History of the Supreme Grand Council
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Earliest Mention
The earliest mention of the Cryptic Rite in Canada is to be found in the City Gazette published in Saint John, NB on 13 February 1828: " A quarterly meeting of the Council of Royal and Select Masters will be held at Mason Hall on Thursday evening at seven o'clock."
This Council was undoubtedly inaugurated by one Samuel Kidder, a lecturer and ritualist of ability from Massachusetts , who visited Saint John late in 1826 with authority from the Grand Master of the Grand Council of Massachusetts, established in June, 1826.
Nothing further respecting this early Council has since been discovered and the names of early members are unknown. A tradition persists that this Council held quarterly meetings until 1837 when a fire destroyed its records.
This Council was undoubtedly inaugurated by one Samuel Kidder, a lecturer and ritualist of ability from Massachusetts , who visited Saint John late in 1826 with authority from the Grand Master of the Grand Council of Massachusetts, established in June, 1826.
Nothing further respecting this early Council has since been discovered and the names of early members are unknown. A tradition persists that this Council held quarterly meetings until 1837 when a fire destroyed its records.
A New Beginning
In 1866, the Hon. Robert Marshall of Saint John received the three degrees of the Rite in a Council of R. & S.M. at Baltimore with the view to establishing the Rite in Canada.
Later he secured the issue of three charters by the Grand Council of Maine - Edward P. Burnham, Most Puissant Grand Master, dated 8 May 1867, and was himself authorized to constitute the Councils and install the Officers; assisted by Companion Gordon R. Garden Past Grand Master of Maine Companion Marshall on 12 August 1867 constituted:
Saint John Council # 1 (William Donald D.D. TIM)
New Brunswick Council # 2 (Robert Marshall TIM)
Carleton Council # 3 (John V. Ellis TIM)
Saint John Council # 1 lost its charter and property in the Great Fire of 20 June 1877, and became dormant from that date until 12 February 1892, when the Council was revived by the surviving members with William B. Wallace as TIM. It has continued to be on the active role of Grand Council to this day.
New Brunswick Council # 2 also lost its records in the Fire of 1877, but was revived in 1894 and continued until 1902 when it amalgamated with Saint John # 1.
Carleton Council # 3 although with a small membership continued to hold its meetings in Saint John West into the twentieth century. It has since gone into darkness.
Later he secured the issue of three charters by the Grand Council of Maine - Edward P. Burnham, Most Puissant Grand Master, dated 8 May 1867, and was himself authorized to constitute the Councils and install the Officers; assisted by Companion Gordon R. Garden Past Grand Master of Maine Companion Marshall on 12 August 1867 constituted:
Saint John Council # 1 (William Donald D.D. TIM)
New Brunswick Council # 2 (Robert Marshall TIM)
Carleton Council # 3 (John V. Ellis TIM)
Saint John Council # 1 lost its charter and property in the Great Fire of 20 June 1877, and became dormant from that date until 12 February 1892, when the Council was revived by the surviving members with William B. Wallace as TIM. It has continued to be on the active role of Grand Council to this day.
New Brunswick Council # 2 also lost its records in the Fire of 1877, but was revived in 1894 and continued until 1902 when it amalgamated with Saint John # 1.
Carleton Council # 3 although with a small membership continued to hold its meetings in Saint John West into the twentieth century. It has since gone into darkness.
The Grand Council
On 15 August 1867 the representatives of the three Councils formed the Grand Council R. & S. M. of New Brunswick with the Hon. Robert Marshall as the first Grand Master.
In 1870 an Inspector General for Quebec and Ontario was appointed. The Grand Council met annually until 1872 and in that period chartered the following Councils:
In 1870 an Inspector General for Quebec and Ontario was appointed. The Grand Council met annually until 1872 and in that period chartered the following Councils:
- Chebucto Council # 4; Halifax 18 July 1870. After a period of dormancy this Council was revived in 1899, continuing until 1910. It again became inactive but was revived in 1928 and continues to be active.
- Shekinah Council # 5; Orillia, Ontario, 22 November 1870. Has since become dormant.
- Adoniram Council # 6; Toronto, Ontario, 13 January 1871, currently Adoniram # 2, Grand Council of Ontario.
- Harrington Council # 7; Galt, |Ontario, 1871. Now dormant.
- Moncton Council # 8; Moncton, NB, 18 August 1871. Became dormant circa 1910.
- Zabud Council # 9; Brantford, Ontario, 1871. Now dormant.
- St. Stephen Council # 10; St. Stephen, NB., 1871, active until 1904, revived in 1924, now dormant.
Inactivity and Dormancy
The period 1875 to 1890 was marked by little activity due in part to the Great fire in Saint John, NB in 1877, the business depression of the period, a lack of candidates and the optional nature of the degrees. However, Companions David R. Monroe and John V. Ellis of Saint John continued their work both in Carleton Council and the Grand Council of Ontario. During the period Companion W.D. Gordon of Fredericton was appointed Inspector General for the Eastern Provinces.
In 1880 the Grand Council of Ontario proclaimed itself the Grand Council of the Dominion of Canada with jurisdiction over all Councils of the Cryptic Rite, all Conclaves of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and all Lodges of Royal Ark Mariners of Canada. In 1885 it agreed to confine its jurisdiction to only the Cryptic Rite.
In 1880 the Grand Council of Ontario proclaimed itself the Grand Council of the Dominion of Canada with jurisdiction over all Councils of the Cryptic Rite, all Conclaves of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and all Lodges of Royal Ark Mariners of Canada. In 1885 it agreed to confine its jurisdiction to only the Cryptic Rite.
Grand Council Reorganized
In January 1892, the Grand Council of New Brunswick was reorganized and reconstituted with Companion John V. Ellis as M.P.G.M. and Companion Robert Marshall as Grand Secretary. The Grand Council has continued to meet yearly since that date. In 1899 it changed its title to "The Supreme Grand Council of the Cryptic Rite of the Maritime Provinces and Quebec with jurisdiction over Canada excepting Ontario and also over Newfoundland."
The period 1910 - 20 saw the Order gain strength especially in Quebec, during this period the following Councils were added:
A proposal by the Western Jurisdiction to merge the two jurisdictions into one for the whole of Canada was declined by the Eastern Jurisdiction in 1934. In the meantime Orient Council # 16 was established at Guysborough, NS in February 1934.
The period 1910 - 20 saw the Order gain strength especially in Quebec, during this period the following Councils were added:
- Victoria Council # 13, Montreal, QC
- Woodstock Council # 14, Woodstock, NB
A proposal by the Western Jurisdiction to merge the two jurisdictions into one for the whole of Canada was declined by the Eastern Jurisdiction in 1934. In the meantime Orient Council # 16 was established at Guysborough, NS in February 1934.
The Grand Seal
The history of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters Eastern Jurisdiction is reflected in the Grand Seal. The years shown on the seal represent the following:
1867 - Grand Council Royal & Select Masters of New Brunswick was formed with Robert Marshall as the first Grand Master.
1899 - The title changed to The Supreme Grand Council of the Cryptic Rite of the Maritime Provinces and Quebec with jurisdiction over Canada except Ontario and also over Newfoundland
1929 - the current title of the Supreme Grand Council Eastern Jurisdiction of Canada Royal & Select Masters was adopted.
The reference to Saint John, NB points to the source of our beginnings.
1867 - Grand Council Royal & Select Masters of New Brunswick was formed with Robert Marshall as the first Grand Master.
1899 - The title changed to The Supreme Grand Council of the Cryptic Rite of the Maritime Provinces and Quebec with jurisdiction over Canada except Ontario and also over Newfoundland
1929 - the current title of the Supreme Grand Council Eastern Jurisdiction of Canada Royal & Select Masters was adopted.
The reference to Saint John, NB points to the source of our beginnings.
Grand Council of Western Canada
On 10 May 1938, the six councils west of Ontario meeting in Edmonton, AB formed the Grand Council R. & S. M. of Western Canada. These six councils had received their charters from the previous Grand Council of Western Jurisdiction, which in 1938 agreed to change its title to Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in the province of Ontario.
Thus today Canada is covered by three Grand Councils with member councils as follows:
Western16 Councils
Ontario22 Councils
Eastern16 Councils/ 5 Lodges
Thus today Canada is covered by three Grand Councils with member councils as follows:
Western16 Councils
Ontario22 Councils
Eastern16 Councils/ 5 Lodges