Pioneer Masonry
According to old Masonic history, the first Masonic Lodge in Norfolk made its appearance in 1822, as Townshend Lodge, No. 767. For thirty years previous to this date the status of the craft in Upper Canada was unsettled; but during that year the clashings between the so-called “Ancients” and “Moderns” in the Mother Country came to an end, and the United Grand Lodge of England was the result. Right Worshipful Brother Simon McGillivray was sent to Canada to reorganize the craft and unite the craftsmen of the Province. He succeeded in smoothing all difficulties and paving the way for the establishing of a Provincial Grand Lodge at York, in October of the year mentioned. Old Townshend Lodge had a large membership in 1832; and in 1851 it was transferred to Simcoe under the name of St John’s Lodge, receiving its warrant of confirmation, November 14th,1853, and in 1854 was named Norfolk Lodge.
In 1792 the Athol, or “Ancient” Grand Lodge, warranted a Provincial Grand Lodge for Upper Canada, and for a quarter of a century this lodge struggled for an existence at York (Toronto). In1812 Amos Dodge, Eliakim Crosby, John Culver and several other pioneer masons petitioned a rival Provincial Grand Lodge which had established itself at Niagara, for a warrant to form a lodge in the township of Townsend. The warrant was issued June 24th, of that year, and reads in part as follows:
“Know ye, that we, at the petition of our trusty and well-beloved brethren, Amos Dodge, Eliakim Crosby, John Culver, three of our Master Masons, and several other brethren, to be separated and formed in a lodge, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and do hereby authorize and empower our trusty and well-beloved Bro. Amos Dodge to be Master, Eliakim Crosby to be Senior Warden, and John Culver to be Junior Warden, and to form and hold a lodge in the township of Townshend, which is hereby designated number twenty-six, and at all times and on all occasions, in the said lodge, when duly constituted, to make Freemasons, according to the most ancient and honorable custom of the Royal York Craft, in all nations and ages throughout the known world; and to—”
The warrant is signed by William Emery, Deputy Grand Secretary. Among the old Beemer papers is a lodge certificate dated December 27th, 1815, and signed by Sherman Hyde, W.M., and Leonidas Burwell, Secretary, showing that John Beemer, Esq., was “discharged for necessary reasons rendered” from Lodge No. 26.
On September 23rd, 1822, after chaos had given place to order, D.P.G.M. James FitzGibbon granted this old lodge a dispensation, which declared that until a “warrant shall be granted to their said lodge, under the seal of the Grand Lodge of England,” it shall be “their sufficient authority.” The following names were attached to the petition praying for this recognition: Oliver Smith, Sherman Hyde, John H. Dodge, Ezekiel Foster, Jacob Langs, Gabriel Culver and Morris Sovereign. The first three were made, respectively, W.M., S.W. and J.W. The dispensation granted bears the following head:
“I, Simon McGillivray, provincial Grand Master of the Province of Upper Canada, acting under His Royal Highness, Prince Augusta Frederick, 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 Ancient Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England, send greeting:”
It appears that these Townsend pioneer Masons maintained a sort of portable lodge. We find it at one time in the old “Red Tavern” in Oakland, and then at “Murphy’s Tavern,” just north of Waterford; and again we find it securely located in an upper room in Morris Sovereign’s house at Waterford. There are traces of pioneer Freemasonry in various localities, but the evidences all point to the fact of there having been but one lodge in this section of old London District. In the old “Windham Meeting-house” burying-ground many a mossy old tombstone may be seen bearing the “square and compass,” which marks the resting-place of one of these old pioneer members of Townshend Lodge, No. 767.
Among the documentary evidences of pioneer Masonry in Norfolk is the following:
“St. John’s Royal Arch Chapter, No. 16, Holden in the town of York, Upper Canada.
“To all enlightened Masons on the surface of the globe.
“Greeting: Know ye, that Jacob Langs, junior, is a Royal Arch Mason, and , as such, is entitled to our recommendation.”
This certificate is dated, April 17th, 1817.
Masonic history looks to Grand Lodge Registers and other provincial records for data; and, according to this revelation, Waterford is made the cradle of Masonry in Norfolk, and to old Townshend Lodge is ascribed the honor of being Norfolk’s pioneer lodge. Notwithstanding all this, the fact remains that old Charlotteville is not only the cradle of Masonry in Norfolk, but in all that vast region comprised in the old London District. The germ of all political, religious, social and fraternal development in all Western Ontario, between the old Niagara and Detroit River settlements, may be traced to old Charlotteville. The “Town of Charlotteville” was an historical fact as early at 1795. It was located at Turkey Point, and was laid out and dedicated to future greatness by Upper Canada’s first Governor, Sir John Graves Simcoe. Here, at the house of Job Loder, was held the first meeting of Free and Accepted Masons in the old District of London. The minutes of this and succeeding meetings of the old pioneer Masons have been carefully preserved, an exact copy of which is given below:
“Proceedings had at the first meeting of Free and Accepted Masons at the house of Job Loder, in the Town of Charlotteville, County of Norfolk, District of London, and Province of Upper Canada, January 3, 1803.
“Present, Bros. William Hutchinson, Wynant Williams, Joseph Ryerson, Thomas Welch, Job Loder, David Secord, and Alex. Hutchinson.
“Resolved,--That they will apply for a regular warrant to the Grand Lodge of Upper Canada.
“Voted, Bros. Joseph Ryerson, W.M.; Williams, S.W.; Hutchinson, sen., J.W.; Welch, Secretary. Elected.
“Resolved,--That Bro. William Hutchinson agreeing to furnish jewels, etc.., for the Lodge, to be reimbursed by the Lodge.
“Thomas Welch, Secretary.”
“At a meeting of Free and Accepted Masons, held at the same place, on the twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three.
“Present, Bros. William Hutchinson, Benjamin Caryl, Thomas Smith, Jacob Glover, John Heath, Job Loder and Thomas Welch.
“Resolved,--That application be made for a warrant to hold a lodge at this town, in consequence whereof the brothers proceeded to choose officers for the said lodge, when the following brethren were chosen: W.M., Bro. Wm. Hutchinson; S.W., Bro. B. Caryl; J.W., Bro. Job Loder; Secretary, Bro Thomas Welch; Treasurer, Bro. John Heath.
“The brethren present then took into consideration the ways and means for procuring a warrant and jewels for the lodge.
“We, whose names are hereunto written, do promise to pay in advance, to be reimbursed whenever a sufficiency of money shall come into the treasury of the said lodge, the sums opposite our names, respectively, into the hands of the Treasurer, on or before the first day of June next ensuing, which Bro. Job Loder is hereby elected to receive from the Treasurer, and therewith purchase the Jewels and a Warrant for the said Lodge: Wm. Hutchinson, $10; Thos. Welch, $10; Benj. Caryl, $5; Job Loder, $5; John Heath, $10; Jacob Glover, $2.
“Adjourned till March sessions next the first day.
“Thomas Welch, Secretary.”
“Proceedings had at a meeting of Free and Accepted Masons at the house of Bro. Job Loder, at the Town of Charlotteville on the twenty-seventh day of September, 1804.
“Present, Bros. Wm. Hutchinson, Chairman-elect; Job Loder, Junior Warden; Alex. Hutchinson; Thos. Welch, Secretary; —Bond, from York (a visitor).
“Resolved,—1st. That the officers of this society do stand, as heretofore elected for the ensuing year.
“2nd. That the Secretary-elect do notify each of the subscribing members of this society who are absent from this meeting, that it is the particular request of the Master-elect that all the subscribing members of this society do meet at this place on St. John’s Day next ensuing, in order to consult on matters immediately concerning the future proceedings of this society. By order of the Master-elect.
“Thomas Welch, Sec.-elect.”
What these old pioneer masons did on St. John’s day, 1804, will, probably, never be known. That a lodge was organized at an early date, and that it subsequently held its communication in the Court-house at Vittoria; that a meeting of the lodge was held on the night of St. John’s Day, 1826—the night the Court-house burned—and that the lodge records were consumed with the general contents of the Court-house, are traditional matters of history, which have always been accepted as facts.
The original documents which throw such a ray of light on Norfolk pioneer masonry, and from which I have copied so extensively in this sketch, are being preserved among the archives of Norfolk Lodge; and it is to William P. Kelly, the present Secretary of that old lodge, the reader is indebted for kindly furnishing a transcript for publication.
During the war of 1812, when American pillage laid waste the flouring mills of Norfolk, the torch was withheld in one notable case. This was in connection with the little Russell Mill at Vittoria. It stood near the spot afterwards occupied by the old Red Mill of the Tisdales. It was a little crude, unpretentious concern, but it was the only mill in all Long Point settlement, except the little Backhouse mill in Walsingham, that was not committed to the flames by McArthur’s raiders. It escaped the fagot, not because it was overlooked by the invaders, but by reason of the fact that General McArthur was a Freemason. Other mills had been burned and it was the intention of the enemy to burn this one also; but Thomas Bowlby, the old Woodhouse pioneer, and one of Norfolk’s pioneer Freemasons, met the invaders on the hill as they were approaching the mill, and with a flag of truce in his hand, requested an interview with the General. An appeal was made in behalf of the wives, mothers and children of brother masons, the source of whose bread supply was being cut off, and that appeal which was never made in vain, masonically, fell upon “Attentive ears,” although made to an invading foe, and the mill was spared.
A still more striking exhibition of the wonderful potency of brotherly love as taught within the mystic precincts of freemasonry, when exemplified in the hour of peril, occurred at Waterford during this same raid. The pillagers entered the county from the north—the region of darkness—and Morris Sovereign’s mill at Waterford was the first one destroyed. Twice it was set on fire and each time Mr. Sovereign and a few of his friends extinguished the flames with sods. The third time it was fired all through the mill, and Sovereign was given to understand that in case he again interfered, it would be at the peril of his life. Not heeding the warning he once more made an attempt to save his property, when he was rudely seized, dragged to the top of the hill, followed by his pleading and sobbing wife—”Aunt Liddie,” as she was familiarly called—where, just opposite the present Baptist church, one end of a rope was placed about his neck and the other end thrown over the limb of an oak tree, and as they were about to elevate him he gave the Masonic G. H. S. of distress, and he was spared. It is said that one or two of his friends were ‘in the same box.”
At present there are six masonic lodges in Norfolk, having a total membership of 302 master masons. The name of each lodge, its location, its number, its membership, its present Master, its present Secretary, and the time of holding its regular communications, are given in the order above written, as follows:—
Norfolk, Simcoe, No. 10, 83, T. R. Atkinson, Wm. P. Kelly, Tuesday on or b.f.m.; Wilson, Waterford, No. 113, 41, James Ross, D.S. Bell, Wednesday on or b.f.m.; Erie, Port Dover, No. 149, 52, A.C. Matthews, J. Varey, Monday on or b.f.m.; Walsingham, Port Rowan, No. 174, 50, Frank Brock, James Ryan, Thursday on or b.f.m.; Frederick, Delhi, No. 217, 41, George Jeffries, A.W. Crysler, Monday on or b.f.m.; Vittoria, Vittoria, No. 359, 35, R.S. Stalker, D.W. McCall, Friday, on or b.f.m.
The lodges of Norfolk are included in District No. 6, whose present very efficient D.D.G.M. is T. R. Atkinson, of Simcoe.
On December 13th, 1861, a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized in Norfolk, which is known as Ezra Chapter, No. 23, with the following Council: Ex. Com. Chas. Kahn, Z.; Ex. Com. C. W. Mathison, H.; Ex. Com. Dr. John Clarke, J. At present the Chapter includes sixty-two members. The principal officers at present are; Ex. Com. Dr. Wm. Kennedy, Z.; Ex. Com. R. Brooks, I.P.Z.; Ex. Com. C. A. Crosby, H.; Ex. Com. Frank Reid, J.; Ex. Com. Rev. R. Hicks, Chaplain; Ex. Com. W. P. Kelly, S.E.; Ex. Com. Thos. Pusey, S.N.; Ex. Com. J. G. Bottomly, P.S.; Ex. Com. R. S. McGill, S.S.; Ex. Com. R. S. Stalker, J.S.; Ex. Com. W. P. Price, Treasurer; Ex. Com. Jas. Fisher, Janitor. Regular convocations are held on Thursday a.f.m. in each month, excepting July and August.
Among the first Companions of Ezra Chapter were the following; Wm. M. Wilson, P.G.Z.; Hon. M. N. Foley; J. Williams, the old bandmaster; W. W. Osborne, the old county jailer; T. G. Mathison, present County Attorney and Clerk of the Peace for Halton County; Judge D. M. Walker, of Winnipeg, Man.; R. C. Lyons, M. S. Park, and L. B. Brown, of the old VanNorman foundry firm.
One of the most distinguished workers in Capitular Masonry in Norfolk, is J. D. Christie, Principal of the High School at Simcoe. Mr. Christie is P.G.S. of the Wilson District, and a zealous worker in all matters pertaining to the advancement of Ezra Chapter.
There is no Commandery of Templar Masons in Norfolk, but there are seven Norfolk Masons who are members of Odo De St. Anand Preceptory, No. 17, of Brantford. Their names are as follows: W. P. Price, Robert Brooks, J. B. Jackson, T. R. Atkinson, Craig Boyd, Thomas Furlong and J. D. Christie. G. M. Gibbs, of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Simcoe, is also a Knight Templar.
Of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 33-Degree Masons, there are eight members in Norfolk, namely—G. M. Gibbs and W. S. Wood, Simcoe; Dr. Wm. Kennedy, Vittoria; Arthur Bowlby and Russell Bowlby, Waterford; Frank Brock, St. Williams; and Dr. E. Meek, Port Rowan.
Among the quaint old Masonic papers which our old Long Point pioneers brought into the wilds of Upper Canada with them, is the following certificate found among the old Masonic papers of Wynant Williams, Esquire. It is well preserved and reads as follows:
“To all Whom it may Concern: We do hereby certify that brother Wynant Williams is a Regular registered Excellent High Excellent Mark Man, and Mark Master Mason, under the Warrant of the Grand and Royal Ark Vessel, in London; and that during his stay amongst us he behaved himself as becomes an honest man and Mason.
“Given under our hand and seal of this G. & R. A. V., in London, on the seventh day of May, 5792; of Excellent Masonry, 3284; and of Mark M., 2806.”
The above is signed by the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and the Secretary.
The oldest Masonic apron in the county is, probably, that of Col. Samuel Ryerse, which is at present in the possession of Isaac Ryerse, of Woodhouse, grandson of the Colonel.
A copy of an address delivered by Dr. John Rolph, in the Court-house at Vittoria, London District, in 1824, on the occasion of the death of Colonel Nichol, shows that both of these distinguished gentlemen were members of the Lodge whose meetings were held in the Court-house at Vittoria. It will be remembered that Colonel Nichol, who was appointed by the Government to superintend the building of Brock’s Monument, was thrown from his horse in the night-time, and, precipitated into Niagara’s mighty chasm.[1]
[1] Of Nichol’s death, an article appeared in the York Gazette, issue of 13 May 1824:
“It is with a feeling of the deepest and most unaffected regret, we have to announce the death of Colonel Nichol, M.P. for the County of Norfolk.- He had been to Niagara on business, and was upon his return Home at a very late hour in the night of Monday 3rd inst. The night exceedingly dark and stormy; and, on ascending the heights of Queenston, instead of keeping to the right, where the road turns to wind up the hill, he unfortunately turned to the left, and drove his horse and waggon over the frightful precipice which bunds the River Niagara at that spot, and which is the same place where so many of the defeated Americans perished after the memorable battle of Queenston. The Perpendicular fall could not be less than 100 feet, and his skull was So dreadfully fractured, that his death must have been instantaneous.
“The loss of Col. Nichol will be extensively felt in this Province. He was a thorough man of business, and of talents, far above mediocrity, with a memory so surprisingly tenacious, that what he once learned he never forgot. In the house of assembly he was indefatigable and transacted more than his share of the business;-We know not of who for his Knowledge was all of a useful, practical cast. Much genuine patriotism attached to his public character; and, in private life, he was affable, kind, generous, humane and convivial.”
“It is to be hoped that his shocking catastrophe will prove the means of causing a suitable fence to be placed on that side of the road next the River which has ever been exceedingly dangerous, in the open and unprotected state in which it is left…