FOOT MARKS ACROSS OUR BORDER
We are indebted to Most Worshipful Brother McDonald for providing this bit
of "International Flavor" which so effectively illustrates the "Mystic Tie" of
the Masonic Brotherhood.
This title is suggested by the poet Longfellow. In the imagery of verse, he
conjures up a picture of Great Men leaving them their mark, an inspiration to
others for guidance and posterity. One of the pleasures of life is to stand at
some window of remembrance of Golden Yesterdays and intimate associations. When
the right window is found and the right time chosen then the unfolding view
becomes a vista of inter-visitations beyond our political boundaries, for
Freemasonry transcends all such limitations. There is brought into perspective
the full meaning, a greater understanding between men and the beautiful lifelong
friendships made. With this thought in mind, there is recalled a bit of the past
in vignette form. It is realized that one cannot relate all of the experiences
involving our two nations, extending as they do from "sea to sea," yet in
great measure those experiences may be repeated many times, in other locations
and under different circumstances.
Freemasonry entered into what is now the Province of Manitoba by way of the
Grand Lodge of Minnesota in the year 1864. That Grand Lodge was then in its
infancy. The territory under its jurisdiction was in the process of pioneer
growth. The original warrant was granted to members of the Craft to open and
work Northern Light Lodge, U.D., to be located at Fort Pembina in Dakota
Territory. The founding members were a part of a contingent of cavalry sent to
Fort Pembina by the Government of the United States under command of Major
Hatch, a Freemason. Serious trouble was thought to be developing with a tribe of
the Sioux Indians that had recently moved across the international border into
what is now the Province of Manitoba, then known as The Red River Settlement.
After the formation of the Lodge, a small group of men from the settlement,
desirous of becoming Masons, journeyed to Fort Pembina with the purposes of
being admitted into the Lodge instituted there.
It was later that same year when the anticipated trouble with the Indians
had been resolved that the cavalry contingent was ordered to be withdrawn from
the Fort. The Grand Lodge of Minnesota was then petitioned by the Worshipful
Master of Pembina to continue the Warrant of Authority, but to transfer the location to Fort Garry (now Winnipeg) at The Red River Settlement in Rupert's Land
by the same name of Northern Light Lodge, U.D. The request was granted on May
24, 1864. The Lodge at Fort Garry was never Constituted. The Tiel Rebellion in
that area threw life into such turmoil that lodge meetings could not be held.
In 1870 the Grand Lodge of Minnesota revoked the Warrant of Authority granted to
Northern Light Lodge, U.D., at Fort Garry.
The revival of Freemasonry in Manitoba took place in 1870 with the Grand
Lodge of Canada, in the Province of Ontario, issuing a Dispensation to nine
petitioners for the formation of Prince Rupert's Lodge, U.D. The Lodge was
constituted in July, 1871.
This brief recital of facts is believed necessary to explain the connecting
links between the Grand Lodges of Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba. For many
years the relationship between these three were as frail as gossamer threads but
later were to develop into ties as strong as hoops of steel.
With the influx of new settlers into this hitherto undeveloped land, there
was created a great interest in Freemasonry. The result was an ever-growing
Masonic membership in Manitoba. It is logical that Concordant Bodies of
Freemasonry should also parallel that growth. It was on April 10, 1880 that the
Winnipeg Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
was instituted. In June of that year, Albert Pike, 33 ø, Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, visited Winnipeg
under dispensation granted by The Supreme Council, 33 ø, of Canada. On June
24th, Brother Pike delivered a masterly address to the Masons of Manitoba under
the auspices of the Grand Lodge. The title of his address was "SYMBOLS OF
FREEMASONRY." The visit of such an eminent Freemason left an imprint not
eradicated to this day.
The Grand Lodge of North Dakota, recognizing the close historical ties
existing between their Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodges of Minnesota and
Manitoba, planned a celebration, international in character, to commemorate
the earlier founding of the Lodge at Fort Pembina, almost fifty years before.
The event was held on June 21, 1921. A bronze plate mounted on a granite marker
had been created bearing this inscription:-
"On this site once stood the building in which the first regularly organized
Masonic Lodge within the present State of North Dakota originally met.
"The first meeting was held in January, 1864, and for several months the
Lodge was active. A number of candidates from Fort Garry (now Winnipeg) were
made Masons.
"In 1869 this Lodge practically ceased to be... It was in existence long
enough to lay the foundation of Masonry, not only in North Dakota, but also in
the Canadian Northland, more particularly the Province of Manitoba." To
commemorate the event, engraved invitations were sent to every English-speaking
Grand Lodge in the World, and to distinguished Freemasons in Canada and the
United States. Grand Masters M.W. Brother Frederick E. Jenkins of Minnesota; M.W.
Brother George N. Jackson of Manitoba; and M.W. Brother Allen V. Haig of North
Dakota were present. Masons on both sides of "our border" numbering between
1,500 and 2,000 took part in the ceremonial parade.
That evening the Grand Lodge of North Dakota provided a sumptuous banquet to
the officers of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba and other distinguished guests.
Greetings were tendered to the guests by M.W. Brother Walter L. Stockwell, P.G.M.
and Grand Secretary.
It happened in the year 1943 that a small group of Grand Lodge officers from
the Grand Lodge of Minnesota spent a day visiting in Winnipeg. They were
entertained at a luncheon presided over by R.W. Brother Benjamin C. Parker,
P.G.M. and a small group of officers of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. As the
guests were about to depart the question was asked for the reason the Manitoba
Brethren had never attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of
Minnesota. "Because, Sir, we have never been invited," was the reply. The
following year that invitation was given. Six members of the Grand Lodge of
Manitoba paid a fraternal visit to the Annual Communication held in St. Paul,
Minnesota. They were honored by being invited to conduct the Ceremony of
Installation of the newly elected Grand Lodge officers. Those six members from
Manitoba were outstanding Freemasons. Although almost forty years have passed
the memory of M.W. Brother Benjamin C. Parker; M.W. Brother William Douglas; M.W.
Brother Harry Woods; M.W. Brother George R. Calvert; and M.W. Brother John T.
Boys is still fresh in the minds of many Brethren from Minnesota and North
Dakota.
It was on the occasion of that visit to Minnesota that another event took
place which was the beginning of a fraternal association of great significance
which continues to this day. Worshipful Brother Emmet Christissen of St. Paul
invited those from Manitoba and M . W . Brother Charles M. Pollock, P.G.M. of
North Dakota as guests to a luncheon. Year after year following that initial
gesture of good will as shown by him there would be added another guest or two
until those who had been favored with the luncheon invitation suggested that
the expense should be shared by those attending from Manitoba and North Dakota.
The guests from Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba gradually grew in number to
approximately thirty. The spirit of friendship shown at each annual gathering
was delightful. It was the brief occasion when old friendships were renewed and
lasting new friendships made. At each such gathering, however, there was
observed a more sobering and serious note. At each reunion there would be times
when one or two of the old familiar faces, because of death, were not present.
There is recalled one such occurrence when the Chairman, conducting the memorial
tribute to those whose chair was vacant, quoted G. K. Cherton in this tribute to
the memory of Charles Dickens:
"We have a long way to travel before we get back to what Dickens meant....
But this at least is part of what he meant: that comradeship and serious joy are
not interludes in our travel; but that rather our travels are interludes in
comradeship and joy, which through God shall endure forever. The inn does not
point to the road; the road points to the inn. And all roads point at last to an
ultimate inn, where we shall meet Dickens and all his characters; and when we
drink again it shall be from the great flagons in the tavern at the end of the
world."
During the almost forty years in which those luncheons have been held
annually in St. Paul, many outstanding Freemasons from the three Grand Lodges
have travelled to that "Ultimate Inn." Their memory is enshrined and revered by
those who knew them. Over the years others of recognized international stature
have been privileged to be present as guests. Among those were M.W. Brother Carl
H. Claudy, W. Brother John D. Cunningham, and M.W. Brother Conrad Hahn. The
last year he attended before his death, Brother Hahn made the comment-"Nowhere
on the North American continent does such a group of Masonic Brethren meet where
the warmth of International Fellowship is so evident as it is here."
Mention has been made of the address given to the Manitoba Masons by Brother
Albert Pike in 1880. One hundred years later, on September 9, 1980, M.W.
Brother Stanley F. Maxwell, 33 ø, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States, addressed a large Masonic gathering
in Winnipeg, held under the auspices of the Manitoba Chapter of the Quatuor
Coronati Lodge of Research. The title of his address was "Freemasonry, a
Foundation for a Free Society." Truly it may be said that the footmarks of such
great leaders do leave an imprint that can never be erased. Their message is so
timely it will continue to serve as a mark for others to emulate.
The names of those men from Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba who are no
longer with us, have laid a firm foundation for friendship so evident in past
years. It is for those who are still living to further cultivate that tradition
and in their own right leave "footprints" to inspire all others who follow.
"Three thousand miles of Border line; Nor fort nor armed host,
On all this frontier neighbor-ground, From East to Western coast.
A living proof to all the world of faith in Brotherhood. (Guy Willis Bilsland)
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