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                 SIR ALLAN NAPIER MacNAB;
             Soldier, Statesman and Freemason
                    by Nelson King, MPS

Copyright Nelson King, 1993

Allan Napier MacNab, was by birth a Canadian, and was the first native-
born to hold the Office of Provincial Grand Master of Upper Canada [1845-
1857], and Grand Master of the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada [1857]. His
Grandfather was Major Robert MacNab of the 42nd Regiment [Black Watch],
and his father Allan served under John Graves Simcoe as a Lieutenant in
The Queen's Rangers [ 1st American Regiment] . During the Revolutionary
War, MacNab was wounded thirteen times. Later he accompanied Lieutenant
Governor Simcoe to Newark [Niagara-On-The-Lake] as his Aide-de-camp. Here
William Jarvis also served Simcoe as Secretary and Registrar of the
Records of the Province of Upper Canada, and was the first Provincial
Grand Master of Masons of Upper Canada. It was here on February 19, 1798,
Allan Napier MacNab was born.

In August 1893 Lieutenant Governor Simcoe relocated The Queen's Rangers
[1st American Regiment] and the provincial government from Newark to muddy
York {Toronto] . Seven years later the MacNab family, and their two-year-
old son Allan Napier moved their homestead to York. Allan senior was
employed as a clerk in the office of William Jarvis, the Provincial
Secretary, until he was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of
Assembly. The family lived peacefully and prospered until the morning of
April 27, 1812, when a fleet of American ships, carrying approximately
2,000 troops, sailed through the approaches to the town of York's harbor,
and opened fire on the fort. The British forces were hopelessly
outnumbered, and almost all of the men of Grenadier Company of the British
8th Regiment were slaughtered on the beach. By nightfall the town had
fallen, and the Americans began looting, burning and pillaging. Not only
were the parliament buildings set on fire, and the treasury seized, but
also the town' s only church, St. James was looted. The MacNab family,
other loyal citizens, and the balance of the troops were forced to retreat
to Kingston Upper Canada, a forced march that took two weeks.

While in Kingston, Allan Junior secured a midshipman's berth on H.M.S.
Wolfe. Shortly afterwards he left the naval branch of His Majesty's
Service and joined the 100th Regiment. After the burning of Newark
{Niagara-On-The-Lake], it was decided to capture the American Fort
Niagara, and Allan Napier joined the storming party. For his gallantry he
was awarded an ensign's Rank in the 49th Regiment of foot. Under the
command of General Rail, he took part in the attack on Buffalo, New York;
and then joined his regiment at Montreal, Lower Canada. For the balance of
the War of 1812 [which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent,
December 24, 1814] he served with conspicuous gallantry.

After the war he was placed on half-pay, and returned to York, where he
became an articled clerk in the law office of the Attorney General of the
Province. In 1825 he married the daughter of Lieutenant Daniel Brooke of
York. Allan was called to the bar in 1826 and moved to Hamilton, Upper
Canada, where he entered into practice and established his future home. In
1830, Allan was elected to the Legislative Assembly, representing the
County of Wentworth. In 1837 he was elected Speaker of the Assembly and
held this position until the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841.

During the Rebellions of 1837 [which took place in both in Upper and Lower
Canada], MacNab took a very active part in York, Hamilton, and London in
suppressing the uprising. He considered it not a "rebellion" but an
"invasion" financed and abetted by the "Nation to the South." The fact
that meetings were held in Buffalo at which well-known public figures were
the speakers and the leaders, and also that volunteers known as "hunters"
were permitted to drill at Detroit, proved his claim to be well founded.
It was thought that these "hunters" had some Masonic connection. They were
also known as "Hunter Lodges" or "Patriot Lodges. " These lodges had
degrees, modes of recognition and other ingredients, which some believe
were Masonic. to date there has been no substantial proof of these claims.

The prompt action taken by MacNab nipped the uprising in the bud. The "men
of Gore" under his leadership in the Toronto [York], Hamilton, and London
areas, prevented the enemy from getting organized and effectively dealt
with those who dared to face them. The Caroline of Buffalo, loaded with
men and arms and anchored at Navy Island in the Niagara River awaiting an
opportunity to cross to Canada, was "cut out" by Commander Drew on
MacNab's orders, and sent adrift over Niagara Falls. The invasion quickly
subsided when it became evident that it was not to be a "get-rich" junket,
as promised by William Lyon Mackenzie. Mackenzie had been elected mayor,
of the newly incorporated City of Toronto [York] in 1834, and now tried to
seize the city by force. After the Rebellions of 1837, Allan Napier MacNab
was knighted by his grateful Queen for his services to the crown.

Sir Allan Napier MacNab, was made a Mason in St. Andrew's Lodge No. 1 [now
No. 16 G.R.C.] on December 14, 1841 . The minutes of the Lodge for that
date read:
     "Sir Allan Napier MacNab was then admitted and initiated in the
     first degree. "

He received his Fellow Craft Degree in Barton Lodge, Hamilton, on January
12, 1842. The minutes of this meeting are very sparse. The date, names of
officers, members and visitors are given, and a list of six Brethren,
including two lines that read:
     "Br. Sir A. N. MacNab, passed to the second degree.
     Sir A. N. MacNab pd. 10/0."

On December 29 1842, the Lodge Minute Book reads:
     "Br. MacNab, was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason."

In the summer of 1842 he visited Scotland; and in Edinburgh on August 1,
1842, while only a Fellow Craft, he received a patent as Provincial Grand
Master in Canada for the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Shortly after that he
returned to Canada and gave no indication of the honor bestowed on him. In
1844 he returned to England where on August 28, 1844, he received the
appointment of District Grand Master for England of the Provincial or
District Grand Lodge of Canada West. again he returned to Canada and this
time gave indication of this honor bestowed on him. The reason given for
his failure to reveal his new Masonic Grand Ranks is that the brethren of
Canada generally owed allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England, although
they were generally displeased with Grand Lodge's treatment of them. In
November he was elected Speaker of the House a position that he held until
February, 1848.

However, in May 1845, St. Andrew's Lodge, Toronto, resolved that it would
communicate with the Lodges in Canada West and seek to secure their
consent that their Worshipful Master Thomas Gibbs Ridout should solicit
the formation of another Provincial Grand Lodge. It was also St. Andrew's
intention that Ridout be appointed Provincial Grand Master.

At an emergent meeting of Barton Lodge, in Hamilton on May 17, 1845, for
the first time since he had been made a Master Mason, Sir Allan was
present. The Lodge was opened in the Third Degree. The minutes read as
follows.
     "The Lodge was called by order of the W.M. to take into
     consideration a communication received from St. Andrew's Lodge,
     Toronto, soliciting our Lodge cooperate with them in petitioning the
     G.L. of England to appoint Br. T.G. Ridout, their W.M., Provincial
     Grand Master of a Grand Lodge in this Province. Our Right Worshipful
     brother, Sir A. N. MacNab, having produced the Warrant empowering
     him to convene and hold a Provincial Grand Lodge, it was moved by
     Bro. H.R. O'Reilly, and seconded by Bro. R.O. Duggan, and
     unanimously carried":

     "Resolved - that the Secretary be instructed to communicate to St.
     Andrew's Lodge, Toronto, that our worthy and R. Worshipful Bro. Sir
     A.N. MacNab, having been appointed by the Grand Lodge of England to
     the office of Provincial Grand Master of Canada West, and our said
     R. Wor. Brother, having in consultation with this Lodge accepted the
     said appointment, and the charter, bearing date the 28th August,
     A.L. 5844, conferring the said appointment, have been received by
     him, this Lodge, taking into consideration the respect in which way
     they hold the R.W. the Grand Lodge of England and their Acts, as
     well as the fitness and capacity of our said R. Wor Brother for the
     said once, cannot with propriety, if they felt so disposed, second
     the cause proposed by our Brethren of St. Andrew's Lodge. And that
     the W.M. of St. Andrew's Lodge be respectfully requested to
     communicate this information to all the Lodges in Canada West to
     whom his Lodge communicated the resolution sent to this Lodge, with
     the least possible delay, in order to prevent any misunderstanding
     among the Craft. "

On August 9, 1845, the Third Provincial Grand Lodge [E.R.] was held in
Hamilton, with Sir Allan in the Chair. This would be the only Provincial
Grand Lodge Communication that he would attend until June 15, 1848. He
only attended two other Communications, until September 1857, when the
Third Provincial Grand Lodge [E.R.] was dissolved, and the Ancient Grand
Lodge of Canada was formed, with him as its Grand Master. In 1854 he
played an important role in the formation of the Liberal-Conservative
alliance and became premier of Canada, a position which he held until
April of 1856 when he resigned the premiership due to poor health, and in
October, 1857 gave up his seat in the House.

On June 14, 1858, the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada was united with the
Grand Lodge of Canada to form the present Grand Lodge Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons of Canada. After the amalgamation, Sir Allan never again
entered a Masonic Lodge. On March 23, 1859 the Earl of Zealand, grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of England, acknowledged the jurisdiction of the
new grand Lodge of Canada under the direction of M.W. Bro. William Mercer
Wilson, who had been the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada.

Later in 1859 Sir Allan left for England where he remained until the
spring of 1860, when he returned to Canada. after his return he was again
elected to office and received the Honourary rank of Colonel in the
British Army, and honourary Aide-de-camp to her Majesty Queen Victoria. In
1862 he was chosen as the first Speaker of the Legislative Council, but
after the first session he returned to his home "Dundurn" in Hamilton
where he died on August 8, 1862.

Sir Allan who had been born and raised in the Anglican faith and his
father, together with William Jarvis, were some Or the first pew holders
of St. James' in Toronto. In the early days of Hamilton, before there was
an Anglican Church, he was a constant attender and pew holder of St.
Andrew's Presbyterian Church [now St. Paul's] until Christ Church was
erected, when he joined that church. However,during his last illness and
after he had become insensible, his brother's wife, who had taken charge
of his household after the death of Mr. MacNab in 1846, admitted a Roman
Bishop, who administered baptism and confirmed Sir Allan in the Roman
Catholic faith. The Reverend J. G. Geddes, Rector of Christ Church made
this public the Sunday following Sir Allan's death. In a brief address he
said that Sir Alan was dead, and that for twenty-seven years he had wor-
shipped with that congregation, and that a few weeks before he had
partaken o: Communion with them and was present in Church with them the
Sunday before his death. The Reverend then told the congregation that on
Thursday he had made three trips to "Dundurn" to see his friend MacNab but
had been turned away. He had repeated the trip on Friday morning and had
been told that Sir Allan had become a pious Catholic and had been received
into the "bosom of the Roman Catholic Church. "

The following is from the Hamilton " Spectator" of August 12, 1862:
     "All that was mortal of the late Sir Allan N. MacNab, Bart, Speaker
     of the Legislative Council, was consigned to its last resting place
     in the family burial ground yesterday afternoon. A very general
     desire had been manifested to show every possible mark of respect to
     the remains of Sir Allan, and it was fully expected there would be
     an immense gathering on the occasion. An interment with Masonic
     Honours was anticipated, in connection with a turnout of the Militia
     of the District, but, somehow, the object of an imposing ceremony
     was frustrated. Rumor stated that the Honourable Baronet had died a
     convert to the Catholic Faith. With this no one would have been
     displeased in case the conversion had occurred in the usual manner;
     but, under the circumstances, it was felt that deceit had been
     practiced; or, in other words, Sir Allan may have been made a
     convert at a moment when not answerable to himself, as he was in a
     state of unconsciousness. How far this may be correct, we leave
     others to say who had better opportunities of judging. This much we
     may venture to state, however, that we do not believe that Sir Allan
     MacNab died a pervert to the Protestant Faith; for knowing him as we
     did, we believe him to have been possessed of greater strength of
     mind than to yield, contrary to the convictions of his whole life,
     and become a Roman Catholic. Nay, more, we have the positive
     assertion of Rev. Mr. Geddes that Sir Allan declared that he died a
     Protestant. The day of the funeral came, and with it the greatest
     excitement in the public mind of this city that was ever witnessed.
     Strangers arriving here to attend the funeral were shocked beyond
     measure to learn that the Catholic prelate had taken charge of the
     deceased and intended to inter him with the rites of their Church.
     Among those who came from a distance were: Chief Justice McLean;
     Chief Justice Draper; Chancellor Vankoughnet; Hon. J.H. Cameron;
     Hon. W. Caley; Hon. J.B. Robinson; John Crawford, M.P.P.; T.C.
     Street, M.P.P.; W. Ryerson, M.P.P.; Hon. D. Christie; John White;
     etc. A parley was held as to who was to officiate, and the Roman
     Catholics stated that they were taking charge, but the funeral was
     already one hour late. All the Protestants left the premises, and
     the hearse and procession were led to the grave by the priest. The
     pall-bearers were: - Isaac Buchanan, Henry McKinstry, Dr. Hamilton,
     Col. Munro, Col. Jarvis, W. Dickson, T.C. Street, J.T. Gilkinson and
     Col. Webster."

Also from the " Spectator" on the same day.
     "It was currently reported last evening that Sir Allan's will
     provided he should be buried according to Roman Catholic rites. To
     this Statement we have received the following contradiction, which
     we publish at the request of Hon. J . H . Cameron - who read the
     will - Hon. Chancellor Vankoughment, and others:
     
     "It is not true that there was any provision in the will of Sir
     Allan MacNab providing for his burial according to the rites of the
     Roman Catholic Church. There was no provision about the burial
     except that his body should be buried between his two wives. Mrs.
     McNab [his sister-in-law] was appointed executrix of the will, and
     as such was entitled to the management of the interment; by her
     direction the body was interred with the rites of the Roman Catholic
     Church, and the large number of persons who had come from long
     distances to attend the funeral, left "Dundurn" without following
     the body to the grave; - not because Sir A. N . MacNab was a Roman
     Catholic, but because by a species of fraud, he was buried as such,
     when he had died declaring himself a member of the Church of
     England. "

Many years later the City of Hamilton purchased Dundurn Castle for a city
park. The bodies buried in the MacNab plot were disinterred and reburied
in city cemeteries. The Roman Catholic authorities claimed the body of Sir
Allan MacNab, and were supposed to inter him in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
If this was done, the body lies in an unmarked grave, a pitiful end for an
outstanding leader of his country. As a Masonic leader he left very much
to be desired. His lack of Knowledge of the Craft and its working did
unmeasurable harm; but he was one of the Soldiers, Statesmen and
Freemasons, of early Canadian history.

                  Sources of Information

                         Literary
Anon.     The Queens Ranges in Upper Canada.
Duquemin, Colin K.      A Lodge of Friendship, Niagara Lodge No. 2,
                        A.F.& A.M., 1991.
Harns, R. V.,  "John Graves Simcoe"; Runnalls, J. Lawrence, "William
               Jarvis"; Shaw, William J., "Sir Allan Napier MacNab."
               Heritage Lodge GRC, 1986.
Herrington, Walter S. and Roy S. Foley. A History of The Grand Lodge A.F
     & A.M of Canada in The Province of Ontario 1855-1955. Toronto: Grand
     Lodge of Canada, 1955.
Ingles, C. J.: The King's Rangers in The Revolutionary War. Toronto, 1956.
Robertson, J. Ross. The History of Freemasonry in Canada. Toronto, 1900.
The Special Committee of History; Wallace McLeod, Chair. Whence Come We?
     1980.

                         Personal
Anglican Diocese of Toronto [Archives]. Gabriel Kormendi, Assistant
     Archivist.
Queens York Rangers Museum. Major Stewart H. Bull, Retired.
Toronto Historical Board [Fort York]. Timothy M. Seguin.
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