Freemasonry in Canada

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]

Part of a series on
Freemasonry
Overview
The Masonic Square and Compasses.
(Found with or without the letter G)

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.

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

Masonic buildings in Canada
Grand Lodge of Canada, King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario

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 BodyJurisdictionEstablishedHQNumber of LodgesMembershipRegularity
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario (GLCPOO)  Ontario 1855 Hamilton 560 36,733[12] UGLE
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction  Ontario

 Quebec[13]

 1856[13] 10[14] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Manitoba  Manitoba 1875[15] Winnipeg 54 1,971[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador  Newfoundland and Labrador 1997 St. John's 30 1,533[12] UGLE
Grande Loge du Québec  Quebec 1869 Montréal 79[16] 3,771[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia  Nova Scotia 1866[15] Halifax 114 3,473[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick  New Brunswick 1867[15] Saint John 51 2,568[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island  Prince Edward Island 1875[15] 15[17] 626[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan  Saskatchewan 1906[18] Regina 58 2,365[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon  British Columbia

 Yukon

 1871 Vancouver 143[19] 6,004[12] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Alberta  Alberta 1905 Calgary 119[20] 6,242[12] UGLE
Grande Loge ANI du Canada  Canada 2009 Montreal 3 CLIPSAS
Fédération canadienne du Droit Humain  Canada 8 (6 in french, 1 in english, 1 in spanish)[21] DH
Grand Orient du Québec  Quebec 2012 1[22]
Grande Loge Nationale du Canada  Canada 1985 16[23] CLIPSAS
Gran Logia de Lengua Española de Canada (Spanish Language)  Canada 5[24]

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.[25]

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. "What is Freemasonry?". www.freemason.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  2. History of Freemasons in Nova Scotia
  3. Michael Jenkyns (July 2017). "Canada's Sesquicentennial – Freemasonry and Confederation". Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. McKeown, Trevor W. "Canadian Masonic Prime Ministers". freemasonry.bcy.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  5. Developers)905-785-9906, Gouda Inc. (Web. "Famous Masons". www.torontomasons.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  6. Yumpu.com. "Bro Alexander Roberts Dunn, VC – Grand Masonic Lodge of Alberta". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  7. "Today in Masonic History – Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton is Born". www.masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  8. "Famous Masons". www.highland762.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  9. "Today in Masonic History – Derwyn Trevor Owen is Born". www.masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  10. "Today in Masonic History – Clarendon Lamb Worrell is Born". www.masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  11. Freemason's Hall, Halifax
  12. "Masonic Membership Stats". www.msana.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  13. "Brief History". Prince Hall Ontario. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  14. "Craft Lodges". Prince Hall Ontario. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  15. Reference:GLs Information
  16. "Loges symboliques – Craft Lodges". GLQ. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  17. "PEI Constituent Lodges". GLPEI. Archived from the original on 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  18. "Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan". GLS. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  19. "Membership Statistics (as of 2019)". GLBC and YT. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  20. "Lodges – Grand Lodge of Alberta". Grand Lodge of Alberta. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  21. "Le Droit Humain au Canada". Loge Delta. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  22. "Lodges". GOdQ. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  23. "Lodges Reaa". GLNC. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  24. "Logias Jurisdiccionadas". GLLEdC. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  25. District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador
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