In the early days of black settlement in Upper Canada the churches were well attended. There were a number of denominations but Baptists and Methodists gained prominence. Blacks settled in separate churches as they often were discriminated against by having to sit separately or out of site in white churches. Overall, their churches were where they gained sustenance to deal with their daily trials.
As numbers grew following the second "Fugitive Slave Act" with an estimated 35,000 blacks coming to freedom in Canada, a number of fraternal organizations followed them. The Black Masonic Lodge was formed in the U.S. by a free man, Prince Hall, in the 1750's and was fully organized by the late 1700's. Hamilton Ontario's Mount Olive Lodge #1 was formed in 1852, with St. Catharines Ontario's Victoria Lodge #2 s and Windsor Ontario's #4 formed in 1853. The female counterpart of the organization is the Order of the Eastern Star. The lodges are still very active today.
The Fraternity of Elks were also very active, particularly in the larger centres of the Province. Members also joined from surrounding communities.
At the turn of the 20th century the Independent Order of Odd Fellows were active in the Niagara area, with membership from along the border of Canada and the United States.
Members of these societies often took leadership roles in bringing about change with respect to some of the inequities within their communities.
