FIRST 100 YEARS OF CARLETON CHAPTER NO. 16
ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

In the year 1859, several Royal Arch Masons, in the City of Ottawa, deemed it advisable to form a chapter and for that purpose an emergent meeting of Dalhousie Lodge No.52, A.F. & A.M. was called in November, 1859, to discuss the organizing of a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons when those present, who already belonged to the Royal Craft, were authorized to take the necessary steps to secure a Warrant. Dalhousie Lodge voted the sum of Forty Pounds ($200) to secure the necessary Jewels and other Paraphernalia.

A Dispensation, dated at Hamilton, December 5th, A.I. 2389, A.D. 1859, was received from the Most Excellent the Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada. A special Convocation of Carleton Chapter was held in the Doric Lodge Room, Little Sussex St. (selected as the Chapter room) on Monday, January 16th, 1860,when fifteen petitions were presented and balloted for. The ballot was declared in favour of the Applicants.

The Chapter was opened in due and ancient form on Tuesday, January 24th, 1860, by Excellent Comp. G. F. LaSerre as First Principal Z., when the Dispensation, issued by the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada, was read, after which the Mark Master, Past Master, and Most Excellent Master Degrees were exemplified. On Wednesday, January 25th, 1860, the Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem was exemplified in full ceremonial form. Ten candidates were in attendance. A Warrant of Constitution, dated at Hamilton, March 8th, A.I. 2390, A.D. 1860, was granted by the Grand Chapter of Canada at a session held at London in February, 1860.

The Principals and Officers were installed and invested in proper form on the 1Oth day of July, A.I. 2390. A.D. 1860, by M. E. Comp. T. D. Harington, Grand Z.; R. E. Comp. S. D. Fowler, Past Grand H.; R. E. Comp. J. A. Henderson, Grand Treasurer; R. E. Comp. J. C. Franck, Grand Superintendent of the Central District; E. Comp. G. F. LaSerre, Past Z. Frontenac Chapter. Kingston, and E. Comp. A. de Grassi, Z. St. John's Chapter, Toronto.

The centennial celebration of Carleton Chapter. R.A.M., No.16, G.R.C., took place in Ottawa on May 15, 16 & 17, 1960. A Divine Service was held in St. Matthew's Church on Sunday, May 15th, when the sermon was preached by Rt. Ex. Comp. Rev. Canon L. F. Crothers, Past Grand Chaplain, and a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Quebec, A.F. & A.M. The following night the Chapter opened in the Masonic Temple on Metcalfe Street when many Past and Present Grand Chapter Officers were received with full ceremonial honours. Especial reference is made to the following: M. Ex. Comp. H. Wall Clarke, Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Quebec; M. Ex. Comp. Arthur Osgoode, Past Grand First Principal. Grand Chapter of Quebec; M. Ex. Comp. Clayton W. Vitrovsky, Past Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio. The highlight of the evening was reached when M. Ex. Comp. Bruce H. Smith, Grand First Principal of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario, received and welcomed Most Wor. Bro. C. McLeod Pitts, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, A.F. & A.M. The centenary was brought to a fitting conclusion on May l7th with a dinner and dance at the Chateau Laurier Hotel when a distinguished gathering was present to celebrate one hundred years of Capitular Masonry in Ottawa.