalidate Subordinate Bodies
already existing in the territory over which it assumes jurisdiction . " Great Priory , however , on declaring soverei gn authorit y in Canada , adopted the "American system " of exclusive jurisdiction for governing Masonic powers ,
which was also established by the United States Templars as a fundamental principle . Such being the law of unanimit y on this Continent , it appeared to him incumbent , and a dut y to the whole Order , on the part of the Scottish
Encampments of New Brunswick , to join the Great Priory of Canada , after its separation from " Convent General , " it then being an acknowledged , lawfully independent governing power of the Dominion . There cannot be the slihtest
g doubt , he thinks , that the Chapter General of Scotland would have released the new Brunswick Templars from their allegiance , as readily as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales
did those of Canada , if they chose to ask for it , but it seemed to him that , at all hazards , they were determined to remain separate and isolated , by throwing obstacles in
Knights Templar In Canada.
the way of any amalgamation . This , he considered , was but a repetition of the old , much to be regretted , unwise , and unnecessarily-provoked quarrel by the Grand Lodge of Scotland with that of Quebec . It was essential for
Masonic peace and unity that one Masonic power should not create subordinates , or continue to exercise authority over such as did exist , occupied by another independent co-equal power . Even if the naked right existed , there were ample
considerations that forbade its exercise . This , he thought , was now the settled Masonic law , and alike applicable to tho Templar system . Great Priory , bearing all this in mind , felt it incumbent at the very outset to assert their
supremacy , and at once put down any attempt at innovation of their rights , by issuing an edict of non-intercourse with all foreign Templar bodies in the Dominion . But he could not help thinking that had a little more time been
taken for consideration , and less eagerness shown to precipitate matters , in their anxiety and determination for immediate independence , much of the present difficulty mig ht have been avoided . His opinion was strongly in
favour of establishing Provincial Priories in Quebec , Nova Scotia , and New Brunswick , & c , when a sufficient number of Preceptories had been organized in each—three at least
—and the members prepared to form the Provincial bodies , who should send duly appointed representatives to Great Priory acknowledging fealty to the Sovereign body ; this would leave the Provinces of tho Dominion in the same
position as Canada was formerly to England , and still bo a united body of Templars in Canada . He was satisfied that more interest would be taken in working and disseminating the Templar system if this plan was adopted . The
Province of New Brunswick having , with the Scottish Encampments , the legal number of Preceptories , the Grand Master suggested that the Great Priory , under all circumstances , should at once give the subject mature and deliberate
consideration , of making this proposition to tho New Brunswick Scottish body , to establish an independent Provincial Priory , and thus if possible harmoniously end a controversy so foreign and out of character to the
princip les of the Christian Order which they represent , and , in the words of a great statesman , prove " That concession of local government is not the way to sap and impair , but to strengthen and consolidate unity . " Dispensations granted
for the opening of new Preceptories having been referred to , the subject of the Revised Statutes receive attention . " The Rituals of the Templar System , " a sketch of the
history of the Templar Order , its rise and progress , and other matters of a kindred character , form the remaining portion of the Allocution , which , on motion duly made , was referred to the Grand Council for report .
Reports were then presented from the Provincial Priors of tho London , Hamilton , Toronto , Kingston , Quebec , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia Districts . The Provincial Prior of the London District resrrets that from his own
observations , and from communications received , it is his duty to report that there is not the same zeal and activit y manifested in Templary as in other branches of Masonry , and which he deems should be pre eminently shown forth
in the noble Christian Order . During the year , invitations were extended to all the Preceptories in the District , to witness the exemplification of the Templar Degrees by Windsor
Preceptory ; these were accepted by several 1 < nitres of London and St . Thomas Preceptories . After the conferring of the degrees , the Fratres sat down to a banquet , prepared by Windsor Preceptory , when a very enjoyable