History

The origin of Freemasonry has variously been attributed to a number of sources stemming from King Solomon, and the construction of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Euclid, or Pythagoras, The Patriarchal Religion, Moses, the Pagan Mysteries, the intellectual descendants of Noah, an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemasons, an administrative arm of the Priory of Sion, the intellectual descendants of the Roman Collegia, the German Steinmetzen, or the French Compagnonage, Oliver Cromwell, or the Stuart Pretender to the British Crown; Lord Francis Bacon, to Sir Christopher Wren and the rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

In the ritual context Freemasonry employs an allegorical foundation myth – the foundation of the fraternity by the builders of King Solomon’s Temple. Beyond myth, there is a distinct absence of documentation as to Freemasonry’s origins, which has led to a great deal of speculation among historians and pseudo-historians alike, both from within and from outside the fraternity. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Much of the content of these books is highly speculative, and the precise origins of Freemasonry may very well be permanently lost to history. The scant evidence that is available, points to the origins of Freemasonry as a fraternity that simply evolved out of the Operative Lodges of the Middle Ages.

The origin of Freemasonry is one of the most debated, and debatable, subjects in the whole realm of historical inquiry. One has to distinguish between the legendary history of Freemasonry and the problem of when it actually began as an organized institution. According to Masonic legend, Freemasonry is as old as architecture itself.

Prof. Francis A. Yates

canadian timeline

1634	Lord Alexander, a member of Edinburgh Lodge No. 1 at Mary’s Chapel, is the first recorded freemason in Canada, then known as New France. He founded a colony of Scots on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.
1738	The first Masonic lodge in the colony of Canada is constituted in Annapolis, Nova Scotia.
1755	The Lodge of the 8th or Kings Own Regiment of Foot is issued a field warrant. This lodge brings Masonry to Niagara in the late 1700s.
1795	The first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Upper Canada is called. Also in this year the civilian lodge in Niagara, originally called St. John’s of Friendship, is re-warranted as Lodge No. 2.
1802	The Schismatic Grand Lodge at Niagara is formed.
1823	The Book of Constitutions is printed in Kingston.
1855	The Grand Lodge of Canada is formed in order to separate colonial Masons from the Mother Grand Lodge in England.
1859	The Grand Lodges of Upper Canada and Lower Canada amalgamate.
1866	The Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia is formed.
1867	The Dominion of Canada is established on July 1st. Freemason Sir John A. MacDonald becomes Canada’s first prime minister. The Grand Lodge of New Brunswick is formed.
1869	The Grand Lodge of Québec is created.
1871	The Grand Lodge of British Columbia is formed.
1875	The Grand Lodge of British Columbia is formed.
1887	The previously named Grand Lodge of Canada, located in Ontario, officially changes its name to the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

famous canadian freemasons

• Sir John A. MacDonald – First Prime Minister of Canada
• John B. MacLean – Founder of MacLean’s Magazine
• John Molson – Founder of Molson Breweries
• General James Wollfe
• John D. Eaton – President, T. Eaton Company
• Gordon Sinclair – Journalist, Writer, CBC Broadcaster
• James A. Naismith – inventor of Basketball
• Hart Massey – Founder, Massey Ferguson Equipment
• John Deifenbaker – Prime Minister of Canada
• Harold Ballard – Entrepreneur and Businessman
• Reveen – Canadian Entertainer and Hypnotist
• Oscar Peterson – Musician
• Duff Roblin – Premier of Manitoba
• Peter Lougheed – Politican/businessman
• William Davis – Ontario Premier
• Douglas Campbell – Premier of Manitoba
• Tim Horton – NHL Hockey Player & Businessman