Whereas:
With the blessing and
support of R.W. Fra. Claude Brodeur IXo, Immediate
Past Chief Adept of the Ontario College, MSRICF (originally the
SRICF), seven duly qualified Fratres of the Society met
at the home of V.W. Frater Charles Sankey, VIIo, in
the city of St. Catherines, Ontario on this date,
and whereas:
The original
Declaration of the Societas Rosicruciana in Canada, was
dated May 31, 1876 and signed by Col. McLeod Moore and
seven other Fratres, which application was made to Prince Rhodocanakis
on the written advice of Fra. John Yarker of the S.R.I.A.'s Lancashire
College.
Col. McLeod Moore was elevated
to the Grade of Magus on July 25, 1876 for the purpose of forming
a College in Canada by H.I. Highness Prince Rhodocanakis IXo,
Supreme Magus of the Rosicrucian Society for the Kingdom of Greece,.
The S.R.I.C. was formed on
September 19, 1876, as a supreme and independent body organized
by charter from the said Prince Rhodocanakis. On the same date
a Charter was granted to Dominion College, Maitland, Ontario,
which was subsequently formed on March 16, 1877.
On September 19, 1877 the High
Council, S.R.I.C. was formed under M.W. Fra. W.J.B. McLeod Moore
IXo, Supreme Magus, in association with R.W. Fra.
Thomas D. Harrington IXo and George C. Longley IXo
as Magi.
and whereas:
Sixty years later the Ontario College was formed
under Dispensation dated October 20, 1936 granted by the Societas
Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis to V.W.Fra. Rt. Rev. Bishop
William C. White VII as Chief Adept, the Charter being granted
May 15, 1937.
The expressed intent of the
Fratres of Ontario College at the organizational meeting of the
Rosicrucian Society of Ontario, dated January 23, 1937, was to
establish, in the time-honoured manner, a High Council for Canada.
A letter was read by R.W. Fra.
William White at the First Regular Meeting of Ontario College
on May 13, 1937, from R.W. Fra. E.H.D. Hall of Peterborough,
Ontario, the father of Manley P. Hall and the sole surviving
member of the first Rosicrucian Society organized in Canada under
M.W. Fra. Col. McLeod Moore, and which "ceased activities
probably in 1886," expressing his interest and gratification
that the Rosicrucian Order was about to be revived in Canada.
A resolution was proposed and
carried unanimously at the same meeting: to wit that R.W. Fra.
Hall should be included in this Ontario College of the Rosicrucian
Society as a charter member and that the privilege of honorary
membership be extended to him. In 1938, an honorary Ninth Grade
was bestowed by the High Council of the S.R.I.C.F. on R.W. Frater
E.H.D. Hall.
On June 30th, 1982, R.W. Fra.
J. Campbell IXo, Chief Adept of Ontario College, received
the grade of Magus Honoris Causa 9o from the S.R.I.A.
at a meeting of the Toronto College.
and whereas:
On February
23, 1995, The High Council, M.S.R.I.C.F., in a report of the
Special Committee on Hong Kong and Ontario Colleges, stated the
following in their publication , the FAMA : "We
value our association with these Colleges, however the possibility
of jurisdictional problems could arise." In this same
issue of the FAMA the following recommendation was proclaimed:
that "these Colleges be allowed one year to obtain Charters
from Anglia or Scotia or consider starting their own High
Council."
Following the May, 1995 Annual
Convocation of Ontario College, at which the Fraters expressed
an interest in exploring the idea of forming a Canadian High
Council, the Secretary of Ontario College, R.W. Fra. Anthony
Olbrecht communicated the same to the Secretary General, M.S.R.I.C.F.,
in a letter dated May 10, 1995.
The Secretary of Ontario College
subsequently received a letter from the Secretary General, M.S.R.I.C.F.,
dated August 3, 1995 offering all assistance in the formation
of a Canadian High Council should that be the will of the Fraters
of Ontario College.
The Chief Adept of Ontario
College, R.W. Fra. Claude Brodeur, pursued various avenues of
research, including meetings with R. W. Fra. Andrew Stevenson,
the Senior Substitute Magus, S.R.I.A. in September, 1995, concluding
that a decision was, in his opinion, premature and informing
the Supreme Magus and Secretary-General, M.S.R.I.C.F. of the
same by letter on November 22, 1995.
On March 9, 1997, the Secretary
General M.S.R.I.C.F. wrote to R.W. Fra. Anthony Olbrecht stating
that the time limit to affiliate with Anglia or Scotia or to
consider starting our own High Council had expired, and concluding
to quote: "Your earliest attention to this matter would
be greatly appreciated and we wish you much success in your future
endeavors."
A Special Convocation of Ontario
College was held on March 17, 1997 and, on recommendation from
the Chief Adept, R.W. Fra. Claude Brodeur, resolved unanimously
to form a High Council of the Rosicrucian Society in Canada and
to inform the M.S.R.I.C.F. accordingly.
On May 14, 1997, exactly sixty
years after the formation of Ontario College, S.R.I.C.F.,
the First Annual Convocation of Ontario College, S.R.I.C. was
held in Toronto, Ontario.
On recommendation from the
retiring Chief Adept, R.W. Fra. Claude Brodeur, R.W. Fra. Anthony
John Olbrecht VIII was elected by acclamation as Chief Adept
and the decision to form a Provisional High Council, S.R.I.C.
was unanimously ratified by the Fraters of the College.
Therefore:
Based on these
historical precedents, I, the Chief Adept of the Ontario College,
R.W. Fra. Anthony J. Olbrecht, on behalf of the Fratres present,
declared the High Council of the Societas Rosicruciana in Canada
to be entirely independent, established on its own basis; and
as a Society in no wise connected with any other institution,
saving and excepting that its members shall be selected from
Master Masons in good standing in a Regular Lodge under the Grand
Lodge of A.F. and A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario or
a Regularly Constituted Grand Lodge in amity therewith.