My reference for June’s Issue of the Masonic Education is again from our Grand Lodge (of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario) publication known as “Whence Come We” (1980).
The Nature of Pioneer Masonry
Life in pioneer days in Upper Canada was harsh and difficult. Hunger, disease and early death were commonplace. In such an environment members of the lodge found themselves called on to exercise charity to a much greater extent than they are today.
An early example of benevolence appeared on January 5, 1797, in the minutes of lodge No. 6, Kingston. After the minutes had been confirmed the Secretary recorded: “Brother Darly presented a Petition from Brother Fleming, our Present Tyler, being a poor, Distressed Brother, Craves assistance from our Body. After maturely examining his Situation, Brother McKay proposed to allow him 20/ at 4 different Payments, that is to say 5/6 for 4 weeks, which was unanimously done by a show of Hands.”
The minutes for a month later, February 4, 1797, reveal not only some of the hazards of pioneer life, but also an application of the sound principle that non-contributors should not share in benevolence. “Bro. McLeod presented a Petition from Brother Robert Brown, who Craves this Lodge to lend him 12 Dollars, as Mr. Moziers’ own oxen ate his wheat. He being an old residenter of the Place, and did not make himself known to the Lodge, or any Member, that he was a Brother, ‘till he had Craved their assistance, Directed that Brother Darley should acquaint Brother Brown that we Cannot Comply with his request, being an old Residenter and never informed the Body he was a Brother.”
To add to the difficulties to be expected in opening up a new country, in 1798 a fever swept through the Province. In the minutes of Rawdon Lodge, York (now Toronto) it is recorded, “December 8th,1798, The Lodge met by appointment of the master and brethren with thanks of the Supreme Being for being able to do so after such a chasm from their last meeting, occasioned by sickness incidental to the country raging among the brethren, so that they could not meet in numbers to form a Lodge”. Other references show that the fever was wide spread in the province.
Since hard cash was scarce in Upper Canada, occasionally the payment of dues became a hardship. In 1799 Barton Lodge, Hamilton, agreed to accept “good merchantable wheat delivered at Brother Rosseaux’ mills from any Bro. of the lodge in payment of their dues.”
Some details of the procedures are different from the way things are done today. Elections were held, not annually, but every six months. One usual by-law ran as follows: “That is any member (past officers excepted) refuse to serve any of the aforesaid Offices, he shall be fined as follows, that is to say, for the Master, five shillings, each Warden and Secretary, two shillings and sixpence, each Deacon, one shilling, the Treasurer at the discretion of the majority.”
Again, attendance was not high. We have the minutes of the lodge at Brockville for the years 1787-1791. The total number of members was 24. There were 55 meetings, the average attendance being 9.44. It was not unusual for the lodge to open with only six members present, and to make the number perfect by initiating a seventh. In the circumstances it was necessary to enforce attendance, and we find by-laws like this: “If any member be absent one hour after the appointed time of meeting, he shall be fined sixpence; and if absent the whole night, or time of business , he shall be find one shilling and sixpence, except such absentee be sick, lame, in confinement, or upwards of three miles from the place of the meeting.”
The war of 1812-1815 naturally limited, but did not put an end to, Masonic activities in the province. The Secretary of the Lodge in Kingston in December 1813, thinking of posterity, told something of the effect of the war. “Recorded for the information of succeeding Lodges: that owing to the unpleasant situation of public affairs and various inconveniences occasioned By the war – Lodge No. 6, ancient York Masons, have Been unavoidably prevented from meeting in regular form during the months of May, June, July, August, September, October, and November of this present year, De. 2, 1813.”
Lodges appear to have been more conspicuous 180 years ago than they are today. (N.B. This source was printed in 1980. – R.S.) The Upper Canada Gazette, January 4 1797, for example reported: “Tuesday the 27th ult. being the anniversary of St. John; Lodges No. 2 and No. 4 of Free and Accepted Masons, and a number of visiting brethren from other lodges, clothed in the respective badges of their masonic honors, and preceded by a band of music, playing masonic airs, walked in procession to the Presbyterian meeting house of the town(Niagara).” Here the Rev. J. Dun “delivered a most excellent and philanthropic discourse, suitable to the occasion, calculated no less to instil the unalterable principles of piety and sound morality than affection and reverence towards the royal craft.” The newspaper concluded that “the deep attention paid by a crowded audience marked in the most unequivocal manner the merits of the discourse, and its effect upon the hearers.”
Conviviality played a larger part at the regular meetings of most lodges than it did subsequently. Although drunkenness was frowned on and many a member found himself reprimanded by the Master in open lodge, or fined for insobriety, numerous references show that refreshment was a major part of the proceedings of some lodges. At the same time it must be remembered that in pioneer days in Upper Canada drinking of alcoholic beverages, frequently to excess, was an essential part of most gatherings, Masonic and non-masonic alike. Since most lodges met in taverns, drinking suited in the setting.
Two brief entries from many in the rules of Barton Lodge illustrate the point: on August 5 1797,”that the liquors for the use of the lodge shall be purchased with the money belonging to the lodge by the barrel or quarter cask, 000 and that said liquor be deposited with Brother S.W. Aikman and that he is to be accountable to the lodge for the same.” And again on July 7 1798, that four gallons Rum be provided for the use of the lodge, … Br. Worshipful Master to furnish the Same & keg to contain it . … That Brother Rousseaux furnish the lodge with one barrel of spirits and one of wine, at prime cost.” J.B. Rousseau, who. Among other business interests, was a tavern keeper, was not permitted to profit at the expense of the brethren.
One might wonder when opportunities presented themselves to consume such quantities of spirits. Lodge records explain again. After minutes were read and other business was transacted at No. 6, Kingston, on January 6 1803, “The Lodge then call’d from Labour to refreshment & the from refreshment to Labour, when the first section enter’d Prentice Lecture was given by the W.M. when the Lodge call’d from Labour to refreshment and them from refreshment to labour, when the second section of the same Lecture was given & the Lodge call’d from Labour to refreshment & then from refreshment to Labour, when the third section of the Sd Lecture was given, & the Lodge closed in due form & perfect harmony.”
The use of liquor was apparently controlled if the rules of King Hiram Lodge, No. 21, Ingersoll, were typical. One rule stated “all liquors drank at supper on lodge nights shall be charged to the lodge, but liquors called for before the lodge hour (unless on account of makings &c.) shall not be charged to the lodge. No person shall be permitted to sup in the lodge room during lodge hours.”
The minutes and the accounts of Lodge No. 6, Kingston, provide some details of equipment and regalia. On November 1, 1798 a member moved that thee chairs be provided “for the Worshipful, Senior & Junior Wardens, with the emblems of their offices on the back of them.” Between December 1799 and January 1801 the lodge provided new ribbons for the jewels, two dozen lamb skins “for the good of the lodge”, a painted floor cloth, a Bible, and three chairs, for the east with three steps, the west with two, and the south with one.
They had their problems in those days. In 1796 Bro. James Dawson requested his demit from the lodge at Kingston; “the reason why demanded”, the minutes tell us, is that he can not live in peace with his wife if he attends the Craft, which the lodge is to take into consideration”. Secretaries were not always beyond criticism. At Kingston in 1798, “Bro. Sills moves that the minutes of each preceding night be entered in the books and not, as usually, put on a scrap of paper”.
Such evidence has come down through the years suggests that despite the difficulties of living in a newly opened-up backwoods community, difficult communication with higher authority, and disease (endemic and epidemic) the pioneer members of the Craft did their best to preserve the Landmarks of the Order.