From the Transactions of the Societas Rosicruciana in Canada
Held on the 29th day of June 1997, on which occasion the High Council S.R.I.C. was formally declared,
DECLARATION
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, VII°, 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 IX°, 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 IX°, Supreme Magus, in association with R.W. Fra. Thomas D. Harrington IX° and George C. Longley IX° 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 IX°, 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.
