History of Kitchener Chapter

Richmond County was named in 1786 for Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1734-1806) who had a distinguished career, including: Ambassador to France, Secretary of State and Master General of the Ordnance. He died childless and his nephew, also Charles Lennox, became the 4th Duke of Richmond and Governor-in-Chief of British North America (1818-1819). The town of Richmond adopted its name in 1818 in honour of the 4th Duke who had been appointed Governor-in-Chief that year. While on a tour of settlements in Lower and Upper Canada in 1819 the 4th Duke contracted rabies and died on August 28, 1819, in a barn about 5 kilometres north of Richmond. [Note: There are two variations on how he contracted rabies. One notes that he was bitten by a rabid fox when visiting William Henry (now Sorel, Quebec) and the other says the Duke’s dog was bitten by the fox and then bit the Duke in turn. In either case the Duke had contracted rabies and died.] The Duke was a Freemason although it is not known if he was a Royal Arch Companion. 

At the 59th Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada, held on February 28, 1917 at Toronto, the Grand First Principal, M. Ex. Companion William S. R. Murch, reported that he had issued a Dispensation during 1916 for the formation of Kitchener Chapter at Russell. The nine Petitioners who signed the Petition were all members of Carleton Chapter, No. 16 GRC, Ottawa: Companions George Sutherland, James William Ball, Shaler Dorwin Hill, John Harrington, James Alexander Cochrane, James Albert Fielding, Donald Andrew McArthur, George Alexander Cockburn and Alexander Walker. The new Chapter was instituted by the Grand Superintendent, R. Ex. Comp. John C. Scott, on October 11, 1916, with the assistance of Companions from Carleton Chapter.

On February 28, 1917 the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada issued the Chapter with Warrant No. 210. The Grand Superintendent, R. Ex. Comp. John A. Conley Dedicated and Consecrated the new Chapter on July 6, 1917.

The listing of First Principals shows no names for 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954, which appears to be a time of some hardship for the Chapter—most likely low attendance and too few members filling offices. The Chapter Minute Books are almost complete: Volume 2 covers 1937 to 1963 and appears to be complete (i.e. there are no apparent removed pages or blanks) in all respects. This four-year period is covered when there were only — meetings: the installation meeting of February 3, 1950 (A. A. Fraser installed as Z) which also included an MEM degree; April 7, 1950, when the RAM degree was worked; October 6, 1950 when Carleton No. 16 members exemplified the MEM degree for the Grand Superintendent; November 6, 1953 when the Grand Superintendent was received and the evening was spent in discussion about the need to rejuvenate the Chapter in a new venue (Chesterville and Westboro to be examined); November 22, 1954 when the Chapter received the Grand First Principal (M. Ex. Comp. J. A. M. Taylor) and then elected and installed the new officers of the Chapter (G. E. Young installed as Z). Ex. Comp. Young’s term of office was quickly finished when a new election of officers was held on December 16, 1954 and they were installed on January 17, 1955 (W. J. Campbell installed as Z). Thereafter the life of the Chapter continued through the move to Richmond and up to today.

The Chapter originally shared facilities with Russell Lodge in a well laid out hall in the centre of Russell. The reasons are not clear (certainly a lack of members as far back as the 1950's and the cost of maintaining its share of the Lodge rooms), but Kitchener Chapter removed to Richmond in 1979. At that time membership was at a level of 58 and had fallen from the Chapter’s peak of 93 which had been achieved in 1963. The decline of members across the Masonic fraternity in general has affected Kitchener Chapter and membership in 2007 now stands at 41.

            Since its formation, Kitchener Chapter has provided three members as Grand Superintendent: R. Ex. Comps. George Sutherland (Ottawa District #13, 1921-22); Andrew Walker (Ottawa District #13, 1936-37), Clifford Alexander Churchill (Ottawa District #13, 1979-80) and Robert Lloyd Abbott (Ottawa District #13,1990-91). 

The Chapter is still operating as Kitchener Chapter, No. 210, Richmond, within Ottawa District No. 13, and meets on the second Monday at the Masonic Hall, 3494 McBean Street, Richmond.

Ex. Comp. Michael Jenkyns

First Principals of Kitchener Chapter

Home