THE BUILDER JUNE 1929

A Roman Catholic Grand Master

BY BRO. A. J. B. MILBORNE, Canada

OF the many brethren who have occupied high offices in the Craft in Canada, none are more affectionately
remembered than the Honorable Claude Denechau, a distinguished French Canadian, who rendered valuable public
service to his fellow countrymen during the formative period of the country.

Claude Denechau was a Roman Catholic, and became a Mason under the early "Modern regime in Lower Canada,
and as appears from a Certificate issued by St. Paul's Lodge, Montreal, No. 12, of the P.G.L. of Lower Canada
("Ancients"), he was "haled" from Modern to Ancient Freemasonry on the 14th of January, 1800. He subsequently
became a member of Merchants Lodge, No. 40, at Quebec, and was appointed Grand Junior Warden of the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada in 1805 during the Grand Mastership of H.R.H. The Duke of Kent.
Appointed Grand Senior Warden in the following year, he served in that capacity until 1812, in which year H.R.H.
The Duke of Kent resigned as Provincial Grand Master in order that he might accept the office of Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge of England ("Ancients").

The official Circular for the year 1812 records that the Hon. Claude Denechau was "elected" Grand Master of the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada. This was an irregular proceeding for it was acknowledged that the
appointment of the Provincial Grand Master was a prerogative of the Grand Master of England. It seems clear,
however, that Denechau's election was merely an expedient to meet the situation which had arisen, and that steps
were immediately taken to regularize his position by the application to England for a Patent. This Patent was not
received until 1820, the delay in issuing it being no doubt due to the difficulties the United Grand Lodge of England
was experiencing in putting its own house in order following the Union of 1813. Denechau's unconstitutional
position was clearly recognized at the time, for in The Mason's Manual, issued on the 2nd March, 1818, by the
Provincial Grand Lodge, it is provided that "the appointment of the Provincial Grand Master is a prerogative of the
Grand Master of England, by whom . . . a Patent may be granted. . . . The Grand Master shall be installed,
agreeably to ancient usage, on the twenty seventh of December annually, provided his PATENT has been obtained."
(Italics in the original.)

A Special Communication was held on the 12th June, 1820, after the Patent had been received, and the Hon. Claude
Denechau was regularly installed as Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lower Canada, a position he
held until 1823 when the Provincial Grand Lodge was divided into two Districts  the Hon. William McGillivray
being appointed P.G.M. for the District of Montreal and William Henry, and the Hon. Claude Denechau P.G.M.
for the District of Quebec and Three Rivers. This office he held until his death in 1836.

The Grand Master's address, delivered by Denechau on the 27th December, 1821, is to be found in Graham's
History of Freemasonry in Quebec, but it was not the last Charge given by him to the P.G.L. of Lower Canada,
as the Quebec historian suggests, for there has recently come to light a later address contained in the printed
proceedings of the P.G.L. of L. C., held on the 27th December, 1822.

As this address is of unusual interest, apart from its historical value, it follows:

BRETHREN:

It is with heartfelt pleasure that on again meeting you at the Anniversary of our Tutelar Saint, I have to congratulate
you on the improving state of the Craft, and the progress it has made in this Province, since I last met you on a
similar occasion.

The observations which I then thought it my duty to make on the neglect which to a culpable degree I found to
prevail in the several lodges throughout the Province, have not been without effect and I have now to acknowledge
the dutiful and corresponding spirit with which the Brethren have universally received the admonition, which I can
only ascribe to a conviction on their part of its propriety.

Not only have the Brethren been more zealous and punctual to their Masonic duties and in their attendance to their
respective lodges, but by the information I have received from the Deputy Grand Master, our numbers have
considerably increased. This circumstance is the more gratifying as many of the Brethren recently initiated are from
that class of our fellow subjects amongst whom prejudices against the Craft are industriously kept alive from an
erroneous notion or rather pretext of the views we are supposed to entertain with respect to matters of Religion.
The deception is gradually dispelling, and a steady perseverance in that probity of action which characterizes Masons
throughout the world, and which in fact is the very essence of the principles of the Craft, will hasten the period
when our most ancient and honorable Institution will not be less revered by our Catholic Fellow Subjects in this
quarter of the Empire, than by our Protestant Fellow Subjects in Britain and elsewhere.

The great maxims of our Institution comprehend all that is valuable in Christianity, and while it embraces all that
is charitable among every sect or denomination of Christians, it entertains nothing repugnant to those great truths
in which every true Christian must agree. The practice of the Masonic Craft is by no means incompatible with the
religious exercises of any sect of Christians or of Christian virtues that can be named.

Our duties are plain, simple and consolatory, to the Great and Omnipotent Architect of the Universe we owe our
gratitude as the great basis and foundation of all the happiness we now enjoy, to the King, attachment and
allegiance, to all mankind (and in a more especial manner to Brethren of the Craft) friendship Charity and brotherly
love. From him who hath much wealth much charity to his poor and suffering fellow-creatures is required, and from
him who hath little, not more is required than he can consistently with his other obligations conveniently spare, from
the poor it requires honesty, industry and sobriety, a due respect for superiors and all those who are placed in
authority over them.

Exempt from those scandalous persecutions, to which under the pretext of religion, the Craft has and still does
labour in some countries, Masonry has at all times prospered under the powerful and protecting arm of the British
Government, and accordingly our lodges are proverbially Loyal. The Craft we profess instead of debasing mankind
tends to enlighten, and many are the Brethren of exalted rank and eminent character whose names are foremost in
Patriotism, and whose devotion to their King and Country, evince that Loyalty may be justly considered as among
the first of Masonic virtues.

It is our bounden duty, Brethren, collectively and individually as far as our influence may extend among our fellow
subjects to inculcate principles of Loyalty to the King and obedience to his Laws as well as the most entire
confidence in the wisdom and efficiency of his Government as exemplified in our present and unequalled constitution
without which there can be no rational freedom.

To you Brethren, Officers of the Grand Lodge, who have served for the last year, I return thanks for your assiduity
in the duties of your respective offices, and the assistance you have rendered me in the discharge of mine, and to
you Brethren and Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge installed this day, I enjoin a perseverance in the zeal and
harmony which I have witnessed in the lodges for the last year, and desire that you will afford a like laudable
example to your successors as you have received from those you have succeeded. In your several lodges you are
to take care that the necessary labour be duly and fully executed, you are to be regular and careful that a proper
decorum be observed, and that the advice and instructions necessary to form the perfect Mason, be from time to
time attended to, and imparted so that the younger Masons may have frequent occasions to improve in the Craft
and qualify themselves as officers in their several lodges. I must particularly call your attention to the Returns, and
request that they may be regularly made at the appointed times to the Grand Lodge, and I am confident that this
request will meet with a ready acquiescence on your part.

I take this opportunity of informing you, Brethren, that our Grand Master, His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex,
has been pleased to appoint by an Instrument under his hand and seal of the Grand Lodge of England, Brother
McGillivray, to be Provincial Grand Master of the Lodges in Upper-Canada a Brother of distinguished merit, and
I therefore desire that whenever he may honor any lodge in this Province with his presence, he may be received
with the distinction and respect due to his Masonic Rank and Station.

(Signed) C. DENECHAU,

Grand Master.

There is now on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Quebec a lodge which bears the name of Denechau. Founded
in 1906, and drawing its membership from the French-speaking citizens of Montreal, it has had a steady and
encouraging growth. The ceremonies are conducted in the French language. The translation formerly in use has been
revised, with the result that the difficulties and harshness of a literal rendering have been removed.
