In the Freemason’s Library and General Ahiman Rezon, by Samuel Cole, P.M., published in Baltimore in 1826, we find a list of forty-three degrees which was taken from a “late publication, 1816,” which the author states are conferred in the Sublime Grand Lodges in Charleston, S. C., in the city of New York, and in Newport, R.I., which we have heretofore quoted.
“Besides those degrees, which are in regular succession, most of the Inspectors are in possession of a number of detached degrees, given in different parts of the world, and which they generally communicate, free of expense, to those brethren who are high enough to understand them. Such as Select Masons, of 27, and the Royal Arch, as gnven under the Constitution of Dublin, etc., etc.”
In a description of the degree of Select Master, the writer says: There is reason to believe that this degree was in use long before those of Most Excellent or Mark Master.”
It is well enough to quote from the charge to a Select Master, to indicate its proper place in the “curriculum” of the degrees: “Companion - Having attained to this degree, you have passed the circle of perfection in Ancient Masonry.”
This indicates that the Select degree closed all the degrees appertaining to the “Secret Vault,” as it really did, up to 1826 at least.
The edition of the above work of 1817 contains an article by
Hezekiah Niles on the Select degree, in which he says : “Though this
beautiful Degree is known to some persons in many parts of the
Bro. John Dove of Virginia, says: “This beautiful Degree is comparatively of Modern Origin, having been, with the Degree of Royal Master, in the possession of a distinguished Chief, in the State of Maryland, as a purely honorary Degree, elucidatory of, and appendent to Royal Arch Masonry, and by him conferred without fee; he delegated authority to others, to use them, in the same way, until the year 1824, when the Grand Chapter of Maryland, with his consent, took charge of the Degrees, and ordered them to be given before the Most Excellent Master; where all intelligent workers in the Royal Arch must at once perceive the propriety of their location.”
Brother A.G. Mackey says: “For many years there have been
three distinct claims urged for jurisdiction over these degrees, in
“Connected with this question of jurisdiction is another
in reference to the historical origin of the Degrees, and, as the person or
persons, by whom they were first introduced into
Dr. Robert Folger says: “The Masons of that day (1816) were divided in opinion concerning the proper place to which these degrees (Royal and Select) belonged. One party preferred that they should be kept separate, and left where they were - a separate system.”
At the fourth meeting of the General Grand Chapter, June 6,
1816, a discussion took place upon the proposition for the admission of the
Grand Chapter of Maryland and the
“The undersigned having been appointed a Committee for the purpose of conferring with M.’. E.’. Comps. Philip P. Eckel and Benjamin Edes, delegates of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Maryland, beg leave to report that they have had an interview with the above named Companions, from whom they received the following proposition, to wit : The Grand Chapter of the State of Maryland and District of Columbia is willing to support the Constitution of this General Grand Chapter. It will not grant any warrants out of its District and will discountenance all chapters formed contrary to the General Grand Constitution; but requests that it shall not be forced to alter its mode of working, if any difference should exist, at present, and to be received on an equality with the other Grand Chapters.
“Under a consideration of all the above circumstances,
your Committee recommend that the said Grand Chapter of the State of
“(Signed by the Committee).
The Undersigned, delegates from the Grand Chapter of
Maryland and
“Signed P.P. ECKEL, G.’. H.’. P.’.
“BENJ. EDES.”
This report being read and accepted, it was thereupon voted
to receive the said Grand Chapter of the State of
Proceedings General Grand Chapter, 1816, p. 44. on the part of the General Grand Chapter, in refusing a recognition of those degrees, that determined Mr. Cross in his future course.
“Mr. Eckel, the Baltimore
delegate, then went home; and when Cross, who at that session of the General
Grand Chapter had been appointed and confirmed as General Grand Lecturer,
started on his lecturing tour, he stopped at Baltimore and purchased and
received the privilege from Eckel and Niles to erect
and establish councils of Royal and Select Masters throughout the Southern and
Western States. This privilege he carried out pretty effectually, beginning
with
“From the above quotations it will be perceived that it
was the general belief that the control of the Royal and Select Degrees were
vested in Eckel and
“But we think Bros, Dove, Mackey, and Folger, and others, make a great mistake in coupling the Royal Master’s Degree with the Select, in connection with the names of Eckel and Niles; for there is no evidence whatever to show that these Brethren ever exercised or claimed control of the Royal Master’s degree, or that they were even in possession of that degree, at the periods named by them.”
From Bro. Josiah H. Drummond we learn that, on apparently
good authority, Eckel did not get the Royal Master’s
degree until 1819; when he and Benj. Edes, of
Cole’s edition of 1826 (p. 319), says Royal Master and Ark Master or Noachite.”
These are considered as merely preparatory, and are usually
conferred immediately before the solemn ceremony of exaltation. It will be remembered itat on page
220 of Cole we quoted him as saying that among those degrees communicated “to
those brethren who are high enough to understand them, such as Select Masons of
27” and the Royal Arch, as given under the Constitution of Dublin, etc. This
evidently shows that even as late as 1826 these two degrees of Royal and Select
were not united; and also, that the Royal Master preceded the Royal Arch; and
it was most likely that the Select degree followed the Royal Arch. We show
herewith a facsimile copy of the original commission to Jeremy L. Cross, from Eckel and
To all whom it may concern
Imprest with a perfect conviction that a knowledge of the misteries of the degree of Royal Arch are eminently promoted by a knowledge of those revealed in the Council of Select Masons; and Whereas, the said degree of Select is not so extensively known as its wants and the good of the Craft require -Therefore Know Ye, That reposing especial confidence in my beloved and trusty Companion, Jeremy L. Cross. I do hereby, by the high powers in me vested, authorise and empower him to confer the said degree as follows (viz.): In any place where a regular chapter of Royal Arch Masons is established, the Oficers or Members approving, he may confer said degree according to its rules & regulations, but only on Royal Arch Masons, who have taken all the preceding degrees, as is required by the General Grand Chapter. When a competent number of Select Maosns are thus made, he may grant them a warrant to open a Council of Select and confer the degree and do all other business appertaining thereto.
Given under my hand and Seal at
Thrice Illustrious & Grand Puissant in the Grand
Council of Select at
Approved and attested as
H. Niles
The Select degree was recognized by the constitution of the Grand Chapter of Maryland adopted in 1824, but the Royal Master’s degree is not mentioned.
Bro. Schultz continues: “Furthermore, the Warrant granted to Cross, by Eckel and Niles, a copy of which, taken from a photograph copy of the Original, in the possession of Bro. Wm. R. Singleton, of Washington, is here inserted, and from which it will be seen that the Select Degree alone is mentioned.”
In the first warrants issued by Cross under this commission, the Companions were empowered “to form themselves into a regular Council of Select Masters,” but in the warrants issued by him in 1819 and thereafter, the High Powers in him vested, by the Grand Council at Baltimore, were enlarged to include the Royal Master’s degree.
It is well to state that from the action subsequently taken by Grand Chapter of Maryland in 1827, from documents submitted, “upon the subject of the institution of the Select Degree independent of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter,” which were referred to a committee, who recommended that a circular be sent to the several Grand Chapters, regarding the matter, and which was adopted. Cross was charged with having abused the “authority delegated or meant to be delegated” to him, and it had been asserted that he had been expelled by the Grand Chapter but Bro. Schultz assures us that there is nothing in the records to warrant such an assertion.” Moreover, Cross did not belong to any chapter under the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Maryland.
Cross, it is said, established about thirty-three councils
in various parts of the
“From all that has been stated, it is evident, not only
that Eckel and
“Whereas, In the year of the Temple, 2792, our thrice illustrious Brother Henry Wilmans, Grand Elect, Select, Perfect Sublime Mason, Grand Inspector General, and Grand Master of Chapters of the Royal Arch, Grand Elect and Perfect Master’s Lodges and Councils, Knight of the East, Prince of Jerusalem, Patriarch Noachite, Knight of the Sun, and Prince of the Royal Secret, did by and in Virtue of the powas in him legally vested, establish, ordain, erect and support a Grand Council of Select Masons in the City of Baltimore, and wrought therein, to the great benefit of the Craft, and to the profitable extension and elucidation of the Mysteries of Masonry:- and Whereas, we the subscribers to these presents are by regular succession possessors of all the rights, privileges and immunities and powers vested in any way whatsoever in the said Grand Council of Select Masons, considering the great advantages that would accrue to the Craft, in an extension of the knowledge of the Royal Secret, as introductory to, and necessary for, the better understanding of the Superior Degrees.
“Know all, whom it may concern, that we do hereby authorize and empower our trusty and beloved Companions K.S....K. T.... H.A.... of the same, to open and to hold a Chapter of Select Masons in the City of Baltimore and under such By-Laws and regulations as may be enacted and established for the government of the same subject to the following general rules and regulations.”’ (Which we omit.)
From some cause the dispensation was not used, but the fact is fully and emphatically stated by Eckel and Niles, under their hand and seal, that they were, “by regular succession, possessors of all the rights, privileges, and immunities and powers vested in any way whatsoever in the said Grand Council of Select Masons,” which has been instituted in the city of Baltimore, in the year 1792, by Henry Wilmans, “Grand Inspector General.”
“This document, in connection with the Rules and Regulations of the Lodge of Perfection (referred to above), leave no room for doubt that Wilmans was an Inspector of the Rite of Perfection, and that he exercised, in the City of Baltimore, in 1792, the powers claimed by such Inspectors. But from whom did Wilmans acquire his powers of ‘Grand Inspector General,’ and the authority ‘to establish, ordain, erect and support a Chapter of Select Masons?’”
“We regret that we can not answer the question, nor could the learned Brethren in vaious parts of the country, to whom we applied. The name of Wilmans does not appear upon any register or document in the archives of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, or upon any other known document or record containing the names of the early Inspectors. From the fact that in both the documents he is styled ‘Grand Inspector General,’ while those deriving their powers from Morin are styled ‘Deputy Inspectors,’ led to the supposition that he might have derived his powers from Europe; acting upon which supposition, letters were addressed to the Grand Lodges at Berlin and Bremen. While the result of the correspondence, which ensued, was of an interesting nature, nothing in regard to his Masonic character could be learned.
“It has been ascertained that Wilmans
was a native of
“In a
“This is evidently an error, so far as it relates to the Royal Master’s degree. As intimated, the degree was first known in the Eastern States, and the earliest reliable mention of it there, is in the year 1809.” “Bro.
Holbrook wrote his book in 1829, at which time both
degrees were conferred at
“Did Wilmans receive the Select degree from Myers, or did Myers receive it from Wilmans?”
“If the degree came from
“There is a tradition existing in the Eastern States, that
Eckel received the degree from a Prusian,
temporarily sojourning in
“It is stated, but upon what authority we know not, that the Royal and Select degrees were conferred by Andrew Franken at Albany in 1769, and that he conferred them upon Samuel Stringer, who afterwards removed to Maryland; but we have not been able to find this name upon any of the records of this jurisdiction.”
“These statements or traditions, it will be seen, all
point to
Folger says Eckcl,
at the session of the General Grand Chapter, advocated “the
“From 1824 to 1852, the Select degree only was worked in
the chapters in
The true history of the origin and progress of the Cryptic Rite in the several States, if it were possible to produce it, would prove of great interest to the Masonic student.
From the preceding pages, taken mostly from the labors of Companion Edw. T. Schultz in his valuable History of Masonry in Maryland, we learn that, while the degrees of Royal Master and Select of Twenty-seven may have been conferred in various places prior to 1792, yet we must concede that the organization of the Council of Select Masons in Baltimore by Philip P. Eckel and Hezekiah Niles, under the sanction of Henry Wilmans, was the very first organized effort to propagate the rite in this country. Companion Schultz has shown, very clearly, that we can not go beyond the date of that organization, so far as any ancient records have been discovered.
After Companion Jeremy L. Cross had been appointed the
Grand Lecturer of the General Grand Chapter, at the session of 1816 -we learn,
from several sources, that Cross went to Baltimore in 1827 - and there, no
doubt, was initiated into the degree of Select Master and recoved
the Warrant from Eckel and Niles which is referred to
on the preceding page of this chapter. A
photograph copy of the original is in the possession of the present writer.
This photo copy was submitted to the daughter of Bro. Eckel,
who was the wife of Brother, Hon. Elijah Stansbury,
Ex-Mayor of
In the Grand Chapter of South Carolina, this matter was referred to a committee, who reported February 26, 1829, which report was unanimously adopted by the Grand Chapter :
“That Committee, after extensive and careful
investigation, reported, that in February, 1783, Dr. Dalcho
and many others received those degrees in Charleston in the sublime Grand Lodge
of Perfection, then established in that city. That when the Grand Council of
Princes of Jerusalem was established in Charleston, February 20, 1788, Joseph Myes, one of the Deputy-Inspectors who established it,
deposited in the Archives certified Copies of the degrees of Royal and Select
Masters from Berlin in Prusia, to serve for the
future guidance and government of that new body. That from 1788, the Grand
Officers and Supreme Council of Inspectors-General, at
“The Committee had seen and perused the first copy of
those degrees that ever came to
“Of the Illustrious brothers Myers, Spitzer and Forst, that Committee said, ‘the above named three respectable Brethren and Companions are, and steadily have been, Members and Officers of the said Council of Princes of Jerusalem. Their evidence therefore, must be conclusive upon these points.’
“The same Committee (Royal Arch Masons, be it observed,
and a Committee of a Royal Arch Chapter, enquiring into its own jurisdiction)
said of the Brothers and Companions, Dr. F. Dalcho,
Dr. Isaac Auld, Dr. James Moultrie, Senior, and Moses C. Levy, Esq., who
received these degrees in Charleston in 1783, from the sublime Grand Lodge of
Perfection: ‘Three of the above named Brothers are still living, venerable for
their years and warm attachment to the glorious cause of Freemasonry, and
highly respected and esteemed for their standing in the community where they
have so long honorably sojourned, and they are still
members of the same Sublime Body.’ There is still further testimony to be
adduced. The report to the Grand Chapter, which we have quoted, was made by Compn. Moses Holbrook, its Chairman, and unanimously
adopted; the Grand Chapter thus affirming, the veracity of the Masonic
Witnesses, whose testimony was adduced. In 1830 the same Compn.,
Holbrook, was M.’. P.’. Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Sovereign
Grand Inspectors General of the 33 degree for the Southern jurisdiction of the
“In February, A.I. 2383, the M.’. E.’. G.’. High-Priest of
the Grand Chapter of South Carolina, John H. Honour, who was then and still is
(1853) M.’. P.’. W.’. Commander of the Sup.’. Council, S.’. G.’. I.’. G.’. of
33 degree, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the
In Brother Snell’s book is written the following:
“’Supreme Council Chamber,
“’I hereby certify that the detached degrees, called Royal
and Select Master, or Select Masters of 27, were regularly given by the Sublime
Grand Lodge of Perfection (No. 2 in the U.S.A.), established by Brother Isaac Da Costa, in Charleston, in Feb., 1783, one of the original
Members of which Most Illustrious Brother Moses C. Levy, is still alive and a
Member of it to this day, without ceasing to be so for a day; and further, that
at the first establishment of a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, in Charleston,
February, 1788, by the
“Brother Myers shortly after this (Feb. 20, 1788,) resided
some time in
From this statement, of those who held the control originally, it will be observed that it was the design, always, to confer, at least the Select degree, only on those who had a knowledge of the Royal Arch degree; hence to impart the mysteries of the Ninth Arch to anyone “beneath the dignity of the Royal Arch,” was to invert the true order of succession, so essential in all Masonic degrees.
It has been asserted by some that the Cryptic degrees had
been worked in this country earlier than 1783; as early perhaps as 1766 in the
city of
“We can soon learn how it was that the Council degrees
came about 1766 from
“On the 25th October, 1762, the Grand Masonic Constitutions
(1) “History of Masonry and Concordant Orders,” p. 649. were finally ratified in Berlin, and
proclaimed for the government of all Masonic bodies working in the Scotch Rite
over the two hemispheres; and in the same year they were transmitted to Stephen
Morin, who had been appointed, in August, 1761, Inspector General for the New
World by the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, convened at
Paris, under the presidency of Chaillon de Joinville, representative of Frederic, and
Substitute-General of the Order. It will be remembered that the 33 degree was
not then created; and, under Frederic the Great, there was no rank higher than
the 32 degree, nor any body superior to a Consistory. When Morin arrived in the
“Many rites flourished in
The following is a copy of a decree issued by the Supreme Council A.’. A.’. A.’. S.’. Rite of the Northern jurisdiction, the true copy of which was sent to the Southern jurisdiction and was presented to the writer many years since by General Albert Pike.
“The Supreme Grand Council of Sov.
Grand Inspectors General for the Northern Masonic District and jurisdiction of
the U. States of America duly, lawfully, and constitutionally assembled on the
10th day of June, 1850, at its Grand East, the City of
“That in addition to the regular series of degrees and order of the ancient and accepted rite, the said rite had, from time immemorial, been in possession of, and claims as its exclusive property, a number of detached degrees which are illustrative of, connected with, and necessarily appendant to certain degrees in said right or departments thereof: and that the Supreme Grand Council, as the sole conservators of said rite, in said Northern Jurisdiction, is sacredly bound to preserve intact and free from any amalgamation with foreign rites or Masonic Bodies, not acknowledged by us or our said rite, all and every one of the detached degrees referred to.
“That two of such detached degrees, called ‘Royal Master’ and ‘Select Master,’ or ‘Select Masons of 27,’ having in various ways and at different times fallen into the hands of persons in no way connected with the sublime system of free Masonry, or the said ‘ancient and accepted rite,’ have been and are now cultivated in a garbled form, by bodies styling themselves Masonic, and working under self-assumed powers and authority in this regard, claiming the right to grant charters to confer them; and, moreover, that these degrees, in some places of this jurisdiction, have become amalgamated with a Modern American rite, and are also claimed as the property of the American Royal Arch Chapters.
“This Supreme Grand Council therefore, as in duty bound, protests against this invasion of its rights and privileges, and further declares and makes known that the said degrees of Royal and Select Master, from their nature or character, and the history they develop, and circumstances upon which founded, can not, except in an anachronistic and improper manner be conferred disconnected from the ineffable degrees, and lodges of perfection (14th degree ancient and accepted rite) and that said degrees belong not only characteristically and historically, but legitimately, to ‘Ineffable Masonry’ and ‘Lodges of Perfection,’and do not appertain and can not consistently and lawfully be made an appendage to any Masonic system except said ‘Sublime System,’ nor to any rite except said ‘ancient and accepted rite.’
“And whereas, such assumed authority over the detached degrees aforesaid, may, as we have reason to believe in some instances, have been exercised in good faith, but without a due appreciation of our rights and prerogative in regard to them, this Supreme Grand Council for the sake of harmony is willing to confer and advise with our illustrious Brethren, the Southern Supreme Grand Council at Charleston, S. Carolina, and act in concert with them in adopting such measures in reference to those degrees, as may be mutually adjudged most feasible and proper, without infringing in any way whatever upon our Supremacy over the said degrees.
“’Deus meumque jus,’
“J.J.J. GOURGAS,
Sovereign Grand Commander of 33d”
for the Northern D. and
JILES F. VATES,
Insp. Lieut Grand Commander.
“N.B. - Signed on the original by Arch d Bull, Sov. Gr. Insp. General 33d;
K.H. Van Rensselaer, Sov. Gr.
Insp. Gen (1) 33 d, and Francis Turner, Prince of
“To the Supreme Grand Council of the 33 degree, ancient
and accepted rite,’ at their Grand East, the City of
“Through their Illus. Brother, Albert G. Mackey, M. D., Grand Secretary General of their H. E.”
A true copy,
W.R. SINGLETON, 33d.
The Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction held to
the same contention until at a meeting of the Supreme Council at
Dr. Olivar, in his Historical
Landmarks, gives an account of the legend of the Secret Vault as discovered
in the construction of
“The foundations of the
“The discovery having been communicated to the prince, prophet and priest of the Jews, the stone was adopted as
the Chief Corner-Stone of the re-edified building, and thus became, in a new
and more expressive sense, the type of a more excellent dispensation. An avenue
was also accidentally discovered, supported by seven pairs of pillars, perfect
and entire, which, from their situation, had escaped the fury of the flames
that had consumed the
“The Secret Vault, which had been built by Solomon as a secure depository for certain secrets that would have inevitably been lost without some such expedient for their preservation, communicated by a subterranean avenue with the King’s palace; but at the destruction of Jerusalem, the entrance having been closed by the rubbish of falling buildings, it had been discovered by the appearance of a keystone among the foundations of the Sanctum Sanctorum. A careful inspection was then made, and the invaluable secrets were placed in safe custody.”
Brother Mackey says:
“To support this legend there is no historic evidence and no
authority except that of the Talmudic writers. It is clearly a mythical symbol,
and as such we must accept it. We can not altogether reject it, it is so
intimately and so extensively connected with the symbolism of the Lost and
recovered Word, that if we reject the, theory of the Secret Vault we must
abandon all of that symbolism, and with it the whole of the science of Masonic
symbolism. Fortunately there is ample evidence in the present appearance of
“Considered simply as a historic question, there can be no
doubt of the existence of immense vaults beneath the superstructure of the
original
“In the earliest ages the cave or vault was deemed sacred. The first worship was in cave-temples, which were either natural or formed by art to resemble the excavations of nature.
“The vault was, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave; for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found. The Masons have adopted the same idea. They teach that death is but the beginning of life; that if the first or evanescent temples of our transitory life be on the surface, we must descend into the Secret Vault of death before we can find that sacred deposit of truth which is to adorn our second temple of eternal life. It is in this sense an entrance through the grave into eternal life, that we are to view the symbolism of the Secret Vault. Like every other myth and allegory of Masonry, the historical relation may be true, or it may be false; it may be founded on fact, or be the invention of imagination, the lesson is still there, and the symbolism teaches it, exclusive of the history.”
The above quotations; have been made because the present
writer had devoted many years to the study of the topography of Jerusalem and
its immediate vicinity in connection with his studies in the various Masonic
rites which locate their mysteries in that city and in and about the Temple
area now called Harem-esh Sheriff. His conclusions
are that not a single degree in Masonry can properly be located near the city
of
So far as the caves or cisterns which are to be found under the surface of the “Area” at the present day did give a key to those who formulated the Cryptic degrees, he feels assured that the originators of those degrees did have some knowledge of their existence -but with accurate maps of that “Area” and the location of every vault or cistern before us, furnished by the accurate survey of Captain Chas. Warren in 1867, we could not for one moment entertain the belief that such a system of vaults or arches ever existed there, as described in our lectures of any of the Rituals -but we do believe that these rituals, being symbolic and allegorical, were founded upon the fact of vaults found in that locality. We can refer to the legend of Enoch and his vaults, erected to conceal the sacred delta, constructed by him and his son Methuselah, after the ineffable NAME of Deity had been revealed to him, and which name he had engraved upon the delta, which by the command of God, he was to conceal and secure, for future generations to discover. These vaults, nine of them, were securely constructed, and two pillars were erected, and placed near, with inscriptions to indicate the locality of the vaults. It is possible that the pillars were destroyed and carried away by the flood. The fable further states that when King Solomon commenced the preparation of the ground on Mount Moriah for the temple, his workmen broke into these vaults and found certain mysterious things there; and upon reporting to King Solomon what they had found, he directed them to cease their labors, as he supposed the vault had been a secret place for the worship of the gods of the original inhabitants of Canaan. God, however, notified him in a dream that he should proceed; as he had designed that spot for the erection of the Temple for his worship, as it had been thrice dedicated, first by Enoch when he constructed the vaults and made the deposits of these mysterious emblems - second, on this spot Abraham erected the altar to sacrifice his son Isaac - and third, by his father David, where he erected the altar on the threshing floor of Arauna and sacrificed to stay the hand of the destroying Angel.
There is no doubt whatever in the mind of the writer but that the inventors of the degrees above the three original degrees - such as the Royal Arch and Select, designed to demonstrate to the postulant the value of the great and now ineffable and mysterious name of Deity.
It is well known to all students of the ancient mysteries of the Orient that after the initiation of a candidate in the lower mysteries, and a certain period having elapsed, by many severe tests, lustrations by the four elements and trials, he was invested with the great WORD in a very solemn and mysterious manner, by the Archi-Magus, who alone could communicate this word to the postulant. In receiving this word, was conveyed to him by its interpretation, the meaning of all the preceding ceremonies.
Those who arranged the series of degrees as above mentioned, from the Entered Apprentice to the Select Master, designed that in the last degree there should be a full explanation of all that which was concealed in the various forms and ceremonies, and in our present lectures in that degree it
is very evident that such was the design sign of closing the Ancient Craft Masonry with the Select of Twenty-seven, “to pass the Circle of Ancient Craft Masonry.”
In 187I the Grand Council of Massachuseas undertook the task of bringing mder out of the disordered condition of the Cryptic Rite in the United States, and having enlisted the valuable services of our most distinguished Companion, Hon. Josiah H. Drummond, of Maine, who, in compliance with their request, called a convention, and fourteen Grand Councils were represented at the meeting in New York City, June 12, 1872, at which the following was adopted:
“Whereas, In some jurisdictions the question has been mooted of surrendering the Cryptic Degrees to the Chapters; and “Whereas, There are many Companions who have received the degrees in Chapters or from Sovereign Inspectors of A.’.A.’.S.’. Rite, therefore
“Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that the Cryptic degrees should be under the exclusive jurisdiction of Grand Councils, and that no one should be recognized as a regular Companion of the Rite who had not received the degrees in a lawfully constituted Council or by authority of the Supreme Council of the A.’.A.’.S.’. Rite previous to the date, or has been lawfully healed.”
The convention adopted a uniform system of nomenclature, which has since been generally adopted.
In June, 1873, another meeting of the Convention was held
in
“That the order of the succession of the degrees be: First, Royal Master’s; second, Select Master’s; and that it be left optional with each Grand Council to confer the super-excellent Master’s degree as an honorary degree.”
The convention announced as its opinion that a General Grand
Council of the
We will now, in a more regular manner, give the history of
the formation of the General Grand Council. The General Grand Council of the
The action of this convention was at once approved by the
following Grand Councils:
South Carolina Grand Council soon thereafter organized,
and ratified the constitution of the General Grand Council and resumed work. In
the address of the General Grand Master, Josiah H. Drummond, at the first
Triennial Assembly, held at
“Of these, seventeen, viz.,
Of the other six, five continue to exist, but have not
become constituents of this body, viz.,
“The remaining one of twenty-three,
“Grand Councils at the advent of the ‘Mississippi Plan’
existed in other States, as follows:
“The Grand Councils of Arkansas,
We have followed thus far the history of the Cryptic Rite as
given by Companion Josiah H. Drummond in his address to the General Grand
Council at the first Triennial Assembly, three years after the inauguration of
that body. He further stated the following Grand Councils had taken no definite
action, viz.,
to the over-whelming sentiment of the Craft, which looks
toward reorganizing the Grand Council System. The situation in
We have given the above very interesting information as to the several States wherein the Cryptic Rite was worked in this place rather than in the separate individual jurisdictions, as it greatly saves space and time, reserving both of these for the details property belonging to each subordinate jurisdiction as to the organization of the constituent councils in each, as it will appear under the alphabetical arrangement.
Note. - Companion Drummond in the above sketch begins with
The information which we have been enabled to obtain
concerning Cryptic Masonry in
This Grand Council repudiated, very properly, the course of the Grand Chapter of Virginia, in capturing the degrees of the council, and incorporating them with the chapter work, in 1843. The council also, in 1849, protested against the Grand Consistory of Charleston granting (of) these degrees in its jurisdiction. (4)
This Grand Council met, with some omissions, as in 1840, 1861, 1862 or 1863, until in 1886 it was dissolved, when all branches of Masonry in that State were much depressed. Since then, however, matters have greatly improved. This Grand Council was never connected with the General Grand Council after 1881, although one of the first to join in the organization in 1880.
The proceedings of the Triennial assembly of the General Grand council of 1897 show that the following councils secured their warrants
Dispensation Granted. Chartered
Olive Council, No.1. At
February 17, 1897
September 2, 1897
Four subordinate councils were, at an early date, chartered by the Supreme Council A.’. A.’. S.’. R.’. of the Southern Jurisdiction. These four councils were formed by the State Grand Council, November 6, 1860. In 1878 the Companions adopted the system of incorporation with the chapters; but in 1881 resumed the independent form; and in 1886 united with the General Grand Council, and is yet within that organization. On the 25th of April, 1899, they had the sad misfortune to lose their Grand Recorder Companion James A. Henry.
The Grand Council of Alabama granted charters to organize
two councils in
The following councils were organized in
Dispensation Granted. Chartered.
Rocky Mountain, No. 2
Gunnison, U.D.........
All of these councils are reported as being in existence at the Triennial held in 1897. At that session the General Grand Master reported that he had issued dispensations as follows :
To Hiram Council, at Greely, with sixteen members, December 8, 1894; but no interest being taken, the dispensation was surrendered, December 9, 1896.
To Zabud Council, at
To Leadville Council, at Leadville, June 10, 1895, and dispensation was surrendered, November 10, 1896.
Hiram, U. D., Greely, December 8, 1894, and surrendered.
Zabud,
Leadville,
In 1818 Companion Jeremy L. Cross was very industrious in
propagating the Cryptic Rite, and succeeded in forming ten councils in
Since the revival, in all the States where the anti-Masonic spirit had prevailed, Masonry has taken a “new and prolonged lease,” and flourishes to a much greater degree than ever before in its history. The sons and grandsons of the bitterest anti-Masons of 1830 are now the most zealous in their efforts to spread abroad the glad tidings of peace on earth and good-will toward men.”
Connecticut Grand Council does not belong to the General Grand Council, which is much to be regretted. The benefits of her union with that body would be mutual.
It is said that Jeremy L. Cross, when on his lecturing tour
in the early days, visited
The Cryptic degrees are first mentioned, in the history of
Masonic degrees in the
“M.E. Sir and Companion:
“I am instructed by the Grand Chapter over which I have the honor to preside, to address you, and through you your Grand Chapter, upon the unsettled state of the degree of Select Mason, a subject deemed by us of sufficient importance to claim the particular attention of your Grand Chapter.
“This degree existed under the authority of a distinguished Chief in the State of Maryland, but without the recognizance of our Grand Chapter for many years; until, in the year 1824, upon the revision of our Constitution, it appearing, evident that the Select Degree not only has an intimate
connection with, but is in a measure necessary, as preparatory to and elucidatory of that of the Royal Arch; it was formally recognized by our Grand Chapter, and required to be given by our subordinate Chapters in its proper order immediately preceding that of the Royal Arch. Under this
arrangement we have since progressed, much to our satisfaction; but it is with regret that we have learned that Councils or Chapters of Select Masons have been established in some of our sister States, independent of Royal Arch Masonry, avowedly in pursuance of, but, as we are satisfied, through a great mistake or actual abuse of any authority delegated, or meant to be delegated, in relation to the Select Degree. We would, therefore, beg leave respectfully to recommend to your Grand Chapter the consideration of this degree, and the circumstances under which it exists, within your jurisdiction; with the hope that you will see it to be for the general interest of the Craft to take the degree under your recognizance and control, to whom of right it belongs, and thereby do away with what is felt to be a grievance, by those distinguished Chiefs, whose authority, delegated to a limited extent, and for special reasons, has been perveaed for sordid purposes, by the creation of an independent order, never contemplated by them; and which we believe to be inconsistent with the spirit and best interests of our institution. “Respectfully and fraternally, &c.”
This was never officially communicated to the Grand
Chapter of the
That committee also reported: “The Grand Chapter of North Carolina had determined that the degree should come under the jurisdiction of State Grand Chapters, and recommended it to the favorable consideration of the General Grand Chapter. The Grand Chapter of Maine had referred the subject to a Committee. It remains for the Grand Chapter to take such orders in the premises as it shall seem proper.”
The Grand Chapter of Ohio has passed a resolution of which
the following is a copy, and which has officially been communicated to this
Grand Chapter for its consideration. “At a regular communication of the Grand
Chapter [of
“Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Grand Chapter
that the General Grand Chapter of the
“BELA LATHAM,
“Grand Secretary.”
A committee to whom the subject was referred reported:
“That they are decidedly of the opinion that the Royal and
Select Master’s Degrees should be recognized by and conferred under the
direction of the several Grand Chapters of the respective States and
Territories of the Union. With regard to the proper time when these degrees should be conferred, whether
before or after the Royal Arch Degree, they decline expressing an opinion,
preferring that this point should bc left to the
determination of the General Grand Chapter; and they recommend that the
representatives from this Grand Chapter to that body, at its Triennial meeting,
in September, be instructed to conform in their proceedings on this subject, to
the tenor of the foregoing.” This was laid on the table for the present. When
taken up again, it was “Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be
postponed till the first Tuesday in August next; and that in the meantime the
Grand Secretary be directed to forward a copy of the report this day made on
that subject to the several Councils of Royal and Select Masters in the
At the special convocation, held August 31, 1829, the following appears:
Companion Baldwin, from a committee appointed by the Council of Royal and Select Masters of the City of Washington (which body had been addressed on the subject by the Grand Secretary, pursuant to order) presented to the Grand Chapter the following letter and report, viz. : (2)
“
At a special meeting of the Council of Royal and Select
Masters, held at the Central Masonic Hall, on Saturday, the 29th of
August, instant, the written report having been presented and read, was, on
motion, ordered to be transmitted to the Grand Chapter of the
“JOHN CAROTHERS, T.I.G.M.
W.W. BiLLINGS, Recorder.”
Report.
“The Committee appointed by the Council of Royal and Select Masters of the City of Washington, to whom was referred the propriety of extending the jurisdiction of the General, Grand, and Subordinate Royal Arch Chapters so as to embrace the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters, have the honor to report :
“That they have had the subject under consideration, and are duly impressed with its vast importance. After the most mature deliberation they have corne to the following conclusions: That Masonic light in its principles, and the order of its development, is fixed and unchangeable ! That whatever power the Fraternity may have over forms and ceremonies, yet no body of Masons, however exalted, neither have nor can assume the power of changing the original landmarks, or altering its clements. Your committee are confident, from an intimate acquaintance with all the degrees, that those of ‘Royal and Select Master’ are not only posterior in order to the ‘Royal Arch,’ but that in our opinion it would not be consistent with ancient Masonry to make them previous.
“Whether the interests of the Craft would be promoted by this extended jurisdiction, your Committee are unable to say; but should that course be thought advisable, by the General Grand Chapter, in its solemn deliberation, your Committee are decidedly of the opinion that it can only be done under the following restrictions:
“1st. That the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters can only be conferred on Royal Arch Masons.
“2d. No one can be an officer of any Chapter who is not both a Royal and Select Master.
“Without these restrictions your Committee can never consent to a change in the present established mode of proceeding. (1)
“All of which is most respectfully submitted.
“
“W.W.
“J.A. KENNEDY,
The report of a committee made in June last on the subject of the degreewas taken up and read, and was passed by a majority of one vote only, and on motion it was
“Resolved, That the Grand Secretary transmit to the
General Grand Secretary copies of the two reports above stated, together with
the proper credentials of the proxies appointed to represent this Grand Chapter
in the General Grand Chapter of the
At the meeting of the General Grand Chapter, September 11, 1829, the question came up for action on a communication from Comp. J.K. Stapleton, upon which a suitable committee made the following report, and it and the resolutions were adopted:
“Whereas, It is satisfactorily proved to this General
Grand Chapter, that the Constitution of the Councils of Royal and Select Master Mason, in different parts of the
“And Whereas, Those degrees are conferred in some chapters, under the authority of the General Grand Chapter; and whereas it was proved that it was the only and sole intention of the Most Excellent Companions from whom these degrees emanated that they should be conferred under the authority of Royal Arch Chapters; therefore, “Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter cordially recommend to the different Councils in the United States to adopt measures to place those degrees under the authority of the State Grand Chapters.
“Resolved, That authority be, and is hereby, granted to the several Grand Chapters, under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Chapter, to make such arrangements as shall be found necessary for conferring the degrees of Royal and Select Masters in Royal Arch Chapters; provided always that no Grand Chapter, within the limits of which is a Grand Council, shall authorize the Royal Arch Chapters under the jurisdiction to confer such degrees without the consent of such Grand Council.”
We have no records or accounts whatever in the District of Columbia as to what became of the “Council,” or Councils, if more than one, which is referred to above.
The chapters in the District continued to confer the Royal and Select degrees prior to the Royal Arch, until in 1833, when the Grand Chapter was dissolved. Several of the chapters again joined the Grand Chapter of Maryland, which body, thereafter, in 1844, added to its nomenclature “the District of Columbia,” and the Council degrees were worked within the chapters prior to the Royal Arch, until May 23, 1867, when the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia was again organized; and on that day, the new Grand Chapter, by resolution, unanimously dropped those degrees from the curriculum of the chapter work, being well satisfied that they did not properly belong to the chapters. Soon after the organization of the Grand Chapter in 1867, Companion Benjamin B. French, the Inspector-General of the Southern Jurisdiction for the A.’.A.’.S.’.R.’., for the District of Columbia, issued three dispensations to form three new councils of Royal and Select Masters, for the District of Columbia.
Those who had recoved those
degrees in regular organized councils refused to join in this movement. Soon
after this, the question was agitated as to the legality and propriety of thus
inaugurating a new method of propagating the Cryptic degrees, and the result
was, these three councils went into “innocuous desuetude.” When the time was
deemed judicious, the present writer, with eight others, who had been regular
Council Masons, prepared a petition to the Grand Council of Massachusetts for a
dispensation to open LaFayette Council. This was
granted August, 1870, with the writer as Most Illustrious Master. The Grand
Officers of the Grand Council of that State came to
Inasmuch as the great body of Royal and Select Masons in the District had received the degrees of Royal and Select Masters in their several chapters prior to the Royal Arch, it was decided that all such Royal Arch Masons, as well as those who had never received the Council degrees, should be
received at a nominal price (five dollars) for those degrees. Accordingly, in two nights sessions the Grand Officers conferred the Royal, Select, and Super-excellent degrees upon 158 R.A. Masons. A Charter was granted December 14, 1870, and the council started with flying colors and great
success. This council continued with some measure of prosperity for several years, when from internal dissensions the members lost their interest and in a few years ceased to attend, and the council died out.
When the General Grand Council of the
The Southern Supreme Council, exercising its undoubted right of control at that time over the degrees of Royal and Select Masons, through some one of her inspectors, perhaps in South Carolina, had, previous to 1858, issued at different times warrants to form three councils in Florida. The present writer is personally aware of the one existing at Warrington, adjoining the navy-yard at that locality, as he reported for duty as Chief Constructing Engineer at that naval station February, 1857, and found a thriving lodge, chapter, and council in full operation, and it was his great pleasure to assist in the work in all of these bodies at that time.
January 13, 1858, these three councils organized a Grand Council, at the time of the agitation of who should control these degrees. After much discussion the Grand Chapter of Florida declined to act. The Grand Council became a member of the General Grand Body.
There have been no proceedings of the body issued since
1882, and there have been no meetings since 1884. In the proceedings of the
General Grand Council for 1897 there is a broad black mark across the page
opposite to
We learn that one of the deputies of the Southern Supreme
Council, Abram Jacobs, conferred the degree of Select of Twenty-seven in the
State of
A council was organized in
The Grand Council of Kentucky having issued charters to
several councils in the State of
In the State of
When Royal Arch Masonry was first planted in
Three councils of Royal and Select Masters were chartered
by the Grand Council of Missouri, in the State of
The Select degree was carried into the State of
It is stated that John Barker in 1827 organized Holland
Council, No. 1, in
At an early period a council had been organized in
In the introduction of this history of the Cryptic Rite,
the connection of Eckel and
In 1817 a voluntary council of Royal Masters was organized
by Benjamin Gleason and others, and subsequently obtained the sanction of
Columbian Council of New York. A Select council was formed at
organized, their delegates met February 8, 1826, and on June
15, 1826, completed the formation of a Grand Council. The records of this body
having been lost during the anti-Masonic period, nothing is known
concerning these degrees until the re-organization in 1847. From the year 1853
the Grand Council has met regularly and great prosperity has followed. It is
asserted that Hiram Council, at
The Grand Council of Connecticut had chartered three
councils in the State of
The Grand Council of Iowa having chartered three councils
in
From our careful exarnination into the early history of Cryptic Masonry in the State of Mississippi, we find that John Barker, before mentioned as agent for the Southern Supreme Council, established at Natchez, Miss., a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem in 1829, which assumed the control of the Royal and Select Master’s degrees, and under the auspices of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem seven councils were organized, and these by their delegates organized a Grand Council January 19, 1856. After the close of the war, in 1865, a number of the councils having surrendered their charters, and others having become dormant, the Grand Council, which had assemtacd annually, in 1877 adopted a plan which became widely known as the “Mississippi Plan,” which provided:
“Each Royal Arch Chapter shall hereafter open within its bosom, under its charter, as a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Royal and Select Masters; the officers of the Chapter corresponding in rank to those of the Council.
“All the Royal Arch Masons who have not received the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master shall be entitled to have the same conferred or communicated on their request and without charge; but candidates who shall hereafter receive the Royal Arch degree shall immediately thereafter, and in connection with the Royal Arch degree, receive the degrees of Royal and Select Master without additional charge.”
The Grand Council was dissolved, and this plan was adopted
in many jurisdictions, the General Grand Chapter having placed on record at
“Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter and the governing bodies of Royal Arch Masonry affiliated with, and holding jurisdiction under it, have no rightful jurisdiction or control over the degrees of Royal and Select Master.”
“Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter will hereafter entertain no question or matter growing out of the government or working of these degrees while in their present position.”
All of the independent jurisdiction except
“Resolved, That the Grand Royal Arch Chapter hereby releases control of the Cryptic Degrees and recommends that the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters resume its former jurisdiction of the degrees.
“That Chapters are hereby prohibited from communicating and conferring the Cryptic Degrees, recognizing the authority of the Grand Council in all matters pertaining to said degrees.” In February, 1888, the Grand Council of Mississippi met, six of the officers being of those elected in 1877. Six councils were represented.
At the sixth triennial assembly of the General Grand
Chapter, which met in
“Whereas, The report of Companion Josiah H. Drummond as chairman of the Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Council of Maine for the year 1894, and the Address of Companion Frederic Speed, Grand Master of the Grand Council of Mississippi for the year 1895, present facts that conclusively show that a misunderstanding has existed in the minds of our Companions in Mississippi for some years past, as to the attitude of General Grand Council towards the Grand Council of Mississippi; therefore be it
“Resolved, That the General Grand Council, through its
Grand Master, extend to the Companions of the Grand Council of Mississippi its
fraternal greetings and its best wishes for the prosperity of the Cryptic Rite
in
Also this minute appeared: “Most Illustrious Frederic Speed, Grand Master of the Grand Council of Mississippi, was announced and received with the Grand Honors, escorted to the East, and greeted by the Most Puissant Grand Master in a happy and felicitous manner.
“Companion Speed thereupon addressed the General Grand Council in very eloquent language; thanking the Puissant Grand Master for the cordiality of his reception, etc. The above preamble and resolution was then read and Companion Speed spoke feelingly as follows:
“’Most Illustrious Sir and Companions:
“’When I say that the reading of the resolution, which I have just heard, affords me the most sincere satisfaction and pleasure, I but feebly voice the emotions of my heart. If I know myself or the great-hearted men who comprise the Cryptic Masons of Mississippi, I can honestly say that we have taken no pleasure in the long estrangement which has unfortunately divided us, and I am sure they will receive with no less happiness than I now do, the message of peace and good will which come to us, through the action of this most illustrious Body. Receive then, Sir, this right hand as a
pledge, in their name, of reconciliation and peace, given with a determination to forget the past, and to strive in the bonds of friendship and brotherly love, with you, for the upbuilding of the temple of the Lord, letting the past bury its dead, and acting in the living present, heart within and God overhead. Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”
It is said by very good authority that Cross, in his tour
through the West, conferred the Select degree in
These bodies became extinct, as well as some councils which had been chartered by the Grand Council of Kentucky. May 21, 1864, the Grand Council was organized.
In 1848 the writer having gone to
The following councils in
Glendive, at Glendive...........April 22, 1896. Dispensation.
October 12, 1897. Chartered.
Custer, at
Adoniram, at
Continued.
Mystic at
Continued.
Zabud, No. 2, at
October 12, 1897.
Annulled.
Deer Lodge, at Deer Lodge.......June 10, 1897.
Annulled.
Anaconda, at Anaconda...........June 11, 1897.
Annulled.
Hellgate, at
Hiram, at Kalispell.............September 2, 1897, Annulled.
These councils were all reported at the triennial of the Supreme Council in 1897.
The following councils were organized by dispensations
issued by the Grand Officers of the General Grand Council for
Continued.
Mountain, at
Continued.
Continued.
Continued.
These were reported to the triennial of the General Grand Council in 1897.
The following, councils were granted dispensations, by the Officers
of the General Grand Council, for
Deming, No. 1, at Deming............April 8, 1887.
November 19, 1889.
Annulled.
Continued.
Hiram, at
Annulled.
Alpha, at Raton.....................May 11, 1895.
Annulled.
Omaha Council was organized July 8, 1867, by a Charter from the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. Two other councils were chartered by the Grand Council of Kansas. The Grand Council was formed by the delegates of the above-mentioned three councils, November 20, 1872. In 1878 the councils adopted the “Mississippi Plan.” In 1886 the Grand Council was revived, and then afterward joined the General Grand Council, where she is now.
August 5, 1815, four Companions organized a council of Royal Masters at Hopkinton, N.H. J.L. Cross, in 1819, instituted another council of Select Masons, at Hopkinton; these two were united in 1822. On July 9, 1823, a Grand Council was formed. During the period from 1835 to 1855 the councils were dormant. The above two councils, Orphan and Columbian, after 1855 were revived, and Adoniram Council, which had been chartered by the Grand Council of Connecticut united and formed a Grand Council, June 11, 1862.
Kane Council, No. 11, was chartered by the Grand Council
of New York; and two other councils, viz., Scott, No. 13, at
The earliest time when we find any organization in the State of New York of the Council degrees is September 10, 1810; at which time a meeting of Royal Masters was held in St. John’s Hall, in New York City, and a council of Royal Masters was opened, with Companion Thomas Lowndes presiding; and it was determined to organize a Grand Council to be called Columbian Council of Royal Master Masons for the City of New York. Thomas Lowndes was elected and installed Thrice Illustrious Grand Royal Master. Nineteen members, Royal Master Masons, were present. It is thought, and no doubt correctly so, that this was the very first council formed, and was regarded as authority, as on the evening of December 6, 1817, a petition was received from a council organized in Boston, asking the sanction of Columbian Council for its formation. This was granted, and Benjamin Gleason was recognized as T.I.G.M. of the said new council.
From the records of Columbian Council it appears that a council of Knights of the Round Table was convened, as also a Chapter of Illustrious Knights of the Holy Order of the Garter, wherein Companions were installed Knights of the Illustrious and Invincible Order of St. George of Cappadoci, by which latter title the Order was sometimes known.
Thomas Lowndes was annually elected T.I.G.R.M. from the organization, September 2, 1810, to July 9, 1820, and presided at every meeting. Five Companions received the degree of Superexcellent Master December 22, 1817. There is no record of the Select Master’s degree earlier than November 25, 1821. In January, 1823, it was “Resolved, That it is expedient to form a Grand Council of Royal Master Masons and Select Masons for the State of New York, and that T.I.G.R.M. Thomas Lowndes be requested to call a convention of all the present and past Grand Royal Masters and Deputy Grand Royal Masters and Grand Wardens in this city, in order to carry into effect the formation of said Grand Council.” A convention was held January 25, 1823, and a Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters was formed Thomas Lowndes being elected M.I.R.G.M., which council continued until June 4, 1860, when it united with a Grand Council which had been organized in the city of New York, May 27, 1854, by delegates from councils of Royal and Select Masons working under the authority of the Grand Council of Connecticut. In the formation of the General Grand Council the New York Companions took a very active part.
At a very early date Masonry was introduced into
John Barker, the agent of the Supreme Council Southern
Jurisdiction, at a very early day organized five councils in
The following councils received their dispensations from the Officers of the General Grand Council, viz. :
Dispensation. Charter.
Casselton, No. 1, at Casselton, December 7, 1888 November 10, 1889.
Hilkiah, No. 2, at
Dispensation.
Hiram Council, at
Continued.
Rae Council, at
Annulled.
Zabud Council, at Devil’s
Towner Council, at Towner..........................January 6,
1896
Continued
Adoniram Council, at
1896
Continued
Mizpah Council, at
Tyrian Council, at
Continued
Continued
By authority of the General Grand Master of the General
Grand Council, Companion A.H. Hodson was authorized
to convene not less than five Royal and Select Masters, and to confer the
degrees upon not exceeding nine Royal Arch Masons. A dispensation was issued to
Pioneer Council,
Three councils convened February 3, 1885, and formed a
Grand Council for
October 26, 1847, two councils in
A meeting of Royal Masters was convened in
In the preface to this chapter much of the early history
of the Cryptic degrees has already been given in detail. The Supreme Council of
the Southern Jurisdiction had great influence in the direction of the
government of the Cryptic Rite in
The following councils received dispensations from the
Officers of the General Grand Council in
Alpha Council, No. 1, at Sioux Falls... D. April 11, 1891.
C. July 21, 1891.
Lakota “ “ Deadwood........September 7, 1895.
Annulled.
Black Hills Council “ Hot Springs.....September 9, 1895.
Annulled.
Zabud “ “ Yankton.........September 25, 1895.
Annulled.
Surrendered.
Omega “ “
Continued.
Hiram “ “
Annulled.
Koda “ “ Flandreau.......October 31, 1895.
Surrendered.
Brookings Council, No. 1 at Brookings... November 1, 1895.
Annulled.
Annulled.
Adoniram “ “ Webster.........November 6, 1895.
Annulled.
Emanuel “ “ Millbank........November 14, 1865.
Annulled.
Mitchell “ “ Mitchell........November 28, 1895.
Annulled.
Oriental “ “
Annulled.
Mystic “ “ Huron...........December 30, 1895.
Surrendered.
Faulk “ “ Faulkland.......December 31, 1885.
Annulled.
Two councils derived their authority to organize councils
in the State of
This Grand Council united with the General Grand Council.
From the history of the Cryptic Rite in
The following dispensaions were
issued by the Grand Officers of the General Grand Council to form councils in
Summit Council, at
Utah, No. 1, at Salt Lake City, dispensation granted February 13, 1892, and chartered August 21, 1894.
After J.L. Cross had made his tour in the South and West
he was in
Cross was made a Royal Arch Mason in Champlain Chapter,
No. 1, at St.Albans,
Companion Drummond claims that the first permanent body of
Select Masters was the council formed by Cross at
By himself or by his deputy, John H. Cotton, Cross organized nine councils.
The Warrant of the counch at
“To all whom these presents may come, GREETING:
“Signed JOHN H. COTTON,
“Acting Deputy Puissant in Grand Council.”
In the previous history of the rite we have shown that
Myers remained for some time in Virginia and was in Norfolk and in Richmond,
where he communicated the degrees of Royal Master and Select of Twenty-seven,
under his authority as Inspector of the A.’.A.’.S.’. Rite. Jeremy L. Cross, it is
said, established a council of Select Masters in December, 1817, in
The General Grand Council by its Officers issued
dispensations to
Dispensation. Chartered.
To
To Colfax, No. 2, at Colfax....June 9, 1893. August 21,
1894.
To
To
To Pomeroy, No. 5, at Pomeroy...July 16, 1893 August 22, 1894.
To
These councils, by order of the General Grand Master, issued
May 31, 1895, were assembled by their representatives, June 5, 1895, and the
adoption of a constitution and the election of their Officers were duly and
regularly constituted, and the Officers were installed by the Special Deputy,
Elijah M. Beatty, and so reported to the General Grand Recorder. Zabud Council, No.
7, at
The Grand Council of Ohio chartered three councils in
The following dispensations were issued by the Grand
Officers of the General Grand Chapter for
Surrendered June 5, 1896.
Annulled.
Zabud “ “
Annulled.
Tyrus “ “
Surrendered.
Sheridan “ “
Annulled.
ABSTRACT OF RETURNS OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS FOR THE YEAR 1896
Name of Grand Lodge Held at Membership.
Washington, No. 1......Washington, D.C............125 Olive,
No. 1...........Prescott, Ariz..............10 Phoenix,
U.D...........Phoenix, Ariz.................
Alpha, U.D.............Raton, N.M..................15
Casselton, No. 1.......Casselton,
Hilkiah, No. 2.........
Hiram, U.D.............
Rae, U.D...............
Zabud, U.D.............Devil’s
Lake,
Towner, U.D............Towner,
Adoniram, U.D..........Fargo,
Mizpah, U.D............
Tyrian, U.D............
Bismarck, U.D..........
Alpha, No. 1...........
Lakota, U.D............Deadwood,
Black Hills, U.D.......Hot Springs,
Zabud, U.D.............Yankton,
Omega, U.D.............
Hiram, U.D.............
Koda, U.D..............Flandreau,
Brookings, U.D.........Brookings,
Adoniram, U.D..........Webster,
Emanuel, U.D...........Milbank,
Mitchell, U.D..........Mitchell,
Oriental, U.D..........Pierre,
Mystic, U.D............Huron,
Faulk, U.D.............Faulkton,
Zabud, U.D.............
Tyrus, U.D.............
Sheridan, U.D..........
SUBORDINATE COUNCILS UNDER THE IMMEDIATE JURISDICTION OF THE GENERAL GRAND COUNCIL, 1896.
Council Location. Date of Date of Charter.
Dispensation.
Oliver, No.1 Prescott July 1, 1893 August 22, 1894.
Rocky Mountains, No.1
Hiram, U.D. Greeley Dec. 8, 1894 Surrendered.
Zabud, U.D. Colorado Springs May 27, 1895 Dispensation
Leadville, U.D. Leadville June 10, 1895 Surrendered.
Zabud, No. 2
Glendive, U.D. Glendive April 22, 1896 Dispensation
continued.
Custer,
Adoniram, U.D. Livingston May 13, 1896 Dispensation
continued.
Mystic, U.D. Bozeman May 20, 1896 Dispensation
continued.
Deer Lodge, U.D. Deer Lodge June 10, 1896 Annulled.
Anaconda, U.D. Anaconda June 11, 1896 Annulled.
Hellgate, U.D. Missoula Sept. 2, 1896 Dispensation
continued.
Hiram, U.D. Kalispell Sept. 2, 1896 Annulled.
Mountain, U.D. Virginia City Sept. 4, 1896 Dispensation
continued.
continued.
Eureka, U.D. Eureka Sept. 21, 1896 Dispensation continued.
Deming, No. 1 Deming April 25, 1887 November 19, 1889.
continued.
Hiram, U.D. Albuquerque May 7, 1895 Annulled.
Alpha, U.D. Raton May 11, 1895 Annulled.
Casselton, No. 1 Casselton Dec. 17, 1888 November 19, 1889.
Hilkiah, No. 2
Hiram,
Rae, U.D. Grand Forks Jan. 2, 1896 Annulled.
Zabud, U.D. Devil’s
Towner, U.D. Towner Jan. 6, 1896 Dispensation continued.
Adoniram, U.D. Fargo Feb. 15, 1896 Dispensation continued.
Mizpah,
Tyrian, U.D. Lisbon April 6, 1896 Dispensation continued.
Bismarck, U.D. Bismarck April 20, 1896 Dispensation continued.
Alpha, No. 1 Sioux Falls April 11, 1891 July 21, 1891.
Lakota, U.D. Deadwood Sept. 7, 1895 Annulled.
Black Hills, U.D.
Zabud, U.D. Yankton Sept. 25, 1895 Annulled.
Omega, U.D. Salem Oct. 10, 1895 Dispensation continued.
Hiram, U.D. Canton Oct. 30, 1895 Annulled.
Koda, U.D. Flandreau Oct. 31, 1895 Surrendered.
Brookings, U.D. Brookings Nov. 1, 1895 Annulled.
Adoniram, U.D. Webster Nov. 6, 1895 Annulled.
Emanuel, U.D. Milbank Nov. 14, 1895 Annulled.
Mitchell, U.D. Mitchell Nov. 28, 1895 Annulled.
Oriental, U.D. Pierre Dec. 12, 1895 Annulled.
Mystic, U.D. Huron Dec. 30, 1895 Surrendered.
Faulk, U.D. Faulkton Dec. 31, 1895 Annulled.
Zabud, U.D. Walla Walla Dec. 8, 1894. Became Constituent Grand Council of
Zabud,
Tyrus,
Sheridan, U. 6.........
SUMMARY OF GRAND COUNCIL RETURNS FOR THE YEAR 1896.
From the Proceedings of the General Grand Council, 1897.
Grand Council. Held at Membership.
Georgia.............
Indian Territory....
Washington..........
Subordinates of General G Council...........962
INDEPENDENT GRAND COUNCILS.
Grand Council. Held at Membership.
FOREIGN GRAND COUNCILS.
THE records of the early conclaves of the General Grand Encampment are the only sources of any definite information in regard to the introduction of the Templar Order into the several Masonic jurisdictions. Whoever, therefore, has gone over the pages of those early records for any extended information will say, that for want of order and exactness they will compare with any other defective records now extant. Discrepancies in dates continually occur, even within a few pages of each other, so that the compiler, after a diligent search and memoranda taken, will very soon have to alter the same. We can refer any reader, for example, to the statistical tables of the dates of organization of the several Grand Commanderies in the Proceedings of 1880 and of 1895 for comparison. In many cases in the reports of the General Grand Officers, as to the formation of the subordinate commanderies, it is said frequently: “Since the last conclave I have issued dispensations to the following subordinate Commanderies,” without giving any dates whatever, leaving the compiler the difficult task of searching in the future pages for the definite years, months, and dates to find when these commanderies had their dispensations issued to them. This was a constant source of error in dates, and, frequently, was a great annoyance in the preparation of this sketch. We trust that should errors in dates be found hereafter the finder will consider the quandaries of the compiler, and especially if he should undertake to rectify our errors.
We have endeavored sedulously and faithhfully, as historian, to gather all the facts upon record, to give a truthful narrative of the formation of the subordinate bodies, as well as the constitutions of them also; and the organization of the Grand Commanderies in the several jurisdictions. While
all this has been an arduous task, there has been mingled with the task quite a pleasurable sensation in traveling over the “sacred ground” of “Templarism”; and our “pilgrimage” has yielded much satisfaction in making the acquaintance of so many distinguished knights who wrought so hard in
building up an institution, which from the small beginnings of the eighteenth century, at its end, has resulted, in the close of the nineteenth century, in one of the most magnificent “Orders” the world has ever witnessed.
The Knight Templar order, as it is now constituted in the
Note.-Dates of all the blanks marked with an asterisk could not be ascertained.
The Grand Commandery of Knights Templars for the State of
Washington (
Mobile, No. 2, at
Tuscumbia, No. 3, at Tuscumbia; formed August 1, 1848; chaptered October 12, 1850.
The Grand Commandery of Arizona
was formed by Warrant from the Grand Encampment of the
The first commandery was
Ivanhoe, No. 2, at
The Grand Commandery of Arkansas was constituted May 25, 1872.
The first commandery organized
was Hugh de Payens, No. 1, at
Hugh de Payens, No. 3, at Fort Scott; dispensation granted April 13, 1867; chartered September 18, 1868; constituted October 11, 1868 (3).
Jacques De Molay, No. 3; dispensation granted December 30, 1868, (4) and chartered September 21, 1871. (5)
Baldwin, No. 4,
Bertrand de Guesclin,
The Grand Commandery of Knights Templars for
The first commandery formed in
The second was
The third was Pacific, No. 3, at
The Grand Commandery was constituted March 14, 1876. The commanderies were:
Central City, No 2, at Central City; dispensation granted November 8, 1866, and chartered September 18, 1863. (3)
The Grand Commandery was
constituted between 1829 and 1832, according to the list in the Proceedings of
1856, p. 358; but in the Proceedings of 1898 the date is given September 13,
1827. We assume the first date to be correct, as in the Proceedings of the
Grand Encampment we find the Grand Encampment of Connecticut represented at the
fifth meeting, held November 29, 1832, but not so represented at the fourth
meeting, September 14, 1829, nor is any mention made of the formation of the
Grand Body in the minutes of said meeting of 1829, which would have been if the
Grand Commandery had been organized. The first commandery formed was Colchester, at
Charter dated September, 1819. The second was
Note. - At the second rneedng of
the Grand Encampment, Proceedings of September 16, 1810, p. 6, say: “Resolved,
That a charter of recognition be granted to the encampment of Colchester in
At the conclave held in
Note. -The report of the General Grand Recorder for 1880, in tabular statement, p. 136, under Grand Commandery of Connecticut, says: “Organized July, 1796.”
Dakota, No. 1, at Deadwood; constituted August 14, 1881.
February 25, 1882, dispensation was granted to De Molay, No. 3, at Yankton; formed March, 1882; chartered August 23, 1883.
March 23, 1883, dispensation granted to Tancred, No. 4, at
The first commandery formed in
The first commandery organized
in the
Potomac, No. 3, in
De Molay, in
Orient Commandery, in
Four of these commanderies, viz.: No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5, met in convention January 14, 1896, and organized the Grand Commandery of the District of Columbia by authority of a Warrant of the Grand Encampment dated December 2, 1895.
The Grand Commandery was organized August 15, 1895, by a Warrant dated August 1, 1895. The following commanderies were organized:
Coeur de Lion, No. 1, at
1868; renewed December 3, 1874.
De Molay, No. 3; dispensation March 17, 1851
Olivet, No. 4; dispensation * 1889.
Pulaski, No. 5; dispensation February 21, 1893
The Grand Commandery was organized April 25, 1860, by authority approved
September 16, 1859.
Georgia Encampment, No. 1, at
St. Omar, No. 2, at
St. Aldema, at
Coeur de Lion, at
The following commanderies have been
instituted in
The Grand Commandery was organized October 27, 1857, by authority of the Grand Encampment June 27, 1857, and duplicated September 15, 1857. The subordinate commanderies were:
Apollo, No. 1, at
September 14, 1847. The tabular statement in Proceedings for 1856, p. 358, is indefinite.
Central, or Centre, No. 3, at Decatur; by dispensation July 26, 1856; extended October 24, 1856; and by order of Grand Encampment continued until the ensuing session of the State Grand Commandery.
The Grand Commandery of Indiana
was organized May 16, 1854, by authority of the Grand Encampment April 24,
1854. The commanderies in
Roper, No. i, at
La Fayette, No. 3, La Fayette; by dispensation April 2, 1852, and Charter September 19, 1853.
The Grand Commandery was instituted by authority of the Grand Encampment December 17, 1895, the Warrant being issued November 28, 1895, at Muscogee.
The subordinate commanderies were :
Muscogee, No. 1, at Muscogee; by dispensation dated December 6, 1892, and
Charter *Chickasaw, No. 2, at Purcell; by dispensation dated May 31, 1894, and Charter August 29, 1895, and constituted October 29, 1895.
McAllester, No. 3 at McAllester; by dispensation dated July 14, 1894, and Charter August 29, 1895, and constituted October 14, 1895.
The Grand Commandery of Iowa was organized June 6, 1864, by authority of the Grand Encampment September 19, 1859. The subordinate commanderies were:
De Molay, of
Siloam, No. 3, at
The Grand Commandery was constituted December 29, 1868, by Warrant from the General Grand Master, Sir William Sewall Gardner, December 2, 1868. The subordinate commanderies were:
Hugh de Payen, No. 3, at
De Molay, No. 4,
The Grand Commandery was constituted October 15, 1847, by Warrant from the Grand Encampment. The subordinate commanderies were:
Webb, No. 1, at
There is no note of a dispensation issued to Frankfort Encampment, but in the account current of the G.G. Recorder we find that Frankfort Encampment, Kentucky, paid for dispensation $90, also that Montgomery Encampment did the same, and as in the latter case the tabular statement, p. 358, mentions that dispensation as between 1842 and 1847, Frankfort Encampment may have been in the “same boat.” We have been forcibly impressed, in reading over these old records, how very careless the General Grand Officers and also the recorders and committees were in omitting important dates in their reports, which omissions have cost this writer many, many weary hours in hunting up such data as would enable him to supply these important dates for the benefit of the future student of Masonic history.
The Grand Commandery of Louisiana was organized by the Warrant of the Grand Encampment February 12, 1864.
The Invincibles, at
Indivisible Friends, No. 1. This encampment was chartered by the Grand Encampment of New York in 1826. Jurisdiction was transferred to the General Grand Encampment in 1838 and accepted.
Jacob de Molay, No. 2,
The Grand Commandery was
constituted May 5, 1852, for the State of
Portland Encampment, No. 2, is the first one on the printed list
Front Proceedings of Grand Encampment, 1847, we copy this:
“Resolved, That the Report of the Committee of
Dispensations and New Encampments be so amended as to permit Frankfort and
Montgomery Encampments to join in the petition for the formation of a Grand
Encampment in the State of Kentucky.” Which was rejected at
We can not find any evidence in the body of the Proceedings of No. 1, but the “Register” at end of 1847 and 1850 Proceedings gives “Maine,” No. 1, at Portland, * 1844, and chartered September 14, 1847.
The Grand Commandery was constituted January 23, 1871.
The first commandery instituted
was
We shall now follow the history of the Knight Templar
Order in
Sir Knight Schultz says:
“The writer has for many years given much time and attention to the investigation of the origin of Encampment No. 1 of this city, and while he has been fortunate in obtaining documents which clearly establish the date of its organization, and many interesting facts in reference to its early history, he has not, he regrets to state, anything but theories to offer in regard to the source whence it emanated.”
He had been furnished by the Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania, Bro. Creigh,
with certified copies of several documents in his office, written in 1814 and
1815, by the Officers of Encampment No. 1 of
In one of these documents is a Charter of “recognition”
which allowed their claim to an original organization prior thereto - dated in
1790 - as the letter from Archbishop Dobbin says: “I am induced to state that
this Encampment insists in receiving its number and rank according to the date
of its institution, the complete organization of which took place in the year
1790.” Consequently we must class
Sir Knight Schuhz shows by documents that this encampment has had a continued existance from 1790 to the present day, and is yet known by the same name. There is a fac-simile of a Templar diploma shown and a copy of its text in print which shows that this Encampment No. 1 was in 1802
attached to Washington Lodge, No. 3, as Royal Arch Chapters and Encampments of Knights Templars in those early days were generally, if not wholly, held under warrants of Master Masons’ Lodges, In Webb’s Monitors of 1802 and 1805 are shown three encampments in Maryland, viz.: Nos. 3, 13, and 24, and Sir Knight Schultz thinks they were Washington Lodge, No. 3; Concordia, No. 13; and Zion Lodge, No. 24; the first two located in Baltimore, and the last in Havre de Grace, Cecil County.
There is shown also another facsimile diploma issued by Encampment No. 1 to Philip P. Eckel, which Sir Knight Schultz thinks indicates that the encampment had severed its connection with Lodge No. 3 and had an independent organization, and says it must have been certainly as early as 1807, from a Masonic notice in the City Directory for that year, viz.:
“Maryland Encampment No. 1, Knights Templars, meets on the second Tuesday in every second month.”
The copper-plate from which this diploma was printed is in
the Archives of Maryland Commandery. It was designed
by Philip P. Eckel and engraved by John Bannerman. An
old lady named Elizabeth Sadds, living in
engraver who lived in
Sir Knight Schultz refers to the list of degrees published by Cole and mentioned by us in Chapter LI. In this list we enumerated the orders of the Red Cross, Knights Templar, and Knights of Malta, that were said to have been conferred by the Sublime Lodges, at Charleston, New York, and Newport in 1816.
Sir Knight William B. Hubbard, who was Grand Master of Templars, said: I suppose that we owe the origin of Templar
Masonry in the
“After a very careful examination of this important subject, we are impressed with the conviction that the introduction of the Order into this country was brought about somewhat in this wise: That a few Sir Knights, having received the Order in England, or Ireland and having immigrated to this country, met together, as they became known to each other, by appointment, in a secluded place in New York and other parts of the country; and after testing each other by the best evidence in their possession, organized themselves into ‘encampments’ or ‘conclaves,’ and assumed control of ‘territorial jurisdiction,’ conferred the Orders, elected officers, issued diplomas, etc.” “For the present, or something more reliable than any ‘statement’ yet presented can be accepted, we can offer nothing better as authentic history for the introduction of the Order of Knights Templar upon this Continent; nor do we deem it derogatory to the legitimacy of the ‘transmission’ or of the merits of the system of Templarism, to admit these conclusions. During the early period of the institution there was no organized body that possessed absolute authority to issue warrants, hence it was recognized as legal for any number of Sir Knights, having the inherent righl to assemble in a secure place, apply the essential tests to each other, open an encampment, receive petitions and create Knights Templar.”
Sir Knight Schultz concurs, somewhat, in the theories of
Sir Knight Macoy, which he thinks “most worthy of
acceptance,” and says: “In every instance in which there is a mention of the
Templar degree being conferred in this country prior to the year 1800, it is in
connection with a Master Mason’s Lodge. St. Andrew’s, of
After the organization of the Supreme Council of the A.’. A.’. S.’.R.’. at Charleston, in 1802, the Inspector-General took charge of all the degrees having no governing head, and as was stated by Cole, above referred to, “the Sublime Lodges at Charleston, Albany, and Providence conferred as many as fifty-five degrees.”
Subsequent to 1800, “Encampments were formed by Knights who received the Orders from an Inspector, or High Grade Mason.”
At the constitution of the Grand Encampment of New York, Elias Hicks, Orator of the day, said: “The numerous Encampments of Knights Templar now existing within this State being self-created bodies, are consequently governed by their own private and individual law, acknowledging no superior authority, because, in fact, none heretofore existed.
Sir Knight Schultz concludes, therefore, that Encampment
No. 1 was organized in the same manner as those in
At the convention for the organization of the Grand
Encampment in
After the organization of the General Grand Encampment of
the
Sir Knight Schultz claims that Encampment No. 1 “is the oldest existing body of Knights Templar upon the American Continent”
After Baltimore Commandery, No.
2, was chartered, there was no other commandery
formed until Monumental, No. 3, of Baltimore, was organized by virtue of a
dispensation issued by the Grand Master of Templars
May 16, 1866. At the next triennial conclave, September, 1868, at
July 12, 1870, resolutions were adopted to organize a Grand Commandery of the State. This occurred January 23, 1871.
Jacques De Molay, No. 4, of
Grand Master William Sewall
Gardner issued a dispensation March 2, 1869, to form Crusade Commandery, No. 5, of
Three chartered commanderies met
in convention by their representatives in
The three commanderies were:
The Warrant of the Grand Master was dated January 3, 1871. January 23, 1871, the Cdand Commandery was then dedicated in ancient form to St John the Almoner. The first Grand Conclave of the New Grand Commandery was held January 23, 1871.
May 11, 1871, Crusade Commandery,
No. 5, of
Antioch Commandery, No. 6, of
Palestine Commandery, No. 7, at
Beauseant Commandery,
No. 8, received a dispensation May 27, 1875, to form a commandery
in
The Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was
formed May 6 1805, which was the first Grand Encampment to be organized in the
United States, according to the authorities in Massachusetts, which statement
has been challenged by the Templars in Pennsylvania,
who claim that the very first Grand Encampment was organized in Philadelphia
May 12, 1797, as will be shown under that head. Sir William Sewall
Gardner, M. E. Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, at the semi-annual meeting in Boston, May 5, 1865, in his address said:
“This day completes the sixtieth year of our existence as a Grand Encampment
and marks an epoch in our history. “On the 6th of May 1805, Sir
Thomas Smith Webb, of Providence; Sir Henry Fowle, of
Boston; Sir Jonathan Gage, of Newburyport, with other Templar Masons, assembled
in the Masonic Hall at Providence and formed this Grand Encampment.” “There
they assembled and laid the foundation of Templar Masonry, as we recognize it
to-day.” “ This Grand Encampment was the germ of Templar Masonry as now
organized in the
Perhaps no person in the
“We have then for our gratification, not only the fact, which is now universally conceded, that this Grand Encampment is the oldest Grand Body of Masonic Knighthood upon this continent, but also that it has furnished the ritual which is now used in all the bodies, both Grand and Subordinate, within the United States.
“The English Order, from which our fathers in this Grand
Encampment derived the elements of our ritual, is termed the ‘Masonic Knights Templar’s Conclave’ in open and avowed confession of the
dependence of the Order upon the Masonic institution. I need but allude to the
ritual to convince you that it was built upon Masonry, and that the form and
manner of our work are eminently Masonic. In its teachings and its ceremonials,
this Order of the
“It is worthy of notice, from the establishment of this
Grand Encampment to the present time, it has been one of the most conservative
bodies of Knighthood in the
A Warrant was issued to organize a commandery called “Popocatapetl,” No. 1, for the Federal Districts of Mexico, dated September 1893.
The Grand Commandery of Michigan
was instituted by the Grand Master of the General Grand Encampment, in person,
who installed the Grand Officers January 11, 1858. The first Warrant was issued
February 13, 1857. The first commandery organized was
Peninsular, No. 4, at
De Molay, No. 6,
Peninsular, No. 4, it appears from the record, declined to place herself under the Grand Commandery of the State and regularly sent her returns and dues to the General Grand Recorder, acknowledging no other superior than the Grand Encampment from which she received her Charter on September 10, 1856. The controversy was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence, which thoroughly examined the whole matter and the principles of State-Sovereignty in a report and offered the following:
“Resolved, That the Grand Commandery of Michigan, from the date of its formation has of right exercised sole and exclusive jurisdiction over all subordinates in that State.
“Resolved, That all dues paid by Peninsular Commandery, No. 4, to the Grand Recorder of this Grand Encampment, occurring since the formation of the Grand Commandery of Michigan, be paid to the Grand Recorder of that body.”
Which resolutions were adopted. The following was then adopted:
“Resolved, That at the formation of a State Grand Commandery, it is the right as well as the duty of every subordinate in the State, whether Chartered or under Dispensation, to enroll itself under such State Grand Commandery, and respect and obey its laws and regulations.” (3)
The Grand Commandery of Minnesota was constituted October 23, 1865. The following were the subordinate commanderies :
Coeur de Leon, at
The Grand Commandery of the
State of
21, 1857. The order to establish the Grand Commandery
(1) Proceedings of General Grand Encampment, 1859, p. 39.
(2) Ibid., p. 53.
(3) Ibid., p. 56. was first issued December 5, 1856, and renewed December 22, 1856. The subordinate commanderies were :
Magnolia, No. 2, at
The Grand Commandery for the
State of
Approved September 16, 1859. (1)
St. Loius No. 1, at
Weston, No. 2; dispensation March 9, 1853, and chartered September 10, 1853.
The Grand Commandery of Montana was constituted May 14, 1888. Constituent commanderies:
Virginia City, No. 1, at
The Grand Commandery of Nebraska was constituted December 27, 1871 (statement of 1895). (Statement of 1880 has 28th.)
The first commandery was
The first commandery organized
in
The Grand Commandery of New Hampshire was constituted September 28, 1897.
The first subordinate encampment which was warranted was
Trinity, No. 2, located at first at
De Witt Clinton, No. 1,
North Star, No. 3,
The Grand Commandery of New Jersey was constituted February 14, 1860, by the approval of the General Grand Encampment dated September 16, 1859.
The first subordinate commandery
was Hugh de Payens, No. 1, at
St. Bernard, No. 2, at Hightstown ; by dispensation March 27, 1859, and Charter September 16, 1859; constituted October 12, 1859.
The first commandery organized
in
The next was
Pilgrim, No. 3, at
McGorty, No. 4, at Deming; dispensation July 13, 1886; chartered September 23, 1886.
Aztec, No. 5, at Raton; dispensation November 16, 1892; chartered August 29, 1895, and constituted December 20, 1895.
Rio Hundo, No. 6, at Reswell; dispensation June 17, 1895 Charter August 29, 1895; constituted November 30, 1895.
The Grand Encampment of New York was formed ab origine, June 18, 1814.
There is no history of the regular formation of this Grand
Encampment. In the history of the organization of the General Grand Encampment
we have shown how the formation occurred. We are reminded of the remark of an
old negro, who said: “Poor Marse Greely,
he never had no father or mother, ‘kase he said hisself that he was a ‘self-made man.’” Nevertheless, he
was the great editor of the great State of
The commencement of the Templar Order in
In the volume of Proceedings of the Grand Commandery, there is a history of the Templar Order in
Sir Knight Macoy said that “Sir
Knights anywhere in the
Sir Knight Parvin, on commenting upon Sir Knight Macoy, says: “And yet the few traces they have left did not confirm the position assumed by Sir Knight Macoy, but rather go to prove that the Sir Knights made in those days were made in Lodges or Chapters working under Lodge Warrants, except possibly in a few instances, where the degree of Knight Templar was conferred by officers of some of the bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite.”
In this we agree with Sir Knight Parvin.
Sir Knight Macoy, in his efforts to prove priority for New York in Templary, supports his statement as to the existence of the Order prior to 1785, quotes from old newspapers published in New York City, verified by reference to the reprint of the Grand Lodge Proceedings from 1781 to 1815,
published in 1876, by authority of the Grand Lodge.
This is shown in the order of procession on
Sir Knight Macoy says further: “We refer to what was known as Old Encampment, Grand Encampment, and sometimes as Morton’s Encampment, of which General Jacob Morton was for many years Grand Master. The date and circumstances under which this Grand Encampment was established are not definitely known. The general belief is that it was the body of Knights
Templars that participated in the celebrations of St. John’s Day, December 27, 1785, June 24, 1789, and agan in 1795. The first published list of this Commandery appeared in 1796, when Jacob Morton was Grand Master. The body continued to hold stated meetings until 1810, when it disappeared. Gen’l Jacob Morton was admitted an honorary member of the Grand Encampment of the State in 1815.”
Reference is also made in these transactions of the Grand Lodge to the attendance of the “Knights Templars in the form as directed by their presiding officer,” etc., at the observance of “the solemn funeral rites in commemoration of our illustrious Brother, George Washington, with a procession,” etc.
At the first conclave after the formation of the Grand Encampment of the State, in June, 1814, the Grand Orator “delivered a discourse in which he gave a historical sketch of the foundation of the Order of Knights Templars, in a style calculated to excite the liveliest interest, which was manifested by reiterated applause; and in order, at the same time, to perpetuate the motives that led to the establishment of this Grand Encampment as the ground-work of our future operations. He concluded by giving the following concise account of the proceedings and the ceremonial that took place at its formation by the Sov.’. Grand Consistory of Chiefs of Exalted Masonry for the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies, at their Asylum, held in the City of New Vork, on the 22d day of the month Shebath, of the Hebrew year, 7813, corresponding with the eleventh month, A.L. 5813; January A.D. 1814, and the foundation of our order the 694th year, and at which most, if not all, the members here present assisted.
“The numerous Encampments of Knights Templars now existing within this State, being self-created bodies, are consequently governed by their own private and individual laws, acknowledging no superior authority, because, in fact, none heretofore existed.”
The consistory itself which authorized this Grand Encampment was a self-constituted body of the Cerneau creation without any authority, and pirated degrees which never belonged to the Ancient and Accepted Rite, and thue is no evidence whatever that Cerneau or any of the members of that
consistory had ever received the Templar or Red Cross degree. At this conclave De Witt Clinton was chosen Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, who was not present; and by reference to all the Proceedings from 1814 to 1826 we do not find him as being present at a single conclave, although he was re-elected at every election until his death, which occurred in 1828.
At the conclave held May 22, 1815, Columbian Encampment, No. 5, was voted to have a Charter of Recognition, and it was also, voted “that the numerical characteristics 1, 2, 3, 4, be kept in reserve for the several encampments already established within this State, and in the order which they now respectively stands should they or any of them apply for a renewal of their Charters under the Grand Encampment.”
At the conclave held May 4, 1816, a Charter was granted upon the petition of “a collective body of Sir Knights Templars, Royal Arch Masons and Members of the Sov.’. Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of Louisiana, sitting at New Orleans, authorizing them to open and to hold, in a regular and authentic manner, an encampment of Sir Knights of the Red Cross, Most Holy and Illustrious Knights of Malta, Knights of the Mediterranean Pass and Invincible Knights Templars, to be under and subject to the jurisdiction of that Grand Encampment and who had formed themselves into a provisory association under the title of Louisiana Encampment, No. ___, until the pleasure and sanction of the Supreme Body be known and obtained. This was known as No 6.
At the conclave held June 9, 1816, a delegate was chosen
to represent the Grand Encampment in the convention of representatives from the
Grand Encampments of the several States in the Union, to be held at
The history of that coovention has already been written in Chapter LIII.
At the annual conclave held June 29, 1816, Columbian
Encampment, was the first encampment to be represented in any conclave. A
Charter was also issued for an encampment of Knights Templars
and Appendant Orders, sitting at
By a special conclave the Grand Recorder was instructed to
correspond with Sir Thomas Smith Webb, Deputy General Grand Master, requesting
copies of the Constitution of the General Grand Encampment of the
At the annual conclave a committee reported and submitted a form of new constitution and it was adopted.
The preamble sets forth :
“The Grand Encampment of the State of New York having by its representatives assisted to form the General Grand Encampment of the United States of America, and having acknowledged the supreme authority of the same, did, on the 11th day of December, A.D. 1820, in full session, upon report of a committee appointed to revise the former constitution, adopt the former constitution for its future government.”
From the minutes of the special conclave held on Trinity
Sunday, June 17, 1821, for the purpose of installing the Grand Officers, after
which a resolution was adopted to transmit certain copies of the constitution
to different parties, the only subordinate encampments mentioned are Columbian,
No. 5, in New York, and Indivisible Friends, No. 6, in New Orleans, which No. 6
was originally chartered as Louisiana Encampment. Copies were also sent to the encampments at
At the special conclave held February 8, 1823, upon
application therefor, a Warrant was issued to Utica
Encampment, No. 7, at
At the special conclave held August 16, 1823, upon
application therefor, a Warrant was issued to form
Morton Encampment, No. 4, in the city of
At the special conclave held September, 1824, upon
application therefor, a Warrant was issued to LaFayette Encampment, No. 7, in the city of
At the annual conclave there were present the
representatives or proxies of Columbian, No. 1;
At the annual conclave held June 9, 1826, a Warrant was
issued to Watertown Encampment, No. 11, at Watertown, to which a dispensation
had been granted previously (no date mentioned). At the special conclave held September
18, 1826, an order was passed to authorize a dispensation to be issued to form
an encampment in the
A Warrant was issued to New Jerusalem Encampment, No. 13,
in
A Warrant was also issued to Monroe Encampment, No. 12, a dispensation leaving been granted to this encampment in Rochester, ordered September 16, 1826.
Genesee Encampment was authorized to change its location
from Le Roy to
At a special conclave held February 20, 1808, resolutions were adopted on the death of their distinguished Chief, De Witt Clinton.
At the annual conclave held June 6, 1828, a Warrant was
ordered to be issued to Clinton Encampment, No. 14, in
We have now brought the history of this important Grand Encampment down from its doubtful origin to the death of the distinguished Chief, who was also the Head and Mainstay of the General Grand Encampment until his death, and our limits in this chapter will not permit us to proceed any further, and we close by observing that no single Grand Commandery has exerted greater influence for good and the prosperity of Templar Masonry than the Grand Commandery of the Empire State.
“Esto perpetua.”
The Grand Commandery of North Carolina was constituted May 10, 1881.
The first official notice of Templarism
is found in the Proceedings of the Grand Encampment of the
In the report of the General Grand Recorder at the tenth meeting, held September 14, 1847, he stated that a dispensation had been issued to that Encampment, but whether a Charter was granted he is unable to say. “Certain it is, the encampment is known to have ceased all operations many years ago, although it is said a Charter was known to have existed.”
The General Grand Recorder also stated:
“Some time in 1845 a Sir Kright
from Richmond, Virginia, and another from another State, not now recollected,
assisted by a most respectable Sir Knight of Wilmington, North Carolina, who,
it is said, had seen the Charter which had there been consumed by fire, held a
meeting and conferred the degrees of Knighthood upon so many Royal Arch Masons
as seemed to them sufficient to form an Encampment; and, having done so, they
proceeded to elect officers and to organize an encampment. This being done, the
Recorder of that body so formed wrote to the undersigned, requesting that another
Charter might be furnished them. Being informed that all their proceedings were
irregular, it is believed they proceeded no further, but he can not assert with
certainty that such is the fact” Fayetteville Encanmpment,
at
December 21, 1821; as before stated.
Wilmington Encampment, at
The following was adopted at the conclave of the General Grand Encampment September 16, 1850.
“Resolved, That the letter of P.W. Fanning, dated Wilmington, North Carolina, September 8, 1850, with its enclosure, being referred to the General Grand Recorder, to reply to the same, and with the view of authorizing the Sir Knights of Wilmington and
Fayetteville to resume their labors as Encampments subordinate to this General Grand Encampment; and that the Most Excellent General Grand Master is empowered, in his discretion and upon examination into the merits of the case, the authorizing of a charter in the place of the one lost, without other than the Recorder’s fee as to him may appear just and expedient.”
The Grand Commandery of North Dakota was constituted June 16, 1890.
The Grand Encampment of the State of
The first subordinate encampment was established at
The second was
The third was
The fouth was
The fifth was
The sixth was
The seventh was
22, 1843, and Charter September 12, 1844, which was
originally
The Grand Commandery of Oklahoma was constituted by authority of the Grand General Encampment February 10, 1896. Warrant to form Grand Commandery dated November 8, 1895. (1) The subordinate commanderies were :
Guthrie, No. 1, at Guthrie; by dispensation November 17, 1892, and Charter December 22, 1892.
Ascension, No. 3, at El Remo; by dispensation May 8, 1893, and Charter August 29, 1895, and was instituted December 3, 1895.
The Grand Commandery of Oregon was constituted April 13, 1887.
Ivanhoe, No. 2, at
The commencement of the Templar Order in
“The history of Templarism in
Sir Knight Creigh then enters
into a statement of some historical and other dates to show that the four
subordinate encampments which organized the Grand Encampment were regularly
constituted prior to the formation of the Grand Body. But, however, he finds
that from the published By-Laws of Nos. 1
and 2, of
It is very remarkable that in those ancient times the years never had any months or days.-EDITOR. up a complete and unbroken organization until June 13, 1824, and No. 2 was merged into it December 27, 1812, as above noticed.
After 1824 all the subordinate encampments ceased to labor except
In May, 1852, (1) St. John’s, No. 4; Philadelphia, No. 5; Union, No. 6; and De Molay, of Reading, established a Grand Encampment, under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, but the Grand Lodge on February 16, 1857, resolved (very wisely, if very late) that they had no authority over the degrees of Knighthood, but that its legitimate sphere was the primitive degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry; a union was therefore effected, and both Grand Encampments of Pennsylvania since 1857 acknowledge as their legal head the Grand Encampment of Knights Templars of the United States.
Prior to April 12, 1854, the subordinate encampments had no
We suppose again, May had no days then! governing head. Their charters were derived
from the General Grand Encampment of the
Pittsburg Encampment, No. 1;
Jacques De Molay (of
Philadelphia Encampment, No. 5; Union Encampment (of
It was firmly believed and maintained by the Brethren of Pennsylvania that the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was the source of all Masonic authority within her geographical limits, and they were sustained by reference to the fact that Templar Encampments were held under Blue Lodge
Warrants; that in
A Warrant was issued by the General Grand Master of the
General Grand Encampment, authorizing the formation of a Grand Encampment of
Pennsylvania. A convention met at
The other encampments met in
After some time, committees of conferences having been appointed by both bodies and duly considered the condition of Templary with two contending rival bodies, good counsel prevailed. The supremacy of the General Grand Encampment was acknowledged and the union was finally
accomplished, which was officially proclaimed by R. E. Sir W. W. Wilson, Grand Commander of
the Grand Commandery, June 1, 1857, and subsequently
by M. E. Sir William B. Hubbard, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the
It is claimed for
In the work by Theodore S. Gourdin, from which we have quoted, we derive the principal sources of our information, and also from the address of the Grand Master of Templars to the Grand Encampment August, 1883, as well as from Companion Albert G. Mackey’s History of Freemasonry in South Carolina, are we indebted for what is now considered a very near approach to the period of the introduction of the Order of the Temple, and we may, with some degree of exactness, say that an encampment did exist prior to the date of the patent referred to, which was issued August 1, 1783. As this document has been fully described, we need not here dwell upon it, and rest the case.
The following are the commanderies now in that State, which are subordinate to the General Grand Encampment :
On September 29, 1823, a Charter of Recognition was issued, as the encampment had been working for many years prior to the organization of the General Grand Encampment.
Columbia No. 2, at
Note. -There was an encampment named
The Grand Commandery of South
Dakota was constituted May 14, 1884; being within the boundaries of the State
of
The Grand Commandery of Tennessee was constituted October 11 1859.
Approved September 16, 1859.
The subordinate commanderies were:
Dispensation.
Dispensation Chartered
September 14, 1847
Yorkville, No. 2, at Yorkville.... July 10, 1857.
September 17, 1859
De Molay, No. 3, at
September 16, 1859
September 16, 1859
The Grand Commandery of Texas was constituted January 18, 1855. A Warrant had been issued by the General Grand Master to form and establish this Grand Encampment December 31, 1853.
The subordinate commanderies
were San Filipe de Austin, No, 1, at
Ruthven No. 2, Houston; by dispensation February 2, 1848, and Charter September 11, 1850.
The following subordrate conmmanderies were organized in
The Grand Encampment of Vermont was constituted August 14, 1851.
December, 1850, consent was given to three encampments to form a Grand Commandery.
The Grand Encampment of Virginia was constituted November 27, 1823.
The history of the old encampments is very interesting, but is too lengthy for our pages. (See Proceedings of General Grand Encampment.) The subordinate encampments in the State were:
These three encampments were erased September 17, 1847.
It appears from all that can be learned in the Proceedings of the General Grand Encampment from 1823, that the Grand Encampment of Virginia, which in the Proceedings is only recorded as having been organized “prior to 1826,” did not continue very long. The encampments at Richmond, Harper’s Ferry, and Winchester, two of which held charters of recognition, and one of constitution from the General Grand Encampment, the report of a committee in 1847 says: “About 1826 these three Encampments formed a Grand Encampment for the State, which, in that year, was represented in the General Grand Encampment (Sir James Cushman).
“Nothing further is known of this Grand Encampment, but it
is presumed to have ceased to exist soon after its organization; for it appears
that in 1858 a dispensation, and subsequently a Charter, was granted by this
General Grand Encampment to a commandery to be
located at Wheeling in that State. Matters continued in this condition until
this 11th of December, 1845, when delegates from sundry Encampments,
including the three owing their allegiance to the General Grand Body, met at
“Such is a brief Statement of the facts. Your Committee are of the Opinion that when the original Grand Encampment of Virginia ceased to exist, jurisdiction over the State reverted to this body.
“And this seems to have been the view entertained in 1838,
when this General Grand Encampment established an Encampment at
“They are also of the opinion that immediate jurisdiction
over, at least, the three Subordinate Encampments, which derived their
authority from this body, also reverted to its original source. This being true,
there was no power vested in the Subordinate Encampments in
“It follows therefore, that the body now existing, and
styling itself the Grand Encampment of Virginia, is irregular and unauthorized.
It refuses alilegiatice to this General Grand
Encampment, and denies its authority in the State of
In 1871, at the Tiennial
Encampment, a memorial from the Grand Commandery of
Virginia was presented by Sir Knights W. B, Isaacs and R. E. Withers “Asking
leave to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment of the
This committee made a lengthy report, in which they answered the reasons for a separation as set forth in the memorial, and presented the following:
“Resolved, That the Grand Encampment entertaining for the Grand Commandery of Virginia the most courteous and friendly feeling of fraternal brotherhood, and being anxious to preserve intact the knightly array of the constituent Grand Commanderies and to continue to preserve the good, well-being, and perpetuation of ‘Templar Masonry,’ does decline and refuse ‘to allow the Grand Commandery of Virginia, in peace, in honor, and in recognition, to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment’ as prayed for in its memorial.
Respectfully submitted by the Committee,
“THEODORE S. PARVIN,
“CHARLES W. WOODRUFF,
“ RICHARD F. KNOTT.”
N.B. - Subsequently Sir Knight Isaacs was made the General Grand Recorder, and Sir Knight Withers the General Grand Master, of the General Grand Encampment.
The Grand Commandery was organized June 2, 1887.
Washington Commandery, No. 1, at
Cataract, No. 3, at
Ivanhoe, No. 4, at
After the formation of West Virginia State the Grand Encampment did not claim the commanderies therein as its immediate subordinates, nor exercised any power in West Virginia hostile to the jurisdictional claim of the Grand Commandery of Virginia. (2) The Grand Commandery of West Virginia was organized by P.G.M. James H. Hopkins, February 25, 1874. In the history of the Grand Commandery of Virginia we have shown the subordinate commanderies which were located in the present State of West Virginia, viz., Warren, at Harper’s Ferry; Winchester, at Winchester; and Wheeling, No. 1, at Wheeling.
The Grand Commandery of
Wisconsin was organized October 20, 1859.
Note. - We have been unable to find any reference in the
Proceedings of the General Grand Encampment prior to 1859 of any other
encampment in
The Grand Commandery of Wyoming was organized by authority of the General Grand Encampment September 23, 1886, and constituted March 8, 1888.
The constituent commanderies were:
Place Dispensation. Charter
December 3, 1874
Ivanhoe, No. 2.....Rawlins.....February 9, 1885.
February 16, 1885
September 23, 1886
Immanuel No. 3....
May 18, 1886.
September 23, 1886
The action taken by the Grand Lodge of the State of
It is due to our Brethren in Washington to say, that when it became known to the Craft at large in that State that the movement, on the part of their leading men, thus to drag in the dust the proud banner of Masonry had aroused the ire of every Grand Lodge in the country, at the succeeding Communication in June, 1899, the obnoxious resolutions were annulled and former harmonious and cordial relations have been restored.
We now proceed to use Brother Gardner’s admirable address to give a true history of Prince Hall Lodge:
Address.
BRETHREN: In the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, at its
session held at
In this report the following statements are made:
“In“The American doctrine of Grand Lodge jurisdiction has
grown up since” the establishment of the African Lodge at Boston, by authority
of a Charter from the Grand Lodge of England, “and is not elsewhere fully
received even now; besides, there was then no Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, or
in that State, whose rights could be interfered with; for, notwithstanding the claim
to antiquity of that Grand Lodge, it was not formed till 1792, and the two
Provincial Grand Lodges, before existing in that Colony, both expired in 1775
by the death of their Provincial Grand Masters. The Massachusetts Grand Lodge
did not pretend to meet after the death of
If this report had been read to the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, its venerable Past Grand Masters, Israel Hunt and Horace Chase, then present, could have informed the Committee on Foreign Correspondence that they were treading upon dangerous ground, and alluding to a delicate subject.
The Grand Lodge of New Hampshire was organized on the 8th of July, 1789, by four Deputies from St. John’s Lodge of Portsmouth, chartered by the Massachusetts “St. John’s Grand Lodge” June 24, 1734, and one Deputy from Rising Sun Lodge of Keene, chartered by the “Massachusetts Grand Lodge” March 5, 1784 - five Deputies from two Lodges. All Masonic authorities claim that, to organize a legitimate Grand Lodge, there must be present the representatives of “not less than three Lodges holding Charters or Warrants from some legal Grand Lodge.”
All the Lodges in
November 8, 1781, the “Massachusetts Grand Lodge”
chartered a Lodge at Cornish, then claimed to be a part of
Rising Sun, of
The “Massachusetts Grand Lodge” granted a Charter for a
Lodge at
Dartmouth Lodge, of
The Grand Secretary, Horace Chase, says, that when the Grand
Lodge of New Hampshire was formed, July 8, 1789, “as appears from the record
there were but three Lodges in the State, viz.,
However irregularly organized the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire may have been the “Massachusetts Grand Lodge” disclaimed jurisdiction in that State thereafter. It is unnecessary to state that this Grand Lodge, since 1789 to the present time, has been on the most friendly and fraternal relations with our sister Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, and that it will require something more than unauthorized and unconfirmed statements of a Committee on Foreign Correspondence to unsettle these pleasant relations.
Nevertheless, when it is pretended before a body of such great respectability as the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, that, in 1784, when it is said the “African Lodge” in Boston obtained its Charter in England, there was no existing Grand Lodge in Massachusetts, for the purpose of proving the then and present legitimacy of the African Lodge, and of adding the weight and influence of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire to this pretense, it is due to ourselves, and to the Craft universal, that the truth should be fully known and fearlessly spoken.
The time is propitious to meet this false pretense, and I need but resume the history of the “Massachusetts Grand Lodge” where it was left at its Centennial on the recent Feast of St. John the Evangelist.
The system of Provincial Grand Lodges originated in the
Grand Lodge of England in 1726, and arose from the necessity of having, in the
distant colonies of
Each Lodge in the Province had the right of representation in the Provincial Grand Lodge, by its Master and Wardens or by a regularly appointed representative, and the expenses of the Grand Body were assessed upon the various subordinates. The right of appeal existed from every act and decision of the Provincial Grand Master or Grand Lodge, to the Grand Master of England, thus making the Provincial and his Grand Lodge subordinate to the power by which they were created.
The allegiance of the Lodges and of the Craft was to the Grand Lodge of England, and to the Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Master, through the parent Body. There was no direct allegiance to the Provincial from the Craft. It was a temporary power which he held ex gratis, and of which he could be deprived at the pleasure of the Grand Master by whom he was appointed.
Thus it will be seen that the Provincial Grand Master was
appointed for the convenience of the administration of the affairs of the Grand
Lodge of England in distant parts, in the same manner that our District
Deputies are appointed at the present time. The powers, however, in the one
case, were more extended than they are in the other. The means of communication
with
The Provincial Grand Master having been regularly commissioned and installed, could not resign his trust to his Provincial Grand Lodge. That Body had no power to accept it. His resignation must be made to the Grand Master from whom he received his commission. The Provincial Grand Lodge was the creation of the Provincial Grand Master, and was wholly under his direction and control. He appointed its officers, and summoned the representatives of the Lodges to assemble in Grand Lodge. In this Grand Lodge there was no inherent power, save what it derived from the Provincial Grand Master, by virtue of his delegated authority, thus making it the very reverse of a Sovereign Grand Lodge, the Grand Master of which derives his authority from the Sovereign Body by whose votes he is elected to office, and over which he presides.
The Grand Master appointing his Provincial, could annul the commission at his will and pleasure. The officer being created by the pleasure of the Grand Master of England, all the adjuncts, appointees, and creations of the office depended upon the same pleasure, and existed during the will of the appointing power. If a Provincial Grand Master was removed, and his commission recalled, and the Grand Master declined to appoint his successor, it is clear that the Provincial Grand Lodge established by virtue of such commission would cease to exist. Such a Grand Lodge never possessed any vitality which would survive the life of the commission appointing the Provincial Grand Master.
The death of the Provincial would also lead to the same result. The commission to him from the Grand Master would lose all its force upon his decease. Whatever act the Provincial performed, he did by virtue of the commission to him. His Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, appointed by trim, and not by the Grand Master of England, nor by his confirmation, derived their power and character as Grand Officers from the Provincial, and when the Provincial expired, their tenure of office expired also.
To show that these conclusions are correct, I will refer to the authorities.
The office of Provincial Grand Master was established by the
Grand Lodge of England, as has already been stated, in 1726, and the first
Deputation was granted May 10, 1727.
preside, and being invested with the power and honor of a Deputy Grand Master in his Province, may constitute Lodges therein, if the consent of the Masters and Wardens of three Lodges already constituted within his District have been obtained, and the Grand Lodge in London has not disapproved thereof. He wears the clothing of a Grand Officer, and ranks, in all public assemblies, immediately after Past Deputy Grand Master. He must, in person or by deputy, attend the quarterly meetings of the Masters and Wardens of the Lodges in his District, and transmit to the Grand Lodge, once in every year, the proceedings of those meetings, with a regular statement of the Lodges under his jurisdiction.”
Speaking of the year 1737, he says: “The authority granted by patent to a Provincial Grand Master was limited to one year from his first public appearance in that character within his Province; and if at the expiration of that period, a new election of the Lodges under his jurisdiction did not take place, subject to the approbation of the Grand Master, the patent was no longer valid. Hence we find, within the course of a few years, different appointments to the same station; but the office is now permanent, and the sole appointment of the Grand Master.”
In Entick’s Constitutions of 1756 there is a section entitled “Of Provincial Grand Masters,” which is as follows:
“Art. 1. The office of Provincial Grand Master was found particularly necessary in the year 1726; when the extraordinary increase of the Craftsmen, and their travelling into distant parts, and convening themselves into Lodges, required an immediate Head, to whom they might apply in all Cases, where it was not possible to wait the Decision or Opinion of the Grand Lodge.
“Art. 2. The appointment of this Grand Officer is a Prerogative of the Grand Master: who grants his Deputation to such Brother of Eminence and Ability in the Craft, as he shall think proper: not for life, but during his good Pleasure.
“Art. 3. The Provincial thus deputed, is invested with the Power and Honor of a Deputy Grand Master; and during the continuance of his Provincialship, is entitied to wear the Clothing, to take rank as the Grand Officers, in all publick Assemblies, immediately after the past Deputy Grand Masters: and to constitute Lodges within his own Province.
“Art. 4. He is enjoined to correspond with the Grand Lodge, and to transmit a circumstantial Account of his Proceedings, at least once in every Year. At which Times, the Provincial is required to send a List of those Lodges he has constituted for the general Fund of Charity: and the usual demand, as specified in his Deputation, for every Lodge he has constituted by the Grand Master’s Authority.”
The Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England have been more particular in specifying the powers, duties, and prerogatives of the Provincial Grand Master and Grand Lodge. I will refer to a single Section of these Constitutions:
“The Provincial Grand Lodge emanates from the authority vested in the Provincial Grand Master, and possesses no other powers than those specified. It therefore follows that no Provincial Grand Lodge can meet but by the sanction of the Provincial Grand Master or his Deputy; and that it ceases to exist on the death, resignation, suspension, or removal of the Provincial Grand Master, until some Brother is duly appointed or empowered to perform the functions of Provincial Grand Master, by whose authority the Provincial Grand Lodge may be again established.”
In
The commissions were issued “to continue in force until
re-called.” In 1800 a series of regulations for the government of thesc officers were sanctioned by the Grand Lodge, previous
to which time it is presumed that they were governed by the same rules and
regulations as in
More recently, the “Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge” have provided that the “meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodges shall not be interrupted by the death or retirement of the Provincial Grand Master, unless the Grand Lodge shall not deem it expedient within the space of one year to appoint another. A Provincial Grand Lodge not assembling for the space of two years, also becomes dormant, and has no power again to call meetings, unless empowered by the Provincial Grand Master, or by the order of the Grand Lodge or Grand Committee” -“When a Provincial Grand Lodge becomes dormant the Lodges in the District come under the immediate supervision of the Grand Lodge and Grand Committee.”
These new rules and regulations were made to prevent the disruption of the Provincial Grand Lodges, which was inevitable upon the decease of the Provincial Grand Master.
In
If these authorities support the position taken, and if the
conclusions arrived at are correct, it follows beyond all controversy that when
Provincial Grand Master Joseph Warren expired on Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775,
the Provincial Grand Lodge, of which he was the essence and life, expired also,
and with it all the offices of which it was composed. The Lodges established by
him, and by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, were not affected thereby, as has
already appeared. They were, or should have been, registered in
The conclusion of the Eulogy pronounced by Br. Perez
Morton at the re-interment of Joseph Warren, April 8, 1776, was devoted to the
subject of independence, which was then agitating the Colonies. Some of the
language made use of by him upon this occasion seems to foreshadow the Masonic
independence of
On the 4th of July following, “The Declaration of Independence” was, by order of Congress, engrossed and signed, by which the United Colonies declared themselves to be free and independent States. The effect of this declaration upon the Colonies I need not allude to; Massachusetts, by virtue of its claim, became a free, independent, sovereign State and the spirit of freedom and independence of Great Britain became infused into every organization and society which before this were bound and dependent.
It was an absolute revolution, by which a dependent colony
became revolutionized into an independent State. The idea of a permanent union
of the States had then hardly been broached. They had united for defence
against a common foe, and had set themselves up as independent States, not only
independent of
The Institution of Freemasonry, which numbered among its
firmest adherents such revolutionists as Webb,
“The Patriot Grand Master, who fell in his might-The second of three - in defence of the right!”
“The American Doctrine of Grand Lodge jurisdiction,” briefly stated, is this: “Three regularly-chartered Lodges existing in any State or Territory have the right to establish a Grand Lodge therein. Such Grand Lodge, when lawfully organized, has sole, absolute, and exclusive jurisdiction over the three degrees of Craft Masonry; over the Lodges and their Members; and over all Masons, unaffiliated as well as affiliated, in such State or Territory. No other Grand Lodge whatever can lawfully interfere with this jurisdiction, and can neither establish Lodges in such State, nor continue any authority over Bodies which it might properly have exercised prior to the organization of such Grand Lodge therein.”
By the erection of a Grand Lodge in such State, all Masonic powers over what is popularly called Blue Masonry are merged in it, and henceforth it exists therein supreme and sovereign over a jurisdiction which it can neither divide nor share with any other Masonic Grand Body in the world.
The several States of the
The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the Grand Lodge of New York :
“Whereas, The Grand Lodge of the State of Massachusetts have by a communication, dated the 4th of January last, suggested to this Grand Lodge the propriety of adopting a resolution declaring that no Charter or Dispensation for holding a Lodge be issued by any Grand Lodge to any number of Masons residing out of the State wherein the Grand Lodge is established, be it therefore
“Resolved and declared by this Grand Lodge, that no Charter or Dispensation for holding a Lodge of Masons shall be granted to any person or persons whatever, residing out of this State and within the jurisdiction of any other Grand Lodge.”
The Grand Lodges of the
The Feast of St. John the Evangelist, in 1776, was
celebrated, and the record shows that a Grand Lodge was held by thirty-three
brethren, Joseph Webb presiding as Deputy Grand Master. A Grand Lodge was
called by the Deputy of Warren, February 14, 1777, to hear the petition for a
Charter at Stockbridge, of brethren in
On the 7th of March the brethren met, and
adjourned until the following evening. March 8, 1777, the following brethren
assembled, representing St. Andrew’s
Lodge, of
R.W. Joseph Webb, D.G.M., of St. Andrew’s Lodge,
Nat. Peirce, G. Sec. pro tem.,
of St. Andrew’s Lodge,
Philip Marett,
Wintrop Grey,
Wm. Greenough, M., of St Peter’s Lodge Newburyport. The brethren then unanimously elected a Grand Master, Grand Wardens, and other Grand Officers. Joseph Webb was chosen Grand Master.
The Grand Lodge then acted upon the petition for a new Lodge at Stockbridge, and granted the same; this being the first act of the Independent Grand Lodge.
Massachusetts Lodge, of
The record of the meeting setting up the Independent Grand Lodge contains no account of the motives and incentives which gave rise to this action.
Grand Master Joseph Webb sent the following letter to the Grand Lodge of Georgia, which has recently been discovered by R.W. Br. I.E. Blackshear, Grand Secretary of that State:
“
“To the Right Worshipful, the Grand Master, Dep. G.M., G.
Wardens, and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Savannah in
“GENTLEMEN
“JOS.
G.M. Com. Wealt
(Received 27th April.)
Josiah Bartlett, afterward Grand Master, in an address before the Grand Lodge, said:
“How to assemble the Grand Lodge with regularity, was now made a serious question, as the commission of the Grand Master had died with him, and the Deputy had no power independent of his nomination and appointment.
“Communications for the consideration of this subject were held at different times, till the 8th of March, 1777, when, experiencing the necessity of preserving the intercourse of the brethren, and the want of a proper establishment to soften the rigors of an active and distressing war, they proceeded to the formation of an Independent Grand Lodge, with ‘powers and preyogatives to be exercised on principles consistent with and subordinate to the regulations pointed out in the Constitutions of Ancient Masonry,’ and our late worthy and Most Worshipful Brother, Joseph Webb, Esquire, whose amiable deportment and fidelity in the duties of his important office now claim our grateful remembrance, was duly elected Grand Master, and pyoceeded to install his officers, and organize the Grand Lodge.”
Thaddeus M. Harris, who compiled the Constitutions in
1792, referring to this act of independence, quotes the above extract from
The record itself, of December 6, 1782, recies the facts:
“Charters were not only granted for establishing Lodges in
should be in force only until a Grand Lodge was formed in
such State or Country where such Lodges were held. Upon these conditions Lodges
were established in
“In October, 1778, it was voted that a Charter be granted
to a traveling Lodge in the American army, to make
Masons, pass, and raise, in this State, or any of the
In September, 1780, the Grand Master “laid before the Grand Lodge a letter dated Philadelphia, August 19, 1780, signed William Smith, Grand Secretary, inclosing a printed list of the several Lodges in Pennsylvania under that jurisdiction, and advising that they had, in that Grand Lodge, thought it expedient to make choice of a Grand Master General, for the thirteen United American States; that they had nominated His Excellency General George Washington, and requesting the opinion and approbation of this Grand Lodge thereon.”
“Circular letters were sent to the several Lodges under the jurisdiction requesting the attendance of the Masters and Wardens at the Grand Lodge, for the purpose of considering this proposition. Brother Perez Morton was strongly in favor of the project, but the Grand Lodge Voted, That any determination upon the subject cannot, with the propriety and justice due to the Craft at large, be made by this Grand Lodge, until a general peace shall happily take place through the continent, inasmuch as the sentiments of the various Grand Lodges in the United States upon this question could not be made known under the peculiar circumstances of public affairs.”
On the 10th of July, 1782, it was “Voted, That a committee be appointed to draw resolutions explanatory of the powers and authority of this Grand Lodge, respecting the extent and meaning of its jurisdiction, and of the exercise of any other masonic authorities within its jurisdiction.” Brothers Perez Morton, Paul Revere, John Warren, James Avery, and John Juteau were appointed upon the committee.
A special meeting of the Grand Lodge was called to receive the report, September 30, 1782, when it was read and referred to the next meeting. December 6, 1782, in a full Grand Lodge, it was considered.
This interesting report, omitting the formal introduction, is as follows:
“The Commission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland granted to our late Grand Master, Joseph Warren, Esquire, having died with him, and of course his deputy, whose appointment was derived from his nomination, being no longer in existence, they saw themselves without a head, and without a single Grand Officer, and of course it was evident that not only the Grand Lodge, but all the particular Lodges under its jurisdiction, must cease to assemble, the brethren be dispersed, the penniless go unassisted, the Craft languish, and ancient Masonry be extinct in this part of the world.
“That in consequence of a summons from the former Grand Wardens to the Masters and Wardens of all the regular constituted Lodges, a Grand Communication was held to consult and advise on some means to preserve the intercourse of the brethren.
“That the Political Head of this country, having destroyed all connection and correspondence between the subjects of these States and the country from which the Grand Lodge originally derived its commissioned authority, and the principles of the Craft, inculcating on its professors submission to the commands of the civil authority of the country they reside in, the brethren did assume an elective supremacy, and under it chose a Grand Master and Grand Officers, and erected a Grand Lodge with independent powers and prerogatives, to be exercised, however, on principles consistent with and subordinate to the regulations pointed out in the Constitution of Ancient Masonry.
“That the reputation and utility of the Craft, under their jurisdiction, has been most extensively diffused, by the flourishing state of fourteen Lodges constituted by their authority within a shorter period than that in which three only received Dispensations under the former Grand Lodge.
“That in the history of our Craft we find that in England there are two Grand Lodges, independent of each other; in Scotland the same, and in Ireland their Grand Lodge and Grand Master are independent either of England or Scotland. It is clear that the authority of some of their Grand Lodges originated in assumption, or otherwise they would acknowledge the head from whence they derived.
“Your committee are therefore of opinion that the doings of the present Grand Lodge were dictated by principles of the clearest necessity, founded in the highest reason, and warranted by precedents of the most approved authority.
“And they beg leave to recommend the following resolutions, to be adopted by the Grand Lodge and engrafted into its Constitutions:
“I. That the brethren of the Grand Lodge, in assuming the powers and prerogatives of an independent Grand Lodge, acted from the most laudable motives and consistently with the principles which ought forever to govern Masons, viz., the benefit of the Craft and the good of mankind, and are warranted in their proceedings by the practice of Ancient Masons in all parts of the world. (1)
II. That this Grand Lodge be hereafter known and called by the name of ‘The Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons,’ and that it is free and independent in its government and official authority of any other Grand Lodge or Grand Master in the universe.
“
“IV. That the Grand Master for the time being be desired to call in all Charters which were held under the jurisdiction of the late Grand Master, Joseph Warren, Esquire, and return the same with an endorsement thereon, expressive of their recognition of the power and authority of this Grand Lodge.
“V. That no person ought or can, consistently with the rules of Ancient Masonry, use or exercise the powers or prerogatives of an Ancient Grand Master or Grand Lodge, to wit: To give power to erect Lodges of ancient
Masonry, make Masons, appoint superior or Grand Officers, receive dues, or do anything which belongs to the powers or prerogatives of an ancient Grand Lodge within any part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rightful and appropriated limits to which the authority of this Grand Lodge forever hereafter extends.”
The foregoing report was signed by Perez Morton, Paul Revere, John Warren, and James Avery. It “was read paragraph by paragraph, and, after mature deliberation thereon, the same was accepted and ordered to be recorded in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge,” where it now appears, signed by “Jos. Webb, Grand Master.” A majority of the members of St. Andrew’s Lodge objected to this report, although, at a Grand Lodge held March 1, 1782, a petition from its Master, Wardens, and members was presented, “praying that the Grand Lodge would grant them a Charter by the ‘name of Saint Andrew,’ they retaining their rank and precedency as heretofore in said Grand Lodge,” which was unanimously granted.
“In 1768 John Rowe was appointed Provincial Grand Master
of the
“Thus by the record, and by contemporaneous history, it is fixed beyond all question and doubt that the ‘Massachusetts Grand Lodge’ on the 8th of March, 1777, by a revolution and by assumption of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a Grand Lodge, became a free, independent, sovereign Grand Lodge, with a jurisdiction absolute, exclusive, and entire throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a provisional jurisdiction in other States and countries. By this revolution and assumption, from that day to this, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, without interruption, has exercised all the plenary powers of a Grand Lodge. It has held Regular and Special Meetings, elected and installed its Grand Masters and other Grand Officers, kept full and complete records of its doings, granted Warrants for new Lodges, erected and erased Lodges, compelled and received the allegiance of its subordinates and their members, and has been in correspondence with and recognized by the other Grand Lodges of the world. From the 8th of March, 1777, to the day of this Quarterly mecting, the full and just - complete term of ninety-three years, there has never been any successful opposition to its claim of sovereignty. From time to time it has gathered into self every opposing element possessing even a colorable title to legitimacy which it found within the borders of its jurisdiction.”
“In the State of Massachusetts there have been three Lodges chartered by Grand Lodges of foreign jurisdictions, and but three - St. Andrew’s, chartered in 1756, by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and now one of our subordinates; Ancient York Lodge, No. 169, of Boston, chartered prior to 1772, by the Atholl Grand Lodge of England, and had but a brief existence; and the African Lodge, of Boston.
“It is claimed that in 1775 the persons named in the Charter of the African Lodge were made Masons in a traveling Lodge attached to one of the British regiments then stationed at Boston, and that they ‘were soon after organized as, and dispensated into a Lodge,’ before the death of Warren, to whom they applied for a Charter. That they were made Masons may be true. That they received a Dispensation for a Lodge there is not the least proof of, nor the slightest shadow of pretence for. Dispensations for Lodges, as preliminary to granting a Charter, were not made use of in those days. But more than all, there was no authorized power here to grant such Dispensation save Provincial Grand Masters Rowe and Warren. A traveling Lodge, although attached to a British regiment, could not authorize these persons to assessable as a Lodge. Nor was it ever pretended that such Dispensation existed until recently. This claim is nowhere stated directly, and contains so little foundation that it is not worth considering.”
The Massachusetts Grand Lodge, at its Session October 1, 1773, after mature deliberation, decided that neither the Lodge at Castle william, nor any other traveling Lodge, “ has any right to make Masons of any citizen.”
There is no doubt that, on the 6th of March, 1775, the day after Warren delivered his celebrated oration in the Old South Church, where he was menaced by British troops, Prince Hall and thirteen others received the three degrees in a traveling Lodge attached to one of the British regiments in the army of General Gage, by whom Boston was then garrisoned; that Prince Hall and his associates met as a Lodge thereafter in Boston, without any warrant or authority, until May, 1787.
Application was sent to
A Charter was granted September 29, 1784. It did not arrive at Boston for nearly three years, and was received April 29, 1787, and, on the 6th of May following, Prince Hall organized the “African Lodge,” at Boston, ten years after the Massachusetts Grand Lodge had asserted its freedom and independence; ten years after the American doctrine of Grand Lodge jurisdiction had been established.
“Without any other authoity than that contained in the Warrant for said Lodge, Prince Hall, the Master thereof, it is said, on the 22d of March, 1797, granted a Dispensation, preliminary to a Warrant, to certain persons in Philadelphia. Soon afterwards Prince Hall established a Lodge at Providence, R.I. African Lodge, of Boston, continued to act as a subordinate Lodge until 1808, when, with the assistance of the Lodges at Philadelphia and Providence, established as above stated, it organized a Grand Lodge at Boston, which Body granted Charters to several subordinates, not only in Massachusetts, but in several other States.”
The African Lodge declared its independence in June, 1827,
and published its Declaration in a newspaper printed at
“It is unnecessary to argue the masonic and legitimate effect of this Declaration. It was a surrender of their Charter, and a public declaration that from thenceforth they ceased to act under it, or to recognize its validity or the authority from whence it was derived. If the ‘African Lodge’ had any ‘existence at this time, by force of this Declaration its existence came to an end.”
A National Grand Lodge was formed in 1847; and, says the petition of Lewis Hayden and others to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, set out on page 132 of the Proceedings for 1869: “The African Lodge of Boston, becoming a part of that Body, surrendered its Charter, and received its present Charter, dated December 11, 1847, under the title of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and by which authority we this day exist as a Masonic Body.”
The Lodge prospered, but after the death of Prince Hall, December 4, 1807, aet. 72, it became dormant, and ceased. Upon the union of the Grand Lodges of England, in 1813, African Lodge, which had been registered as No. 459 and as 370, “was removed from the list,” and was never after recognized by the United Grand Lodge. The Declaration of 1827 complains “that the members of African Lodge could open no correspondence with the Grand Lodge of England, and that their communications and advances were treated with the most studied neglect.”
“Boyer Lodge, No. 1, was organized at
“Why this Charter was granted without the consent of the Lodges in Massachusetts, and without any correspondence concerning the propriety of the step, is a question which can be answered by every American who remembers the bitter hostility existing in England at that date towards the
successful rebels against the crown of
the petitioners commenced Work. The successors of the
persons named in that Charter have magnified the powers granted by it, have
construed it to confer upon them Grand Lodge powers, have set up by virtue of
it Grand Lodges, and finally a national Grand Lodge, with subordinate Staions and Lodges, and have established an ‘American
doctrine of Grand Lodge jurisdiction’ peculiar to themselves, distinct and
separate from any other Grand Lodge government known to man. Their National
Grand Body ‘claims and exercises masonic authority
over these
Lodges of these States.’”
The original Charter, granted September 29, 1784, under which the successors of the persons named have claimed to act from April, 1787, to the year 1847, and which was the only plausible authority by which they hope to be justified in their proceedings, was not only surrendered by operation of masonic law, June 18, 1827, by reason of the Declaration then made, but on the 11th of December, 1847, was actually in set form of words, and with premeditation, abandoned and surrendered, and if they now possess the parchment upon which it was written, it is kept only as a curious relic of the past, emasculated of its virility.
The first difficulty has been complicated with a National Grand Lodge, State Grand Lodges, and subordinate Lodges, so that it wail not be easy to escape from the triple bonds with which they have been bound.
This is purely a question of Grand Lodge jurisdiction which was settled and determined, September 17, 1797, by Massachusetts Grand Lodge, when it incorporated into its Constitution this Section:
“The Grand Lodge will not hold communication with, or admit as visitors, any Masons, residing in this State, who hold authority under, and acknowledge the supremacy of, any foreign Grand Lodge.”
In some form of language the same feature has existed in their Constitutions from 1797 to this day, and is as follows:
“No Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons can legally assemble in this Commonwealth under a Warrant granted by any foreign masonic power.” Which is a question of Grand Lodge jurisdiction.
“The Institution of Freemasonry is universal. It stretches from East to West, from North to South, and embraces within itself the representatives of every branch of the human family. Its carefully-tyled doors swing open, not at the knock of every man, but at the demand of every true and worthy man, duly accepted, whatever his religion, his race, or his country may be. This Grand Lodge stands upon the high vantage ground of this catholic society, and recognizes the great principles which must necessarily underlie an Institution which has a home on the continents and on the islands of the seas.”
“When that celebrated play of Terence, styled the ‘Self-Tormentor,’ wasfirst introduced upon the Roman Stage, before the great amphitheatrecrowded with Senators, knights, citizens, and men of rank, some of whom hadbeen found worthy of a Roman triumph, and Chremes, in his reply to
Menedemus, repeated these words,
‘Homo sum; humani nihil a me alienum puto’
(I am a man; nothing which relates to man is alien to me),
the vast assemblage rose up, impelled by a common sentiment,
and rent the air with reiterated plaudits. The memory of that scene has not yet
faded away. The words of Chremes have not yet ceased
to reverberate. We bear upon the Masons’ arms of
‘Humani nihil alienum.’”
(Man everywhere our brother.)
True Copy of the Charter of the African Lodge.
“Effingham, A.G.M. To all and every Right Worshipful and loving Brethren, we, Thomas Howard, &c., &c., &c., Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard, Acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, sends Greeting:
“Know ye, that we, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well beloved brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other brethren residing in Boston, New Zealand, in North America, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened
in Boston, aforesaid; and do further, at their said petition, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master, Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof, it
being any future election of officers of the Lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeably to such By-Laws of the said Lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every the said brethren are, or have been, regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Books of Constitutions; and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose an account of your proceedings in the Lodges, together with all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us, our successors Grand Masters or to Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, an account in writing of your proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the members of the Lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the Lodge and reasonably be expected towards the Grand Charity. Moreover, we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, as soon as conveniently may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.
“Given at
By the Grand Master’s Command.
“ROWLAND
Witness
WILLIAM WHITE,
“Grand Secretary.”
The “Massachusetts Centinal,”
printed at
“AFRICAN LODGE, “
By Captain Scott, from
“Signed
PRINCE
Extract from an Address of John V. De Grasse, before the “Prince Hall Grand Lodge” June 30, 1858: “Although, brethren, our Charter was granted in London, September 17, 1784, we did not receive it until April 29, 1787, through the neglect and almost culpable carelessness of Brother Gregory, who did not take it from the Office of the Grand Secretary, where it had remained over two years.” “On the 29th of April the Charter and a beautiful bound book of the Constitutions were delivered to Prince Hall.”
Declaration of Independence Published in a newspaper at
GREETING: “AFRICAN LODGE, NO. 459.
“GREETING:
“Be it known to all whom it may concern, That we, the Master, Wardens, Members of the African Lodge, No. 459, City Of Boston (Mass.), U.S. of America, hold in our possession a certain unlimited Charter, granted September 29, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784, by Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Acting Grand Master under the authority of his Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable society of Free and Accepted Masons. Be it further known, that the Charter alluded to bears the seal of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge at London, England, and was presented to our much esteemed and worthy brethren and predecessors, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several others, agreeably to a humble petition of theirs, sent in form to the above Grand Lodge. Be it remembered that, according to correct information as regards this instrument and the manner in which it was given, it appears to have been confined exclusively to the Africans, and to certain conditions. Whether the conditions have been complied with by our ancestors, we are unable to say; but we can add that, in consequence of the decease of the above-named Brother, the institution was for years unable to proceed, for the want of one to conduct its affairs agreeably to what is required in every regular and well-educated Lodge of Masons. It is now, however, with great pleasure we state that the present age has arrived to that degree of proficiency in the art, that we can at any time select from among us many whose capacity to govern enables them to preside with as much good order, dignity, and propriety as any other Lodge within our knowledge. This fact can be proved by gentlemen of respectability, whose knowledge of Masonry would not be questioned by any one well acquainted with the art. Since the rise of the Lodge to this degree of proficiency, we concluded it was best and proper to make it known to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge from whence we derive our charter, by sending written documents and monies, to fulfil the agreements of our ancestors, giving information of the low state to which it had fallen, its cause, &c., with its rise and progress; and also soliciting favors, whereby we might be placed on a different and better standing than we had heretofore. And notwithstanding this has long since been done, and more than sufficient time has elapsed for returns, yet we have never received a single line or reply from that Hon. Society. In consequence of that neglect, we have been at a stand what course to pursue. Our remote situation prevents us from making any verbal communication whatever. Taking all these things into consideration we have come to the conclusion that with what knowledge we possess of Masonry, and as people of color by ourselves, we are, and ought by rights, to be free and independent of other Lodges. We do, therefore, with this belief, publicly declare ourselves free and independent of any Lodge from this day, and that we will not be tributary, or be governed by any lodge than that of our own. We agree solemnly to abide by all proper rules and regulations which govern the like Fraternity, discountenancing all imposition to injure the Order, and to use all fair and honorable means to promote its prosperity, resting in full hope that this will enable us to transmit it in its purity to our posterity for their enjoyment.
“Done at the Lodge, this the 18th June, A.L. 5727, A.D. 1827.
“In full testimony of what has been written, we affix our names:
“JOHN T. HILTON, R.M.W.,
“THOMAS DALTON, Sen. Ward.,
“LEWIS
“J.H. PURRON, Secretary.”
Letter from John Hervey, Grand
Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of
FREEMASONS’
“
“To reply to your questions categorically
“1st. I can find no record in 1775 of any Dispensation; but as the G. L. Books were not then kept, as they are now, with accuracy, such may, nevertheless, have existed.
“2d. It was struck off the list in 1813, but I can find no trace of any return having been made, and consequently imagine it must have ceased working long before, although retained on the list.
“3d. I should say most decidedly, that the said ‘Prince
Hall’ was never appointed D.G.M., or had power to grant warrants for the
establishment of Lodges in your country. Henry Price, of
“It is quite clear that the Lodge referred to is not working under the English Constitutions, and that the parties holding the Warrant can have no right to it, and are not a regular Lodge, unless empowered to meet under your Constitutions.
I am, dear Sir and Brother, yours, truly and fraternally,
“JOHN HERVEY,
Grand Secretary
CHARLES W. MOORE,
Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of
Extract from the Report of James Herring, Grand Secretary,
to the Grand Lodge of
The undersigned, having requested the R.W. Charles W.
Moore, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, to endeavor to see the Charter of the so-called African Lodge,
of
“I called, agreeably to your request, on Mr. Hilton -who, I believe, is the Master of the African Lodge in this city - stated to him the object of my visit, and asked permission to see the Charter of his Lodge. He informed me that there was a difficulty between his and Boyer Lodge, of
long standing, that they had nothing to do with that Lodge, nor would they have, until the difference referred to was settled. He further stated, that they were entirely independent of the white Lodges; asked no favors of them; and would have nothing to do with them; nor would they admit a white Mason, if he should present himself as a visitor. In the course of his conversation he distinctly said that he had been ‘told by them people’ (meaning Boyer Lodge) to have no communication with anybody on the subject of their recognition by the Grand Lodge of New York. He also positively and repeatedly refused to allow me to see the Charter of his Lodge, or to give me any information in relation to its history or present existence. It is proper for me to add, that my conversation with him was kind and gentle. I explicitly stated to him that I did not call officially, but as a friend, and at your request, with a view to ascertain whether Boyer Lodge was a regular constituted Lodge, such as the Grand Lodge of New York could recognize. . . .
“The African Lodge has never been recognized by the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth. Applications have several times been made by its members for admission to our Lodges, but they have generally, if not always, been refused. Mr. Hilton stated to me that he had once, through the influence of a friend, gained admission into one of our out-of-town Lodges. If so, the Brother who introduced him laid himself open to censure, and would have been dealt with, had the circumstance come to the knowledge of the Grand Lodge. That the course of our Grand Lodge, in reference to the African Lodge, is not the result of prejudice, it is only necessary for me to say, that, within the last month, a colored Brother from England has visited, and been kindly received, in one of our city Lodges.
“Such is the state of the case, so far as I am able to communicate it. The argument does not belong to me; but you will permit me to inquire, whether your Grand Lodge is prepared to recognize any real or pretended Lodge, existing within another jurisdiction, before it had been recognized by the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction? Again, does your Grand Lodge allow other Grand Lodges to establish Lodges within its jurisdiction? and is it ready to recognize Lodges so established ?
“These three questions have been, by repeated decisions of this Grand Lodge, answered in the negative; and, according to the treaty stipulations entered into by the Grand Lodges of this continent, soon after the revolution, and the uniform resistance of any encroachment upon the sole jurisdiction of the several Grand Lodges down to the present time, these questions can be answered only in the negative.
“The undersigned would further state, that the legality of the Body, called Boyer Lodge, No. 1, has been already twice reported on by Committees of this Grand Lodge on the 3d of March, 1812, and on the 4th of March, 1829. In the latter report, the main facts were correctly stated and able arguments sustained, and the conclusion drawn that Boyer Lodge, No. 1, can be regarded only as a clandestine Lodge. The undersigned can arrive only at the same conclusion, it being established beyond doubt that the African Lodge, at Boston, was illegally established by the Grand Lodge of England within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; that its name has been long stricken from the roll of the Grand Lodge of England; that its assumed authority to grant Warrants was unmasonic and fraudulent; and further, that the statement contained in the memorial of said Boyer Lodge, that it had been ‘regularly and legally constituted and installed as a Master Mason’s Lodge, with a legal Warrant or Charter,’ is totally unfounded.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
“JAMES HERRING,
“Grand Secretary.”
In June, 1855, one Peter G. Smith, of
“
September 6, 1855.
“PETER G. SMITH, ESQ.
“
“If the Grand Master of Vermont wishes any more light, we are prepared to give it to him; or if he has a curiosity, he can see the original Charter.
Yours fraternally,
“J. S.
“Corresponding Grand Secretary of Prince Hall Grand Lodge.”
To this letter Philip C. Tucker, Grand Master of Vermont, replied in a communication to Peter G. Smith as follows:
“VERGENNES, September 22, 1855.
“MR PETER G. SMITH,
“SIR: I received yours of yesterday, enclosing a letter to
you from Mr. J.S. Rock, of
“As to the Lodge of colored men existing in Boston, calling itself ‘Prince Hall Grand Lodge,’ and such Lodges as acknowledge its jurisdiction, I have to say that my understanding on the subject is this :
“I suppose it to be true that on the 20th day
of September, 1784, a Charter for a Masters’ Lodge was granted to Prince Hall
and others, under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England, and that the
Lodge then chartered bore the name of ‘African Lodge, NO. 459,’ and was located
at
“I suppose it to be also true that African Lodge, No. 459, did not continue its connection for many years with the Grand Lodge of England, and that its registration was stricken from the rolls of that Grand more than fifty years ago.
“I suppose it further to be true that this Lodge, NO. 459,
and all others which have originated from it, have always held themselves
aloof, and have always refused to acknowledge any allegiance to the Grand Lodge
of the
“I also suppose it to be true that, on the 18th day of June, 1827, this same Lodge, No. 459, issued a Declaration, and had it published in some of the Boston papers, signed by John T. Hilton, Thomas Dalton, Lewis York, jr., and J.H. Purron (claiming to be Master Wardens, and Secretary thereof), which Declaration contained the following language: ‘We publicly declare ourselves free and independent of any Lodge from this day, and we will not be tributary, or governed by any Lodge than that of our own.’
“And I still further suppose it to be true that, in the month of July, 1845, R.W. Charles W. Moore; the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, had a personal interview with Mr. Hilton, then Master of this said Lodge, NO. 459, in which interview Mr. Hilton said, that they (the members of said Lodge) were ‘entirely independent of all white Bodies, asked no favors of them, and would have nothing to do with them; nor would they admit a white Mason, if he should present himself as a visitor.’
“All these things are of record, and cannot, I think, be denied in any quarter. From them I form the following opinions:
“First. Even if a Charter for a subordinate Lodge, to be
located within the
“Second. ‘That the mere retention of a Charter, after its legal revocation, cannot preserve or retain any right, power, or authority in the original grantees or their successors, where the right to revoke is reserved, as it always is in all Grand Lodges, in the grantor.
“Third. Even if African Lodge, NO. 459, had a lawful masonic existence June 18, 1827, the Declaration of that date was both unmasonic and revolutionary, and placed that Body as effectually beyond recognition by either the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts or any other Grand Lodge in the United States, as was the French Lodge of Virginia, or the German Lodges of New York.
“Fourth. Had African Lodge, NO. 459, been in all things a lawful Lodge, after the Declaration of its first officer, of July, 1845, that ‘it would not admit a white Mason if he should present himself as a visitor,’ it would have been both humiliating and degrading to have allowed the doors of the white Lodges to stand open for a reciprocity of courtesies which were thus gratuitously and roughly declared inadmissible, in advance of any request, offer, or wish to establish them.
“I have the highest masonic
authority in Massachtiseas for denying ‘the brethren’
of the Lodge in question ‘all visit the Lodges,’ so far as the Lodges of
Massachusetts are concerned. A Past Grand Master of the Lodge of the
Commonwealth, writing at
“The same Brother, writing at the same place, in 1846, says, in referring to that Lodge: ‘Applications have several times been made by its members for admission to our Lodges, but they have generally, if not always, been refused.’ Again he says, ‘That the course of our Grand Lodge in reference to African Lodge is not the result of prejudice, it is only necessary for me to say that, within the last month, a colored Brother from England has visited, and been kindly received in one of our city Lodges.’
“I believe I am correct in stating that the two following propositions are recognized as sound masonic law in this country:
“First. That no Grand Lodge of any State can regularly recognize a subordinate Lodge existing in another State, or its members, until such subordinate Lodge is recognized by the Grand lodge of the State in which it exists.
“Second. That no Grand Lodge, either in these
“From these views you will readily perceive why the
Masonry of the
“Mr. Rock expresses an inclination to ‘give the Grand Master of Vermont more light’ on this subject. As he signed himself ‘Corresponding Secretary of Prince Hall Grand Lodge,’ I suppose him to possess all the light’ which the subject has in it; and whatever that light may be able to reflect upon me of the truth of the past or the present, will always receive the respectful attention it may deserve from
“Your Humble Serv’t,
“PHILIP C. TUCKER,
“Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
Communication from the Grand Secretary of the United Grand
Lodge of
FREEMASONS’
“WILLIAM SEWALL
“M.W. SIR
As you are already aware, the Warrant for the African Lodge was granted in 1784, and was numbered 459; but the fee for the Warrant, 4 pounds 4s., does not appear in our Grand Lodge accounts until the 4th April, 1787. The following remittances were received for the Charity Fund from the African Lodge, viz. :
“November 25, 1789 2 pounds 2S. 11d.
“April 18, 1792 1 pound 1S 0d
“November 27, 1793 1 pound 5S 6d
“November 22, 1797 1 pound 5S 0d
“In 1793 its number was altered to 370, and continued so numbered in our Calendar until 1812, when, on the re-numbering consequent on the union of the two Grand Lodges, the African Lodge was omitted.
“I send you enclosed a verbatim copy of all the documents I can discover relating to the Lodge; but the petition for the Lodge is not forthcoming.
Should any other documents present themselves, which is somewhat unlikely, I will send you copies, and have the honor to remain, M.W. Sir and Brother,
“Yours fraternally,
“JOHN HERVEY,
“Grand Secretary.”
Copies referred to in the above letter:
“RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR: We now, send you an account of the
Lodges proceeding since we sent our last, which was in August last, together
with ten dollars for the Fund of the Grand Charity, by Captain Scot, which he saith he hath delivered to the Grand Secretary, but he hath
no recept with him for the money. We have initiated
into the Lodge this year Samovel Beean,
a black man, and the Reverend Mr. John Merrand, a
black Minister from home, but last from
“
“To the Most Worshipful WILLIAM WHITE, ESQ., G. S.
“
I have sent you a sermon, preched on St. Johns Day by our Brother John Marrant, for our Grand Master, and another for you, which I hope you will recevn. Our Brother Sanderson is Dead. All the rest of our Br are in health. So no at pesent. But must beg leve to subscribe myself your vere
humble servent and
“PRINCE
“To the Right Worshipful, the Grand Master, Wardens, and
Members of the Grand Lodge of
“We your petitioners, Sampson H. Moody, Peter Howard, Abraham C. Derendemed, John I. Hilton, James Jackson, Zadock Low, Samuel G. Gardner, Richard Potter, Lewis Walker, and other Companions Who have been regularly Exalted to the Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Masons.
“Our worthy and well beloved Brethren Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several Brethren having obtained a Warrant from your Honourable Body, on September 29, 1784, A.D., A.L. 5784, when, under the Government of Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard, &c., &c., &c., acting Grand Master Under the authority of his Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons.
“This Warrant allowing us to confer but the three Degrees, and Finding it injurious for the benefit of our Body by having no legal authority to confer the other four degrees. And understanding that the seven degrees is given under the Warrants from the Grand Lodge, we, therefore, humbly
solicit the Renual of our Charter to ourtherise us Legally to confer the same, as we are now getting in a flourishing condition. It is with regret we communicated to you that, from the Decease of our Well Beloved Brethren who obtain’d the Warrant we have not been able for several years to
transmit Monies and hold a regular Communication; but, as we are now permanently established to work conformable to our Warrant and Book of Constitutions. We will send the Monies as far as circimstances will admit, together with the money, for a new Warrant. Should your Honourable Body think us worthy to receive the sarae. We remain, Right Worshipful and Most
Worshipful Brethren,
“With all Due Respect, Yours fraternally,
“(Signed)
SAMSON H. MOODY, W.M.,
“PETER HOWARD, S. W., “C. A. DERANDAMIE, J. W.
“Given under our hands at
“WILLIAM J. CHAMPNEY,
“Secretary”