CHAPTER VIII
THE GRAND LODGE OF NOVA SCOTIA
1869-1900
CONSOLIDATION AND GROWTH

The union of 1869 was a long sought and solid Masonic achievement. By it, twenty-five lodges previously under the Grand Lodge of England, and one lodge, Athole, renamed Acadia, under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, joined with an equal number of lodges already a part of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, to form an organization of fifty-two lodges with a membership of 2,000.1 In the ninety-seven years that have passed since then, the number of lodges has more than doubled, and the membership has increased seven-fold.2 The Grand Lodge of Scotland has withdrawn from the Province altogether, and only one lodge, Royal Standard, remains under the Grand Lodge of England.3

As the leaders of both groups desired and anticipated, the union did end personal rivalries and disputes over the issuing of dispensations and warrants, but it did not, and could not, automatically establish a unified and smooth working Grand Lodge. This developed, however, more quickly than might have been anticipated. The "growing together" was not the result of organic union along; it was assisted by news that came, first from London as early as December 1869 and soon after from Edinburgh, that the Grand Lodge of the Old Land recognized the new Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia and were establishing fraternal relations with her; but, most of all, it came through wise leadership and a true spirit of brotherhood. It was comparatively easy to draft a workable constitution, but time was needed to find a common ground on ritual, programmes, and politics. Although a relatively small geographic unit, the jurisdiction had English, Scottish, New England and some Irish traditions that had taken firm root. Even today we do not have complete uniformity, but in essential things we are one.

Once the expanded Grand Lodge was organized, its officers and members turned their attention to the promotion, or completion, of certain projects which were necessary to an efficient and forward-looking administration. These included an up-to-date roll of the lodges, a revised constatation, an improved means of contact between Grand Lodge and the constituent lodges, the establishment of an adequate Fund of Benevolence, and the construction of a new and larger Masonic Temple as the headquarters for a growing organization.

As has been pointed out, the man who gave initial leadership in this new venture was the veteran Alexander Keith, now seventy-four, and age at which most officials retire; yet he held office for four years, 1869-73, and for the first two critical years was able to give sound advice, exercise patience and good will, and get necessary work done. In 1871 his health began to fail, and his eyesight became impaired. A visit to a specialist in New York during 1872 brought no permanent improvement, and his last days were spend in darkness. Under these conditions, many of his official duties devolved upon the successive

Deputy Grand Masters: Allan Hill Crowe, Samuel G. Rigby, and the experienced William Taylor. The work, however, went on, and the records indicate that this last of the Keith eras was not the least in achievement.

Article VI of the terms of union in 1869 pledged the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia to prepare a new list of lodges in which the English and Scottish lodges would be placed according to their proved antiquity. The roll was soon ready, and was the work of a strong committee under the chairmanship of William Taylor. It is still in use, although the names of many lodges have been added and some deleted. While it did not receive the immediate approval of all lodges, it was on the whole well done, as its lasting qualities have amply demonstrated.

Changes in the Constitution of 1866 to conform to the needs of the newly added lodges were discussed at the Quarterly Meetings of June and September 1869, and the revised edition soon became available, 1870. It was published for many years in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge.4

Since 1870, there have been revisions in 1911, 1921, and 19425. The latest printed edition is dated 19636. The Constitution for some years has been available under separate cover; a copy is presented to each ruling master on his installation and to each newly-raised brother.

It has been suggested that uniformity of ritual has been more difficult to obtain than a working Constitution. Most of the "founding fathers", however, thought uniformity a desirable goal, and worked strenuously to achieve it.

The first mention of a ritual for all lodges came as early as June 1869 when a committee of Grand Lodge was appointed with instructions to report later in the year, to study "the systems of work" used in the various lodges "with the view of establishing uniformity", After a very careful survey, the committee recommended that, in as much as the work called "The Ancient York Rite" appeared to be acceptable to most of the lodges, and as a change at the time might be attended by great inconvenience, the work styled "Ancient York Rite" be adopted generally, but with the understanding that those lodges using the Emulation Work according to the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Canada be permitted to use it "so long as they shall desire to do so."

While the general intent of this recommendation is quite clear, exact details were difficult to establish. The "Ancient York Rite" undoubtedly meant the work used at that time in New York and Massachusetts, but it had variations. Thus when the motion to adopt the report of the committee was on the floor, a prominent member of Grand Lodge, Joseph Conway Brown, moved an amendment to have the Webb-York Rite, an offshoot of the original, not only substituted for the more ancient version, but adopted by all the lodges "without exception". The majority of the brethren, however, were not prepared to impose a particular ritual on any lodge without the approval of its members. The amendment was, therefore, defeated and the original motion adopted. This situation has continued until the present day. There is an authorized ritual, but some lodges prefer not to use it.

With the adoption of the committee's report, Grand Lodge decided to encourage the use of the "Ancient York Rite" by having the degrees exemplified at the regular meeting in June 1872 under the direction of the Grand Lecturer, Newell Snow. St. Andrew's No. 1 as the senior lodge, worked the degrees in a manner worthy of the occasion.

In 1872, still in pursuit of that elusive uniformity, Grand Lodge requested the District Deputy Grand Masters, first appointed in that year, on obtaining a certificate from the Grand Lecturer that they were qualified to inspect the ritualistic work of the lodges under their care, to render all the assistance they could by means of personal talks with the Worshipful Masters, lectures to the brethren at Lodge meetings, and exemplifications of the degrees. This effort too met with very little success; many lodges continued to use the ritual to which they were accustomed. As the years passed, material from other jurisdictions crept in, so that it became difficult to tell what was the authorized ritual. At that time the best that could be done was to have the correct work exemplified at frequent intervals in Grand Lodge. "Custodians of the Work" were appointed to assist any lodge seeking guidance and instruction. There is no evidence, however, that these officials were overworked! More recently, printed copies of the authorized work have been made available.

Beginning at least as far back as the appointment of Alexander Keith to be chief assistant to John Albro, it became an important duty of the Deputy Grand Master to visit the lodges of the jurisdiction. In fact, as has been suggested, it was Keith's vigorous system of visitations which brought, or helped to bring, Freemasonry in Nova Scotia out of the "doldrums" of the thirties.

With the union of 1869, adequate visitation of all lodges by one individual became impossible. To make for more systematic visitation and to improve contacts between Grand Lodge and the constituent lodges, District Deputy Grand Masters were selected. They were first appointed by Grand Master Keith in 1872. Originally five in number, they were to be the official representatives of the Grand Master, each in an allotted District. The first Districts were:

1. The county of Halifax
2. Western Nova Scotia (Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, and Western Digby)
3. The Annapolis Valley (Eastern Digby, Annapolis, Kings and Hands)
4. Northern Nova Scotia (Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, and Western Guysborough)
5. Eastern Nova Scotia (Eastern Guysborough and the Island of Cape Breton)7

As the number of lodges and members increased, new Districts were established and additional District Deputy Grand Masters chosen. There are today sixteen Districts in the province, and an individual lodge, Polaris No. 114 in Labrador. Where possible, A County constitutes a District. Halifax City has two Districts. Where there are few lodges, two counties are placed in one District. Once the District Deputy Grand Master held office for two years. The general term now is one year, except in the smaller Districts, with possible re-appointment. The office which carries with it the rank of Right Worshipful, enables Grand Lodge to use the services of competent Brothers who are familiar with Masonry in their own Districts. These officers also bring to their Districts a certain amount of ceremonial which otherwise would not be possible. The office is a reward for faithful service to the Craft lodge but it is, or ought to be, more than that; fitness and efficiency are essential.

In the hope of relieving the Grand Master of a certain amount of detailed administration and of giving each District additional self-government, the District Deputy Grand Masters were at one time authorized to issue dispensations for special events such as lodge concerts, picnics, and the like, which were then more frequent then they are today. Local pressures, however, led to certain abuses of the privilege, and it was finally withdrawn.

It has always been the pride of Freemasons everywhere that they have cared for the poor and distressed among them, including widows and orphans of deceased Brethren. Relief has been provided both by individual contributions as in earlier days and by assessment, which is more productive and equitable. We have noted that a Charity or Fund of Benevolence was established by the Grand Lodge of England soon after the union of the Ancients and Moderns in 1813 and that somewhat later Alexander Keith inspired his Brethren to establish such a fund in Nova Scotia. It is not surprising, therefore, that as soon as the union of 1869 was duly consummated, the enlarged Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia should concern itself with a Fund of Benevolence.

At the Quarterly Meeting of Grand Lodge in March 1870, the members voted that a "Fund of Benevolence" be set apart to be devoted entirely to "the objects of charity" and that a committee be appointed to frame rules for its administration.8 Consideration was then given as to whether the money was to be raised by voluntary giving or assessment. The latter method was decided upon, and in 1872 it was decided that all members of the Craft in the jurisdiction should pay the sum of 25 cents, and that 50 cents should be taken from each initiation fee to establish the desired Benevolence Fund. Lodge secretaries were to send in the money with their annual returns. The money was to be invested and the income paid to a committee appointed to receive it. The committee was to use it for such charitable purposes as in its judgement seemed best.

Evidently the assessment proved unpopular, for in 2873 it was abandoned in favour of voluntary contributions. The success, or rather the lack of success, of this method of securing funds may be measured by the fact that out of the sixty-four active lodges then in the jurisdiction, only twenty-one sent money for the Benevolent Fund and that the total amount received was only $384.00. In 1874 the Grand Secretary, Benjamin Curren, noted that the Benevolent Fund was "suffering from lack of interest".

When Alexander Keith died, $2400 that he had held in trust was added to the general Fund of Benevolence. Since then there have been few additions to the capital other than the occasional investment of accumulated interest. Today the fund amounts to $32,376.12.9 Over the years it has provided assistance to many needy Brethren, and infrequent donations have been made to assist victims of disasters such as floods, fires, or epidemics. At first the fund was a part of the regular Grand Lodge Accounts. Since 1894 it has been kept as a separate fund and is paid out by the Grand Treasurer only on the authority of the committee appointed by Grand Lodge.

While these early problems were being discussed and settled by Grand Lodge, the venerable Grand Master, Keith, was obliged more frequently to absent himself from the deliberations because of ill health. He spent much time during 1872 seeking medical advice. He did attend the sessions of 1873, but it was to be his last Grand Lodge. He made only one more public appearance--when he journeyed to Amherst for the dedication of a new Masonic Hall, August 28. Thereafter, his decline was rapid. He died December 14, 1873.

Outstanding as a public minded citizen and a leader in Freemasonry, the deceased Grand Master was accorded a state funeral, which was the largest of its kind in Halifax, up to that time. In attendance were the Lieutenant Governor, judges of the Supreme Court of the Province, members of the Senate, House of Commons, Legislative Council and Assembly, and City Council, and the officials of such organizations as the North British Society and above all of Freemasonry, both from the Craft lodges and the Concordant Bodies. In all more than six hundred persons paid their respects to the departed leader.

On January 13, 1874, the Deputy Grand Master, William Taylor, called an emergent communication of Grand Lodge to pay a fitting token of respect to the late Grand Master. Masons of all ranks from every part of the province attended. In his address, Brother Taylor paid tribute to the qualities of leadership and to the character and human qualities of Alexander Keith and concluded with a Masonic exhortation. The Grand Master even in his last year of service had spoken of his deep and abiding interest in "the welfare and prosperity" of the Order, and of his desire to assist the work by his counsel and advice even though "age and infirmity" had prevented him from attending the meetings as frequently as he could have wished. "May the useful lessons that his long and active life set before us", Taylor concluded, "be lasting and beneficial to us. We may do well to be more careful and considerate in our legislation and other Masonic Matters, knowing that the influence of his more mature ideas and judgement are no more at hand to give us direction."

II

From the death of Alexander Keith until the next session of Grand Lodge, Masonic affairs were administered by Deputy Grand Master Taylor and Past Grand Master Sircom. Then, in June 1874, the Craft chose a new leader, who was to prove a tower of strength to Freemasonry in Nova Scotia, Colonel, later Major-General, John Wimburn Laurie, a man of zeal and ability, and a "born leader of men"!10 He left the imprint of his personality upon the Craft throughout the province, and proved the ideal leader to carry on the Keith policy of unity and consolidation.

John Wimburn Laurie was born in London, England, October 1, 1835. A soldier by profession, he was educated at Harrow and Sandburst. He also studied for a time at Dresden, Germany. He joined the British Army while still a youth and served in such campaigns as the Crimean War, 1854-56, and the Indian Mutiny, 1857. Throughout his active career as a soldier, he acquired many medals and decorations.

The new Grand Master was made a Mason in Albany Lodge, Newport, Isle of Wight, in 1854. He subsequently became a member of a number of other lodges in different parts of the world. In Nova Scotia he purchased an estate "Oakfield" not far from Halifax, and affiliated with St. John's Lodge No. 2. He was Grand Master of Masons in Nova Scotia for a total of ten years, the longest term in Grand Lodge since 1866. He had two terms: 1874-80 and 1882-86. Between 1880 and 1882, Grand Lodge was served by Allen H. Crowe, who died in office in November 1880, at the early age of forty-seven, and the veteran William Taylor, 1881-82. Since the two terms were for one year each, it is not out of place to call the whole period from 1874 to 1886, the age of John Wimburn Laurie.

As suggested, Laurie continued the policy of his predecessor, but he made it his own: integration, consolidation, and growth. Programmes were examined, tested, and if deemed successful, put to work. Among those who gave him assistance and support were A. H. Crowe, William Taylor, Dr. Lewis Johnstone, Rev. David C. Moore, Duncan Cameron Fraser, W. F. MacCoy, John W. Rhuland and Thomas B. Flint -- all of whom were later elected Grand Master. Three of the eight, Crowe, Moore, and Fraser, served as Deputy Grand Master under him. Also assisting were such experienced officials as Charles J. MacDonald, first Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, 1866-69; the first Grand Treasurer, Andrew K. MacKinlay, 1866-82; James Dempster, MacKinlay's successor as Grand Treasurer, 1882-1902, and Grand Master, 1903-04.

During the Laurie era a number of new lodges were constituted. These were: Laurie and Wimburn, named for the Grand Master, at Springhill and Oxford; Charity of Mahone Bay; Eastern Light at Guysborough; Ionic now at Middleton; North Star at Londonderry; Wallace at Wallace: and Hudson at Thorburn. The Grand Master visited these and many other lodges, bringing to them optimism, encouragement, sound judgement, and above all, a knowledge of Masonry.

The outstanding achievement of the Age of Laurie, apart from the field of administration, was the completion of a new Masonic Hall or Temple, 1875-77. A new building was sorely needed, for the old wooden structure erected in the days of Richard Bulkeley and Edward Duke of Kent, three quarters of a century before, was clearly inadequate for the new age, and had fallen into a state of disrepair. It was under the control of trustees from four Halifax Lodges who lacked the funds to make the extensive repairs which were required. The standing debt of $16,000 was another obstacle to improvement.

As early as the first meeting of the expanded Grand Lodge in 1869, it was realized that the growing organization needed new headquarters, and a committee was therefore appointed "to make inquiries as to the feasibility of erecting a suitable Masonic Temple for the accommodation of the Craft".11. No immediate action resulted, and it took a threat to foreclose the mortgage,

JOHN WIMBURN LAURIE
GRAND MASTER, 1874-80, 1882-86

to bring matters to a head. To protect the investment they had in the building, members of Grand Lodge voted to place it under the control of an expanded Board of Trustees, until such time as Grand Lodge itself could be incorporated with power to hold property. Meanwhile attention was given to the possible construction of a new Temple.

To hear the report of the committee, a special communication of Grand Lodge was convened in June 1874. The committee recommended that a building be erected to occupy the entire lot owned by Grand Lodge - ninety by fifty-seven feet. This plan was adopted unanimously. Later, Grand Master Laurie decided that the project was too ambitious, and secured a modification, namely to build a Temple, or Hall, sixty feet square, at the corner of Granville and Salter Streets. The remainder of the lot could then be sold to provide much needed funds.12 Construction began at once with a local contractor, Bro. S. M. Brookfield of St. Andrew's Lodge, in charge. The Corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremony and due solemnity on August 31, 1875.

On that day, still memorable in the annals of Freemasonry in this jurisdiction, some nine hundred Masons gathered at the Skating Rink in South Park Street and to the music of "Freemasons' March", played by bands of the 63rd and 66th Regiments, paraded to the place in Granville Street where the corner-stone was to be laid. The Brethren then halted and opened ranks to permit the Grand Master and his accompanying officers to march through to their appointed places.

The ceremony began with the singing of the 100th Psalm. The Grand Chaplain, Rev. Henry Pryor Almon, read the Scripture, and Rev. A. W. Nicholson, offered prayer. This was followed by the Lord's Prayer and the singing of a hymn. The stone was then given the customary "trial" by the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Wardens, who pronounced it well and truly prepared. A large silver trowel was handed to the Grand Master, who spread the cement. The stone was lowered into place in three separate motions, after each of which the bands played appropriate music, and the Brethren gave public grand honours. The Grand Master struck the stone three times with the gavel, saying, "Well made, well proved, truly laid, true and trusty and may this undertaking be conducted and completed by the craftsmen according to the Great Plan, in Peace, Harmony, and Brotherly Love". Other formalities followed, including the pouring of corn, wine, and oil, upon the stone by the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Wardens, the recognition of the Architect, Bro. David Stirling, a collection for the workmen, and appropriate addresses by the Grand Master and Rev. Canon George Townshend of Amherst. The Doxology and Benediction concluded what had been a colourful ceremony.13

The new Hall was completed during the early part of 1877 and was dedicated on June 6. The dedication was the occasion for another large parade and a Masonic service. This time the brethren marched from a drill-shed which stood on the grounds of the present Technical College. Arriving at the new edifice, the Grand Master, officers, and members of Grand Lodge proceeded to the "handsomely furnished Blue Room" where the ceremony was held with the organist and choir director of St. Paul's Church, Professor Samuel Porter, in charge of the music. The principal address was given by Grand Master Laurie, who in the course of his remarks pointed out that the Bible which had been used for the service had been presented by King George III to the late Bishop Charles Inglis who, as rector of Trinity Church, New York, in the early days of the American Revolution showed fearless devotion to the Crown. This outstanding memento of other days, with its royal monogram and arms, is now a treasured exhibit in the Grand Lodge Archives.

The new building was placed under the care of trustees. There was a considerable debt on the building, which by 1893, consisted of a mortgage of $21,000 and debentures amounting to $12,160. The Grand Master from 1892-1894, Duncan Cameron Fraser, sponsored a Masonic Fair in 1893 which proved so successful that the mortgage was reduced to $15,000.00. The financial burden, however was still great and was discussed at every meeting of Grand Lodge until well into the new century.

In the midst of his second term of service as Grand Master, Major-General Laurie left Nova Scotia to serve with Her Majesty's regular soldiers and volunteers to quell the uprising of Metis and Indians in the Northwest known as the Second Riel Rebellion. For this reason he was not in his place at Grand Lodge in June 1885. In his absence the meetings were conducted by the Deputy Grand Master, Lieutenant Col, William E. Starratt of Rothesay Lodge, Bridgetown. A telegram was read from the Grand Master stating that he had granted a dispensation to a lodge, "Wimburn Laurie" at Moose Jaw, in the present province of Saskatchewan, the members of which belonged to the armed forces. The lodge was of short duration. When the troops left the West, the dispensation was withdrawn.

The Grand Master's telegram was received with applause, as was also his message to the Craft. Explaining why he was not with them in Nova Scotia, he wrote: "I was early taught in Masonry that a good Mason recognizes the duty he owes to his Sovereign and his Country; and I am sure that the Grand Lodge meeting today will not consider me wanting in my duty to the Craft because I am not present in the Chair of Royal Solomon in the East, but am addressing you from the great Prairie of the Northwest, where in common with many another brother, I am doing my share towards upholding law and order, and the authority of the Queen".14

General Laurie was elected Grand Master for the tenth time in June 1885, but, on this occasion, in absentia. He did not actually serve during the succeeding year, for in July 1885, he sailed for England to look after certain family affairs; while there, a war broke out between two Balkin countries, Servia and Bulgaria. He immediately offered his services to the British Government, and was sent to Servia as Commissioner under the British Red Cross. While there, he was for a time in command of two military hospitals. He was not present at Grand Lodge in 1866 and declined re-election. Later, he returned to Canada and from 1866 to 1891 represented Shelburne County in the House of Commons. In that role, as well as that of Past Grand Master, he attended the Grand Lodge Golden Jubilee Service in honour of Queen Victoria in 1887. Some years later, he went again to England, and from 1895 to 1906, sat in the "Mother of Parliaments" as the member for Burrough of Pembroke. In 1897, he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Masons in South Wales under the Grand Lodge of England. He held that office until his death in 1912. His body was returned to Nova Scotia for burial at "Oakfield".

In Laurie's absence from the Grand Lodge in 1886, the meetings were in charge of the Deputy Grand Master, W. G. Ross. In the election of that year, Dr. Lewis Johnstone, of Keith Lodge No. 23, was elected Grand Master. He was re-elected in 1887, and thus had the honour of presiding over Grand Lodge in the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887. He had long been active in the Craft, both in his own lodge and in Grand Lodge. He was an experienced administrator, having assumed the duties of Grand Master on the untimely death of Allen Hill Crowe in 1880.

To observe the Golden Jubilee, M.W. Bro. Johnstone summoned Grand Lodge to an Emergent Communication on June 22, 1887. After the official opening, the brethren formed a procession and marched to St. Paul's Church led by the band of 63rd Volunteer Battalion. They presented an unusually fine appearance in regalia, white gloves and ties, and black silk hats. Attending them were members of the Royal Arch, the Knights Templar, and the Scottish Rite.

The Jubilee Sermon was preached by Rev. David Christmas Moore, Past Grand Chaplain. He paid an eloquent tribute not only to the revered Queen but also to the value of monarchial government of which she was the symbol.

When the brethren returned to the Lodge Room, Major-General Laurie moved an address of loyalty and devotion to the Queen. It was passed unanimously and with enthusiasm. Subsequently, it was graciously acknowledged by Her Majesty. Votes of thanks were extended to the Rector of St. Paul's, Dr. Charles Hole and to his vestry, and enthusiastic appreciation was expressed to the choirmaster, Professor Porter, who conducted the choir in the singing of the anthem "Zadok the Priest", which had been written especially for the Golden Jubilee Service in Westminister Abbey by John Frederick Bridge. The guest preacher, Rev. D. C. Moore, was also thanked by the Craft. A year later, they chose him Grand Master.

III

A study of the growth and development of Freemasonry in the jurisdiction suggests that the year of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee could be described as nearing the end of the formative period of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia. Thereafter, there were to be many new projects and developments, but for these, the framework was already built.

In the thirteen years between the Jubilee and the end of the Century, Grand Lodge elected six Grand Masters: Rev. D. C. Moore, 1888-90; Charles J. MacDonald, 1890-92; Duncan Cameron Fraser, 1892-94; William F. MacCoy, 1894-96; John W. Rhuland, 1896-97; and Thomas Flint, K.C., 1897-1900. Of these, four, Moore, Fraser, MacCoy, and Rhuland, had served as Deputy Grand Master.

In this period a number of new lodges were formed: Mechanics No. 78, Caledonia; Canso No. 79, Canso; Mariners No. 80, Louisbourg; and LaHave No. 81, Riverport.

During 1889 Grand Lodge lost its able and scholarly Grand Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Curren, after whom the lodge, No. 68 at Hopewell, Pictou County was named. A native of Windsor, he was educated at Kings College and devoted his earlier years to teaching, a profession in which he proved both skilled and wise. Grand Secretary for more than twenty years, he brought to the office wide knowledge, especially in the field of Masonic Jurisprudence. He was also Grand Secretary for the Royal Arch and Knights Templar. In both of these important offices he exercised great ability and sound judgement. He proved a tower of strength to the ruling Grand Masters.

In the year of Dr. Curren's death, Grand Lodge lost two other well known members of the Craft; Andrew K. MacKinlay and Colonel James Poyntz. The former was a son of a mayor of Halifax and himself served as an alderman. He was Grand Treasurer from 1866 to 1888. His death occurred while he was on a trip to England, November 10. Colonel Poyntz was a veteran of the Peninsular War against Napoleon Bonaparte. He came to Halifax in 1844. A founder of Welsford Lodge, named for another soldier, 1861, he later gave his name to a second Hands County Lodge, Poyntz No. 44 at Hantsport.

When Grand Lodge met in June 1890, the Halifax city lodges decided to show their united devotion to things Masonic and their appreciation of the work being done by entertaining the Grand Master, Rev. D. C. Moore, his officers, and the representatives of the lodges at a banquet in the Halifax Hotel. Guests for the occasion included the United States Consul-General to Canada, Bro. W. G. Fry, who responded to the toast "To Other Grand Lodges", the Premier of the Province, Hon. William Fielding, and the Attorney-General, Hon J. Wilberforce Longley, a member of the Lodge of St. Mark.

In the course of this narrative, biographies of such Grand Masters as Davies, Sircom, Keith, and Laurie have been given. Something must now be said of the other Grand Masters before 1900, who, although not as well known as their predecessors, made their own contributions to the welfare of the Craft.

Allen Hill Crowe was Grand Master for less than a year. He was a Past Master of St. Andrew's No. l and was known as a skilled and informed Mason. He was prized for his sympathetic understanding and wise counsel.

William Taylor may be described as an "old faithful". He helped to form the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, presided over the founding convention, and installed the first officers. He also chaired the committee that drew up the present roll of lodges. He was Deputy Grand Master in 1868, 1870, and 1871, but Grand Master for only one year, 1881-82. A member of Burns Lodge No. 10, he was known for his skill in finance and his wide knowledge of ritual and jurisprudence. He died February 26, 1888.

Dr. Lewis Johnstone was born in Wolfville. He graduated from Acadia College and the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania. His professional life was spent in Stellarton, where he was a beloved physician and an active member and Past Master of Keith Lodge No. 23. He was Deputy Grand Master, 1880-81, and Grand Master, 1886-88. He died January 31, 1899 at the age of seventy-five.

Rev. David Christmas Moore was born in England, where he was made a Mason. On coming to Nova Scotia in 1875 as Rector of Pugwash, he affiliated with Acadia Lodge No. 13, and in 1877 served as Master. Transferred to Stellarton in 1878, he joined Keith No. 23. In Grand Lodge he was for several years Grand Chaplain, 1878-81, 1885-87, and 1890. He was Grand Master form 1888 to 1890. On retirement he returned to England and died there March 17, 1905, at the age of eighty.

Charles J. MacDonald was a Halifax lawyer and a member of Athole Lodge No. 15. He was educated at Dalhousie College and studied law with John S. D. Thompson, later a Prime Minister of Canada. In 1879 he was appointed Post Office Inspector for Halifax, a position which he held for over thirty years. He was initiated in Athole Lodge in 1859 when but eighteen years of age, and was the first Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, serving until the union of 1869. It was his boast that he had not missed a session of Grand Lodge during his Masonic career. He served as Grand Master from 1890-1892. In his earlier years, 1878-79, he represented Halifax County in the Legislature, and was made a Minister of the Crown. He was also active in civic and military affairs, serving with Major-General Laurie in the Riel Rebellion. He died in Halifax in 1903. He was considered one of the "founding fathers" and in the formative years of Grand Lodge was a tower of strength to the Craft.

Hon Duncan Cameron Fraser was born in Pictou County in 1845. He studied at Dalhousie College, B. A., 1872, and was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1873. In 1878 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, but resigned the same year to enter the Assembly. He was re-appointed to the Council in 1888, but in 1891 was elected to the Assembly for the County of Guysborough. He held this office until 1894. It was while a member of the Assembly that he was elected Grand Master. He served two years, 1892-94. He had been Deputy Grand Master in 1883-84 under General Laurie. In 1904 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and from 1906 until his death in 1910 he held the office of Lieutenant Governor.

illiam F. MacCoy was one of the able members of St. John's Lodge No. 2, which he served as Worshipful Master. In 1889 he was elected Deputy Grand Master; He served as Grand Master from 1894-1896.

John W. Rhuland was a member of Acadia Lodge No. 14. In Grand Lodge he was elected Deputy Grand Master in 1887, and Grand Master in 1896. He held the latter office only one year.

Thomas B. Flint was born in Yarmouth in 1847. He studied law and was called to the Bar in 1872. For a number of years he represented his native County in the House of Commons. From 1902-1907 he was the highly efficient and respected Clerk of the House of Commons in Ottawa. Grand Master for two years, 1897-99, his term of office has been called one of "progress and achievement".

NOTES

1. The list as later compiled by a Committee was at once published in the Proceedings of Grand Lodge, 1869 and after. The list printed at the end of this history tells its own story. The lodges includes were from St. Andrew's No. 1 to Harmony No. 52. Nine of the originals no longer exist; Union No. 18, Davies No. 21, Scotia No. 22, Westport No. 25, Widow's Friend No. 27, Eldorado No. 32, Cobequid No. 37, Ophir No. 40, and Orient No. 49. A glance at the Proceedings for 1965 will show these numbers missing in the list of lodges.
2. Our youngest lodge Norwood at New Ross is No. 135, but for reasons given above, there are today only 118 active lodges. The total membership at the end of 1965 was 13,557.
3. Royal Standard is still under the Grand Lodge of England, No. 398.
4. See the Proceedings, 1869 and after
5. Harris, R.V., Annotations for the Constitution of the Grand Lodges, A.F. & A.M., of Nova Scotia, 1944-46 p.4
6. Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, revised to June 1863, signed by R. Clifford Levy, Grand Master and Harold F. Sipprell, Grand Secretary.
7. The first five District Deputy Grand Masters were: A. H. Crowe, J. M. Cole, Fraser Dakin, Alex C. Page, and Lt. Col. C. Crewe-Reade.
8. Proceedings, 1870, pp.2 and 31.
9. For the present standing of the Benevolent Fund, see the Annual Report of the Grand Treasurer, Proceedings, 1965, p.32.
10. Proceedings, 1880, p.47.
11. Proceedings, 1869, P.97,and 1870, p. 22.
12. Proceedings, 1875, p. 23.
13. The articles deposited in the corner-stone included a Bible, contents of the boxes of 1800 and 1850, Masonic documents, newspapers, coinage of the time, and other items of historic interest. The stone can be seen by those interested at the foot of the wall of the Masonic Hall, Granville Street--the north-east corner of the building.
14. Grand Lodge Archives.
15. Harris R.V., John Wimburn Laurie, Published by Grand Lodge, 1952.