CHAPTER VI.

MONTREAL AND WILLIAM HENRY.

1822-55.-Dismemberment of L. C. The dissolution of the Prov. G: L: of Lower Canada, Prov. G: East at the City of Quebec, by the severance of the Province into two separate Masonic Districts, called the District of Quebec and Three Rivers, and the dependencies; and the District of Montreal and the Borough of William Henry and the dependencies, will be readily understood from the following circulars, reports, and the like:

Circular from No. 12, L. C.-" Montreal, 27th January 1823. Worshipful Sir and Brother,—I am requested to inform you that Saint Paul's Lodge, No. 12, having been repeatedly urged by many respectable Brethren in the vicinity to use their endeavors for the establishment of a Provincial Grand Lodge in this City, to have jurisdiction over the District of Montreal and Borough of William Henry, and being fully persuaded of the beneficial effects likely to result from such a measure, we have drafted a Petition to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, requesting his gracious interference in our behalf.

"We annex extracts of our Memorial, to which we beg leave to refer you, as containing some of the reasons which have induced us to adopt this

measure.

"We beg leave to call your immediate attention to the subject, and if in conformity to your views, would suggest the propriety of calling a Lodge of Emergency on the occasion, it being necessary that petitions on Masonic subjects should be signed in open Lodge.

I am, Sir and Brother,

Sincerely yours, etc., etc.,

JOHN RAWLINS,

Secretary Saint Paul's Lodge No. 12.

"To the Master of Prevost Lodge, No. 9.

Extracts from the Petition:

"To His Royal Highness, Prince Augustus Frederick of Lunenburgh, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, Baron of Arklow, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, etc., etc., etc., Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of England."

"The Humble and Dutiful Petition of the undersigned, Master, Wardens and Brethren of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 12, in the District of Montreal and Province of Lower Canada, Sheweth :"

"That many serious difficulties have occurred in the management of the Craft from the want of a Provincial Grand Lodge in the City of Montreal." "That there are at present, in the District of Montreal and William Henry, thirteen Lodges, whereas in the District of Three-Rivers and Quebec there are only eight, three of which are on the Registry of England."

"That the City of Montreal, being the great Mart to which the Inhabitants of both Provinces principally resort, the Officers and Brethren of the Lodges in the District of Montreal and William Henry would have frequent oppor

tunities of personal communication with the Grand Master; whereas from the local situation of Quebec, your Petitioners are virtually excluded from that important privilege, the exercise of which would tend most materially to extend true and genuine Masonic principles, to animate and revive the exertions of the Craft, and to strengthen the ties of Union and Brotherly love."

"That from the unavoidable delay in receiving a reply to any communication addressed to the present Provincial Grand Master, your Petitioners are debarred from exercising many of the important rights of Masons."

"That your Petitioners have heard with the highest satisfaction that your Royal Highness has been pleased to grant permission to the Provincial. Grand Master of Upper Canada to apply to charitable purposes the quarterly contributions heretofore due to the Grand Lodge of England, and your Petitioners would humbly suggest for the consideration of Your Royal Highness, that a similar dispensation in favor of Lower Canada would be peculiarly acceptable, inasmuch as it would afford the means of granting more efficient relief to numbers of poor distressed emigrants, Brethren from Britain." "That your Petitioners, relying on that paternal care which Your Royal Highness has invariably manifested for the welfare of the Craft, beg leave most respectfully to submit their Petition for your gracious consideration, and that your Royal Highness would be pleased to appoint a Provincial Grand Master for the Government of the Craft in the said District of Montreal and Borough of William Henry."

"Signed in open Lodge, on this day, being the anniversary of the Festival of Saint John the Evangelist, in the year of Masonry 5822."

Petitioners.-A careful examination of extant papers and minutes of several of the Lodges at or near the above date has failed to furnish evidence that any of the Country Lodges joined in the above petition. One or perhaps two may have done so.

It is easy, however, to imagine the consternation produced in those Lodges. which had Warrants ("according to the Old Constitutions") signed by H. R. H. Prince Edward, Grand Master, and those, too, whose Warrants had been granted after his departure by the "Grand Lodge" of the "Ancients" (A: Y: M :) at Quebec, upon the receipt of the following official circular and

summons:

“SIR,

"MONTREAL, 12th Sept., 1823.

"In consequence of certain Petitions to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of England, praying for the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge for the District of Montreal and Borough of William Henry, His Royal Highness has been graciously pleased to appoint the Honorable Wm. McGillivray, Provincial Grand Master for the said District (by Warrant of date April 23, 1823!), and I now wait upon you with a Summons to attend the Provincial Grand Lodge, to be held here on Monday, the 6th day of October next.

"The R: W: Prov. G: M: has thought fit to direct that the following extract of Instructions, received by him through the Grand Secretary, should be published for the information and guidance of the different Lodges under his jurisdiction.

"By His Royal Highness' Command, I have to state that although there are several Lodges in that District (Montreal), yet none of them hold their

Warrants from the Grand Lodge of England, but assemble under dispensations or Warrants which have been granted by Provincial Grand Masters or Provincial Grand Lodges; as this state of things is not in accordance with the general principles of the Craft, and is opposed to, and subversive of its best interests, His Royal Highness is anxious that you should, at your earliest convenience, ascertain as far as may be in your power what Lodges are at present in Montreal, and under what authority they assemble; and in regard to such of them as do not hold Warrants from this country, that you should require them to apply in regular form for such documents through you. The Grand Master's chief anxiety being the regularity of proceeding, His Royal Highness has commanded me to say, that it is indispensable that a complete list of the members of such Lodges respectively should accompany the Petitions, in which list should be specified the Lodges where, and times when, the Brethren were initiated and raised to the third degree, in order to their being registered in the Books of the Grand Lodge, and a registering fee of 10s. 6d. must be paid for each Brother whose name has not before been returned to the Grand Lodge, and 2s. 6d. for such whose names are registered. The Grand Master, however, is pleased to say, that He will recommend to the Grand Lodge to permit the Warrant to be issued to all such Lodges as are at present meeting under Provincial Dispensations, free from the accustomed fee of Five Guineas, payable upon the Constitution of new Lodges."

"Further,

"I have only to add that the payment of two shillings sterling per annum for each subscribing member of a Lodge to the General Fund of Charity is now dispensed with from Colonial and District Grand Lodges; but without at all lessening the claim of their Members to assistance in case of need.

"In referring to the above communication, the R: W: Prov. G: M: confidently expects from the Brethren the assistance necessary to enable him to carry into effect the beneficent wishes of His Royal Highness; and as it would appear that none of the Lodges in this District can at present be strictly considered as regularly constituted, it becomes requisite that they should receive new Dispensations from the Prov. G: M:, and in due time Warrants of Constitution from the Grand Lodge of England. For the purpose, however, of obtaining this authority, Petitions must first be presented, which may be to the following purport:

"To the Right Worshipful the Honorable William McGillivray, Provincial Grand Master for the District of Montreal of the United Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England."

"We, the undersigned, being the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No., held at-, and which has heretofore acted under authority of (Here state, as the case may be, whether Warrant or Dispensation, by whom granted, when dated, etc.), having at heart the prosperity of the Craft, and being anxious to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the general principles of the art in this District, being also particularly desirous to supply any deficiency, or to remedy any irregularity in the authority under which we have heretofore acted, and to be received and acknowledged as a regular Lodge, under the Constitution of England, and to have the names of our members registered accordingly in the Books of the Grand Lodge:"

"In consequence of these several reasons, we pray for a Warrant of Constitution, or such other regular authority as it may be competent in you to grant, empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge at, on the day

of (as the case may be), and there to perform the duties of Masonry in a Constitutional manner, according to the forms of the Order, and the laws of the Grand Lodge."

"We also pray your interposition and assistance in obtaining for our Lodge a regular Warrant of Constitution, and in procuring the registry of the names of our Members in the Books of the Grand Lodge, and the prayer of this Petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the Commands of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, and to the Laws and Regulations of the Grand Lodge."

"This Petition to be signed by as many as possible of the Members of the Lodge, and it must be signed by seven at the least:

"And to be accompanied by, 1st, A copy of the Warrant or Dispensation by which the Lodge has heretofore acted.

2nd. A List of the present actual Subscribing Members.

3rd. A copy of the By-laws and Regulations.

4th. A payment of ten shillings and sixpence for each member, as the Registering fee to the Grand Lodge, and a further payment of six shillings and sixpence sterling each, for such members as may wish to obtain Grand Lodge Certificates."

"The Master or Representative of each Lodge must also bring up and exhibit the original Warrant or dispensation under which the Lodge has acted, and the Prov. G: M will either grant a sanction of the same or a new dispensation, according as the case may require, upon receiving which, and not before, the Master, Wardens and Past Master of each Lodge will be qualified to be admitted and to vote in the Provincial Grand Lodge." "I remain, Sir and Brother,

"Yours faithfully,

"TURTON PENN, P: G: Secy. Copy of Summons.-" To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No. —, at

"In conformity to the Orders of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for this District, you are hereby summoned to cause your Lodge to be represented in the Provincial Grand Lodge, to be held at Montreal on Monday, the 6th day of October next."

"It is desirable that the representation should consist of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Past Master of your Lodge, bringing with them your Warrant and Jewels.

"I remain, Sir and Brother,
"Yours faithfully,

"TURTON PENN, P: G: Secy.

"Montreal, 12th Sept. 1823." Installation.-In the absence of a copy of the official report, it seems more than probable that the first Prov. G: M: for the newly created District of Montreal and William Henry was installed by the R: W: Simon McGillivray, Prov. G: M: for Upper Canada. This Brother, who occupied a prominent position in Masonic circles in England, was about to visit Canada, and was early in 1822 specially commissioned by the Duke of Sussex to endeavor to unite the Niagara, Kingston and York (Toronto) subdivisions in that long distracted Province into one Provincial Grand Lodge. During this period, he resided chiefly in Montreal, and doubtless was more or less identified with the Masonic events taking place in the City at that time!

It is not known, for the reason mentioned above, which, if any (unless the St. Andrews), of the Country Lodges were represented at the first meeting. of the Prov. G: L: held on Oct. 6; but subsequent events appear to show that eight of the thirteen Lodges stated in the foregoing Petition to the Duke of Sussex, as existing in the proposed District of Montreal and William Henry, were granted new Warrants by the United Grand Lodge of England, in lieu of the Dispensations which had been given to them by the Prov. G: M:

In securing the adhesion of that number even, very great difficulties seem to have been encountered, as the following extract from a brief historical sketch of Golden Rule Lodge, Stanstead, will show. It was penned by a contemporary, a worthy and zealous Craftsman, W: Brother Elisha Gustin, afterwards the efficient District Deputy G: M: of the Eastern Townships District.

Bro Gustin says that "during this year, 1823, a kind of rivalry which had for some time existed between the cities of Quebec and Montreal resulted in severing the Masonic connection heretofore existing, and the organization of a new Provincial Grand Lodge for the District of Montreal and William Henry, by which Golden Rule was required to be represented in that body on the 27th of December, returning their Warrant and Jewels. Brother James C. Peasley was elected a committee to go to Montreal with the Charter and Jewels, with instructions not to request a renewal of the Warrant, as the burthen of the claims of the Grand Lodge at Montreal were too grievous to be complied with; we being unable to meet all such demands, are consequently compelled to relinquish our Warrant, and deny ourselves the pleasure of meeting in Brotherly Love and Friendship on our regular communications.'"

There are probably a few veterans still alive who from experience, or paternal story, will testify that the following account of Brother Peasley's trip to Montreal in the mid-winter of 1823 is "true to the life:

"On his way to Montreal he encountered a severe snow storm, which in the French settlements completely blocked the roads. Here he was obliged to leave his sleigh and tread through drifted snow-banks for miles in succession, and with his only arm leading his horse and carrying his valise; yet firm to his purpose, he persevered, and at length, cold and weary, reached the frigid banks of the St. Lawrence, there to learn that there was no crossing. Nothing daunted at this unexpected interruption of his designs, he pushed forward to Caughnawaga, where he crossed the river in a small boat amid fields of ice, even at the hazard of his life, and arrived at Montreal in season to attend the Grand Lodge."

"Brother Peasley carried out his instructions. The Prov. C: M: assured him that no fees would be charged for a new Warrant, which would, however, confine the Lodge to the working of the three degrees only, as he had no power to grant Warrants for Chapters; but he had no objection to their continuing to work the Chapter degrees as usual on the Master's Charter, but he would not recommend their so doing. He said the Jewels and funds belonged to the Lodge, on which the Grand Lodge had no claim."

"Brother Peasley took the new Warrant (Dispensation) subject to the approval of the Lodge."