…presented at Wilson Lodge No. 113, Waterford, October 22, 2003.

The First Grand Master

Brethren-My theme for this year deals with the cornerstones of our craft, and as we are gathered in a lodge that was constituted by M.W. Bro. William Mercer Wilson, and, in a short twenty one days time, we will once again gather here to recognize the reception of the William Mercer Wilson Medal by Bro. Albert Taylor, I think it is but fitting that we explore a little of the life of our first Grand Master. More than any other individual, William Mercer Wilson is the cornerstone of Masonry in this province, but his public contributions to this area are equally impressive.

Details of his early life are somewhat sketchy, but we do know that William Mercer was born in Mavisbank, Scotland, in 1813. It wasn’t until later, when he was adopted by his mother’s brother, a Major Wilson, that he took on the additional surname, and became henceforth known as William Mercer Wilson. His family, although not extremely wealthy, was well to do, and this afforded young William a better education than most young men of his day. His father served the British Empire as a diplomat in India, and was friend to many of the leading British citizens of Canada, who in their own right mad their mark on the history of this province. In 1832, at the age of nineteen, he moved with his family to Canada, and settled at Nanticoke, in Haldimand County. After a short time, he relocated to Simcoe, which at the time was nothing more than a backwoods settlement, with only two public buildings. Its only connection to the outside world was a stage line that ran from Simcoe to Paris. To a young man with important connections, a fine education, and dreams of making his mark in the world, viewing Simcoe at this period must have made him wonder why his left his beloved homeland at all. It is a comment on his foresight and vision, qualities that would manifest themselves many times over in his future dealings that he could see a bright prospect for this tiny village. In 1834, just two years after moving to Canada, he was appointed Commissioner to hold Courts of Justice, which, considering he was only twenty-one years old, was a mark of his intelligence and ability. Over the years, he held many public offices, among them several terms as County Reeve, Crown Attorney, County Judge, Chairman of the Board of Education and Warden of Norfolk County. He also commanded the Norfolk Militia, and attained the military rank of Colonel, after leading his troops in active combat during the rebellion of 1837. And, in his spare time, he founded the first newspaper in Norfolk County! All in all, he was by far the most recognizable and distinguished figure of this area for his time.

Masonically speaking, our First Grand Master was initiated in 1840, in St. John’s Lodge in Simcoe, which would later become Norfolk Lodge No. 10. Before the year was over, he was Junior Warden of the lodge, no small feat considering St. John’s Lodge was one of the most respected lodges in all of Ontario. From this time on, Masonry would be the focal point of William Mercer Wilson’s life. Within two years of his joining, he would become Master, an office he would hold at various times for twelve years. During this period, Canada was slowly creating an identity of her own, and it was no different in Masonic circles. A petition was adopted, seeking to allow the Masons of this jurisdiction to govern themselves instead of being under the banner of the Grand Lodge of England. The brethren waited three years for an answer from England, which never came. In 1855, a meeting was called in Hamilton, with representation from forty-one lodges, from Montreal to Windsor, where it was decided that an Independent Grand Lodge of Canada was to be formed, with or without permission from England. William Mercer Wilson was elected Grand master, however, friction still existed within the territory due to the fact that several independent Grand Lodges had been formed. William used all the diplomacy and wisdom available to him and finally succeeded in establishing one, unified Grand Lodge, to which he was unanimously elected the Grand Master, a position he filled for an incredible ten years. His first term as Grand Master saw him lay several cornerstones, constitute a total of twenty-one new lodges, and visit several American Grand Lodges, to give our newly formed Grand Lodge much needed credibility. During this time, he was also serving as Master of Norfolk Lodge No. 10, Reeve of Norfolk County, and Chairman of the Board of Education. As befits someone who brought so many Masons together under one banner, it was fitting that M.W. Bro. Wilson was also the Grand Master the year our country became unified, in 1867. He was also instrumental in helping establish the Grand Lodge of Quebec. In 1874, he constituted a further nineteen lodges, laid several more cornerstones, and visited nearly every lodge in the jurisdiction. Finally, the pace of his public and Masonic careers took their toll, and on January 16, 1875, at sixty-two years of age, William Mercer Wilson passed to the Grand Lodge above, with over 1,000 brethren attending the funeral services. He was laid to rest in St. John’s Anglican Church cemetery, south of Simcoe, and in June, 1922 our Grand Lodge erected a monument over the grave of our First Grand Master. In June of each year, a Masonic pilgrimage is held to his gravesite, to pay honor and respect to one of the most outstanding Masons in Canadian history. I invite each of you to join me in representing Brant District as part of this year’s pilgrimage.

In closing, it only remains for me to state, that in recognition of the first Grand Master, our Grand Lodge adopted the William Mercer Wilson Medal, to recognize Masons of outstanding service to our craft, and society in general. It has been said that service is giving what you don’t have to give, giving what you don’t need to give, giving because you want to give. Brother Taylor, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service to our craft, and for displaying to all of us, in the finest possible way, what it is to be the cornerstone of our fraternity.

Thank you, brethren.

Sources-First Grand Master, by Bruce M. Pearce.
Note-a copy of First Grand Master was presented to Brother Albert Taylor after this presentation.