The Cryptic rite - The Masonic Trowel

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THE FIFTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY. 195
In addressing the Companions on the subject, the Grand
Master said : " From the number of our Councils, the character
and standing of our members, and the ability we have
shown to organize, maintain and direct an inoependent
Grand Body, I am warranted in recommending Grand Council
to again ask Grand Chapter to extend to us the usual
courtesies, and acknowledge us as fellow-workers in the
vast field of Masonic knowledge."
In allusion to those who had passed away, a kindly reference
was made to the death on 16th Jan., 1875, of Col.
Wm. Mercer Wilson, the M. W. Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Canada and the first Grand Master of that body
The Grand Master referred at length to the special Assembly
which had been called at Londom, with the object of
forming a Council of Rites. This action was found to be
necessary from the fact that there were so many appendant
orders in Canads, that to work each with a separate executive
would entail a large amount of work, a great portion of
which would have to be duplicated by Companions who were
active in Cryptic Masonry. Therefore, a Council of Rites
was proposed so as to cover all the outside degrees, and thus
keep them under control of Grand Council.
Concerning the proposed Grand Council of Rites, the
Grand Master said " : You are aware that the Masonic and
Military Order of Knights of the Red Cross of Rome and
Constantino was introduced into Canada in 18G9 by our esteemed
M. 111. Comp. W. J. B. McLeod Moore 33 ® , Grand
Cross of the Temple and Grand Prior for the Dominion of
Canada, who was appointed Chief Intendant-General for this
Dominion. The history of the Order of the Red Cross of
Constantino can justly claim a higher antiquity than any
other order of Knighthood. It had its actual origin from
the circumstance of a vision which the Emperor Constantino
saw prior to the ' decisive victory of the Milvian
Bridge, ' fought October 28th, A.D. 312, at a place called
Saxa Rubra, near Rome. According to the Christian writer,
Eusebius, Constantino saw the appearance of a flaming cross
in the sky at noon-day with the motto, ' Tn hoc signo vinces, *
(In this sign shalt thou conquer.) The Emperor communicated
this vision to the learned Eusebius, and, as our traditional
history states, afterwards instituted the Order of the
Red Cross as a memorial of the Divine miracle which eflvcted
his conversion to the Christian faith, and as a reward for
the valour of his soldiers. The Order teaches Faith, Unity
and Zeal ; it inculcates the Christian virtues and urges us to