CHAPTER I - The Organization
A great deal has been written about early Masonry in the Atlantic Provinces. The diverse origins of the scattered settlements of pioneer days accounts for much of the confusion apparent in the Masonic activity of the period, but as more permanent communities developed, and individual lodges increased in strength, the need for more formal ties became evident. What was true of Masonry in general was equally true of the Royal Arch.
So we find that in September 1869' a joint committee of members of Union Chapter No. 118 on the registry of England, and of St. Andrews Chapter No. 55 on the registry of Scotland, together with Companion Joseph Conway Brown, First Principal Z of The Hiram Chapter, Goldenville, No. 33 on the registry of Canada, there by request, met in Halifax and passed a resolution as follows:
So we find that in September 1869' a joint committee of members of Union Chapter No. 118 on the registry of England, and of St. Andrews Chapter No. 55 on the registry of Scotland, together with Companion Joseph Conway Brown, First Principal Z of The Hiram Chapter, Goldenville, No. 33 on the registry of Canada, there by request, met in Halifax and passed a resolution as follows:
"Whereas - It is the opinion of this committee, that for the better government of Royal Arch Masonry in this Province a Grand Chapter should be established.
Therefore Resolved - That a convention of Royal Arch Masons be invited to meet at Masonic Hall in the City of Halifax on Tuesday evening, October 14th, for the purpose of establishing a Grand Chapter for the Province of Nova Scotia, electing officers, and adopting a constitution for the government of the same..."
The record shows that on October 14th, 1869 in Masonic Hall, Halifax, N.S., "Pursuant to notice a convention of Royal Arch Masons of the Province of Nova Scotia, was held at which the following were present," Then follow the names of 24 members of Royal Union, No. 118, E.C.; 18 members of St. Andrews No. 55 S.C.; 2 members of The Hiram No. 33 G.R.C.; and 1 member of St. Johns No. 140 S.C.,located at Pictou.
There was in existence in Nova Scotia at this time, another chapter, Union No. 108 S.C., chartered September 30th, 1865, and located in Yarmouth. The evidence is clear that all Royal Arch Masons in Nova Scotia were invited. Yarmouth did not participate on the score of expense, and St. Johns only to the extent of sending a delegate who was "instructed by his Chapter to express their unwillingness to enter into the contemplated movement at present." In existence also, within our present jurisdiction, were St. Johns Chapter No. 579 E.C.at St. Johns, Newfoundland, later known as Shannon and Alexandra Chapter No. 100 S.C. at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. All came in later.
The Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia is sovereign only in the Province of Nova Scotia, and companions in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland were not asked to join in the original movement. The jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia over the chapters in these other provinces is by consent only, but for most of our history they have been active partners and they have made great contributions to our progress.
Reverting to our particular theme, the beginning of our Grand Chapter, we find that the Honourable Alexander Keith, Grand Superintendent of English Royal Arch Masonry in Nova Scotia, was called upon to take the chair and James Gossip was requested to act as secretary. After a statement by the chairman as to the purpose for which the convention was called, in which he "expressed himself strongly" as to his hope of "the formation of a Supreme Royal Arch Chapter for Nova Scotia", two motions of importance were passed. One was that all Royal Arch Masons in good standing were allowed to vote and the other was "that the convention proceed to form 'The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Nova Scotia.' “The latter was carried with one dissenting voice out of 45, that of our companion from Pictou who exp1ained that he was acting under instructions. This action is not strange when we consider that St. Johns Chapter had only received its charter from Scotland under date of March 6th, 1869. The situation of The Hiram was different. While the date of its charter from the Registry of Canada was August 10th, 1869, this chapter was apparently very anxious for the formation of a Grand Chapter; certainly their Principal Z was, and so stated. It may be possible that the securing of this warrant at Goldenville was mainly for the purpose of having three chapters of three different registries so that there might be absolute surety of the correct Masonic position of the new Grand Body.
Then followed a most important motion. Companion Sircom of the Scottish constitution moved, seconded by Companion Nash, English constitution, and it was unanimously resolved:
There was in existence in Nova Scotia at this time, another chapter, Union No. 108 S.C., chartered September 30th, 1865, and located in Yarmouth. The evidence is clear that all Royal Arch Masons in Nova Scotia were invited. Yarmouth did not participate on the score of expense, and St. Johns only to the extent of sending a delegate who was "instructed by his Chapter to express their unwillingness to enter into the contemplated movement at present." In existence also, within our present jurisdiction, were St. Johns Chapter No. 579 E.C.at St. Johns, Newfoundland, later known as Shannon and Alexandra Chapter No. 100 S.C. at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. All came in later.
The Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia is sovereign only in the Province of Nova Scotia, and companions in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland were not asked to join in the original movement. The jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia over the chapters in these other provinces is by consent only, but for most of our history they have been active partners and they have made great contributions to our progress.
Reverting to our particular theme, the beginning of our Grand Chapter, we find that the Honourable Alexander Keith, Grand Superintendent of English Royal Arch Masonry in Nova Scotia, was called upon to take the chair and James Gossip was requested to act as secretary. After a statement by the chairman as to the purpose for which the convention was called, in which he "expressed himself strongly" as to his hope of "the formation of a Supreme Royal Arch Chapter for Nova Scotia", two motions of importance were passed. One was that all Royal Arch Masons in good standing were allowed to vote and the other was "that the convention proceed to form 'The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Nova Scotia.' “The latter was carried with one dissenting voice out of 45, that of our companion from Pictou who exp1ained that he was acting under instructions. This action is not strange when we consider that St. Johns Chapter had only received its charter from Scotland under date of March 6th, 1869. The situation of The Hiram was different. While the date of its charter from the Registry of Canada was August 10th, 1869, this chapter was apparently very anxious for the formation of a Grand Chapter; certainly their Principal Z was, and so stated. It may be possible that the securing of this warrant at Goldenville was mainly for the purpose of having three chapters of three different registries so that there might be absolute surety of the correct Masonic position of the new Grand Body.
Then followed a most important motion. Companion Sircom of the Scottish constitution moved, seconded by Companion Nash, English constitution, and it was unanimously resolved:
"That the following be the titles of the officers of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia to be elected this evening, Grand High Priest,Grand King, Grand Scribe, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, Grand Captain of the Host, Grand Principal Sojourner, Grand Royal Arch Captain, Grand Masters of the Third, Second and First Veils, Grand Sword Bearer, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Stewards (2), Grand Organist and Grand Janitor."
On motion of Benjamin Curren of the English Constitution, seconded by S. R. Sircom of the Scottish Constitution, the HonourableAlexander Keith was "unanimously and with great enthusiasm" elected Grand High Priest. The other officers were S. R. Sircom, J. C.Brown, Wm. Twining, Jas. Gossip, R. T. Roome, W. S. MacDonald, W. S. Symonds, D. MacDougall, Geo. T. Smithers, Jno. Schofield, F.W. Fishwick, Robert Fraser, A. J. Belmore, S. Goodall, J. Montgomerie, J.M. Taylor.
At the conclusion of the election of officers a Royal Arch Chapter was duly opened when the Honourable Alexander Keith was regularly installed as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia by R.E. Companion Joseph Conway Brown, Principal Z of The Hiram Chapter, Goldenville, and Grand Superintendent under Canada. The Grand High Priest then proceeded with the installation of the other officers.
The Constitution, which had been prepared by a committee, and presented by Companion Sircom, was adopted and one hundred copies ordered printed under the direction of the committee. Companion Sircom then moved the formation of a committee of nine to be known as "The Committee of General Purposes", since 1890 known as "The Board of General Purposes". Motions for the endorsation of warrants and for the numbering of chapters were passed and Grand Chapter closed "in due form and solemn prayer".
The formal organization of Grand Chapter and its recognition by other Grand Chapters, including that of England, speedily established it as the supreme Capitular body in the province. It has been a matter of frequent comment that Maine was the first sister Grand Chapter to extend recognition and to exchange grand representatives, no doubt hastening similar action throughout the United States. Fraternities were soon established with other Grand Chapters in Canada and elsewhere. Now, after a century, Africa is the only continent in which we lack such connections.
The records of the time are silent as to why the titles of officers in use in England, Scotland and Canada, under which the three founding chapters were previously warranted, were dropped in favour of those used by chapters in the United States. It seems likely that the short distance to New England and the common ties of business and family had something to do with the decision. But probably of more importance, Joseph Conway Brown, in many ways perhaps the most ardent worker of the original Grand Council, had received his Craft and Capitular degrees in the United States. For him, familiarity bred, not contempt, but complete devotion, the evidence of which is displayed throughout all his very considerable Masonic writings. Those fraternal ties reaching across the international border have been steadily strengthened with the passing years.
At the conclusion of the election of officers a Royal Arch Chapter was duly opened when the Honourable Alexander Keith was regularly installed as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia by R.E. Companion Joseph Conway Brown, Principal Z of The Hiram Chapter, Goldenville, and Grand Superintendent under Canada. The Grand High Priest then proceeded with the installation of the other officers.
The Constitution, which had been prepared by a committee, and presented by Companion Sircom, was adopted and one hundred copies ordered printed under the direction of the committee. Companion Sircom then moved the formation of a committee of nine to be known as "The Committee of General Purposes", since 1890 known as "The Board of General Purposes". Motions for the endorsation of warrants and for the numbering of chapters were passed and Grand Chapter closed "in due form and solemn prayer".
The formal organization of Grand Chapter and its recognition by other Grand Chapters, including that of England, speedily established it as the supreme Capitular body in the province. It has been a matter of frequent comment that Maine was the first sister Grand Chapter to extend recognition and to exchange grand representatives, no doubt hastening similar action throughout the United States. Fraternities were soon established with other Grand Chapters in Canada and elsewhere. Now, after a century, Africa is the only continent in which we lack such connections.
The records of the time are silent as to why the titles of officers in use in England, Scotland and Canada, under which the three founding chapters were previously warranted, were dropped in favour of those used by chapters in the United States. It seems likely that the short distance to New England and the common ties of business and family had something to do with the decision. But probably of more importance, Joseph Conway Brown, in many ways perhaps the most ardent worker of the original Grand Council, had received his Craft and Capitular degrees in the United States. For him, familiarity bred, not contempt, but complete devotion, the evidence of which is displayed throughout all his very considerable Masonic writings. Those fraternal ties reaching across the international border have been steadily strengthened with the passing years.