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]

The Masonic Square and Compasses.
(Found with or without the letter G)

History

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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. [1]

Masonic Fathers of Confederation

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

Other Notable Canadian Masons

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Governors

Politicians

Businessmen

Military

Science and Engineering

Sports

Clergy

Arts

Others

Notable Masonic buildings in Canada

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Grand Lodge of Canada, King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario

Governing bodies

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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 Number of Lodges Membership Regularity
Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario (GLCPOO)   Ontario 1855 Hamilton 560 36,733[21] UGLE
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction   Ontario

  Quebec[22]

1856[22] 10[23] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Manitoba   Manitoba 1875[24] Winnipeg 54 1,971[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador   Newfoundland and Labrador 1997 St. John's 30 1,533[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Quebec   Quebec 1869 Montréal 77[25] 3,771[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia   Nova Scotia 1866[24] Halifax 114 3,473[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick   New Brunswick 1867[24] Saint John 51 2,568[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island   Prince Edward Island 1875[24] 15[26] 626[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan   Saskatchewan 1906[27] Regina 58 2,365[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon   British Columbia

  Yukon

1871 Vancouver 143[28] 6,004[21] UGLE
Grand Lodge of Alberta   Alberta 1905 Calgary 119[29] 6,242[21] UGLE
Grande Loge ANI du Canada[citation needed]   Canada 2009 Montreal 3 CLIPSAS
Fédération canadienne du Droit Humain   Canada 8 (6 in french, 1 in english, 1 in spanish)[30] DH
Grand Orient du Québec   Quebec 2012 4[31]
Grande Loge Nationale du Canada   Canada 1985 16[32] CLIPSAS
Gran Logia de Lengua Española de Canada (Spanish Language)   Canada 5[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

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References

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  1. ^ "What is Freemasonry?". 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Freemasonry in Canada". freemasonrywatch.altervista.org. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  7. ^ "Famous Masons". www.highland762.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  8. ^ Yumpu.com. "Bro Alexander Roberts Dunn, VC – Grand Masonic Lodge of Alberta". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  9. ^ "Elgin Lodge No. 7 A. F. & A. M." The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. January 6, 1948. p. 15. 
  10. ^ "Dowell, Hanson T. (The Honourable, QC) — 94". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. September 25, 2000. p. 37. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Court, hockey officials, MPP pay tribute to G. S. Dudley". Midland Free Press. Midland, Ontario. May 11, 1960. p. 7.
  12. ^ Cheryl MacDonald, ed. (1992). Grand Heritage. Dunnville, Ontario: Dunnville District Heritage Association. p. 315. ISBN 1-55056-084-0.
  13. ^ "Install New Officers at Kemptville Lodge". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. December 30, 1933. p. 21. 
  14. ^ "CAHA Official Doug Grimston Passes at 55". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. September 15, 1955. p. 7. ; "Hockey Official Dies in Hospital". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. September 15, 1955. p. 4. 
  15. ^ "Today in Masonic History – Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton is Born". masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  16. ^ "Potter, Arthur (Art)". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. January 21, 1998. p. 16. 
  17. ^ "Deaths: Sargent". The Chronicle-Journal. Thunder Bay, Ontario. September 29, 1988. p. 31.
  18. ^ "Dentist Dies Suddenly At Home". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg, Manitoba. April 13, 1945. p. 43. 
  19. ^ "Today in Masonic History – Derwyn Trevor Owen is Born". masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  20. ^ "Today in Masonic History – Clarendon Lamb Worrell is Born". masonrytoday.com. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Masonic Membership Stats". msana.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  22. ^ a b "Brief History". Prince Hall Ontario. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  23. ^ "Craft Lodges". Prince Hall Ontario. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  24. ^ a b c d Reference:GLs Information
  25. ^ "Loges symboliques – Craft Lodges". GLQ. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  26. ^ "PEI Constituent Lodges". GLPEI. Archived from the original on 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  27. ^ "Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan". GLS. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  28. ^ "Membership Statistics (as of 2019)". GLBC and YT. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  29. ^ "Lodges – Grand Lodge of Alberta". Grand Lodge of Alberta. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  30. ^ "Le Droit Humain au Canada". Loge Delta. Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  31. ^ "Lodges". GOdQ. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  32. ^ "Lodges Reaa". GLNC. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  33. ^ "Logias Jurisdiccionadas". GLLEdC. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  34. ^ District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador
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