Fonds consists of the records of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada, its Districts and Preceptories, together with a few items of more general masonic miscellanea. These include records of the Sovereign Great Priory itself, consisting mainly of rituals, 1852-1921; histories of Templarism in Canada, ca. 1905-1966; a letter, 1934, appointing a Grand Almoner; and some proclamations, reports, etc., relating to its annual assemblies, [n.d.], 1932-1987. Also, a few district records consisting of minutes, 1908-1969, for the Kingston-Ottawa District, and a history, 1984, of the London District. The greater part of the fonds consists of preceptory records, which include substantial records for preceptories in Brockville, Ont., 1872-1972, and Ottawa, Ont., 1893-1971, as well as a number of preceptory histories and a few other items - such as a ritual, 1867-1868, and by-laws, 1922 and 1969 - pertaining to various preceptories in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario (the majority), Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
The fonds contains medals from the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada of the United Orders of Malta and the Temple, including 3 medallic presentation jewels, [ca. 1900].
The fonds also contains photographs depicting various masonic activities and portraits of members.
Also included are video recordings of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada's 104th annual assembly, 1987.
Sovereign Great Priory of Canada : Canadian Templarism dates from 1782, when an encampment (later, preceptory) is known to have existed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1800, a second Templar warrant was issued under the authority of Craft Lodge No. 6 at Kingston, Upper Canada. Neither of these lodges flourished, however, and the continuous history of the movement should actually be dated from 7 October 1855, when Captain William James Bury McLeod Moore (fl.1831-d. 1890), an ardent freemason, exchanged the dormant Craft Lodge warrant for a new warrant to establish the Provincial Grand Conclave at Kingston, Canada West, under the name of Hugh de Payens.
On 11 May 1868, the Provincial Grand Conclave's name was formally changed to the Grand Priory of Canada. At the Annual Meeting of the Grand Priory on 7 July, 1884, the organization became a Supreme and Independent body under the title of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada, Knights Templar.
The object of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada is to promote Christian ideals. Membership is restricted to men who declare themselves to be Christians and who are willing to submit to and obey the usages, customs and statutes of the Order.
