Freemasonry in Ontario
Who we are
Masons are spiritual and moral men who choose to associate with groups of like-minded individuals for mutual benefit.
- 420lodges across Ontario
- 28,000+Masons in Ontario
- 1855Grand Lodge of Canada formed
The fraternity
Who are Masons?
Masons are spiritual and moral men who choose to associate with groups of like-minded individuals for mutual benefit. What they find in Freemasonry is a disciplined and systematic course of self-improvement based on the Golden Rule: always do to others what you would like them to do to you.
There are 3.2 million masons across the world and more than 28,000 in Ontario.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of race, colour or creed
Masons are spiritual and moral people, but there’s no room for discussion of sectarian religion or partisan politics in freemasonry. Members are free to follow their own path, as long as it fits with the ethical principles of integrity and virtue symbolized by the square and compasses—the icon most commonly associated with Masonry.
Masonry stresses the principles of kindness and consideration at home, honesty in business, courtesy towards others, dependability in one’s work, compassion for the less fortunate and being a good citizen of the world. Masonry recognizes that each man has obligations to his family, his work, his religious beliefs, his community and himself – these must take priority and Masonry does not interfere with his ability to meet these obligations.
Masons participate in three progressive degrees, each one teaching an important lesson through the use of symbols. The degrees help a Mason think about the big questions: Where did I come from? What am I doing here? And what comes next?
A lodge is not a building… it’s the men that form it
The foundation of the Masonic family is the Masonic lodge. It is here that Masonry teaches its lessons: kindness in the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society, fairness in work, concern for the unfortunate and respect for one another. Most lodges are clearly signed and located on main streets in communities small and large across the globe.
With over 420 Lodges in Ontario, there should be a lodge that meets in a location near you. Find a lodge (opens in a new tab)
Masonry is not a secret society… we’re happy to share what we know
Any information about Masons can be found at a well-stocked bookstore or local library. Masonic buildings are clearly marked and listed in the phonebook and members often identify themselves by wearing Masonic jewelry.
The so-called Masonic “Secrets” are confined to modes of recognition by which a visitor can prove himself to be a Mason and thereby become eligible to enter a lodge in which he was otherwise not known.
In the community
What do Masons do?
Masonry is first and foremost a fraternity rather than a service organization, social club or benevolent society. However, charity in the form of helping other people, is considered to be a cornerstone of the fraternity.
Community involvement
Masons are encouraged to be actively involved in their communities. Some of the community outreach programs that Masons are actively involved with are listed below:
The Masonic Foundation of Ontario (opens in a new tab), a public charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, supports hearing research, a bursary program for university and college students, autism services, prostate cancer research and alcohol and drug awareness programs in elementary and high schools.
Shriners (opens in a new tab) operate the largest network of hospitals in North America providing free care for burned and orthopaedically impaired children. In Ontario, the Shrine centres are Rameses Shriners (opens in a new tab) (Toronto), Mocha Shriners (opens in a new tab) (London) and Tunis Shriners (opens in a new tab) (Ottawa).
The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada (opens in a new tab), established in 1964 and funded by donations and bequests from members of the Scottish Rite in Canada, supports research into the causes of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease, and awards over $900,000 in major research grants each year. It also supports Learning Centres that provide remedial tutoring for children with dyslexia.
Individual districts support their own charitable projects.
Beyond the lodge
The Masonic family
- The extended Masonic family
A Mason can choose to broaden and deepen his experience of Masonry by participating in other branches of the Masonic family: the Scottish Rite (opens in a new tab), York Rite (opens in a new tab), Shriners (opens in a new tab) and Knights Templar (opens in a new tab).
- Masonry is for men… but it’s a family affair
Women, girls and boys who share Masonic values are welcome to participate in the many social and charitable events hosted by lodges. But there are affiliate organizations for those looking for ways to become formally involved. Young men can join DeMolay (opens in a new tab), young women can join the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (opens in a new tab) and Job’s Daughters International (opens in a new tab).
History of Freemasonry in Ontario
A 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 Lodges of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island are founded.
- 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.
Hamilton, 10 October 1855
The Grand Lodge of Canada
The Mother Grand Lodge in England was understandably slow to forward warrants, certificates, and complete other tasks for lodges in Canada, given the distance between England and its colony. This led to dissatisfaction and a desire for Masonic independence from England. Dissatisfaction, ultimately, led to rebellion.
On the 10th of October 1855, a meeting of lodges was held in Hamilton. Each of the more than 80 lodges in Canada were invited and 41, representing Masons from Montreal to Windsor, attended.
A resolution calling for the formation of a Grand Lodge for Canada, free from the Mother Grand Lodge, was ruled out of order by Deputy Grand Master Ridout. (Sir Allan Napier MacNab, Provincial Grand Master, was opposed to the plan and did not attend). However, after adjournment, another meeting was held, and the Grand Lodge of Canada was formed by the members.
The next morning the officers were elected, and W. Bro. Wilson was confirmed as Grand Master. The officers were installed by M.W. Bro. Hon. H.T. Backus, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan, on November 2nd, 1855.
1855 – 1887
The politics of a name change
When the Grand Lodge of Canada was formed in 1855, the colony of Canada was made up of what are now the provinces of Ontario and Québec. When the two rival Grand Lodges of Upper Canada and Lower Canada amalgamated in 1859, our Grand Lodge included nearly all of the lodges in both Canada East and Canada West.
In 1869, sixteen lodges in Québec formed the Grand Lodge of Québec. The rest of the lodges located in la belle province remained in the Grand Lodge of Canada. In 1874, the Grand Lodge of Canada withdrew from Québec.
There was no doubt many protests about Ontario’s Grand Lodge calling itself the Grand Lodge of Canada when, by 1875, there were six other Grand Lodges in the country—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Québec, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
On the flip side, many of our members likely objected to the possibility of changing our name to the Grand Lodge of Ontario, when we had been founded as the Grand Lodge of Canada.
In 1885, a committee of the Grand Lodge of Canada recommended that its name should be changed to the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of Canada in the Province of Ontario. The new name was adopted in 1887.
Many brethren in both Canada and the United States still object to the name, but we retain the words “of Canada” in our title because, when we were founded, we were the only Grand Lodge in the colony of Canada.
Be a part of a brotherhood
Why not you?
Any man of faith, 21 years of age or older, who is of good moral character and reputation can become a Mason.