Freemasonry in Canada explained

Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from the loose organization of medieval masons (i.e. stone workers) working in the medieval building industry.[1]

History

Freemasonry in Canada traces its origins to the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland, as a result of Canada's history as a dominion within the British Empire. Freemasonry in the United States, including Prince Hall Freemasonry, also influenced the formation of Freemasonry in Canada. Erasmus James Philipps became a Freemason while working on a commission to resolve boundaries in New England and, in 1739, became provincial grand master for Nova Scotia; Philipps founded the first Masonic lodge in Canada at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.[2] The Castle Island Virtual Lodge No. 190 is an example of an internet lodge whereby meetings are conducted online rather than in person. https://civlodge190.ca

Masonic Fathers of Confederation

At the time of confederation in 1867, eleven men of the 37 Fathers of Confederation were Freemasons.[3]

Other Notable Canadian Masons

Governors

Politicians

Businessmen

Military

Science and Engineering

Sports

Clergy

Arts

Others

Notable Masonic buildings in Canada

Governing bodies

There is a number of various supreme organisations (Grand Lodges, National Lodges, Grand Orients, and Federations) active in Canada representing a number of regularity / amity networks along with a number of independent lodges.

Supreme Body Jurisdiction Established HQ data-sort-type="number"Number of Lodges !data-sort-type="number"Membership !Regularity
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario (GLCPOO)1855 Hamilton56036,733[21]
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction[22] 1856 10[23] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Manitoba1875[24] Winnipeg 54 1,971UGLE
Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador1997 St. John's 30 1,533UGLE
Grand Lodge of Quebec1869Montréal 77[25] 3,771UGLE
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia1866 Halifax 114 3,473UGLE
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick1867Saint John 512,568UGLE
Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island187515[26] 626UGLE
Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan1906[27] Regina 582,365UGLE
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon1871Vancouver 143[28] 6,004UGLE
Grand Lodge of Alberta1905Calgary 119[29] 6,242UGLE
Grande Loge ANI du Canada Canada2009Montreal3CLIPSAS
Fédération canadienne du Droit Humain Canada8 (6 in french, 1 in english, 1 in spanish)[30] DH
Grand Orient du Québec20124[31]
Grande Loge Nationale du Canada Canada198516[32] CLIPSAS
Gran Logia de Lengua Española de Canada (Spanish Language) Canada5[33]

Membership numbers could be overstated, as membership in multiple lodges is actively encouraged.

There appears to be a number of other supreme bodies in the country, including Grand Orient de France Amerique du Nord, Obédience Mixte Nord-Américaine: George Washington Union, Grand Orient du Canada, Grande Loge Autonome du Québec, Grande Loge Mixte du Québec, but the information on them is not readily available.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland has a District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador responsible for 11 lodges.[34]

The Grand Lodge of Alberta also includes the Northwest Territories, particularly a lodge in Yellowknife, although there used to be a lodge in Inuvik in the 2000s (Far North Lodge).

See also

References

  1. Web site: What is Freemasonry? . freemason.com. en-US. 2017-06-10.
  2. http://www.grandlodgens.org/content/chapter-1-beginnings History of Freemasons in Nova Scotia
  3. Web site: Canada's Sesquicentennial – Freemasonry and Confederation. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Michael Jenkyns. July 2017. 5 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181205195647/https://grandlodge.on.ca/index.php/official-website/300-years-of-freemasonry/378-freemasonry-and-confederation. 5 December 2018.
  4. Web site: Canadian Masonic Prime Ministers. McKeown. Trevor W.. freemasonry.bcy.ca. 2017-06-10.
  5. Web site: Famous Masons. Developers)905-785-9906. Gouda Inc. (Web. www.torontomasons.com. 2017-06-10.
  6. Web site: Freemasonry in Canada . freemasonrywatch.altervista.org . 2024-08-10.
  7. Web site: Famous Masons. www.highland762.com. 2017-06-10.
  8. News: Bro Alexander Roberts Dunn, VC – Grand Masonic Lodge of Alberta. Yumpu.com. yumpu.com. 2017-06-10.
  9. News: Elgin Lodge No. 7 A. F. & A. M.. January 6, 1948. The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. 15.
  10. News: Dowell, Hanson T. (The Honourable, QC) — 94. September 25, 2000. The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. 37. October 4, 2021. October 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211004013344/http://www.sportnovascotia.ca/DesktopModules/HoFDirectory_Details/ShowImage.ashx?id=2994. dead.
  11. News: Court, hockey officials, MPP pay tribute to G. S. Dudley. May 11, 1960. Midland Free Press. Midland, Ontario. 7.
  12. Book: Cheryl MacDonald. Grand Heritage. Dunnville District Heritage Association. 1992. Dunnville, Ontario. 1-55056-084-0. 315.
  13. News: Install New Officers at Kemptville Lodge. December 30, 1933. Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. 21.
  14. News: CAHA Official Doug Grimston Passes at 55. September 15, 1955. Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. 7.
    News: Hockey Official Dies in Hospital. September 15, 1955. Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. 4 .
  15. Web site: Today in Masonic History – Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton is Born. masonrytoday.com. en. 2017-06-10.
  16. News: Potter, Arthur (Art). January 21, 1998. Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. 16.
  17. News: Deaths: Sargent. September 29, 1988. The Chronicle-Journal. Thunder Bay, Ontario. 31.
  18. News: Dentist Dies Suddenly At Home. April 13, 1945. Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 43.
  19. Web site: Today in Masonic History – Derwyn Trevor Owen is Born. masonrytoday.com. en. 2017-06-10.
  20. Web site: Today in Masonic History – Clarendon Lamb Worrell is Born. masonrytoday.com. en. 2017-06-10.
  21. Web site: Masonic Membership Stats. msana.com. 2018-10-24.
  22. Web site: Brief History. Prince Hall Ontario. 2013-05-22.
  23. Web site: Craft Lodges. Prince Hall Ontario. 2013-05-01.
  24. Reference:GLs Information
  25. Web site: Loges symboliques – Craft Lodges. GLQ. 2013-05-14.
  26. Web site: PEI Constituent Lodges. GLPEI. 2013-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20130919032922/http://www.freemasonry.pe.ca/modules/xfsection/index.php?category=3. 2013-09-19. dead.
  27. Web site: Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan. GLS. 2013-05-15.
  28. Web site: Membership Statistics (as of 2019). GLBC and YT. 2019-07-16.
  29. News: Lodges – Grand Lodge of Alberta. Grand Lodge of Alberta. 2018-10-24. en-US.
  30. Web site: Le Droit Humain au Canada. Loge Delta. 2017-10-20. 2017-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093901/https://www.logedelta.org/montreal/le-droit-humain/. dead.
  31. Web site: Lodges. GOdQ. 2023-04-27.
  32. Web site: Lodges Reaa. GLNC. 2013-05-01. 2014-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201193855/http://www.glnc.org/principale/loges-fr.html. dead.
  33. Web site: Logias Jurisdiccionadas. GLLEdC. 2013-05-01.
  34. https://freemasonry.nf.ca/lodges.html District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador

External links