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Freemasonry |
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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]
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]
At the time of confederation in 1867, eleven men of the 37 Fathers of Confederation were Freemasons.[3]
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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[20] | UGLE |
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction | Ontario | 1856[21] | 10[22] | UGLE | ||
Grand Lodge of Manitoba | Manitoba | 1875[23] | Winnipeg | 54 | 1,971[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador | Newfoundland and Labrador | 1997 | St. John's | 30 | 1,533[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of Quebec | Quebec | 1869 | Montréal | 77[24] | 3,771[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia | 1866[23] | Halifax | 114 | 3,473[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick | New Brunswick | 1867[23] | Saint John | 51 | 2,568[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island | 1875[23] | 15[25] | 626[20] | UGLE | |
Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan | 1906[26] | Regina | 58 | 2,365[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon | British Columbia | 1871 | Vancouver | 143[27] | 6,004[20] | UGLE |
Grand Lodge of Alberta | Alberta | 1905 | Calgary | 119[28] | 6,242[20] | 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)[29] | DH | |||
Grand Orient du Québec | Quebec | 2012 | 4[30] | |||
Grande Loge Nationale du Canada | Canada | 1985 | 16[31] | CLIPSAS | ||
Gran Logia de Lengua Española de Canada (Spanish Language) | Canada | 5[32] |
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.[33]
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).