ANNEX LIBRARY B 049224 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS ONE, OF A COLLECTION MADE BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 AND BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY Date Due APRHHJ- -^mr^T • ® 23 233 The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030324804 THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH EITE, IN THIRTY-THREE DEGREES. KNOWN HITHERTO UNDER THE NAMES OF THE "bite OF perfection" THE " EITE OF HEREDOm" — THE "ANCIENT SCOTTISH kite" THE "RITE OF KILWINNING" AND LAST, AS THE " SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED." A FULL AND COMPLETE HISTORY, WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING NnMEROOS AnTHBXTIC DOCUMENTS, RELATING TO THE ORIGIN, PRO- OREBS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KITE — EDICTS, CIRCULARS, PATENTS, REGISTERS, AND THE OPINIONS OP NUMEROUS AUTHORS — ILLUSTRATED WITH "TABLETS," BY ROBERT B. JOLGER, M. D., Past Master, 33d., EX-SECRETART GENERAL, 40. J^EW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 18 6 2. "~^tt.. [I A. -l- Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1862, By EGBERT B. FOLGER, M. D. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. Stereotyped bt Printed by VINCENT L. DILL, GEORGE W. 'WOOD, No. 128 Fulton Street. No. 2 Dutch Street. TO THE OP No. 17a. FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, NEW YORK CITY. The unwavering and long continued kindness received at the hands of Bro. G. W. Steinbrenner, your worthy President — the encouragement from members in preparing the work for pubh- cation — and the many tokens of fraternal feeling which have been bestowed by the Society, induce me to dedicate to you, the first fruit of my labors as an Author. No pains have been spared in collecting together the mate- rials of which the work is composed. Doubtless there will be found in it many imperfections, yet it has been my earnest desire to make the history perfect and complete. Fully sensible that it is open to criticism in many particulars, and unable from the scarcity of authentic and reliable documents, to alter it in any way for the better ; I send it forth in the hope, that the value to the fraternity of the information which it contains, will cover most of its defects. Respectfully and Fraternally, Robert B. Folger, M. D. New York— 1862. CONTENTS. CHAPTER FIRST. Intkoduction — Explanation of the Nature of the History — Plan of the Work — Author's referred to — Remarks. - - Page 11. CHAPTER SECOND. Origin and Progress of the Rite of Perfection — The doctrine of "Deriva- tion " advocated as the basis of all " legal Masonic bodies " — Formation of the Grand Lodge of France — Introduction of new degrees into the system of Masonry — Council of the Emperors of the East and West—" Lacorne Grand Lodge " — Eite of Perfection — The Council in which it is practiced unites with the Grrand Lodge of France — Union of the Grand Lodge of France with the Grand Orient — Nature of the Grand Orient of France — Tablet showing the progress of the Rite — 1761 — Stephen Morin, his Patent or Power — Controversy between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of France, concerning the rights of the Grand Orient — St. Domingo — Stephen Morin's Patent annulled in 1766 — Establishment of the Supreme Council of Charleston, May 31st, 1801 — They adopt a "new rite," and issue a Circular in 1802. - Page 22. CHAPTER THIRD. ■The " Rite of Perfection " receives a new name, viz., " Ancient and Accepted" — Progress of Moriuy-Appoiatments made by him and his successors — John Mitchell and Fbedebick Dalcho — The Thirty-third degree how manufactured — New degrees added on — Commencement of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite — Review of the Charleston docu- ment of 1802 — A Schedule of all the rites known, with the dates of their origin, &c. — " Tablet " exhibiting their origin, progress and termination — Opinions of the Authors concerning the Ancient and Accepted Eite — Its false pretensions to Antiquity exposed — Its Blasphemy noticed —Frederick of Prussia — The " Vera Instituta Secreta," or the Secret Constitutions — Recapitulation of the claims set up by this document, and their falsity exposed. . - - ... Page 36. 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER FOURTH. Peogress op the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite — A difficulty with the Grand Lodge of South Carolina averted — Progress — Augustus Provost — Pierre le Barbier Plessis— Wm. Moore Smith — Moses Seixas — Moses i Cohen — John Gabriel Tardy — Abraham Jacobs, his exploits in Savannah and other parts of Georgia — J. J. J. Gourgas — Eegisters — Count De Grasse — He goes to Prance, and establishes the Supreme Grand Council Thirty-third degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite, in Paris in 1804 — Quarrel thereupon between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of De Grasse —Particulars— The claims of both — The Charleston Council in 1802— Sublime Lodge and Council of Savannah, Georgia — How — and by whom formed— Charleston Council 1813. Page 76. CHAPTER FIFTH. Progress of the " Rite of Perfection," or Ancient Scottish Eite of Heredom — Establishment of the " Sovkreiqn Grand Consistory " in New Tork city in 1807 by Joseph Oerneatj — Acknowledgment by the Supreme Coun- cil of Prance, 1813— Also by the Grand Orient of France, 1816— Title of the Consistory, and the name of the " Rite " practiced — Joseph Obrneau — His character — A Review of the charges brought against him — Narra- tive of Jeremy L. Cross — Abraham Jacobs — His Register and Diary in full — Particulars of his proceedings — Bmanoel De La Motta comes from Charleston to New Tork — His pretended Consistory of 1806 — His own account of his proceedings — He erects a Supreme Council in New Tork in 1813— He expels Joseph Cerneau, his abettors and followers — Reply of the Sovereign Grand Consistory — Eejoinder of De La Motta — The end of the Supreme Council of De La Motta. - - - Page 104. CHAPTER SIXTH. Further progress of the " Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom " — Establishment of a Consistory in Ehode Island, 1813 — Also a Consistory in Louisiana, 1813 — Concordat entered into between the Grand Lodge and Grand Consistory of Louisiana in 1833 — Establishment of a Consistory in the city of Charleston, South Carolina — Joseph McCosh — P. Javain — The controversy — Establishment of a Consistory in Pennsylvania — List of Deputy Inspectors General— Also a list of Representatives. Page 165. CHAPTER SEVENTH. Further progress of the " Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom "— From 1818 to 1828 — Disappearance of De La Motta — Gourgas Supreme Council — St. John's Hall — Henry Marsh — Edict concerning D'Glock d'Obernay — Withdrawal of J. Cerneau as Grand Commander, and becomes CONTENTS. 7 " Honorary " in 1821 — Succeeded by Hon. John W. Mulligan as Grand Commander 1822 — Seth Driggs appointed a Deputy Inspector General for the island of Trinidad — Hon. John W. Mulligan resigns in 1823, and ia suc- ceeded by the Hon. Dewitt Clinton as Grand Commander — Edict issued denouncing the Supreme Council of South Carolina — List of Consistories — The Marquis de Lafayette arrives in the United States and is exalted to the Sublime degrees in 1824 — Charter granted by the Sovereign Grand Consis- tory for a Sovereign Chapter Eose Croix, by title " Lafayette "—List of Officers — Richard S. Spofford, M. D., of Newburyport, Mass., exalted to the Thirty-third degree, and appointed Deputy Inspector General for the State of Mass. 1825 — In 1826, David Jewett, an Officer in the Brazilian service, appointed Deputy Inspector General for the Empire of Brazil — 1827, Anti-Masonic excitement — 1828, death of Hon. Dewitt Clinton — Henry C. Atwood — Libels on Joesph Cerneau answered — Differences exam- ined between the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the " Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom," and the Supreme Council of Charleston, of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite." - - Page 116. CHAPTER EIGHTH. Foundation in New York of the Ancient and Accepted Eite — 1827 — Anti- Masonic Excitement — William Morgan — David C. Miller — Convention of Seceding Masons — A Political move — Union of the two Grand Lodges of the State of New Tork — Effects of the storm — The exploit of J. J. J. Gourgas and the body at Charleston in 1828 — The establishment of the " United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere " in 1832 — Count St. Laurent — Proceedings of the Sovereign Grand Consistory — Proposition for a Union — Treaty between the Sovereign Grand Consistory and the Supreme Council for Terra Firma, South America, Mexico, &c. — Its Eatifl- cation — Treaty entered into with the Supreme Council for France, Supreme Council for Belgium, and Supreme Council for Brazil, with the Constitu- tions of 1762, and the Secret Institutes of 1786 attached — Dissensions in the body — Lafayette Eose Croix Chapter — Henry Marsh, Henry C. Atwood, and Wm P. Piatt — List of officers of the United Supreme Council— Count St. Laurent returns to Prance — Ratification of the Treaty — Grand Lodge of the State of New Tork in 1837 — The Atwood difficulty — Particulars — Organization of St. John's Grand Lodge — Bodies chartered by that body — Henry C. Atwood — Correspondence of the Supreme Obuncil of Brazil with the United Supreme Council — Dissolution of a branch of the United Su- preme Council in 1846 — The other branch of the Council takes its place and succeeds it — Supreme Council for Louisiana — James Poulhouze — Ex- tract from the Report to the Grand Orient of France— John Gedge — Albert G. Mackey — Grand Lodge of Louisiana — L. Ladebat's address — Dissensions in the Supreme Council for Louisiana — New Supreme Council foi^d lucre. The Consistory of J. Gedge. - - Page 194. 8 CONTENTS, CHAPTER NINTH. Further progress of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite " — History of the Supreme Council for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependen- cies, resumed — Henry C. Atwood — The New Council — how formed — and the reasons — List of its Officers — J. J. J. Gourgas— General Grand Chapter — C. C. Sebring — The Maiden Edict of the Gourgas Supreme Council — Convention at Chicago Rev. Bro. "Walker — Lodge of Perfection in New Tork under Gourgas — Ee-organization of the Supreme Council under Jeremy L. Cross — The terms aud conditions — List of its Officers — The Edict and Appeal — Eeply to a previous Edict, and also to the present one, by the Gourgas Council — Masonic publications — Edict by the Charleston Council, denying the authenticity of the Patent of Jeremy L. Cross — Copy of the Patent, with the attestation of one of the signers — Eesignation of Jeremy L. Cross — Eeasons — Ee-organization and Installation by the Illustrious Brother James Poulhouze, Sovereign Grand Commander for Louisiana — List of Qfficers installed — Treaty between the Supreme Council for the United States and the Supreme Council for Louisiana — Leblanc de Marcon- nay — General Mosquera — Eesignations — List of Officers in 1856 — Petitions for new bodies — Death of Illustrious Brother Henry 0. Atwood — List of Officers in 1857 — Supreme Council for the State of Connecticut — bodieo under its jurisdiction — Supreme Council for the State of California — Sov>>- reign Grand Consistory for the State of New Jersey — Sovereign Gra'^d Consistory for the State of Massachusetts — History of the Gourgas Couuv-il established in 1848 — Split — Eaymond Council — Eecapitulation — Subliine Lodge of Perfection at Albany, (New Tork) — Giles Fonda Tates — A re- view of his speech— facts stated — Conclusionof the work of the Sublime Lodge. ... . Page 243. CHAPTER TENTH. Statistic Account, denoting the formation and Progress of the M. P. and Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, and of the Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree. Page 287. CHAPTER ELEVENTH. An Epitome of Events and Occurrences, directly or indirectly connected with the " Rite " — very full, and extending from the year 1700 to the year 1862. . - Poge305. CHAPTER TWELFTH. Conclusion. The Author's Opinions — Explanatioa of Plate 2 and 3 — Re- marks addressed to the Fraternity. - - - Page 324. SCOTTISH EITE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. CHAPTER FIRST. Introduction. — Explanation of the nature of the History. — Plan OF the work. — Authors referred to. — Remarks. The Author, in presenting the following History, to the Masonic fraternity, proposes to give a succinct account of what is known among them as the " High Degrees" so far as that history may be connected with their introduction into this country, and their progress, up to the present time. His connection with the Supreme Council has been a long one, and during the time in which he was called upon to offici- ate as Secretary General of the body, the request was made, that he should prepare a history of the same. In accordance with that request, the work was commenced in 1853, and was carried on through a period of two or more years, during which time, all the printed documents and manuscripts accom- panying the history, were collected from the hands of scatter- ed members, together with translations from French and Ger- man Authors who had written upon the subject The collation of the same was commenced at a time when Party Spirit ran high among the fraternity, and in the report which was then written, and delivered to the Council, much matter found its way, which, at the present time would be deemed objectiona- ble, and entirely out of place. Having been subsequently called upon by the Latomia So- 12 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. ciety of Atlantic Lodge, of which he is a member, to read the Report before them, he undertook to remove from it all objectionable features, and place it in the form of a series of Lectures, which were delivered before the Society daring the winter of 1860. The favor with which the Lectures were received, and the expressed wish of the Society that they should be published, have led him to re-write the Lectures in the form of a History, in which shape it now appears. And it is hoped, that while it will throw some light upon many parts of the subject which have been hitherto dark, it will also answer another very important object to the Fraternity, viz., it will bring to light many documents which have been generally unknown, will place in their hands many others > which are not to be found at the present time, being out of print, and preserve the whole in the form of a ''hand book" for future reference. In collecting materials for the History of the Sublime de- grees, he has sought to avail himself of every source of authen- tic, and valuable information, applicable to his design of ma- king the work both interesting and useful. How far these endeavors may have been successful, must be submitted to the deliberate consideration of the reader. In justice to himself he can truly say, that he has avoided no reasonable labor to make the publication worthy the approbation of the Frater- nity, although he has fallen far short of satisfying himself, or of accomplishing all that he had anticipated at its commence- ment. His principal aim has been throughout, to present a brief, yet correct account of such matters in relation to the Sublime degrees, as he conceived best worthy of preserving, and most likely to prove a repository of valuable historical and statistical information. He is however constrained to ac- knowledge that, had he, in the commencement, been able to realize in any considerable degree, the labor he was about to assume, and the obstacles he encountered in his progress, he would have been almost deterred from the undertaking. The peculiar condition and deficiency of many records, and the difficulty in obtaining those in possession of other persons, are two of the obstacles among those to which he alludes INTRODUCTION. 13 It would be proper here to state, that the degrees, to which this history relates, have no connection whatever with what is known as ^^ Ancient Craft Masonry,"' whether derived from York, in England, or Kilwinning, in Scotland. That system consfets of the three first degrees of Masonry, known as the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, with the appendage of what is now termed " the Royal Arch." These degrees form a system within themselves, complete in all its parts, are of great antiquity, having become hoary with age many centuries before the High degrees came into being. This simple system is, in fact, the basis of all other Masonic degrees, by whatever name they may be called. This is the system which has been received and practiced upon in this country, from the year 1730 up to 1800, at which time it took to itself a new form. Hitherto the Royal Arch degree was conferred in Blue Lodges, under the appella'tion of a " Chapter," and the Mark degree was conferred in " Mark Lodges," which were distinct bodies. But when the work of the three first degrees had at that time become systematized, and placed in the form of " Lectures," the same set of men were requested to revise degrees for the Chapter, and place them also in form. They accordingly met, took the Mark degree for the commencement, added the Past Master as the fifth, displaced a portion of the Royal Arch, and called it the " Most Excellent Master," and finished with the Royal Arch. These four degrees then became a system, and, with the first three degrees added, form Seven, as the received system in this country, styled, " Ancient Craft Masonry.^' The degrees' of Royal and Select Master, are still kept separate, although, strictly speaking, the system without them is incomplete. Subsequently, in 1811, the Orders of Knighthood were systematized and introduced. There had been, as early as 1790 to 1795, Encampments of Knights Templar, but the bodies of that name conferred but one degree. Nor was it necessary for a man to be a Mason, in order to be entitled to it. The degree, then, had nothing to do with Masonry. But about this time the system was organized by a body of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. They made the " Knight 14 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. of the Red Cross," -which is Rynon3'mous with "Knight of the East" and "Prince of Jerusalem," the first; the "Knight Templar ," 'which, is synonymous with the "Rose Croix" &ni " Kadosh," the second ; the " Kiiight of Malta " or " St. John of Jerusalem " (a detached degree), the third ; the " Knight of the Christian Mark," the fourth ; and '" Knight of the Holy Sepulchre," the fifth and last. These were embodied as En- campment degrees, and were conferred at that time according to the ritual of the Ancient and xVccepted Scottish Rite, from which the principal degrees were derived. The lecturers, however, soon took them in hand, shaped them according to their views, adopted a system of Lectures, and by the year 1816 they were adopted, and placed whore they now stand ; a General Grapd Encampment was formed, and they virtually became part and parcel of Ancient Craft Masonry. This is the system adopted in this Country as legitimate Ancient Craft Masonry, and, as a natural consequence, no other system is sought after. It is not, however, known or practiced in England, Scotland, or Ireland. In all those countries they pi-actice the first three degrees like ourselves, follow them with the Eoyal Arch, as of old, while the Templars' degree is altogether a separate matter. The Past Master's degree remains in the Blue Lodge, where it belongs ; and the Mark degree is conferred as a side degree pertaining to the Fellow Craft. Europe differs from us altogether, many portions of it, as well as South America and the islands, adopting the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Like us, they begin with the first three degrees, after which comes in thirty degrees, beginning with the Fourth, or Secret Master, and terminating with the Thirty-third. "While they leave out the Chapter and Encamp- ment degrees (as known in the system which we now practice), they give the same degrees in another form and name, and with many additions and extensions. Thus the Royal Arch degree is synonymous with the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, the "Red Cross " with the Fifteenth and Sixteenth, the " Templar " with the Eighteenth and Thirtieth, while the remaining degrees are all of them disconnected. In Prance they have condensed INTRODUCTION. 15 the first eighteen degrees into seven, the Rose Croix being the Seventh, and it is now known all over the world as the " Modern French Rite." Perhaps this short sketch will show to the American Mason, the reason why so many foreign Masons are turned from the door of the Lodge when they apply for admission, on the ground that they are " Modern," or " Spurious." They liave all received the same thing, and in a manner quite as legitimate, but they have received them in a form differing somewhat from our own. This system, then, viz., the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, is the one of which this book purports to be a short history. It has been known under various names, as the " Ineffable," the " Sublirf,e'' the " Exalted or High degrees," the "Philosophical," the " Scottish System," the " Rite of Perfection," the "Right of Heredom,of Kilwinning," and the "Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite," now comprising thirty degrees in num- ber, beginning with the Fourth, or Secret Master, and termi- nating with the Thirty-third, or Sovereign Grand Inspector General, — the members of the last named degree constituting a Supreme Grand Council, which is the absolute ruler or gov- erning power of the Rite. This system has made its way to this Country, and is now firmly established among us. Until of late, its progress has been varied — sometimes being in a thriving condition, in certain locations, and sometimes being almost extinct. But within a few years it has lifted up its head. It is established in South Carolina, Louisiana, Xew York, Massachusetts, Con- necticut, New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois, and bids fair to be practised in every State in the Union. It is to be regretted that, from its very commencement, its progress in this Country, as well as in other lands, has been marked with bitter conten- tions and constant quarrels, for the simple reason that, hitherto, one system has been antagonistic to the other, by which both have become mixed and confused. In all these difficulties Masons of every degree have taken an active part. And it is lamentable, now, to look back and witness the many serious mistakes which have been made from 16 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. a mere want of knowledge concerning the history and events connected with the Rite. It is that which has led the author to a very close and careful examination of the subject, produc- ing in the end this history, which he offers for your encourage- ment. Every Master Mason needs the information which it contains ; and it is intended for such, Ss well as for members of the High degrees. While the bodies working in Ancient Craft Masonry have the simple appellation of Lodges, those under this rite claim a greater antiquity, a purer ritual, and, above all, a controlling power — styling their bodies Chapters, Colleges, Areopagi, Consistories and Councils. They have made strong and long continued efforts to remove the ancient landmarks, that they might, if possible, supersede the old system, and replace it with the new. One party has claimed that the whole system is a ^'continua- tion " of Ancient Craft Masonry, as so many links in a chain, reaching from the bottom to the top of the edifice, one link of which being wanting, the whole would be useless and come to nothing — by such assertions deceiving the members of Ancient Craft Masonry into the belief that, their initiation into the High degrees was a necessity, if they desired to complete their Masonic education. Another party has been equally earnest in contending for the precedence of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite over the York Rite, and have endeavored to establish and constitute Symbolic Lodges of their own, with what they call a ''purer rite," thus superseding, or conflicting with the York bodies and the Grand Lodges from which they derive. While another party, which includes a large portion of the Fraternity, have discarded the Rite altogether. They have been educated in, and have lived under, the Ancient York Rite. They are satisfied with its teachings, usages, government, &c., and are quite unwilling to relinquish a system so generally received and practiced, for another of such questionable authority, and of which they know nothing. These controversies have been a source of annoyance and trouble, from the very commencement of the organization. INTRODUCTION. 17 They have been produced, in a great measure, by designing men, Svho have been so industrious and energetic, that they have succeeded, in numerous instances, in deceiving well-mean- ing brethren, who would not take the pains to inform themselves upon the subject. The exhibition of documents perfectly authentic, the respectability of members, the acknowledgement and correspondence of foreign and distant Councils, the testi- monials of ancient and younger members, and the records of the past, all seem to have lost their weight and influence ; and they have appeared in most instances to be ready to place implicit confidence in the statement and assertions of men, no matter how monstrous their pretension, rather than examine the evidence which has been at all times open to their inspec- tion, and allow the simple truth to have its proper weight. It is. for the purpose of imparting information, having a bearing upon these points, that this history is written, accom- panied with all the documents that could be obtained. Its plan will be very simple and easily understood, because it will be a relation of facts as they occurred. It will take up the degrees at their commencement in Europe, show the power as given to Stehex Moein, the first Inspector for "foreign parts " initiated and appointed under this system, follow him from Paris to St. Domingo, and trace and designate his successors to the United States. It will give the particulars concerning the founding of the Supreme Council at Charleston, follow the emissary of that Council to Paris again, where a similar body is formed by him as a rival to the Grand Orient of France. Returning to St. Domingo, it will follow Joseph Cerneau, a successor of Morin, from thence to New York, and give the particulars connected with the founding of a Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom — having a Supreme Council in its bosom— trace its progress from tlie commencement to its becoming the United Supreme Council for ,the Western Hemisphere (Ancient and Accepted Rite) ; and last, the Supreme Council of lSi& and 1848, up to the present day. In completing the European portions of the history, very 18 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. copious and full extracts have been given from the following French authors, viz. : Thory. — Acta Latamorum. Ragon. — Orthodox Ma9onnique. Clavel. — Hist. Pitt, de la Franc Ma9. Kaufman and Cherpin. — Hist. Philos. de la Franc MaQ. Retold. — Hist. Gen. de la Franc Ma9. Besuchet. — Precis Hist, de la Franc Mag. Levique. — Apergu General, &c. Vassal. — Essai, &c. Vidal Fezendie. — Essai Hist, sur la Franc Mag. Chemin Dupontes. — Cours Pratique de Franc Mag. Boubee. — Etudes sur la Franc Mag. Bohrik des Etanges, and others. Also — Recuiel des Actes du Sup. Conseil de France. Report of Leblanc de Marconnay ; translated by Ladebat. And last, not least, a "work written by Messrs. Lamarre and Ladebat, of New Orleans. The authors of which have shown a depth of research, and a patience of labor, which is worthy of all praise. And, although the author cannot agree with them in many of their inferences, and would not attempt to examine into, or decide upon, the merits of the case which they attempt to plead, yet he is constrained to offer to them his thanks for the important facts which the production of their work has brought to light. That portion of the history connected with our own country, is derived from the records of the Sovereign Grand Consistory; from the Hon. John W. Mulligan, First Grand Commander of the Order, succeeding Joseph Cerneau ; from the register and papers of the late D. L. M. Peixotto ; from documents in possession of R. M. Spoppord, M. D., Newburyport, ilass. ; from Seth Driggs, Esq. ; from the late Francis Dubuae, late Lewis Timolat, James Herring, Esq., and others. Some of the brethren above mentioned have died since the history was commenced. To those who are living, the author would return his thanks for the many acts of kindness he has received at their hands, while engaged in this work. The author will have occasion to say something in the INTEODUOTION. I9 history concerning that sect of people denominated Israelites or Jews, partly in the way of qnotations from different authors, and partly on his own responsibility. As far as it regards the quota'tions, he can only say that, he feels himself obliged to give the words of others precisely as they are written, if he gives them at all, and, of course, is not accountable for the sentiments which they entertain. But as far as he is individu- ally concerned, he would say that, he does not make use of the term " Jew " in derision, as some no doubt will suppose, but simply as a matter of justice to the degrees denominated the " Exalted or Sublime," numbering from the Seventeenth to the Thirty-third, inclusive. These degrees, or at least some of them, are founded upon, and promulgate the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, more especially the Divinity, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of the Messiah, our common Lord. The right of possession to all the degrees of Masonry, up to the Sixteentji of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, is claimed by all sects of people alike, because they are not based upon, and have no direct allusion to these doctrines. But tlie Statutes of the Order, as well as the moral sense of the members of the institution, require that a Jew should go no further in these mysteries, because he is not a believer in the doctrines which they assume to teach. It is most true, that the degrees spoken of, have been altered, interpolated, remodelled, and reconstructed in such a way as to accommodate themselves to the feelings of all concerned. It is true that, the opposers of these doctrines have put out of the way, the plainest and most impressive emblems, and, at the same time, have so covered up aud mystified with science and philosophy, falsely so called, those symbols and emblems which they have suffered to remain, that it would now puzzle a wise man to find out, by careful study and deep investigation, what, if any, meaning attached to them. But with these degrees, so remodelled, we have nothing to do. The Sovereign Grand Consistory rejected them altogether, — taking its stand on the original or ancient ground (if any such ground there be), and issued the following edict, under date of November 14th, 1823: 20 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. "The Sovereign Grand Consistory having heard read a communication from our Representative for the State of South Carolina (Charteston)^ respecting the pretended Grand Council in the said Slate, and, having seriously deliberated on the same, has felt it a duty, thus promptly and expressly to caution all Councils and Chapters deriving their authority from under this Sovereign Grand Consistory, against having any connec- tion, or holding correspondence with any Councils or Chapters, or with any person or persons professing to be member or members of any Coun- cil or Chapter, located in the United States of America or elsewhere, , particularly with certain ' Societies ' under the assumed title of ' Kadosh,' whose members are unworthy of possessing the Sublime degrees of Philo- sophic Masonry, which are founded on the Christian Religion, to which they are enemies in principles, and not recognized by this Sovereign Grand Consistory ; all and every such Chapter being Spurious and Irregular, and their members ' Tmpostees,' " &c. There is connected with this history a statistic account of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Grand Council, from its commencement up to the present time. This account is an abstract from the records of the Consistory, from the docuraents issued, from the documents in possession of many of the old members of the body, and from such other sources as have been presented to him by those surviving members of the old Council, — all of which are authentic and indisputable. He has endeavored to produce the simple facts as they stand recorded, and it is hoped they will be fairly examined. He has also given the documents in full, which have been issued by the opposers of the old Council in all its stages, in order, not only to avoid the imputation of partial dealing, but also to give a fair opportunity to all concerned, that they may form correct opinions, as it regards the much abused Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council established by the " Peddling Jeweller, Joseph Cerneau." If the history herewith submitted shall have the effect of enlightening those who ai-e in darkness, concerning the regularity of the Council, or of removing the prejudices of those who have, hitherto, conscien- tiously believed that the " Cerneau Council " was in tlie wrong, the desire of the writer will be gained. He is perfectly willing to leave the matter there. CHAPTER SB COND. ORIGIN AND PEOGRBSS OP THE KITE OF PEBPEOTION. The doctrine of "Derivation" advocated as the basis of all "legal Masonic bodies " — Formation of the Grand Lodge of France " — Introduction of new degrees into the system of Masonry— Council of the Emperors of the East and West — "Lacorne Grand Lodge " — Rite of Perfection — The Council in which it is practiced, unites with the Grand Lodge of Prance— Union of the Grand Lodge of France with the Grand Orient — Grand Chapter Gen- eral of France unites with the Grand Orient — Nature of the Grand Orient of Prance — " Tablet," showing tlie progress of the Rite — 17G1 — Stehien" MoRiN — His Patent, or Power — Controversy between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of France concerning the rights of the Grand Orient — St. Domingo^Stephen Morin's Patent annulled in 1766 — Estab- lishment of the Supreme Council of Charleston, May 31st, 1801 — They adopt a " new rite," and issue a Circular in 1802. In order to ariiive at a proper understanding, and to form just conclusions upon the subjects which are intended to be set forth in this history, it is highly necessary to know from whence these degrees are derived, as well as the manner in which they have come to us. All known Masonic bodies which are, in reality, regularly constituted, derive their power for the performance of Masonic work, the conferring of degrees, &c., from a regular head. In the case of Symbolic Lodges, the power in the present day is derived from a Grand Lodge. The same rule is observed in the case of Royal Arch Chapters and Encampments of Knights Templar. Although the bodies working under the Ancient and Accepted Rite are looked upon in this country as irregular, yet they are not so esteemed in many other parts of the globe. The same care and caution which is manifested here concerning the Lodges, Chapters and Encampments under the English or York Rite, are manifested abroad in regard to the correctness and purity of the subordinate bodies under the Ancient and Accepted Rite. They have a regularly organized and acknow- ledged head, from which they derive their power, and are con- 22 EITE OP PEEFBCTION'. stantlj under inspection, quite as rigid as is to be found here. And it is proper to remark that, while the York Rite and the York formula are only exclusive, or the acknowledged and established system of Great Britain and the United States, the Ancient and Accepted Rite is acknowledged, and prevails in Prance, Switzerland, and many other States on the Continent, as well as the Islands and South America. And while we can easily and correctly trace the origin and the head of the York Rite to Great Britain, from whence all true Masonic power in that rite is, directly or indirectly, derived, so can we, with equal ease and certainty, trace to Prance, and to Prance alone, the origin of the so-named Ancient and Accepted Rite, and prove her to be the sole and true depository for power, &c., at the present day. And this is the first point which will be attempted in this history. I shall commence by giving an extract from a report made to the Chamber of Council and Appeals of the Grand Orient, by its Orator, in 1853, which embraces this point fully. It is there stated as follows : " In the year 1700 of the Christian Era, Masonry, in any of its rites or degrees, was neither known or practiced in France. The first Lodge known there was constituted in 1725, by the Grand Lodge of England, in the York Rite. There was subsequently a Grand Lodge formed there, and which bore the title of the ' English Grand Lodge of Prance,' until the year 1756 ; but in the course of this year, it took the title of ' Grand Loge du Royaume,' or Grand Lodge of the Kingdom. Up to this period of time, Masonry practiced but three degrees, viz., the Apprentice, the Companion, and the Master, and were called Symbolic." Thory, Acta Lat., page 88, says : ■' The Count of Clermont was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France when it was the English Grand Lodge, holding and working under a charter from the Grand Lodge of England. It was exclusively a Symbolic Grand Lodge. Under that charter, and by that name, it worked from 1743 to 1756. Then it declared itself independent, as the Grand Lodge of Prance." " It was about this time that the Ineffable degrees were introduced into Masonry. They were not practiced by the Grand Lodge, but by an authority named the Sovereign or Supreme Council of the Emperors of the East and West, and had no more than twenty-five degrees, counting from the First, or Apprentice's degree ; and the Twenty-fifth, or last, was termed ' Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.' " [See Nomenclature, Appendix, Doc. 1.] SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 23 " This ancient Council had its chamber in the old Grand Lodge of France, and both the Grand Lodge and the Council were under the direction of the same Grand Master, Count de Clermont, Prince of the Royal Blood, and also of the same representative or Substitute of the Grand Master, Challon de Joinville. This Council of the Emperors of the East and West was formed in 1754, by the Chevalier de Bonnville, from the ruins of the ' Chapter of Clermont.' " This position, however, is denied by some of the authors who have written upon the subject. Besuchet, Precis Historique de la Franc Ma9., vol 1, page 33, says : "In 1744 the Count of Clermont left the Lodges to take care of themselves, and appointed, first, Baure, a banker, and afterwards Lacorne, a dancing master, his special deputy, thus putting the whole Order in his hands. Disor- ders of every kind invaded Masonry : charters became merchandize ; new degrees swarmed like flies ; restaurateurs bought masterships for life, and every- body sold degrees. The followers of Charles Edward Stuart, the son of the Pretender, opened Lodges without authority, and he himself chartered a Chap- ter of Rose Croix at Arras, iu 1747. The Charter is given in full in le Globe, vol. 4, page 84 ; and by Ragon, page 121 ; Clavel, page 167, who says that this was the first Chapter, or centre of administration of the high degrees, in France, and that the second was established by a travelling Scotchman, at Marseilles, in 1751. In 1761 Lacorne, the dancing master, special deputy of the Grand Master, and as such, real head of the Order, enraged because the Grand Lodge refused to recognize him, and its members to sit with him, estab- lisfied a iiew Grand Lodge. Both Grand Lodges granted charters, and the Council of the Emperors of the East and "\Yest constituted at Paris, and throughout Prance, Lodges and Chapters. The old Grand Lodge denounced the 'faction Lacorne,' which, nevertheless, continued to thrive." — Leveque, Thory, Klos, and others. [See Appendage to Document l.J By these authors it would appear that the Council of Empe- rors of the East and West, instead of having its Chamber in the old Grand Lodge, had constituted a Grand Lodge of its own, which was a rival body to the old or genuine Grand Lodge. But be this as it may, it will not alter the fact of the existence of the Council at that date, governed by the Count of Clermont, according to its documents. But we proceed with the report : " In 1766, the Council of the Emperors of the East and West had branched itself off, in order to form a Council of ' Kaighis of the East.' These two authorities soon after became extinct, with the exception of such part of them as united with the M. W. Grand Lodge of France. In 1772, the Council of 24 RITE OP PERFECTION. the Emperors of the East and West, united itself with the Grand Lodge of France {in which body it had always before its chamber), and they became one body,— controlling the Rite of Perfection from the First to the Tweuty-fifth degree. [Document No. 2, Appendix.] " By a perusal of these documents, it will be clearly seen that all legislative power and authority over all the ilasonic degrees then known and practiced in France, and the fulness of all Masonic knowledge, centred in the Grand Lodge of Prance ; and that there was no other head or central point, known or acknow- ledged, from which power could be derived, viz., 1772. " This Grand Lodge of France, in its turn, united with the Grand Orient of France by treaty, in 1786, and also renewed in 1799, relinquishing all its power to that body. And from the broken remains of the ancient Council of the Emperors of the East and West, and of the Council of Knights of the East, there arose in 1784, with the assistance of many brethren of those high degrees and officers of the Grand Lodge of France, a ' Grand Chapter Gmeral ' of France, which, io its turn, became united with the Grand Orient of Prance by treaty of 27th February, 1786." [Appendix, Doc. No. 3,] By tlie author just quoted, it will be seen that the Council of the Emperors of the East and West was formed in 1754, by the Chevalier de Bonneville, from the ruins of the Chapter of Clermont. How long that Chapter had its existence previous to the year 1754, the record does not state, nor is it a matter of much consequence, as the object is, to trace the progress of the Exalted degrees to this country, and the peculiar circum- stances attending them. But it is very evident that the Chap- ter of Clermont could not have been in existence before 1745, and perhaps not so early as that by five years, inasmuch as the Royal Arch degree made its first appearance in the world about that time, and the one is a perfect counterpart of the other — * altered, of course, to suit the occasion. Moreover, we have the direct assertion from the Grand Lodge herself, based upon her records — " That Masonry was altogether unknown in France, in any of its degrees or rites, in the year 1700 ; that the first Lodge was formed in 1725, and, up to 1756, practiced but three degrees, which were called Symbolic, and tliat it was about this time that the Ineffable degrees were introduced into Masonry." There are those who believe that Kilwinning, in Scotland, Counting the Thirteenth and Fourteenth degrees, Rite of Perfection. SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 25 was the original source from whence these degrees came ; but if we are to believe the records of history, it would appear that, in the Eighteenth Century, as late as 1740, it is expressly stated by Masonic authors, that nothing was acknowledged for genuine Masonry, either in Scotland or England, but the three degrees. " That some years after this (between 1750 and 1760), when the new degrees were imported from France, no man could pretend that he understood the true meaning of their origin, history, &c., and that all saw that the interpreta- tion of their hieroglyphics and the rituals of these new degrees were quite gratuitous." That on the arrival of deputations in London, whose object it was to inquire there concerning these new degrees, they received the reply, that they knew nothing about them. Disappointed and chagrined, they turned their faces toward Scotland, and at Aberdeen they found the Free Masons quite as ignorant as those in London, and were referred back to London for further information. But in 1802 this point was settled by an official communica- tion made by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and entered on her minutes as follows : " 1802. — This year a circular letter was received from a body styling itself ' the Supreme Grand Council of America.' The spirit of the lUaminati which it breathed, and the supernumerary degrees, amounting to about iifty, which it authorized, were sufficient reasons for drawing down the contempt of Scottish Masons, whose honor it is to have preserved Slasonry for many centuries in its original and simple form, and whose pride it shall ever be, to transmit to the latest posterity, the principles and ceremonies of their Order unpolluted and unimpaired." See Lamie's History of Free Masonry: Dublin edition, 1808. The allusion made here by the Grand Lodge of Scotland to a circular letter, is the celebrated document published by the Supreme Council of Charleston, South Carolina, which will be produced iu its proper place. It was largely circulated, and has served the various bodies as authority for many of the monstrous doctrines which prevail. [Doc. No. 7.] Perhaps a word here in explanation, concerning the Grand Orient of France, may be acceptable, as there may be some who do not rightly understand how the body is constituted. They suppose it to be a working body in the way of conferring degrees, &c. — the highest body in Masonry known in France, 26 RITE OP PERFECTION. and a body -within itself, exclusive of any other. The reverse, however, in some respects, is the case. The meaning of the -word Orie/it is East, and in Masonry simply denotes, the place of po-wer. Thus, a Grand Lodge is called a Grand East of all subordinate Lodges -vrithin a State. The same remark -will apply to Grand Chapters and Eucamp- ments ; they are Grand Orients or Easts for their several sub- ordinate bodies. But the Grand Orient of France is some-what different, inasmuch as it is the centre of all Masonic po-wer, of •whatever kind, because it is formed by Lodges of all rites, by Chapters, by Colleges, &c., and, in fact, has gathered together and embraces within itself all the Masonic rites of France. This point, of course, is disputed by her opposers, but vs-e shall have occasion to refer to it again in its proper place. With the exception of having a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree within itself, it is not a body conferring degrees ; but in the same sense that the Grand Lodge is the controlling and governing power of all subordinate Lodges under her jurisdiction, so precisely is the Grand Orient or East of France the controlling and governing power of all subordi- nate Masonic bodies, of whatever kind, in Prance. Hence she has her " Chamber of Rites," to which all applications for war- rants are referred, whether York, Scottish, Philosophic, French or Modern ; her Chamber of Council and Appeal, Legislative Chamber, Chamber of Reception, Finance, Officers of State, &c., &c., and is in fact " the Government." Neither the Grand Lodge of France, or the Council of the Emperors, or oiher Masonic governments, grant any more charters in their respect- ive names, but all are derived froni the Grand Orient — they stand in her name and are under her control. There is, how- ever, at this time, and has been from the year 1804, a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, in Paris, which is also an East, and is tolerated by the Grand Orient. They move on in harmony together. This Supreme Council, together with tlie outlines of its controversy with the Grand Orient, will be noticed in its" proper place. And now to resume the history. The record goes on to state : A.D, ] 70 0. Miisonry totally luiknowri ui Fvanco. MrH Lodge at Paris. 1725 Chapter of Clermont about 17 J i Orandlod^e- of France. Council of Imp^'^fthe £a^^i&'Wc.st 17 S 6 G.L. of the Ktrt^dom. 1756 'S.^ I n ion , I hdertook to conipete tinth •fid cppose the GrcuicL '^od^e^theMnqdonh. \Pmcticedthe \5 Sj^nhoU-e {de^rv^s only. Knights of the East. ens. y- JJtiiperors cfihe Fast cf West. Siiblune Scot(^h . MotfierLodge. 1760 p ^5De^reesof V^erfection..' (hneral' Grand Chapter of Frcuice. 1764 Grand Chient ofFranct 1766 & 1799 . 4tt tlie iMmmic heads of Eg St .9 ofFranee mnU \ tfornv the Gr. Orient, - u/hidi iwu^cotttrols ail riles of uiuU^i/erHind. KV a^knouMaed/by \tJit C:0.:huttohmted ^Coniini/ej'iii adatenei /If Uu presefU time. Plate 1. Slip.: fmncU 7)5 Jnt.:A:l((:S.:R. 1804. cV- 1611 SCOTTISH RITE, AXCIEXT AXD ACCEPTED. 27 "in consequence of these acts, the Grand Orient of France has thus gath- ered in its hands all the powers of these several authorities. It has thus become the sole legitimate po^esor, and the mediate successor to the founders of the Rite of Perfection, of the Consistory of the Princes of the Royal Secret, and of all the Sctfttish System, Ancient and Accepted, which was practiced, not only in the Councils of the Emperors of the East and ^Vest, but also in the Scottish Consistories of Bordeaux, known under the title of Sublime Scotch Motlier Lodge. Added to these, the Grand Orient controls the Ancient and Accept£d Scottish Rite. This position she claims to occupy at the present day." Bagon, Orthodox Mag., says : •' 1786 — February 2Tth. — ^The Grand Chapter General of France united with the Grand Orient of France by treaty, br which it wiU be perceived that the Grand Orient has thus gathered in its hands, all the powers of th«e several authorities, and has thus become the sole possessor, and the mediate successor, to the founders of the Rite of Perfection, of the Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, and of all the Scottish System. Ancient and Accepted, which was practiced, not only in the Council of the Emperors of the East and "VTest, but also in the Scotch Consistory of Bordeaax, known under the title of Sub- lime Scotch Mother Lodge." Accompanying this statement, the author has prepared a tablet, which will give at a glance the commencement and progress of this rite in France, up to the year 1800, and with- out which the mind would naturally become confused, as the subject is somewhat intricate at first sight. As a reason for being thus particular here, he would state that, he wishes to show the commencement and the regular succession of Masonic power in France — that, what the Grand Lodge of France was in 1761, containing the Council of the Emperors of the East and West in her bosom, and thus was the Grand East of all rites, so is the Grand Orient now, having gathered to2'ether and consolidated all those rites in herself, and so continues to be the sole East at the present day. [See Plate.] We will now proceed with the report : " The Ancient and Accepted Rite is nothing else than a modification of the ' Rite of Perfection, which was practiced in the ancient Councils of the Emper- ors of the East and West, in the bosom of the Grand Lodge of France. It had then but twenty-five degrees, and was given to the Jew. Stephen Morin, previous to his leaving France for St. Domingo, in 1761. We attach herewith, £, full and perfect copy of the Patent and power given to him, together with a correct list of the d^ees. And it will be found that the title of • Grand 28 RITE OF PERFECTION. Inspector ' is given to kim in his Patent ; but it should be remembered, that this title is not a ' Masonic degree ' (as has been vainly supposed by many), but a function or title alone, and is still bestowed at this day on brethren commis- sioned to examine the work of Lodges, in order to report upon their regularity and propriety." [See Appendix, Doc. No. 4.] There is also given a copy from Ragon. As some have felt inclined to dispute about the wording of the Patents, they are given, that the reader may judge for himself. The substance and signatures are the same in all. The opponents of the Grand Orient, reason about Morin's Patent in the following manner. They say : " The Count of Clermont was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France when it was the English Grand Lodge, holding and working from a charter under the Grand Lodge of England. It was exclusively a Symbolic Grand Lodge. Under that charter, and by that name, it worked from 1743 to 1756. Then it declared itself independent, as the Grand Lodge of France. When it first received its charter from England, it adopted regulations which denounced and disowned all the Scottish degrees. It did not change the regu- lations when it became independent. When the Grand Lodge of Lacorne was united with it, it seems for a time to have admitted the superiority of the Scottish degrees, and administered or worked them; but in 1766, on the 2d of October, it refused to establish chambers of those degrees within itself." — Thory, 1 Acta Lat., page 88. They continue : " The simple truth is, that it was always a Symbolic Grand Lodge ; and the Count of Clermont was Grand Master of the regular Blue Lodges and Sym- bolic Masons of France only. He may also have been at the head of the Council of the Emperors or the East and West, or the Grand Council ; but that was certainly only a nominal dignity, and, at any rate, it was not a part of his prerogative as Grand Master." The Grand Orient claims all, that is denied in the above, viz. — The union of the Council of the Emperors with herself ; then the Grand Lodge ; the administration and working of the degrees, and the authority of the Count of Clermont's power, in precisely the same way as Prince Murat is now the head of all Masonry in France. They continue : "All the different ppwers that granted letters of Constitution for bodies to work in the Scottish degrees, were perfectly independent of the Grand Lodge. 2)1 1766, it undertook to siLppress them, but did not succeed. — Thory, Acta Lat. SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 29 p. 87. The Count of Clermont could only be Grand Master to such degrees as he had regularly received. The Grand Lodge was composed of Representa- tives of Blue Lodges. Some of them had the high degrees and more had not. Of course the body, as a body, had no jurisdiction over them or concern with them. We do not know that the Count of Clermont had ever received any of the Scottish degrees. There is not the least reason to suppose that if he had, he had ever gone beyond those of the Rite of Perfection. Probably not one man in France had received all, or even half of the degrees which everybody was then manufacturing, and of course no one body cotild have jurisdiction over all, nor any one Grand Master be at the head of them all. " The Patent of Stephen Morin emanated, therefore, from the Council of the Emperors of the East and AVest. Two questions, however, will naturally arise. First. How could that Council be under the protection of the Grand Lodge of Prance, when we know that the latter recognized and worked the three Blue degrees only, and that the Council of the Emperors was acting in competition with, and encroaching upon the rights of the Grand Lodge — Thory, 1 Acta Lat., p. 78. Second. How could the name and seal of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of the Symbolic degrees be used iu a Patent, the object of which was to authorize Morin to propagate the Rite of Perfection, — a rite not recognized by the Grand Lodge ? " Our answer to these questions would be — That Lacorne, the private deputy of the Grand Master — who cared but very little, if any, for Masonic affairs — took upon himself, and without any authority whatever, to use the name and seal of the Count of Clermont and of a Grand Lodge that was in opposition to the genuine Grand Lodge. A proof, however, that in 1761 the Council of the Emperors was not united with the two Grand Lodges, or either of them, is, that it was merged eleven years afterwards, viz., 1772, into the Grand Orient by a concordat^' — 1 Precis Hist., p. 41 ; and Report of Leblanc de Marcounay, p. 12 : English Translation. ^ The Grand Orient and the Supreme Council have been at variance about this matter for long years. Perhaps the mat- ter will clear up itself to the reader as we progress. With this power in his possession, in 1761, Stephen Morin set sail for St. Domingo, where he remained for some years, during which time he commenced the propagation of his Ma- sonic work in the Rite of Perfection — consisting of Twenty five degrees. But in his career there he gave so much dissatis- faction, and propagated such strange and monstrous doctrines, coupled with bad faith and unmasonic conduct, that the Grand Lodge of France annulled his Patent, took from him the pow- er, and appointed another Inspector in his place. [See Docu- 30 KITE OF PBEPP^OTION. merits Nos. 5 and 6 ; also, Kagon's view of the ilte in its pro- gress.] The document annulling the patent of Morin, and supersed- ing him by the appointment of another inspector — Martin, has been disputed. Some have gone so far as to say, that it was a false document, because none of the names affixed to it in 1766 are found in 1761. But Ragon makes mention of the "fad" and the author of the Report from which it is copied, assumes to have copied it from the Archives of the body, in Paris. It is given as a part of the history, without attatching any spe- cial importance to the document itself. Let us now examine the powers conferred upon Stephen M orin. He is empowered to form and establish a Lodge, for the pur- pose of receiving and multiplying the Royal Order in all the Perfect and Sublime Degrees. What those degrees are, how many, &c., will be found inscribed on the Patent. They are Twenty-five in number, and are called the "Rite of Perfection :^^ He is to take due care that the General and Particular Statutes and Regulations of the Grand and Sovereign Lodge be kept and observed. These Statutes, both General and Par- ticular, have been known from the commencement, and have been, at different times, published far and wide. Tliey are not Secret, and the Grand Orient declares, that tihere are not now known, nor has there ever at any time been known, any such Statutes as Secret Constitutions. They are the same which govern all regularly constituted bodies of this kind. A compliance with them regularizes the body with the parent body, and with all other bodies of the like kind, on the habi- table globe. A departure from them, makes the trespassing body irregular, and illegal, wherever it may be located. The crime of treating these Statutes with contempt, and of invent- ing other Statutes of the most absurd kind, together with the so-called " Secret Constitutions," was laid to the charge of Stephen Morin and his associates. He is to govern properly the Lodge which he creates, under the title of " Lodge of St. John," and by surname " Perfect Harmony.''' SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 31 ' He is to select such officers foi" the Lodge as he sees fit, or thinks proper. He is to be recognized by all Masters of regular Lodges wherever he may go, as " Worshipful Master- of Perfect Har- mony Lodge.'' He is authorized as Grand Inspector, to enforce the observ- ance of the Laws of the Order, and thus establish Perfect and Sublime Masonry in every part of the world. He is authorized to make Inspectors wherever the Sublime Degrees have not been established, (doubtless for the purpose of forming a Lodge like his own, and establishing the Degrees in regular form.) These are the powers conferred. We do not find in the Patent, anything concerning the following powers he assumes, and for which, it has been said, he was recalled. He was not appointed Grand Inspector for life. If this had been the case they could not have taken his power from him. He was not empowered to make any other person an Inspect- or for life. No mention is made of either of these things in the Patent, and the Grand Orient explicitly states that it is perfectly foolish to suppose, or assert, that either the Geueral, or Particular Statutes governing the Order, gave this power. He was not empowered to confer any Degrees, except those contained in the Rite of Perfection. These, as has been stated, are Twenty-five in number, and continued so until 1804, in France. But he did pretend to confer a great number of other Degrees, and by so doing brought himself into con- tempt. Further — it must be perfectly plain, that (if the document of his recall and the annulling of his Patent be true, and there is no reason to doubt its authenticity), all the powers which Stephen Morin possessed by the Patent, (and they are fully defined) lasted until 1766, and were legal. Subsequent to that date, he had no power whatever. Yet he not only as- sumed those powers, but took to himself many others, the re- sults of which the sequel will show. The document already quoted thus speaks : 32 RITE OP PERFECTION. " When Stephen Morin imported the Rite of Perfection, or his so termed ■ Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite,' he somewhat attempted to disguise its origin, and to give it more importance than it really had. He consequently fathered the merits of the modification upon an absolute monarch, and extem- porized the law, which he arranged altogether to suit his own purposes. This bad use of the power given to Stephen Morin, caused the Grand Lodge of France to recall him in 1766." [Document No. 3.] Ragon, Orthodox Mag., page 297, thus speaks : " Stephen Morin, on his arrival in St. Domingo, commenced the propagation of his Masonic work in the Rite of Perfection, consisting of twenty-five degrees. He also created Inspectors, which titles did not designate the arbitrary powers and prerogatives tliai some silly wiiters liave supposed, hut merely the powers of constituting Lodges. He also, notwithstanding the annulling of his Patents, and his recall in 1766, went on constituting Chapters and Councils in different parts of America. Between 1776 and 1782, the revolution progressed in the island, and the Rite of Perfection slumbered. But in 1783 it awakes with more degrees." Eagon is evidently in error concerning the year. It was not until 1801, that the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was officially made. known, as possessing thirty-three degrees. Aside from allusions like the above concerning Stephen Morin, history is silent. We nowhere find any details con- cerning his travels, nor is it known positively, at what time he was in America, or whether he was here at any time. In fact, between the time of his leaving France in 1761 to the year 1802, we have but one definite allusion to his being in any other place than St. Domingo. That allusion is found in Ragon, who states, that in 1769 Morin was in Kingston, Ja- maica, where he had established a Lodge, or rather the Rite of Perfection. He then changed the name of the Kadosh de- gree, to that of the Knight of the Black and White Eagle. Therefore we are left to conjecture in this matter, and inas- much as Ragon has before said, that " between the years 1776 and 1782 the revolution progressed in the Island, and the Rite of Perfection slumbered ; but awakes again in 1783 in a new dress there,'' we may justly conclude, that Morin was chiefly in St. Domingo and the parts adjacent. This conclu- sion will be the more rational when wc remember the troub- lous times in our land from 1773 to '81, when communication SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 33 with distant parts by sea was precarious, on account of cruis- ers, the war of our own revolution being then in progress, and the sm^all probability there was, t|iat the attention of men would be directed greatly to Masonic matters. While at the same time, after 1781, the probability is that the intercourse was more frequent, and unaccompanied with danger, and nu- merous facilities were enjoyed for carrying out such plans as Morin entertained. From the testimony of JVicholas G. Boss, given under oath before the Committee appointed by the Legislature of Rhode Island, to examine Masons, &c., we learn the following : _ " In 1761, the Grand Consistory convened at Paris, wlien authority was given to Stephen Morin, to found and establish the higher degrees in the New World. He resided in the West Indies. " In 1763, Moses Michael Hays arrived in this country, with authority from Morin to establish them, — he being appointed Deputy Grand Inspector General. " About 1780, Mr. Hays visited or resided in Newport, Rhode Island, and conferred the degrees on several persons who, at that time, were Master Masons. Among others on Peleg Clark and Moses Seixas, in 1781. His power, aa Deputy Inspector General, was, to confer all the degrees after Master Mason, unless in a place where previously established. " In 1793, Peleg Clark, Moses Seixas, Thomas W. Moore and Mr. Stearnes, being Royal Arch Masons, met at Providence, to assist the Royal Arch Masons there to found a Chapter, which they did, under the name of ' the Providence Chapter of Royal Arch Masons,'' having a, dispensation from the nearest Chapter, ^Washington Chapter,' New York, dated 3d September, 1793.'" " The Grand Chapter of Rhode Island was formed in 1798, and by 1802 had granted warrants to two Chapters in Rhode Mand." — Report of Rhode Island Committee, 1832, page 132. Be this as it may, we can only arrive at any certainty from authors on the following points, viz. : That when Stephen Morin left France, he took with him the Eite of Perfection, consisting of twenty-five degrees and no more, that he arrived at St. Domingo intending to travel over the vast continent of America, that in St. Domingo he practiced the Rite of Perfec- tion according to the power given him, and also vended to passing travellers and adventurers, the degrees which he re- ceived. He also made Inspectors. Ragon states distinctly, 34 EITE OP PERFECTION. "The Council of the Emperors never imagined for a moment that sucli an audacious Jew and Juggler as he was, would take possession of the rite to make a profit out of it, they never dreamed that he would make it an article of traffic, and not only so, but that he would re-model the degrees, make new- ones, &c." That up to 1766, a period of five years he enjoyed this power uninterruptedly, manufacturing many new degrees out of the raw material, uttered many strange doctrines, and performed many curious things, at the end of which time his conduct had become so infamous, Masonically, in the eyes of those who gave him the power, that they recalled him and put another in his place. Nothing daunted by this reverse, he still goes on with his work. Three years afterward we hear of him at Kingston, Jamaica, as much interested as ever, that shortly after this the Revolution broke out in St. Domingo, and went on for nine years, during which the rite slept, but awoke again at tlie end of that time in an entire new form, and with a new dress, after which it turns up at Charleston, South Carolina, say the next year in a Lodge of Perfection, and subsequently in 1801, as a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third de- gree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. History is silent upon what follows in Morin's course until 1802, when a document was issued by a Supreme Council in Charleston, South Carolina, in that year assuming to descend from, and to succeed Stephen Morin, and to have organized it- self May 31st, 1801. This document takes up the thread in Morin's history, which appeared to be lost, accounting for the manner in which the Exalted degrees found their way into this country. It has also become the foundation for Masonic writers, and a hand-book for all Supreme Councils of the present day, as it regards history, doctrines, traditions, i X-^ fsplif I7(i2 HW Union .1^ ''^plit 1761 ^iaazaz] Gmtirfcqf L(trol7/r 17*7 Chapt.of4rra.s Erossf'J(irn/)if(' 1751' I Chriplrrn/' f'lrriiiniil . 1__ 1758 ('lifif)/.offjnpt ofk'f/.slSrUr.sf z^f7r//r/r77Z^^^-cv ~J ■,yiA^M^^./:jr,^7r?^/r,^/ .Spin :^ 1773 frra/id Orie/tf of Fra/ur T 1774- G. ' qf /'mim . I %lfX'onhGrfiii/' /''/■iiiife. T7 niot/ 17.11 -St./o/in of ScoHiiik/ a/ . t/o/'tfi/Zi-s: 17(12 Sco/r/iJf. of f '/■/////■('. h'x/iio / 1706 ^7-'>'oin/ Lnzfirf. T 1772 f'orilrfil Xti cini . I 1774 j Or. OrK'iil \ i/ft /Joi/i/foir 1780 Ji.'I' Chajjter . irra.s(i/lii<'V. qf/'(ins. 17fi5 Of'iil. Grand ('/ifipt,of'Franre. ^32SXy^^^^,/.y;y./,y,x^rr/:,-.:;:z7:/. I 'mm I ^^x. 17!)!) 0i:7ZySS:i^7^:z2:n:7:T^-.^cii:yr!:^i^f^f7:^g^r.^y^rjri^^-,-:;r7r, 1770 , Ui" o/'Sro/r/i Philo.K lillp Paris: ' 1774 -»! /A/ Pit,- of I /)rft(/4*i>,tifLi/tni M P(Vr/('0/i.ixSlniM -^ f,'.\tiiirl 1700 Prii//'/'rffiih of. \arlioii//r. ISO? Gen. Or .'ic. L'7 w4iir.S:. 4c t: Pit I' Pari.^ /oxfcf uiih/tJ (/iii/y adoi/l I /net JtiP'j r 17«4 f''

^J'. ^?iflKrri.»if>riOTaa»ifc.i-^^.g.-tg;fifir,gyxzz.^i^>^i^^ 18 06 Prov. Gr. . ofH p.\f. op frnrifp. 1004. Sup roiiiiiil.K(U.f;. 'j.~J . /no A: III/? /'art..- lAia •Siiptv/no Coiinri/ ,/(>/: /i/u'tiiir 18tH A at ion tilOrfm ri \.V,..Z-ofPilc of. Ui.s/i/it/r (ill on -KL n of FhinrT fc MCoflluar. 1756 (jranrl n of Ihr Kiiif/rloin. 1747 Chfipl.oflrra.'i EcossfJfirofnfe. \ 1751' I Ch aptpro/' ' f'lrniiiiiil . ,spm 1702 ¥^ 17 58 f7iri/>/of'/'f/i/>. nfl'.'f/.s/Ji-U'is/. 2:^ Union .2-^ 'S/y/// 1761 QranffL of TirTrTT/-/-/ .Sf/i/ '■X 17 75 frrrif/// Orie/tf of fra/KY' VtlV G.O of /■'trnifc SohAiJiilvfrmiiil Oru-nf qf/'/Yttia 1702 ^ . - Con/nil ofhiils 1 ofl/u f.'tisl 17 H Siib.Sc.M.'- of O.fJ of Froiirf>. ' \.rn / Him 1 1< to// 17 »0 If-f (iiapler . ArrasiiflJu'V. 17fir) Or///. Gn/iif/ C/i (Iff, oJ'Frci tire. 'jAj./7y:zjTj^y,,j:/7,'^jL:.:/,j.'^,.'. V. -^L- ^. j^j^/.y.jT.j^y./^^^ 3^^ Utiion 1801 1804 l^"l 'iiioii 1000 K ^ifsmifirsaiiswi I 'moil 17i>!) -•^J ^^/.■^gz:;^.^;^s^:g;.r^,>V'>;/.:.i^;yr>:^>^^^ IBo5 (kn. Gr. Sc. [J ^^/ic.ii'. 4et:ftile Paris ' lo.vted oiil!/-i-:t (/(I !/,y. E 1751 ,St../olw of .Scotliiiii/ (if . Ha i»fi If ('■''■. 1 7 ('.2 Siofcli. //. tiffrdlicc. f.'.vflllrf 1766 ~ ■'I'diiil Laznir. 1772 (^.lJ k'r i/sxolx (hnliril AV' (Kit . dr. On ('III f/p //oiii/ioii 177fi VflTofS'rntrl, Pliif'os- Rile /'(III A-. F.vf afioiil /fr/. /{ill- ilf Urr/ufcuiil/.i/iiii Holr/i'rtti.rxSlni.'.t fj.vtilicf 1760 Pnmitii 'p/iift of. \ (irf/oii/if. iiicf fifj I I7»4 fjgi/^fidii /life I (//Y(i(/fi().y/ro 1786 G/:i/'(i/ifofOir/. o/-// h \i (if Hon (I I laofi Prov. Gr. qfH n.\f of frdiicr. j.^y-^y,j',^y Zir^r.,:^~-^'./~^-.^-^y:''v:,L';r^^r/'^.x^zy.^.-y:^,^^y^jr./r^j:.,',7y-,^^.^j laoi. Siifj. f'oiinril S:(U.(i. o3... Inc. X: he /}. /'(iris- 1312 •Sii/Jpettic Coiinri/ Jin: ImcfTcti ■SiTiii^.'^sr(Sr,:<-i\-i-(riT;s^ ^ 18t8 ^fcition (if (iimi d fj of I'ruiici' Plalp a. IHIU I/.. ,,fHilc if. Ui.SlllllH Union -,^ EITB OP PERFECTION. 51 " Elus," Sixty-Eight of the " Ecossais," Twelve of the " Rose Croix," Twenty-, Seven of the Philosopliic degrees, and Six of the ' Kadosft,' these Eight degrees alone furnishing Two hundred and Forty-nine rituals. In all, there l\ave probably been some six or eight hundred degrees, and variations of degrees in practice." Annexed -will be found a chart containing the most of these rites with the date of their commencement, their progress, and final concentration in the Grand Orient of France, and Supreme Council of France, the ruling and governing powers, there ; all being consummated by the year 1804 to 1810. This chart is embodied from Kloss aiid Ragon. The quota- tions are made from Tliory, Rebold, Besuchet, Vassal, Ragon, Clavel, Des Etang, Chemin Dupontes, Bobrik, Leveque, Moreau, Boubee, Kaufmann and Cherpin, with numerous others, and will all be found engrossed in a pamphlet called, " Lamarres Defence, &c." All these degrees and rites have sprung into being since the year 1740. And it may not be unprofitable to inquire of what kind of materials all these degrees were made up. Des Etangs says of the Rituals : " They are an incohereiit medley of all sorts of practices and ceremonies, taken from the old religions of India, of Egypt, from the Jewish and Christian books, which might perhaps in other times have sufficed to preserve some truths, but which are far from meeting the wants of the age in which we live." ■Cliemin Dupontes Memoir sur 1' Bccossisme, page 322, " Prom the Fourth degree to the Thirtieth, only four or five degrees are conferred, all the others being so summarily communicated as to be virtually annihilated. We have even heard in solemn meetings of the High degrees the na'j/ avowal, that they did not dare to use the cahiers with initiates possessed of common sense." Vassal, page 269, says of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Bite, that the reasons given iu the Fifth degree for its institution are " miserable and immoral," that those who made the degree knew very little, that the questions and answers are mostly insignificant, and that he did not succeed in finding iu them anything instructive." Page 278, " The Sixth is merely political, and he would have passed it by in silence if he had not promised to examine every one separately. He declares the Seventh useless, and that the reasons assigned for instituting it did not exist when it was created." Page 303. Page 289, " The Eighth he says is exclusively devoted to Architecture- and one of those which discourage intelligent men, and enable our enemies to 52 • SCOTTISH ,EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. turn us into ridicule, because they find there more ignorance than instruction. The history of most of the degrees is unintelligible, &c." Page 306, " The Ninth may have been insiduously intercalated to make men abhor initiation ; it is based on cunning dissimulation and revenge ; it is a degree of a sect or party ; does not belong to the primitive initiation ; never ought to have been in Scottish Masonry, and the Chapters ought to be forbid- den to confer it — page 313. The history of the Tenth degree is essentially false— 324. The Eleventh contains not a single point of morals and no instruction, and so is almost a nullity. The very title of the degree discloses the ignorance of its authors, it ought to disappear from the Scottish Rite- - 329 and 330." Page 336, " The history of the Twelfth is insignificant and improbable. Of tho Thirteenth he says, the further we advance in the Capitular degrees, the more our embarrassment increases on account of the confusion and improbabil- ity of each degree. A parabolic language and paucity of symbols make these degrees almost, unintelligible. There is nothing instructive or useful in it — page 340 and 346." Page 287, " The Sixteenth is not worth preserving — thei"e is in it neither utility or instruction." Page 420, " The Nineteenth is an inexhaustible source of Allegories more or*less positive, and at the same time more or less erroneous." Page 321 and 425, " Out of the Twentienth the most fertile imagination and perspicacious penetration could not extract the least instructive notion, cor the least useful consequence. It is really not a degree, for there is nothing in it of what makes a degree." Page 374, " The Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth represent Sabeism only." Page 477, 480, " The Twenty-fifth is an extravagant compound of events, facts and science, at once Political, Eeligious and Scientific, its initiation insignificant." Page 507, " The Twenty-seventh ought not to be in the scale as a degree. It has neither symbols nor allegories connected with initiation, and is still less a Philosophical degree. It seems to have been stuck in simply to fill a gap and retain the name of a celebrated order. Its instruction is wholly Christian. It expresses the sincere Piety of the Templars. That is all there is of the degree! Page 520, " The Twenty-ninth he finds of no account, to amount to but little, and says such documents do not pay a studious man, and one anxious to learn who reads with continuous attention a voluminous cahier, to be at the end less enlightened than he was before." So much for the quality, or the intrinsic excellence of the degrees of this rite. All the authors who have been quoted are Masons, and therefore the testimony which they have given is perfectly reliable and should be received. The author in- RITE OF PERFECTION. S^j dulges the hope that the reader has not become weary in the perusal of this minute account of all the known Rites of Masonry. These extracts were made thus full in order to prove the following facts : First. That there was no such thing known in the world as the Ineffable or Sublime degrees of Masonry, or, in fact, any higher degrees at all than the Third or Master Mason, prior to the year 1730. Second. That the manufacture of these so-called higher degrees commenced about that time and was carried on with unheard of zeal, until not only Prance, but also many of the portions of the Continent, the islands, &c., were filled with them. Third. That among the degrees and rites manufactured, is found in 1758, the commencement of the Rite of Perfection, or Heredom, consisting of twenty-five degrees. Those' degrees in their primitive form are practiced here. Fourth. That among all the Rites known and practiced, none of them bear the name of " the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite," from 1736 to 1801, at which time that name is proclaim- ed as attached to a new rite or system then established. And we here clearly see how they came by the material to form their new rite, viz., by taking the Rite of Perfection, manufactured between 1745 and 1758 into twenty-five degrees, and, adding thereto five stray degrees, picked up wherever they could find them, crowding the same in between the degrees of the Rite of Perfection, which they already had possession of through Stephen Morin, and manufacturing a ruling degree, the thirty- third, out of new and raw material. This is their boasted new rite, with a new name, &c. SEE SCHEDULE. Degrees contained in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite as copied from the Schedule of the Circular, 1802. J . Entered Apprentice. 6. Intimate Secretary. 2. Fellow Craft. 7. Provost and Judge. 3. Master Mason. 8. Intendent of the Buildings. 4. Secret Master. 9. Elect of Nine. 5. Perfect Master. 10. Elect of Fifteen. 54 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 11. Sublime Knight Elected. 22. Prince of Libanus. 12. Grand Master Architect. 23. Chief of the Tabernacle. 13. Royal Arch. 24. Prince of the Tabernacle. 14. Perfection. 25. Prince of Mercy. 15. Knight of the Bast. 26. Knight of the Brazen Serpent. 16. Prince of Jerusalem. 27. Commander of the Temple. 17. Knight of the East and "West. 28. Knight of the Sun. 18. Sov. Pr. Rose Croix de H. 29. Kadosh. 19. Grand Pontiff. 30, 31, and 32. Prince of the Royal 20. Gr. Master of all Symbolic Lodges. Secret. 21. Patriarch Noachite, or Prussian33. Sov'gn Grand Inspector General. Knight. Note.— Observe— Kadosh is the 29th, the Institutes require it to be the 30th. They have left out entirely, two degrees, which the Institutes require to be the 29th and 31st, viz., " the Grand Knight of St. Andrew," and the " Grand Inquisitor Commander," and have made three degrees out of the " Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, viz., the 30th, 31st and 32d. Fifth. The most important reason of all, is to demonstrate, that the huge pretensions made by the founders of this new- rite in the year 1802, to this effect, viz. : " that the Sublime Masons were in possession of the true Master's Word, which was lost at the assassination of the Grand Master, at the huilding of the Temple; that it was in their possession before that event, and had been preserved through all succeeding ages by them, and was brought down from thence by them to the present time, 4rc., that this huge pretension is a most glaring, bare-faced falsehood, and an imposition upon all whom it may concern. Because, not one solitary degree which they confer is much over one hundred years of age, all of them, beginning with the fourth or Secret Master, and ending with the Thirty-third, having been put together and manufactured out of the " raw material," sub- sequent to the year 1730, and most of them since 1750. It is vain for them to say that a nobleman from Scotland visited France in 1744 and established a Lodge of Perfection at Bordeaux. It is vain to attempt a deceit here. We have already seen who that nobleman was, viz. : the son of the Pretender, and also that the body, instead of being a Lodge of Perfection, was a chapter of Rose Croix, that degree being then a detatched degree, and manufactured by the Jesuits at EITE OF PERFECTION. 55 least twelve years before the Rite of Perfection was known. The knowledge of the whole stuff is abruptly and officially denied by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and they openly de- clare that none but the three degrees of Ancient Masonry were ever known or practiced there. And such was the case until full one third of the present century had passed away. Not content with the iteration of such a mass of falsehood, they resort to Blasphemy and Low Vulgarity, in order to add to the value of secrets which they pretend to hold in their keeping, by saying, " that it is said by Dr. Priestly, that the Jewish writers have said, that Jesus performed his miracles through means of some ineffable words of God, which he had rob- bed or stolen from, the TempleJ' This simple expression alone, stamps the character of the document as well as the men who manufactured it. And when it is remembered that it was made with a full knowledge of the rituals, and doctrines of the degrees which they pretended to confer, the real opposition and enmity to the truth, as reveal- ed in the Word of Truth, and ■ in some of the degrees, which are founded upon that revelation, becomes the more fearful and amazing. Leaving all the other degrees out of the ques- tion, and taking the Eose Croix as a guide, a degree which is based upon the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Immanuel, God with us — which recites the story of the Cross in language most affecting, which exhibits to the view the various symbols connected with the event, as well as the lasting memorials which He left behind to call it up to the memory, amid the troubled scenes of life ; one is entirely at a loss how to account for the cool impudence and malignity, toward the man of sor- rows, which are evinced by this single sentence of the document. It may be supposed that this portion of the paper has been selected for the purpose of heaping reproach upon the Jews, who in great part composed the Charleston Council. But this is not the case, on the contrary, it becomes a part of the his- tory, from its being there, and has had a great influence to- ward producing certain effects, which have been partially alluded to, and will be alluded to again. Besides, it would be of 56 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. little avail to our benefit, to reproach them, or to hold up their conduct especially to reprehension. For there were others there besides Jews, and the uttering of such a document and such doctrines, is only a fair and distinct exhibition of the human character, and an accurate developement of the human heart. " The opposition of the Jews to Jesus, in the days of his flesh, was but the natural opposition which conscious iniquity generates, to the light and power of excellence. They hated him, not for himself, but his character. Their aversion to this, was the simple result of man's native dislike to purity and holiness. Their obliquity of purpose and cruelty of spirit, did not arise from their being Jews, but from their being men." This body of men assume to be a fountain head of power, issue a document containing partly a history and partly the doctrines which they teacli. This is one of those doctrines ; and if it does not declare in so many words that Jesus was a liar and a thief, it certainly leads directly to the inference that they themselves were of that opinion, and would have such a doctrine promulgated in the bodies which they create. It has gone forth to the world, and its effects we have all witnessed. They have so altered the meaning and interpretation of the Symbols which are used, that one is oftentimes at a loss, what to understand by those beautiful emblems, or how to believe what he hears. It was this conduct on their part, which drew forth from the New York Council and Consistory, the circu- lar, which may be found in the Appendix. [See Doc. 24.] It. is in this light that we would comment upon this part of the document. If we have been led, clearly to perceive, and to believe with unshaken confidence, this lowly and despised one was none other than the Word himself, as he openly de- clares; who was in the beginning with God and was God, that all things were made by him, and without him there was noth- ing made that was made; that although he was the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace ; that, although he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich ; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery RITE OP PERFECTION. 57 to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross ; if we follow him to the manger for his cradle, the stable for his dwelling, and his company the beasts of the field ; if we accompany him through his weary way, as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, to the wedding, where he by a look transformed the water into wine ; or with- out the city to the bier on which they were transporting the young man — the dead son — to his final resting place, and be- hold him take him by the hand, bid him to arise, and imme- diately he comes to life ; or to the bed of Dorcas where she lay fast bound in death's embrace, and see her, too, though dead, and prepared for the grave, open her eyes at his word, and rise in health and life ; or to the grave of Lazarus whom he loved, who had been dead four days, and yet, at his word, bursting the bonds of death and walking out of the tomb be- fore the astounded multitude, and at the same time, linten to his words while he declares, that He himself is the Resurrection and the life, pointing to the miracle which he had wrought in proof of the truth of his words ; we must conclude that this is indeed none other than the hand of the Almighty God, for none but he can do deeds like this. None but God can forgive sins, or give sight to the blind, or call back to life again him that was dead. And is it true that we are called upon by such men as the authors of this document, to believe, that all this is a Sham, that the whole of these marvellous miracles were wrought by means of some word which Jesus stole from the temple, and that the word which he stole, and deceived the people with, they had in their possession, and as Sublime Masons had brought it through all generations from the primitive age of the world down to the present time, and would for the sura of Twenty-Jive dollars, confer it upon or communicate it to, the Candidate? Is it true that this doctrine, viz : that he who spake as never man spake, is a Liar and a Deceiver ? That he, whose office work on earth was, to comfort the mourner, to bind up the 58 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and the opening the prison to them that are bound, was a Thief ? Well may we repeat, " Shame, where is thy blush?" We shall pass to the assertions concerning " Frederick of Prussia," and the " Constitutions of 1786," on which this paper dwells with considerable confidence. The document reads as follows : "In 1761, Lodges and Councils of the Sublime degrees existed all over the continent of Europe. His Majesty, the King of Prussia, who was Grand Commander of the Order of the Eoyal Secret, was proclaimed as Chief of the Sublime and Ineffable degrees of Masonry for the two hemispheres." " On the 25th October 1762, the Grand Masonic Constitutions were iinally ratified at Berlin, and proclaimed for the government of all the Lodges of Sublime and Perfect Masons, and of the Chapters, Councils, Colleges and Consistories of the Eoyal and Military Order of Free Masonry in the two hemispheres." " On the 1st of May 1786, the Constitutions of the Thirty-third degree, called the Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General was finally ratified by his Majesty, the King of Prussia, who, as Grand Commander of the Order of Princes of the Royal Secret, possessed the Sovereign Masonic power over the whole Craft." Before going into an examination of these two points, we would offer a few items worthy of remembrance as we pass along. Thory, says : " September 21st, Commissioners from the Councils of the Emperors of the East and West of Paris, and from the Council of the Princes of the Eoyal Secret at Bordeaux, settled the Eegulations of the Masonry of Perfection in thirty-five articles, &c. The title of these Constitutions in de la Hogues Register, in the Charleston body, is as follows : " Constitutions and Eegulations drawn up by Nine Commissioners appointed ai hoc, by the Sovereign Grand Sublime Council of the Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret." Aveilhes Eegister agrees perfectly with De la Hogues in title, date and place. The Second Article declares that the Royal Art, or the association of Free and Accepted Masons is regularly divided into twenty-five degrees, distributed into seven classes, which are there given, beginning with the apprentice and ending RITE OF PERFECTION. 59 with the Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, twenty-fifth degree. By Article Third, the governing body of the rite is shown to be " The Sovereign Grand Council of the Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, and it is provided that it shall be composed of the Presidents, of all the particular Councils of Paris and Bordeaux. By Article Sixth, the Sovereign Grand Council was to elect seventeen officers annually, ten with different titles and seven Inspectors, who were to meet under the orders of the Sovereign Princes, or his Deputy General. The regulations in several of their provisions, define the powers of the Inspectors whom they generally style Grand Inspectors, and of the Deputies whom they were authorized to appoint. They were to represent the Sovereign Grand Council in the provinces and foreign countries ; visit, inspect, and pre- side in subordinate bodies, and could within their respective jurisdictions in foreign countries, create and constitute Lodges and Councils. The Thirty-third Article declared the degree of Prince of the Royal Secret, to be the Sublime and last degree of Mason- ry, and gave stipulations for conferring it. Here, then, we have a short abstract of the meeting of the Commissioners in 1762, the Thirty-five Articles which they enacted, called the Constitutions and Regulations of the Order, fixing the number of degrees and their names, the office of Inspectors, their powers, &c- These are quotations from numer- ous French authors as Leveque, Kaufmann and Cherpin and others, and from the Registers of the Charleston body. They all agree in this matter. And on the first of May, 1786, they were confirmed, as we shall presently show, and have already shown in part, by the degrees and laws having continued un- changed until 1802. But let it not be forgotten, that not a single one of the French authors, nor any other heard of, makes mention of tlie name of Frederick of Prussia in connection with these laws or degrees, nor of Berlin ; it was at Paris and Bordeaux. And all that ever was known or written concerning Frederick of 60 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Prussia, Berlin, the Constitutions as ratified at that East, &c., is to be found first, and only, in the written documents of the Charleston body, and is altogether unsupported by any res- pectable authority. De la Hogue, de Grass and Aveilhe, with Solomon Bush, and the documents now in hand, are the only authorities known for that fabrication. But to proceed : " On the 27th December, 1773, the National Grand Lodge (the title at that time worn by the Grand Orient,) declared that it would thenceforward work in Symbolic Masonry only, and forbade the Lodges to go beyond the Third degree in their labors. Tkory says under this date — Suppression of the new National Grand Lodge — Appointment of a Committee to revise the High degrees — Messrs. Bacon de la Chevallerie, the Count de Stroganoff and the Baron de Touissant are appointed the Committee. The Lodges are requested to suspend all labors in the High degrees, as the Grand Orient itself did. It enjoined on the Lodges not to occupy themselves with the High degrees, and to work only in the the first three Symbolic degrees, as, it added, itself was doing. In 1781 and 1782 it created within itself a chamber of the High degrees, which labored at a revision of them, and early in 1786 reported four, viz., Elu, Eoossais, Knight of the East, and Rose Croix. These were adopted by the Grand Orient to be worked in addition to the three Symbolic degrees, and it thereupon decreed that no others should be worked in the Lodges and Chapters under its jurisdiction." Subsequently the union of all the Masonic bodies in France took place, merging themselves into the Grand Orient, as we have before shown see (Tables), and in the May following the great Convention took place, for the purpose of making Statutes and Regulations for the general government of the Order. It is this Convention, its date, and the code then adopted, which has been seized upon by the Charleston Jews, and turned into the celebrated Berlin affair for the production of the Secret Constitutions, manufactured (they saj-) by Frede- rick, for the purpose of forming the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The Report of the Grand Orator of the Chamber of Rites (Paris) thus speaks of this matter : "That Supreme Council (Charleston) labors under very serious errors as it regards the laws by which it is governed, and the rights which it arrogates to itself. It refers to a decree of May 1st, 1786, fathered upon Frederick II., King of Prussia, and by which, according to their statement, the Twenty-five RITE OF PBEFECTION. n degrees have been extended to thirty-three, and the rules of the rite established for the future. This rite, in fact, has no other true regulations than those decreed at Bordeaux ; and, as it regards the laws of Frederick IL, it is most certain that they never had an existence. No traces of them have ever yet been discovered, either in Paris or Berlin, before the year 1804, and then they were brought from Charleston to Paris by the Count de Grasse." Thns we have a very clear and concise account of the Con- stitution of 1762 and the General Statues and Regulations of 1786 ; but no mention is made of Berlin, or Frederick of Prussia. There is no mention made of any rite but that of Perfection, in twenty-live degrees. Nor is it a possible thing that Frede- rick could have been declared Grand Commander of the Order of the Royal Secret, or proclaimed Chief of the degrees of the two hemispheres, as those degrees only came into existence-as a rite in 1758 — and Stephen Morin received his power in 1761, in which his (Frederick's) name is not mentioned ; furthermore, the degrees were not carried out of France as a rite at so early a day, except in the case of Morin : certainly not to Prussia, as we shall presently see. We quote again : " Frederick II. never received or practiced the Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Bite, and never proceeded in Masonry further than the Third degree. He probably was acquainted with Fessler's system — six Higher degrees ; or Zin- nendorfs — four higher degrees. The rite in Masonry now known as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Bite, as well as the Bite of Perfection, or the Ineifable degrees, are not now known, nor have they ever been known or prac- ticed in Prussia (1852) . It is certain that no other system is followed or known in Prussia but that of Fessler, which has but nine degrees, viz., three Symbolic and six higher degrees ; or that of Zinnendorf, composed of seven degrees, viz., three Symbolic and four higher degrees ; the one practiced by the Grand Lodge Eoyal Tork of Friendship, and the other by the Grand National Lodge of Germany, both sitting in Berlin. It therefore is perfectly well demonstrated, that the Scottish Rite, in thirty-three degrees, or in twenty-five degrees, has always been, and is now (1852), entirely unknown in Prussia, notwithstanding the assertion contained in the famous Charleston document, that Frederick IL was Sovereign Grand Commander in the Scottish Bite, and had willed the establishment of a Supreme Council for each nation. " The King of Sweden, Duke of Sudermania, &c., was never a deputy of the King of Prussia, was never acknowledged as such by the Craft, neither in whole nor in part, and never possessed the Thirty-third degree regularly, — as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Bite, as well as the Thirty-third degree, is 62 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. entirely unkaown to Swedish Masonry. It must, therefore, have been conferred upon him as a matter of courtesy, by the Supreme Council of Charleston, after the year 1802, if he has the,degree at all. " ChaJlon de Joinville has never been a deputy of the King of Prussia, nor has te assumed that quality on the Patent of Sephen Morin. The assertion is— false altogether. He was the substitute or deputy of Louis of Bourbon, Prince of the Blood, Count Clermont, then Grand Master of the Order of France. " The Grand Constitutions of the Thirty-third degree, called the Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, were not ratified or pro- claimed by His Majesty the King- of Prussia, nor by any other Majesty what- ever, either in 1762 or 1786, as the Thirty-third degree was never even known, 0); heard of, until the year 1804. (In Europe.) " Now it is well known that this rite, in fact, has no other true Regulations or Laws than those decreed at Bordeaux, on the 20th September, 1761, by the Commissaries of the Council of the Emperors of the East and "West, of Paris, and of the Council of Princes of the Royal Secret of Bordeaux. As it regards the laws of Frederick II., it is dear and oertain tliat they never had any existence. That assertion concerning that monarch is a complete fabrication. And if. they had ever been made, it would be at Berlin, not at Paris, and still less at Char- leston, South Carolina, that the traces of their origin should be found. All members of the Scottish Rite must, consequently, now give up the idea of enforcing the pretended Grand ConstitiUions of 1786. Thus the prescription, concerning the number and seat of the several Supreme Councils of the Uni- verse, can no more be admitted or allowed ; still less can it be applied to the equally extravagant disposition by which a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree had the power of making Masons, of convening them, &c., or of forming a Supreme Council in countries where there was none. " Supreme Councils must follow the common law. They must derive their powers from a regular authority of the rite, and they can establish their seat in such States as have none. This principle has been sanctioned by the Grand Orient of Brazil, which made application to the Grand Orient of France for the powers necessary for the establishment of the Scottish Rite, and to the for- mation of a Supreme Council ip its bosom. Said principle has again been recently resorted to in the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of New Grenada, which for twenty years past has practiced the Scottish Rite in said republic, and had been first formed under the pretended Constitutions of 1786. This authority has been regularized by the Grand Orient of Prance, and has thus become a regular Scottish power in New Grenada. " The pretended Constitutions of the Thirty- third degree were probably the General Regulations and Statutes of the Order, promulgated at the Union and Convention in Paris, May, 1786. This was a Union of all the Masonic bodies in France into one grand body, denominated the Grand Orient of France" [Appendix, Doc. No. 3.] EITB OF PBEPEOTION. 63 Added to this, will be found in the Appendix, No. 9, an offi- cial document in answer to some inquiries made in 1833. The document comes from the old Scotch Directory of the " National Grand Lodge of the Three Globes," Berlin, and is now on record in the archives of the Grand Orient of Prance. But again. In the official proceedings of the centennial celebration of the initiation of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, into the fraternity of Masons, by the Grand National Mother Lodge of the Three Globes, Berlin, 1838, the Orator of the occasion endeavors to correct the assertions advanced in regard to Frederick by several French systems of Masonry, and positively declares that he never actively participated in any work except in that of the real Masonic degrees, and that he was opposed to the High degrees. Lenning, in his Encyclopedia, gives the following information concerning Frederick : " Frederick II., third King of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great, born in Berlin, January 24th, 1712, died at the Chateaux Sans Souci August 17th, 1786. He was made a Mason at Brunswick, on the evening of August 14th, 1738, by a Masonic deputation from the Lodge ' Absalom,' at Hamburg, con- sisting of the Barons Von Oberg, Von Bielfield, Von Lowen, the Count of Lippe Bruckburg, and some others. On the death of his father, in 1740, he ascended the throne of Prussia, and in June of the same year, we find him pre- siding as Master over a Lodge at Charlotteuburg, in which he initiated several eminent persons. In regard to his supposed connection with the Scottish Rite^ all well informed persons are aware that, during the last fifteen years of his life, Frederick neither directly or indirectly occupied himself with Masonry. It is far more likely that he always was a declared enemy of the High degrees, because he, like many other respectable brethren of Germany, had learnt to regard them as the root of all corruption in the Masonic fraternity, and as the seed from which sprang the schisms between Lodges and systems." "We would call attention to the Appendix, Document No. 10, where this part of the subject is quite fully examined — (Dispatch, August 31.) We have thus exhibited the claim which these pretenders make to the King of Prussia as the Grand Commander of the Order for both hemispheres, and it is certainly a most strange thing that, if what they say be true, it should not have been known in Prussia at all, even up to the year 1850 — that no 64 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. mention whatever is made by historians concerning the connec- tion of King Frederick with this Order— that there is not a document of any kind in existence, prior to 1802, save this one, which bears testimony to any such connection. Since that time many disputes have arisen in France, on account of such a strange assertion, especially because it was at Paris, and not at Berlin, that the Convention of Commis- sioners met, in 1762, for the purpose of framing the Constitu- tions and Regulations, which should permanently govern the Order, and the name of Frederick, either directly, or by allusion, was never mentioned. The simple truth is, thfit the assertion is false — a complete fabrication from the beginning to the end. We have indisput- able evidence that King Frederick, Frederick II., or Frederick the Great, was a Master Mason, but for any more than this, we challenge the proof. While on the other hand, there is abundant evidence, and that of the most positive kind, to prove that he had no connection whatever with the High degrees, and was very much opposed to them : so much so, that he denounced them as evil in their tendency and not to be meddled with. We will now take up the Constitutions which he is said to have ratified, and known as the " JVova Instituta Secreta," &c. [See copy in Appendix of the Secret Constitutions — Document No. 28.] This document claims that — " On the 1st of May, 1786, the Constitutions of the Thirty-third degree, called the Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, was finally ratified by His Majesty, the King of Prussia, who, as Grand Commander of the Order of Princes of the Royal Secret, possessed the Sovereign Masonic power over the whole Craft. In the new Constitutions this high power was conferred on a Supreme Council of nine brethren in each nation, who possess all the Masonic prerogatives, in their own district, that His Majesty possessed, and are Sovereigns in Masonry." It is on these Constitutions that they base all their powers, and we shall examine a little into their authenticity. Vassal, in his Essai Historique sur 1' Institution du Rit Ecos- sai, &c. : Paris, 1827, page 19, alluding to the various impo- sitions of de Grasse Tilly and others, says : RITE OP PERFBOTION. 65 " They had recourse to fraud, and in order to impose with more safety, it was declared that these constitntions had been granted by Frederick 11., King of Prussia, who in granting them instituted the Thirty-second and Thirty-third degrees on May 1st., 1786, and in order to give color to this fable, it was asserted that Frederick was Grand Master of the universality of the Scottish Rite. We will add, that he could not have been Grand Master of the Scottish Rite, because since 1750, only reformed Masonry (rite of Pessler and Zinuendorf) was professed in Prussia. We know that the King of Prussia protected the Order, but he was never Grand Master, and had he been that prior to the 1st of May, 1786, he was afflicted with an apoplexy, which was followed by paralysis, and which deprived him of a portion of his intellectual faculties. This malady continued eleven months without intermis- sion, and he died in the course of this year, from whence it follows, that he cotdd not create the Thirty-second and Thirty-third degrees, and still less sign the pretended Grand Constitutions on May 1st, 1786. The opinion which we express is the more precise, for if we consult Vol. 3d, of the Hist, de la Mon- archee Prussienne, published by Mirabeau in 1786, vre find the following passage : ' It is a pity that Frederick II. did not push his zeal to become Grand Master of all the German lodges, or at least, of all the Prussian lodges ; his power would thereby have been considerably increased, and many military enterprises would have resulted differently if he had never embroiled himself with the heads of this association.' [Note. A consideration which cannot have escaped even the least observant Masons is, that if the Thirty-second degree had been created by the King of Prussia, this degree would, at least, have retained some analogy with the reformed Masonry which was practiced in Prussia, while, on comparing this degree with the Twenty-fifth degree of Heredom, we find so perfect an identity between the two degrees, that they contain the same doctrines, the same ritual, and the same historical points, whence it results that the Prince of the Royal Secret is nothing but the Twenty-fifth degree of Heredom, which has been transposed to the Thirty-second degree."] " These documents demonstrate that the King of Prussia was never Grand Master of the Scottish Eite, and that in 1786 he was physically unable to create any degrees or to institute these pretended constitutions, and we regret that the authors of the circular of the Grand Orient of 1819, should have entertained an erroneous principle, by recognizing that Frederick II. had given Grand Constitutions for the Scottish Eite. Notwithstanding this formal assertion, we persist in believing that these Grand Constitutions never existed. The Bro. de Marguerrites has gone even further. He asserts in a memoir, published in 1818, that a Scottish Knight had in his possession, the original of these constitutions, signed manu propria by the great Frederick, King of Prussia — we may observe that the Knight must have been of high birth to have been so intimately connected with the great Frederick, that this monarch should have confided to his care, the Grand Constitutions signed by his own hand, and that he must have been well advanced in years, because he 66 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. must have been a Thirty-third in 1786, in order to be entrusted with a docu- ment which was inherent to the cahier of this degree." " We can also affirm, that since 1814, the Grand Consistory of Rites in France has conferred the Thirty-third degree upon many Prussian officers who were old Masons, and none of them had any knowledge of the existence of a Supreme Council at Berlin. Therefore if the Thirty-third degree, and the Scottish Rite, are unknown at the place where they were created, how can it be asserted that the great Frederick instituted this degree, and gave a Masonic Charter, which other kingdoms should enjoy and his own be deprived of." " The genuineness of the Constitutions of 1786 was first attacked in a dis- course delivered before the Sov. Scotch Chapter, ' Pere du Famille, at Angers, in February, 1812, and published in the Hermes, Vol. 1, page 296. The author states, that before May 1st, 1786, Frederick had had an attack of apopleptic asphyxia, that his sickness lasted eleven months without intermission, or improvement, and he died in 1786. For this he refers to L' Historie Secrete de la Cour de Berlin, 1789, Vol. 1, page 215." Chemin Dupontes, in his Memoire sur 1' Ecociss, says : " Frederick the Great protected Masonry, but neither he, nor his Council, amused themselves with making degrees, and if they had done so we should recognize their work. Besides, Frederick died August 17th, 1786, after a painful illness of eleven months. He could not therefore, on the 1st of May of the same year, have made, or approved, any Masonic regulations." Clavel, in his Hist. Pitt., says : "That from the year 1744 until his death, Frederick in no wise concerned himself about Masonry, that on the 1st of May, 1786, he was dying, and absolutely incapable of attending to any business whatever, that he was the declared enemy of the High degrees, which he considered an injury to Masonry, and that there never was a Council of the Thirty-third degree in Prus- sia, where, previous to 1786, the Rite of Perfection had been, for the most part, abandoned." Schlosser, in his History of the Eighteenth Century, says : " Frederick II. himself, continued to belong to this Order till after the Sile- sian war. He ceased to be a member shortly before the commencement of the Seven Tears' war, at the very time when these orders began to be abused for every species of deception, and he also commanded such of his Ministers of State as belonged to the Order, to desist from visiting their Lodges." This is only a part of the testimony which has been given by authors relative to Frederick the Great and the Constitu- tions of 1786, but it is deemed sufficient to prove fully, the falsity and the folly of the pretensions made in this memorable document. The most able defenders of the rite may be said RITE OP PEEPBCTION. 67 to have abandoned these pretensions, and have novf taken quite another stand. They aver that it is a matter of very little consequence, whether Frederick the Great v^as connected with the Order or not ; or whether he made the degrees, or ratified the Constitutions, &c. That the true state of the case is, that these Constitutions were adopted by the persons who formed the Rite, as the fundamental law, and governing power of the Rite. That they have been accepted as such, down to the present time, and therefore they are the fundamental law. Mr. Lamarre, in his Defence, page 31, says : " The first known body of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was the Supreme OoudoU at Charleston. It adopted the Constitutions of 1786 as the law of the Rite. That law, so adopted, prescribed the number of Supreme Councils, and limited the powers of those who should attain to the Thirty-third degree," &c. And it is equally true, that it prescribes the number of degrees to be contained in the rite, the manner in which they shall be placed, of the degrees included in their system, and which they proposed to confer, it cannot be supposed, for a moment, that these degrees were forgotten, or that any possible mistake could have crept in. But so it appears. Again. How could the degree of ''Commander of the Temple " be included in the Institutes as one of the system of 1786, when it appears, by their own statement, that in 1797 it was being conferred in Charleston, by Montmain, as a detached degree. The Rite of Perfection knew nothing of this degree. It was never introduced into the Council until purchased from Montmain, and was first announced in 1802. Moreover, it is declared by the defenders of the rite : "All these degrees did not exist in France prior to 1786, nor until 1804. The Thirty-third did not. There was never any such degree known there until RITE OP PERFECTION. 69 1804 as that of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, superior to Prince of the Royal Secret. And it is perfectly well known to all Masons who have at all examined the subject, that no such degrees as Chief of the Tabernacle, Prince of the Tabernacle, Knight of the Brazen Serpent, and Prince of Mercy, are to be found in the nomenclature of any of the old degrees existing prior to 1804. Le Tuileur of I'Aalnaye says, as lately as 1840 : ' These four degrees — the Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth — are not found in France.' Accordingly the Scottish Masons regard them as the Holy Ark."— iamane, page 33. We cannot do better than to give an extract from Historical Inquiry, by Foulhouze. He says, page 11 : " It seems that, with this document in hand, the founders of the pretended Supreme Council at Charleston should have been in no manner embarrassed, and that the list which they gave in their circular of 1802, ought to have been an exact copy of the degrees of the Rite, under the names, and according to the order mentioned in that document. " Their list, it is true, would have numbered no more than thirty-one degrees, for the authors of the Institutes have forgotten the Nineteenth and Twenty- fourth, and doubled the Twenty-ninth ; but it would at least have proved that Dalcho and his confreres united a little sense with their modest ambition for notoriety and originality. " By comparing this list of degrees (Charleston document) with that of 1762, (Acts of the Sup. Counc. of Prance, page 4, et seq.,) and with the provisions of the pretended Institutes of 1786 (Nova Instituta Secreta), any one will comprehend that, at the time they made it, none of them knew the Constitu- tions of 1762, nor the Institutes of 1786 ; that, therefore, those Institutes arc of a date after the year 1802, and that the above list was hastily set up bj men, who, as they had in hand but thirty-one of the rituals brought by Stephen Morin, did not even think of the Grand Knights of St. Andrew and the Grand Inquisitor Commander, and that they took the object for the name of the ' Grand Scotch Knight of the Sacred Tault,' displacing the Kadosh, and left the Grand Pontiff under the number which it had in the list of Stephen Morin. " And the proof that they did not even suspect the necessity of those Insti- tntes to conceal their design, and that they believed that the first foegeey (we speak of the Constitutions of 1786) sufficed for their purpose, is, that Dalcho, in his orations, affirms, as we have before stated, that the degrees of the rite have undergone no change — no alteration whatever ; and means, therefore, in his circular, to give them as they were, and under the same forms which they tlieii had since many centuries before. Thus it may be said that, on the one side, they themselves condemned those Institutes, and that now they are evidently con- demned by them. " What we find both laughable and scandalous, in connection with the dgnar 70 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPED. tures of those Institutes, is, the note annexed by the authors of the treaty of alliance between the Supreme Councils of Prance, Brazil and the Western Hemisphere. In order to account for the absence of names in those places marked with asterisks, they say that these asterisks serve to designate the places of those signatures that have become illegible, or effaced by friotiou or SKA WATER, to which the original, written on parchment, has been accidentally exposed on several occasions. " This precious manuscript is now deposited within the archives of one of the Confederated Supreme Councils, and its future preservation is, therefore, assured. " What ! The Great Frederick ratifies a Constitution which is written on parchment, and behold, the original — or as the French text says, ' Tamplialion origirmle ' — thereof travels over land and sea, instead of being kept in the archives of the Supreme Council of Berlin ! That important Council (for with- out it, without the identity of its members being fully substantiated, what becomes of all those who pretend to descend therefrom,) immediately abandons the only proof of its birth and legitimacy, to the accidents of most dangerous voyages. And, notwithstanding the necessity of preserving that document in the very place where it originated and took its full force and vigor, in order that, under all circumstances, it might give faith, credence and authority to the institution which had adopted it for its foundation, and when it was easy to expedite to any person having a right thereto, duly certified copies thereof, behold, it is exposed to accidents from flood and field, from salt water, and frictions of all sorts ! " But is it true that there was but one original — ampliation originale — of that document ? If so, the signers have averred a scandalous untruth ; for they declare, in their certificate to the aforementioned institutes, statutes, con- stitutions and appendices, that the ofiicial copies, or ampliations thereof, are deposited, and have been carefully and faithfully preserved, in all their purity, among the archives of the Order, and (further below) that the copies which they have examined are faithful, and literally conformable to the original text of those documents. " There is no possibility here to avoid an unhappy and disagreeable dilemma. The French word ' ampliation ' means either a duplicate or supplement. If it means a duplicate or copy, where was the oeiginal, which has not probably been so unfortunate as to be exposed to sea water and friction ? We might there find all the signatures it ever had, in a legible condition. If it means a supplement, the main text would have received the signatures as well as the supplement to the text. We ask again, where is the original document with its signatures in full ? — The salt water and friction dodge is a weak sub- terfuge, and not likely to carry conviction with it, to the mind of any honest man of ordinary intelligence." Again : " The Institutes are under the date of 1286, and consequently were signed RITE OF PERFECTION. 71 by Frederick II. five hundred years at least before his birth. The Appen- dices have no date at all (which goes far towards destroying their validity). Those documents being three in number, to wit., the Institutes, signed by Frederick alone, and the Constitutions and Appendices bearing the same signa- tures at a distance of several pages, the sea water or friction did so manage its work of destruction, as to touch only the same names in both places, leaving all the rest of the text in the most perfect condition.' ' " Now we say, that neither of those distinguished gentlemen associated upon the commission would have given their approval to such absurdities, if they had taken the trouble of reading and examining those documents, with the note which is attributed to them, as explanatory of the absence of sigiiatures which, it is alleged, were originally affixed to those documents, and more especially so, if it were true, that there are several official ampliations and an original, because in that case, the miracle operated either by sea water or friction, which through a proceeding of its own, went to destroy the very same signatures on each of those ampliations and on the original itself. So remark- able an occurrence would have been exceedingly interesting to their scientific men, and carrying with it so liberal a seasoning of the supernatural, the fact well authenticated, would have been of inestimable value to the faithful, &c. The claims which this extraordinary document set up, are. First. The establishment of an entire, new, exclusive rite, in the year 1801, of thirty-three degrees, named in the Schedule, the Order taking the name of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rife. It has been clearly proved that this boasted new rite was nothing more than the Eite of Perfection, with eight degrees cro'^'ded in, to make up the thirty-three. Second. Its great antiquity, pretending to have been founded in the primeval age. This has been clearly proved to be false, by showing that Masonry, in any of its rites, was not known or practiced in France before the year 1725-, and then only in three Symbolic degrees ; that in 1736 they began to make addi- tions, and in 1756 they had manufactured an immense number of Rites and Degrees ; among the number of which was this Rite of Perfection ; that before this period there was no Ineffa- ble Masonry in Europe, and that the pretence of a Scottish basis, or its transmission from Scotland by a nobleman, was simply, absurd. In this Synopsis all known rites are given, except the " Rite of Misraim," which was set up in the nine- teenth century. Third. That Stephen Morin was the founder, by appointing 72 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. M. M. Hays for America, whereas it appears by their own documents which have been made public, particularly the Reg- ister of Aveilhe, de la Hogue, and De Grasse, as well as from history, that Morin appointed Frankin first, and Fraukin ap- pointed M. M. Hays some years afterwards in Boston, Mass. If the document of Morins recall in 1766, which we have given in the appendix, be authentic, (and there is no reason to doubt it) many of his proceedings were illegal. At the best, Morin was not a Sovereign Grand Inspector General when these ap- pointments were made, nor was he or any of those who were appointed by him, members of that degree at all ; that as it is generally conceded by all authors that the thirty-third degree was not known in the world before the year 1802, and then only in the Supreme Council in Charleston, it is clear that the persons composing that body, manufactured it themselves out of the " raw material" Fourth. " That Frederick of Prussia was Grand Commander of the Order of Princes of the Royal Secret in 1762, had an East at Berlin, ratified Constitutions, made laws, &c." The falsehood of the whole of this pretension is clearly demon- strated from the beginning to the end. He was not the Grand Commander of the Rite of Perfection or of Sublime Masons ; was not at the Convention of 1762 or 1786, either in person, or by substitute, or by Deputy ; was not acquaint'ed with the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ; he did not form or estab- lish the thirty-third degree, nor had he any acquaintance what- ever with any of the proceedings attributed to him. That Challon de Joinville was not then, nor was he ever, the Deputy, substitute, or representative of " His Majesty the King of Prussia," but was the substitute or deputy of Louis of Bourbon, Count Clermont, Prince of the Blood, the then Grand Master of the Order in France. That Charles, Here- ditary Prince of Sweden, Duke of Sudermania, &c., was never a deputy of the King of Prussia, was entirely unacquainted with this rite, and that if he ever was possessed of the thirty- third degree, it must have been after the year 1802, and then conferred upon him as a matter of courtesy by these inventors of degrees. KITE OF PERFECTION. 73 Fifth. That the Constitutions of 1786, purporting to have been ratified, and signed by Frederick II, are a hose forgery, never having been known before the year 1802, and in all probability, not until some years after that date, being fully demonstrated to be such by the article itself, as well as by history. The document is lengthy, but it is hoped that the examina- tion of it in some of its parts, has not been unprofitable. Much of it remains unnoticed. We have only taken up those falsehoods which more immediately and directly concern the origin of the degrees, the laws which govern them, the doc- trines which they promulgate, and the influence these have had upon those, who have in succeeding years, become acquainted with the Exalted degrees of Masonry. We do not hesitate to say, that this document has been the germ from which has sprung up all the quarrels and dissensions, all the suspicions and doubts, all the bitterness and bad feeling, which have been so manifest, particularly as it regards the Sovereign Grand Consistory of Joseph Cerneau, and the strife in France between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council there, be- ginning, as will presently be shown, in 1804, and continuing almost to the present day. It was extensively circulated at the time of its publication, it was silently received by the masses of the' Masonic order, because they were ignorant of most of the doctrines which it taught, and it has since become in a great degree, a kind of hand-book for quotations, in matters relating to Supreme Councils, and the Exalted degrees of Masonry. These we have undertaken to refute and expose, not so much from our own testimony, as from the declarations and writings of others, who have perhaps examined the subject more deeply and are much better acquainted with it than ourselves. How well we have succeeded in the refutation, is, of course, left to the judgement of the reader ' to decide. It has been before stated, that among other bodies to which this document was forwarded, was the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the feeling manifested by that body at its reception was so decided, as to call forth a stern rebuke, as appears in the following abstract from their minutes : 74 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Extract, 1802. " This year a circular letter was received from a body styling itself ' The Supreme Grand Council of America.' The spirit of the Bluminati which it breathed, and the Supernumerary degrees, amounting to over fifty which it authorized, were sufficient reasons for drawing down the Contempt of Scottish Masons, whose honor it is to have preserved Free Masonry for many centuries in its Original and Simple form, and whose pride it shall ever be, to transmit to the latest posterity, the principles and ceremonies of their order, unpolluted and unimpaired." — Lawrie. And Dr. Frederick Dalcho, one of the signers of this docu- ment, became ashamed in after years, of the great mistake he had made, in the advocacy of Masonry itself as an Ordee of great antiquity and in lending his name for such purposes. He published a second edition of his " Ahimon Rezin," with additions and explanatory notes in 1822. He speaks in a very •diflferent manner there. In an address delivered to the Frater- nity, he says, " The Pkinciples of our order are coeval with the creation. Founded upon the laws of nature and the com- mands of God, nothing had precedence of them in time. The origin of the Society, however, as an institution, distinct from other associations, is involved in impenetrable obscurity. And notwithstanding the learning and zeal of many industrious Masons, it will, I fear, forever remain unknown. Vai'ious indeed have been the speculations on this subject, and great has been the labor expended by many ' good men and true,' to prove that every man of note from Adam down to the present day, were Free Masons. But such round assertions are be- neath the dignity of the Order and would not be urged by men of letters. Neither Adam, nor Noah, nor Nimrod, nor Moses, nor Joshua, nor David, nor Solomon, nor Hiram, nor St. John the Baptist, nor St. John the Evangelist, belonged to the Masonic Order, however congenial their principles may have been. It is unwise to assert more than we can prove, and to argue against probability. Hypothesis in history is absurd. There is no record, Sacred or Profane, to induce us to believe that these holy and distinguished men wore Free Masons, and our traditions do not go to their days. To assert that they were Free Masons ' may make the vulgar stare,' but EITE OF PERFECTION. 75 will rather excite the contempt than the admiration of the ■wise. If St. John was a Free Mason, then it was impossible that Solomon should have been one, because his lodges could not have been dedicated to St. John, who was not born until a thousand years after the first Temple was built, therefore there would have been in St. John's day what there was not in Solomon's, which would be contrary to our known princi- ples. And besides, if both these personages were Free Masons, then we have the evidence that Solomon was the greater Mason of the two, and our lodges should be dedicated to him instead of St. John. But if Solomon was a Free Mason, then there could not have been a Free Mason in the world from the day of the Creation down to the building of the Temple, as must be evident to every Master Mason. The excellence of our institution depends upon its usefulness, and not its antiquity. It is sufficient for us to know, that the origin of the institution is so remote, that the date is lost in the lapse of ages, and can now be only indistinctly traced by occasional records, and thie tradi tions of the Order. When the Hindoos claim for their Shastras an antiquity of more than two millions of years ; when the Chaldeans boast of observa- tions of the stars for more than four hundred and seventy thousand years ; and Manetho Sabennetta, the High Priest of Heliopolis, claims for the Egyptians a national existence of nearly fifty -four thousand years ; who would hesitate to pro- nounce them all fabulous ? Let Free Masons then give up the vain boastings which ignorance has foisted into the Order, and relinquish a fabulous antiquity, rather than sacrifice common sense. Let us trace our principles to Adam, or even to God himself, with reverence be it spoken, but let us not excite the pity of the wise, by calling Adam a Free Mason. CHAPTER FOURTH. PROGRESS OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH EITE. A difficulty with the Grand Lodge of South Carolina averted.— Progress.— Augustus Prevost.— Pierre le Barbiere Plessis.— Wm. Moore Smith — Moses Seixas.— Moses Cohen.— John Gabriel Tardy.— Abraham Jacobs, his exploits in Savannah, and other parts of Georgia.— J. J. J. Gourgas.— Registers. — Count de Grasse — ^he goes to France and establishes the Supreme Grand Council Thirty-third degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite, in Paris X804. — Quarrel thereupon between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of De Grasse.— Particulars.— The Claims of both.— The Charleston Council in 1802. — Sublime Lodge and Council of Savannah, Georgia.— How ! and by Whom ! — Formed. — Charleston Council 1813. We will Eow resume the history. When the document, which we have just finished reviewing, made its appearance, it may well be supposed that it created a sensation among the Brethren of South Carolina. The report from the Grand Orient before quoted from, states, " The Masons of the Tork rite, working in South Carolina, under the juris- diction of a regular Grand Lodge, were astonished at these high degrees claim- ing a Supremacy over the Order, and through the Grand Lodge of the State, they inquired about their origin, and from whence they held their powers. The Supreme Council appointed a, commission composed of Brother Frederick Dalcho, K. H. P. of the R. S. Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, Emanuel De la Motta and Isaac Auld, both of the same grade, to make a report on the subject. The brethren reporters asserted, that in 1762, the Constitutions of the Scottish rite were transmitted to the Illustrious Brother Stephen Morin, who, on the 27th of August, 1761, had been acknowledged as General Inspector of all the Lodges, &c., in the New World, by the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, convened at Paris, &c. This report, it would seem, did not please them, or give the required satisfaction to them, concerning the unheard of powers which tliey had arrogated to themselves, of controling, and directing all the York lodges of the Symbolic degrees, by virtue of Stephen Morin's power. They did not inform them EITE OP PERFECTION. 77 particularly where they obtained the name, and how, of Sove- reign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree, and " Sovereigns in Masonry." That Grand Lodge at once took exception to their proceedings, and disputed their authority. A pretty warm contest ensued, but it appeared in the sequel, that some of the officers in this Supreme Council, were also officers or members of the Grand Lodge, and by making con- cessions concerning the first three, or Symbolic degrees, the right over which they pretended to have " waived " in favor of the Grand Lodge, and through the interest and influence which they carried in that body, all difficulty was removed out of the way, and they went on with their work. Perhaps it would be as well to mention here, that this was the commencement of a strife among the brethren, which has continued to the present day. These parties, as the successors of Stephen Morin, and Sovereigns in Masonry, claim the right under the " Jfova Instituta Secreta," to establish Symbolic Lodges of the first three degrees, in the Scottish rite. These Secret Institutes declare as follows : " Xamerous and pressing solicitations have of late and from all parts been addressed to us, which makes us feel the urgent necessity to oppose an effica- cious force to the spirit of intolerance, sect, schism, and anarchy, which iuuo- vators of a new kind endeavor to propagate among our brethren. Those men are guided by views, more or less restricted, thoughtless, blameable, and pre- sented under specious motives, which change the nature of Free Masonry, and tend to remove it from its object, and to make it fall into contempt and oblivion ; and informed as we are of all that now occurs in the neighboring States, we acknowledge that it is urgent to afford remedy thereto. " Therefore, and from motives of important interest, we have gathered and united into one body of Free Masonry, all the rites of the Scotch System, the doctrines of which are universally acknowledged as agreeing with the Ancient Institutions, tending to the same end, forming the principal branches of one and the same tree, and differing only as to certain forms already explained by the most part of Free Masons, and easy to conciliate. Those rites are acknowledged under the names of Ancient, Heredom, Kilwinning, St. Andrew, Council of Emperors of the East and West, Princes of the Royal Secret or Perfection, Philosophical and Primitive. " Taking, therefore, as the basis of our Conservatory reformation, the First of those rites, and the number of the Hierarohal degrees of the last we de- clare, that thus united, and agglomerated, those degrees constituted one single order, which professes the dogmas and pure doctrine of Ancient Free Masonry, 78 SCOITISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. and embraces all the Systems of Scotch Masonry united under the name of ' Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite.' " Therefore, the doctrine shall be imparted to Masons in Thirtt-theee de- grees, divided into seven temples, or classes, which each of them shall be bound successively to pass through, before being initiated to the most Sublimt and last, and to wait for each degree the delays, and undergo the trials, which the Secret Institutes, and ancient and modern rescripts of the Order of Per- fection require. " The FIRST degree shall be subject to the second, this one to the third, and so on, up to the most Sublime, or Thirty-third, which shall watch ovei ALL the others and reprehend and command them, the assemblage, or re-union of all those who are thereto initiated, forming for that purpose the Grand Supreme Dogmatic Council, Conservator of the order, which it shall GOVERN, and administer, in amformily with the present institutes, under the Constitutions soon to be established. (Nov. Inst. Secre.)" Such were the laws under which they pretended to act, and as a matter of course, to establish Lodges and confer the Sym- bolic degrees under the Scottish ritual. Its beginning dates from the year 1783, when they established a Lodge of Perfec- tion there, but it was opposed from its very commencement, on the ground, that the established Masonry of the land was that of the York rite, and that the establishment of another rite by its side, conferring the same degrees in another form, was an unjuetifiable interference, and would cause ceaseless confu- sion among the Craft. While on their part they assert, that persons initiated in a York lodge canuot know any thing con- cerning Scottish Masonry, that the three first degrees are as much a part of their system as the three last, the one being incomplete without the other, and that they are bound by the laws under which they act, to govern and administer the Sym- bolic degrees in the Scottish Rite. But this difficulty appears to have been satisfactorily settled between the two parties at issue before penning the circular, for in that document they give notice to the Craft, that they waive the right of conferring the three first, or Blue degrees, to the regularly constituted ' Grand Lodges, which of right administer them. Having arranged matters to their satisfaction, these succes- sors of Stephen Morin were not idle, but followed closely in the footsteps of their predecessors. Although there was no EITE OP PERFECTION. 79 regularly constituted body from which all these high sounding titles emanated, but all the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of whom we have any account, received their degrees and titles, the one from the other, yet they kept on, and did not grow weary. Thus, in 1790, Frankin initiated, and appointed Augustus Prevost for the British Leeward islands, and he ini- tiated Pierre lo Barbier Plessis for the State of Pennsylvania. Wm. Moore Smith was also appointed for the same State, and resided at Norristown, — M. M. Hays initiated and appointed Moses Seixas, a Jew, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the State of Rhode Island, and in 1789, he exalted Moses Cohen, a Jew, in Philadelphia, and appointed him Deputy In- spector ; Brother Spitzer conferred the degrees on John Mitchell in Charleston in 1795, and made him a Deputy In- spector General for South Carolina. On the 14th day of October, 1807, Brother Pierre le Barbiere Plessis conferred the degrees on John Gabriel Tardy, and appointed him a Deputy Inspector General for Pennsylvania, and John Gabriel Tardy conferred the Kadosh, and Prince of the Royal Secret, upon Mraham Jacobs, November, 1810, made him a Deputy Grand Inspector and gave him a Patent dated November 24th, 1810. Jacobs had received the preceding Sublime degrees in King- ston, Jamaica, from the hand of Moses Cohen; .J. J. /. Gourgas, who was first initiated into Masonry in Lodge La Union Fran^ais, June 19th, 1806, and withdrew from the said Lodge on the 16th June, 1808, was initiated into the Sublime degrees in 1808, and made a Deputy Inspector, and finally, in 1813, was made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty- third, by Emanuel De la Motta, his bosom friend. The so-called " Registers" present a curious spectacle of these operations. The register of De la Hogue contains, as its first entry, the filiation of the powers of Morin, as Inspec- tor General. It states then, that Morin gave the degree of Grand Deputy Inspector General to Frankin, at Kingston, Jamaica ; he to Moses M. Hays, at Boston ; he to Spitzer, at Charleston ; all the Deputies in Sublime Council at Philadel- phia, (themselves of course) to Moses Cohen ; he to Hyman Isaac Long ; and he to de la Hogue, De Grasse, &c., at 80 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Charleston. To whom, viz. ; to De Grasse and de la Hogue, he, (Long,) gave, on the 12th November, 1796, a Charter of Constitution, establishing a Sublime Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret at Charleston, South Carolina. There is also the " Register" of Aveilhe, which contains a copy of the Patent granted by Moses Cohen to Hyman Isaac Long, on the 12th of January, 1794. The " Register" of Moses Holbrook is the copy of a Patent given by Barend M. Spitzer to himself, reciting his own crea- tion as Prince Mason and Deputy Inspector General, at Philjfdelphia, on the 25th June, 1781, also John Mitchell to the like effect. Then follows a Patent granted to Frederick Dalcho, May 24th, 1801, by John Mitchell. The " Register" of 'de la Hogue contains also a copy of the Patents granted on the 12th November, 1796, by Hyman Isaac Long to de la Hogue, De Grasse, &c. Also a copy of the Charter of Constitutions, granted on the 12th November, 1769, by Long, to the same brethren, to establish a Lodge at Charleston. Thus it would appear that these gentlemen were not idle at any time, but diligently improved every opportunity that pre- sented itself, by conferring the degrees and titles upon others for a " fair consideration," the effects of which we shall shortly see. Deeming that all matters connected with the history of the Sublime degrees will be interesting, and more especially to show the effects which immediately followed the establishment of the new rite, we will here take occasion to follow the Count De Grasse Tilly, and thus complete that portion of the narrative. The document states — " On the 21st of February, 1802, our Illustrious Brother Count Alexander Francis August Tilly, Count de Grasse, Deputy Inspector General, was appointed by the Supreme Council a Grand Inspector General and Grand Commander of the French West Indies, &c." And in their Annuary of 1802 they pretended to give the names of the Officers of the Lodge of Perfection, Consistory, &c., estab- lished in St. Domingo by the Count, together with the Sove- KITE OP PEEFBCTION. 81 reign Grand Inspectors General and Supreme Council, of that island, in all of which the Count is declared to be the Repre- sentative in St. Domingo, of the Charleston body, viz. ; Representative of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, also of the Sublime Council of Princes of the Royal Secret, and also of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree. {See Appendix. Document No. 11, and Patent — Document No. 39.) Ragon, as well as the Report, states, " The Count never established a Council, nor a Supreme Council, in the island of St. Domingo, as has been asserted, but came direct from South Carolina to France." Again, "Previous to the Supreme Council established by the Grand Orient of France in the island of Hayti, in the year 1837, there never existed at St. Domingo, any Council of Princes of Jerusalem, any Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, nor any Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree. The Count had in view no doubt, the establishment of those Lodges at St. Domingo, and for that reason it is thus stated in the Annuary at Charleston,, published at that time. But he did not return to that island, then a prey to- the Revolution, but came to Paris direct in the year 1803 or 1804. Again, " The Ineffable degrees, or the Rite of Perfection, were practiced in France from 1761 to 1804. At that time (1804) the Count De Grasse Tilly, who had taken the'Thirty-third degree in the pretended Charleston Council, brought the additional degrees, with the Thirty-third, to Prance, as a ' Novelty' or ' Curiosity,' not with the title of the ' Rite of Perfection' or ' Ineffable Degrees,' by which name or title they had always been known until then ; but under an entire new name, viz. ; that of the • Scottish. Rite, Ancient and Accepted.' " Ragon says, " Count de Grasse in 1802, received Patents from the Supreme Council of Charleston, to establish a Supreme Council at Cape Francais, St. Domingo. This pretended Supreme Council figures largely in the Annuary of the Charleston Council of that year, and they state that it was the only Supreme' Council with which they were in correspondence. The truth is, that the Supreme Council at St. Domingo never had an existence. In 1803, the Count returns to France, representing himself as the Supreme Chief of the Thirty- third degree, and on the 22d December, 1804, the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree was erected, and provisionally organized in Paris, but was not published, decreed, and definitively constituted, until January 19th 1811." 82 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. It is generally conceded by all authors, that De Grasse did establish in Paris, in the year 1804, a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite, that the name of the rite was new, and the powers claimed by De Grasse for the Council itself, as well as for its officers, were altogether monstrous. Carrying with him the document of the Charleston body, and being imbued with its doctrines, he at once set up a claim for that body, as a rival to the Grand Orient, which embroiled the whole fraternity in a contest lasting for many years. Immediately after the establishment of this Council in Paris by the Count De Grasse, the Grand Orient, viewing it as a rival, began to resist the claim, on the ground, that she was in possession of the degrees known as the Scottish rite, and had practiced them since 1762, that the addition of four or five un- important degrees did not make a new rite of it, and that the claim of the Council was preposterous. In order that the reader may be able to judge for himself the merits of the case, we shall give an abstract of the claims of both parties, gathered from the many authorities who have espoused either side. The Grand Orient claims to have received all the known rites of Masonry into her bosom, beginning with the Rite of Perfection, or Scottish System, and consisting of twenty-five degrees, and continuing so to do until she had absorbed the whole, thereby destroying the action of the numerous Masonic bodies in the work of conferring degrees. A Synopsis of the rites has already been given, together with a Tablet, showing not only the different and distinct rites, but also the time at which they merged into the Grand Orient and Supreme Coun- cil, and thus gave her complete control over all the Masonic degrees. [Refer to the Tablet, page 51.] This change was completed fully by the year 1799, although she had the Rite of Perfection or the Scottish System nearly fifty years before that date, and gave it to Stephen Morin in the year 1761, in which year, the body was known as the " JVational Grand Lodge," with a chamber of the Council within her bosom. RITE OP PERFECTION. 83 It would appear from a careful examination of the matter, that about the year 1772 there was great discontent among the different Masonic bodies, as it regards the number of the degrees conferred. They thought them too numerous and burdensome, and had become weary. In accordance with these feelings the Grand Lodge appointed a committee to revise the High Degrees, and in 1781 or 1782, created a Chamber of the High Degrees, which labored at a revision of them. In 1786 this chamber reported four degrees, viz. : The '' Elu," " Ecossai," " Knight of the East," and " Rose Crmx.^' These ,four were adopted to be worked in addition to the three Sym- bolic degrees. And it therefore decreed that no others should be worked in the Lodges or Chapters, under her jurisdiction. Thory, Levique, and others. The seven degrees thus arranged, have since been practiced by the Grand Orient, and are known all over the world, as the French or Modern Rite. In thus doing, the Grand Orient, although in full possession of the Scottish System, so-called, laid it aside, substituting the rite of her own, and thus the rite — which she before had used — became obsolete, or in other words " it slept." The rite which the Grand Orient chose, was the embodiment of the Eite of Perfection in its first eighteen degrees, reducing the num- ber down to seven. But because she thus reduced the number of working degrees, she did not part with or destroy anything she before had ; she merely laid it aside. Thus the first lodge in the kingdom in 1725 was a York lodge, and continued to work in that rite for a great number of years, but it was finally laid aside for another form of work. She did not lose possession of the work because she laid it aside, but has it still, and may resume it again if desired. This, then, viz. : " The French Modern Rite," was the work performed by the Grand Orient from 1782 down to 1804, when De Grasse Tilly arrived with his, so-called, new rite, and attempted to set it up as a rival to the Grand Orient. Where- upon the Grand Orient claimed that the rite was not a new one, but that she had always been in possession of it since 1758, had given it to Morin in 1761, and that it came back to her by the hands of Germain Hacquet in 1803, in its pure and 84 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. unadulterated state. That wlien she saw the rival body by her side, and heard the claim made, she at once resuscitated those degrees, which had then become obsolete, and establish- ed the system for herself. A chamber was appointed in her Consistory of Rites, she took possession of the degrees, and this power she claims to have maintained ever since. The Supreme Council claims as follows. That the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is an entire new rite, consisting of thirty-three degrees, was founded in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1802, and carried from thence to France by the Count De Grasse Tilly, a Sovereign Grand * Inspector General Thirty-third degree, of the rite, in the year 1804, and there established by him, as a distinct rite, with all its powers. Mr. Lamarre says, page 38 ; " The time of the establishment of the Supreme Council in France, is as perfectly well known as any other fact in history. It was established by the Brother Count De Grasse Tilly, who had been made Sovereign Grand Inspector Gteneral, at Charleston, and was appointed by the Supreme Council at that place, Sovereign Commander for the leeward and windward French islands of America, and its Eepresentative there, on the 21st February, 1802, by a Patent, an authentic copy whereof is in the archives at Charleston, and by which, also, he was made Deputy Inspector of that Supreme Council for the two Hemispheres." [See Appendix. Doc. No. 39. J Immediately after its formation, quarrels between the two bodies commenced, on account of the Supreme Council, which attempted to establish a Grand Lodge in its own rite, or rather for acting itself in that capacity, by attempting to con- fer the Symbolic degrees. A partizan warfare was carried on for some time, when propositions were made, and acceded to, for a treaty of amity, or a Concordat. " The worthy, prudent and wise brethren felt the necessity of nipping in the bud, a germ of division in the Masonic order of France. They com- municated their views to the Deputies of the Grand Orient, by whom they were readily adopted. Immediately the Grand Orient appointed a committee, which met with an equal number of Deputies of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. The RITE OF PERFECTION. 85 result was, the Concordat, or Act of Union, signed and s-worn to on the 5th December, 1804, the " Scottish Grand Lodge" repairing for that purpose to the Hall of the Grand Orient. The Concordat defines the composition, and names and enumerates the Of&cers of the Grand Orient, and their and its own powers and attributes. It recognises the Supreme Council as an existing body, and assumes its continuance as a distinct body, as being a matter of course, with varied and important powers, and all its inherent, undefined functions besides. Every Lodge and Chapter in France was to have a representative, and those represented constituted the Masonic Diet, called " the Grand Orient," but there were also seven first Grand Dignitaries for life, and one hundred and forty-eight other officers, en exercice, who after serving nine years, became Honorary Officers. The Government was composed of a Symbolic General Grand Lodge, and a General Grand Chapter, each composed of eighty-one members, serving for different periods, of from three to nine years. There was also a Grand Council of ap- pellate powers. There was also a Grand Lodge of General Administratioa, composed of twenty-one members. The General Grand Chapter issued Letters Capitular, and Briefs for the High Degrees. An appeal lay from its decision to the Grand Council of Twenty-seven, or to the Sublime Council of the Thirty-third degree. The particular provisions as to the thirty-second and thirty- third degrees, were these ; The Grand Orient of France possesses in the General Grand Chapter, the Grand Council of the Thirty-second Degree ; and the Sublime or Supreme Grand Council, the Thirty4hird Degree. The prerogatives of the Thirty-third degree, besides those that appertain to its functions, are. To decide all questions in- volving the point of honor, it can remove from office a Grand Officer of the Grand Orient of France, upon complaint and accu- sation, which it alone can entertain, from that one of the bodies, viz. J the Symbolic Grand Lodge, the General Grand Chapter, 86 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. and the Grand Lodge of Administration, to which the officer belongs, in the Masonic form." The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third can alone correct or revoke its own decisions. The fourteen first degrees only could be conferred in Subor- dinate Chapters, the fifteenth to the eighteenth inclusive, only in the General Grand Chapter, the Thirty-third Degree belongs exclusively to the Sublime Grand Council of that degree, which alone can confer it. Here, then, is painted, in full and glowing colors, the first trap laid by the intrigueing Count de Grasse, to catch the Grand Orient. It will be remembered that this Supreme Grand Council of Sovereigns in Masonry, was a self consti- tuted affair, with the Count De Grasse at its head for life, not yet a year old, while the Grand Orient had been in existence as a Grand Lodge, General Grand Chapter, or Grand Orient for fifty years, was the ruling and governing body for Masonry in France, and was composed of many of the first men in the kingdom. And how it could be possible that the Grand Orient should have been wheedled into the signing of such a Concordat, got up by a few adventurers, who assumed to themselves the high sounding title of " Sovereigns'' in Masonry does not appear, but it is true that the Concordat was signed. This Concordat makes the Supreme Council an appellate tribunal higher than the General Grand Chapter, and to which an appeal lies to that body, while it secures to the Supreme Council alone, the power to confer the Thirty-third Degree, and the exclusive title to it. It gives the chapters no power over any degree above the fourteenth, and even its General Grand Chapter, no power over any above the eighteenth, while it gives no power to any body, or oflScer, to revise or correct the decisions of the Supreme Council, but declares that it, the Supreme Council, alone can do so. It secures to the Grand Council of the thirty-second the control over the degrees from the eighteenth to the thirty-second, and continues all the inherent powers of the Superior Council. But it adds no members to it, makes no change in it, leaves it per- manent, its members to hold for life, and in no way provides how EITE OF PERFECTION. 87 it, or the Grand Council of the thirty-secdnd shall be composed, or vacancies in either filled, or what, or who, its officers shall he, or how elected, or appointed. Here is the very counterpart of the declaratioas made in the notable Charleston document, which the Count de Grasse and his coadjutors, were anxious to have carried out in France, and the developement of a scheme, which, if it had been successful, would have so completely robbed the Grand Orient of the powers to which it was justly entitled, which it had been laboring for long years to attain to, which were accorded to her by common consent of the Masonic fraternity in France, that the Grand Orient itself would ha,ve become the mere dependant and menial of these adventurers, and placed in their hands the sceptre 'to govern it altogether according to its pleasure. It would have been virtually, a transfer of the powers of the Grand Orient to the Supreme Grand Council of the thirty-third degree. All this was done in December, 1804. But the plan was not successful. The members of the Grand Orient had had time for reflection, and as it would be perfectly natural to suppose, they speedily came to a decision upon the subject. For on the 21st July, 1805, the Grand Orient enacted a " Decretal'' by which they professed to carry out the Concordat. By it they created a " Grand Directory OF Rites," to govern all the united rites, and be composed of as many sections as there were rites, each section to be com- posed of not less than three, nor more than five members. This Directory was to take cognizance of every thing concern- ing the dogma of each rite, and to it the correspondence of all subordinate bodies was to be addressed, when relating to dogma. Boubee, Etudes sur la Franc Ma?., p. 114, tells concisely in what the difference consisted, that ended in annulling the Con- cordat. The Grand Orient claimed, " That tlie Union of all the degrees in one simple sphere of Masonic light, of which IT, the Grand Orient, was the centre, gave it, the Grand Orient — alone, the right to rule the Scottish Rite, concurrently with the French Rite, and conse- quently THE SOLE RIGHT to confer the degrees, and grant Cfiarters of Constitution." 88 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. In Other words, its claim was, that it could annul the Supreme Council and merge it in itself by depriving it of all its powers and functions, and transfer them to a Directory of Rites. " As the Grand Orient insisted on regarding the whole Scottish Rite as merged in itself, the members of that rite met, to the number of eighty-one, in general assembly, at the hotel of Marshal Kellerman, on the 6th September 1805, and decreed, that if, by the 15th of that month, the treaty were not re- stored to its integrity, and completely executed, it would be regarded as null and void. This was notified to the Grand Orient, and conferences ensued, but no good result followed. On the 16th at the last conference, the Grand Orient insisted that the Supreme Council should not have jurisdiction to decide ques- tions touching the point of honor, nor the power to remove an Officer of the Grand Orient, on charges preferred and proven, nor should it, or the Council of the Thirty-second, any longer sit in the General Grand Chapter." Notice Hist. Sur I'Origine du Gr.-. 0.-. de Franc, &c., 1835, page 16. Consequently, on the 24th September, the Supreme Council, treating the Concordat as annulled, organized a Grand Consis- tory of Sublime Princes, Thirty-second degree, and on the 1st of October, it made a decree concerning the exercise of its dogmatic power. Ragon, p. 312, says, " On the 6th of September, the Grand Orient declares the Concordat broken, and on the 16th of the same month, the Commissioners of the Grand Orient, and those of the Grand Scottish Lodge, signed a Convention, declaring the act of Union annulled, in fact and in law." Thory, Rebold, and Clavel, all confirm. Clavel, Hist. Pitt., p. 245, gives a detailed account of the causes that led to the rupture of the Concordat, " That the majority of the Grand Orient, foreseeing that the pretensions of the Scottish Masons would be an eternal source of discord, were willing to let them retire, if they could so arrange with them, that the Masonic peace should not be disturbed. To this end conferences were had, and on the 16th September, it was by common consent decreed, that the Supreme Council of the Thirty- third degree, should thereafter have an independent existence, with the power of granting Chapters and Diplomas for the degrees above the eighteenth, and that the Scottish bodies, working the degrees below the nineteenth, should re- main under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient. The Philosophical Scottish Rite— the Rite of Heredom, and in general, all the Masonic bodies, that had EITB OF PERFECTION. 89 by virtue of the Concordat, been united to the Grand Orient, equally resumed their independence.— Only, in order that the Masonic Unity, broken by the new order of things, might as far as possible, be re-established, the Prince 0am- baceres officially informed the authorities which thus separated from the Grand Orient, that he was disposed to accept the functions of Grand Master over each of them. Most of them agreed to this agreement, and the Prince thus be- came the chief of almost all the systems practiced in Prance. The Count de Grasse resigned in his favor, his Office of Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Eite on the 10th of July 1806, and established by the side of the Supreme Council of France, the skeleton of a Council for the French pos- sessions in America, in expectation of at some time, transporting his Council to those possessions. "Peace reigned in French Masonry from the latter part of the year 1805, until the downfall of the Great Emperor. The compact made in 1805 was observed, both by the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council. But with the fall of Napoleon, every thing was changed. The grand Orient on the 24th of June 1814, at the Feast of St. John, knelt to the rising Sun, and the orators in their addresses, enlarged ' on the joy which the whole Masonic community felt, at seeing at length their legitimate king, surrounded by his august family.' " With indecent haste, it declared the Grand Mastership, held by Joseph Bonapart for life, to be vacant. In Paris the Lodges fraternized enthusiasti- cally with the English, Russians, Wurtemburgers, Saxons, Prussians, Austrians X'IEXT AM) ACCEPTED. system as its own, by right, defending the claim always, but at the same time, tolerating the Supreme Council, and acknow- ledging its acts in that system. In its circular of the 31st July, 1819, it did insist, that in 1804, some Masons who had returned from America, or fled from our colonies, brought back to Paris the degrees which the same Orient had sent thither in 1761, by the intervention of Stephen Morin, and that those degrees had not left France, but the Grand Council, established in the bosom of tLe National Grand Lodge ; after it the General Grand Chapter of France ; and after IT ST the Metropolitan Sovereign Chapter of the Grand Orient of France, always possessed them. Then, after stating the reduction in 1786, of the number of working degrees to the number of four in the stead of fifteen, it said, '■ It was thus that the band of time efiaced in France, the memory of those degrees which had gone forth from its bc^om, and even that of some that were exclnsiveiT French, and that they were brought back thither as strangers ; and now claimed title to them.'' It is true that the passage of these degrees from ours to a foreign language, a different classification, new names, and some additioLS. dexterously metamorphosed these degrees, the aggregate whereof, thus combined, received the supposed title of the Ancient and Accepted Scottisli Rite. Vassal contends that the Grand Lodge of France possessed the Scottish Eite before it was known in the Xew World, and that the Scottish Eite, brought into France by the Count De Grasse, arbitrarily and abxisivdy re-modeUed, is the same as that which tUe Grand Lodge had possessed for forty years. He says, " That the Ancient and Accepted Eite is the same as that which the Grand Lodge of France pc^sssed, that the important degrees of the Ancient and Ac- cepted Eite, are the same that were c-arried to the United .States by .Stephen Morin, that nioit of the intercallated degrees are foreign to Scottish Masonry, having been borrowed from other rites. The claim of the Grand Orient, so long contested, has always been maintained, although the result of the long quarrel of thirty years or more, was the recognition of the The foUoicing Tn^lcuu shows a correct detail of the commencement of Masonri/ in Fra/ice in three degrees ; the additions made thereto in 1736, hij the Chev the " RijTE OF Perfection " in 25 degrees in 1758 — its modification in France in 1786 to seven degrees, himcn as the "Modern French Rite — the transfer of the 25 degrees to America by Stephen Mori7i and his successors —the erection of a new system in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1801 System emanating from the Grand Oiient of France, and now practiced in the United States. Ramsay — the commencement of toaeiher tvith the true coMinEiticeinENTof inAso:\RV In France — 17'25. A. D. 1st. Entered Apprentice. 2d. Fellow Craft. 3d. Master Mason, with Arch Instructions. Royal n»*». 4th. Ecossais. 5tli. Novice. 6th. Knight of the Temple. p Q. C- The Grand Orient modifies iLis " Rile of Perfection" of 1758. It is cut down or condensed into Seven de prees, as follows : and is now known us the " Modem French Rite." 1st. Entered Apprentice. 2d. EcUow Craft. 3d. Master Mason. 4lh. Ela. 5 th. Ecossais. (ith. Knight of the East. Tlh. Sovereign Prince of Hose -|- de Ueredom. _2 RITE OF PERFECTION. Instituted in Tarin in 1758, and practiced by the late Councils of Kmperors of the Ea8t and West . 1. Entered Apprentice. 2. Fellow Craft. 3. Master Mason. 4. Secret Master. 5. Perfect Master. 6. Intimate Secretary. 7. Intendant of the Buildings. 8. Provost and Judge. 9. Elect of 9. 10. Elect of 15. 11. III. Elect, Chief of the Twelve Tribes. 12. (irand Master Architect. 13. Royal Arch. 14. Grand Elect, Senior Perfect Mason. 15. Knight of the Sword. 16. Prince of Jerusalem. 17. Knight of the East and West. IH. Knight of Rose Croix. 19. Grand Pontiff. 20. Grand Patriarch. 21 . Grand Master of Key of Masonry. 22. Prince of Libanus. 23. Sovereign Prince Adept, Cliief (if the Grand ('onaistory. 24. Illustrious Knight Commander of the White and Black Eagle. 2.1. Most Illnstrious Sovereign Prince of Ma.sonry, (irand Knight, .Sublime Commander of the Royal Secret. 2i;. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. DEGREES AGREED UPON September "J'Jnd 1762, as being tlioge of tlie doctrine of the Council of Emperors of East and West , by the Commissioners of said Cuun- cil, and by those of P. R. S. at Bordeaux, granted to Steplien .Morin. Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft. Master Mason. Secret Master. Perfect Master. Intimate Secretary. Intendant of the Buildings. Provost and Judge. Elect of the 9. Elect of the 15. Illustrious Elect, Chief of the Tribes. Grand Master Architect. Royal Arch. Grand Elect, Senior Perfect Mason. Knight of the Sword. Prince of Jerusalem. Knight of the East and West. Knight (if Rose Croi.\. Grand Pontitf, Master ad vitain. tJrand Patriarch. (irand Master of the K(^ of Masonry. Prince of Libanus, Knt. of Royal ,\xe. Sovereign Prince Adept. Chief of the (irand Consistory. Illustrious Knight Commander of the White and Black Eagle. Most Illustrious Sovereign Prince of Ma-sonry, (irand Knight, Sublime Commander of the Royal Secret. TWENTY-FIVE DEGREES liipurted to America by Stephen .Morin. ac eoriiu:; tn the declaration of the Council of Olillr-l.iTl Entjrid Apprentice. Felbw Craft. Maier Mason. Secit Master. Pei^x-t Master. Intinatc Secretary. Inteidant of the Buildings. Proost and tJudge. Eleit of the 9. Knight Elect of the 15. Ilhutrious Knight of the twelve Tribes. (iriuil .Master Architect. Knt,'lil of the Royal Arch. (irmd Senior Elect. Kni;ht of the Sword. Prikc of Jerusalem. Kiii;lit of the East and West. Kimlit of Rose Croix. Gi'mcl Pontiff, Master ud vilnm. (iimil Patriarch. (irlitl Master of the Key, I'rice of Libanus, Royal Axe. Price Adept, Chiif of the (irand I'ciiHistory. lllisdious Knight Comnianiler of the '.\ liitc and Black ICagle. .Hcisl Illustrious Sovereign Prince of Masonry, (irand Knight, Sublime, Comiuander of the Royal Secret. THIRTY-THREE DEGREES Conferred bv the Supreme Council of Charles- ton in 1S02. Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft. Master Mason. Secret Master. Perfect Master. Intimate Secretary. Provost and Judge. Intendant of the Buildings. Knight Elect of the 9. Illustrious Elect of the 15. Sublime Knight Elect. Grand blaster Architect. Royal Arch. Perfection. Knight of the East. Prince of Jerusalem. Knight of the East and Wesl. Sov. Prince Rose Croix de Ueiedoni. (irand PontilT. (irand Master of all Symbolic Lodges. Patriarch Noachite, Prussian Knight. Prince of Libanus. Chief of the Tabernacle. Prince of the Tabernacle. Prince of .Mercy. Knight of Brazen Serpent. Commander of the Temple. Knight of the Sun. Kadosch. ( Prince of the Royal Secret. I Prince of the Royal Secret. ( Prince of the Royal Secret. Sovereign Grnud Inspector (ieneral. THIRTY-THREE DEGREES Forming the System of the tirand ttrient of France, the Original Authority of the Scot- tish Rite, Ancient and vVccepted. Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft. Master Mason. Secret Master. Perfect Master. Intimate Secretary Provost and Judge. Intendant of the Building^i. Master Elect of the 9. Master Elect of the 15. Sublime Knight Elect. Grand .Master Architect. Royal Arch. Grand Scottish of the Sacred Vault of James 2d. Knight of the Kast or Sword. Prince of Jerusalem. Knight of the East and Wesl. Sovereign Prince Ro.se Croiv. lirand Pontiff, Sublime Scot. True Grand MiLstor of all Lodges. Noachite, or Prussian Knight. Royal Axe, or Prince of Libanus. Chief of the Tabernacle. Prince of the Tabernacle. Knight of the Bi-azen Serpent. Prince of Mercy. Sovereign Commander of the 'I'emple. Knight of the Sun, Prince Adept. Grand Scot, of St. Andrew of Scotland. Grand Elect, Knight of Kadosch. Gr. Inquisitor, Inspector, (Commander. Sovereign Prince of the Royal Secret. Sovereign Grand Inspector General. THIRTY-THREE DEGREES Forming the System of the Supreme lirand Council for the United States of .\oK-iica, their Territories and Dependencies.— ISuT. Cut off. Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft. Master Mason. Secret Master. Perfect Master. Intimate Secretary. Provost and Judge. Intendant of the Buildings. Master Elect of the 9. Master Elect of the 15, Sublime Knight Elect. (iraud Master Architt>ct. Royal Arch. Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. Knight of the East or Sword. Prince of Jerusalem. Knight of the East and West. Sovereign Prince Rose -)-de Hercdoni- Grand Pontiff. Grand Master of all Symbolic Lndges- Xoaehite, or Prussian Knight. Prince of Libanus. Chief of the Tabernacle. Prince of the Tabernacle. Knight of the Brazen Serpent. Prince of Mercy. Sovereign t'ommander of the Temple. Knight of the Sun. (irand Scot, of St. Andrew of Scolland. (irand Elect, Knight of Kadosch. Gr. Intiuisitor, Inspector, Commander. Sovereign Prince of the Royal Secret. Sovereign Grand Inspector General. IM.iTE in. J ' RITE OP PBEPECTION. 91 Supreme Council by the Grand Orient, so far as having the right to administer her own degrees, but no other degrees concurrently with the Grand Orient. In other words, the Supreme Council was tolerated by the Grand Orient, and allowed to confer the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, provided she did not interfere with the Grand Orient in doing precisely the same thing. The substance of the history, of which the attempt has been made, to give a very brief abstract, is as follows. Although there had been, before the commencement of the present cen- tury, much contention and strife among the Masons of France, yet those commotions had all been subdued, by the establish- ment of the Grand Orient, which gathered within itself, and under its control, all the then existing rites of Masonry, and from that time until 1804, peace reigned among the brethren throughout the length and breadth of the Empire. But on the arrival of the Count de Grasse from America, with the new rite, as he chose to call it, and the establishment of a Supreme Council, in that rite, with a Scottish Grand Lodge, as a rival to the Grand Orient, the war was renewed with great zeal. The powers which this Council claimed, the doctrines which it promulgated, and the innovations upon old and established usages and laws, which it attempted to introduce, were quite strange and unheard of. The Grand Orient at once declared herself possessed of all the degrees which the Count de Grasse and his Council pretended to have, and assumed the control over them.' The war between the two bodies was severe, especially as De Grasse had turned the whole matter into a political machine, his Supreme Council being composed of Bonapartists, and the Grand Orient of Royalists. On the downfall of the Empire, and the restoration of Louis XVIII, in 1814, the Bonapartists who composed the Supreme Council, fled from France, and became exiled, while the Grand Orient, or Royal party paid their allegiance to the returning monarch, and became high in favor. To use their own lan- guage " the Supreme Council after this went to sleep," and the Orient, taking all power into its own hands, became the reigning body, and continues so down to the present time. ' See Plate 3. 92 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACfOBPTED. But the rise of the Grand Orient did not crush out the Supreme Council. It continued ita worlc, and became again a ruling body in its own rite, but no more; It continued to establish subordinate bodies, but had no connection whatever with the Grand Orient as before, either by authority or by association. The Supreme Council was tolerated. Meantime, many volumes had been written by the partizans of both sides upon the subject of the merits of both, an abstract from which has been given. In 1841 the Grand Orient acknowledged all the bodies created by the Supreme Council, and since that time Peace has reigned between them. For all this trouble and commotion, the Masons of Prance have to thank the Count De Grasse. He was always known there by the cognomen of " the intrigueing Count." He car- ried the degrees with him from Charleston to Paris. As far as they are concerned, all parties, without any exception, admit that the same degrees, to the number of twenty-iive which Stephen Morin carried away with him from France, in 1761, were brought back in 1803, in their unadulterated state, by Germain Hacquet, and passed from his hands into those of the Grand Orient. The same degrees were brought to Prance by the Count De Grasse, in 1804. In reference to the other degrees, five or six in number, which are additional, those (with the exception of the Thirty-third, which was manu- factured in Charleston,) were all in the possession of the Grand Orient before, but were termed, like a great many others, " obsolete.^' But whether they were so, or not, is a matter of very little consequence. The Grand Orient in a circular, issued in 1819, thus speaks, " That in 1773 she suspended working the High degrees, and that the hand cf time effaced the remembrance of them in Prance, that she had not worked them for more than thirty years, when De Grasse established his Supreme Council in Paris." It would appear by the historian's account, that a commit- tee was appointed by the Grand Orient, to revise and correct all the degrees of the rite. This work they performed, and an account of their opinions concerning the merits of each degree would be highly entertaining. Those opinions, not the RITE OP PERFECTION. 93 products of partizans but of a regular committee appointed by the Grand Orient, would present a sad picture. They have not publicly pronounced them useless and absurd. But they have cut them off and substituted four degrees in the place of fifteen, -which is a plainer expression of their opinions than a long written report. But the defenders of the new rite declare, that it was for this very reason that they established the new rite, and called it by a new name. They pretend to say, that it is a Reforma- tion, that all the degrees have been remodelled, and a com- plete system made out of all the rites, centering in this one. Now, if this be true, why, or how does it happen that the twenty-five degrees of the Rite of Perfection given to Stephen Morin, in 1761, and carried back by Germain Hacquet in 1802 or 1803, the twenty-five degrees of the Charleston body known before 1801, as the Rite of Perfection, and subsequent to that date all those degrees remaining the same but placed under different numbers — the twenty-five degrees of the Grand Orient of France, as well as the Supreme Council, and the twenty-five degrees of our own Council in New York, are all the same to a letter ? There surely has been no reform there. Nothing has been taken from them, nor have any additions been made. The Charleston people have simply made Kadosh the twenty-ninth, the Prince of the Royal Secret has served for three degress, viz. : thirtieth, thirty-first and thirty-second, so that the number would be twenty-seven instead of the ori. ginal number twenty-five ; then they have crowded in the " Commander of the Temple," and three other degrees, and manufactured an entire new article, viz. : the Thirty-third, to set off the whole. And although they pretend to say that the whole are different, and the rite a new one, yet of the falsity of this assertion, any candid person can bo readily convinced, as there are now at hand in this city many complete copies of the degrees, as they came from the hands of Stephen Morin and coadjutors, at Charleston, all of which, date long anterior to the year 1804, and by comparing the whole of them, they will be found to be alike in every letter. It is true, -however, that the degrees have been altered many 94 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. times since 1804. Emanuel De la Motta began the work in 1814, by the addition of several new degrees to the Schedule, as will be noticed shortly, and since that time, they have been remodelled twice, the last alterations having taken place be- tween 1850 and 1860, by the hands of Albert Pike, Albert G. Mackey, and others, appointed for that purpose by the Charleston body. And the alterations made by the Grand Orient, are said to have been many, but whether any, or all of these alterations have improved the degrees themselves, is a matter of doubt. So long as the foundation remains as it is, the superstructure cannot be improved by any decorations that can be placed upon it by any human hand. One more quotation concerning the Supreme Council of France, and its quarrels with the Grand Orient, based upon the right which it claimed, to administer the Symbolic Lodges of the rite, will close, for the present, this part of the subject. Dr. Oliver says : " In 1804 a ncti; Grand Lodge, or a new organization of an Ancient rite, which was attempted by the formation of a Supreme Council of the Eite Ecos- sais Ancien et Accepte, made rapid progress in public opinion, and became so formidable, that the Grand Orient thought it prudent to hold out terms of con- ciliation. Indeed, the contending Grand Lodges began to be aware, that great mischief to the Society in general might be produced by such an appearance of insubordination : and the two chief parties, the Grand Orient and the Su- preme Council (the former liaving now adopted all the Thirty-three degrees which had been re-imported from America in the preceding year), were mutually desirous of some equitable compromise. — Practicing the same Eite, they, at length, consented to a Union, in the enjoyment of equal privileges ; but the details appear to have been inadequately arranged, for disputes arose amonw the Grand OfEcers, and in the succeeding year the bond of afiBnity was broken and the Covenant annulled. So much confusion was created by the measure that my limits will not suffer me to enter on the subject : but the Grand Orient was desirous of being considered the head of the Thirty-three degrees in France and authorized its Lodges to collect and practice other additional degrees • but they excluded from their system the Order of Misraim : while the Supreme Council of the Rite Ancien endeavored to extend its influence by the establish- ment in Paris, of a Grand Consistory of Princes of the Eoyal Secret and in- stalled the officers on the 24th of September 1805. " It appears that in 1827 the breach was not healed : for, in an iuvestio-ation of the merits of Eree Masonry by a Committee of the Legislature of Massachu- setts, United States, it is recorded that a controversy then existed for Masonic EITB OF PERFECTION. 95 supremacy between the above bodies, both claiming the right of exclusive in- terchange of diplomatic relations with the Supreme Council of America. (Gourgas.) A Ballustre or document, engrossed in common, by the Supreme Councils of New York and Charleston, addressed to the Supreme Council of France, dated May 1st 1827, was deposited at the General Secretary's office at Paris, by Brother Houssement, with the endorsement ' The Mason who en- trusted me with this deposite desires to be unknown.' The Grand Orient took possession of the document and opened a negociatioa and correspondence with the Supreme Council of America, claiming to be the only authorized regulator of Masonry in France. The Supreme Council of the Eite Ancien et Accepte, hearing this circumstance, entered a formal protest against the assumption, and complained of the deceitful practices of the Grand Orient, to turn the Supreme Council of France away from a correspondence with them, and engage it in their own. And to substantiate their claim to the highest Masonic authority in Prance, documents were forwarded to the American Supreme Council'which, as it appears, was deemed satisfactory ; for we subsequently find that body en- gaged in a correspondence with the Supreme Council of France, and appoint- ing a Minister to reside near the Masonic power." Again, " The Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of the Eite Anciene, have once more come to an amicable understanding, for in December 1841, a meet- ing was holden in Paris, attended by more than three hundred brethren, on matr ters of controversy between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council : and it was resolved that the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient be authorized to admit to their works, brethren hailing under the Supreme Coun- cil : and that members hailing under the Grand Orient be entitled to visit the works of the Supreme Council. — But it appears improbable, that they will ever cordially assimilate, without great and almost organic changes in the Constitutions of both: for the former (the Grand Orient), having a Eepubli- can tendency, and the latter being Monarchial and Aristocratical, the chances of a permanent Union between them are not very great." We will now return to the Supreme Council of Cliarleston, the assumed parent of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. They state in their circular, that it was established in May, 1801. And in order to prove the newness of the rite, they have given very full, and complete evidence, by the pro- duction of Patents deposited in the Archives, and other docu- ments, that not one of the Inspectors appointed by Morin, or his coadjutors, were higher in Masonry than the Twenty-fifth degree, or Prince of the Royal Secret. The question again comes up, viz. : Who were tlie persons that formed this Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree? And where > Cerneau. 96 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. did they get that degree, or the power to confer it ? The testimony is perfectly clear and indisputable, that neither Morin, nor Frankin, nor Hayes, nor Long, nor Forst, nor any of the others, had it in possession until May, 1801, when the Circular declares that, " John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho, Sovereign Grand Inspectors Gene- ral, opened the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for the United States of America in Charleston, and in the course of the year 1802, the num- ber of Inspectors General were completed, agreeably to the Constitutions." And these parties sign their names as such, to the document of December 4th, 1802. But their Patents have never been produced, nor has any evidence ever yet been given, that they came in possession of the Thirty-third degree in a regular and lawful manner. They then give the degree to Count De Grass Tilly, De la Hogue, and De la Motta, in February, 1802, and appoint the Count, Grand Commander for life, in the French "West India Islands, and De la Hogue, his Lieutenant, (See De Grasse's power. Appendix.) They also received Emanuel De la Motta, Abraham Alexander, Thomas B. Bowen, Israel de Leiben, Isaac Auld, Moses C. Levy and James Moul- trie, all during the year 1802. And at the close of the year their Circular declares the council to be constituted as follows : John Mitchell, M. P. Sov.-. Gr.-. Commander. Frederick Dalcho, Lieut. Gr.". Commander. Emanuel De La Motta, Treasurer General, H.". E.'. Abraham Alexander, Secretary General, H.*. E.". Thomas B. Bowen, Grand Master of Ceremonies. Israel De Lieben, Sov.*. Gr.". Insp.". Gen. Moses C. Levy, Sov.". Gr.". Insp.". Gen. James Moultrie, Sov.". Gr.". Insp.-. Gen. Immediately after the announcement of the completion of the Council, they state, that Constitutive Charters were deliv- ered under the Seal of the Grand Council of Princes of Jeru- salem for the establishment of a Lodge of " Master Mark Ma- sons" in Charleston. It is well known that this degree does not belong to the rite, and is no part of it, but is strictly a Chapter degree, in the York Rite. It was embodied into that system between the years 1797 and 1800, and became the fourth RITE OP PERFECTION. 97 degree in that rite. Before that time, it was worked by Blue Lodges, in the same way as the Royal Arch degree, viz. : by the Officers of a Blue Lodge, in a Lodge opened for the pur- pose, and called by name a " Mark Lodge." They had no power whatever to do this act, and clearly manifested a dispo- sition to interfere with the regularly established system of Masonry of the country, because there were in existence at the time they granted this Charter, and had been for years, regu- lar bodies of the York Rite, to whom application for the power should have been made. " On the 4tli of December, 1802, Constitutive Charters were delivered un- der the Seal of the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, for the establish- ment of a Sublime Grand Lodge in Savannah, Georgia." Further than this no record appears. It is true, the fact of granting a Charter for the purpose of establishing a Sublime Grand Lodge in Savannah is mentioned, but the names of the parties to whom that Charter was granted, do not appear, nor is any mention made of the manner in which the parties be- came possessed of the degrees. This then becomes a matter of some interest, and the endeavor will be made to clear up the mystery. The name of Abraham Jacobs has been already mentioned, and will be more particularly dwelt upon in its proper place. It will be sufficient to state here, that we find him in Savannah in May, 1792, to which place he came from Jamaica, West In- dies, and was, according to his own statement, a '^Knight of the Sun." He was a Jew, and had made some noise in Savan- nah among Masons, concerning his Masonic knowledge and acquirements. In the course of a short time after his arrival, the curiosity of many members of the fraternity became excited, and they applied to him for the degrees which he professed to have a legal power to confer. By referring to his Register and Diary in the Appendix, it will be seen that the application was made to him by Godfrey Zimmerman, of Augusta, Georgia, under the pretext of establishing a Sublime Grand Lodge in that city. Which appears the more strange, because there was already in Charleston a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusa- 98 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. lem, which had been established for several years, was well known, and if such were the wishes of the parties, it was most clearly their duty to have applied there, in order, first to re- ceive the degrees, and second to obtain from the Council the proper power to establish a Lodge of those degrees. But Jacobs would, in this case have lost his fees, which were by no means small, and knowing that the applicants had no idea of establishing a Lodge of the kind, based on his own individual authority, he said nothing about it, but under that pretext, went forward with the work. The letter of Mr. Zimmerman is contained in the Diary in full, and gives the full assurance and pledge, that his demands shall he freely complied with. On the 9th of June, it appears he had made all his arrange- ments with the parties, and was in Augusta to do the work. The brethren there requested to see his Masonic authority and papers, and, as a matter of course, were gratified with an ex- amination of the same. What that authority, and those papers were, will be shown in the proper place. These being satis- factory, the nest morning produced sixteen Masons, who were in waiting to receive the Sublime degrees at his hands. Their names are given in full in the Diary. The conferring of the degrees occupied him and them until July 3d, nearly one month, wlien having received his pay, and having had all his expenses paid, such as travelling, board, &c., he returned to Savannah, to wait for the next set of customers. His part of the performance was finished, but the rest of the plan was not carried out. He says in his Diary — January 25th, 1800. I returned to Augusta and found Brother Urquhart in possession of the drafts, and other copies that I left for their use, the 3d of July, 1792, hut no Lodge or Council had heen formed oi- estahlished, ^c. This Jacobs knew would be the case before he conferred the degrees, and merely used that pretence for an excuse or license, as he well knew that he had no legal right whatever to perform any such work. It appears again by the Diary that in 1796, in the month of April, he conferred the degrees on John Clarck, in Savannah. In November following, he received an application from four- EITE OP PERFECTION. 99 teen brethren in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia, and find- ing that the petitioners were all men of responsibility, and that no Lodge was established at Augusta or likely to be, he complied with their requests, started immediately from Savannah, arrived at Washington on the 23d, and immediately proceeded with his work. It occupied him until December 26th, when having received his " pay " he returned to Savannah. While engaged there, he also conferred the degrees on Wm. Stythe, Deputy Grand Master of the State. In 1797, he returned to Washington, and conferred the degrees, up to the Prince of Jerusalem, on seven of the brethren before mentioned. But this plan, like the former one, failed in being carried into effect, as no Lodge of Perfection, or Council of Princes, was ever formed in that place. But Jacobs got his money, and that was about all the plan he ever had in view. In December, 1801, he began to confer the degrees upon a new set, taking the persons as they offered themselves, and could pay the fee. The whole number received at that time, down to July 29th, 1802, was twelve. There were some added afterwards. In the month of November following, Emanuel De La Motta visited Savannah in great pomp, and was intro- duced to the meeting of these brethren as Kadosh, Prince of the Royal Secret, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third and last degree, Member of the Supreme Council, and Treasurer General of the Holy Empire. (See proceedings in the Diary of this date.) November 9th he was present at the meeting, took the Chair, and conferred several degrees. The brethren subsequently formed themselves into a Conven- tion, and resolved to apply for a Warrant of Constitution to the Supreme Council of Charleston, establishing a Sublime Lodge in Savannah. They named Jacobs for their Sublime Grand Master, and the other brethren were placed in the various offices of the body. They subsequently annulled all former proceedings, and applied for a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem. The application was accompanied by a letter from Jacobs, to his bosom friend, De La Motta, which is rather an interesting document. The Warrant was granted as a matter of course, a Brother Placid was sent forward from 100 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Charleston with the documents, he arrived December 30th, 1802, installed the officers and received ($50) fifty dollars. This is the Council mentioned in the Document as being chartered in Savannah. Jacobs had got the money in his pocket given to him by these brethren for the degrees, and it is perfectly clear, that if Jacobs had the power, and the right to cmfer the degrees, these brethren, on receiving them, had tlie same power which he possessed, and could have conferred them upon any one who made the application, as well as Jacobs. There was, therefore, no need of their applying to the Supreme Council at Charleston for a Warrant. This the brethren of Augusta and Washington knew, and therefore never troubled their heads about it, but went on and conferred the degrees whenever an opportunity occurred. But De La Motta, being a shrewd man, and unwilling to let the fee slip, managed matters in such a way as to bring about the applica- tion. We shall have occasion to speak more particularly of De La Motta, as he occupies quite a prominent position in the his- tory of the degrees as will be seen hereafter. The number of brethren received by Jacobs in Savannah — Augusta and Washington — is forty-five, as recorded in his. Diary. How many more he may have received in that section, does not appear, but it may be safely said, that he never let a good opportunity slip, that occupation in connection with the teaching a school for Hebrew children being his principal de- pendance. Document 15. The Supreme Council, after the year 1802, did not accom- plish much, but seemed to remain in a state of repose. It dwindled down to five members by the year 1813 : Abraham Alexander, Thomas B. Bowen, Israel De Lieben and Moses C. Levy having either died or removed from the jurisdiction. The members of the Council as published in the year 1813 is as follows : John Mitchell, Frederick Dalcho, Emanuel De La Motta, Isaac Auld, James Moultrie, RITE OF PERFECTION. 101 By referring to Articles 19, 20, 26 and 28 of the Constitu- tion of the Supreme Council of Charleston, published in 1859, it will be seen that the power is still given to Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and Deputy Inspectors, to confer the degrees at any time, upon any one, where there is no Con- sistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. It also takes to itself the control of the Royal and Select Masters degrees, establishes Councils of the same, and places the sum of twenty dollars as the price of a Charter for that Council. / This is another evidence which that body has manifested from the very beginning, of its grasping propensities. By what right do they claim to exercise control over these degrees ? At the formation of their body in 1802, they published a Schedule, containing a list of the degrees over which they claimed exclu- sive authority. These degrees are not among the number. But after completing their list of the " Rite" they mention quite a number of degrees in the possession of individual Inspec- tors not in the rite, but isolated, as the " Elect of Twenty-Seven," the " Royal Arch of Dublin,' six degrees of the "Masonry of Adoption," the " Scottish Fellow Craft," the " Scottish Master," the " Scottish Grand Master," &c., which are conferred free of expense. Among these degrees which they there declare " iso- lated," is to be found the " Select Master " or Elect of Twenty- seven. (See Document No. 7.) Thus they continued isolated until 1845, when the body was re-established, and these degrees were taken up by them. They have since conferred them, sold Charters for conferring them, and have adopted them into their Constitution. The argument which they make use of to justify this act — viz., " that the degrees were brought to this country by their Inspectors and conferred by them," is a very weak one. This gives no authority whatever. If it does, why not claim the " degrees of Adoption," and confer them in the Council, and sell charters for them ? Why not all the other degrees ? We know that Henry A. Francken conferred them at Albany, New York, in 1767, and Hays in Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, in 1781 ; also Abraham Jacobs in 102 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTEn, Savannah, Georgia, in 1790, and in New York city in 1804. We know that all the Inspectors of that school conferred them, and many more degrees besides, for their own pecuniary profit, But none of them ever claimed authority over them, or made them a part of the " Rite." They were given as detatched, or side degrees. The reverse of this was the case with the Sovereign Grand Consistory. From this body came the system of Templars now practiced here, also the Council degrees of Royal and Select Masters. But not with a view of claiming authority over them, or connecting them with the rite. On the contrary, when a sufficient number were initiated, they were required to form an Encampment, and as soon as the requisite number of Encampments were formed, immediately a Grand Encamp- ment for the State was formed by them, which then became a separate and distinct power, governing itself. The same pre- cisely was the case with the Council degrees of Royal and Se- lect Master. Although these two powers have been distinct from all others for more than forty years, yet in the first instance they came from the hands of the much abused Cerneau and his Sovereign Grand Consistory. A very full account of the organization of the Grand En- campment of the State of New York, in the year 1814, by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, may be found in the published " Proceedings of the Grand Encampment of the State of JVew York." Also an account of the " Royal and Select Master," in Mitchell's History, Yol. 1, page 706. As we sliall not have occasion to refer again to the organi- zation of tliis body, we may as well finish this part of the sub- ject in this place. In the year 1822, in consequence of the thriving condition of the Consistory and other bodies, established in Charleston by the Sovereign Grand Consistory of New York, there was quite an excitement created in that city by De La Motta, who had found Mr. Joseph McCosh quite a pliable tool in his hands, and urged him forward as the leader in the opposing party to P. Javain, Deputy Inspector General for South Carolina. The newspapers of the day displayed articles over the signatures EITK OF PEEFEOTION. 103 of both parties, the controversy lasting for a long time. A part of this controversy may be seen by referring to Document 21. It brought about quite a revival in that Supreme Coun- cil, the number of members increasing to eight, which was, for them, a considerable number. John Mitchell and Isaac Auld were out, leaving three of the old members, with five additional ones — viz., Jacob De La Motta, the son of Emanuel ; Joseph McCosh, Alexander McDonald, Horatio G. Street and Moses Holbrook. So the list stood in 1825. With this addition, and taking advantage of the anti-Masonic excitement in 1828, at which time the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New York had become extinct, they in company with Mr. Gourgas, petitioned to the Grand Orient of France for acknowledge- ment as the Supreme Council of " America." And the Grand Orient, believing their statement, gave them the acknowledge- ment. After this, strange to say, the Council "fell asleeji" and no more is heard of it until the year 1844, when it appears that Albert G. Mackey had been admitted, and Albert Case. The Council now numbered nine. In 1846, one more, making ten. In 1855, eight — viz., Joseph McCosh, Albert G. Mackey, John H. Honor, Charles M. Furman, William S. Rockwell, John R. McDaniel, John A. Quitman, Achille Le Prince. In 1859, they had elected a large number from various States, and were about to fill the number to thirty-three, when the Council would be full. On the first of June, 1858, the Supreme Council of Charles- ton received the acknowledgement of the Grand Orient of France, and is now in active correspondence with the same. As it may seem to the reader that we have passed lightly over the body styling itself the Supreme Grand iCouncil of the United States of America, now the Charleston Council for the Southern Jurisdiction, we would here say that this has been a " necessity" inasmuch as but little is really known concerning it, aside from its published circulars, and the various and fre- quent dissensions it has caused in the great body of the fra- ternity through its members. We know that it established itself in 1801 ; that from it came the Supreme Council of France in 1804, through the 104 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIEN'T AND ACCEPTED. Count De Grasse ; that it continued its sickly existence through a few years, after which it went to sleep ; that in 1821, ac- cording to their own account, it began to revive, numbering at that time as many as eight members ; that in 1829 it was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France, after which it again slumbered until about 1844, when it was again revived, and has continued its existence up the the present time, being properly acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France in 1858. That during this time it has established a Supreme Council in Ireland, and also a Consistory in Louisiana. That the dissensions began at the very hour when its pub- lished existence commenced — first with the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, which, having been adjusted, they commenced in Xew York, in 1813, since which date every opportunity has been seized upon by them to issue strange and defamatory pub- lications, by means of which more injury has been done to the cause of Masonry than can ever be repaired. In 1822, they renewed their work under the leadership of Joseph McCosh — and in 1848, at which period Mr. Gourgas appeared with his new Supreme Council, they united with that body in the repe- tition of the same strange work. For the truth of this state- ment we refer to the Documents in the Appendix, Nos. 17, 18, 19, 21, 31 and 33. CHAPTER FIFTH. PROGRESS OP THE "RITE OP PERFECTION," OR "ANCIENT SCOTTISH RITE OP HEREDOM." Establishment of the " Sovereign Gkand Consistory " iu New York City in 1807 by Joseph Cerneau. — Acknowledgement by the Supreme Conncil of Prance, 1813.— Also by the Grand Orient of Prance, 1816.— Title of the Consistory, and the name of the "Rite " practiced. — "Joseph Cerneau." ' — His Character. — A Review of the Charges brought against him. — Nar- rative of Jeremy L. Cross. — " Abraham Jacobs."— His Register and Diary in full. — Particulars of his proceedings. — "Emanuel De La Motta " comes from Charleston to New York. — His pretended Consistory of 1806. — His own account of hia proceedings. — He erects a, Supreme Council in New York in 1813. — He expeh" Joseph Cerneau, his abettors and followers." — Reply of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. — Rejoinder of De La Motta. — The end of the Supreme Grand Council of De La Motta, As the " Cerneau Council " has been a matter of great con- troversy, from the very beginning up to the present time, and as there is some intricacy connected with its organization, it is thought to be the most proper course, to state in the first place the kading fads, assuming them to be true, and embracing a period of nine 3-ears — viz., from 1807 to 1816, and then, return again, and second, state all the circumstances connected with these facts. By attempting to follow regularly, the events as they occurred, the mind would be apt to become confused, while by pursuing this course, the subject will be more clearly understood. To begin, then, with the leading facts. On the 27th of October, 1807, Joseph Cerneau founded and established the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, of the Ancient Scottish Rite of Heredom, in the city of New York. At the time of its foundation, the following names appear as connected with Mr. Cerneau— viz., John W. Mulligan, Dr. Charles Guerin,^ Joseph Gouin, John P. Schisano, Toussaint Midy, J. B. Subrau, John B. Penzolz, Jonathan and Jacob Schieffelin, and several other persons. In the course of the 106 SCOITISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. following year the offices were filled, and the regular announce- ment made. In the records we find the following persons composing the above bodies ; The Hon. Dewitt Clinton, Governor of the State of New York, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, as Most Illus- trious Deputy Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and the same office in the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third. Although the Illustrious Brother Cerneau re- tained the title of Grand Commander during his life, yet he seldom officiated, as especially in the early part of this time he spoke but little English, and therefore was incapable of per- forming the duty of presiding officer. Subsequently the title was made " honorary," and Mr. Cerneau's name attached to the various documents, appears always afterwards as Honorary Grand Commander, ad vitam. Mr. Clinton filled the office of Sovereign Grand Commander from 1823 up to the year 1S28, in the month of February of which year, he died in the city of Albany. Those periods which were excepted, were filled by Illustrious Brother John W. Mulligan, and Illustrious Brother, the Marquis De Lafayette. In fact, Mr. Cerneau may be said to have retired from the active duties of Commander, immedi- ately after the full organization of the Sovereign Grand Con- sistory. Of the character of the Hon. Mr. Clinton, it is quite un- necessary to say one word. His name is a household word, and is engraven upon the memory of every citizen who has witnessed the prosperity of the Empire State. As a Mason, he was esteemed, and left behind him a name which the breth- ren delight to honor. Those who have attempted to traduce his character, (and there have been many such,) have only brought upon themselves the disgrace and contempt which is always the consequence, and the attendant of base actions. The Hon. John W. Mulligan, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, as Illustrious Lieuten- ant Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, and Illustrious Minister of State in the Sovereign Grand Consistory • also Representative of the Sovereign Grand Council of Sublime SCOTTISH RITE OP HERBDOM. 107 Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of Pennsylvania, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory sitting in New York. Mr. Mulligan continued to officiate, both in the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council until the year 1828. He served as M .•. P .•. Sov .•. Grand Commander two years, immediately preceding the election of the Hon. Dewitt Clinton to that office, He was also Deputy Grand Commander for many years. In 1844 Mr. Mulligan received the appointment of Consul to Greece, under the Presidency of Mr. Polk, and was absent from this country until 1851, at which time he re- turned, and soon afterward took his seat in the Supreme Coun- cil as Past Grand Commander. The Hon. Cadwallader D. Colden, Mayor of the city of New York, and Senior Grand "Warden of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, as Illustrious Minister of State of the Su- preme Council, and second Minister of State in the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Mr. Colden continued to officiate regular- ly in the Consistory and Council, from the hour of his appoint- ment up to the year 1828. The Hon. Martin Hoffman, subsequently Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, was one of its earliest members and associates. He was second Minister of State in the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and was an active member of both bodies up to the year 1828. Illustrious Brother Jonathan Schieffelin, Past Master, Grand Keeper of the Seals in the Supreme Grand Council, and first Grand Master of Ceremonies in the Sovereign Grand Consis- tory. He was also the Representative for the Sovereign Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of South Carolina, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory sitting in New York. Mr. Schieffelin w-as one of the earliest members, and officiated in the Council and Sovereiga Grand Consistory until 1828. At the re-organization in 1832, under the Count St. Laurent, he became an active member of the same and continued so un- til 1846. Elias Hicks, Esq., R.-. W.*. Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He subsequently became 108 SCOTTISH ETTE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Deputy Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and in 1832, at the re-organization under Count St. Laurent, he became the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council, and continued so up to the year 1846. Joseph Bouchaud, Esq., one of the oldest French merchants in the city, and was at that time of the firm of Bouchaud, The- baud §■ Co. Francis Dubuar, Esq., subsequently Lieutenant Grand Com- mander. He was one of the founders of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, an active member of the Supreme Council up to 1828, and also in the United Supreme Council under the Count St. Laurent until 1846. Both of these gentlemen were active members until prevented by the infirmities of age. It is quite unnecessary to particularize the names of Thomas Lmjonds, one of the oldest and most able Masons in the State ; Oliver M. Lownds, his son, former Sheriff of the City and County of New York and R .'. W .". Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge ; Charks Guerin, Illustrious Treasurer General j John P. Schisano, Grand Secretary General ; A. Rainetaux, James B. Durand, Casper W. Eddy and others, a long list of whom will be found by referring to the statistic account of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council, from the year 1807 to the year 1813, and also to the Anntlaries pub- lished from 1813 up to the year 1828, during the latter part of which time the Annuary appeared in Brother Marsh's General Masonic Annuary. That volume included all the Masonic organizations in the State. And at the very commencement of the organization, the busi- ness affairs of all the bodies — viz., the Sovereign Grand Con- sistory and the Supreme Council, were administered by a " Grand Committee of General Administraticm " composed as follows : /President, Hon. Dewitt Clinton, Vice President, Charles Guerin, James B. Durand, John W. Mulligan, Members, { Jacob Schieffelin, Joseph Gouin, _A. Rainetaux. SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. 109 As soon as the organization was completed, and the requi- site and constitutional number of brethren were constituted, which occupied the better part of two years, a formal applica- tion was made by them, to the Grand Orient of France, and to the Supreme Council of France, for recognition and acknow- ledgement, as a proper and legally constituted body, on the ground, that they had complied with the Statutes and Regula- tions of the Order, and were now entitled to the privileges of the same. In this application, they claimed to have received their degrees from, and were constituted by Joseph Cerneau, a Regular Inspector, and invested with full powers for this pur- pose ; had been formed into a Sovereign Grand Consistory for the United States of America, her Territories and Dependen- cies ; and swearing allegiance to the Statutes and General Regulations of the Order, they asked from them proper power to proceed in a Constitutional manner with their work, an acknowledgement on their part that they were regularly formed and constituted, and a recognition of future proceedings, as a Supreme and Regular body. This application, with the proper documents, was forwarded to France, in the autumn of the year 1809, and reached its des- tination, as is evident by return records, February 10th, 1810. The means of communication, in those days, were not as speedy as at the present time. The deliberations were not hurried, nevertheless, on the 11th of February, 1813, it was consecrated and confirmed iu the Supreme Council at Paris, and forwarded to New York, with all the necessary documents. The recog- nition of the Grand Orient, together with documents, did not reach the United States until the year 1816. It was promul- gated in France July 16th, and published in the daily papers at New York, as soon as it came to hand. It was a full acknowledgement of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Su- preme Council for the United States of America, her Territo- ries and Dependencies, authorizing these bodies to take their place among the sister bodies of the two hemispheres, dating the organization from the commencement, as they were author- ized to do— viz., October 27th 1807. (See Documents in the Appendix,) No. 12 and 13. 110 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. It is on this recognition and acknowledgement, that the " regularity " of these bodies rest. Having it, they are regular, and remain so, as long as the recognition and correspondence is kept up. Without it, they would have been nothing, in the estimation of all true Masons in the Masonic world, and would, doubtless, have immediately ceased their work. With- out that recognition they would have been precisely in the situation of the pretended body at Charleston, which body, if it ever had an existence as such, was in that condition — viz., alone, unacknowledged, unrecognized, by any Masonic body, except those which she herself had created, and was believed to be self constituted and illegal, up to the year 1828, at which time it was entered in the Annuary of the Grand Orient of France. How this transaction was brought about, the means used to effect it, and the circumstances attending it, will be seen in their proper place. The Consistory had already established various Councils of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret in several States, as well as subordinate bodies in New York. The Illustrious Brother Joseph Cerneau was appointed by the Grand Orient of France as her Representative near the Sovereign Grand Consistory in the United States, and the following brethren were Repre- sentatives, as follows : Ml.'. Bro.\ Germain Hacquet, Representative for Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Uni- ted States of America, near the Grand Orient of France. Confirmed and received by Grand Orient, July, 1816. III.'. Bro.'. James B. Burand, for the State of Louisiana, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory. El.'. Bro.\ Thomas Lownds, for the State of Rhode Island, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory. lU/. Bro .•. John W. Mulligan, for the State of Pennsylvania, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory.. SCOTTISH KITE OF HEREDOM. m 111.'. Bro.\ Jacob Schieffelin, for the State of South Caro- lina, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory. ni.'. Bro.\ ( * ) Sovereign Grand Lodge As- tre, St. Petersburg. The Sovereign Grand Consistory had appointed Deputy Inspectors General in South Carolina, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cumana, Barcelona and La Guayra. They had also sub- ordinate bodies in the City, and throughout the State, working .n a regular and constitutional manner, and were waiting the arrival of their documents from abroad, in order to prove to the Masonic world, that their pretensions were not in vain. They came at last. It was a pleasing event to the. Sovereign Grand Consistory. There was now no obstacle in the way of future prosperity. We have seen of what materials the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, from its very commencement, was composed. Some of the persons occupied high positions under the State Government — many of them were merchants of no ordinary note — all of them were men of respectability, and for the most part, filling offices in the Grand Lodge of the State. They were' men of character and of fixed principles ; they en- tered upon the undertaking by the solicitation. of Mr. Cerneau, through representations made to them ; and had any of them sup- posed for a moment, that they were lending their names and influence to an irregular and spurious Masonic body, they would never have continued with them for an hour. But they did continue to the end. The body, thus formed, had difficulties to contend with, which have not been alluded to, and it is for this purpose that we shall now return to the year 1807, and take up the attending circumstances in their proper course. " October, 1807." This date is derived from the records of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and from numerous Charters, Certificates, Patents, &c., given by that body, to Chapters of Rose Croix, Councils of Princes of the Royal Secret, and Patents given to Deputy Inspectors General, all of which de- clare the body to have been founded and established in the month of October, 1807, and date through the various years in 112 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. whicb the Consistory was in existence. We shall give as an illustration in the Appendix, one— viz., a Warrant for the founding of "Lafayette Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix," which see : (Appendix, Document No. li.) These parchments to which I have alluded, are all signed in full, by the officers in their own proper hand, and sealed by the Grand Keeper of the Seals. And this date is fully cor- roborated by historians, as Dr. Oliver, Clavel, Ragon, Thory and others. So that upon this point, there cannot be any reasonable doubt. And we further learn from these documents, as well as from the records .and circulars issued at various times, the name, under which the Rite hailed. At its formation in the city of New York at that period, it does not appear to have used the name of the " Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite," but its definitive title was, " The Ancient Scottish Rite of Heredom," " The Rite of Heredom," " The Scottish Rite of Heredom," &c. It is quite important to our history that this fact should be borne in mind. And the definitive title of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, under this rite was " the Trinity." We have previously given (page 47) an account of the differ- ent rites practiced in Europe after the year 1740, at which time, and soon after, they all came into being. Among these rites is the Ancient Scottish Rite of Heredom (see Ragon),- which was practiced by the Council of the Emperors of the East and West, by them given to Stephen Morin, by him to Joseph Cer- neau, and by him brought to the city of New York. Thi^ rite was the one established, this the name given, and those were the degrees conferred. The additional eight degrees were in Cerneau's possession | they were conferred by him, in common with the rest of the degrees, and in their proper order, so that the Prince of the Royal Secret numbered as the Thirty-second degree, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General as the Thirty- third, although made strictly an official degree. The reasons for this will be apparent, they will be given shortly. We know that he was possessed of them, else he could not have conferred them ; and we also know, that all persons of whatever name, SCOTTISH KITE OF HEEBDOM. 113 who received the degrees up to, and including the Thirty-third, were acknowledged as correct, and received as such in Prance and elsewhere. Although we do not include Charleston in this enumeration, we do include the Supreme Council of France, and all other known Supreme Councils or Consistories. In this rite, the " Sovereign Grand Consistory " is vested with the sole power of administration and legislation, including that of granting Constitutions, in all the degrees which appertain to Exalted Masonry. The establishment of a Sovereign Grand Consistory absolutely supersedes the individual authority of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, in the regulation and government of the Order. As to the degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, in rank the Thirty-third, the laws and regulations direct the manner in which the members, on whom it is conferred, shall be selected. It is a " dignity " granted as the reward of merit and experience. Those who are invested with it do not possess the arbitrary and irresponsible pow- er, which some, who pretend to act under SECRET CONSTITU- TIONS, imagine they are authorized to exercise. The Sovereign Grand Consistory was composed of members of the Thirty-second and Thirty- third degrees. And it will be seen in all the official documents, whether Patents, Warrants, Letters, Annuaries, &c., that the governing and ruling body of the Order was the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and this name and form of government, continued up to the year 1828. It is evident that this is correct, by an examination made of the records, containing the petition addressed to the Supreme Council of Prance, and received by them Pebruary l^th, 1810. The body there petitioning for recognition and acknowledge- ment or correspondence, assumed no other name or pretended to anything else, than the " Sovereign Grand Consistory." And the reply received by the Consistory in New York, from the Supreme Council of Prance in 1813, confirms it as follows : " On the 15th day of February, 1810, the' Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Thirty-second degree, established for the United States at the Orient of New Tork, doing homage to the severity of the principles of the Supreme Council, which constantly tend to the purification of Masonry, testified the desire of seeing a reciprocal correspondence established between them. This 114 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. correspondence was warmly welcomed and consecrated by the Supreme Coun- cil on February 11th, 1813." And in the recognition and vote of the Grand Orient of Prance, July 3d, 1816, the same recognition is made known, and published by them, as to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, at the same time publishing the fact officially — that Germain Hacquet, President of the Grand Orient, was received and acknowledged as the representative of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, near the Grand Orient. Nothing, therefore, can be more evident, than that the body commenced with that title in 1807 and continued it until the year 1828. The person who founded and established the Sovereign Grand Consistory in New York city was Mr. Joseph Cerneau. This, of itself, would appear to the reader to be no informa- tion at all, and he is naturally led, at this point, to ask the question. Who was Joseph Cerneau? Where did he come from — what was his occupation — and from where or whom, did he receive his degrees, or the rite which he pretended to estab- lish ? We shall endeavor to reply to these questions as well as we can. If, however, a resort should be had to the publica- tions made by his opponents concerning him, we should be forced to the conclusion that he was " but a sorry fellow after all." They state, that he was a jeweller by trade, " a poor pedling jeweller," " a trickster," " a swindler," " an impostor," " a deceiver " and a " rascal." They attempt to prove these grave cliarges by declaring that he made a large amount of money out of the degrees, by pocketing the funds, by making silver and tin boxes to hold the se'als, by selling the degrees to travellers, by publishing Masonic works in the Spanish language, and selling them all through Mexico, South America, &c. Time and patience would fail in the attempt to set forth all the charges particularly, which these brethren have heaped upon him, even up to the day of his death. Nor do they let the matter rest there. It forms the basis of many serious charges, even at the present time. For an exemplification of some of these charges, the reader is referred to the precious productions of Emanuel De La Motta. Appendix, No. 17 and 19. SCOTTISH BITE OP HEEEDOM. 115 We will quote a few lines from Ragon, Orthodox Ma?., page 328. He says : " Joseph Cerneau, having established himself at St. Domingo, where he was initiated into the "Rite of Perfection " by the Jew, Stephen Morin, which rite Morin had brought there ; he was forced to quit this island on account of the insurrection of the blacks there. He travelled over the Spanish AntiUas, and the United States, and finally fixed his residence in New York city. In 1806 he founded the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, installing himself Grand Commander, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, &c., of the same. He made a multitude of receptions, principally among South Americans, delivered diplomas, sold aprons, ribbons and jewels, to the Masons whom he initiated. He also manufactured tin and silver boxes which enclose the seals. To these div.erse braoches, he adds the speculation of a librarian. He became the author and editor of a Spanish Masonic manual, with which he inundated Mexico and this country. Subsequently, having re-organized his Supreme Council, he.suceeded in estabjighing a correspondence with the Grand Orient of Prance." Now it forms no part of the author's purpose, in writing this history, to appear before his readers as the champion and de- fender of Mr. Cerneau. On the contrary, he allows as true, some of the charges, and will attempt to give his views con- cerning them, in full. In the first place, Mr. Cerneau was a jeweller by profession, a French jeweller, and it is highly probable that, like the rest of that class of men, he was a " pedling jeweller," that is to say, he left his native land, travelled through the West India Islands, and at last came to New York and settled down as a resident. During his travels, it is quite probable that, being an industrious man and a Frenchman, he made all the money that it was in his power to make, by selling jewelry. But, from the best information that can be obtained, Mr. Cerneau, on his arrival in New York, took or hired a store, got his family domiciled, went to work at his trade, as all jewellers generally do, and attended to his legitimate business. We have no evidence whatever that he pedled jewelry after his arrival here, except the assertions of his opponents, and it is quite probable that they judged Mr. Cerneau, in this matter, by themselves. They pronounce him, a trickster, a swindler, an impostor and 116 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. a rascal. And in proof of these serious charges they state, " that he made a great deal of money out of the degrees by pocketing the funds." There is no doubt at all, that from the time of his first arrival, 1806, up to the period of the formation of the Sovereign Grand Consistory in 1807, he made many receptions and took the money. It is hardly possible that it should have been otherwise. The rite was entirely new to this country, and there were, doubtless, a great number of persons ready to receive the new light in Masonry, which lie professed himself able to impart. He was not alone in this business. His Patent from Stephen Morin gave him full power so to do. And if he had followed the example set him by his teacher, Stephen Morin, and his coadjutors, Messrs. Frankin, Hays, Forst, Long, Spitzer, Cohen, De Lieben, Jacobs and De La Motta, the charge would have been perfectly just and true, for they, by their own showing, followed that business all their lives long. But the records show that he pursued a different course. After he became acquainted with the people among whom he came to reside, and the rules and laws which governed the institution of Masonry in the land, he assembled a Consti- tutional number of brethren around him, whom he had before initiated, and formed a Sovereign Grand Consistory for the United States of America, which was founded for the govern- ment of the Exalted degrees. Having done this, the course of proceeding which they lay to his charge — viz., making frequent receptions, &c., became an impossibility. The powers of Mr. Cerneau then ceased as an Inspector, and the duty of making receptions, and taking money for the same, devolved upon the General Committee of Administration, before noticed, as the records fully prove. But they continue by saying, that he made a great deal of money by ^''manufacturing silver and tin boxes to hold the Seals." This part of the story is true. He had it all in his own hands, and it was strictly in the way of his business. But while we willingly allow that he did these things every day of his life, and all his life long if necessary, still it does not go far towards proving the truth of their accusation. There does not appear to be any part of rascality, or deception, or trickery, or impos- SCOTTISH RITE OP HBREDOM. 117 ture, in manufacturing jewelry, silver boxes, tin boxes, &c., and selling them to the best advantage to the brethren for money. Mr. Cerneau made these things and sold them, pre- cisely in the same way in which they are made and sold in this day, the only difference being, that in his day, he was the only one engaged in that particular branch of the Masonic jewelry business, and of course, made all the money, while at the present time, the number of manufacturing Masonic jewellers is not only great, but so great, that' one can scarcely miss of them at the various corners of the streets. Again, They charge that he published Spanish Masonic works, books of instruction, &c., flooded Mexico, South Amer- ica and France with them, by means of which traffic, he made a large amount of money. This charge is true — and having been somewhat personally acquainted with Cerneau, the author would say, that he is sorry, most truly sorry, that he did not realize a much larger amount than he received, as, in that event, he might have had a fund, out of which he might have drawn a support in his declining years. For, in the latter part of the time^from 1832 onward — he was in poor circum- stances, and made application to the Supreme Council for assistance. That body made some considerable purchases of him, which relieved his necessities. He returned to his native land in comparative poverty, and died there, between the years 1840 and 1845, while filling a small public office, under wretched pay. None of these acts, allowing them all to be true, would en- title him to the name of a swindler, a deceiver, an impostor, or a rascal, nor would they injure his character in the least, as an honest man, or an upright Mason. As an illustration, let us glance at a few facts connected with the business of Masonry, which have occurred, and are now occurring in our own land. The narrative of Jeremy L. Cross, publislied in the Sixteenth edition of his " Hieroglyphic Monitor " so completely covers all the ground, that we shall quote from it instead of offering our own remarks. He says, page 343 and onward : " The author has spent over forty years in the service of the Order as a "Lecturer." During all this time he has labored diligently to preserve care- 118 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. fnlly, every thing connected with the work as he received it. The system, as taught by him, was adopted about the year 1800. After the Grand Lodges of the several States had declared themselves free and independent, and the General Grand Chapter was formed and organized in 1798, it was deemed ad- visable to adopt a regular and uniform mode of lecturing and work for the whole, and in order to accomplish this great desideratum, theexpert workmen from various parts of the country met together. The work was completed and adopted fully by the year 1810. It was at this period he commenced lecturing in the New England States, with all those bright and well informed Masons, who had been so assiduous in selecting and arranging the above system. After spending some years in the New England States, in the year 1815 he visited New Tork, where he received the Ineffable and Sublime degrees, and was regularly constituted and appointed by the Supreme Council, a, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third and last degree, received as a member of said Council, &c. Early in 1816,, having been sanctioned as a Grand Lec- turer by the Officers of the General Grand Chapter of the United States of America, and receiving all necessary authority and instruction upon that sub- ject from the body, he proceeded on his tour, taking in all the several Lodges and Chapters in New Jersey ; from thence to Delaware, lecturing in all the Lodges and Chapters in that State ; thence to Baltimore, where he received from Brothers Eckles and Niles, a Warrant to confer the Royal and Select Masters degrees, and to establish Councils in all places where there was a Royal Arch Chapter, if desired. And by this authority he established Coun- cils in most of the places he visited in the Western and Southern States. " While at Cincinnati, Frankfort and Lexington, he was joined by Thomas Smith Webb and J. Snow, who were also engaged in Masonic business. At Cincinnati he was visited by many committees of persons, deputized to obtain for Councils, the Royal and Select Masters degrees, which degrees were uni- versally adopted throughout the country. " Finishing his travels in the West, he passed on to Natchez and New Orleans, at which latter place he, in the year 1817, was received and acknow- ledged by the Consistory, was presented with a full and perfect set of all the degrees, their histories, accompanied with the drawings, emblems, seals, &c. Prom thence he visited the eastern shore of Maryland. In that year he re- turned to New England, and lectured in Connecticut during most of the time of his stay there. In the autumn he went to Virginia, returned to Connecticut in 1818, where he spent the two following yeare. In 1819 he first published his Hieroglj^hic Monitor or Chart, and in 1820 the Templars Chart. " He at this time became acquainted with J. Cushman, and instructed and perfected him in all the lectures, including the Orders of Knighthood. After leaving him, Cushman lectured in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, and spent several years in the busi- ness. About the same time, John Barker also learned from him, and went to South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Wadsworth, SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM 119 Barney, Enos and others, were all schooled by Cross, and ^ent on their mission. " Daring the next ten years he resided in Connecticut, and attended to the publication of his books, but occasionally following lecturing. It was at this time, and while having some leisure, and having, by experience, felt the want of a uniformity of lecturing and work, and of keeping those parts belong- ing to one degree of Masonry from being mixed up with others, that he com- menced arranging the emblems and illustrations, agreeably to his mode of lecturing and work, and of designing many new illustrations, which were first brought out in a small volume, called the ' True Masonic Chart or Hieroglyphic Monit(/r,' first published in 1819. The publication of the Masonic Chart was something new in the annals of Masonry, there never having been any thing published in the way of emblems before, more than those whieh were on what is called the ' Masters Carpet.' " The introduction of so many new emblems, and the arrangement of them in a systematic manner, was fouod to be quite an acquisition to the craft, and the work met with a universal reception. It rapidly passed through several editions. Many of the Grand Lodges adopted it as their text book, and the members of nearly all the subordinate Lodges used it as their guide. In the year 1820 he brought out the 'Templars Chart,' v/ith similar emblems and illustrations, which work met with equally flattering success. •' In 1824 he received from the Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree. Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Charleston, South Carolina, by the hands of Brother Barker, letters Patent and a Warrant, constituting him a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third and last degree, and author- izing and empowering him for life, to establish, congregate, superintend and inspect Lodgeg, Chapters, Colleges, Consistories and Councils, of the Royal and Military Orders of Ancient and Modern Free Masonry, over the surface of the two hemispheres." This document, verbatim, with the signatures, and other matters connected with it, is given in the Appendix, Document 35, and will be noticed in its proper place. " In 1834 he removed to the city of New York, and entering into mercan- tile pursuits, continued in that avocation for several years. In 1845 he pub- lished improved editions of his Masonic and Templars Charts, which continued to be the standard works of those degrees of which they treat. In 1851 he brought out his sixteenth edition, and subsequently another edition, when his works passed out of his hands." We would offer an apology to the reader for the introduc- tion of this history of Mr. Cross, apparently irrelevant to the history of the Exalted or higher degrees. We have a particu- lar object in so doing. Here we have the narrative of a man, 120 SCOITISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. who was a veteran in Masonry. He coramcncenced his career when Masonry, in our land, was in its youthful day. He made himself acquainted with the lectures, and then entered upon the work as a pursuit of life — spending the better part of thirty years in this occupation, laboring from one end of the Union to the other, and receiving from each Masonic body a large remuneration. Besides the profit arising from " lecturing" he published his Masonic books, took them with him, selling all he could by the way, and making agents for the sale of the same in every city and town through which he passed. The price which he charged for his works was very high, and he gave but a very limited per centage to agents. He also had manu- factured for him, and sold a very large amount of Lodge and Chapter decorations, jewels, furniture, collars, &c., and, added to all the other things, he had purchased from Eckles and Niles, of Baltimore, the power to establish Councils of Eoyal and Select Masters, for which he received |100 per Council, besides the remuneration for perfecting the members in the lectures and work. So great was his success in all these branches, that in 1834 he had. amassed a very considerable amount of money, and came to the city of New York, where he commenced the business of a wholesale paper dealer. During all the time he was in business, he kept a room devoted to the sale of his books and Masonic jewels, decorations, &c., driving a brisk trade, being looked upon, even at that late day, as the chief and most reliable dealer in Masonic books and merchan- dize. But during all this long period of time, no member of the fraternity dared to call Mr. Cross a rascal, a deceiver, an im- postor, or a swindler. His character, as a man and a Mason, was unimpeachable, and there was not a single man in the whole land who was more highly esteemed by the brotherhood than Jeremy L. Cross. Now, we would ask in all plainness, wherein was the differ- ence between Mr. Joseph Cerneau and Mr. Cross ? Did Mr. Cerneau establish Masonic bodies, confer degrees, take the money, &c. ? So did Mr. Cross. Did the one manufacture silver and tin boxes for holding seals, sell jewels, aprons, deco- SCOTTISH KITE OP HEEEDOM. 121 rations, &c. ? So did the other. Did Mr. Cerneau enter into the speculation of a librarian and publish Masonic boobs, &c. ? So did Mr. Cross. There was no difference between the two whatever. And yet poor Mr. Cerneau, with no other charges laid against him, is pronounced by some, to have been a swin- dler, a deceiver, an impostor, and a rascal, while those same men are willing to concede, thaft Mr. Cross was an honest man and an upright Mason. The same remarks will apply to Thomas Smythe Webb, J. Snow, Gleason, James Cushman, John Barker, Mr. Barney, and others mentioned in the narrative of Mr. Cross, who were : mostly prepared by him as lecturers, and spent their lives in the business as an occupation. And what shall we say of the present day. The number of venders of Masonic paraphernalia is great, and the country .is covered with lecturers, &c., but among the whole, none are pointed at as deceivers, swindlers or impostors, unless from some other cause than that of making money by lecturing, and publishing, and selling Masonic works. In all the researches made, we have not yet been able to find any other charges laid against Mr. Cerneau, than those which we have named. Let those w!jo knew Mr. Cerneau best, and had the most to do with him, speak of his character. In a Report of the General Committee of Administration of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, drawn up in the year 1813, and signed in full by Messrs. Mulligan, Schieffelin, Hicks, Bou- chaud, Hoffman, Rainetaux and Dubuar, they say, " Yet this is the only reason offered to cover the malignity which has prompted this atrocious libel on a valuable and zealous Mason, an industrious artizan, the father of a family, a meritorious and peaceful citizen, a- man of unsuspicious disposition, easily im- posed upon by adventurers, and whose main failing is, the want of a proper acquaintance with the English language." But there is one more point to be touched upon — viz.. That Cerneau made a great amount of money by the conferring of degrees. A good part of this accusation may be true. It has been before remarked, that when Cerneau arrived in this coun- try, Masonry was, comparatively speaking, in its infancy. The Blue degrees, it is true, were practiced in the Lodges as they 122 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. are now. But the General Grand Chapter had been formed only a few years previous, under which the degrees were classified, and the Chapters regulated, so that but few Chap- ters were in existence and working order. Aside from these bodies but little was known of other degrees. That little would refer to detached, and side degrees, which are not of suflBcient importance to dwell upon here. Mr. Cerneau arrived, in ignorance of the English language, and the manners ^d customs of the people. His first step was to seek for Masonic acquaintances, and the first person who became his intimate friend was Mr. John W. Mulligan, through whose assistance the Sovereign Grand Consistory was formed. Finding that Mr. Cerneau was in possession of the requisite and authentic powers to do so, he introduced him to many notable and highly esteemed Masons, and finally, through his influence and exertions, the body was organized and com- pleted. The first body which Cerneau attempted to establish in New York, was the Rose Croix Chapter, under the title of "Triple Amitie,'' about the year 1806. This continued but a year or two, when the Consistory was formed. In 1807 the work of the Chapter ceased, but it arose again in 1808, with a Charter from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, under the name of "Triple Alliance" and continued so up to the year 1828. Cerneau also conferred the degrees of Knighthood on indi- viduals by virtue of his Patent, and all the Knights Templar, Knights of the Red Cross, and Knights of Malta, in New York at that time, of the present system practiced, were made so by Cerneau. The first Encampment formed, was known after- wards, as the " Old Encampment" then came " Jerusalem, En- campment" and last came " Columbian Encampment, JVo. 1," chartered between 1811 and 1813 by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, all of which came together to receive from the Grand Encampment of the State of New York in 1814 their Warrants, at which time Columbian Encampment received her number 'as first in the Order. And when the deputation of Royal Arch Masons came from Rhode Island in 1813 to receive the Exalted degrees, and thus form a Consistory in Newport, SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. 123 thej received power from Joseph Cerneau to establisli an En- campment there. That Encampment was formed, and contin- ued working under that power, until the State Grand Encamp- ment was formed, at which time they came under that head. Mr. C. Moore, of Cincinnati, in a communication upon this subject, thus says : " The Consistory in Rhode Island was established about 1811 and 1813, and was a Cerneau body. The Masons exalted to the Royal Arch degree, by the Newport Chapter, being desirous of having the Higher degrees, and the author- ity to confer said degrees being lost by the decease of Moses Seixas, they ap- pointed a Committee to proceed, to New York and receive them, and obtain authority to establish a Consistory in Newport. The Consistory, at that time gave the degrees of Knighthood, there being no Encampment then, but when the Grand Encampment of New England was formed, those who had received the degrees of Knighthood, joined and became subordinate to said body, and received a Dispensation to confer the degrees, according to the terms of the original Dispensation for a, Consistory." And this is confirmed by the let- ters of John A. Shaw and Stephen Deblois, both of whom were active mem- bers of both bodies. (See Appendix, Document No. 19.) It must be borne in mind that there were Encampments of Knights Templars in existence many years before Mr. Cerneau arrived in this country from St. Domingo, as well as Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and of Malta. None of these, how- ever, were esteemed as Masonic bodies, or in any way connec- ted with Masonry. Many received these orders of Knighthood who were not Masons. Brother Elias Hicks was initiated a Knight of St. John of Jerusalem one year before he was initi- ated into Masonry, and all Master Masons were eligible to the Knight of Malta and Mediterranean Pass, as late as the year 1820. It was a very common thing at that period, to confer this Order in Lodges of Master Masons. " The first Encampments of Knights Templar, established in this country, were located in New York city and Stillwater, in the State of New York, but we have not been able to learn, either the date of their establishment, or by what authority they were planted. We know, however, that they were in existence prior to 1797, for in May of that year, an Encampment was estab- lished in Philadelphia, and the records of that, shows the previous existence of the two former Encampments. It is known that other Encampments were established in this country by " Consistories," and also by the mere authority of a Deputy Inspector General, and therefore, we conclude tl^at the Encamp- 124 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. ments of Knights Templar were planted under the authority of the Ineffable or Scotch Eite. " In 1802, a few Knights met in Providence, Bhode Island, and, withxrui any authority whatever, resolved themselves into an Encampment. In 1805, a Convention was held in Providence, composed of delegates from the En- campments in New York city, Stillwater and Albany, New York. Encamp- ments No. 3, 13 and 24, of Maryland, and two Encampments in Massachu- setts, one of which, situated in Boston, was an Encampment of Rose Croix. This Convention resolved itself into a Grand Encampment. • " In 1812, the above named Grand Encampment vesolved itself into a Gene- ral Grand Encampment, and made its Constitution to correspond ; and in 1816, it again resolved itself into a General Grand Encampment of the United States of America, and again remodelled its" Constitution, and provided for the establishment of State Grand Encampments, &c." Mitchell's History, Volume 2, page 85. This is a sliort sketch of these bodies as they existed before the year 1811. It was about this time that the degree of Knight Templar was remodelled, and placed in a form or sys- tem, similar to the Chapter degrees. The system commenced with Knight of the Red Cross, which was followed by Knights Templar ; then the Knights of Malta, ending with the " Chris- tian Mark " and " Knight of the Holy Sepulchre," in all five degrees. To Mr. Cerneau, and the Sovereign Grand Consistory, the Masonic world is indebted for the establishment of this system — the founding of Columbian Encampment, and the establish- ment of the Grand Encampment of the State of New York. By referring to the list of officers at its foundation, and com- paring that list with the ofiicers of the Sovereign Grand Con-y sistory, they will be found nearly alike, and this forms one of the chief grounds of De La Motta's complaint in 1813 concern- ing tl^e Grand Consistory — viz., " that its pretended officers were also the chief officers in the Grand Encampment of the State, which, in his estimation, was a most dreadful matter." See his Replication. Appendix, Document 19. As the degrees of the Chapter were arranged and placed in a regular form between the years 1797 and 1800, after which a regular series of lectures and mode of work were affixed to the same, so with the degrees of the Encampment. It was SCOTTISH EITE OP HERBDOM. 125 consummated by the year 1814, and the Encampment degrees then became a part o^ the Masonic system. The following extract from the " Proceedings of the Grand Encampment," published 1860, will be interesting to the reader as confirming the above statement concerning the conferring of the degrees of Knighthood and the formation of the Grand Encampment, State of New York : " The Grand Encampment of Sir Knights Templars and Appendant Orders, for the State of New York, regularly constituted by the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Chiefs of Exalted Masonry for the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies, sitting in New York. "This day, the 18th of the 4th month, A. L., 5814, answering to June, A. D., 1814, &c., agreeably to noticej assembled at the place assigned for their deliberations, this Grand Encampment was opened in due form and becoming solemnity. Brother Jonathan Schwffelin officiating as Thrice Illustrious Grand Master ; James B. Durand as Senior "Warden, and Toussaint Midy as Junior Warden. ' " The object of the meeting being announced, the Grand Orator took occa- sion to deliver a discourse, in which he stated the proceedings and ceremonial which took place at the formation of the Grand Encampment by the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, in the city of New York, in January, 1814. " That the numerous Encampments of Knights Templars, now existing with- in 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. A longer continuance of this state of things could b'e but productive of ill consequences, inasmuch as it was to be appre- hended that these sorts of unconstituted Associations, so rapidly increasing in number, would sooner or later have lessened, if not entirely destroyed, that commanding respect due to so dignified a degree as that of Knight Templar, &c. " Accordingly, the Sovereign Grand Consistory, fully impressed with the necessity and importance of this subject, has, at its session on the 22d of Jan- nary, A. D., 1814, as aforesaid, decreed by a unanimous vote, the establish- ment of a " Grand Encampment of Knights Templak and Appendant Orders for the State of New York," and immediately proceeded to its formation by choosing the Grand Officers thereof, taken (for this time only) ^ from among its own members, as follows : Dewitt Clinton, Thr.-. Illustrious Grand Master, Martin Hoffman, Grand Generalissimo, John W. Mulligan, Grand Captain General, James B. Durand, Senior Grand "Warden, Jacob Schieffelin, Junior Grand Warden, Elias Hicks, Grand Orator, 126 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Anthony Rainetaux, Grand Recorder, Joseph Gouin, Grand Treasurer, Jonathan Schieffelin, Grand Marshal. "They were accordingly installed into their respective offices, and the establishment of the Grand Encampment of Sir Knights Templars and Ap- pendant Orders for the State of New Tork was next proclaimed in ample FORM." This organizatioii continued until 1816, when it came under the supervision of the General Grand Encampment of the United States, formed in that year. Cerneau also conferred the degrees of Royal and Select Mas- ter, and by him the first Council of Royal Masters was formed in the State of New York. Subsequently, the degrees spread far and wide over the State, and many other Councils were formed. Soon after the meeting of the General Grand Chap- ter in 1816, a State Grapd Council of Royal Masters was formed, and all existing Councils came under that body. One fact is here worthy of note. The Masons of that day were divided in opinion concerning the proper place to which these degrees belonged. One party was in favor of connecting them with the ritual, preceding the Royal Arch degree, while the other party preferred that they should be kept separate, and left where they were — -a separate system. At the meeting of the General Grand Chapter in 1816, the whole matter there came up for discussion ; Mr. Eckles, of Maryland, taking a very prominent part in advocating the union of these two de- grees with the services of the Royal Arch Chapter. The dis- cussion became warm, and lasted for the better part of two days, wheh the motion to unite them with the Chapter degrees was rejected. Whereupon, immediately after adjournment, the State Grand Council of Royal Masters was formed, and the different Councils then came under that governing power, and continued so up to 1828. It was this move of the General Grand Chapter, in refusing a recognition of those degrees, that determined Mr. Cross in his future course. Mr, Eckles, the Baltimore delegate, then went home ; and when Cross, who, at that session of the General Grand Chap- ter, had been appointed and confirmed as General Grand Lecturer, started on his lecturing tour, he stopped at Baltimore SCOTTISH EITE OP HEKEDOM. 127 and purchased and received the privilege from Eckles 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 New Jersey : and all the Councils in existence, in those States, mentioned in his narrative, were established by himself. Also the Eastern States, excepting Rhode Island. But. the particu- lars of the arrangement between the two parties in the first instance, never were known. This, however, may be said — Mr. Cross acted with exact justice to all concerned, and moreover, made it obligatory upon all the bodies which he founded, that as soon as there should be three Councils of Royal Masters in a State, they should at once come together and form a Grand Council, and be governed by the same. Out of this act of Mr. Cross, in establishing Councils of Royal Masters, grew up a difference of feeling between those bodies, and the Councils established by Mr. Cerneau. None of them were on terms of intercourse, and that difference be- tween the New York and Rhode Island Councils on the one side, and the Cross Councils on the other, was kept up until 1828. Although the degrees of Royal and Select Master have been matters of great dispute, and a great deal of difficulty has been encountered in fixing their paternity, yet there is no doubt whatever, that the degrees were brought to this country by the successors of Stephen Morin, and by them disseminated through the country. It is true that they, as well as many other de- grees, are not contained in the published list, as degrees over which they pretend to have control, but. by referring to the Charleston document of 1802, (Document No. 7,) it will there be found that the "■Elect of Twenty-seven " is mentioned among the isolated degrees which the Inspectors give, free of expense. This is the degree of "Select Master " now practiced. Also by referring to the Diary of Abraham Jacobs, (Docu- ment No. 15,) it will be seen that he was in the habit of con- ferring that degree long before 1801. And it is also stated, that there is evidence of the existence of these degrees in Albany, New York, as early as 1766, 128 ■ SCOTTISH RTTE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. which, if true, would prove that the same person who founded the Sublime Lodge of Perfection there, (Henry A. Francken,) also conferred these degrees. They were also conferred in Rhode Island by Myers, in 1781, at which time Sdxas received them from his hands. But in all these cases, as well as with Mr. Cerneau, they were conferred as distinct, or detached degrees, having nothing to do with the system of Scottish Masonry. Neither the Coun- cil of Charleston, or the Sovereign Grand Consistory recog- nized them in any other light. Subsequently, when the mem- bers became numerous, they formed themselves into Councils, and as soon as there were three Councils in a State, they con- stituted a Grand Council for that State— and thus it is at the present day. A very good sketch of the origin and progress of these de- grees will be found in Mitchell's Masonic History, Volume 1, page 706. Mr. Cerneau also established a degree called "Aaron's Band" which continued to be worked as a detached degree for many years, in a separate body ; but eventually, about the year 1825, was stopped by the interference of the Grand Chapter, which body stated that it was an infringement upon the degree of High Priesthood. Richard Ellis, the High Priest of Ancient Chapter was the presiding officer of the body in 1824. Now, from these few facts which have been cited, it is quite probable that Cerneau did make a great deal of money by- conferring Masonic degrees, but it is not proved, that in so doing, he interfered with, or infringed upon, any regular body or rite. And, as was the case in every instance, both with Mr. Cross and himself, as soon as a sufficient number could be found, who were qualified, they formed into regular bodies, and took to themselves a proper head. But whatever may have been the character of Mr. Cerneau in this respect, it is, at the present time, a matter of very little consequence. He might, as his enemies and opposers have always been ready to assert, have been a trickster, a travelling jeweller, and the manufacturer of " wares " for the Craft. He might have been a publisher of Masonic works in foreign Ian- SCOTTISH EITE OF HEREDOM. 129 guages, with which he flooded a portion of the world. And he might have made a great deal of money by these things, as well as by conferring Masonic degrees. But we are not aware tliat there is any particular crijue or turpitude in this conduct, as it regards the Masonic institution. Nor does his conduct, if rightly stated, prove him to have been any different, from that of a great number of highly respectable Masons in the year 1861, whose standing in the Order is irreproachable, who would think it a strange thing to have their conduct called in question on these accounts, and who are always, and at all times, ready to traffic and deal in Masonic matters, on a much larger scale than Mr. Cerneau ever dreamed of. It must be very evident that he acted with great and good judgement, as far as it concerns his proceedings, in the form- ing and establishment of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council. He was aware that the Exalted degrees of Masonry had already, through the traflficing spirit of the travelliug Inspectors, and pretended members of the Supreme Grand Council of Charleston, fallen into great disrepute. He saw that they were being made an article of merchandize, and wishing to rescue them from the ruin which threatened them, he sought out reputable and influential men in the community, men who were highly esteemed by the Masonic fraternity and above reproach, and placed the whole matter in their hands, thus forming the bodies upon a sure basis. As soon as this was completed, he retired from its active duties. We find, by a reference to the records, that he officiated but very little as an active officer, except in the French language, but gave up the whole management of affairs to the " Grand Committee of General Administration," a list of which has been given, and which may be referred to at page 108. Now, one of the principal charges brought against Mr. Cer- neau is, that he established the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council, for the purpose of pocketing the funds or making money from it. A charge of this kind, brought against the honorable and high-minded men who composed those bodies, would be simply ridiculous, and not worthy of the time it would take to write out a refutation. The names of 130 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. the brethren mentioned, as composing those bodies, are too well known by the community, and their memories are too warmly cherished by the fraternity, and by the world, to re- quire a refutation here. And if such charges should be made in this day, they would scarcely be credited by the youngest and mosT uninformed member of the institution. There was now no obstacle in the way. The Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Ancient Scottish Rite of Heredom had been regularly and constitutionally formed, her officers in- stalled, the Statutes and General Regulations of the Order ■complied with, and application made to other bodies for recog- nition and confirmation. The founding and establishment of the body had been published to the world, with a list of the degrees over which the Sovereign Grand Consistory claimed control. But there were difficulties to contend with, which have not yet been alluded to, and which we shall now endeavor to explain. And in order to do so we shall go back a little in the history, preceding what is to come with a short history of ■Mraham Jacobs, a Hebrew schoolmaster, who took up his resi- dence in New York city in the year 1803 or 1804. The facts given are taken from his own Register and Diary, and parts of them published in the Appendix, Document Xo. 15. The orig- inal Diary and Register are in possession of the Supreme Grand Council from which the document in the Appendix is copied. He died in New York about the year 1840. At his decease he willed, that all his Masonic records should be placed iu possession of the Supreme Grand Council, at the head of which, at that time, was Henry C. Atwood, for future reference. The reason why this particular disposition of his records was made, will be explained. The facts here given, being written with his own hand, may be deemed reliable and correct. He states in his Register that he was initiated as an Entered Apprentice, and passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on the 22d day of July, 1782, in St. Andrews Lodge, Boston, Massa- chusetts. (Here follows a copy of his certificate to thai effect, signed by Robert Revere as Worshipful Master ; Robert McElroy as Senior Warden ; N. Willis as Junior Warden ; SCOTTISH RITE OP HEREDOM. 131 Benjamin Coolidge as Secretary ; and the Seal of the Lodge is regularly attached.) He states, that he was subsequently raised to the Sublime degree of a Master Mason in Lodge JVo. 1 (no name) at Charleston, South Carolina, which Lodge then held its Warrant under the R .*. W.*. Grand Lodge in Europe, in the Presidency of the Worshipful Grand Master, the Duke of Athol. (As the Grand Lodge of South Carolina was not instituted until 1787, the raising of Jacobs was previous to that date.) it. On the first day of May, 1788, he received, as he states, a certificate from the Sublime Lodge established at Charleston, as Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. The certificate purports to be signed by Joseph Da Costa, Sublime Grand Secretary ; also Edward Weyman, M. Gist, John Mitchell, Joseph Bee, T. B. Bowen and Abraham Saportas. (All the certificates given in the Register are in his own hand-writing, and are not at all in the form or wording of the certificates which we now have.) In the spring of 1790, Jacobs had removed from Charleston to Jamaica, West Indies, and there met with Moses Cohen and Abraham Forst. They together promoted him to the degree of Knight of the Sun, and " gave him a certificate of the same, together with a ' Power ' to promote the interests of the Craft." He sailed in the following November for Savannah, Georgia. His certificate, he says, was signed by Moses Cohen, Jacob Delion and Abraham Bonito (all of them Hebrews) and gave him the power to Initiate, Pass, Raise and Exalt to the Sub- lime degrees, constitute Blue Lodges, &c., &c., dated Novem- ber 9th, 1790. In March, 1792, the certificate, together with his other credentials, were acknowledged and endorsed by Israel Delieben, a member of the Prince Masons of Dublin. In 1799 he officiated as Worshipful Master of Forsyth Lodge, of Augusta, Georgia. In 1802 he opened a Sublime Lodge in Savannah. In 1803 he had removed to New York city, and made it his future residence. In the month of October, 1808, he says, he conferred the Sublime degrees on nineteen brethren in New York city, and opened a Sublime Grand Lodge there. 132 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Jacobs aware of his being guilty of a wrong act, thus words his Register : "October 10th. Brother Jacobs, then residing in New Torli, North America, in which city the Sublime degrees were not established, was petitioned by a number of old Royal Arch and Master Masons of the Blue Lodge, to con- fer the Sublime degrees on them, for the purpose of establishing tlie degrees in this city. " Brother Jacobs being ever ready to promote the Royal Art, on making the necessary inquiry of the respectability of the applicants, concluded to com- municate the Sublime degrees to them. On the 3d of November following, the number of nineteen brethren (names omitted in his Register, but given in his Diary) were brought up to the degree of Prince of Jerusalem, when they nominated the officers for the Council, and for the Lodge of Perfection, under the founder, Abraham Jacobs, until a regular Warrant should be had and ob- tained from the Grand Council in Charleston, and due notice thereof was given in the public prints the ensuing day, (November 4th, 1808.) On the 16th of November, the brethren met at their Council Chamber, which was opened by the Pounder, Abraham Jacobs, with all its honors and solemnities. They were then visited by Illustrious Brother John Gabriel Tardy, Deputy Inspector General for Pennsylvania ; Illustrious Brother John James Joseph Gourgas and Moses Levy Madura Peixolto, Kadosh and Princes of the Royal Secret, who, with the consent of the body, they agreed to take them under their protection, and become their head, and accordingly granted them a War- rant and Constitution, and organized the Council and Sublime Lodge at that meeting. On the 17th, Brother Jacobs addressed another letter to the Sublime Council at Charleston, and communicated the foregoing proceedings to them." These are the statements that appear in his Register ; but his Diary, connected with the same, kept in another book, and sealed with his private seal, shows more particularly his pro- ceedings, from the time he landed in Sarannah, from Jamaica up to 1808 — ending with this, his last " recorded " exploit. There are others, to come after, which are not " recorded," are of much later date, which we shall give in their proper place. The "Biary " forms Document No. 15, Appendix, to which the reader is referred. The Diary of " Minutes and Proceedings " commences with May 27th, 1792. It will be recollected that he says in his Register, " In 1802, Jacobs, having initiated eight brethren, opened a Sublime Lodge in Savannah.'' Now between 1792 and 1802 is an interval of ten years, and by reading the Diary, we SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. 133 find the manner in which he occupied himself during this interval. The first entry in the book purports to be, the copy of a let- ter received by him from a Mr. Zimmerman, of Augusta, re- questing him to come to that city and confer the Sublime degrees upon ten or twelve brethren. He accordingly went ; arrived there June 9th, and met with sixteen brethren. He conferred the degrees upon the whole batch, which appears to have occupied his time from the above date to July 3d, having held meetings with them every day and evening. The names of the parties, the dates of the meetings, and the ^degrees con- feri'ed, are all written in full, to which the reader is particu- larly referred. There appears to have been one bad cliaracter among them, who had progressed as far as the Tenth degree, when they made the discovery that he had been an inmate of the States Prison. They cut him off, proceeded with the rest, and finished on the above-mentioned date. After a lapse of eight years, during which time Jacobs had been frequently there, he says, in closing this part of his Diary : '• January 25th, 1800. I returned to Augusta and found Brother Urquhart in possession of the drafts and other copies, that 1 left for their use on the 3d of July, 1792, bvi no Lodge or Council had been established. He informed me, that two of the copies had been lost, and requested I would let him have them, but evaded it in consequence of the death of Brother Zimmerman, &c." So it appears that Jacobs made a very fair operation out of this transaction, and waited for the next set of customers. They were not long in coming, as will be seen in the next entry — " Savannah, 17th April, 1796. Found a candidate in James Clarck, and gave him the degrees.'' On the 21st of November, same year, he receives an applica- tion irom fourteen brethren in the town of Washington, County of Wilkes, Georgia, he says : " Finding no Lodge at Augusta, nor likely to be, as well as being twenty- five leagues distance, and ' the applicants all men of responsibility,' complied with their requests, and commenced November 24th, and finished Deeember 27th." 134 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. He was again at the same place in May of the year follow- ing, and confers the degrees on three more — making in all eighteen more— but as yet there was no Lodge of Perfection or Council of Princes formed, nor likely to he. No mention is made in his Register of any of these initiations. The next entry in his Diary is at Savannah, 12th of Decem- ber, 1801, when he begins again with a single candidate, and at the conclusion he numbers eleven more, carrying him down to July 9th, 1802. It appears that in the following November, Emanuel De La Motta, from Charleston, a very intimate friend of Jacobs, ar- rived at Savannah. A meeting of those who had received the degrees from Jacobs was called on Sunday, at which a Com- mittee was appointed to wait upon him, and request his attendance. The following week, November 9th, De La Motta attended, conferred several degrees, and was with them until November 15th. Through his influence the preliminaries for forming a Council of Princes, and Sublime Lodge were en- tered into, which resulted in the formation of these bodies as before stated, 1802. This fact Jacobs has mentioned in his Register. He mentions only eight brethren, whereas there were eleven, but does not mention a word concerning the thir- ty-four others in Augusta and Washington, making in all for- ty-seven initiations. His Diary next opens in New York city, September 23d, 1804, vi-herein he states that he conferred the degree of " Mas- ter Mark Mason " on Brother Joseph Jacobs. This act is com- mitted in the face of Mark Lodges and Chapters, many of which were in operation, and had been for years. But as his power, (received in the island of Jamaica from Brother Moses Cohen,) authorized him, not only to do this, but also to confer the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason, to establish Lodges, &c., he did not stop at trifles like this, but went right on, as the sequel will show. He then commenced with Jacobs, October 4th, and by July 5th, 1805, he had conferred upon him all the degrees, up to the Prince of Libanus. January 19th. 1806. He commenced conferring the degrees SCOTTISH EITE OF HEREDOM. I35 on Thomas Lownds, and the following July, he conferred on Jacobs the degree of Knight of the Sun. December 31st, 1807. Commenced conferring the degrees on Sampson Simson and Isaac Moses, and by February 4tli, 1808, had carried them up to the Prince of Jerusalem. On the 4th of August he commenced again with Lownds, and by the 30th, had carried him up to the Prince of Jerusalem. On the 1st of Sep- tember he commenced with Col. Wm. T. Hunter, Jeremiah Shot- well and John E. Runkle, and by October 26th he had com- pleted " nineteen initiations," of which the following is a list : Joseph Jacobs, K. S., Samuel Phelps, P. of J., Daniel McCormack, P. of J., John Clough, P. of J., Thomas Lownds, K. H., Benjamin Aycrigg, P. of J., Sampson Simson, K. H., Stephen Scudder, P. of J., Isaac Moses, P. of J., Joel Hart, P. of J., John E. Runkle, K. H., Mordecai Myers, K. H., Jeremiah Shotwell, K. H., Richard Riker, K. H., Wm. T. Hunter, P. of J., Samuel Rikcr, P. of J., Andrew Sitcher, K. H., Daniel Beach, K. H., Wm. F. Stewart, P. of J. These brethren, being desirous of forming a Sublime Lodge and Council of Princes of Jerusalem, met in Convention, nomi- nated their ofiicers, (see list in the Diary,) and on the 6th of November, met together as a body, having been installed on the 3d by Abraham Jacobs, their "founder," when they were " taken under the protection of our Illustrious Brother John G. Tardy, K. H., Prince of the Royal Secret and Deputy In- spector General, accompanied with the Illustrious Brethren John James Joseph Gonrgas and Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto, K. S., Prince of the Eoyal Secret, &c. Brother Tardy having produced his Warrant and other credentials, investigated our proceedings, sanctioned and approved of the same, and prom- ised his protection, and every assistance in his power, where- upon he was pleased to place our Illustrious Brother Richard Riker, Thrice Equitable, in the Chair, delivered him the Con- stitution, and invested him with all the powers and preroga- tives relating to the same, by an instrument under his hand 136 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. and seal, wliicli was delivered in the presence of our Illustrious Brother, Moses Levy Maduro Peisotto, John James Joseph Gouigas and John Baptist Desdoity, K. H., and Prince of the Royal Secret." These proceedings were published in the papers the next day, and a Committee appointed to apply for a Charter to the Supreme Council of Charleston, &c. When these proceedings became known, the Sovereign Grand Consistory took the matter in hand. They deemed the whole transaction " unmasonic and unconstitutional." At a meeting of that body, a Committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Cer- neau and Mr. Mulligan, to request his attendance. They ac- cordingly waited upon him, and tendered him the invitation. He declined, and makes the following entry in his Diary : "November 11th, 1808. This day Mr. Mulligan and a French gentleman called on me at the school about 11 o'clock, informed me their visit was a Commiltee from a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, to desire my attendance on them, as they were then sitting. " I replied, ' I knew no such body of men but the one I had established, and in order to prevent any other such body from infringing on the Constitution, and the Ancient Landmarks, we had made ourselves public by advertizing in the public prints of this city, and would say nothing further on the subject.' They asked what reply they should return to their Council. I told them ' it was out of my power to wait on them.' " We have been thus particular in the introduction of this part of the Diary, with the names of the nineteen brethren mentioned in the Register, the dates, &c., because these very men take a conspicuous place in the history, and it is proper that all who are interested should know, from whom and in what manner they derived their Masonic knowledge. And further, to show that Abraham Jacobs, without any due authority from any regularly constituted body of Mason.?, and knowing at the same time, that there was already in existence in New York city, and in the full exercise of its Constitutional powers, a regular and proper body, where these said Sublime degrees were conferred, did, contrary to all Masonic law and usage, initiate under his own authority, nineteen brethren, and constitute them in a Lodge of Perfection, and Council of Princes of Jerusalem. The letter to Charleston, which he pre- SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. 137 tends to give a copy of in his Diary, is a mere sham : there being no regularly organized Council there, but instead there- of, a few of his Jewish brethren, who styled themselves by that name. And the visit of John Gabriel Tardy, and John James Joseph Gourgas, together with Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto, does not mend the matter, inasmuch as Tardy was never— up to that period— a member of any regularly constituted body, but received his degrees and appointment of Deputy Inspector General, from one of the travelling gentry ; and Gourgas re- ' ceived his degrees from the notorious Emanuel De La Motta — all of whom -we shall have occasion soon to speak of more par- ticularly. None of these names were ever recorded as regular members in any proper body of Sublime Masons, up to the year 1813, and neither Tardy, Gourgas or Peixotto, ever were members of any Sublime body, except such a body as they have constituted themselves into, the head of which was Emanuel De La Motta, who was Grand Commander, Grand Secretary General, Grand Treasurer General, and all the rest of the offices put together. And all the credentials which J. J. J. Gourgas ever pretended to have, bore the signature of Eman- uel De La Motta alone, the body of all the certificates being written by Gourgas himself. Jacobs, in his Register, thus goes on : " In 1807, Pierre La Barbier Plessis, who was initiated in Philadelphia by Augustus Provost, and appointed by him, initiated and made by appoint- ment, John Gabriel Tardy, Deputy Inspector General for the State of Penn- sylvania. In November, 1808 (subsequently to the organization of the above mentioned Council of Princes of Jerusalem,) Abraham Jacobs was made a Prince of the Royal Secret by Tardy, and received from him a certificate over his own signature." From the above short history, it will be seen that Jacobs received all his degrees (Sublime) and powers, if he had any, from "individuals" — with one exception, Jews — who had no powers themselves, none of them coming from, or being mem- bers of, a.ny regularly constituted body. Further, that supposing his powers were correct and proper, he had no right whatever to exercise them, in the face of a regularly constituted authority, any more than an individual 138 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Master of a Lodge, or Master Mason has the right of making any man or any set of men, Masons. In any case, a man, if made a Mason, must be so made in a regular body, and properly constituted as such. And the same rule applies to the Exalted degrees. Again, It is evident that this matter must have been a., pay- ing operation. By the Diary we find that Jacobs conferred the degrees upon no less than sixty-four persons at different times, up to the year 1808. Subsequently, up to the year 1830, the writer knows of one assemblage, consisting of thirty persons, and it is generally known that Jacobs made it his business un- til a few years before his death, although after the year 1808 he was obliged to do it in secret, no record being made of his transactions. We would remark here, that De La Motta, in his malignant and virulent attack upon tlie Sovereign Grand Consistory, made by him in 1813, claims, " that there was already in existence in 1806, in.J^ew York, a Consistory of the Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second degree." Now if this was true, why was Abraham Jacobs, who, according to his own Diary, had not received the appointment of Deputy Inspector General, permit- ted to exercise those functions ? Why does Jacobs say in his Diary '' that the Sublime degrees were not practiced here? " And why does he send on to Philadelphia for John Gabriel Tardy to come on to New York in order to constitute therii into a Lodge of Perfection, and Council of Princes of Jerusalem ? And why does Mr. Gourgas figure in De La Motta's list in 1806 as a Deputy Inspector General, when at that date he was not a Fellow Craft Mason ? And John Gabriel Tardy, also, who did not receive his degrees and appointments from Pierre Le Barbier Plessis until over one year afterwards — viz., 1807 ? And why want a Warrant from Charleston if there was a De La Motta Consistory there ? The author was persoually acquainted with Abraham Jacobs from the year 1825 to the day of his death. In 1825 he was in very poor circumstances, and for a year or two had been in the employ of Oliver M. Lownds, who was then Sheriff of the City and County of New York. He was a son of Thomas SCOTTISH KITE OP HBREDOM. 139 Lownds, was Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, and a mem- ber of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The father, Thomas Lownds, was also a member of both bodies. Jacobs was per- fectly well acquainted with the existence of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, from its very commencement. He stood in fear of it after the trouble of 1809, and it was on the strength of a pledge given by him to the Messrs. Lownds and others, that he would no longer infringe upon the rights of the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, that he was aided and assisted by brethren, and taken into the employ of Mr. Lownds. In the numerous instances in which he afterwards conferred those degrees, he made it a rule to go out of the city to do it. He always made it a condition, that the thing must be done at least 60 miles away, and if possible, out of the State of New York. The party of thirty before last mentioned, went to Trenton, New Jersey, to receive tlie degrees from him. The history of Jacobs, taken from his own Diary and Regis- ter is given, in order to show the commencement and founda- tion of the difficulties, and the opposition through which the Sovereign Grand Consistory had to pass. The Sublime Coun- cil of Princes of Jerusalem was formed in November, 1808, and their Consistory was proclaimed March 7th, 1809. It at once, became a source of annoyance to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and many spirited communications passed between the two bodies. It struggled for a while to build itself up, but finally went out of existence before the end of the year. Many of the members of that body became convinced of their irregularity, left it, and made application to be received into the bodies under the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Among the number was Thomas Lownds, Col. W. T. Hunter and others. They were received in a regular manner. The re- maining' brethren, with Eichard Riker and one or two others at their head, applied as a body, but their request as such could not be complied with. The communications which had passed between the bodies, called into exercise all the bitter feelings, which deceived and disappointed men are apt to exercise on such occasions. They referred all their difficulties to the Charleston body, from which they claimed authority, although 140 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. none appears to have been granted, and the sequel will show how that body treated the matter. We have just alluded to a Consistory, said by De La Motta, to have been in existence here in 1806. He declares in his pamphlet, given in the Appendix, from which we quote : " In August, 1806, there were resident in New York, the following Illustri- ous brethren, lawful Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret, and Inspectors Thirty-second degree — viz., John Gabriel Tardy, John Baptist Desdoity, John James Joseph Gourgas, Pierre Adrienne Dupeyrat, Lewis De Saulles. They formed and established a Sovereign Grand Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second degree. On the 3d of November, 1808, the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem was lawfully opened in this city, by and in the presence of the. Thrice Puissant and Most Illustrious Brethren, John Gabriel Tardy, John Baptist Desdoity, John James Joseph Gourgas, and Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto (Dupeyrat and De Saulles do not appear,) aided and assisted by nine ' Knights of the Sun,' and nine ' Princes of Jerusalem.' (How these Knights of the Sun and Princes of Jeru- salem received these honors has been fully set forth.) See Jacobs Diary. On the 6th day of November, 1808, a Warrant of Constitution passed the Seal of the aforesaid Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, for the establish- ment in this city, for a Sublime Grand Lodge of Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sub- lime Masons, under the specific appellation of ' Aurora Grata.' " The reply to this quotation is found in the Report made to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, December 28th, 1813, as fol- lows : " As to the declaration of a Sovereign Grand Consistory, said to have been formed on the 6th of August, 1806, it is, only necessary to remark, that those who have any knowledge of our degrees, of De La Motta, and of some of the persons he names, must allow that it is utterly impossible that those persons could have been what he (De La Motta) professes them to be. It is well known that that body never pretended to any power, previous to the notice of its formation on the 7th of March, 1809, long after the Sovereign Grand Consistory was established and its formation publicly announced. So well aware were the persons who composed that Consistory, of its defects, and of the regularity of this, that after many efforts to sustain it, and much expense, borne in no equitable proportion, by many who were deluded to enter into it, they suffered it to sink at once into inactivity and oblivion. " Some individuals who had assisted in its irregular proceedings, convinced of their error, applied for, aud received, the degrees depending on this Grand Consistory. Others, tenacious of their pride, but convinced of our correctness, applied for admission collectively, a, proposition obviously inadmissible, which was at once rejected, and which could only have proceeded from persons, igno- SCOTTISH RITE OP HEEEDOM. 141 rant of our laws and institutions, or disposed to sanction the violation of the obligations they impose." It is proper to explain here, the expression which states, " that it was utterly impossible that the before-named persons could be what De La Motta said they were in 1806." John Gabriel Tardy, as has been before stated, received his degrees and was appointed an Inspector, or rather, Deputy Inspector General, October 14th, 1807, by Pierre Le Barbier Plessis, at Philadelphia, where Tardy then resided. He received his de- grees and appointment at the same time, which is more than a year subsequent to the date given — viz., August, 1806. So it is most certain that the assertion about Tardy residing in New York, and being then a Deputy Inspector General — viz., August, 1806, is simply a bare-faced falsehood. [See Doc. 40. From a certified copy of the minutes of Lodge L' Union Pran^ais, made for the author some years ago, it appears that John James Joseph Gourgas was initiated as an Eiitered Appren- tice Mason in that Lodge, June 19th, 1806, passed the degree of Companion or Fellow Craft a few months afterwards, and made a Master Mason late in 1807. He withdrew from the Lodge in June, 1808, having been in it as a member (three days short of) two years. And, so far as known, this is all the con- nection that Gourgas had, at any time of his life, with a Blue Lodge. Now it is hardly possible that Gourgas should have been appointed a Deputy Inspector General, Thirtieth, Thirty- first and Thirty-second degree before he had been passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft. As it was in the former case, so in this, the assertion is simply a barefaced falsehood. [See Doc. 40. Gourgas having received that honor from De La Motta's own hands, and under his signature, two or three years after 1806. Tlie others mentioned, all received their degrees in a similar manner long after August, 1806. But to proceed with the his- tory. The disappearance of this body did not put an end to the trouble, for many now made their appearance as Deputy In- spectors General, who had received the degrees, either from Jacobs, or from the body which he constituted, and they, in their turn, commenced the assumption of power, which called 142 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. forth from the Sovereign Grand Consistory the following cir- cular : {See Document No. 16, Appendix.) This decree was issued May 25th, 1812, and required all Prince Masons within the jurisdiction, to make themselves known to that body, and have their powers acknowledged and recorded, denying all communication with those men who had crept into the degrees by stealth, or who pretended to confer the Sublime degrees in an unlawful manner. A short time afterward, iu 1813, the acknowledgement was received from the Supreme Council of France, which was published in the daily papers, an Annuary was also printed, containing the names of all the officers, members, and the "different bodies organized under the Sovereign Grand Consistory, &c., which news and documents spread far and wide over the Masonic world. It was this news, and these documents, which reached De La Motta in Charleston, by the hands of his coadjutors here, stirred up all his ire, and brought him on to New York, for what purpose we shall presently see. Ragon, Orthodox Ma?., page 328, says : " The news of the success of Mr. Cerneau reached Charleston, South Caro- lina, and the Jews there, apparently jealous of the profits he made by his initia- tions, determined to contend with him for the gains. To this effect they sent to New York, Emanuel De La Motta, a fit instrument for the work, who imme- diately after his arrival, elevated to the Thirty-third degree, John James Joseph Gourgas, Sampson Simson, Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto and Eichard Riker, and went with them to Joseph Cerneau, ia order to interrogate him on the origin of his powers. He refused to answer them or give them any satisfac- tion, and Emanuel says, that it appeared to the Masons who interrogated him, that he was a stranger to the Mysteries. After having made an ample har- vest of dollars, and after having constituted on the 5th of August, 1813, a Su- preme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, chiefly Jews of New York city, which had for its first Grand Commander, Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice President of the United States, Emanuel went on his way to propagate, in other parts of the Republic, the great mysteries which he claimed to possess, proclaiming himself to be the ' Illustrious Grand Treasurer General,' and ' Grand and Sole Hierophant of the Order in the United States.' " De La Motta arrived in New York city in the month of May or June, 1813, and what took place on arriving will ap- pear on reading Ids own record of the events. The pamphlet SCOTTISH RITE OF HBEBDOM. 143 is now out of print, and cannot be easily obtained. Extracts ■will be here given, but the pamphlet in full is added to the Appendix, No. 19. He says : " In the early part of May, 5813, 1 arrived here, not on any speculation, office-hunting or Masonic errand, but in quest of health. Sometime in July," a certain Pamphlet or Tableau, signed, sealed and stamped, was placed in my hands, entitled, ' List of the Grand Officers, Members, Honorary Members, ^c, of the Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree, regularly establislied according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom,for the United Stales of America, their Territories and Dependencies, Iield in the city of New YorJc. Also the Grand Consistory of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, and the constitutional bodies of its jurisdiction, Anno Lucis, 5813. New York: Printed by Hardcastle and Van Pelt, No. 86 Nassau Street, 1813.' On the very front of which I perceived the name of Mr. Joseph Oer- neau, in the glaring character of ' Most Potent Sovereign Grand Commander.' Convinced that he must either have been egregiously imposed upon, or, that he was imposing on some respectable characters in the community, from a number of names which / understood to be very respectable in the city, many of them dignified with titles which that degree does not recognize, I was led to make some inquiry respecting this Mr. Joseph Cerneau, and his pretensions to certain titles ; when I received the following information from well informed gentlemen : " First, That this Mr. Cerneau had first made his appearance in Longworth's Directory for the year 1809, as G. I. G. P. S. G. 0., (meaning I suppose) Grand Inspector General, Potent Sovereign Grand Commander (of his) Most Potent Sovereign Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Supreme Chief of High Masonry, &c. " Second, By an advertisement in the newspapers, 5th of September, 1811, his new created body is styled, the Grand Consistory of P. P. of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry. " Third, In another advertisement, communicated through the vehicle of a newspaper, 1st of February, 1812, he caused his said Association to appear under the new and improved title of ' Grand Consistory of the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom, held at New York.' " After reciting some of Cerneau's impostures, under the fourth, fifth and sixth heads, he goes on to say : " Maturely considering, and ' calmly pebpendino,' all the facts connected with the procedure of such detestable Masonic infractions, and from the above stated circumstances, and a full conviction that Mr. Cerneau was only a pre- 144 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. tender to a degree that he was not in possession of, and was assuming a title to which he had no claim— it became my absolute duty, as a lawful Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, to detect and denounce any imposition practiced on the Masonic world, by any individual. But being un- furnished with any Masonic documents, I wrote on to the Council in Charles- ton, inclosing them one of Mr. Cerneau's celebrated Tableaux, requesting they would send me a copy of my Diploma, the original being deposited among papers which my family could not conveniently obtain. Having received their answer and a Diploma, with strong injunctions to prosecute, and expose to view, the unexampled conduct of Mr. Cerneau ; on the 14th of September, 1813, 1 took with me four respectable brethren of the city— two of them native citizens and two foreigners, well versed in the French and English languages, who were witnesses to the conversation which took place between Mr. Joseph Cerneau and myself, to which I beg leave to refer the reader as follows : " Conversation with Mr. Joseph Cerneau, transcribed from the original — " Let it be known and remembered, that at the Grand East of New York, on the 19th day of the 6th month, called Elul, A. M., 5573 ; of the Eestora- tion, 2343 ; and of the Christian Bra, the 14th day of September, 1813. " I, the undersigned, Emanuel De La Motta, Kadosch, Sublime Prince of the Eoyal Secret, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America, &c., &c., being, at my own request, accompanied by the Thrice Puis- sant Brethren Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto, John James Joseph Gourgas, K. H., S. P. B. S., Deputies Inspectors General ; Bichard Biker and Sampson Simson, S. P. B. S., do hereby declare, that I waited on Mr. Joseph Cerneau at No. 118 William Street, that I inquired of him if he was a Mr. Joseph Cerneau, Past Master, Most Potent Sovereign Grand Commander, designated as such in this Pamphlet or Tableau, entitled, ' List of the Grand Officers, Mem- bers, Honorary Members, &c., of the Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree regularly established according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Bite of Heredoni, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, held in the city of New York. Also of the Grand Consistory of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, and the constituted bodies of its jurisdiction. Anno Lucis, 5813. New York : Printed by Hard- castle and Van Pelt, No. 86 Nassau Street, 1813.' To which he replied in the 'affirmative.' I then announced myself in my Official Capacity, showing him, at the same time, my credentials, stating that I called as a friend and as a gentleman, to ascertain whence he derived his powers in establishing a Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree in this city, and from whom he had received that degree, requesting, at the same time, a sight of his Patent and other papers relating thereto. " His answer was, ' He could not comply with my request ; that I, Emanuel De La Motta, must apply to the Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree in this city, of which Mr. Cerneau called himself the head ; that he had made a SCOTTISH EITB OF HEREDOM. 145 promise to his aforesaid Grand Council, to answer no questions on that subject, but referred me to that body for an answer, although he had no doubt of Mr. De La Motta being the character whom ho represented himself to be, and therefore acknowledged him in his official capacity.' My reply was, 'That I, Emanuel De La Motta, could not acknowledge any body of Masons unless I was satisfied they were legally constituted.' " Upon his refusing to admit me to a, sight of his credentials, applying to him as a gentleman and a friend, I then demanded them of him in my official capacity, as an- object of right ; and that I should not leave the city of New York, until I had made a thorough investigation of the business, which I felt myself compelled to do by his refusal, more especially as I was particularly requested by the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third at Charleston, South Carolina, to investigate his proceedings, and those of what he called his Grand Council of the Thirty-third at this city of New YorJc, he still persisting to refer me to his Grand Opuncil. I then' informed him 1 should leave the city on Monday in the ensuing week : that, in the meantime, he might reflect on the subject, and gave him my address and place of residence. " Given under my hand and Seal, at the Grand East of New York, under the above specified date. Signed on the original, , — • — , E. De La Motta, , — • — , Seal. ^ K. H., S. P. R. S., \ ^^^^J Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty- third degree, and Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America. Attested by Richard Riker, Sampson Simson, K. H., S. P. R. S., and Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto and /. /. /. Gourgas, K. H., S. P. R. S., Deputy Inspectors General. Extract Continued. " Be it known and herewith recorded, that when, on the 14th day of Sep- tember, instant, 1813, 1, the undersigned, Emanuel De La Motta, &c., &c., accompanied, at my own request, as before specified, called on Mr. Joseph Cemeau at No. 118 William Street, the two following circumstances took place which I think it highly important to specify particularly, that they may be remembered and serve hereafter, as occasion may require : " First, That in the presence of the aforesaid Most Illustrious and Puissant Brethren, I did ascertain the positive fact, that the said Joseph Cemeau was not of the Thirty-third degree, nor did he even appear to have or possess any knowledge of that degree whatever, or of a certain finger-ring which was shown to him, with which he went to the window and returned without comment or ceremony, but not until he had taken care to examine it with a great deal of attention. 146 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. " Second, That during the conversation I had with him respecting what he called his Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree, he, the said Joseph Cer- ueau mentioned positively, that fie had been recognized by France. In testimony whereof, I, the undersigned, &c., &c., herewith attach my name, at the Grand East of New York, on the 26th day of the 6th month, called Blul, A. M., 5573 ; of the Restoration, 2343 ; and of the Christian Era, the 21st day of September, 1813. Signed on the original, — "-^^ E. Db La Motta, , . J Seal, j K. H., S. P. R. S., J Stamp, i Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty- third degree, and Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of ' America, &c. * Attest. Richard Riker, K. H., S. P. R. S. ; Sampson Simson, K. H., S. P. R. S. ; M. L. M. Peixotto, K. H., S. P. R. S., Deputy Inspector General ; J. J. J. Gourgaa, K. H., S. P. R. S., Deputy Inspector General. The next day — viz., September 15tli, 1813, De La Motta waited on the Hon. Dewitt Clinton. The following conversa- tion is transcribed : " Be it known and remembered, that at the Grand East of New Tork, on the 20th day of the 6th month, called Blul, A. M., 5573 ; of the Restoration, 2343 ; and of the Christian Era, the 15th day of September, 1813. I, the undersigned, Emanuel De La Motta, K. H., S. P. R. S., Sovereign Grand In- spector General of the Thirty-third degree, Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America, &c., &c., do hereby declare, that having called on Illustrious Brother Sampson Simson, K. H., S. P. R. S., to accompany me to Mr. Dewitt Clinton, we therefore waited on him and communicated, that the respect which I entertained of hinl as a gentleman and as Grand Master for the State of New York, had induced me to deviate from the line of my duty as an Inspector General, at the same time presenting him my credentials, on reading which he appeared to be satisfied as to my official character, and on presenting him with a certain Pamphlet or Tableau entitled, ' List of the Grand Officers, Members, Honorary Members, &., of the Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree, regularly es- tablished according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, held in the city of New, York. Also of the Grand Consistory of Supreme Chiefs of E.xalted Masonry, and the constituted bodies of its jurisdiction. Anno Lucis, 5813. New York : Printed by Hardcastle and Van Pelt, No. 86 Nassau Street, 1813.' He declared that it was a collusion, and acknowledged he had signed the said Pamphlet, together with others, at the special request of Mr. SCOTTISH RITE OF HEEBDOM. 147 Thomas Lownds, who had brought them to him for that special purpose. I asked him if he had seen Mr. Cerneau's Patent, and from whom he had received the Thirty-third degree, and had derived his powers for establishing a Grand Council of the Thirty-third. Mr. Clinton replied that he had never seen any of his Patents or papers relating thereto, but had depended on the gentlemen that called on him— to wit — Messrs. Martin Hoffman and John W. Mulligan, and at their particular request, had some degrees communicated to him by this Mr. Cerneau, and observed, he conceived it rather a distinction as Grand Master of the State. On my asking if Mr. Cerneau had conferred the Thirty-third degree on him, Mr. Clinton replied, it was impossible for him to say, as he did not recollect, and had as little knowledge of it as his child : on which I, Emak- UEL De La Motta, informed Mr. Clinton, that I should be compelled to pub- lish Mr. Cerneau as an impostor, as I was convinced he had not the powers he had assumed, but through delicacy and respect for him, (Mr. Clinton) that I would not take any steps against Joseph Cerneau till he had first seen him on the subject ; when Mr. Clinton requested me to suspend any proceedings against the said Cerneau until he had seen some gentlemen on the subject. He then inquired my place of residence, and on being informed, replied, I should hear from him. Given under my hand and Seal, at the Grand East of New York, under the above specified date. E. De La Motta, [seal. 1 ' K.H.,S.P.E.S., L Signed on the original, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Witness, the Thirty-third degree, and Ulustrions Sampson Simson, Treasurer General of the Holy Em- K. H., S. P. R. S. pire, in the United States of America, &c., &c. We have here given a statement in the words of De La Mot- ta himself, in order to avoid the imputation of partial dealing. But it must not be supposed that we believe all that De La Motta has set down. On the contrary, we know that much of it is false, and shall give the evidence on which that kuowledge is based. To begin — Mr. De La Motta would lead his reader to believe, that he knew nothing about Mr. Cerneau and his Grand Society until he came on to New York in 1813, when he learned the fact by the exhibition of Tableaux, &c. But it is certainly a fact which cannot be disproved, that the Grand Consistory forwarded to the Supreme Council of Charleston, of which De La Motta professed to be a member, on two different occasions, long be- 148 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. fore the year 1813, copies of Patents, Warrants, Tableaux, Sec, giving them full notice of formation, list of Ofl&ccrs, Members, &c. They received these documents on both occasions, and De La Motta knew it to be so, for he was tliere at the time named. That body never took any notice of the communica- tions sent. Read a portion of the Report of the Grand Con- sistory on this point. They say : " Having heard that a Council had existed at Charleston, South Carolina, which might yet be in activity, a circular, with copies of the Patent or War- rant, and a list of the members was also transmitted thither, and delivered to the person whose name appears as Grand Commander, (John Mitchell) to the act approving De La Motta's denunciation. No answer being received, another was despatched, but with no better success. Tour Committee here will just remark, that if the Cooneil at Charleston was a regular body, and deemed us usurpers, it was their duty to take instant and effectual measures to arrest our progress. If we were regular. Masonic courtesy, as well as their obligation, required them to acknowledge us without delay. They have done neither. " This profound silence and n^lect was, of itself, sufficient to satisfy the Grand Consistory, that the body at Charleston, if it ever had a lawful exis- tence, was extinct." Emanuel, in his replication, when noticing this portion of the report, undertakes to give directions as it regards the course of conduct Cerneau should have pursued. He does not directly notice the fact, but at the close, under the simile of a Master Mason doing certain illegal acts, &c, he says, com- paring the Master Mason with Cerneau : " We must be recognized or acknowledged. It is requisite we send copies of what we shaU deem sufficient of our proceedings, &c. The Grand body (Supreme Council of Charleston) under whose jurisdiction he (Cerneau) is placed, discovering the absurdity of their whole business, &c.,/or llie present, and for good reasorts, takes no notice of it." So then, they did receive the copies of the Patent or War- rant, with list of members, &c., " but for the present, and for good reasons, take no particular notice of it." He goes on to say : " This emboldens this worthy Mason and his coadjutors to progress: some- time after, he and his party declare that very Grand Body, under whose juris- diction he is situated, as being extinct, (meaning the Charleston Council,) and all its further acts as insignificant and invalid. And why ? Because he and SCOTTISH RITE OP HEREDOM. 149 his advocates conceive themselves respectable, and sufficiently strong to make such a declaration, and because they were not at the time honored with an answer." See Replication in the Appendix. How does this statement of De La Motta agree with the ac- count he gives of his ignorance until he came on to New York in quest of health, &c. The simple truth appears to be that he, De La Motta, was very well informed of the proceedings of the Grand Consistory in New York long before he left Charleston ; that this business was the sole object of his jour- ney ; and that the account which Ragon has given of De La Motta and his movements is correct. His pretended ignorance of Cerneau — all that he says about Cerneau's name first appearing in " Longworth's Directory " in the year 1809 may be true, but this is a very different thing from his " actual residence " in this city. There was, at that time, a large number of people residing in the city, whose names were not in Longworth's Directory. Besides, Abraham Jacobs did reside in the city at that time, and several years be- fore that time. He was in correspondence with De La Motta constantly, had informed him of his proceedings in establishing a Lodge of Perfection in November, 1808, and the proceedings had by Mr. Mulligan and the "French gentleman" (Cerneau) November 11th, 1808. (See Jacobs Diary.) De La Motta knew that Cerneau was a resident of New York city as early as 1806, and had established the Rose Croix Chapter " Triple Amitii" which afterwards became " Triple Alliance," of which he gives a partial account. In the conversation had with Cerneau, in the presence of his witnesses, there does not appear to be anything extraor- dinary, or that would naturally lead to the inference which De La Motta claims. It would seem, from a careful examination of the relation which De La Motta has given, that after a great deal of blustering, De La Motta asked of him, from whom he had received the Thirty-third degree ; also to look at his Patent, and requested information concerning his powers in establishing a Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree in New York City. Cerneau replied, that he could not answer 150 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. his questions, inasmuch as he had given a pledge to the Su- preme Council, that he would answer no questions on that sub- ject, but referred De La Motta to the Council for an answer, in accordance with said pledge. Whereupon De La Motta becomes the " hvlly," and demands both the documents and the answers from Cerneau, accompanying the same with intimida- ting threats, &c. Now, we feel convinced ifl our own minds, that Cerneau acted justly in this encounter, and precisely as we would have acted if we had occupied the position of Cerneau. The least that can be said of it is, that on De La Motta's part, it was a very impudent and arrogant act, and one, that under ordinary circumstances, would have entitled him to a forcible ejection from the premises. And the polite forbearance on Cerneau's part entitles him to all praise. Yet, because Cerneau thus acted, De La Motta would lead others to suppose that Cerneau had no authority whatever, or any documents to exhibit. The true state of the case, however, when known, appears to be quite the reverse of De La Motta's conclusions. We have just proved, even by his own statements, that he had seen and perused these very documents in Charleston, some years before 1813, in which year he visited New York. Read a portion of the Report of the Committee of the Grand Consistory on this conversation. They say : "Before your Committee dismiss this disgusting mass of absurdity and wickedness, which certainly discovers no characteristic of the Christian moral- ity of our Order, they beg leave to draw the attention of the Consistory to the insinuatioa contained in the words " having received no satisfaction, &c.," which leave it to be inferred that our Sovereign Grand Commander was bound to give snch satisfaction. De La Motta has not pretended to allege that any regular application (which ought to have preceded an accusation for neglect or refusal,) was made to Brother Cerneau. But the multiplied abuses existing in this country, by means of persona falsely pretending to possess the Exalted degrees, early attracted the notice of the Grand Consistory, and, con- nected with various insidious attempts to take advantage of the deficiency of our Sovereign Grand Commander in the English language, and of the unsus- picious confidence of his character, produced a determination to have all ap- plications referred to the Grand Consistory. Of this De La Motta was ap- prised. He was told, if he wished to inspect our documents, lie should, by apply- ing to the Grand Consistory, have all the satisfaction he required, provided he SCOTTISH RITE OP HEREDOM. 151 proved his right to it. Had he pursued this course, his conduct would have been conformable to that of a person clothed with lawful powers. This refusal indicates, that he was not willing to examine too closely into our pow- ers, nor to submit his claims to that investigation which the Consistory might deem it their duty to make." Here the reasons are fully given for insisting upon the pledge given by Cerneau to the Grand Consistory, and when it is known that De La Motta was waited upon, and assured that " if he would apply to the Grand Consistory, he should have all the satisfaction he required, provided he could prove that he was entitled to it"— it will place tlie whole matter in quite another form than that which De La Motta has given it. Again, The supplement to the conversation added in the second document, contains two assertions, as follows : First, That he, De La Motta, did ascertain the positive fact, that the said Joseph Cerneau was not of the Thirty-third de- gree, nor did he even appear to possess any knowledge of it whatever, and Second, That he, Cerneau, mentioned positively that the Grand Consistory had been recognized by the Supreme Coun- cil of France. In the first assertion, De La Motta decidedly went too far. Perhaps it would have been more proper for him to have said, that Cerneau did not do or say, any thing which would prove to him that he was in possession of the Thirty-third degree. Whether Cerneau chose to make himself known to De La Motta or not, is a matter of very little consequence. It is certain that he did not make himself known. Nor was he bound in any way to act any differently. But when he says that because Cerneau did not make himself known, therefore he ascertained the positive fact, that he had not the degree, nor did he know any thing about it, he was clearly guilty of a wil- ful falsehood. This will be proved by making known the standing fact, that all who have been exalted to that degree by Cerneau or his " aiders or abettors," from the year 1807 up to the present time, 1862, have been received and acknow- ledged as such, whether it be in Europe, the West India Islands, Brazil or South America. The Marquis De Lafayette, Count St. Laurent, Seth Driggs, John W. Mulligan, Joel R. 152 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Poinsett, Joseph Gouin, Leblanc De Margonnay, and a great number of others, whose names could be mentioned, have all been received fraternally, and honored in that capacity. This, to our minds, is clear and conclusive proof, that Cerneau did really and truly have the Thirty-third degree. In the second assertion— viz., that the Grand Consistory had been acknowledged by the Supreme Council of France, Cerneau told De La Motta the simple truth. So there is no more to be said about that, except that if the reader will take the trouble to turn to the Appendix, Document No. 12, he will find the acknowledgement recorded in the Acts of the Supreme Council of France. The conversation with Hon. Dewitt Clinton, after the inter- view with Cenreau, has been used freely by these gentlemen to prove that Mr. Clinton knew nothing about the degrees ; and that after having received them from Cerneau, he changed his mind, and would have nothing to do with them. But this is another falsehood. If Mr. Clinton was of the opinion which they state, he had ample opportunity to make it known. It is interesting then for us to know, at this late day, what course Mr. Clinton pursued in the premises. One thing is certain, he did not leave or forsake the Order. On the contrary^ he be- came devotedly attached to it, was a very active member, and continued in its service up to the day of his death, (February, 1828.) a period of fifteen years after this conversation. One of the last acts of his life, was the signing of a Patent of the Thirty-third for a brother, which happened four days before his death. So much for De La Motta's own version of his visit to New York, and what happened to him there. We will now pro- ceed with the remainder of De La Motta's work. Disappoint- ed and chagrined at his reception by those, whom he expected to trample under his feet — wounded to the " quick " because his powers were called in question, he at once, penned an edict over his own signature, as K. H., S. P. R. S., Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Tliirty-third degree, and Illus- trious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America, &c., &c., expelling Joseph Cerneau and his SCOTTISH RITE OP HEBBDOM. 153 " abettors and followers " from every Masonic asylum on the surface of the two hemispheres. (Appendix, Document 17.) It is, perhaps, unnecessary to say, that the appearance of this edict excited some surprise, inasmuch as besides Joseph Cerneau, Hon. Dewitt Clinton, John W. Mulligan, • Martin Hoffman, Cadwallader D. Golden, Elias Hicks and Elisha W. King, all active Oflicers of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, there were a very large number of brethren, active members of the fraternity, among whom were some of the most wealthy and respectable merchants of the city. This, it will be conceded, was a considerable exploit on the part of De La Motta. When the question wa,s asked. Who is this royal personage ? the reply made the surprise amount to astonishment. For it was ascertained that De La Motta, was an Israelite, a native of St. Croix, that in his wanderings about the earth, he had at last settled down in Charleston, where he had met with some of his brethren, who conferred upon him, as the legitimate successors of Stephen Morio, the Sublime degrees, and finally in the month of February, 1802, John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho together, made him a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, and Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America, &c., &c. This appointment and high sounding title completely turned his brain, and he began then to conceive the idea tliat he was the Grand Hierophant of all Masonic bodies in the world. Perhaps he was excusable in some degree for these notions which he entertained. The Secret Constitutions, on which the order was based, gave him these powers as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and without stopping to examine who made those Constitutions, or from whence they came, he received all the doctrines which they promulgated, and acted in accordance with them. He did not stop to inquire, who made John Mitchell a Sove- reign Grand Inspector General, or where he obtained his powers. Although John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho had declared the Council an established body, he forgot to inquire whether any other Masonic body in the world, out of South 154 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Carolina, had acknowledged it as such. If he had made this inquiry he would have been the wiser for it. But the honors which had been heaped upon him, made him delirious with joy. In this state of self-contentment he might have con- tinued, had not the arrival of documents from New York dis- turbed him. He felt that he could never submit, and having made all necessary preparations, he came on at once to that city to ''stop, crush and ■publish all such characters." We again refer to the Report of the Committee, to show the opinion which they entertained of this famous document. They say : " Had it been only communicated to those who, regularly clothed with the Exalted degrees, were furnished with the means to detect its absurdity, the dignity of the Grand Consistory would have been properly vindicated, in con- signing it without notice to merited contempt. But the means which have been used to disseminate it, will not permit the Grand Consistory to be pas- sive, nor to withhold from the Masonic world the proof that it is but a malicious calumny, in every respect anti-Masonic, and published with no other view than the gratification of private malice. " To this effect your Committee submit their reflections on this extraordi- nary proceeding, on the degrees and powers arrogated by B. De La Motta, a native of St. Croix, in the West Indies, and on the authority of his two chiefs, pretending to act in the name of a Supreme Council at Charleston. " From these it will appear to what extent De La Motta has relied on the want of information, and on the credulity of those to whom his missive has been sent. " It purports to be the act of an individual, in virtue of his own powers ; yet affecting to proceed at the special request of a collective body to which he belongs, and must be either his act or theirs. If his own, in virtue of exclu- sive authority in him, there could be no necessity, or even propriety, in using the name of the body. If its previous sanction were requisite, why is not that act promulgated with the regular attestations in support of its authenticity? Wherever a derivative authority is claimed, it can never be allowed unless ac- companied by a constituent act in its perfect form. But an approbatory de- cree is subjoined— of whom ? Of the body ? No. Two other representa- tives, without credentials, start up to approve, in the name of a Council, the proceedings of De La Motta ; and so barren is it of members, that it cannot supply a Chancellor or Secretary, or Keeper of the Seals, to attest an impor- tant document, directed to all the Masonic bodies of the universe. The reason must be obvious. It appears from the very instruments, no such CouncO ever made such request. No such Council in fact exists." (Appendix, Document No. 18.) SCOTTISH KITE OP HBREDOM. 155 This decree of expulsion promulgated in December, 1813, was received by the Grand Consistory, and replied to during the same month, as the Report of the Committee will show, but owing to some delay on De La Motta's part, arising from dis- satisfaction among the members of his Council, it was not sent forth officially until February, 1814, at which time it was not sent forth by the Council there, as an official decree, but as an individual affair by De La Motta over his own signature, ap- proved of by the other members. We have before remarked that it was circulated extensively, but met with a very cold reception from every Masonic body in the land. Not a single body gave it even a passing notice, so thorough was the con- tempt entertained by them all, for De La Motta and the Coun- cil which he pretended to represent. In fact, that body, if such it could be called, had dwindled down to five members, and shortly after " fell asleep." It was not roused again until four or five years afterwards, from causes which we shall notice in their proper place. This " memorable document," with the " Reply by the Grand Consistory," added to which is " De La Motta's Replication " (a rare document, occupying nearly fifty pages,) published about one year afterwards, we have given in full in the Appendix. "We have also added such notes as seemed to be required, in order to correct " positive mistakes," and as they are copious, we shall not repeat them here, but refer the reader to them in the Appendix, and recoriimend a careful perusal. (See Docu- ment No. 19.) There are two or three points in De La Motta's communica- tions which, although they have been mentioned before, we would repeat for the benefit of the reader — First, The fact, that the Charleston body, De La Motta being its representative, did not lay any claim up to this time, 1814, to the degrees of " Knight of St. Andrew " and " Grand Inquisitor Judge Commander," in number the twenty-ninth and thirty-first of the system, and in all places in his communica- tions, where he speaks of the Consistory, he mentions it as the Consistory of the Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second de- gree. By referring to the Schedule of the Charleston Council, 156 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. it will there be seen that they have made three degrees out of the Prince of the Royal Secret— viz., the Thirtieth, Thirty- first and Thirty-second, making no mention whatever of the two degrees above referred to. It is therefore clear, that they had no knowledge of them at that time. They also continued the Kadosch as the Twenty-ninth. The Secret Institutes and Constitution, upon which they claim that their new rite is founded, demands, in so many words, that the Knight of St. Andrew shall be the Twenty- ninth, Kadosch the Thirtieth, and Sovereign Judge Comman- der the Thirty-first, in the system, and the law regarding them cannot be changed. This will, perhaps, prove to some at least, that the Charleston people did not at this time even, 1814, possess the Secret Constitutions. Or, if they did, they either could not read them, or else they paid but little atten- tion to them. Second, According to their own statements, Cerueau estab- lished, first the " Rite of Perfection," a.nd so published to the world. Again, in 1809, the published name of the Eite in the New York Directory was " The Sovereign Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret." Again, on the 5th of September, 1811, advertized in the daily papers as " The Sove- reign Gi-and Council for the United States of Jimerica, of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry." Again, February 1st, 1812, " The Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Mason- ry, according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Here- dom." And last, in the spring of 1813, after the recognition and other documents had been received from the Supreme Council of France, the Tableau was published by Cerneau, of which De La Motta so loudly complains. In that Tableau the name of " Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General, Thirty-third de- gree " is first borne. But at the same time, it is declared of&- cially, as has been before stated, that the Grand Consistory is vested with the sole power of administration and legislation, including that of granting Constitutions, &c.; and that the Thirty-third degree is a dignity, conferred as the reward of merit, and is not invested with any arbitrary or irresponsible SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM. 157 power whatever. By an examination of all the documents is- sued by the Council, whether Tableaux, Decrees, Patents, War- rants, &c., it will be found that the name of " The Most Potent Sovereign Grand Consistory of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, according to the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom" was continued up to the end of the tirae — viz., 1827. A large number are given in the Appendix, to which the reader is referred. Third, It is frequently repeated, and reference made to it by De La Motta, that a Grand Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second de- gree, was established by their party in New York city in 1806, at the same time giving the names of those persons whom they claim to have composed it. This assertion lias been fully proved to be false, and the reasons given why it should thus be denied. Fourth, They claim to be the only lawful body of the kind in the United States of America, and also, that tliey were recognized and acknowledged, all over the world. It will be recollected that the rite, as they say, was entirely a new one in 1802. They then assumed the name of " The Ancient and Ac- cepted Scottish Rite in thirty-three degrees." Thus, then, there were no other bodies of tlie kind in existence. Between 1802 and 1813, a period of eleven years, it would scarcely spread so rapidly as to cover " the whole world." The Supreme Council of France was established by De Grasse in 1804 ; the Supreme Council at Milan in 1805 ; and the Supreme Council at Naples in 1809. Besides these bodies, there were no more of the kind — (of course we do not now speak of the Grand Orient of Prance and her Supreme Council and Dependencies, that is another matter.) As it regards the Supreme Council which they claim at St. Domingo, according to the Report to the Grand Orient, as well as many French authors, that body was' a mere myth — it never had an existence, except in the imagination. Therefore, with the exception of the above bodies, there was no organization or system, like it in the whole world. How then could it be recognized over the whole world 1 It never was recognized, even by the Supreme Coun- cil of France, until the month of December, 1813. All other 158 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. bodies were antagonistic to it, especially so when the York Rite was the established system ; and even in Prance, where all systems are tolerated, treated with the most marked neglect. Would it not be well to inquire where all those " Masonic Asylums " were situated, or to be found, over the habitable globe, from which De La Motta expelled Cerneau with his abettors and followers ? And in what direction De La Motta would go, in order to carry out his often-repeated threat — viz., that he would pursue poor Cerneau, with his abettors and followers, wherever a Masonic body was estab- lished over the earth ? He was not recognized any where, except in South Carolina ; his friends were few, even there, and at any point out of that State, his power of inflicting injury was small, as the result of his defamatory and libellous docu- ments have clearly proved. We will again proceed with the history. This controversy, which had been commenced by De La Motta, was kept up by him for many years afterwards, as the sequel will show, both in the city of New York, and also in Charleston, South Caro- lina, by means of circulars, and through the public papers. Failing altogether in consummating the purpose which brought him from Charleston to New York, he, in the month of Janu- ary, 1815, established a rival Supreme Council in the city of New York, thus dividing the jurisdiction. Hitherto the Charleston body had claimed jurisdiction over the United States — now it was to be a Northern and Southern jurisdiction. The article in the Secret Constitution concerning the jurisdic- tion of Supreme Councils, declared, that there should be but one Council for each nation. But when this difficulty present- ed itself, it was necessary to accommodate the Constitution to their acts, and so they altered it. De La Motta formed his new Council as follows : Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice-President of the United States, Most Potent Sovereign Grand Commander, Sampson Simson, Lieutenant Grand Commander, John Gabriel Tardy, John James Joseph Gourgas, Moses Levy Maduro Peixotto, Richard Riker. SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. jgg Other authors have made Richard Riker, Lieutenant Grand Commander instead of Simson, and established the Council on the 5th of August, 1813. They state that De La Motta made these gentlemen Thirty-thirds, that he might take them with him as witnesses to the intended conversations with Cer- neau. And further, these very men whom he took with him' on the 14th day of September, 1813, have testified that Cer- neau knew nothing about the Thirty-third degree, &c. Now, how is it possible that they could have testified in this way, if they had not received the degree themselves, thus being made capable judges ? Ragon's statement — viz., August 5th, 1813 on this account, appears to be the most reliable. The first statement comes from Brother Pike. Ragon also gives the Council a larger number of members than that of Pike. It is, however, a matter of very little consequence, as the Council existed but a very short time. It died a natural death. The following were some of the reasons which brought this body to an end. De La Motta, in his Replication, set up the claim that the Supreme Council exercised jurisdiction over the Symbolic degrees, notwithstanding the existence of Grand Lodges, &c. He says ; " Although Sublime Masons have not, in this country, initiated into the Blue or Symbolic degrees, yet their Councils possess the indefensible right of granting Warrants for that purpose. It is common on the continent of Europe, and may he the case here, should circumstances render the exercise of thai power necessary. The legality of this " right " is derived from the highest Masonic authority in the world (however ready Mr. Oerneau and his gentle- men have been, to relinquish it at once and in toto, which is another strong corroborative proof of their irregularity, or else they could never lawfully, alienate their rights as Sublime Masons,) as can be perfectly demonstrated to the satisfaction of every Masonic, Judicial' or Legislative body. " Throughout the continent of Europe, England, Ireland and the West In- dies; every Sublime Mason is recognized as a lawful Past Master. In England, and many of the States of America, the Grand OiEcers must be Royal Arch Masons. In Dublin the Grand Master must be a Prince of Jerusalem. The Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree have not, as yet, insisted on it in this country, merely because these degrees are here but little known, and less understood. Also, because they wished to have no inter- ference with the Symbolic degrees. But they are at the same time fully con- vinced, that the Sublime Masons are as lawfully made Past Masters, under as 160 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. regular and authentic Warrants and Constitutions, as His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, who is Grand Master of England," This doctrine, proclaimed by the founder of the Council, was being acted upon by this new body, and called forth all the energies of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York to suppress it. The Sovereign Grand Consistory of Cerneau had already renounced their right over the Symbolic or Blue de- grees, and the Grand Lodge ofthe State was in harmony with that body. And the very decided measures which those two bodies made use of, towards the De La Motta Council, com- pletely overturned it, as far as initiations of city members were concerned, although it kept up a nominal existence for a time, by the initiation of strangers. This at last ceased, and the body was brought to an end. Ragon gives the following account : " The news of Cerneau's success reached Charleston, South Carolina, and apparently jealous of the profits he made by his initiations, the Jews of the De La Motta Council of Charleston, determined to contend with him for the gains. To this effect, they sent to New York, Emanuel De La Motta, who, immediately after his arrival, elevated to the Thirty-third degree, several brothers, and went with them to Joseph Cerneau, in order to interrogate him on the origin of his powers. He refuses to answer them, or give them any ssftisfactioD, a?id it appeared to the Masons who interrogated him (so says Eman- uel,) that he was a stranger to the mysteries. After having made an ample harvest of dollars, and after having constituted on the 5th of August, 1813, a Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, chiefly Jews in New York city, which had for its first Grand Commander, Daniel D. Tompkins, Yice-President of the United States ; Emanuel went on his way to propagate in other parts of the republic, the great mysteries which he claimed to possess, proclaiming himself to be the Illostkious Grand Treasukee, and Grand and Sole Hierophant of the Order in the United States. " The Jews who had been initiated by De La Motta, for the purpose of founding and establishing a new Supreme Council in New York city, were also traffickers in Masonry, more adroit and less selfish than Mr. Cerneau. Among them were some honorable and honest persons, not Jews, whose names served that body as a recommendation and a cloak, and under the shelter of these names, they reserved for their own profit, all the receptions, diplomas, Patents, and other monies received by that body, and the amount was by no means small. And in order to avoid rendering an account of the same, they convoked their Supreme Council but very seldom, only when they could not avoid it, and very irregularly. And at such meetings of their Council few SCOTTISH EITB OF HERBDOM. jgl and far between— instead of rendering accounts, explanations, &c., they man- aged always to have receptions, initiations, &c., and designedly prolonged the ceremonies, addresses, &c., that the whole session should bo occupied in cere- monies, and no time or opportunity be given for transacting the more impor- tant business of the Council, its money matters, &c. They published, at different times, edicts against Cerneau, accusin>' him of abusing the confidence of Masons, by conferring a false Scottish Rite. They also charged Cerneau with peculation, while in their own body, they were pocketing the money as fast as it came in, and deceiving the honest and honor- able members of their own body, whom they were leading by the nose. The last manifesto which they published was in 1817, which led to a rupture in their own body, and the honest members kicked the Jews out. But the sequel showed, that the Jews who were kicked out, were the main spring, and very support of the Council, that as long as they were in the body, members were made,i and its existence was strengthened. The Jews made money by the operation, which alone was quite sufficient to inspire them with great zeal, and when they were, kicked out, the Council died. That Supreme Council existed no more." It will thus be seen, that this Council, established in August 1813, existed about five years, although the operations of the body for the last three years of its existence, was directed to the initiation of strangers and foreigners. The evidence was so strong against its authenticity and regularity, that' it may be said with truth, that it never went into operation except- to cajole a few strangers, and to take their money. As Mr. Tompkins was never at its meetings, and had but very little to do with its transactions, and as Mr. Eiker was alone in the body, the whole proceedings were in the hands of Abraham Jacobs, Gourgas & Co., who made all the money they could. The decided measures made use of in 1814, by the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, completely paralyzed the pretended Council, but De La Motta never gave up his at- tempts to carry out his threats made to Cerneau. Although the Charleston body was lacking in numbers, yet De La Motta was strong, in his own opinion, and controlled the few mem- bers to suit himself. Under their pretended patronage and approbation, he continued the issue of his scurrilous produc- tions at various intervals, both in New York city and at Charleston until the year 1822, when the whole matter, on his 162 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. part, ceased, at least as far as the Grand Consistory in New York was concerned. Before leaving this part of the subject, we would offer a passing remark upon a part of the " Replication" which touches upon the powers and prerogatives of a Sovereign Grand In- spector General, which runs thus : " In making such advancement, are they uninformed, that a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third, once constitutionally established, while a single member remains, is considered in existence, or that a lawful Sovereign Grand Inspec- tor General of the Thirty-third, once appointed, is so for life, unless an im- proper act, or acts of his, should vitiate his powers, which, in such a case, the withdrawing of his Patents would be the consequence attending his conduct, and the same made known to the fraternity." This is the doctrine of their rite, and although the number of their members had dwindled down to five, yet there were five members. But if none were left but De La Motta, it would have been all the same. His actions while in New York, clear- ly demonstrated that he considered himself the Council, de facto, and he took upon himself the responsibility. Else how can we account for the style in which he headed all his conver- sations, edicts and communications. They are all worded, " From the ' Grand East ' of New York, &c., &c." He must either Irave considered himself " the Grand East " wherever he might be, as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thir- ty-third degree, and Illustrious Treasurer General of the Holy Empire in the United States of America, or else it is proof positive, that he had, by virtue of the powers which he con- ceived himself to be possessed of, established an East in New York, by elevating certain brethren to the Thirty-third degree, and constituting them a Supreme Council, according to the statement of Ragon and others. We are disposed to believe the staitement of Eagon, but it may be wrong, nevertheless. But further. Although De La Motta's Supreme Council con- tinued but a short time after its establishment, in active opera- tion, the individual members of it (we mean those that were left after it became inactive,) all acted upon this principle. At last there was but one left. He kept up the appearance of a ■Council, by communications over his own signature as Score- SCOTTISH RITE OF HBEEDOM. 163 tary General, written in his private dwelling, and addressed to Foreign Masonic bodies, from year to year, thus leading them to the belief that the Council was still in active opera- tion, up to the year 1827, in November of which year, the Grand Consistory came to a close, in common with all the Masonic bodies in the land. Taking advantage ot this circum- stance, this honest man performed an exploit which we shall take occasion to speak of in its proper place. The opposition which De La Motta had made to the Sove- reign Grand Consistory in New York, after it had received the sanction and acknowledgement, of the Supreme Council of Prance, had the effect of arousing inquiry among Masons. They took up the subject deliberately : they examined into the pretensions of both parties, and the result of their deliberations, as might have been expected, were in favor of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. They saw, on the one hand, De La Mottai an obscure adventurer, full of arrogance and foolish preten- sions, without the color or shadow of authority from any regu- lar or well organized body of Masons, laying claim to powers and prerogatives, perfectly absurd and unheard of by the fra- ternity. They saw his associates whom he had gathered around him, and knew them to be of the same school of pretenders. On the other hand, they saw Joseph Cerneau, a poor man, a jeweller by profession — ^from which he made his living — pro- fessing to be in possession of the Exalted degrees, and vested with power to confer them ; he gathered around him reputable and respectable men, such as had the confidence of the Masonic community ; men who were high in ofiSce in the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, and other bodies ; also occupying the highest offices in City and State ; and having obtained the required number, he placed in their hands all that he was possessed of, in order that it might be preserved, and be honorably and honestly transmitted to posterity in a regular and lawful way. Not satisfied with having accomplished this, he transmitted an account of his proceedings to the Supreme Council, and Grand Orient of France, requesting their approval and acknowledge- ment. In 1812 the acknowledgement of the former arrived. The latter in 1816 — thus placing the Grand Consistory on a 164 SCOITISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. sure basis. And having done this he gave up all into their hands. They saw the respectability of the bodies established by the Consistory in the various States of the Union, as well as in the city of New York, and they knew that the members of the various bodies were fully acknowledged wherever they sojourned, either in Europe or America. With all this evi- dence before them, notwithstanding the heavy fire of scurril- ous abuse kept up by De La Motta they gave in their adhesion to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and from a small body, it became, in a very short time, a very large one — very influential — not of pretended Monarchs and Sovereigns, but sensible men and Masons, willing to impart to the worthy what they had received in a lawful manner, and to conduct themselves as up- right Masons should, under the circumstances in which they were placed. On the 30th of November, 1816, the Sovereign Grand Con- sistory issued the Edict which may be found in the Appendix (No. 20, page 2.) And in 1818, a complete edition of the list of the Grand Officers, Members, &c., of the Supreme Council and Sovereign ■ Grand Consistory again appeared. It is to be found in the Appendix, No. 20. CHAPTER SIXTH. FURTHER PROGRESS OP THE ANCIENT CONSTITUTIONAL SCOTTISH RITE OP HBREDOM. Establishment of a Consistory in Biiode Island, 1813. — Also a Consistory in Louisiana, 1813. — Concordat entered into between the Grand Lodge and Grand Consistory of Louisiana in 1833. — Establishment of a Consistory in the city of Charleston, South Carolina Joseph McCosh P. Javain. — The Controversy. — Establishment of a Consistory in Pennsylvania. — List of Deputy Inspectors General. — Also a List of Representatives. Let us now return to the proceedings of the Consistory. As early as the year 1812, a correspondence was commenced with Mr. Cerneau, by some Royal Arch Masons of Rhode Island, (Newport) relative to being initiated into the Exalted degrees, and forming there, a Council of Princes of the Royal Secret, with consistorial powers. Having arranged all the prelimina- ries, a Committee was appointed by them in 1813, to come on to New York and receive the same. Mr. C. Moore, of Cin- cinnati, says, page 89, Lamarre : "The Masons exalted by Newport Chapter to the Royal Arch in 1811, be- ing desirous of having the higher degrees, and the authority to confer said de- grees being lost by the decease of Moses Seixas, they appointed a Committee to proceed to New York and receive them, and obtain authority to establish a Consistory in Newport. The Consistory, at that time, gave the degrees of Knighthood, there being no Encampment there ; but when the Grand Encamp- ment of New England was formed, those who had received the degrees of Knighthood, joined, &c." It was by this Consistory that an Encampment of Knight Templars was formed in Newport — the first one in that State. There was not a Grand Encampment in any State until long afterward ; but as soon as Grand Encampments were formed, all existing Encampments came under their rule. The first Grand Encampment that was ever formed in the United States grew out of the Sovereign Grand Consistory in New York in 1813. De La Motta, in his Replication, thus speaks of it : 166 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. " An adrertisement appeared in the newspapers some time last winter (1813) under the sanction of ' Mr. Cerneau's Grand Association,' respecting the estab- lishment of a Grand Encampment of Knights Templars, Knights of Malta, &c., for the State of New York. It is another proof of their total want of reflection or information, being in the most pointed and positive opposition with the sacred engagements of Kadosch. To perceive names mentioned in their celebrated Tableaux, as possessing the grade of Kadosch, designated as Grand Officers in that Grand Encampment, a thing so incompatible with the degree of Kadosch.that every true and lawful brother arriving at that degree, must shud- der at their improper conduct ; a circumstance, sufficient in itself, to cause their expulsion from those high degrees. Does not this conduct, among their many others, evidence their total ignorance of the Higher orders of Masonry ? The Consistory in Rhode Island had its commencement in the year 1813. Its work was conducted under the auspices of the Illustrious Brother John A. Shaw, a resident of Newport, who was one of the members of the Committee which came on to New York, and was at that time appointed and regularly constituted a Deputy Inspector General for the State of Rhode Island. It was prosperous, and numbered among its members some of the most respectable citizens of that State. We say this knowingly, haying had a long and intimate acquaintance with three of the Ancient or original members, who afterwards became residents of the city of New York — viz., Mr. Noah Cook, and William and David Coggesball, also with its Repre- sentative near the Sovereign Grand Consistory, Mr. Thomas Lownds. It pursued its work regularly, and existed in very prosperous circumstances until the year 1827, a period of six- teen years. It had no rival or opposition, except from De La Motta, who, in the year 1814-, served' it with a copy of his defamatory publications. The replies ' given him by John A. Shaw and Stephen Deblois will show the manner in which those communications were received, as well as the opinions they entertained. They are to be found, verbatim, in the lat- ter part of De La Motta's Replication. See Appendix, Docu- ment No. 19. De La Motta complained of them as indecent and illiterate. But when one takes into the account the pro- vocation — viz., a threat to publish them, in full, to the world, as Impostors, he will hardly be of the opinion that they are in- decent — but on the contrary, the plain, honest, decided opin- ions of men who believed they were addressing a mounte- SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM. 167 bank. The only wonder is, that they treated the matter with such mildness. In 1813, the Scottish Masons of Louisiana applied to the Sovereign Grand Consistory for the establishment of a Con- sistory, Thirty-second degree, or Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of Louisiana, to be located in New Orleans. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the said Consistory was inaugurated and proclaimed in New Orleans on the 19th day of June, 1813, and became a depen- dency of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Consis- tory of tlie United States, sitting in New York. This account agrees perfectly with the records, which further state, that the Most Illustrious Brother John Pinard was appointed Deputy Inspector General for that State, and Illustrious President of the Council ; and that James B. Duraud, of New York city, was the Representative, accredited near the Sovereign Grand Consistory, sitting in New York. The record also contains a return of the members of the Council, and the officers installed, which list was afterwards published in the Annuary of 1816, and again in 1818. Mr. Foulhouse, in speaking of the Consistory, says : " The presumptuous circular of the Charleston people of 1802, had pro- duced no effect in the Masonic world. It was despised in the North of the United States, and the pretensions therein expressed were laughed at in France, whilst in the Southern portion of the United States, it was held aa a nullity beneath consideration. The archives of the Grand Consistory, founded in Louisiana in 1813, literally show, that its founders called on the Council presided over in New Tork by Joseph Cerneau, to obtain the Constitutive Charter, under which they and their successors invariably worked, until the formation of our Supreme Council in 1839, a period of twenty-six years. ■' No one in Louisiana, we presume, will aver, that the wise founders of that Consistory in 1813, were ignorant of the denunciations published by Dalcho and his colleagues against Joseph Cerneau and his Council. They held De La Mofta, Mitchell and Dalcho as beings of no Masonic value whatever. They contented themselves with a Consistory, and having Consistorial letters only to ask, it certainly was immaterial to them to obtain them, either of De La Motta or of Joseph Cerneau, and they could have no other object, except that of working under a competent jurisdiction. The question was not with them, one of authority and government, but of mere obedience, and considering that they were all honest men, devoted to their country, connected with the most 168 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. respectable families ia New Orleaos, and fathers of citizens who are still a cause of honor and pride for Louisiana, is it not to be concluded that they acted, as they did in all the rest, as men of probity, as friends of truth, as defenders of justice, and that their verdict in that matter must be sacred to us ? " If we had no other proof of the absolute non-entity of the Charleston Council, except the public act by which those departed fathers placed them- selves during their lifetime under the jurisdiction of the Council of Joseph Cerneau, notwithstanding the circulars and orations of Dalcho, and the denunci- ations and libels of De La Motta and his associates, we would be satisfied there- with, because the worst consequence into which we could then be driven, would be that of doubt — which is not, however, the case — and that therefore we would be bound to believe those ancient and irreproachable witnesses, who had seen, heard, examined and decided all, without passion, and without per- sonal interest, from the beginning." We learn from the records of the Consistory, that this body continued in active operation and uninterrupted harmony with the parent body up to the year 1828, when the labors of the Sovereign Grand Consistory were interrupted by the Anti- Masonic excitement. But this interruption at the North had no effect upon them. For their own records, as well as the his- tory of Masonry in Louisiana, show that they continued their work, and as there were many Scottish Masons in New Or- leans, who were anxious to work the three first degrees after the Scottish manual, that Consistory went on to charter Lodges in the Symbolic degrees. And appended to these Lodges, were Chapters of Rose Croix and Councils of Kadosch. These acts on the part of the Consistory led to a correspon- dence of some length between the Grand Lodge of that State and itself, which was amicably arranged January 10th, 1833. The following ofiicial letters will explain the same in full : New Orleans, January 10th, 1833. " The Grand Lodge of the Stale of Louisiana, To " The Grand Consistory of the SiMime Princes of the Royal Secret, in the State of Louisiana, Sovereign of Sovereigns, Great Prince and Illustrious Commander-in-chief, and ye all Sublime Princes. " Jlotives of the highest kind for the welfare of the Masonic Order have de- termined the Grand Lodge of this State, to constitute in its bosom, a special chamber for the Symbolic degrees of Scotch ilasonry. Consequently, it begs this Grand Consistory to divest itself of the right which it has, to constitute SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. 169 Scotch Lodges here, to transfer the same to said Ohamber, and to give proper information of said transfer, to the Lodges now working under its jurisdiction, directing them to obey henceforth the commands and Statutes of the State Grand Lodge in its said Chamber. " Please, Illustrious Brethren, to accept the sincere vows which the Grand Lodge makes for the prosperity of your august labors, and for the happiness of each of you in particular. " With these feelings, the members of the Grand Lodge have the favor to salute you with the numbers which are known to you. " By order, Dissakd, Grand Secretary." " LUX EX TENEBRIS." New Orleans, January 28th, 1833. " The Sovereign Grand Comistory of the Princes of the Royd Secret, Thirty- second degree, Scotch Rite, To " The Most Illiistrious Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, in its Scotch Symbolic Chamber. " Illustkious Brother : " I have the favor to inform you, that the Sovereign Grand Consistory has received the communication which has been sent to it by the Most Illustrious Grand Lodge in its Scotch Symbolical Chamber. After having maturely re- flected on the beneficial consequences which are to follow for Masonry in general, from measures which tend to unite the various rites of our fraternity, and which will more perfectly answer the spirit of our valuable institution, the Grand Consistory has given to all the Lodges of its jurisdiction, the necessary instructions, in order that such a. worthy enterprise, on the part of the Most Illustrious Grand Lodge, should be accomplished as speedily as possible. " Consequently, and agreeably to the directions sent, as above said, to each of the Scotch Lodges here, we have the favor to inform you that they all sub- mitted with joy, to the orders given to that effect by the Grand Consistory, that they are prepared to receive new Constitutions from the Most Illustrious Cham- ber over which you preside, and that they have already sent back to the archives of the Grand Consistory, the Charters which they had under its dispensation. " The Supreme authorities of Scotch Masonry in the State of Louisiana, have not hesitated to yield to a body so respectable as the Most Illustrious Grand Lodge is, the rights which it cannot fail exercising with splendor and justice. And the Grand Consistory ardently wishes that the Grand Lodge find in this cession of a noble and so useful a right, a new proof of the desire which the Princes of the Royal Secret had, to perpetuate between the Scotch Rite and the others, such an alliance as will necessarily be, for the glory and pros- perity of Free Masonry, under whatever banner its disciples may decide to walk. " Please, Illustrious and Dear Brother, to accept for yourself, and for the 170 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. illustrious body over which you preside, the fraternal and sincere vows, which the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and all the Sublime Princes who compose it, will never cease to make for your prosperity, and believe. Illustrious brother, in the true devotedness of your respectful brother, " By order of the Grand Consistory, A. W. PicnoT, Secretary, pro tern." In this way this unhappy difference -was brought to a close, the Consistory being contented to relinquish the right of char- tering Lodges in the Symbolic degrees, so long as the Grand Lodge would consent to authorize the same, and the Grand Lodge being content to have a rival removed — a rival to her power — even at the expense of doing herself, the very thing which she would not allow her rival to do. A Chamber for the Scottish Rite was established in the bosom of the Grand Lodge, and, as a matter of course, the Consistory ceased work- ing in any degree below the Fourth, while the Chamber in the Grand Lodge for the Scottish Rite, chartered all the Lodges for which petitions were made. This Chamber continued until the year 1850. In the year 1816, the Illustrious Brother Peter Javain, had been appointed by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, as Deputy Inspector General for the State of South Carolina, and soon after his appointment, application was made by several brethren there for the establishment of the Exalted degrees of Masonry. A Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret was accordingly established in the city of Charleston, South Caro- lina, the Most Worshipful Thomas W. Bacot, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge being its first President. He was succeeded by the Most Illustrious Brother John S. Cogdill, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge. The Illustrious Brother Isaac M. Wilson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge was Senior Grand Warden ; and the Most Illustrious Brother Joel R. Poinsett, who subsequently was appointed Minister to Mexico, was one of its most active members. Illustrious Brother Jacob Schieffelin was the duly appointed Representative of that Sub- lime Council, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and P. Javain was Representative for the Sovereign Grand Consistory, SCOTTISH RITE OF HERBDOM. I'H for the State of South Carolina. A full list of the Officers and Members will be found, by referring to the published Annuary of 1818. Appendix, Document No. 20. The Sublime Council of Princes also established, in the city of Charleston, a Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Eose Croix, under the definitive title of "Friends of Peace." Its President was Thomas W. Bacot. He was succeeded by Hon. Joel E. Poinsett. A full list of the Officers will be found in the Annu- ary before alluded to. These bodies were established in the city of Charleston, and continued their work in harmony and prosperity until the year 1827, when they ceased. During all this time, Illustrious Brother P. Javain, continued to exercise the functions of Dep- uty Inspector General for the State of South Carolina, and Eepresentative there, of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States, and these bodies were held under his patron- age and inspection. It would be vain to suppose that the establishment of these bodies, in the State which De La Motta claimed as his own, and which State (Masonically) was subject to his nod, should be quietly passed by. On the contrary, Emanuel left no means untried to break them down. He tampered with the members in secret, using all his influence to persuade them to desist in their undertaking. Finding these means useless, he resorted to public personal abuse through the daily papers there, and enlisted the feelings of one J. McCosh, who afterward became a member of his body. It would be needless to give in full the publications which appeared over various signatures, but more particularly McCosh, in the papers of that city. A few in Appendix, Document No. 21, will serve the purpose. By these, all the otherfi can be judged. Brother P. Javain replied to them all fully, and too much praise cannot be bestowed upon him for his moderation, and the manly course of conduct wliich he pursued throughout the whole controversy, by meeting every point at issue, inviting full examination of all the docu- ments, and exposing the vain and foolish pretensions of De La Motta, in such a manner, as to convince every one who felt any interest in the matter, of the justness of the claims of the 172 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Grand Council of Princes, and her subordinate bodies. But the controversy lasted from the very commencement to the year 1827, when the Council of Princes ceased. And about the same period the Charleston body became again inactive and went to sleep. The Sovereign Grand Consistory, on application, also estab- lished a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret in the State of Pennsylvania. The Most Illustrious A. J. Blocquerst was appointed Deputy Inspector General for that State, and Representative of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Illustrious Brother John F. Hurtel was the Illustrious Presi- dent. For a full list of the OfiBcers and Members, see Annu- ary in the Appendix, Document 20. This Council also estab- lished a Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Rose Croix in Phila- delphia. The Hon. John W. Mulligan was the Representative for the Grand Council at Philadelphia, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Both the Sublime Council and its subor- dinate body, the Chapter of Rose Croix, continued in active operation until the year 1827. By referring to the Annuary, it will be found that the follow- ing persons were regularly enrolled, and proclaimed as Deputy Inspectors General up to the year 1816 : The Most Illustrious Brethren, J. Pinard, for the State of Louisiana, John A. Shaw, for the State of Rhode Island, A. J. Blocquerst, for the State of Pennsylvania, Peter Javain, for the State of South Carolina, Louis Le Loup, for the State of Maryland. These Deputies were all appointed for special purpose — viz., the establishment of the degrees of Exalted Masonry in their several States. It will be seen that they performed their du- ties faithfully ; a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, and Sovereign Chapters of Rose Croix, having been constituted by them in each of the said States. Not, how- ever, by their own creation, or individual power, as was the case with all the pretended officers of that grade from the Charleston body. On the contrary, they were instructed to SCOTTISH KITE OF HEKEDOM. 173 select the Constitutional number of brethren, according to the General Statutes of the Order, and having done so, to engross a petition to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, which they were to sign. Said petition was to be presented in form, acted upon, and power given to the Deputy, in connection with others, whom the Sovereign Grand Consistory might choose or select, to assist the Deputy in conferring the degress, and constituting the bodies in proper form, after which, all the duties proper of the Deputy ceased, with the exception of "overseeing the work." The body so constituted then became a governing power in its own State, taking upon itself to receive petitions, institute sub- ordinate bodies, confer degrees, &c., looking to the Deputy only for instruction, and relying upon him as their Represent- ative to the Sovereign Grand Consistory. All the powers of the Deputy ceased, on the establishment of a legal and proper body. This is fully expressed in every Patent issued by the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The assumption of power on the part of any officer appointed by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, or Supreme Council, to confer degrees of any kind upon individual brethren, whenever and wherever he please, and under any circumstances, or to " establish, congregate, superintend and inspect, all Lodges, Chapters, Councils, Colleges and Consistories," is deemed by all regular Masonic bodies as highly culpable and out of character. No persons, pretending to be Masons, with whom we have ever been acquainted, pretended to possess these high powers, ex- cept the Charleston people and their coadjutors, De La Motta, Gourgas, Jacobs, and a few others who have received their Masonic teachings in that school. These have made a business of it, and a paying one besides. They may have put money in their pockets, but they have, most certainly, created more con- fusion among the craft, and have done the institution of Mason- ry more injury, than any men connected with the Order, in their day. And it is melancholy to perceive, that the teaching then received, has not yet lost its power. With such proceedings the Sovereign Grand Consistory has bad no fellowship or sympathy. It published to the world a repudiation of all such doctrines and proceedings, and has 174 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. faithfully warned llie whole fraternity against these spurious and illegal Masons. To Emanuel De La Motta may be attributed all the blame. From the first hour he became a member of the Charleston body, until the day of his death, he had but little else to do. It was in consequence of such outrageous proceedings, that the Sovereign Grand Consistory was obliged to repeat her circular under date of November, 1816. She had, during that year, received her acknowledgement from the Grand Orient of France, containing a full and ofScial recognition of the justness and legality of the Consistory for the United States, her Ter- ritories and Dependencies, signed in full assembly, and sealed in form. If there had been any doubt before, concerning her regularity, these doubts were now dispelled forever. She not only had the acknowledgement of those two Sovereign bodies, but was also in full correspondence with the Sovereign bodies of Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Prussia, and other portions of the continent. It was necessary, for the benefit of the craft in this country, that these things should be known, and the acknowledgements spread before the world. Xew bodies were springing up in every part of the Union under the patronage and auspices of this travelling pedler. The brethren who were persuaded into a connection of this kind, by the tools and dupes of De La Motta, were being deceived into a belief that his powers were authentic, and that they would be recognized wherever they went. And the frequent applications made by these new mem- bers and bodies, for reception, at the doors of Sublime Lodges, Councils, Chapters and Consistories, hailing from the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, and which invariably met with refu- sal and consequent disappointment, made it necessary that a step of this kind should be taken for the general good. They therefore, issued the document attached to the Annuary, No- vember 30th, 1816. This document was printed in the form of a circular, signed by each member and officer of the Committee of General Ad- ministration, and forwarded to every regular Masonic body in the country, and on the continent. The result was good. It SCOTTISH RITE OF HEEEDOM. 175 brought together all the bodies in the various States which were regular, their documents were received, acknowledged, sealed and returned, and the published Annuary of the Con- sistory, which appeared under the Seal, Stamp and signatures of that body, contained a full list of Officers, Members, Repre- sentatives, Locations, Correspondence, &c. In the year 1818,- a third and enlarged Annuary was published, a copy of which is attached to the Appendix, No. 20. By referring to the Annuary, it will be seen that The Most Illustrious Brother Germain Hacquet, First Representative of the Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Prance, President in the Supreme Council of Rites, Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of France, is Representative for the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, near the Grand Orient. J. J. Itter, Representative near the Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree for the Island of Jamaica. That the Sovereign Grand Consistory was in full correspon- dence with the Sovereign Grand Lodge, Astree, of Russia, sit- ting at St. Petersburg, and that The Most Illustrious Brother Joseph Cerneau, was the ac- credited Representative from the Grand Orient of Prance, Su- preme Council of Rites, and Sovereign Grand Consistory, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States, their Territories and Dependencies. CHAPTER SEVENTH. FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE ANCIENT CONSTITUTIONAL SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM. From 1818 to 1828.— Disappearance of the De La Motta-Gourgas Supreme Council.— St. John's Hall.— Henry Marsh.— Edict concerning D'Glock D' Obernay.— Withdrawal of J. Cerneau as Grand Commander, ^nd becomes " Honorary " in 1821.— Succeeded by Hon. John W. Mulligan as Grand Commander, 1822 Seth Driggs appointed a Deputy Inspector General for the Island of Trinidad. — Hon. John W. Mulligan resigns in 1823, and is succeeded by Hon. Dewitt Clinton as Grand Commander. — Ecict issued denouncing the Supreme Council of Charleston, South Carolina. — List of Consistories. — The Marquis De Lafayette'arrives in the United States and is exalted to the Sublime degrees in 1824. — Charter granted by the Sove- reign Grand Consistory for a Sovereign Chapter Rose Croix, by title, " Lafayette."— List of Officers Richard S. Spofford, M. D., of Newbury- port, Massachusetts, exalted to the Thirty-third degree, and appointed Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts, 1825. In 1826, David Jewett, an Officer in the Brazilian service, appointed Deputy Inspec- tor General for the Empire of Brazil. — 1827, Anti-Masonic excitement. — 1828, Death of Hon. Dewitt Clinton. — Henry 0. Atwood. — Libels on Joseph Cerneau answered. — Differences examined between the " Sovereign Grand Consistory of the ' Ancierd. Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredoin,' and the Supreme Council of Charleston of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite.'' Haying reached the year 1818, in which it may be said with truth, that the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and Supreme Council of Cerneau, was established upon a firm foundation, by having completely overcome and destroyed all opposing bodies in New York, we will now proceed with the history up to the year 1828, a period of ten years, during which, but little else was done than transacting the regular business of the body. The pretended Council of De La Motta, with Gourgas at its head, had disappeared. Many members in connection with that branch, had united with the Sovereign Grand Con- sistory, and the remaining ones were scattered. But still, those who were left, managed to find customers for the degrees, who SCOTTISH BITE OF HEKBDOM. 177 were mostly persons of foreign birth, and Gourgas and Jacobs together furnished them, as often as the opportunity for so doing occurred. And occasionally, a flaming Edict would be issued by them, which was passed by unnoticed. It was about this time that St. John's Hall, in Frankfort Street, was fitted up for the purposes of the Consistory, and occupied by that body. It was kept by Brother Henry Marsh, a member of the same, and acting Sentinel for many years. Brother Marsh published the Masonic Almanac and Record, an aunual, which was kept up until the year 1828. In each and every one of his Annuals will be found a record of the time, and place of meeting of the Consistory, up to that year. Be- sides the Consistory, occupying the building, were the two Chapters of Rose Croix — viz., the Triple Alliance and Lafay- ette, the two Encampments of Knights Templar — viz., Colum- bian and Morton, and five Royal Arch Chapters, which made this splendid room their permanent place of meeting. On the 10th of November, 1820, the Consistory issued a Cir- cular, in consequence of the Un-masonic proceedings of an im- postor, by the name of Joseph De Clock D'Obernay, who, un- der the pretence of his quality as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, had created members and erected a Grand Consistory, in places under this jurisdiction, where the proper* power had been previously conveyed, and also by conferring, of his own mere motion, the three first de- . grees of Ancient Masonry, and transferred the power of doing so to others, within the jurisdiction of regularly organized Grand Lodges. (See Appendix, Document No. 22.) In the year 1821, Mr. Cerneau withdrew from the office of Sovereign Grand Commander, and took the title oi ^' Honorary Grand Commander, ad vitam." He was succeeded by the Hon. John W. Mulligan, the other offices remaining the same. And during this year a most interesting and valuable correspon- dence was renewed with the Grand Orient of France, through the Representative to that body, Germain Hacquet, resulting in their forwarding to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, a renewal of fraternal greetings, and a copy of the proceedings 178 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. of the Grand Orient, a renewed letter of acknowledgement signed in full assembly by the Officers and Members of the Su- preme Council of Rites. This correspondence was kept up until the year 1827. During the year 1822 the officers remained unchanged. In the month of September, Seth Driggs, a member of the Consis- tory, was appointed Deputy Inspector General for the Island of Trinidad, and carried with him thj necessary powers for forming and constituting a Sovereign Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret, together with subordinate bodies, and also of constituting a Grand Provisional Committee at Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad. This Coimcil was regularly formed in that island, and Brother Driggs acted in the capacity of Deputy Inspector General there, and Representative of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, near that body. (See Appendix, Document No. 23.) During the year 1823, the Hon. John W. Mulligan retired from the office of Sovereign Grand Commander, and the Hon. Dewitt Clinton was elected to fill his place. A full list of the officers for this year will be found by referring to the statisti- cal account of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, which follows the conclusion of the history. An Edict was issued November 14th, by the Sovereign Grand .Consistory, in consequence of the shameful proceedings of Emanuel De La Motta and others, who were connected with the Charleston body already alluded to over the signature of Joseph McCosh. (See Appendix, Document No. 21.) By this document it will be seen, that the Consistory had granted Patents for the formation of Grand Councils of Princes of the Royal Secret, Thirty-second degree, and Capitulary Charters for Sovereign Chapters of Rose Croix at the follow- ing places — viz. : New York, State of New York, Newport, State of Rhode Island, New Orleans, State of Louisiana, Charleston, State of South Carolina, SCOTTISH EITE OF HEREDOM. 179 Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, Baltimore, State of Maryland, Norfolk, State of Virginia, Havanna, Island of Cuba, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Cumana. ) -r, .t ~ -r, , ' f Republic of Barcelona, > o ^L a •r I South America, Laguayra, J in all of which States or Islands the Consistory had appointed Representatives, Deputy Inspectors General, residing therein. The perusal of this, in connection with other documents in the Appendix, will show the undying enmity, entertained by the Jew, De La Motta, toward all persons, who were in any way connected with the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The closing passages of the Edict are recommended to the brethren ; the assertion being again repeated, concerning their recognition and acknowledgement, with an earnest appeal to the brethren, to abstain from all public controversy upon this subject. During the year 1824 the ofiBcers continued the same. On the 15th of August, the Marquis De Lafayette landed in the city of New York. He was received as the nation's guest, and during this year was exalted by the Consistory to the Thirty-third and last degree of Masonry. And subsequently was made Honorary Grand Commander. On his return to France, he was received, acknowledged and proclaimed by the Grand Orient. On the 22d of November, the Consistory granted a Capitu- lary Charter for a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, under the distinctive title of " Lafayette," for the valley of New York. The following are the Officers named in the Charter : 111.*. Bro.'. Oliver M. Lownds, President, " " Garritt Morgan, Grand Senior Warden, " " Henry Marsh, Grand Junior Warden. (See Appendix, Document No. 14.) This Chapter met in the Consistory room semi-monthly, and has preserved its existence through storm and sunshine up to the present day. 180 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. In 1825 there was no change in the list of officers. But an application was made to the Consistory during the month of January, by Richard S. Spofford, M. D., residing at Newbury- port, Massacliusetts, for exaltation, which request was granted, and at a subsequent meeting of the Consistory, Doctor Spof- ford was appointed Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts, and clothed with full power to open and con- stitute a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, and also to form a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for that State. That Brolherv has acted in his official capacity in that State up to the present day. He is now advanced in life, and is one of the most respectable Masons in the State. For a copy of Patent, see (Appendix, Document No. 25.) In the month of November, 1826, Mr. David Jewett, Thirty- third, and member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, an officer in the Brazilian service, was appointed Deputy Inspector General for the Empire of Brazil, with Consistorial powers. For the particulars of which the reader is referred to Appen- dix, Document No. 26. A Representative, and Deputy Inspector General for the State of Virginia was also appointed this year, in the person of the Illustrious Brother John P. Schisano, formerly Secretary General of the Consistory. His residence was Norfolk, Vir- ginia, to which city he had removed. The offices continued to be filled by the same persons during the year 1826, and no event occurred worthy of note. The work of the Order progressed as usual, a great number of new members were received, and the present year may be consid- ered as the period when the Masonic institution in the United States enjoyed unprecedented popularity. 1827, A memorable year for Masonry throughout the North- ern section of the United States. The officers of the body were unchanged. The Anti-Masonic, or Morgan excitement broke out in the early part of this year, carrying desolation in its course. The Sovereign Grand Consistory suffered in com- mon with other Masonic bodies, and it appears by the records, that the labors of the body were brought to a close by com- SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM. igl mon consent on the 28th day of November of this year. Much of the furniture and properties were removed from tlie Consis- tory room to the care of Illustrious Brother Lewis B. Tiraolat, then residing in Pearl Street, near Broadway. The unpopu- larity of Masoni-y was so great, that it became dangerous to hold any stated meetings, and they were therefore secret, and known only to a very few members in the immediate vicinity. In 1828 the Consistory met with a severe loss in the death of the Hon. Dewitt Clinton, Sovereign Grand Commander for the United States. He died in the month of February, at Al- bany, his place oj" residence. A singular circumstance, in connection with our history, oc- curred four days before his demise. It was the time of the annual communication of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Albany, and Brother Henry C. Atwood being a delegate from his Chapter that year, and having previously been exalted to the Thirty-third degree, bore his Patent with him, and waited upon Mr. Clinton at his residence, in order to have it confirmed by his signature. Mr. Clinton was much out of health at that time, but being well acquainted with Brother Atwood, received him with great kindness, and cheerfully confirmed his Patent by his signature, remarking as he done so, that he was happy in being able to perform this service for an old friend, and that he might possibly live to see the day when that paper would be of great service to him. Pour days afterwards Mr. Clinton was no more, and Mr. At- wood did live to see the day, when that paper proved the truth of the prophecy, uttered as it was among the dying words of that honored and illustrious man. We have now arrived at a period when it may be said, that the Sovereign Grand Consistory for the United States of America was brought to an end, in common with all other Masonic bodies in the land, having had an unbroken and unin- terrupted existence of twenty years. It was established in 1807, acknowledged by the Supreme Council of Prance in 1813, by the-Grand Orient of Prance ia 1816, renewed in 1820, and a continued correspondence kept up through its Repre- sentative, Germain Hacquet, until the year 1827, (November) 182 SCOITISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. at which time the works of the Consistory ceased. This is a simple fact — it cannot be disproved, and needs not a single word additional, to contradict the base and false assertions made by De La Motta and " his successors" We repeat, that this is a matter of history, proved by its own records and documents, and corroborated in full by many living witnesses at the present day, among the number of whom may be mentioned Hon. John W. Mulligan, Joseph Bouchaud, Seth Driggs, Dr. Richard S. Spofford, and many others, whose names it is unnecessary to particularize here. How then do many of the denunciations appear which have been so freely dealt out concerning poor Mr. Cerneau, his abettors and fol- lowers ? In what light do their statements appear ? In Mr. Lamarre's pamphlet, page 90, we read — " But if our readers wish to know the acts of that ' notorious impostor, Joseph Cerneau,' than whom there never was a greater falsifier, except Mr. Foulhouze himself, we refer them to Olavel, Hist. Pit. de la Mac., page 270." Again, same page — " Mr. Foulhouze, in his attempts to prove the genuineness and legitimacy of the self-styled Grand Consistory established June 19th, 1813, in New Orleans, by Joseph Cerneau, will take good care to conceal that the said Joseph Cer- neau's powers emanated from the Supreme Councilof France, that all the Ma- sonic bodies established by him were demolished ; all his Masonic acts annul- led as irregular, and himself denounced and expelled, in 1813-14, as one unwor- thy of being a Mason, both by the ' Supkeme Codncil of Charleston,' and by the ' Grand Okient of Fkancb,' &c." We confess this to be altogether " new." We were not aware before, that all Cerneau's powers emanated from " The Suprem-e Council of France," that all or any of the bodies estab- lished by Cerneau were demolished, or that he was ever de- nounced or expelled by the " Grand Orient of France." That these acts were perpetrated by the mountebank, De La Motta, on his individual responsibility, we knew before, and if the author of the above is disposed to make him " The Supreme Council of Charleston," we cheerfully accord him the privilege. M. Samory also says, page 21 : " On the 21st of September, 1813, Y. E., the two Supreme Councils of the United States of America (viz., Charleston and New Tork,) denounced Cer- SCOTTISH EITE OP HEEBDOM. 183 neau, who had the pretension to establish a Supreme Council in New York, and the consequence of this denunciation was, to unmask an impostob trading in Masonry." Jfote by Author. — The denunciation here spoken of is by De La Motta. If M. Samory is disposed to apply the name of " two Supreme Councils of the United States " to this travelling pedler, he is welcome to the privilege. The denunciation of which he speaks, is De La Motta's pamphlet, and may be referred to in the Appendix. How much of a Supreme Coun- cil there was in the city of Charleston at this period we have already shown. And as it regards the Supreme Council at New York, the records of the present Charleston Council declare that De La Motta made a Council there in January, 1815, nearly two years later. If M. Samory's assertion be correct about the date, it falsifies the Charleston record, and PROVES that De La Motta did, in the month of August, 1813, elevate Sampson Simson, M. L. M. Peixotto, J. J. J. Gourgas, and Richard Riker to the Thirty-third degree, and form them into a pretended Supreme Council, as Ragon has already said. But further — " The Supreme Council of Cerneau had but a short existence, but his numer- ous victims have not forgotten his impostuees, even at this day. " In 1827, another attempt to revive the Supreme Council of Cerneau, was made by Henry C. Atwood. This did not succeed. However, this usurpation of the rights of the Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, was immediately denounced in a protest, under date of August 6th, 1827, and singed by J. J. J. Gourgas as Most Puissant Sove- reign Grand Commander. " The Supreme Council of Atwood, which appointed J. Cross to succeed him, was unable to resist this denunciation, and ceased its labors.'' We make no comment upon the first paragraph. The merit of that, the reader can determine for himself. But to the second, we say that the Sovereign Grand Consistory of Cer- neau, which contained the Supreme Council within itself, in precisely the same way as the Grand Orient of France contains her Supreme Council, did not cease its labors until the month of November, 1827, therefore there could be no attempt to REVIVE it. Furthermore, Brother Atwood was not a member of the Supreme Council in 1827, nor was Gourgas a Comman- 184 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. der, except in his bed-room. So the whole of this statement 13 " manufactured." Mr. Cross did not succeed Mr. Atwood until the year 1851, a period of twenty-four years after this date — viz., 1827. Mr. Atwood had been Grand Commander for eight or ten years be- fore this period. Gourgas did not become a Grand Cominander until 1848, and the denunciation to which M. Samory alludes, was not issued until after Mr. Cross became Grand Comman- der—viz., 1851. " The Supreme Council of Atwood" as he is pleased to denominate it, is at this present writing — 1862 — in existence ; is in a very healthy and flourishing condition, and has been so from its commencement, as we shall shortly see. So much for the correctness of this part of the statement made by M. Samory. But again, same page — " Another Supreme GouQcil sprung up also in New York, under the Presi- dency of Elias Hicks : /( tiad but a nominal existence. It was likewise de- nounced as Imving no legal authority." We confess ourselves at a loss to understand what the author of the above means by a " nominal existence." The Supreme Council to which he alludes, commenced iu 1832, and contin- ued its existence until 1846, a period of fourteen years, as the records show. It was acknowledged by the Supreme Council of France, at which the Representative Lafayette was located, the Supreme Council of Belgium, and the Supreme Council of Brazil with all of which powers the United Supreme Council was united by treaty. See Document 28, part 2d. As it regards the assertion that " it was denounced, fyc," every Mason who is at all acquainted with the subject, knows, that not a single body on the face of the habitable globe '' denounced " that Council, always excepting the Supreme Grand Council of Charleston, South Carolina, and all well informed Masons have long since determined the standard, by which the denunciations of that body are to be judged. It would be a needless task to correct all the mis-statements made by different parties from De La Motta down to the present time. For the present we will desist, and go on with the history, but shall refer to them again as the occasion may require. SCOTTISH RITE OF HEEEDOM. 155 We have shown, that during the time in which the Sovereign Grand Consistory had an existence, it had established subordi- nate bo,dies in many different States, in the Islands, and in South America, which bodies were all acknowledged, and con- tinue to this day to be recognized by the different Masonic powers in various parts of the world. The Charleston body, on the contrary, stood alone. Up to the year 1829 it had no acknowledgement or correspondence whatever, unless it be mentioned, that in the month of Decem- ber, 1813, the Supreme Council of France did acknowledge her, through the influence of Count De Grasse, who was after- wards expelled himself. The first recognition of that body by the Grand Orient of France, was in the year 1829 or 1830 — after the Sovereign Grand Consistory had ceased its corres- pondence. And the recognition at this time was obtained by deception, which we shall have occasion to speak of in its proper place. (See Chapter YIII.) Mr. Lamarre, in his book, page 64, says : " What is evident is, that since 1829 at least, its relations have been with the Grand Orient, and that it has never maintained any with the Supreme Council of France, since its revival in 1821. It (the Charleston Council) was itself inactive for a long time, maintaining its organization, to be sure, and administering the rite at home, but very indolently, and not keeping up its corres- pojidence with foreign bodies ; and it never took the trouble to examine into the questions discussed between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council : and when it did take sides, it did so simply by allying itself with the Grand Orient." Here we learn the truth of what we have before stated, viz., that the Charleston body was of very little consequence as a body, during all the time that De La Motta was employed in performing his antics, viz., from 1814 to 1821, at which time, says Lamarre, it was revived. In 1813 it consisted of five members. Between 1802 and 1822 not a single addition was made, and its number had dwindled down to five. In 1822 four members were admitted, one of whom was the Illustrious McCosh. And the revival was doubtless caused by the efforts of McCosh through the instructions of his teacher, De La Mot- ta, but no acknowledgement took place until the Sovereign Grand Consistory had ceased its correspondence, viz., 1829. 186 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. We -will now devote a short space to the examination of the two bodies, and point out the differences between them. The difference will be evident. First, in the " name." Thus, the body at Charleston claims to have established in 1801, an entire new rite, consisting of thirty-three degrees, and has given it the name of the " Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite." They drop all other names, and declare this one to be the distinguishing feature of their system. It is quite unnecessary for me again to go over the ground, showing in what way this new rite is composed, and how it has been made up. That we know already. This name has been continued up to the present time. The body known as the " New York body," the " Cerneau Council" the " Consistory, fyc," called its rite " The Ancient Constitutional Scottish Rite of Heredom." This name, and style was taken up at the commencement in 1807, and continued, without variation, up to 1827, the period of its end, brought about by the anti-masonic excitement, as may be proved from all the published and written documents, emanating from that body, whether Tableaux, Circulars, "Warrants, Patents, Records, &c. The rite, like the other, consisted of thirty- three degrees, but were somewhat different in their arrange- ment, being derived from the Grand Orient of Prance, and not from the Supreme Council of France. It has before been ex- plained how the Grand Orient came into the possession of them, and how, and by what means the system was completed, and made known in 1805, at the rupture with the Supreme Council of France, at which time the Grand Oiuent established a Supreme Council of its own. The two degrees known as the " Knight of St. Andrew " and " Grand Inquisitor Commander " it had and possessed, long before they were known to the Charleston body. They were not mentioned by that body, in its Schedule or " claim," or taken up by them until tliey had manufactured their Secret Constitutions, in which they laid claim to them, and they were publicly inserted in their Schedule by De La Motta, after the year 1814. Up to that time Kadosch was numbered as the Twenty-ninth degree, and the Thirtieth, SCOTTISH EITB OP HBEEDOM. 187 Thirty-first and Thirty-second was the Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. The " Commander of the Temple " was in possession of the Grand Orient for years before Montmain conferred it in Charleston as a detached degree. Second, In the government of the bodies. The body at Charleston declares itself to be a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third and last degree, composed of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, nine in number, which Council is the governing body of the whole order, of all Masonic degrees, Ancient and Modern. It claims to be a body of the last resort, and from whose decisions there is no appeal. The body at New York styled itself the " Sovereign Grand Consistory." It was composed of all the Chiefs of Exalted Masonry, Thirty-second and Thirty-third degrees. It was the governing body of the rite which it claimed to work, and did not meddle with any other. In other words, the name of Sovereign Grand Consistory was merely another term for " Orient or East," like the Grand Orients of France, Brazil and New Granada. They are Easts which have Supreme Councils in their " hosom," as they themselves are pleased to speak. All the subordinate bodies are under their control. The Consistory conferred no degrees whatever, but occupied pre- cisely the same position as Grand Lodges occupy toward their subordinate Lodges. The Grand Consistory was vested with the sole power of administration and legislation, including that of granting Constitutions in all the degrees which appertain to Exalted Masonry. Third, In the powers granted to, and claimed by the Sove- reign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree, in their individual capacity. The Charleston body declares, that each and every Sove- reign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, is made so for life, and is a "Sovereign in Masoney" in his individual capacity, wherever he may be. Hence, he has the right to initiate members or to take men who know nothing of Masonry, and initiate them into the first three degrees, and so on, up to the last or Thirty-third (but not into Thirty-third). Also to iaspect the work oi all Lodges, Chapters, Colleges and 188 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Consistories, and to direct the same. Also to constitute Blue Lodges, Chapters, Encampments, &c., in the face. of any, or all other authority, and a variety of other things. They profess to be beyond the reach of accusation, trial or discipline, and are, in fact, the rulers of all Masonic bodies in their individual capacity. The Patents issued by that body contain the follow- ing words : "And we hereby authorize, and empower for life, our said Illustrious Brother, to Establish, Congregate, Superin- tend and Instruct, Lodges, Chapters, Colleges, Consistories and Councils, of the Royal and Military Order of Ancient and Modern Free Masons, over the surface of the two hemispheres, agreeable to the Grand Constitutions." They " waive " their right over the first three degrees, but can take it again when they please. The New York body declares, that the establishment of a Grand Consistory or East absolutely supersedes the individual authority of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, in the regu- lation and government of the order. As to this degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, in rank the Thirty-third, the laws and regulations direct the manner in which the mem- bers on whom it is conferred, shall be selected. It is a dignity granted as the I'eward of merit and experience. Those who are invested with it, do not possess the arbitrary and irrespon- sible power, which some, who profess to act under Secret Con- stitutions, imagine they are authorized to exercise. This body never pretended to have any control over the first three degrees. Fourth, The Constitution and Laws which govern them. The Charleston body is based upon the Constitution and Institutes which have been attributed to Frederick of Prussia, said to have been made in 1786, and pretends to retain all the rights and immunities therein contained. We do not think it necessary to particularize. They are to be found in the Ap- pendix — Document 28 and 29. The New York body, in common with the Grand Orient of France, repudiates that Constitution, the Institutes, the whole history relating to Frederick of Prussia, and declares itself to be governed by the General Laws and Statutes of Free Mason- SCOTTISH EITB OV HBKEDOM. Igg ry. It denies, in toto, the power of Individual Inspectors to initiate Masons, confer degrees, establish Lodges, or any other matters connected with Masonry, and holds firmly to the doc- trine of " denization," without which, no Masonic body, what- ever its name or title may be, can be legal or correct. The doctrines and laws of the Sovereign Grand Consistory were entirely the reverse of those of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. In every act of the Consistory from its very commencement to its end in 1827, in every circular it issued, in every Warrant it gave, in every power vested, the truth of this assertion will be clearly manifest. Dr. Oliver, in writing upon this subject, says : " In America, the ' hautes grades ' are protected under the authority of one Supreme Council, which professes to extend its authority over the two hemis- pheres, as they are technically called, comprising, however, only North and South America, Terra Firma and the Canary Islands. This Supreme Council possesses extensive powers, and delegates to Consistories and to individuals, the privUegsof forming Lodges, Chapters, Councils, Colleges, Consistories and Grand Councils for practicing and admitting candidates to all the degrees of Free Masonry, which are known or acknowledged throughout the whole extent of its territorial jurisdiction, and under this ample authority, the ' hautes grades,' to an incredible number, are conferred in the New World, (meaning the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere.) " It should appear that the Supreme Council of the United States, was con- nected with the iJiYe ^/2C!«n of France (Supreme Council), but New York possessed a Sovereign Grand Consistory connected with the Grand Orient of France, and Brother Joseph Cerneau, a French Mason, held at one and the same time, the office of Honorary Member of the Grand Orient, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Grand Consistory of New York, and Sovereign Grand Commander for»life, of the Supreme Council of the United States of America." Such were the powers claimed then by the Charleston body, and such are the powers claimed now, at this present day. And all their actions have been in perfect accordance with these powers. Leaving without repetition the proceedings of Stephen Morin, Frankin, Hayes, Da Costa, Myers, Cohen, Long, Bush, Spitzer, Porst and others, we will again refer to De La Motta, who used these powers quite as often and as boldly as the rest. He initiated all he could find. He exalted Sampson Simson, M. L. M. Peixdtto, J. J. J. Gourgas, Richard 190 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Riker and Daniel D. Tompkins, and afterwards declared them a Supreme Grand Council for the Northern Jurisdiction, be- sides a host of other appointments which it is needless to mention. Of the history of Abraham Jacobs, and the manner in which he received the degrees, the reader is already informed. It ap- pears under his own hand, that all the Sublime degrees which he ever received, were conferred upon him by individuals, that he was never received into any regular body, and all the power or authority that he ever had, was this same individual power. From 1804 up to the day' of his death, he resided in the city of New York ; and it is a well known fact, that whenever called upon, Jacobs never hesitated to confer the degrees upon all who would pay him well for them, holding himself accountable to no person, or body of Masons, and infringing upon the laws of the Order, as often as he could get a favorable opportunity. The reader is referred to the Circular of 1812, and to the Patents published in the Appendix, issued by the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Let us examine, for a moment, the Patent of Brother Seth Driggs. First, As a member of the Consistory, he is appointed Deputy Inspector General for the Island of Trinidad, to the end that he may establish in the town " Port of Spain," Island of Trini- dad, a Grand Provisional Committee of Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret, and will call to his aid all the regular Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret in the island, and send to the Sovereign Grand Consistory a true account of his proceedings, in order to obtain the ratification of the same. The Grand Provisional Committee, thus established and governed by Brother Driggs, shall then solicit from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, a Charter for the establishment of a Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Rose Croix, and a Constitutional Patent for the establishment of a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for the said island of Trinidad, and to be careful that the Statutes and General Regulations of Exalted Masonry, and particularly those of the Sovereign Grand Con- sistory, are carefully observed. Second, That when the Grand Council of Princes of the SCOTTISH EITB OP HEBEDOM. 191 Royal Secret shall be so established in the island aforesaid, full and absolute power shall he concentrated in that body. Third,- Appoints him to the duty of inspecting the regularity of proceedings on all occasions, &c. But the Patent of Brother Spofford, of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts, is still more decided and clear — First, His regular membership with the Consistory is de- clared. Second, He is clothed with the dignity of Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts. Third, He is clothed with full power and authority to ele- vate seven Masons (already regularly admitted to the three first degrees), whom he shall deem worthy by their virtues and their zeal for the Royal Art, to all the degrees of Exalted Masonry, from the Fourth degree, or Secret Master, to the Thirty-second degree, or Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, both inclusive, to the end that he may establish in the said Slate, a Grand Provisional Committee of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, and in doing which he is required to call to ■his aid, all the Sublime Princes in the vicinity thereof, whom he shall know to be regular, &c. Fourth, That as soon as a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, in and for the State of Massachusetts, shall be established, the individual and absolute power hereby abovementioned, vested in our said Brother Spofford, shall cease and terminate, and the same authority and power shall be and is hereby declared to be transferred, concentrated and confined to the aforesaid Grand Council for the State of Massa- chusetts. Fifth, The right of Inspection of Proceedings and Work is given him and made obligatory upon him as a duty. Added to these two Patents there are others — also we may mention every public circular and manifesto which emanated from the Consistory. These quotations are, however, deemed sufficient to show what powers were conferred upon Deputy Grand Inspectors, how long, and under what conditions they continued, and when they ceased. The charge so repeatedly brought against Cerneau, viz., 192 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. that he acted as an individual Inspector and conferred the Exalted degrees on persons, and the same charge against the body itself, and against individual Inspectors, is entirely dis- proved. In all cases where the Sublime degrees were con- ferred, the applications were made in the proper and constitu- tional form, the same were brought before the General Com- mittee of Administration, passed upon, and referred to the proper bodies for completion. Where the applicants were residents, they were invariably obliged to pass through the subordinate bodies in regular succession, as in York Masonry, and then receive the remaining degrees as prescribed by the General Statutes. Where the applicant was a foreigner, or a resident abroad, the application passed through the same course, and arrangements were completed for the assembling of the Consistory on his arrival. But the work itself was always done by the subordinate bodies iil a Constitutional manner, and the Diplomas, Patents, Powers, &c., were always passed upon, at the meeting of the Sovereign Grand Consis- tory, and confirmed. The records are full of applications of this kind, together with the votes upon the same. In the list of members of the United Supreme Council subsequently established, published in 1832, will be found many of the names which appear on the minutes. Those names were copied from the records of the Consistory. And we have in our possession the correspon- dence of two of the Deputy Inspectors General, residing in foreign lands, together with the replies made to their Petitions by the Consistory, through their Grand Secretary, Elias Hicks, in which he notifies them that their applications had been regularly brought before the body, acted upon, confirmed, and requesting to know from them the certain date on which they would be present, in order that the Consistory should be full, and the members residing at a distance be notified to at- tend. So careful was the Consistory in this matter, that in one or two cases which occurred in 1825, the applicants were disappointed, and were obliged to remain in the city one or two weeks, in consequence of the absence of one of the mem- bers of the Grand Committee of General Administration. SCOTTISH EITB OP HBEBDOM. ^93 Whatever, therefore, may have been asserted by others, con- cerning the proceedings of individual Inspectors, as far as it relates to the conferring of degrees, is entirely false. None of them ever pretended to have any such power themselves, and they, as well as all other members of Exalted Masonry, who are well informed upon the subject, ever believed that any Sovereign Grand Inspector General in his individual capacity did not possess the power to do any such work, al- ways excepting De La Motta and his coadjutors. They took the power and used it, to the disgrace of the Order and them- selves. CHAPTER EIGHTH. FOUNDATION IN NEW" TORK OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. 1827. Anti-Masonic excitement. — William Morgan. — David C. Miller. — Con- vention of Seceding Masons. — A Political move. — Union of the two Grand Lodges of the State of New Tork. — Effects of the Storm. — The exploit of J. J. J. Gourgas, and the body at Charleston in 1828. — The establishment of the " United Supreme Council for the Westei-n Hemisphere " in 1832 Count St. Laurent Proceedings of the Sov.-. Gr.-. Consistory. — Propo- sition for a Union Treaty between the Sov .•. Gr .-. Consistory and the Supreme Council for Terra Firma, South America, Mexico, &c. — Its Rati- fication. — Treaty entered into with the Supreme Council for France, Supreme Council for Belgium and Supreme Council for Brazil, with the Constitutions of 1762, and the Secret Institutes of 1786 attached. — Dissensions in the body. — Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter. — Henry Marsh, Henry C. Atwood and William F. Piatt. — List of Officers of the United Supreme Council.— Count St. Laurent returns to Prance. — Ratification of the Treaty. — Grand Lodge of the State of New Tork in 1887.— The Atwood difficulty.— Par- ticulars. — Organization of St. John's Grand Lodge. — Bodies Chartered by that Body. — Henry C. Atwood. ^Correspondence of the Supreme Council of Brazil with the United Supreme Council. — Dissolution of a branch of the United Supreme Council in 1846. — The other branch of the Council takes its place and succeeds it. — Supreme Council for Louisiana. — James FouUiouze. — Extract from the Report to the Grand Orient of France. — John Gedge Albert G. Mackey. — Grand Lodge of Louisiana. — L. Lade- bats address. — Dissensions in the Supreme Council for Louisiana. — New Supreme Council formed there. — The Consistory of J. Gedge. The year 1827 was the commencement of a long night in Masonry. It was the year in which the Anti-Masonic e:scite- ment broke out, carrying everything before it in its course. It swept through the different Northern, Eastern and North- Western States with great violence and rapidity, and continued for a period of ten years without much abatement, subsiding altogether about the year 1840. To those Masons who were living, and " lived through " these dark and trying times to the Order, a mere mention of the SCOTTISH EITE OP HEREDOM. 195 fact would be sufficient. But as a majority of the Masons now living have become connected with the institution, long after this excitement had passed away, and was, in a measure, for- gotten, we have thought proper to give a short sketch or out- line of the matter, that those of the Order who are unac- quainted with the particulars of the transaction, may under- stand the reason why that name was given, and the cause from which it had its origin. William Morgan was a native of the State of Virginia, and a mason by trade. Having by his industry, accumulated a fund sufficient for the purpose, he commenced business as a trader, or merchant, in Richmond, in that State. He here married his wife, and removed from Virginia in the fall of 1821, commencing the business of a brewer, near York, in Up- per Canada. The destruction of his establishment by fire, re- duced him from a comfortable situation to poverty, and ren- dered it necessary for him to resume his trade of a mason. With that intention, he removed to Rochester in this State, where he labored at that business for some time. From Rochester he removed to Batavia, in Genesee County, where he worked at his trade until a short time before he was carried away from his home and family. Some time in the year 1826, rumors were heard that Morgan, in connection with other persons, was preparing and intended to publish, a book which would reveal the secrets of Free Masonry ; and that David C. Miller, a printer in the village of Batavia, was engaged in putting the work to press. This rumor, like all others in which the community at large feel no interest, excited no attention from the respectable part of it, who supposed that the publication, whatever it might be, was intended as a catchpenny production for the supply of pedlers and hawkers. It was at last noticed by some of the citizens, that an excitement of some kind existed among certain persons in the village, in relation to the publication of the book, which, it was said, Morgan was engaged in compiling. And it was at length openly avowed by a number of persons who were mem- bers of the fraternity, that the suppression of the work was determined on, at all hazards. A large number of subscribers 196 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. to Mr. Miller's paper suddenly withdrew their subscriptions : numerous suits were pommenced against him to enforce the payment of small debts, and the collection was prosecuted in the manner most calculated to distress and embarrass him. On the 9th day of August, 1826, an advertisement was in- serted in a paper printed in Canandaigna, warning the com- munity against Wm. Morgan as a swindler and a dangerous man. This notice and caution was immediately copied into all the public papers printed in the "Western part of the State. At the same time, both Morgan and Miller were industriously slandered, and abusive epithets heaped upon them, by a num- ber of individuals who alledged no particular crimes against them, and with whom they were not known to have had any recent connections or collisions whatever, that were apparent to the public at large. Miller now became fearful for his life, and declared to his friends that he was alarmed for his personal safety — that he feared an attack upon his office, and took measures to defend himself against secret or open violence. On the 25th of July, 1826, Morgan was committed to the custody of the Sheriff of the County of Genesee, and gave bail for jail limits. On the 19th of August, 1826, Morgan was seized with violence and taken at once to the County jail, without allowing him time or opportunity to procure other bail. In the month of September he was seized under feigned process of law, in the day time, in the village of Batavia, and forcibly carried to Canandaigua in another County. Con- cerning the contemplated publication, it was known, that meet- ings of delegates from the different Lodges in the Western Counties were held, to devise means for most effectually pre- venting the publication ; that the matter was a subject of anxious discussion in many and distant Lodges ; that the zealous members of the fraternity were angry, excited and alarmed, and threw out dark and desperate threats. They took Morgan to Canandaigua — after a mock trial he was discharged, but was immediately arrested and committed to prison on a fictitious demand. The next night, in the ab- sence of the jailor, he was released from prison by the pre- SCOTTISH KITE OP HEREDOM. I97 tended friendship of a Mason. Upon leaving the prison he was again seized in the streets of Canandaigua, and notwith- standing his cries of " murder" he was thrust with ruffian yiolence into a carriage, and was forcibly carried, by relays of horses, through a thickly populated country, in the space of a little more than twenty-four hours, to the distance of one hundred and fifteen miles, and secured a prisoner iu the maga- zine of Fort Niagara. Here all traces of him are lost. He has never been heard from since, except from the confessions of those who have turned " States evidence" and they say he was murdered. Such appears to be the general opinion of the public. This is a simple relation of the facts as they stand recorded, as far as William Morgan is concerned, contained in as few words as can be written. And this forms the basis of the Anti-Masonic excitement. In the first part of these troubles the public mind was occu- pied in the search for Morgan, for his abductors, &c. Failing of success, they turned to the Courts of Law, and appealed to the Legislature of the State. A special Council was appointed by the latter body, with full power to investigate ; many per- sons were arrested and tried, &c., but all efforts to elicit reli- able testimony, or to convict, proved fruitless. This part of the business was given up as hopeless labor. But the matter now began to assume a new complexion. The conviction became general among the people, that the safety of the government and religion, the rights of the citizen, and the impartial administration of justice, required that this insti- tution should be banished from our soil. Under this conviction the people began, publicly and freely, to discuss the matter ; meetings were held throughout the Western Counties of the State ; Conventions called ; the excitement spread like wildfire throughout our own State, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and ultimately through Pennsylvania and the Western States. The first Convention called, was by the '' Saratoga Baptist Association," and was held at Milton, September 12th, 1827. It was largely attended, and " reasons " to the number of fifteen 198 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. were passed, or adopted, for " dis-fellowshipping Free Mason Tj." The effect of this Convention was great. All, of this particular denomination, throughout the States beforemen- tioned, ultimately adopted these " reasons," and made it a standing rule in their churches — First, To excommunicate, or " dis-fellowship " every member who was a Free Mason, and would not " renounce " the Order. Second, To refuse candidates for admission to the church who were Masons and would not renounce, and Third, To turn out every member who became a Mason. A General Convention of " Seceding Misoxs " was held at Le Roy, February 19th, 1828, and July 4th, same year. In this Convention there were a very large number of the Bap- tist denomination, as might have been expected, and the notorious Solomon Southwick was Chairman thereof. Twelve of the Western Counties were represented. Among the names of the Eepresentatives are to be found Millard Filmore, Henry E. Davies, Bates Cook, Thurlow "Weed, Frederick Whittlesey, James K. Livingston, and many others, equally renowned. The result of the adjourned Convention in July, was the nomination of candidates for the oflSces of Governor and Lieut. Governor for the State. Thus it will be seen, that in less than two years, all the indignation manifested by the people, on account of Morgan's murder, had been forgotten, and the whole excitement ultimated in a grand political move- ment on the Anti-Masonic basis — or a party with but one idea. Eventually, all the States before mentioned became partizans in the same political movement, and a candidate was nomina- ted by them for the Presidency, and defeated. In the Eastern States, particularly Massachusetts, Vermont and Rliode Island, legislative enactments were passed, making the administration of " extrajudicial oaths " a penal offence. As a natural consequence of such laws, all Masonic meetings in the Eastern States came to an end. In Connecticut that law was not passed, but the effect was the same, one Lodge only continuing its stated meetings, more as a matter of form, than for the purpose of doing work. SCOTTISH RITE OF HEEEDOM. 199 In Pennsylvania, Ohio, and others of the Western States, although no legislative enactments were passed, the Anti-Ma- sonic feeling prevailed with great intensity, and as it soon shaped itself into political matters, the party under its banner became powerful, and for a short time, carried all before it. The history of our country does not refer to any period of its existence, when "public frenzy was so high, or infatuation so general." In the State of New York, the Legislature had been petitioned in 1828, for the passage of a law concerning extra judicial oaths,~much the same as that passed by the Eastern States. But the law was not passed. In the mean time, Gid- dings, into whose custody Morgan was traced, immediately renounced Masonry, and expiated the crime of participation in the abduction, by disclosing all he knew of the part acted by others, and as much as he pleased of that acted by himself, but has never disclosed what was the fate of Morgan, after he was left in his custody at the fort. Meetings were now called, and generally attended, and by this time the excitement had risen to a high pitch. " Dema- gogues and broken-down politicians now saw the affair was ripe for their use, and they accordingly took it in keeping." The Masonic fraternity were denounced as murderers and traitors to their country, and every Anti-Mason, from Myron HoUey down to Thurlow Weed, with William H. Seward (then Weed's young protege) became regenerated from moral and political transgression, and were stamped as pure patriots. " Bigots in the church now laid hold of it, to advance their cause and strengthen their power. Masonic members, who had ever walked worthy of their high vocation were excommunicated, unless they would renounce. Min- isters, against whom the breath of slander had never been heard, were dis- missed, churches divided, and the members scattered. All who felt it their duty to live in peace with all men, to seek the spiritual welfare of mankind, and not to engage in party strifes, were excommunicated ; and none but those who could roll forth the thunders and pour out the vials of wrath on their flocks, were allowed to minister at the Altar of Peace. " Miller, from a poor, degraded, abandoned profligate, by means of the ex- citement, had become Clerk of the County Court. — Tracy had got a seat in the Legislature ; Spencer, Special Council ; Thurlow Weed, a standing wit- 200 SCOTTISH EITE, AJfCIENT AND ACCEPTED. ness, and Solomon Southwick the privilege of running for Governor. Nor- thon, another of the leaders, had got a snug seat in Congress, &c. Such suc- cess did bine light Federals and worn out politicians have in New Tork, in riding on the excitement into office, that they now began to use it as an article of export, and it was more or less extensively spread in several of the States. It denounced first the system, and then the men, as unfit for office, and unwor- thy of any countenance. It not only denounced the men, but also denounced all that would not denounce them. New Tork set the example, and some dis- appointed office seekers in Pennsylvania closely followed. At what was termed a ' State Convention ' at Harrisburg, in an address to the public, they said, ' It will not be sufficient to withhold public favor from Free Masons alone — all their partizans should receive the same measure of justice. They have even less claims upon public favor than the sworn Fraternity themselves. Timid and time serving neutrality is more degrading to its votaries, and more dangerous to the public, than open and magnanimous error." It was not our intention, when we commenced to write a stort sketch concerning the Anti-Masonic excitement, to go into any detail, as that would take up too much space, and perhaps be entirely out of place. We shall therefore show " what effects " this excitement produced upon the institution of Masonry, in our own State and elsewhere. The Grand Lodge of the State, a divided body from the year 1823, seeing the storm approaching, settled all their diffi- culties and united in one body, in the month of June, 1827. Perhaps the Anti-masonic excitement had as much to do in bringing the two bodies together as any other cause. They were drawn together by a desire for mutual protection, against the assaults of heartless bigots and madmen. But still the storm swept with great violence over the State. The Grand Lodge, in her June communication, registered over four hundred working Lodges in the State. But before the end of that year, every Lodge, with the exception of two in the city of Xew York, had ceased working. These exceptions were Lodge L' Union Frangais, (French language,) and Ger- man Union, (German language.) Most of the Lodges surren- dered their properties and "Warrants to the Grand Lodge, and became extinct. The Chapters and Encampments followed, and by the end of the year 1827, not a Masonic body was to ' be found. "We regret to be obliged to say, that the bare name of a Free Mason had become dangerous to a man's reputation, SCOTTISH RITE OP HEEEDOM. 201 and those who had before borne a high character among the Fraternity, turned their backs upon the Order — were ashamed of its fellowship or acknowledgement, and left it to its fate. Not so with all, for there was left, through all those dark years of the Institution, a Spartan band, who never shrank from danger, but maintained their position and kept on until the cloud was past. In the Western part of the State, the effects of the excitement were terrible in the extreme. Church members were excommunicated, property was destroyed, busi- ness ruined, employees discharged and left without the means of subsistence, the -peace of families broken up, and worthy members of society driven forth, to find a new resting place among society where the blighting influence of this excitement was not felt. We have already mentioned that the meetings of the Sovereign Grand Consistory came to an end in Novem- ber of this year, the cause of which is fully set forth in the above relation. Like the rest of the Masonic bodies, the Con- sistory itself came to an end. This dark night of Masonry continued until about the year 1837, when the light again began to dawn, and by the year 1840 had. risen upon the Institution. There are some interest- ing circumstances occurring during .this period, and connected with the history to which we now shall direct the attention of the reader, and First, The proceedings of J. J. J. Gourgas, Grand Secretary General of the De La Motta body. It will be remembered that De La Motta instituted, what he called a Supreme Council in New York, in 1813, and of this Supreme Council Gourgas was Grand Secretary, and its leading spirit. Also, that this body became extinct a very short time after its formation, and its members were scattered abroad, so that by the year 1818, nothing more was heard of it. But Gourgas had not forgotten it. Acting upon the doctrine promulgated by the Charleston body, " that a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third, once constitutionally established, is always considered in existence while a single member of that body remains alive, and that a lawful Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, once appointed, is so 'for life,' " he took advantage of this 202 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. doctrine, and finding that Masonry in the Northern section of the country was extinct — that there were no Lodges, Chapters, Encampments or Councils in active operation, or likely to be in some years to come, he at once set himself to work and con- cocted the scheme in his bed chamber, of tricking the Grand Orient of France into an acknowledgement of his so-called Su- preme Council, over the Consistory of Cerneau, which, in con- sequence of its overthrow, had ceased its correspondence. In an extract from Oliver's Landmarks, (Vol. 2, page 70), it appears that in the statement of the document sent to Paris in 1827, to secure the acknowledgement of the Grand Orient, the author has made it to appear, and by it, they were led to be- lieve, that the Charleston Council and the Gourgas Council at , New York were but one Council, styling themselves the " Su- PKEiiE Council op America," and that the Grand Orient did believe, that they really did constitute the Supreme Council of America. This document was sent slyly, and was deposited in the letter box of the Grand Orient, with the remark written on the outside — " deposited hy one who does not wish to he knoion in the transaction." Gourgas well knew that the Masonic bodies of the North were out of existence, and that there was no one to gainsay or contradict the falsehood which he was instrumental in forwarding to France. That there was no one to stand up and declare that the Gourgas body had been extinct for nearly ten years before that document was penned, and that the connecting of the Charleston body with the Gourgas body was a naked falsehood, because there was no such body as the latter in existence. Hence, in 1829, the Gourgas Council appeared in the annuals of the Grand Orient, and the Charleston Council in the year 1830. The letter addressed by Gourgas declared his Council to be in existence, and Supreme. The Grand Orient, supposing it to be a true document, and being altogether ignorant of the circumstances which led to the downfall of the Masonic institu- tion, gave the acknowledgement and opened a correspondence with Gourgas who, like his predecessor, tutor and bosom friend, Emanuel De La Motta, was Grand Commander, Grand Secre- tary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Keeper of the Seals, together SCOTTISH EITB OP HEEEDOM. 203 ■with all the other small offices contained in the vocabulary, there being no one but himself to fill them all. This corres- pondence, although a deception, was industriously kept up. Having gained this point it rested there, as nothing whatever was done in Masonry for many years afterward. Nevertheless, the sequel will presently show that this smart transaction did not fully accomplish their designs. For when the affair came to the knowledge of the Supreme Council of France, it moved them to take the matter up. They averred that they had been tricked out of a correspondence which they judged belonged of right to themselves, whereupon they at once voluntarily entered into a correspondence with the Su- preme Grand Council, United States of America, by the hands of the Count St. Laurent, stated the whole matter, and solicited a connection with that body. On the arrival in New York city of the Count, it will be presently seen that the Su- preme Grand Council was convened, the despatches which were in his possession were laid before them, the union of the Council for Terra Firma, New Spain, &c., with the Sovereign Grand Consistory was consummated, the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere was proclaimed, and a Treaty of Union and Friendship was entered into by the four bodies, viz., the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere, the Supreme Council of France, the Supreme Council of Belgium, and the Supreme Council of Brazil. The Marquis de Lafayette was immediately appointed, and pro- claimed Representative near the Supreme Council of France, and continued so until 1834, when he died, and was succeeded by the Count St. Laurent. See pages 94 and 95, Extract from Dr. Oliver. Second, The establishment of a "Supreme Council" of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite, in the year 1832, under the definitive title of the " United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere." The year 1832 was one of the darkest for Masonic under- takings, that can be remembered. The Anti-Masonic excite- ment was at its height, and the city was depopulated, partly by the fear of the pestilence, and partly by the pestilence itself. 204 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. It seemed at that time a strange thing, that any attempt should be made, just then, to gather together the scattered fragments of the ruins of our ancient temple. Ragoa says, concerning this attempt : « In 1832, there arrived in New York city, the man of many names anJ titles, the Count St. Laurent, who tooli upon himself the title of Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander, ad vitam, of the Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree, Supreme Chief of Ancient and Modern Free Masonry, for Newfoundland, North America, Mexico on both seas, the Canary Islands, &c. He found the old Supreme Council sleeping, in consequence of political and Masonic troubles, and he set himself to work to resuscitate it again. He searched around for the old surviving members, and finally succeeded in organ- izing the body with the 111 .-. Bro .-. Ellas Hicks as Grand Commander. He fixed the name of the body as the ' United Supreme Council,' and intended that it should embrace all the Councils in the United States. He called to its aid all the Scottish Masons in America. This new body, composed of all the living members they could find, published and put forth a manifesto, in which it ex- plained in full its motives for the new organization. It contained a Treaty of Union, in sixteen articles, dated April 5th, 1832, and also a profession of its principles, of which the principal dogmas were, the independence of all Masonic rites, and Masonic toleration. This Supreme Council prospered for a while, but owing partly to the tone of public feeling, and partly to some dissatisfac- tion among themselves, in about two years or a little more its action ceased. At the end of this period the Count St. Laurent went to Prance." The whole of this quotation, although very general, is true to the letter. Dr. Oliver also remarks : "It should appear that the Supreme Council of the United States was con- nected with the Rite Ancien of Prance, but New Tork possessed a Sovereign Grand Consistory, connected with the Grand Orient of Prance, and Brother Joseph Cerneau, a French Mason, held at one and the same time, the oBices of ' Honorary Member of the Grand, Orient of France,' ' Sovereign Grand Com- mander of the Grand Consistory of New York,' and ' Sovereign Grand Com- mander for Life of the Supreme Council of the United States of America.' This authority was confirmed in 1832 by a solemn treaty between Elias Hicks, Sovereign Grand Commander, Marquis Sant Angelo, Lieut. Grand Comman- der, and George Smith, Grand Secretary General to the Supreme Council of North America, and the Count St. Laurent, Sovereign Grand Commander for the Supreme Council of South America, Terra Firma and the Canary Islands. " It was agreed that the style of every document issued by this Supreme Council should be as foUows : T. T. G. 0. T. S. A. 0. T. U. Deus Meumque Jus. Ordo ab Chao. Prom the East of the World, and of the SCOTTISH RITE OP HEREDOM. £05 Grand and United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere, of the Most Powerful Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and last de- gree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Sublime Chiefs of the Royal and Military Order of Ancient and Modern Free Masonry over the two hem- ispheres, duly and lawfully established and congregated under the Celestial Canopy, &c. This treaty was ratified in the Golden Book of the Order." So much for the fact. It will not be forgotten that the Sovereign Grand Consistory, established by Brother Cerneau in the year 1807, set up this name and form of goyernment under the definitive title of " The Trinity "— tliat it existed under it for a period of twenty years— and in 1827, owing to unfortunate circumstances over which it had no control, it ceased. That the laws by which it was governed were entirely different from those of the Ancient and xVccepted Rite, and that the powers of the officers of the Consistory were defined. The reader will therefore understand, that we consider this the first establishment by that body, of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. As a proof that this assertion is correct, the following ex- tract from the Report made to the Committee at the Union and Amalgamation of the Supreme Council of Terra Firma, with the Supreme Council of the United States of America is given ; " Second, That the proposed Union and Amalgamation would prevent in future any of those fatal schisms of which the Supreme Council of the United States, &c., has of itself involuntarily most deeply sown the seeds by constitut- ing in South America, or by authorizing Mr. Cerneau to constitute in that quarter several Masonic bodies, that could receive no regular Constitution but from the legitimate power, long previously established for those countries ; and that they would not fail to avail themselves of those Constitutions, to resist and oppose any useful inspections and legitimate acts of the M .-. P .-. Sov .-. Gr .•. Commander, [ad vitam,) his Deputies, or Supreme Council within whose territorial jurisdiction they are established.— Page 5, Report, 1832. There was no Supreme Council in existence at that time in the Northern section of the country, and when the Count St. Laurent made his appearance fully clothed with power, not to establish a new body, but to raise up the old one in a new dress ; in the language of Ragon, he searched around for the old surviving members, and finally succeeded in organizing the 206 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. body, not taking the office of Commander himself, but placing there Ellas Hicks as Grand Commander, and making up the body with all the old members, as will readily be seen by refer- ring to the list, (Appendix, Document 27.) A full account is there given, and it may be said with truth, that it contained not a single new member, except himself. It was virtually the old Consistory under a new name. Let us now examine the facts connected with the resuscita- tion of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. We have before stated that it had become extinct in 1827, and we meant to be understood by this expression, that in common with all other Masonic bodies, it was swept out of existence by the storm then raging throughout the Northern section of the land. The death of Hon. Dewitt Clinton, Sovereign Grand Com- mander, took place in 1828, and Brother Elias Hicks, then Lieut. Grand Commander succeeded to the vacancy. Circum- stances of an important character, which occurred in 1831, drew the members of the body again together. The following extracts from the proceedings will be interesting : " Extract from the Golden Book of the Ancient Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General, Thirty-third degree, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies. Ordo ah Chao. SITTING OF THE m DAY OP THE l|th l. M., A. L., 5811. (FEBRUARY, 1832.) " The Supreme Council of the P. S. G. I. G., Thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Heredom, for the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies, sitting at the vertical point of the Zenith, corresponding to the 40th deg., 41 min.. North Latitude, and 3 deg., 1 min., 13 sec. East Longitude from Washington City, was extraordi- narily assembled on this day, near the B. B., by order and under the Presiden- cy of the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com., {ad vitatn) the M. 111. Bro. Elias Hicks. " The labors commenced with the usual solemnities, the proceedings of the former sitting were read and sanctioned by the Supreme Council, and signed by the M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander ; the M. 111. Lieut. Gr. Com. and by the 111. Gr. Sec'y of the H. E. " The M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. read to the Supreme Council a despatch ad- dressed to him under date of the 2d day of the 3d M. Month, A. L., 5830, by SCOTTISH EITE OP HEKEDOM. 207 the ' Supreme Council of France' by which T. M. 111. Bro. Count de St. Lau- rent had made an ailthentic translation, which was therefore annexed ;• also a file of printed documents relating to the transactions of that body. " The reading of these documents was listened to with the greatest attention, and the important fact which the said despatch revealed to the Supreme Coun- cil of the United States, &c., caused among the members the most serious re- flections. (See page 95.) "The subject was forthwith taken into consideration, and the Supreme Council unanimonsly decided that a Committee should be appointed by the M. P. S. Gr. Com. for the purpose of collecting information from the Archives, and preparing a reply to the Supreme Council of France, testifying its desire to entertain continually with them the most friendly and regular communica- tions, and also to tender our kind regards for the attentions shown to us iu the transmission of those printed works. "The Supreme Council resolved, that the mentioned despatch and the printed works accompanying it, be deposited in the Archives. " In conformity with these Besolutions, the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. named the M". 111. Bro., the Marquis de Sant Angela to assist him in the said researches, and collating the facts for the reply to the Supreme Council of Prance. " T. M. 111. Bro., the Marquis de Sant Angela, communicated to the Supreme Council a despatch from the P. Sov. Gr. Com., the Count de St. Laurent, by which he proposed to the Supreme Council for the United States of America, &c., to unite with them by a Treaty, of which he, at the same time, proposed the basis, and of which the object is the union of the two Powers, and of the Ancient Supreme Council of Mexico, already united to that of Terra Pirma, South America, &c., in one self same Dogmatical and Administrative power of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite for every portion of America, com- posing their respective jurisdictions, and the Canary Islands. This proposition developed by the M. 111. Bro., the Marquis de Sant Angela, was unanimously agreed to, and the Supreme Council resolved, that the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. shall appoint a Committee of three members, to whom the necessary full powers shall be given to treat as Commissioners on behalf of the Supreme Council, with those of the Supreme Council of Terra Pirma, &c., "whom the M. 111. and M. P. Bro. Count de Saint Laurent, shall designate to stipulate, make and sign the said Treaty. " According to this resolution, the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. appointed as mem- bers of the said Committee, T. M. 111. Bro. Jonathan Schieffelin, 1st Lieut. Or. Com. ; T. M. 111. Bro. O. de A. Marquis de Sant Angela, Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen,, and the M. 111. Bro. George Smith, Gr. Sec. of the H. B., to whom all due and full powers were given to fulfil their mission. " Resolved, That a copy of this Besolution be fraternally directed to the M. in. Bro., the Count de St. Laurent. " The work of the day being terminated, the present record of the Supreme 208 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Council was inserted in the Golden Book, read, approved, and signed at the same time, and the sitting closed with the usual solemnity. " Made, signed and sealed this 23d day of the 12th Masonic month, A. L., 5831. Elias Hicks, Sov. Gr. Commander, {ad vitam,) Jonathan Schieffelin, 1st Lieut. Gr. Commander, Geokge Smith, Gr. Secretary of the H. E. COPY OF THE jokrs of i\t €smmmmB" Ordo ah Chao. " Feom the E. of the W. of the Supreme Council of Sov. Gr. Ins. Gfen., Thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, sitting un- der the C. C. at the vertical point of the Zenith, corresponding ^o the 40th deg., 41 min., North Latitude, and 3 deg., 1 min., 13 sec, East Longitude from Washington City. Bens J^cumque 5)«s. " To our M. P. Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen., Thirty-third degree, Most Valiant and Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Knights of Kadosch, Illnstrious Princes and Knights, Grand, Elect, Ineffable and Sublime Masons of all degrees, Ancient and Modern, over the surface of the two hemispheres. To ail those to whom these letters of Credence shall appear, and may concern: UNION, HEALTH, POWER. " Know ye, that having received an official proposition, dated the fourteenth day of the present month, from our M. 111. and P. Bro., the Count de St. Laurent, Gr. Com. (ad vitam,) of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third degree, for Terra Eirma, New Spain, South America, Porto Rico, Canary Islands, &c., &c., tending to unite by a solemn Treaty, that Dogmatical and Adminis- trative body, including all itg subordinate sections, with the Supreme Council of the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies, including all its subordinate sections, and hereby to consolidate and increase the power and prosperity of our Sublime Order, and more particularly the safety and welfare of our brethren throughout the whole world, and especially of our hem- SCOTTISH EITB OF HEREDOM. 209 iaphere, and having appointed Commissioners with full and ample powers to arrange and regulate all matters and things touching aud concerning the said Treaty : And whereas, we, the undersigned, M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander, and Sov. 6r. Ins. Gen., Thirty-third degree, duly and lawfully congregated, cheerfully reciprocate in the laudable proposition of our M. 111. Bro., the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. {ad vitam) of South America, &c., have appointed our M. 111. Brethren Joiuithan Schieffelin, Gr. Ins. Gen. ; 1st Lieut. Gr. Com. O. de A. Marquis de Sant Angela, Gr. Ins. Gen., and George Smith, Gr. Ins. Gen. and Gr. Sec. of the H. E., to meet in Convention with the Commissioners which our aforesaid M. 111. and M. P. Brother of South America shall judge proper to appoint, and thereby upon exchanging their powers, to arrange, regulate and establish all such matters and things concerning the said union of the two Sub- lime bodies with full and ample power to conclude such a connection or treaty, reserving to ourselves the ratification thereof. " To which letters of credence we have hereunto subscribed our names, and affixed thereto the Grand Seal of our Sublime Order, in open Council, near the B. B., under the 0. C, this 23d day of the 12th M. Month, Anno Lucis, 5831 ; (Fu/g-o,) 23d of February, Anno Domni, 1831. Signed, ^-~.*— . ., Elias Hioks, p. Sov. Gr. Com., {ad vitam,) [ ) Jonathan Schieffelin, 1st Lieut. Gr. Com., 1 ^^^' r 0. DE A. Makquis de Sant Angklo, 33d, ' __^_ ' George Smith, Gr. Sec. of the H. B." " The Committees named as aboTe, after friendly explanations mutually interchanged between them, being fully convinced the two powers being of the same rite, and same degree, hay- ing a like doctrine, being equally animated with a desire of attaining the object of their institutions, and both present, both willing to contract, both authorized so to do for the greatest possible interest of the Order, and especially that of our Sublime Eite, as well as for the benefit and security of the faithful brethren who observe its rules ; unanimously acknowledged, agreed and Eesolved, that a Treaty may be concluded without violating that principle, which is the great " Palladium " of the freedom and independence of all Masonic Rites, viz. : " " That no Dogmatic power of any Eite, can unite or amalgamate itself, by any means whatever, with any other Administrative or Dogmatic Power of any other Rite, nor even consent to become a part of, or dependent upon it, without violating the letter and spirit of the fundamental laws of the Order, without renouncing the object of its establishment, without forfeiting, ab ipso 210 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. fado, its Supreme character, and ceasing to be a Power, or even a part of any Rite." Concluded on the 5tli day of the 2d month, A. L., 5832, a Treaty of Union and Amalgamation, of which the following is a verbatim copy : (See Appendix, Document 28, Part First.) " Extract f rem the Records of the last sitting of the Supreme Council of the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, sitting on the Vilh day of the second monlh. Anno Lucis, 5832. " By order of the M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander, the Supreme Council was this day extraordinarily and regularly assembled near the B. B., under the Tertical point of the Zenith, corresponding to the 40th deg., 41 min., North Latitude, and 3 deg., 1 min., 13 sec. East Longitude, from Washington City. " The proceedings of the sitting of the 23d day of the 12th M. M., having been inserted in the Golden Book, were read anew, sanctioned and signed. " T. M. 111. members of the Committee named in that sitting for the purpose of concluding with the Commissioners named on the part of the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. of the Supreme Council for Terra Pirma, &c., a Treaty of Union and Amalgamation mentioned therein, made a report of the proceedings of the two united Committees, and the result of their conference, &c. " On the proposition made by the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com., the Supreme Coun- cil resolved to ratify this treaty and the thirteen points of our Ancient doc- trines which are anew »conseorated by it, so soon as they are ratified by the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. of the Supreme Council of Terra Pirma, &c. " A grand deputation was forthwith named to transmit pD him this decision, and to invite him in the name of the Supreme Council to honor the present sitting with his presence. " The deputation proceeded to the fulfilment of its mission, and after a short absence returned, conducting the M. P. Bro. Count de St. Laurent, G. Com. {ad vitam,) of the Supreme Council for Terra Firma, South America, Mexico, or New Spain, &c., &c., (from one sea to the other) Porto Rico, the Canary Islands, &c., &c., of the P. Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen. Thirty-third and last degree, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, accompanied by several members of his Supreme Council present in this Orient. " He declared himself ready to ratify the Treaty, and particularly the thir- teen special points of our Ancient doctrine which are anew consecrated by it. He signed it, and caused it to be countersigned ; returned it to the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. {ad vitam) of the Supreme Council who, after having declared that the Supreme Council for the United States of America, &c., had sanctioned and ratified the said Treaty, signed it, and caused it to be signed by the Grand Dignitaries, and countersigned and sealed by the Gr. Sec. of the H. B. A simultaneous exchange of the Ratifications, &c., was made by the two HI. and P. Colleagues. T. M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. {ad vitam) Count de St. Laurent, then said : In SCOTTISH RITE OP HBRBDOM. 211 virtue of the extraordinary powers witli wliich I have been invested by the Supreme Council of P. Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen. of the Thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Terra Pirma, South America, Mexico or New Spain, &c., (from one sea to the other) the Canary Islands, Porto Rico, &c., by their decree of the 26th day of the 3d month named Sivan, in the year 5802, and in conformity with the sacred compact we have just rati- fied, I declare that that Supreme Council has forever ceased to exist under that Title, and that it is united forever to the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, under the title which this Treaty confers on them, to work only and be known by that collective title ; I now resign the power of Grand Commander that was conferred on me. " T. M. 111. Bro. Elia^ Hicks, being from this moment the Grand Commander {ad viiam) of the Union, I recognize and proclaim him as such according to the treaty. " T. M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. {ad vitam) Elias Hicks, then said : In virtue of the powers on me conferred, and in conformity with the stipulations of the treaty just ratified, I declare and proclaim, That the Supreme Council for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, of the P. Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen., Thirty-third and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scot- tish Rite, has ceased to exist under that title, and that, united forever to the Supreme Council for Terra Pirma, South America, New Spain, &c., (from the one sea to the other) the Canary Islands, Porto Rico, &c., it takes from this moment the collective title conferred by the second article of the said Treaty ; and that it will work and be known only by that title. " I recognize and proclaim the M. 111. Bro., the Count de St. Laurent, M. P. Sov. Ass. Gr. Com. {od vitam) of the new United Supreme Council. " The lU. Bro. Gr. Sec'y then read the minutes of the proceedings oT that meeting, which is appoved, and the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com. said : The labors of the Supreme Council of the United States of America, &c., are for- ever closed under that title. " The Golden Book was then terminated by this final record of proceedings, being signed and sealed in due form. " Elias Hicks, M. P. Sov. Gr. Com., (ad vitam) De St. Laurent, M. P. Sov. Ass. Gr. Com. {ad vitam) Jonathan Schieffelin, 1st Lieut. Gr. Com., Lorenzo De Zavalla, 33d deg., John Telfair, 33d deg., O. DE A. Marquis de Sant Anqelo, 33d deg., Lucas Ugarte, 33d deg., J. Melani Sussarelli, 33d deg., Gr. Sec. 0. {ad hoc) M. Velasquez de la Oadena, 33d deg., G. K. of the A., George Smith, 33d deg., G. S. of the S. C. [L. S.] 212 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. " Extract from the Golden Book of the ' United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere.' T. T. G. O. T. G. A. O. T. U. Ordo ab Chao. " The United Supreme CoancU for the Western Hemisphere, was duly and lawfully assembled on the 13th day of the 2d month, Anno Lucis, 5832, at the Orient of the city of New York, in the United States of America. " The labors of both the beforementioned bodies were declared to be, from this time, forever closed, and the ceremony of Installation of the ' United Stt- preme Council ' forthwith proceeded in. (For a fuU list of Officers then installed, see Document No. 27.) " The Sov. and Ass. Sov. Gr. Commanders, the Officers installed, and all the Grand Ins. Gen. present, renewed the obligations of their rank, swore fidelity to the United Supreme Council, and submission to its rules and decrees. All absent Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen. and Sublime Princes should be admitted to seats in their respective bodies by taking and subscribing the usual obligations. " The Golden Book of the United Supreme Council was then regularly opened, paged and numbered by the M. P. Sov. Gr. Com., the Ass. Sov. Gr. Com. and the HI. Bro. 1st Lieut. Gr. Com. ; countersigned by the M. JR. Bro. Grand Secretary. 33eus ^eumque 3us. Seal of the United Sup. Council. ♦ [ Seal of the I Consistory, 32d. Signed by aU Officers, ®|^j^ The Treaty of Union and Amalgamation will be found in full in the Appendix, Part First, Document No. 28, and the " Thirteen Special Points " in Part Second of the same Docu- ment, prefacing the Treaty of 1834. By perusing the foregoing extracts, it will be perceived that the " old Consistory " and the Supreme Council of Terra Firma, New Spain, &c., ceased their existence, and by the Treaty of Union and Amalgamation entered into by those bodies, a new SCOTTISH RITE OP HBRBDOM. 213 I body came into being, under the name of the " United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere." There were two causes which brought about this Union- and Resuscitation, -viz., the dispersion of the members of the Su- preme Council for Terra Firma, South America, Mexico, &c., who took refuge in this country, and this union was the result. The second cause was the acknowledgement given by the Grand Orient of France to the Charleston body, and J. J. J. Gourgas, by which the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States was displaced. The Supreme Council of France, cognizant of this fact, and irritated by the conduct of the Grand Orient towards itself, in seizing upon a correspondence which did not belong to it, at once communicated with the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, offering acknowledgement and welcoming a correspondence. See extract from Dr. Oliver, page 95. All this was doubtless brought about by the Count St. Lau- rent, who was a member of that Supreme Council, and a very earnest laborer in the Masonic field. He had the satisfaction of seeing all his plans consummated and carried out, which re- sulted in bringing all the Supreme Councils of the world in close affinity, always excepting the Charleston body, and J. J. J. Gourgas. This affinity continued with the United Su- preme Council for the Western Hemisphere until 1846, at which time a branch of that Council was dissolved by mutual consent ; and although replaced by the other branch, the cor- respondence on their part was neglected and finally ceased. Under the existing state of public feeling, the establishment of the United Supreme Council was a difficult task, but it was accomplished. And immediately after its accomplishment, a Treaty was submitted for ratification, entered into by the Su- preme Councils of France and Brazil — a full copy of which will be found in the Appendix (Document 28, Part 2d.) This Treaty declared the rite, (Ancient and Accepted Scottish) INDEPENDENT of all Other rites, and governing its own bodies, taking authority over all the degrees, establishing its own Sym- bolic Lodges and Grand Lodges, and declaring it to be a high offgnge against the rules of the Order, to allow any admixture 214 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. of the rites, or any departure from the Ancient Scottish rituals. While it claimed and declared exclusive control, over all the degrees of its own rite, it also proclaimed toleeatiox to every other rite, and made it obligatory upon the members, never to interfere with the conscience or opinion of other persons who might be connected with, and in bonds to, another rite, allow- ing to all rites equal and exclusive privilege with themselves. Furthermore, in Article Third of the Treaty, they ackntrw ledge and proclaim anew, the Grand Constitutions of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Constitutions, Institutes, Statutes and General Regulations, determined upon by the nine Commissioners of the Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, on the 21st of September, 1762, (see Appendix, Document No. 29), as they are now modified by those dated May 1st, 1786, (see Appendix, Document Xo. 28, Part Second,) which they also acknowledge, proclaim, and promise to respect, observe and defend, under the positive reservation, to examine, rectify and curtail the alterations and additions which have been made to the same, and which pervert their original dispositions. For this purpose, an authentic copy of the Grand Constitu- tions of 1786, certified and signed by all the members of the present Congress, shall be annexed to each original duplicate of the present Treaty. We would remark, that we have given in full, word for word, this Treaty, together with the certified copy of the Secret Institutes, Constitution, &c., iu the Latin language, as it purports to have been written, so that each reader can judge for himself. The English version is taken from the Cliarles- ton records by Brother Pike, and does not agree with the Latin copy in many very important particulars. (See Appen- dix, Document No. 28, Part Second.) This will undoubtedly appear a very strange thing. While the Grand Orient of France has flatly denied the authenticity of the Grand Constitutions of 1786, and publicly proclaimed the rite to be governed by the General Statutes, Rules and Regulations of Masonry — while she has openly and persistently denied the truth of the story of Frederick, and authors have abundantly proved the whole to be a low, base forgery, and a SCOTTISH EITE OP HEEEDOM. 215 most silly one at that ; and while the predecessor of the United Supreme Council, viz., the Sovereign Grand Consistory has followed in the steps of the Grand Orient for twenty years, never ceasing to decry and oppose the monstrous instrument from which the notorious De La Motta derived all his powers ; we find, in 1832, a body of men not new in the Order, but precisely the same men who composed the Sovereign Grand Consistory, subscribing their hands, affixing their seals, and swearing obedience to the very instrument which they have for twenty years most bitterly opposed, and placing the order, in that rite, under its control. One is at a loss to find a reason for this strange procedure. It could not have been from ignorance of the contents of that Treaty, for they were all well informed. It may have been the case, that another motive urged them on. Masonry in the North was extinct, and they might have entertained the opin- ion- that the time was a favorable one to commence and build up their rite, in which they would control the Symbolic as well as the Sublime degrees. And if ever York Masonry re- vived again, it would not be as a controlling power, but occu- py a place by its side, as an equal, in common with any other rites which might be introduced. Independence of the Rites and Toleration, was the language of the Treaty, and this doc- trine they attempted to carry out. But unfortunately, every member of this United Supreme Council was a member of the Grand Lodge of the State, or of subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction. And the very edu- cation which they had received, the obligations which they had entered into, and the predilections which they had formed, were all antagonistic to the consummation of this scheme, if such it may be called, as the sequel will show. When this Treaty was made known, it caused a great sen- sation among the gathered members. They were not all pre- pared to erect a rival body to the Grand Lodge, and a con- siderable discussion arose among them. Added to this cause of dissatisfaction was another, not less powerful, because old memories were called up, and prejudices revived which long had slept. In their efforts to gather together the fragments' of 216 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. the old body, some of the Gonrgas and Jacobs faction had been brought in, and their reception became a matter of warm dispute. Of this number va^ Richard Riker, and it was on the presentation of his documents, that the trouble culminated. During this discussion, many of the old members who had been gathered, refused to enter the Council, or be controled by it, and drew off again, carrying with them the Warrant of Lafayette Chapter of Rose Croix. Henry Marsh had been its presiding of&cer, and was succeeded by Henry C. Atwood. Dr. Wm. F. Piatt, and numerous other brethren were of the same party, who were known as the Marsh party, and who continued their organization as before, under the name of the old Consistory. Warren Hall, at the corner of Oliver and Henry Street, afterwards called Union Hall, was their place of meeting, where they continued several years, but no work was done, nor was any addition to the number of members made. Public feeling was opposed to every thing that had the least bearing upon, or connection with, the Order. Tlie formation of the body was completed, immediately after ■which an Annuary was published, bearing date 1832, and con- taining a list of the Officers of the body, Grand Dignitaries, Active and Honorary Members, Representatives, Subordinate bodies, and a list of Deputies, altogether making a very large number. The Annuary will be found in the Appendix, (Docu- ment No. 27.) Soon after its establishment, the Consistory of Louisiana, which had been in uninterrupted action from the very com- mencement, (1813) came under its rule. Also several other bodies of the old Consistory came in, and the probability is, that the United Supreme Council would have continued to this day, had it not presumed to interfere with the rights of the Grand Lodges of the various States. It was at once acknow- ledged by the Supreme Councils of France, Belgium, Rio Janeiro, New Granada, Consistories at Cuba, Trinidad, Vene- zuela, and by the Deputy Inspectors General at the different locations where they had been appointed, and were in the exercise of their functions. They sought out the furniture and properties which had been removed from the old Consistory, SCOTTISH RITE OF HEREDOM. 217 had it repaired, made new purchases, fitted up a Reception Hall, and received several applications for members, &c. The Treaty, with its appurtenances, was not yet signed and ratified, but remained unsettled for nearly four years after the formation of the body, viz., 1836. Perhaps as good, if not the best account, of the commence- ment and progress of the United Supreme Council, can be ob- tained from an abstract of the records of the same, which we shall now give. The substance is as follows : 1832. An effort was made during this year, in the midst of the Anti-Masonic excitement, to revive the work of the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, by the Most 111. Bro. De Saint Lau- rent, Marquis de Santa Rosa, and Count, Past Master, Sove- reign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third degree, Ex-Grand Commander, ad vitam, of tbe Supreme Council of South America, New Spain, &c., who had arrived in New York, and who proposed to gather together the fragments of the former Supreme Council and Consistory, and erect a body under the distinct title of the " United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere." The following is a List of the Officers : The Most Liustrious Bretllren, Elias Hicks, Esq., P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. ; Ex Grand Commander, ad vitam, of the former Supreme Council of the United States of America, and Grand Secretary of the M. W. Grand Lodge. M. P. Sov. Or. Com- mander, ad vitam. De Saint Laurent, (Marquis de Santa Rosa and Count, P. ]\T., S. G. L G., 33d deg. ; Ex Grand Commander, ad vitam, of the former Supreme Council of South America, New Spain, &c., &c. M. P. Sov. Ass. Gr. Com- mander, ad vitam. Jonathan Schieffblin, Esq., P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. 1st Lieut. Gr. Commander. Francis Dubuar, Esq., P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. Id Lieut. Gr. Com- mander. Lorenzo de Zavala, Ex Gov. of Mexico, and Ex Secretary of the Treasury of the Mexican United States ; P. M., S. G. L G., 33d deg. M. 111. Minister of State. 218 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Gboege Smith, Esq., P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. 1st Grand Secretary for the English language, and Blustrims Chancellor of the H. E. Mariano Velazquez be la Cadena, Professor in Columbia College ; P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. 2d Grand Secretary for the Spanish and Foreign languages. Joseph Bouchato, Merchant ; P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. M. III. Grand Treasurer of the H. E. John Telfair, Esq., P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. M. 111. Grand Keeper of the Seals. Orazio de Attelis, Marquis de Sant Angelo, formerly Superior OfBcer in the Neapolitan Army : P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. M. III. Grand Expert. Juan Melani, Chevalier de Sussarelli, Ancient Officer of the Guards of the King of Sardinia ; P. M., S. G. I. G., 33d deg. M. III. Grand Captain of the Guards. Lucas Ugartb, formerly Fiscal of the Boyal Treasury in the Havanna, &c., P. M., S. G. J. G., 33d deg. M. Jll. Grand Standard Bearer. Vacancies were left for an Assistant Grand Treasurer Gen- eral, Grand Archivist, Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Sword 'Bearer, Grand Hospitallier and Deputy Grand Master of Ceremonies, which were filled by the brethren present ; but in the course of the year these vacancies were filled, in all, mak- ing seventeen Officers of the Council, with seventeen eflfective members, exclusive of the above. During this year. Brother Le Blanc de Marconnay was initi- ated and elevated to the Thirty-third degree. Shortly after- ward he returned to France, where he was acknowledged, and received, by the Grand Orient as such, and became Orator of the Chamber of Council and Appeals of that body. 1833. The list of officers continued unchanged. A propo- sition was made to the Supreme Council, to bring into it some of the members of another body, which had styled itself a " Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree for the Northern Jurisdiction," sitting in New York. This led to a great deal of dissatisfaction among the members who had be- longed to the old Consistory, and a very bad feeling was the consequence. Many members withdrew, and the Council be- gan again to decline. Still, the records show that its regular SCOTTISH EITB 0¥ HEEEDOM. 219 meetings were kept up, and some foreign brethren reeeiyed the degrees. In the early part of this year, a Committee was appointed to wait upon Brother Timolat, and receive from him the prop- erties of the' Sovereign Grand Consistory, which had been re- moved by him and other brethren, for safe keeping, in the year 1827, with power to pay all expenses which had accrued upon the same. The Committee consisted of 111. Bros. John Tel- fair, Gr. Smith and T. Longworth. The resignation of 111. Bro. Cabrera was received, and the Grand Secretary General was ordered to receive the archives from him. He returned to Spain during the following year. The correspondence was kept up during the year, with all the bodies connected with it by acknowledgement, or deriving their power from the same. 1834. There was no change in the Council this year. The public opposition to Masonry was still at its height. The dissatisfaction in the Council was on the increase, and many of its most zealous members retired from the meetings of the same. A petition was received from 111. Bro. Sylvester de Souza Teller, asking for regular powers to establish, a Sove- reign Chapter of Rose Croix in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, which petition was granted by the Council unanimously. " On the 20th of May, 1834, one of the Eepresentatives of this Supreme Council in the Convention at Paris, the III . ■. Bro .• . the Marquis de Lafayette, breathed his last., mourned alike by the people and Fraternity of Prance, and of the United States, by both of whom his memory will ever be cherished for his many Masonic and civil virtues, and his devotion to the cause of Masonry and of civil and religious liberty. " The official notification of this sad event was communicated by his col- league, 111.-. Bro .-. the Count St. Laurent, to the Supreme Council for the United States of America, &c., &c., in a circular, still carefully preserved in the Archives, of which the following is a literal translation : TO ALL TRUE SCOTTISH MASONS, "On the 10th of May, 1834, our illustrious and beloved Brother General Lafayette, S .•. G .-. !.•. G .-. and Grand Representative of the United Su- preme Council of the Western Hemisphere, near the Supreme Council of Prance, wrote the following at the bottom of the copy of his Patent in the Golden Book (page 80,) of Brother Count de St. Laurent, one of the principal Dignitaries of the said Supreme Council : 220 SCOTTISH MTB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. " ' It is to the extreme indulgence of the Supreme Council of the TTnited States, that being exalted to the Thirty-third degree, notwithstanding the superior knowledge and services of many of my brethren, I am to-day indebted for the eminent favors which the Grand Council of the Western Hemisphere has conferred on me. I accept them with profound gratitude, and will endeavor to merit them by my zeal. May our ancient institution propagate and patro- nize liberty, equality, philanthropy, and contribute to the gi-eat movement of social civilization which most emancipate the two hemispheres. Lafayette.' " The 20th of May, 1834, at half past five o'clock in the forenoon, our be- loved Brother General Lafayette passed to immortality. Let us strive to imitate his virtues, and let us cherish his memory. To the M.. 111.. Bro.-. O. M. LowNDS, 33d deg., De St. Laurent, [l. s.] New York. S . . G . . I.-. G .-. 33d deg. Paris, 21st of May, 1834." 1835. Although many new members had been added to the Supreme Council, yet the dissatisfaction continued, and the popular feeling against the institution of Masonry had not decreased. The Grand Lodge of the State was beginning to make a move in the way of holding an annual communication in June. Many of the Officers and Leaders in the Supreme Council were connected with this body. Although there had never before been a time, in the Annals of Masonry, so favor- able as that period, for the Supreme Council to assume what she deemed her rights over the first three degrees — there being then, virtually, no Lodges of any rite in existence, and no Grand Lodge to constitute them, yet the feelings of a majority of the members of the Supreme Council were opposed to the exercise of this power. Added to this was the popular feel- ing, the state of the times, and the fears of the members, who wefe conscious that the day was not far distant when Masonry would rise again, and resume its place among the benevolent societies of the world. The members of the Grand Lodge saw this, and although they were few in number, with 111. Bro. James Herring at their head, as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, they managed to get up an annual communication, al- though but a few were present, perhaps not one hundred people, all told. This proved to be the turning point with the Order. The annual communications were kept up, and by the SCOTTISH KITE OP HEREDOM. 221 year 1840, they had become not only respectable, but were numerously attended. This revival of the Grand Lodge discouraged most of the members of the Council, and in a short time the United Su- preme Council for the Western Hemisphere went to sleep. A little more than four short years numbered the period of its activity. In the early part of the year 1836 it was on its last legs, although the meetings were continued occasionally until the year 1846, which will be noticed in its place. The regular meetings of Lafayette Chapter of Eose Croix were continued. Bro. H. C. Atwood had been presiding offi- cer for a long time, aad was assisted by Bros. Piatt and Marsh, with others who were members of this Chapter, as well as by some of the old members of Triple Alliance, that Chapter hav- ing ceased its meetings altogether. A number of new mem- bers were received, most of them by affiliation. 1836. This year the ratification of the Treaty took place, being signed in full Council by all its Officers, and was trans- mitted to the Representative at Paris, Count St. Laurent, thus binding the compact between the four Supreme Councils to carry out the Dogma of the rite, Supremacy, Independence, Tol- eration. The Marquis de Lafayette, who was a member of the Supreme Council of France, had been appointed the Represen- tative of the United Supreme Council, near that body, in 1832, was acknowledged and received by them as such, and acted in that capacity until the day of his death. The present year was one of unexampled depression in the mercantile world, especially near its close, and very little inter- est was manifested in Masonic matters. The Council contin- ued to lose its members, and by this time their number had become very small. The regular meetings of the body were, however, continued, and all necessary efforts made to sus- tain it under its difficulties. The meetings of Lafayette Chap- ter of Rose Croix were also kept up, and met with encourage- ment. The brethren became desirous of establishing a new Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, but it was deemed most expedient, after mature deliberation, to wait un- til the difficulties of the times were removed out of the way, 222 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. when they would be able to go forward with better prospects of success. Third, The difficulties, which at this period occurred ia the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, and with which, the members of the Council were connected. We shall first give a short outline of the diflSculty itself, and then show its connection with the Supreme Council, as we think it impossible that the case will be understood as it should be, unless the particulars of the diflS^culty are set forth. By the commencement of the year 1837, the Anti-Masonic excitement had spent its force, and was beginning to pass away. Already the members of the Fraternity who had espoused the cause of Masonry through evil and good report, began to feel great encouragement, and several of the city Lodges had made a strong effort to renew their labors. It is true the number of the Lodges, thus laboring, was small, and the number of attendants upon the meetings of those Lodges so small, that the fact would hardly bear being mentioned. Yet meetings they did have, and were encouraged. Many of the leaders supposed that Masons were kept from appearing at the meetings through bodily fear, or under a sense of shame, as the name of a Free Mason had become dis- reputable in society, and in the street. Yet they believed that there were still numbers to be found, whose attachments for the Order were strong, if they could be aroused and called into exercise, and sufficiently so to embolden them to shake off their fears, to banish their shame, and to stand forth before the world, amid its present contempt for the Order, as " mem- bers of the mystic tie." It is true that the Grand Lodge, a year or two previous, had passed a law, that there should not be any public demonstra- tions made by Masons, as such, at any meetings or public assemblages, and that public and funeral Masonic processions were forbidden by that body. This was done on account of the odium that attached to Free Masonry in that particular season of its adversity. But these brethren were of the opin- ion that the time had come when a public demonstration should SCOTTISH RITE OP HERBDOM. 223 be made, in order, at least to sho-w, that Masonry was not yet dead. They had selected St. John's day, in the month of June, to make that demonstration, and in order to make it as effective as possible, about one month previous to the occurrence of the festival, an advertisement appeared in the daily papers, with- out any signature, calling a meeting of all Free and Accepted Masons, in good and regular standing, at Warren Hall, corner of Oliver and Henry Street, for a certain evening. No par- ticular object of the meeting was stated in the call. Curiosity and strong sympathy for the Order, led the author to attend ■ the meeting, as such an event had not transpired for the ten years previous. On arriving at the place appointed, he found the room, which was large, densely crowded with old familiar faces, and the Chairman, on his entrance, was stating the object of the call, viz., the public celebration of the coming St John's festival, by a procession in the street, religious exercises, and a dinner. After the object was stated to the meeting, there appeared to be a great diversity of opinion among the brethren assembled, among the number of whom was R. W. James Van Benschoten, Deputy Grand Master ; and R. W. James Herring, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge. The discussion became warm, and in the course of an hour after coming together, the assem- bly became any thing else than an orderly one. The brethren had dropped off, one by one, until but a very small number was left behind. The meeting was unsatisfactory, produced no good results, and created a great deal of animosity. It appeared that York Lodge, JYo. 367, had passed a resolu- tion to celebrate the anniversary by an oration, dinner, pro- cession, &c., and had appointed a Committee to wait upon other Lodges, and request their co-operation. Eventually, three Lodges, viz., Hibernia, Benevolent and Silentia, were found who agreed to unite with them in the celebration. The object of the meeting was to increase the number, and the invitation was there given, to all Masons in good and regular standing, to unite with them on the occasion. As the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary had 224 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. made objections to the affair, and called to the minds of those assembled, the Edict of the Grand Lodge, a sub Committee of Five was deputed to call upoa them, and submit the follow- ing question, viz. : " Is there any article in the Constitution which prohibits a procession on St. John's day, without a Dis- pensation from the Grand Master or his Deputy ? " In performance of this duty, they proceeded to the Grand Secretary's office, and there found both these persons, to whom they put the above interrogatory. They both then decided " that there was nothing in the Constitution which prohibited any regular Lodge from celebrating that day in the usual man- ner, without a permission from the Grand Lodge." The Com- mittee of Inquiry reported accordingly to the Joint Commit- tee then ill session, who, thereupon selected a Committee of Arrangements, who performed their duties by engaging a church, orator, music, dinner, &c. Due notice of the contem- plated celebration was forthwith published in all the principal newspapers of the city. Time passed on without any objection being interposed or suggested by any party whatever. On the night previous to the day of celebration, at half-past eleven o'clock, Mr. Atwood received a no'tice, dated on that day, prohibiting the celebra- tion, signed by R. W. James Van Benschoten, and attested by James Herring, Grand Secretary. It was then too late to stay proceedings. The following morning, the 24th, and the day of the celebra- tion, at half-past nine o'clock, Bros. Van Benschoten and Her- ring appeared in person at Union Hall. The R. W. Deputy Grand Master inquired, " What was the meaning of this assem- bly after the Edict of the previous day ? " Mr. Atwood replied, " That he knew of no Constitutional Rule or Regulation of the Order, which authorized him to issue such an Edict ; and fur- ther, if it ever did exist, he had waived it, by informing the Committee, that any Lodge had a right to celebrate this anni-' versary in the usual manner, without a permission from the Grand Lodge." The R. W. Deputy Grand Master then read the Edict forbid- ding the procession. SCOTTISH EITE OF HERBDOM. 225 The Brethren present, over three hundred, voted unanimous- ly to go forward. The procession was formed, the ceremonies were performed in a very orderly manner, and went off with satisfaction to all concerned. On the 12th of July following, a special meeting of the Grand Lodge was held, at which charges were preferred against Henry C. Atwood and William P. Piatt, for appearing in the said procession and encouraging the same. The follow- ing week they were expelled. And on the receipt of the information, " Si. John's Grand Lodge " was organized, and as such, continued to practice the Ancient Rites and Ceremonies until 1851, when the happy union was accomplished with the M. W. Grand Lodge of the State of New York. The dissenting brethren also formed a Royal Arch Chapter, under the name of " Orient Chapter," deriving their authority from 111. Bro. Henry C. Atwood, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third degree, also an Encampment of Knights Templar — both of which bodies continued regular work in those degrees up to the time of the Union in 1851. The meetings of La Fayette Chapter of Rose Croix were continued, and many new members were added to the same. But as the Grand Lodge of the State had expelled most of the brethren who were members of that Chapter, and thus inter- dicted them from communication with the bodies under their jurisdiction, as a matter of course, the addition of new mem- bers to the Rose Croix Chapter, were mostly from the bodies deriving from St. John's Grand Lodge. 1838. The furniture and fixtures of the Sublime Lodge of Perfection, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Sovereign Chap- ter of Rose Croix, and Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, which were before in use by the United Supreme Council, were this year purchased from Bro. Timolat, and paid for by the Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix. They were removed to Union Hall. The regular meetings of the United Supreme Council, except annual, had ceased from want of numbers, and want of interest in the cause. In consequence of the inactivity into which the Council had 226 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. fallen, its correspondence with foreign bodies had been neglected. This was especially the case with the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of Brazil, with which body regular com- munications were had until 1835, after which time the languor of the body was such that there was not found sufficient energy among the members to sustain such a correspondence as the Treaty required. Some four years had elapsed, when in the month of November, 1839, T .-. M .-. Ill .-. Bro .-. Elias Hicks, M. P. Sov. Gr. Commander received from the Supreme Coun- cil for the Empire of Brazil, an ofiicial document (see Appendix, Document 28, Appendage,) inviting the United Supreme Coun- cil to open with them a continuous correspondence, by means of which they may keep one another mutually informed of the requirements and of the prosperity of the Order to which they belong. The document was written with a pen, and is a beauti- ful specimen of chirography, the first words, '' En JVome do M.\ Santo e Gr.'. Arch.', do TJn.'." " Ordo ab Chao," being written in gold. It is in two columns, the left hand column in Portuguese, the other in French. From this period to the year 1846, the meetings of the Su- preme Council were annual, and the records show that the only attending members were Joseph Bouchaud, Francis Dubuar, and five others, all the rest having become disafi'ected and dropped off. The Count St. Laurent continued as the Representative of the body, near the Supreme Council of France. On the 27th of October, 1846, there were present, Joseph Bouchaud, President ; John Telfair, George Smith and John S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary. On motion of Brother Telfair, it was ordered '' that the funds of this Supreme Council, in the hands of the Treasurer, be distributed, pro rata, among the surviving members of the Supreme Council, who composed the body previous to the introduction of new members." In accord- ance with this resolution, III. Bro. Bouchaud paid over to 111. Bro. George Smith, Secretary General of the Supreme Council, to be divided among those brethren, Bro. Bouchaud refusing to receive any part of the same. This date terminated the existence of the body, as then constituted, and it thereby came to an end. SCOTTISH RITE OF HBEBDOM. 227 It will thus be seen that by this date, the United Supreme Council in this branch had dwindled dbwn to four member^. 111. Bros. Elias Hicks and Jonathan Schieffelin were dead ; the Count St. Laurent had returned to Prance, and was Repre- sentative near the Supreme Council there ; the Marquis de Sant Angelo, 111. Bros. Melani, Ugarti, Cabrera, Tellar and Zavala had left the country ; the members had forsaken the body on account of the dissatisfaction before referred to, and the four remaining brethren could not transact the regular business of the body. Under these circumstances they brought it to an end. But it must not be supposed that these four remaining breth- ren were the whole Council or that their acts were binding on those members who had withdrawn. By referring to the An- nuary published (Document 27,) it will be seen that there were many more who were members left behind, all of whom were opposed to any interference with Ancient Masonry, and with- drew on that account. The most of them did not unite with any other body, but some of them claimed membership with the Marsh party and continued their assemblages in the La- fayette Eose Croix Chapter and Consistory formed by them. They were largely in the majority until 1837, when, on account of the expulsion from the Grand Lodge of the Atwood party, they quit altogether, leaving Marsh, Atwood, Piatt, and one or two others to continue the work. This they did until the year 1846, at which time many additions had been made of members hailing under St. John's Grand Lodge, and when the dissolution of the four took place, the Consistory at once suc- ceeded them under the former system — that is, they adopted the former rule, which was " non interference with the first three degrees of Masonry, they being governed solely by Grand Lodges." This work was harmoniously continued until 1850, when the union of the two Grand Lodges took place, thus removing all difficulties out of the way ; the old members again came in ; the proceedings were confirmed ; the body reorganized, and took the position which it had uninterruptedly occupied, viz., the Supreme Council of the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, having only been interrupted 228 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. for a short period by a difference of opinion. The list of members contains the names of 111. Bro. John W. Mulligan, Past Grand Commander ; W. Wright Hawkes, Seth Driggs, John B. Sattertliwaite, David Naar, Thomas W. Satterthwaite, with many others who formerly officiated in the United Su- preme Council. We shall leave this part of the subject here, and shortly return to it again. Fourth, The matters connected with the Consistory at New Orleans. It will be remembered that this body was chartered in the year 1813, went into operation, and continued for twenty years, performing its proper and legitimate duties, viz., up to the year 1833, when the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, thinking her rights invaded as Governor of the Symbolic degrees, solic- ited of the Consistory the formation of a Scottish chamber in her bosom. The request was complied with, the chamber was formed, and continued to exercise its powers until the year 1850, a period of seventeen years. At its commcDcement, the Consistory relinquished to the chamber, all authority over the Symbolic degrees, and worked from the Fourth degree. But during this time, the United Supreme Council (the parent body) had ceased its activity, although in full corres- pondence with most of the other legitimate Supreme Councils of the two hemispheres — and when this fact was made known in New Orleans, the Supreme Council was established there in 1839, took up the correspondence which had been broken, and continued it until 1850. This is important to our history, for by it will be seen that the chain of succession is regularly kept up, and acknowledged by foreign powers from the year 1813 to the year 1850, not by the power of individual inspec- tors, but by the power of regularly constituted bodies, and acknowledged as such by all legitimate bodies of the kind. Mr. Foulhouze, of the Supreme Council of Louisiana, in speaking upon this subject, says : " Although it (the United Supreme Council) had erred, by enteriuw into a Treaty with the Supreme Council of France, the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere had, however, acted according to the true Scotch SCOTl'ISH KITE OP HEREDOM. 229 principle, and its act of ratification, which fully justified onr predecessors, ought to have insured its success. " But the result was not altogether what it ought to have been. The act which was to cause its triumph, occasioned its momentary ruin. The bigots of the Tork Rite became indignant at a Treaty which deprived them of tax payers in their Grand Lodges. The Dalcho Council at Charleston, and the tiourgas Council at Xew Tork,* availed themselves of the circumstance, and came out with their doctrine of sublime submission to Torkism : and truth soon was forced to suffer in a city where its friends were scarce, and unprovi- ded with proper information : and gradually, the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere ceased to give signs of life. Our Ex Grand Consis- tory vainly wrote to it. The letters fell into the dead letter box at the Post Office, and our predecessors were about to take measures to ascertain the cause of the sudden interruption of correspondence, when the Marquis de Sant An- gelo, who, from some time previous, was a member of the Supreme Council, and had been its Lieut. Grand Commander, arrived at Xew Orleans. " It was in 1839. There were then, in New Orleans, several Thirty-thirds, and among others. Brother Conte, who had received that degree in the Grand Orient. The Marquis de Sant Angelo informed his colleagues of the slumber into which the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere had fal- len ; and concurrently with them proceeded to give force and vigor, under the title of ' Supreme Council of the Thirty-third aiid last degree, of tlie Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the United Slates of America.' " That Council once organized, several Princes of the Royal Secret of our Ex Grand Consistory, and among others, our Brother Jean Francois Canonge, were initiated to the Thirty-third degree. Brother Sant Angelo was its first Grand Commander ; after him Brother Conte, who was succeeded by Brother Jean Francois Canonge. " Our Ex Grand Consistory acknowledged that Supreme Council, from its estabUshment in 1839, and passed under its jurisdiction. Some time after, its Grand Secretary, Brother Montmain, entered into a correspondence with a Thirty-third in Paris, Brother Juge, to the end of having our Supreme Coun- cil recognised by the competent authority in France. "Brother Juge called at first on the Supreme Council of France, which de- clined corresponding with us. He informed Brother iNIontmain of that fact, and suggested the idea of calling on the Supreme Council of the Grand Orient. Onr predecessors did so, and on the 14th of April, 1843, that Supreme Coun- cil of the Grand Orient, by a resolution to that eflect, recognized our Supreme Council imder the above given title." This recognition was continued until 1850. * 1847, this must aUade to, because there was no Goargas Council in existence until that tbne. 230 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. In the Report made to tlie Grand Orient, by its Orator, the following account is given ; " In 1839, the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third, Scottish Rite, Ancient and Accepted, succeeded the Scottish Grand Consistory, Thirty-second, and that power, the highest class of this system, inherited the prerogatives of the said Consistory. The Consistory was acknowledged, from its commencement, by the Grand Orient of France, through the Sovereign Grand Consistory, its parent, and the Supreme Council of that State was acknowledged in 1840 by the Grand Orient of France, and was in close and intimate correspondence with it, for more than Iwehe years, as an independent, Sovereign power in its rite. Its regularity is beyond all question. " The Scottish Symbolic Chamber of the Supreme Council of Louisiana was held in the M. "W. Grand Lodge of Louisiana, until 1850, a period of seventeen years, without interruption, and was, at that time, cut off. It was in consequence of this event, that the Supreme Grand Council there, by a de- cision dated September 20th, 1850, resumed her authority over all the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Eite.'' As ve shall not again return to the Supreme Council of Louisiana, and as Masonry in that State, previous to the year 1850, whether of the Ancient or Accepted, or of the York Rite, has been considered, one and the same, it will be as well to finish this part of the subject here, by a very short sketch of the dif&culties there, as well as to correct the mis-statements of M. W. John Gedge, concerning the Supreme Council, which have been published and widely circulated among the frater- nity. We have no disposition to enter upon a critical exam- ination of the proceedings in the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, under the Grand Mastership of Gedge. Those who wish for information, are referred to the published proceedings of that body, in the years 1850 and 1851. The Report drawn up by Leblanc de Marconnay, one or two years after the occurrences had taken place, is free from per- sonal animadversion ; it sets the matter before us in a clear light, and in such a way that it can be easily understood by the most common intellect. He says : " All the Grand Lodges in the United States of America, thirty-two in number, have been constituted after the York Rite, because they originated from England, Scotland and Ireland, where said rite is practiced since the re- vival of the Masonic Order, and where it has ever stood unalloyed. The only exception to this general rule took place in Louisiana, which became a State SCOTTISH RITE OP HBREDOM. 231 of the Union in 1812. The population of said State was, at that time, exoln- Bively of French or Spanish origin. " The first Lodge in Louisiana was founded in 1793, by brethren of various Easts, all united at New Orleans. They applied to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, and obtained from her, and under the name and title of ' Perfect Union; a Constitution, whereby they were authorized to practice the York Kite. The second Lodge was established in 1794, after the Scottish Rite, by the Grand Mother Lodge of Marseilles, in default of the Grand Bast, which, at the time, was not at work, in consequence of the events of the French revo- lution. This Lodge took the name of ' Polar Star Lodge,' which cumulated afterward, the Modern, Scottish and York Rites. Masons from South Caro- lina, established in 1800, a York Rite Lodge, under the obedience of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and bearing the name of ' C/iurity Lodge.' Several brethren from the northern section of the United States, established in 1806, the ' Louisiana Lodge; under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New York, equally practicing the York Rite. In the same year, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania authorized the establishment of a new Lodge after the York Rite, and under the name of ' Harmony,' and another under the name of ' De- sired Reunion; composed of Masons from St. Domingo. " Such was the essence of Masonry in Louisiana previous to the creation of a Special Grand Lodge for that State. Tke constituted authorities and the riles in practice were different. But at that period, Louisiana was but a Masonic territory belonging to a foreign power, and it was then customary for Masons to derive their title from whencesoever they pleased, as long as the majority recognized or established no Masonic authority. All these Lodges lived in perfect harmony, notwithstanding the different communions, and as a matter of course, the rites followed by the Masons of Louisiana, were amalgamated. " The idea of founding a Grand Lodge, belongs to the first of the constituted Lodges, ai)d all said Lodges concurred in a measure, whereby they were to be governed on an equal footing with the Lodges of other parts of the Union. A General Committee was constituted in Convention on the 18th of April, 1812, under the titleof General Masonic Committee for the State of Louisiana, and for the purpose of establishing a Grand Lodge at New Orleans. Said Committee decided that a Grand Masonic Convention, composed of the five first Officers, and of the W. Past Masters of the Lodges represented in its bosom, to be sum- moned on the 6th of June, 1812. A Constitution was adopted, and the Grand Lodge was inaugurated after the York Rite, on the 11th of July, 1812, under the Presidency of the W. Bro. Dubourg, first Grand Master. "On the 15th of March, 1813, a Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the State of Louisiana was also established, independent of the Grand Lodge, in order to regulate the administration of the high degrees of the York Rite. " Finally, the Scottish Masons of Louisiana applied to the proper authority (the Sovereign Grand Consistory, sitting in New York, and the competent authority of said rite) for the establishment of a Grand Consistory for the 232 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Southern portion of the United States. Said Consistory was inaugurated and proclaimed in Xew Orleans, on the 19tli of June, 1813, and became afterwards a dependency of the Supreme Council now existing in that city. 'I'he princi- pal Officers of the Grand Lodge, belonged, in the meantime, to the Grand Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons, and to the Scottish Consistory of Louisiana. Many Lodges worked under the York Kite altogether, and many also under the Scottish Eite, or Modern Constitution, without interrupting the general harmony. " An act of incorporation was granted by the Legislature of Louisiana, to the Grand Lodge, and said act contained no provm, whereby it should be necessary to belong exclusively to the Tork Rite, in order to enjoy its privi- leges and benefits. On the contrary, it is therein stipulated that all regular Lodges constituted, under the authority of said Grand Lodge, are hereby de- clared to be as many corporations, de facto et de jure, under whatever name or title they might be known or called in their Constitutions, with powera equal to those granted by the Grand Lodge. And the Brethren Soulie, Dubourg, Moreau de Lilei, Lefebre, Lemonier, Guibert and Finta, mentioned as petition- ers in preamble of said Act, belonged to the several rites then in practice, and among said rites was the ' Scottish Rite, Ancient and Accepted.' " It is true there existed some discontent among certain Iiodges of the York Rite, claiming the rigorous principles of said rite, and excluding any amalga- mation with other systems. But the Grand Lodge was not, at that period, afflicted with that disease, and she spared no exertion in maintaining uuion among her subordinates. '■ Furthermore, the Grand Lodge, by decree, June 8th, 1833, which decree was noti6ed to the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of Louisiana, established in her bosom, a Scottish Symbolic Chamber, and requested the Grand Consistory to divest itself of the right of constituting Scottish Lodges, and to transfer the same to the said Chamber. This demand was granted, and all the Scottish Lodges exchanged their Constitutive title, for a Patent, issuing from the Gratid Lodge, in her Scottish Symbolic Cham- ber. TIds act proves undeniably, llwt the Grand Lodge of the York Rite, recog- nizes the right of the Grand Scottish Consistory, and consequently of the Su- preme Council, to establish Lodges of its system in Louisiana. "In 1839 the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, succeeded the Grand Scottish Consistory, and that power, the highest of the system, had a personal right to inherit the prerogatives of an inferior authority. This Supreme Council has been recognized by the Grand East of Prance, with which it has held a correspondence for more than ten years, and its regularity at this day is beyond all question. The Grand Lodge is also in correspondence with the Grand Orient, and from tliat period, each of those authorities iu Louisiana has been separately represented, by distinct sponsors, in the bosom of the French Masonic Senate. Encampments of Knights Templar had been instituted in Louisiana, by the SCOTTISH EITE OF HEREDOM. 233 Grand Encampment of the United States of America, and albeit, this system is considered foreign to Masonry by all the authorities professing the several rites, these bodies worked, nevertheless, under the jurisdiction of, or were attached to the other regular Atasonio bodies of the Consistory. " It is true that the York Rite, iu its admirable puritanism, does not recog- nize, as belonging to the Masonic doctrines, the high degrees of the Scottish Rite, those of Heredom, Modern system, Kilwinning, Scotch Philosophy, nor those of the ' Rectified system of Knights Templar, of Mij,lta, and of the Triple Cross.' But it does not forbid its Adepts to take those degrees, and does not consider that they have forfeited their title to Masons, if their incli- nation induces them to become initiated in said degrees. It prohibits only, the wearing of their insignia iu the Symbolic temples. " In 1846, the Grand Lodge of the State of Mississippi, contrary to all rules established between the Grand Lodges of the American Union, constituted several SymboUc Lodges after the York Rite, in and for the Territory of the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana. The latter justly complained of such unfair conduct, and denounced her to all the Grand Lodges, the majority of which, blamed energetically, such an illegal step. The Grand Lodge of Mississippi rested her right upon a pretended violation of the rules established for the practice of the York Rite, which violation resided, according to her opinion, in the cumulation of rites adopted by the Grand Lodge of Louisi- ana. " In 1849, the regular Grand Lodge of Louisiana numbered sixty -six Lodges tinder her jurisdiction, three of which followed the Modern Rite, four the Scot- tish Rite, one cumulated the York, Scottish and Modern Rites, and the remain- der practiced the York Rite. These painful debates lasted until 1850, when a Convention of the Symbolic Lodges of Louisiana called all the Masons of the State, for the purpose of adopting a new Constitution. The Scottish Lodges, together with those of other rites, sent Deputies to the Convention ; but it may be easily conceived that they were defeated by an immense majority of the followers of the York Rite. The Constitution that was then adopted, de- creed, that the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana could establish no other than Lodges of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons. The brethren of the Scottish Rite believed sincerely, that this disposition took in, or received, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, as well as the Ancient York Rite. But such was not the intention of the leaders of the majority in the Grand Lodge, and soon after, the Scottish Chamber ceased to be admitted in her bosom. '•And in order that there should be no misunderstanding about the new in- tentions of the Grand Lodge, she informed the Supreme Council by a special communication, dated March 5th, 1850, that henceforth she would neither con- stitute, nor administer, any other Lodge but those professing exclusively the York Rite. The Scottish Lodges, thus deprived of a proper government, re- turned their Charters to the Grand Lodge, and united under the jurisdiction 234 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. of the Supreme Council, from which they received new Constitutions. It waa in consequence of this event, that the Supreme Council, by a decision dated September 20th, 1850, resumed its authority over all the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Kite. " The various changes which I have related would have been but of a com- mon nature, had not the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, by an incomprehensible intolerance, ordered all the Lodges under its jurisdiction, to shut out the Scot- tish Masons, considering them altogether as spurious and illegal. " The Grand Lodge of Louisiana sought to justify this strange ' Ostracism,' by the authority of two pretended Scottish Masonic powers, viz., the body under the control of Albert G. Mackey, of Charleston, South Carolina, and that of J. J. J. Gourgas, of New York city, who pretend to consider the Su- preme Council of Louisiana as ' spukious,' under the pretence that they did not constitute or recognize it, &c." Here is a plain account of the ■whole transaction, and the proceedings, condensed in few words, free from all the mis- representations and special pleadings by Gedge, and is given in full to show the true state of the case. Mr. Foulhouze, in his pamphlet concerning the rite, says : " Through the notorious J. Gedge, who always dreamed of revolts and scandals, and seemed most happy when fomenting them, the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, established in 1848, a York Grand Lodge in Louisiana, in oppo- sition to the State Grand Lodge which cumulated the rites — that is to say, which administered each of them respectively and separately through corres- ponding Symbolic Chambers. " That attempt did not succeed. John Gedge then caused a Masonic Con- vention to be held at Baton Eouge. The Scotch Masons there present were shamelessly deceived, for when they believed that the decrees of that Conven- tion, which was to effect the union of the two Grand Lodges, had been so worded as to secure their Scotch rights, they learned by the ordinances of the new Grand Lodge, that their Symbolic Chamber was destroyed, and they were placed under the immediate control of York rulers. Thereupon, the Scotch Lodges complained before our Supreme Council, which, by its decree of September 20th, 1850, resumed the sole exercise of power over them. " Gedge knew where the deception lay, and that it was no accident, but the result of artful design. He hated the Scotch Bite, and had attempted all in his power to destroy it. The question, therefore, for him, was to find out how he could carry out his purposes, and as he was unscrupulous about the means to employ, he conceived the idea of becomiog a Scotch Mason himself, if it were possible. He succeeded in finding at Charleston a man as unscrupulous as himself. That man was A. G. Mackey. He came out, at Gedges' request, to establish a Consistory for the government of the rite in Louisiana, which he constituted under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Power at Charleston, ap- SCOTTISH EITE OP HERBDOM. 235 pointing Gedge as the Commander, and therein conferring the high degrees of what they are pleased to call the Scotch Rite, in such a manner as to create disgust, even to those who now exalt him as their Most Potent Monarch, &c." It has been authoritatively stated, that the said Consistory, in concordance with a well concocted plan, was formed in a private room, in the evening, at New Orleans, by Mr. Mackey, who, placing his right hand upon the shoulder of each man in the circle, one by one, and audibly declaring them to be Sub- lime Princes of the Royal Secret, thus constituted them into a ruling body of the Scottish Rite in that State, with John Gedge as their Commander. The following communication was immediately transmitted by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana to the Supreme Council : " New Orleans, March 5th, 1850. *' GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA " " To the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of Thirty- third and last degree, Ancient Free and Accepted Scottish Masonry." " Bkethrbn : " Per mandate of the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, I respectfully hereby inform you that the following Resolution was duly passed and adopted by that body, at its extraordinary meeting of the 4th inst. — " Resolved, That the Grand Secretary of this Grand Lodge shall immediate- ly inform the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, Thir- ty-third degree, meeting at New Orleans, that this Grand Lodge renounces, now and forever, to constitute any Symbolic Lodges, other than as Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. ■' I remain, with the highest consideration, yours fraternally, J. J. B. Massicot." This communication sets forth the result of the whole mat- ter. The Convention had been held at Baton Rouge ; the union of the two Grand Lodges had taken place ; the Consti- tution which was to cut off from membership, all Scottish Ma- sons and Scottish Lodges had been ratified ; the mandate fol- lowed ; the Supreme Council again resumed the rights which she had vested in the Grand Lodge in 1833, whereupon the new Consistory was erected by Mackey, with John Gedge as its head. And now two questions present themselves : What influences were used to bring about this result ? And what 236 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. opinions were generally entertained by the brethren concern- ing these proceedings ? In reply to the first question, it would seem that John Gedge was the principal mover in the whole matter. And having consummated all his plans, which resulted in a Convention, &c., he made a speech to the Grand Lodge, filled with many " errors" which speech, unfortunately for him, has been printed and widely circulated, thus becoming a record and a reference. We shall quote only a few lines of this document, believing they will be sufiicient. The whole report may be found in the Grand Lodge proceedings, Louisiana, 1850. " In pursning this investigation, we find that there are two bodies of this designation : one at Xew York, and the other at Charleston — the first claim- ing jurisdiction over the Xorthern part of the United States, and the other over the Southern. These two bodies date their existence and derive their authority from u. source much more ancient than the one here, and both aver and declare, that according to the Statutes of their Order, none other can legally exist in the United States. These protests have been published, and they have never been contradicted." Again : " I will remark in few words, upon the character of this intrusion upon the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge. Some excuse might be oflTered, were it essentially necessary that the body intruding on us should interfere with Sym- bolic ilasoory, for the purpose of its peculiar rite ; but we are informed that such is not the case. Two bodies bearing the same titles, and claiming the same attributes, exist at Xew York and Charleston, and if there be any ad- vantage and better information derived from antiquity of establishment, they ought to possess them, having existed/or nearly half a century longer than the one here, ^c." The investigation pursued by Mr. Gedge must have been arduous indeed. But where, we ask, did he find this knowl- edge ? Surely, if there had been such a body in Xew York, as he claims to have discovered, or in the city of Charleston, which dated their existence, and derived their authority from a source, much more ancient than the one in Xew Orleans, or the parent body in Xew York, from which it derived its authority— so ancient as to have been in existence for half a century before, &c. — this fact would have been known by the Fraternity of either city. As far as Xew York was concerned, SCOTTISH RITE OP HBEEDOM. 237 the Fraternity there were well aware of the existence of a body, which, at the date of his address, was very nearly fifty years old, which was founded in 1807, and was acknowledged and known all over the world. They also knew of a body which was established in New York by De La Motta, either in 1813 or 1815, which existed four or five years there, and then expired. Since which, nothing was known or heard of it, until the year 1847, when it appears in a new dress, with Gourgas at its head. As it regards the Charleston body, no claim was ever laid, even by themselves, prior to the year 1801. while otliers tlian themselves, very well acquainted with the history of that body, do not allow them any claim before the year 1829 or 1830, at which time they were acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France. And what Mr. Gedge asserted about the "protests which had been published, and had never been contradicted," he knew to be a barefaced, open falsehood, at the time of uttering the same. The reply to De La Motta's pamphlet, published by the Sovereign Grand Consistory in 1811, the several Edicts published afterwards by that body up to the year 1827, the testimony of French and English histo- rians who have treated the subject at large, and last of all, his own personal knowledge, prove this. ^ Mr. Gedge also knew, quite as well, that the Louisiana Consistory was established in New Orleans, in 1813, had a Chamber in the Grand Lodge in 1833, and continued, not only in active operation, but in full communion with the very Grand Lodge, in which he was then speaking (1850) it being of "seventeen years duration," and yet, in the face of all this evi- dence, and of these facts, he declares the body to be spurious and illegitimate ; this assertion, of course, being founded upon what his friend, Mr. Mackey, had communicated to him. One is at a loss to account for such conduct. If Mr. Gedge had not been sadly blinded by his own interest, and had taken a little more pains towards a fair examination, he would have found that these two bodies, as he is pleased to term them, had not the right to decide in the premises, inas- much as neither of them were in good standing, and their claims to authenticity and regularity had, long since, been set 238 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. aside. That they never were the compeers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, or the Consistory of Louisiana, but were denounced by both bodies from the very beginning up to the hour when he delivered his notable address. Not only so, but even the Grand Lodges of all the Northern jurisdiction passed Mr. Gourgas and his " body " by with the most perfect con- tempt, not allowing a place on their records to witness, even the " reception " of any of his communications. It was by means of such statements as these, made by Gedge to the Grand Lodge, that they were led to believe in the spuriousness and illegitimacy of the Louisiana Consistory and Council, and finally shut them out. After the work was con- summated, Mackey stood ready to constitute a Consistory in Louisiana, with Gedge at its' head — but the body did not live long. The parties interested made the discovery, that they were not respected, but became the laughing stock of the fra- ternity, and soon gave up their organization. The address or letter to the M. W. Grand Master Gedge will best express the opinions of the Fraternity there. " A good deal of evil has been done ! that is certain, too certain. But who has done it ? You are well aware, that in violation of all laws of Masonic intercourse, the Grand Lodge of Mississippi founded Lodges in and for the State of Louisiana, exactly as if this glorious State had not already had a Grand Lodge, provided with all the necessary powers. These Lodges soon after founded a Grand Lodge of the York Bite, in opposition to the true and only Masonic Grand Lodge cumulating — that is, protecting all rites. To those who acted thus, I have a right to say, you either were right in acting as you did, or you were wrong. If you were right, why have you subsequently estab- lished a Grand Lodge of no particular rite ? If you were wrong, why do you not allow the Grand Lodge to grant Symbolic Chambers ? Why, in your new Constitution, do you say, that you shall ascertain and propagate the true ceremonial and instruction in the work of Masonry, and enforce their practice, and by a subsequent resolution, proclaim that the ritual is not essential, is more an article of discipline than faith, and is not a landmark of the Order? This is the origin of the evil : ' Index mali labes.' " What right had the Mississippi Grand Lodge to usurp an authority be- longing to us exclusively ? What right had you to interfere with our form of worship, &c. " It is painful to state that such an outrage has been suggested and done by a Brother Mason, who either has a Masonry of his own, or ideas of his own, which must be obeyed. Are the people to be trifled with ? Have we, or SCOTTISH RITE OP HERBDOM. 239 have we not, the liberty of conscience 1 And shall the ambitious whims of one Sectarian, set everything on fire ? We had a, Grand Lodge instituted forty years ago. Under its jurisdiction every Lodge lived in perfect harmony with her sisters, notwithstanding the difference of rites. Weakness, although it would be more Masonic to say: the wish for peace and friendship, caused the real Grand Lodge, numbering sixty-six Lodges under her jurisdiction, to admit this spurious Grand Lodge into her bosom, and, as a matter of course, the author of this outrage was soon appointed Grand Master of the ' Amalgama- tion.^ One would suppose that his ambition being satisfied, so far as noise in the world and Sectarianism are concerned, he would keep quiet and establish a general harmony. But no, he must pull down the whole edifice, and no mat- ter what the consequence might be, he must, in the name of Peace and Brotherly Love, set the brethren at drawn swords against each other, &c. " They felt, however, iu the Sanctum Sanctorum, that this was going a little too fast ; that to amend or upset Constitutions, it was necessary to con- sult the people ; that this new step in the way of innovations might endanger the work they were building up. Somewhat confident in the total ignorance and good -,faith of those whose creed and rite they were about to crush, they held a Convention at Baton Rouge, in June, 1850, that is to say, three months after the autocratic decision by which they had broken their oath ! All Lodges were represented in said Convention. But the Report tells you how the Scotch brethren were defeated. " In presence of such despotic, Anti-Masonic conduct, the Scotch brethren resisted as men, as Masons, and formed an independent corporation under the only Masonic authority existing in Louisiana, de jure et de facto. The balance remained with the new Grand Lodge, swore obedience to her, through indifference rather than from conviction. Soon after this, the very same Sectarian, in his restlessness, caused Brother Albert G. Mackey to come from Charleston, in order to establish a Grand Consistory, exactly as if there never had existed a Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite in Louisiana. Our Sectarian, after abolishing the Scottish Rite, wished to re-establish it, in order to be at the head of it. This Consistory has been inaugurated ; you know it, M. W., for you were admitted into it for proper causes. The manner in which the degrees were conferred in this spurious Consistory is, and will be, an eternal shame to the Brother who has conferred them. " If Masonry is so often an object of mockery, if it is so often treated as nonsense by men of the world, and even by some Masons, it is certainly owing to the conduct of such men as make a traffic of it, either morally or pecuni- arily. The Supreme Council to which I have the honor of belonging, and which, in the Masonic world, is the only real and legitimate Supreme Council for Louisiana, has declared this Consistory ' spurious.' The good faith of many members of this new fangled Consistory has been abused, and I myself, after having had the satisfaction of proving, to some of them, that our Su- preme Council was the only real, authority was commissioned by Brother 240 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Prelia, in his own name, in that of his brother, and of Brother George Arnold Holt, to declare and proclaim to all the brethren, that every thing had been misrepresented to them by the Ex Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, and that they had sent in their resignation ; and you yourself, M. W. Grand Master, you have told me that you had caused this mock Consistory to cease its works, because you had found out its spuriousness." [Ladebat's Letter, 1853.] It appears that, subsequently, a disagreement of some kind took place in the Supreme Council of Louisiana, which resulted in the resignation of Messrs. Foulhouze, CoUens, Faget and Massicott, also Lisbony and Lamothe. Brother Foulhouze resigned and withdrew his membership in July, and the remain- der in December, 1853. (See Appendix, Document 30, Part First.) That in January, 1855, the " Mackey Consistory " of 1852, before alluded to by Brother Ladebat, in his able letter to Gedge, and the old Consistory of 1813, entered into prelim- inaries in a Convention held by the two bodies, in which it was agreed, that all their difficulties should be referred to the decision of the " Supreue Council of Charleston " for adjudiciation. This decision of the bodies was undoubtedly brought about by the resignation and withdrawal of the before mentioned members, leaving the disaffected ones to pursue their own course. No one who is at all acquainted with the history of the Charleston body, will be long in coming to a conclusion what that decision would be. It was, of course, adverse to the Supreme Council of Louisiana, arid the old Consistory of 1813. Whereupon, the remaining members of the Supreme Council dissolved that body, and the members of the old Consistory of 1813, which Brother Ladebat was a member of, transferred all its " rights, powers and privileges " to the spurious Consistory of 1852, which Brother Ladebat had so truthfully described in 1853. This was followed by a " Concordat," or Articles of Union, between the Supreme Coun- cil sitting at New Orleans (disaffected members, who were left by those who resigned), and the Supreme Council at Charleston, the latter body becoming the ruling power, while the former became Honorary Members of the Charleston body, and Depu- ties for the State of Louisiana. Tins was consummated in February, 1855, and the result was, the Consistory of the year SCOTTISH RITE OF HBEEDOM. 241 1852 became the ruling body for Louisiana, and continues so, as a dependent of the Charleston body up to the present day. (See Appendix, Document 30, Part First.) In the meantime, the members who withdrew in 1853, viz., Brothers Foulhouze, Collens, Dufau,'Lisbony, Faget and Massi- cot, united together, and re-established the Supreme Council under James Foulhouze as their Grand Commander. In the month of February, 1855, the date of the Charleston Concor- dat, the meetings of the Supreme Council were suspended, and did not commence again until October, 1856. But they had previously entered a solemn protest against the Concordat, and, at the same time, declared the Supreme Council to be still in existence, and that it continued its works. At the Special Meeting in October, 1856, present, 'Brothers James Foulhouze, Pierre Soule, Thomas Wharton Collens, J. B. Faget, Jean Lamothe, J. J. E. Massicot, Juan Bachino, J. B. Broue, Louis Dufau, B,omain Brugiere and Joseph Lis- bony ; the request of several Scotch Masonic bodies was pre- sented, viz., that the Supreme Council would take them under their charge, and receive them under its jurisdiction. The request was unanimously acceeded to, and Officers to the Su- preme Council were immediately elected.- J. J. B. Massicot was elected as Grand Commander, succeeded by James Foul- houze in April, 1857, who continues up to the present time. That Supreme Council has now under its jurisdiction, eighteen Symbolic Lodges, fourteen Eose Croix Chapters, and twelve Councils of Kadosch, and appears to be in a very flour- ishing condition. Although the Charleston body, under the superintendence and direction of Brother Mackey, have ex- pelled Brother Foulhouze, and have published it far and near, yet it does not seem to have much effect in the Masonic world. Like the edicts of his illustrious predecessor, De La Motta, of notable and happy memory, his " bull" seems to be powerless, and his productions, as in many other cases, fall " still bom." The reply of the Supreme Council will be found in the Appen- dix, (Document 30, Part Second.) So then, the present state of matters in New Orleans, Louisiana, is, one Supreme Council, 242 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Independent, and one Consistory, Thirty-second degree, De- pendant, upon the Charleston body. Perhaps, in concluding this part of the history, it would be proper for us to state, that the attempt is made in the foregoing, to set forth the simple "facts " in the case, but that to all the Fraternity who feel interested in the "differences" existing with the New Orleans bodies, we would say, that a full account thereof is given in the book published by Brother Poulhouze, on one side, and by Brothers Lamarre and Ladebat, on the other, to which they can refer at leisure. CHAPTEE NINTH. FURTHER PROGRESS OP THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. History of the Supreme Council for the United States of America, her Terri- tories and Dependencies resumed. — Henry C. Atwood. — the New Council ; how formed ; and the reasons. — List of its Officers. — J. J. J. Grourgas. — General Grand Chapter. — C. C. Sebring. — The maiden Edict of the Gour- gas Supreme Council. — Confention at Chicago. — Rev. Bro. Walker. — Lodge of Perfection in New Yorli under Gourgas. — Re-organization of the Supreme Council under Jeremy L. Cross The Terms and Conditions. — List of its Officers. — The Edict and Appeal. — Reply to a previous Edict and also to the present one by the Gourgas Council. — Masonic publications Edict by the Charleston Council denying the authenticity of the Patent of Jeremy L. Cross. — Copy of the Patent with the attestation of one of the signers Resignation of Jeremy L. Cross. — Reasons. — Re-organization and Installation by the 111. Bro. James Foulhonze, Sov.-. Gr.-. Commander for Louisiana. — List of Officers Installed Treaty between the Supreme Coun- cil for the United States and the Supreme Council for Louisiana. — Leblanc de Marconnay. — General Mosquera. — Resignations. — List of Officers in 1855.— Petition for New Bodies.— Death of 111. . Bro.. Henry C. At- wood. — List of Officers in 1857. — Supreme Council for the State of Con- necticut. — Bodies under its Jurisdiction Supreme Council for the State of California Sov .•. Gr .•. Consistory for the State of New Jersey. — Sov .•. Gr .-. Consistory for the State of Massachusetts History of the Gourgas Council established in 1848. — Split. — Raymond Council Recapitulation Sublime Lodge of Perfection at Albany, New York. — Giles Fonda Yates. — A Review of his Speech. — Pacts stated. — Conclusion of the work of the Sublime Lodge. We will now return and take up tlie history of the Supreme Council of the United States of America, and bring it to a close. It will be remembered that in the year 1837, a split took place in the Supreme Council, or rather, more properly speak- ing, a division was made by reason of the expulsion of Brother Henry C. Atwood and his coadjutors, from the Grand Lodge 244 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. of the State of Xew York. At this time a second, or new- Grand Lodge was formed, under the title of " St. John's Grand Lodge,'' which chartered its own Lodges. It will also be recollected that Mr. Atwood, at this time, was Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third degree,- and held the power of the same, confirmed and countersigned by Dewitt Clinton, the M. P. Sorereign Grand Commander, which, ac- cording to the Laws and Constitutions of the Order, gave him the power for life, to establish, congregate, superintend and instruct Lodges, Chapters, Colleges, Consistories and Councils of the Royal and Military Order of Ancient and Modern Free Masonry, over the surface of the two hemispheres, &c. Taking advantage of his position as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, he chartered a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, under the title of Orient Chapter, a Council of Royal and Select Masters, and an Encampment of Knights Templar. Under this organization, in the course of a few years the bodies pros- pered, and largely increased in numbers. He, at the same time, continued the meetings of Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter, being its presiding oflicer, and established a Consistory of Sub- lime Princes of the Royal Secret. In due tima- he gathered around him the old members of the United Supreme Council, who, with others that had been elevated to the Thirty-third degree he formed a Supreme Council which took the place of the old body which had been dissolved. This happened in the year 1846, or nine years after the formation of St. John's Grand Lodge. From 1832 to 1837 the Consistory and Rose Croix Chapter moved on in harmony ; but when the expulsion of the members of St. John's Grand Lodge took place, many of the old members of the Council withdrew, leaving Brothers Atwood, Marsh, Piatt and othets in possession. They continued to work on, and at the time alluded to, viz., 1846, on hearing of the dissolution of the body, composed then of but four members, they at once took their place. Bro. Marsh died early in the year 1846, so that his name does not appear in the new Council. Xor does Bro. Piatt's name appear, so that the Consistory as then constituted, on this account, was made up entirely of new men who had SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 245 been initiated under the auspices of, and were members of St. John's Grand- Lodge. It consisted of the following persons : The 111. Brothers. Henry 0. Atwood, Sov .•. Grand Commander, John W. Timpson, Deputy " " John W. Simons, Lieut. " " Edmund B. Hays, Minister of State, Daniel Sickles, trrand Secretary General of the H. B., Geokge E. Marshall, Grand Treasurer, Thomas Hyatt, " Keeper of the Seals, A. Colo Veloni, " Master of Ceremonies, Dayid Cochrane, ' " Captain of the Guard. This organization continued in existence, up to the time of the union of the two Grand Lodges, in the winter of 1850 and 1851. In the month of April of the latter year, the Council was re-organized, the causes which led to it being as follows : In 1846, as has been before remarked, a portion of the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere, presided over by Elias Hicks, was brought to an end. Mr. Gourgas had lived in perfect obscurity, from the time of the overthrow of his " body " in the year 1818, from which time, up to 1848, he was utterly unknown to the Masonic world. During the years 1845 and 1846, a movement was made by some persons, to build up a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. They found that the United Supreme Council had dis- continued its meetings, also that Masonry was on the increase. The matter had been canvassed over at the preceding meeting of the General Grand Chapter, and some efforts were there made to gain adherents. They were successful as it regarded numbers, preparatory to their organizing as a body. They began to canvass among themselves who should be their head, or Grand Commander. Hearing that 111. Bro. C. C. Sebring, a member of the Supreme Council at Charleston, resided at Tarrytown, New York, they waited upon him, and requested him to become, by virtue of his power, their Grand Commander for the Northern Jurisdiction. On looking over the list of names then presented to him, Mr. Sebring replied to them, that it was true he was a member of the Charleston Council, but that he did not know Mr. Goui-gas, as either a member of the 246 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Council or a Mason, that he (Mr. Gourgas) was never a mem- ber of the Charleston body ; that he was entirely unacquainted with all the other gentlemen, and declined having any thing to do with them whatever. Failing in this application, they con- sulted together, and after due deliberation, made up their Coun- cil of the following persons, with Gourgas at their head, viz., J. J. J. Gourgas, Giles Fonda Yates, Edward A. Eaymond, Killian H. Van Rensselaer, John Christie, Charles W. Moore and Archibald Bull. Having organized themselves, they issued their first, or maiden edict, bearing date of June 1st, 1848. But it is not probable that they 'were fairly and completely organized befwe 1848, as Brother Mitchell thus speaks of them in his Masonic History, Vol. 2, page 88 : " To guard against evil surmises, the author deems it proper to state that, in 1847, the Eev. Bro. Walker, then an Episcopal Alinister at Chicago, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, invited or called a Convention of Royal Arch Masons, from that and the surrounding States. To this Con- vention Brother Walker exhibited his authority, given him by the ' Grand Council of Xew York,' over which Brother J. J. J. Gourgas presided. The author was invited to deliver a public address to said Convention ; and during his visit, Brother Walker, in the presence of the late Brother Barney, com- municated to him all the degrees of the said Scotch Rite. AVhen he received the Thirty-third, and the charges appertaining, he respectfully, but firmly, de- nounced t/ie whole, as inconsistent with, if not opposed to, Free Masonry ; whereupon Brother Walker very properly withheld from him such documents as, otherwise he would have been entitled to. And now he is told by the Brother who claims to have written, and delivered said authority, that Brother Walker transcended his powers. Be this as it may, the recipient feels no sort of concern, as he has never sought or desired intercourse with the Society, but he confesses that, with the imperfect knowledge of the degrees as communica- ted, he did seek and desire to know more of their history, &o." From which we conclude that the authority given to Brother Walker was the individual power of Gourgas, who, from the mere fact of his being a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, hasassumed this power, probably giving other names as officers than those which appear on the document of 1848. We judge thus, because it is not usual, or in order, for any lawful body of men (Masonic) to give such power to any individual mem- ber, either to initiate an assemblage of men into the degrees, or to confer the Thirty-third. There could not have been an SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 247 organized body at this time under the " Statutes, Institutes, ^c," for if there had been, this power could never have been given, unless by a speciatl decree of the full body. It is in direct con- travention of the laws. And further, we judge thus, because Brother Walker's name does not appear on the document of 1848, nor on any published proceedings or acts of any of their bodies, not even as a member. It is very evident that he vs^as to have acted an important part in this new body. He had been Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, and was, at the time referred to, the M. W. Grand Mas- ter of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, an Episcopal clergyman, and one v^ho was very well known to the Masonic fraternity. But he was left out to make room for others, who, perhaps, were better known and more deserving. As has been before mentioned, the first public intimation that was had of such a body, was the issue of a published Cir- cular, under date of June 1st, 1848, which was directed to all the Grand Lodges in the United States, and duly forwarded ; but from a careful examination of the published proceedings of all of them, in that year and the year following, we do not find that any notice whatever was taken of it, in any of these bodies, with one exception. That body Tvas the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. In the published proceedings of this body, in the year 1849, this document was inserted at the end of the book, as a "'fly-leaf; " no mention whatever being made of it in the proceedings. This circumstance brought down the " censure of the Grand Lodge " upon the Grand Secretary, for allowing it to appear in the book. He pleaded ignorance in mitigation, stating that he found it among the " Documents," and supposed it was proper to print it, and was not aware at the time, that the Grand Lodge had voted it under the table. The Document will be found in the Appendix, No. 31. This publication would have passed without notice and have been forgotten, but for the occurrence of a slight circum&tance. ■ A dissatisfaction had arisen among one or two of the members of St, John's Grand Lodge, relative to these degrees. They sought out Gourgas in his obscurity, obtained from him the de- grees, and subsequently established a Lodge of Perfection in 248 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. the city of New York. They were zealous in the cause, had a room very splendidly fitted up, and proceeded with the work under the protection of Gourgas. This brought the new Coun- cil iuto notice, and the members of that Lodge, smarting under the slight which they felt that they had suffered, were ready at all times, on their part, to fan the sparks of discord into a flame. No means were left by them untried, to bring the old Supreme Council, or Atwood Council, as it was then termed, into contempt. It was at this stage of proceedings that the Author entered into the work of attempting to build up the old Council on a better foundation. He had been absent from the city for the two preceding years, and during that time, the union of the two Grand Lodges had taken place. There was nothiug to prevent a complete union of the members of the old body, and accordingly, in the year 1851, the work was com- menced in earnest. In order that it should be properly effected, it was deemed necessary to find a Grand Commander, if possible, one of the old members. But most of them, together with the active members, had passed away, or had i-emoved from the city. It happened that Bro. Jeremy L. Cross was then a resident. Knowing that he held a Power or Patent, as Sovereign Grand Inspector General, both from the Sovereign Grand Consistory and from the Supreme Grand Council of Charleston, South Carolina, the former bearing date 1815, and the latter 1825, full and complete, the author waited upon him, and explained to him the necessity of taking a stand in the matter, in order to overcome the strong opposition which was then developing itself against the old Council. Mr. Cross then brought forth his Patent, which had lain dormant from the time of its recep- tion, and stated that he had never used it, because of his at- tachment to the ritual, and the principles of Ancient York Masonry, as well as on account of the light opinion he had entertained of the so-called " Ineffabk degrees." He was an old man. From his young days he had been educated in that system ; he had labored earnestly through the years of his life to build it up, and was so firmly fixed in his opinions, that he saw no other Masonry in the world but that par- SUPREME COUNCIL— U> S. A. 249 ticular form, and that all else under that name must be sub- servient, and give to it, viz., the York Rite, precedency in all things. But at the same time, he manifested a willingness to take the office, if it was clear that he could benefit the Order of Ancient York Masonry, to which he was so much attached. The conditions on which Mr. Cross gave his consent to be- come the Grand Commander of the Council were as follows : First, That it should be a fundamental law of the Council, that none but Royal Arch Masons should be received up to the Sixteenth degree, or Prince of Jerusalem, and Second, The remaining degrees open only to Knights Temp- lar. Although this was virtually closing the doors of the bodies under the jurisdiction of the Council, against a very large number who were desirous of being initiated, yet these conditions were acceded to, at least for the present time, and the reorganization was commenced. Bro. Henry C. Atwood, although holding authority from the old Council, and at that time Grand Commander, consented to take any office that would most conduce to the interest of the body, and according- ly the M. W. Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Con- necticut, Bro. Wm. H. Ellis, was solicited to take an office in the body. He consented, and was assigned the office of 111. Minister of State. The M. W. Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, Bro. John S. Darcy, M. D., also accepted an office ; also the Rev. Salem Town, W. G. Chap- lain of the Grand Lodge of New York. Also Wm. H. Jones, Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. Brother John W. Simons and the Author, completed the required number. W. Bro. Haswell, of Vermont, declined, and his name was at once erased, according to his request. Bro. Cross named him as an Officer, being entirely unac- quainted with his feelings, and presuming upon a long friend- ship. It was thought at the time this reorganization was com- pleted, that the array of influential nEimes would give a charac- ter to the body among the Fraternity, who were well acquain- ted with them all, and accordingly, as soon as all was in readiness, the following Edict was published, together with a full notification in the daily papers : 250 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. (See Appendix, Document 32.) It is proper to mention here, that to this Document were ap- pended five Seals : the date of four of which were 1815, and the Rose Croix Seal, the year 1795. These Seals were the property of Mr. Cross ; his own Seals, bearing date at the time he was received into the Supreme Council at New York, and constituted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, with power to confer the degrees, which power he never made any use of, as has been before stated. They were not a counter- feited article, as his opponents have been pleased to assert. He also received at the same time, from the hands of Mr. Cer- neau and the hands of Mr. Thomas Lownds, a full set of the rituals of all the degrees. This set was one of the three men- tioned in the notes at the end of the Document in the Appen- dix, and was in his possession at the time he was the presiding officer of the Council. One other set came from the Louisiana Consistory, and the third from the Supreme Council at Charleston. Bro. John Barker and himself both having a copy. The Rose Croix Seal dated 1795 was a copy of the Seal which he had in his possession, being that of the " Triple Union Rose Croix Chapter " of that date. In the publications and Documents issued by the Supreme Council since that time, these Seals have been copied, thereby leading some persons astray as it regards the date of the origin of the Council, viz., 1807. These remarks are made to correct this error. As might have been supposed, the announcement which appeared in the daily papers, of the re-organization of the Su- preme Council, and the issuing of this Document, stirred up all the ire of the opposite body, as well as the Supreme Council at Charleston, and brought forth from them the replies which will be found in the Appendix, Document No. 33. The two " counterfeited " stamps, mentioned by the New York body, have no allusion whatever to the Document to which the name of Mr. Cross is attached — but to Docu- ment 34. Following close upon these circulars, the 111. Bro. Charles W. Moore, Editor of the Free Masons Monthly Magazine, of SUPREME CODNOIL-U. S. A. 251 Boston, and 111. Bro. Albert G. Mackey, M. D., Editor of a Masonic monthly in Charleston, opened their batteries with all the virulence and bitterness of De La Motta in his palmy days. Having no desire to take up space in the history by a repro- duction of any of these memorials of folly, we will proceed. At the re-organization in 1851, many of the old members of the Council came in. In the month of June, Hon. John W. Mulligan, Past Grand Commander, visited the body, and con- firmed the proceedings of the same. The meetings now became regular, and a union of the Grand Lodges having pre- viously taken place, all former causes of difference and dissen- sion were removed. The correspondence with various Supreme Councils was renewed, and Petitions were received for the re-organization of several subordinate bodies. In 1852, in consequence of the continued ill health of the M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, Bro. Jeremy L. Cross, he was obliged to tender his resignation, and shortly after, removed from the city to Haverhill, New Hampshire, where he remained until his death. Rev. Salem Town also had resigned his office. as Grand Keeper of the Seals. In accordance with the petition of the members of " Jerusa- lem Chapter, Rose Croix," that body was re-organized and again commenced its labors. " Lafayette Chapter Rose Croix " also re-commenced its work under the old Warrant. Several communications were received during the year from the Supreme Grand Council of Louisiana, for one of which see Document 36 ; and in the month of July, The M. 111. Grand Commander, James Foulhouze, presented himself from that Supreme Council, with proper credentials, and was received in ample form. There were various weighty reasons which, at this time, called for a new organization. Mr. Cross had been prostrated by disease, had resigned, and jemoved from the city. The office of Grand Commander was vacant. Rev. Salem Town had also resigned. Under the present organiza- tion, tlie officers were so far from the city, and from each other, that it was found almost an impossible thing to get a full meeting of the body for the transaction of the most important business. And further, the " rules " laid down by the Grand 252 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Commander concerning the " reception of candidates," debarred any new members from coming in. As 111. Bro. Foulhouze was then present, and the members being desirous that the list of of&cers should be full, the fol- lowing brethren were then installed by Bro. Foulhouze, in his ofl&cial capacity : The Most Illustrious Brothers, Henky C. Atwood, M. p. Sov. Grand Commander, Eugene Tatet, " " Deputy " " Dezelids, Lieut. " " P. Eom.LiEH, Grand Keeper of the Seals, David Cochrane, " Master of Ceremonies, William Wokk, " Standard Bearer, Edward Unkakt, 111. Grand Treasurer, Robert B. Polgbr, " Secretary General. Charles G. Watekbuby, Gr.-. Captain of the Guards. A Treaty of Union was entered into between the two Coun oils, and the III. Bro. Foulhouze sailed for France during the latter part of that month, (July,) bearing with him the united' application of both Supreme Councils, to the Grand Orient of France, for recognition, and a renewal of the correspondence which had ceased. Bro. Foulhouze returned from France in the month of December, and presented to the Supreme Council the Report of Leblanc de Marconnay, Orator of the Chamber of Council and of Appeals, also a very interesting letter from 111. Bro. Marconnay to the Grand Commander, encouraging the hope, that so soon as a meeting of the body should take place, the probability was, that the recognition and acknowledgement would be confirmed. This hope, however, was not realized. But for various reasons we would here recapitulate. The testimony has been given concerning the establishment of the Consistory in 1807. — its uninterrupted continuance up to the year 1828 — its re-establishment as the " United Supreme Coun- cil " in 1832 — its continuance up to 1846, when it ceased. Also the particulars concerning the " split " in 1837 — the formation and continuance of the Consistory there up to 1851, when the reorganization took place under the full authority of Jeremy L. Cross — those proceedings confirmed by Hon. John W. Mulli- SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 253' gan, Past Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consis- tory. We now come to the second confirmation, viz., the Su- preme Council of New Orleans, which succeeded the United Supreme Council in 1839, was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of Prance, and in full correspondence with the same. 111. Bro. James Foulhouze was at that time Grand Comman-' der, and possessed full plenipotential powers for all his acts. The powers to which the author alludes, were given by the Supreme Council of New Orleans. The Document appointing him was signed by the members of that body, was in posses- sion of tiie Author, by him presented to the Supreme Council here. The Document was carefully examined, and was known to be true. The Signatures and Seals were correct, and the Document was in proper form. Subsequent letters from the members of the Supreme Council of New Orleans, received by the Author during the absence of Bro. Foulhouze, confirm the authenticity of that Document. In 1853, the Sovereign Chapter Princes of Eose Croix, un- der the definitive title of " La Sincerite," chartered by the Su- preme Council of New Orleans, came under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Couucil here. On the 8th day of March, a Petition was received from a number of brethren, asking for a Scottish Lodge in the Symbolic degrees, under the definitive title of " John, the Forerunner," the ritual to be per- formed in the English language. Said Petition was acted upon, and the prayer of the petitioners was granted unani- mously. Also a Petition from a Constitutional number of brethren, (French,) asking for a Lodge in the Symbolic de- grees, under the definitive title of " La Sincerite," Ancient and Accepted Rite, the ritual to be performed in the French lan- guage. Said Petition was unanimously granted, and tlie Lodge subsequently constituted in due form. On the 1st day of April, 111. Bros. Henri Rilliet and Gustav. Coutant, having been proposed as members of the Supreme Council, and accepted, were received in due form — were constituted and proclaimed as Sovereign Grand- Inspectors General, Thirty- third degree. In the early part of the year, the 111. Bro. Leblanc de Mar- 254 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED connay, Orator to the Chamber of Council and of Appeals, was elected an Honorary Member of this Supreme Council, and a Diploma forwarded to him, with other Documents. On the 4th day of April, the M. P. and 111. Bro. General T. C. de Mosquera, of New Granada, was received in ample form by the Supreme Council, and the most friendly congratulations were exchanged. In the following October, a reply was received from the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of New Granada, forming an alliance with the Supreme CouncU of New York, and appointing T. 111. Bro. Henri Rilliet, Repre- sentative for the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of New Granada, near the Supreme Council of New York. (See Document No. 37, Appendix.) Owing to some difficulties occurring with the German Fra- ternity, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Hamburg, T. III. Bro. Edward Unkart, Treasurer General, tendered his resignation to the Supreme Council, which was received and acted upon. A vote of thanks was passed for services rendered, and the vacancy made by his resignation was filled by 111. Bro. Henri Rilliet, thus preserving the offices complete. In the early part of the year 1854, the resignation of T. 111. Bros. Eugene Vatet, Elorimond RouUier and Dezelius were received and accepted, after which they withdrew their mem- bership from the Council. Some difficulties and dissensions having arisen in " Lodge La Sincerite JYo. 2," the labors of that Lodge were suspended, and the said Lodge subsequently with- drew from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council, and placed itself under the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. With the exception of the above named brethren, the Officers of the Council remained the same as before. The withdrawal of " La Sincerite Lodge " was altogether owing to influences from opposing brethren. In 1855 the following Officers were elected : The Most Illustrious Brothers, Henet C. Atwood, Grand Commander, Edmund B. Hays, Deputy Grand Commander, Danikl Sicklbs, Illustrious Minister of State, Hopkins Thompson, Grand Keeper of the Seala, SUPREME OOUNCII^U. S. A. 255 The Most Elustrious Brothers, Charles W.WiLLETTS, G-rand Master of Ceremonies, Charles W. Atwood, " Standard Bearer, Henby Rilliet, f " Treasurer General, Robert B. Polgee, " Secretary General, David Oooheanb, " Captain of the Guards. At the first meeting in March, a Petition was received from ten brethren, who purposed to take all the degrees, with the view of establishing a Lodge of Perfection, a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, a Council of Kadosch, and a Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. After a proper examination and inquiry had been made, the Petition of the above mentioned brethren was acted upon, and proper instructions given concerning the manner of receiving the degress, before an answer could be given in full. In the month of May following, the above brethren having received the degrees, renewed their Petition for a Sublime Lodge of Perfection, which was acted upon favorably, and the said Lodge was duly constituted May 2d, under the distinctive title of " .Atlantic Jfo. 1." At a subsequent meeting of the Council, the Petition for the remaining bodies was renewed, and acted upon favorably. And by the latter part of July, same year, "Warrants of Constitution were issued for a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, a Council of Kadosch, and a Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, all of which were duly constituted, the whole being completed by September Ist. The number of members to those bodies increased with rapidity. During this year, T. 111. Bro. Seth Driggs, S. G. I. G., and Grand Commander of the Grand Consistory, Island of Trini- dad, renewed his membership with the Supreme Council, and deposited his former Commission with the same. — Commission was renewed. Also 111. Bro. Doctor Richard S. Spofford, Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts, re- siding at Newburyport, deposited his Commission, which was renewed. Applications were also received from the States of Maine and New Hampshire by parties who were desirous of establish- ing a Consistory in each of those States. The number of the 256 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. applicants being constitutional, and their recommendations unexceptionable, the application was placed in the hands of 111. Bro. Jeremy L. Cross, with the request that proper inquiry- should be made, and a report rendered to the Supreme Council as early as it could be done. The state of health in which Bro. Cross then was, prevented a speedy reply. The general affairs of the Supreme Council during this year were in a pros- perous condition. In 1856 the Oflficers were the same. All the bodies depen- dent upon the Supreme Council continued their labors in har- mony, and the prospect of a continuance of good feeling among the brethren was more than usually flattering, especially as the strong opposition which had hitherto disturbed the peace of the brethren had ceased. A correspondence had been commenced with the Supreme Council of Belgium during the closing part of the year, which, in April following, produced a very favorable reply, with the acknowledgement of the body, and the appointment of a Representative near the Council at Brussels, viz., T. 111. Bro. Edward Fischer, Thirty-third. (See Document No. 38, Appendix.) During the succeeding four years, until January, 1860, there is not much to record, except the usual routine business per- taining to the body. 111. Bro. Henry C. Atwood removed from the city to the State of Connecticut, on account of ill health. His iniirmities continued to increase upon him after his removal, and in the month of September, 1860, he died. He was, perhaps, while living, one of the most expert workmen in the " Art of Masonry " to be found, and left behind him a name, which will long be remembered with pleasure, by the Fraternity at large. His perception was quick, his memory retentive, his zeal and industry in acquiring Masonic knowl- edge, unsurpassed. And he was always apt and ready to im- part to others, all the knowledge he was himself possessed of, having a faculty for this peculiar calling, which very few per- sons are found to possess. Naturally headstrong and obstinate, with great independence of thought, he, like all others of this class, made many enemies ; but there were traits of kindness SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 257 in his character which were strongly marked, the remembrance of which, covers, as with a mantle, his errors and imperfections, and call forth feelings of tenderness and regret, when we realize that he has departed, to return no more. The changes in the offices, which took place during these four years,, were quite few and unimportant. In 1857, Bro. Robert B. Folger tendered his resignation as Secretary Gen- eral, being unable to attend to the duties of the office on account of intended absence from the city. In 1858, Bro. Daniel Sickles retired ; and in 1859, Bro. Henri Rilliet with- drew on account of ill health. These offices were all filled at once, and the work of the body continued with the usual dili- gence and unanimity. On the death of 111. Bro. Atwood, who was then Grand Commander, the following persons were elected to fill the offices of the body : TLe Most Illustrious Brothers, Edmund B. Hays, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, Hopkins Thompson, " " Lieut. " " George L. Osbobn, 111. Secretary General of the H. E., BoBEBT B. EoBERTS, " Treasurer " " " Charles W. Atwood, " Grand Keeper of the Seals and Archives, Charles W. Willetts, " Minister of State, and Grand Orator, William Work, •' Grand Standard Bearer, Wm. H. Jarvis, " " Captain of the Guards. During the year 1858, a considerable number of brethren residing in Connecticut, who had received the degrees from the Supreme Council of New York, were anxious to establish a Supreme Council for that State ; and having made arrange- ments for that purpose, forwarded their request to the body in New York. They were accordingly constituted as follows : The Most Illustrious Brothers, Edt^'ard W. Atwood, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, William R. Higby, Illustrious Lieut. " " Marcus C. Allen, " Secretary Gen'l of the H. E., David W. Thompson, " Treasurer " " " John W. Clark, " Min. of State, and Grand Orator, Charles Webb, Grand Keeper of the Seals and Archives, Thomas Hutchings, " Master of Ceremonies, Ward S. Bbbbe, " Standard Bearer, Eli 'J'hompson, " Captain of the Guards. 258 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. This Supreme Council has under its jurisdiction, a Grand Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret, Thirty- second degree ; a Council of Kadosch, Thirtieth degree ; a Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Rose Croix, Eighteenth de- gree ; a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Sixteenth degree ; and a Lodge of Perfection, Fourteenth degree ; all of which are in a flourishing condition. The Grand East of this Su- preme Council is at Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1860, several Illustrious Brethren, members of the Su preme Council here, who had, in past years, emigrated to Cal- ifornia, organized themselves as a body, and made application to be constituted a Supreme Grand Council for the State of California, to hold an East in the city of San Francisco. In accordance with their application, they were constituted aa follows : The Most Illustrious Brothers, James C. L. Wadsworth, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, Leander Ransom, Illustrious Lieut. " " J. Frank IIii.ler, " Secretary General of the H. E., John W. Tucker, " Treasurer " " " William Norris, " Minister of State, and Grand Orator, Hiram W. Leonard, " Grand Keeper of the Seals, Clement Ferguson, " Master of Ceremonies, George F. Hooper, " Grand Standard Bearer. The Grand East of the Supreme Grand Council for the State of California is held in the city of San Francisco, and the Order is in a very flourishing condition there. Many new members have been added, and other bodies constituted by it, since its oi'ganization. On the 23d of January, 4862, nineteen Illustrious Brethren, residing in New Jersey, having received their degrees from the Supreme Council of New York, and having made application to be constituted into a Consistory for the State of New Jer- sey, were so constituted by the Supreme Grand Council of New York ; 111. Bro. Edmund B. Hays, Sovereign Grand Commander, and are now proceeding with the regular and constitutional work of the body. Its location is at Trenton, SUPEEMB COUNCIL— U. S. A. 259 New Jersey. The Most 111. Bro. John Sheville is appointed Deputy Inspector General for that State. The following is a list of the Officers installed : Thomas J. Carson, M. D., G. S. W. of the G. L., G. H. Priest of the Grand Chapter, and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of New Jersey, Commander in Chief, George B. Edwards, Deputy Commaiider in Chief, Joseph H. Hough, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, 1st Lieut .•. Commander, Wm. T, "Woodruff, 2d " " Wm. E. Staqg, Grand Minister of State, Eeuben S. Van Tassell, " Chancellor, John Woolverton, M. D., Gr. Sec'y of the Grand Chapter, Grand Secretary, S. E. Terrill, " Treasurer, Wm. E. Clapp, " Keeper of the Seals, Wm. Armstrong, " Engineer, W. G. Nicholson, " Hospitaller, James E. Emerson, " Master of Ceremonies, Charles Beohtel, " Cap .-. of ^e Guards, John P. Nelson, " Standard Bearer, A. P. Howell, " Sentinel. 111. Bros. David Naar and Thomas W. Satterthwaite, both members of the United Supreme Council for the Western Hem- isphere in 1832, and signers of the ratification of the Treaty in 1836, were present at the installation, and took an active part in the proceedings. On the 3d day of May, 1862, in compliance with the petition of a constitutional number of Illustrious Brothers, who had previously received their degrees from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, New York city, the Officers of the Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, for the purpose of constituting a Grand Consistory, Thirty-second de- gree, for that State, and installing the Officers of the same. The ceremonies were of the most interesting character. The following is a list of the Officers installed : 260 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Ulustrions Brothers, Gilbert J. Nourse, Cambridge, P. M., P. H. Priest, P. G. G. of the Grand Euc't of Mass. and Ehode Island, &c., Grand Commander in Chief. John K. Hall, Somerville, P. M., H. Priest, Dist. Dep'y G. Master, &c., Deputy Grand Commander. EioHAKD M. Barker, Boston, P. M., \st Lieut. Grand Commander. "Wm. P. Knowles, Cambridgeport, P. M., President of Council of Eoyal and Select Masons, &c., 2d Lieut. Grand Commander. Richard S. Spoffokd, Jr., Newburyport, P. M., HI .: Min .: of State, and G .: .: Nicholas Hathaway, Dorchester, P. M., Grand Chancellor. Elihu C. Baker, Medford, P. M., Ex President of the Senate, Mass., Grand Secretary. Albion K. P. "Welch, Cambridge, P. M., Grand Treasurer. Robert Lewis Datis, Watertown, P. M., J Grand Engineer and Introductor. "Weare D. Biokford, Brighton, P. M., Grand Hospitaller. James R. Gardner, Boston, P. M., G. P. S. of Grand Chapter, Mass., Grand Master of Ceremonies. James E. Bugbee, Somerville, P. M., Grand Captain of the Guards. Daniel W. Lawrence, Medford, P. M., Grand Sentinel. me:^ibers. Benjamin F. Nourse, P. M., Grand Lecturer for John D. Jennings, P. M., L. MuDGE, P. il., aud W. P. Butterfield, P. M. For list of Officers, Active and Honorary Members of tlie Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, see Document 41. We shall now give a few particulars of the Gourgas Coun- cil, established in 1848, in the city of New York, styling itself the ''Supreme Grand Council for the Northern Jurisdiction.'' We have before stated that Mr. Gourgas was Secretary General of the Supreme Council started by De La Motta in 1813, which body became extinct in the year 1818, unless it is SUPEEMB COUNCIL— U. S. A. 261 conceded, that according to tlie version of the Constitutions of Frederick, " a Supreme Council once founded can never cease its existence, so long as one of the Inspectors remains alive." Upon this doctrine they base all their regularity and powers. Upon this ground Mr. Gourgas stands, and has remained, up to the present day. Hence all the wild and silly pretensions he has made during the time that he stood alone, from the year 1818 up to the time of the formation of his new body in the year 1847 or 1848, such as carrying on a cotrespondence with foreign bodies, conferring degrees, establishing Councils, issuing powers, &c., and hei\ce much of the trouble and con- troversy under which the Fraternity have suffered for long years. And although, as a general thing, both at home and abroad, they consider the doctrine and the story of Frederick and his Constitutions, a forgery and a fraud, or to use the words of Kloss, " the big lie of the Order," yet that body have it stereotyped, and it makes its appearance regularly in all their published transactions, speeches, &c., up to the very last. If this doctrine be correct, what position would the Cerneau body occupy by the side of the Gourgas body ? Mr. Cerneau founded and established the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council in 1807, which is more than six years ante- rior to the date of their formation, and from the hour of its first foundation up to the year 1862, there has never been a period of time in which there were not more than a dozen regular Inspectors living, who were in good standing in every particular. The question of regularity on this basis could be decided without a single moment's hesitation. But it happens that this very doctrine forms the distinguishing feature be- tween the two bodies, to wit., that the Cerneau body, from its very foundation, discarded it altogether, and declared itself to be governed by the Statutes and General Laws and Regula- tions- of the Masonic Order. We hear nothing of Mr. Gourgas and " his Council" during all this period, viz., from 1818 until 1848, except that he had established a Supreme Council in England, corresponded with foreign bodies, and conferred the several degrees upon numer- ous persons. In 1848 his Edict is issued, by which it appears 262 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. that he has elevated to the Thirty-third degree several persons, and constituted them into a Supreme Council. The Edict may- be found in the Appendix, Document 31. Its object is to define the position df the body by declaring the boundaries of its jurisdic- tion and the degrees which it assumes to control. It does not " renounce," but merely " waives " its right to control the first three degrees, " to take it up again whenever circumstances may require." This doctrine is still advocated by both the Gourgas and the Charleston bodies. The oflScers ap|)ear in the Docu- ment as follows : J. J. J. GouEGAS, M. P. Sov. Grand Commander, 33d, ad vitam, Giles Fonda Yatbs.M. 111. Insp. Lieut. " " " Edwakd A. Raymond, Illustrious Treasurer General of the H. E., KiLLiAN H. Van Eenssblaer, ' Master of Ceremonies, John Christie, " Captain of the Life Guards, Charles ^Y. Moore, " Secretary General of the H. E., Archibald Bull, Sov. Grand Inspector General, 33d. This body continued its seat in New York city until the year 1851, during which period but little was effected in the way of building itself up. The Edicts issued by the body ap- pear in the Appendix, Document 33, with accompanying one from the Charleston body, both denying the authenticity of the Patent of 111 .'. Bro .•. Jeremy L. Cross. These Edicts, as we have before stated, were followed by very severe and uncalled for remarks in the Boston Masonic Monthly, edited by 111 .•. Bro .•. Charles W. Moore ; and by the Charleston Monthly, edited by 111.-. Bro.-. Albert G. Mackey. A copy of the Patent, word for word, is therefore given in the Appendix, Document No. 35, attested by C. C. Sebring, Sov.-. Gr .-. Ins.-. Gen.-., Thirty-third, a member of the Charleston Council at the time it was given, and a signer of the same. It was attested in 1851. At that time most of the signers had passed away. Moses Holbrook died in 1815 ; Frederick Dalcho in 1837 ; Horatio G. Street in 1849 ; and M. Levy is reported as " deceased, but no date of his death." Alexander McDonald, if alive, was residing in England ; and Joseph McCosh was sup- posed to be then residing in the Western part of the State of South Carolina ; James Moultrie, M. D., was then living in SUPEEME COUNCIL-U. S. A. 263 Charleston, South Carolina. These were the signers of the Patent. The exhibition of the Patent itself, together with the attestation of 111 .•. Bro .". Sebring ought to be satisfactory. Bro. Cross is now dead, but the Document can be seen and examined at any time required. Its authenticity was never called in question by any other parties. Besides the above mentioned Edicts, there was issued pre- viously one other circular from the Sovereign Grand Consis- tory and Supreme Council under Henry C. Atwood, to which the Edict of the Gourgas body alludes. See Appendix, Docu- ment No. 35. In the year 1851, 111 .'. Bro .*. Gourgas resigned his post as Grand Commander, and the seat of the Supreme Council was removed to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. There was no official reason given at the time, why its location was changed. At the stated meeting of the body in September of that year, an address from 111 .•. Bro .". J. J. J. Gourgas was read, in which he formally tendered his resignation into the hands of 111 .•. Bro .'. Giles Pouda Yates. A short examination of its contents will be found in Document No. 40, to which the reader is referred. After the reading of this letter. 111 .•. Bro .•. Giles Fonda Yates followed with an address, in which he took occasion to repeat the story of Frederick of Prussia with all its connec- tions. He also made the statement, " that the principal de- grees of the rite appeared in an organized form in Prussia, France and Scotland in 1713, and that English brethren were working in ' Lodges of Harodim ' in Paris in 1725." Such statements as these, coming from a person who has hitherto been reputed as well informed upon Masonic subjects, would lead one to the inference that whoever had adopted such an opinion had been greatly mistaken. Those errors, with others contained in the address, are so gross as to need no comment. A portion of the address is reviewed at the end of this chap- ter. It was closed by his resigning the office of Sovereign Grand Commander into the hands of 111 .•. Bro .-. Edward A. Raymond. The list then stood : 264 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Edward A. Raymond, of Boston, M. P. Sot. Gr. Commander, ad vitam, EoBEKT P. DuNLAP, " Brunswick, Ue., M. 111. Lieut. Gr. Com., Simon W. Robinson, " Lexington, Mass., " Gr. Tr. Gen. of the H. E. Charles W. Moore, " Boston, " Gr. Sec. Gen. of the H. B. Giles P. Tates, " Schenectady, N.T., " Grand Chancellor, H. E. Archibald Boll, " Troy, New York, " Sov. Gr. Insp. Gen. " Joseph K. Stapleton, " Baltimore, Md., " " " " " " Nathan B. Haswell, " Burlington, Vt., " 1st 111. Gr. Cap., L. G., Amjii B. Young, " Boston, Mass., " 2d " " " There had not yet been formed a Consistory in any of the States of its jurisdiction. It appears by the published pro- ceedings that there were several applications for such bodies then before them, and it -was announced that Val /. Bros .•. John D. Moriarty, Charles S. Westcott, and Wade B. Wor- rall, accredited officers of the Sublime Grand Lodge of Per- fection, and Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, established in New York city, under the auspices of J. J. J. Gourgax, late Sovereign Grand Commander, had arrived for the purpose of receiving the Superior degrees. They were accordingly ex- alted to the Thirty-second degree. Eev. Bro. Geo. M. Ran- dall, Deputy Grand Master of Massachusetts, and M. W. Wil- liam Field, Grand Master of Rhode Island, were also exalted to the same dignity. Applications were received from Val .•, Bros .'. Jarvis M. Hatch, Wm. E. Lathrop and John L. Lewis, Jr., and their associates, asking for the establishment of a Lodge of Perfec- tion and Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem in Western New York ; and from Achille J. Rousseau, Richard Bloss, Amos K. Hadley, John S. Perry and their associates, for the same bodies in Eastern New York, which were acted upon favorably. The organization of the Sovereign Grand Consistory was then completed ; whereupon the M. W. Rev. Paul Bean, P. G. M. of Massachusetts, &c., Benjamin B. French, 'G. M. of G. L. of the District of Columbia, Philip C. Tucker, G. M. of the G. L. of Vermont, and Wm. H. Milnor, P. G. M. of the G. L. of New York, were proposed and elected in due form to receive the high degrees. The Rev. Bro. Albert Case, Thirty-third, hailing from the SUPREME COUNOIL-U. S. A. 265 Southern jurisdiction of the United States, but then a resident of Massachusetts, was recognized by affiliation. This maj' fairly be considered as the commencement of the organization, and from this period the work of the body pro- gressed harmoniously. Through the succeeding years up to 1860, the strife between the rival bodies had ceased, and by this period the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction had organized a Sovereign Grand Consistory in the city of Boston as its appendant body, had constituted Grand Consis- tories in the States of Ohio, New York, Rhode Island, Mass. Pennsylvania, Illinois ; in all of which States there were Chap- ters of Rose Croix, Councils of Princes of Jerusalem, and Lodges of Perfection. The whole number of bodies under their jurisdiction in 1861 was between thirty and forty, and their location was as follows, Boston and Lowell, in Mass.; Portland, Maine ; Portsmouth, New Hampshire ; Newport, Rhode Island ; Stonington and New Haven, Connecticut : New York, Phila- delphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Cambridge and Cincin- nati, Ohio ; and Chicago, Illinois. During the latter part of the time mentioned, the interest in the Order seems to have ceased, as the returns published, indicate but very little work done in the way of initiations. Still all the bodies continued their or- ganizations, and made their regular returns. The list of officers seems to have continued the same as in 1851, with a few exceptions. The names of Giles Fonda Yates, Archibald Bull, Joseph H. Stapleton, and Nathan B. Haswell, were withdrawn, and in their places appear the names of the Rev. Albert Case, Wm. B. Hubbard, Charles Oilman and C. R. Starkweather. This was in 1859 — Giles Fonda Yates was then Deputy for the State of New York, John Christie for New Hampshire, and Killian H. Van Rensselear for Ohio. They notice the names of the following Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, residing within the jurisdiction, viz. : Rev. Paul Dean, Framingham, Mass. ■ John J. J. GouEGAS, New York, N. Y. Hon. Archibald Bull, Troy, " Feancis Tuenbe, New Haven, Conn. Andres Cassaed, New York City. 266 SCOTTISH EITR, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. This state of Harmony continued in the body through all this period, up to Aug. 24th 1860, the officers remaining as be- fore. Judging from the published proceedings of the bodies, all was quiet within. But there appears to have been serious dissatisfaction somewhere, and it culminated on the date above mentioned. The Sovereign Grand Commander, 111.-. Bro.*. Raymond, abruptly closed the Council in the midst of its pro- ceedings, sine die — without any apparent cause. Whereupon the 111 .'. Gr .■- Commander retired. The brethren, officers of the Supreme Council, who remained, after having taken advice from 111 .•. Bro .•. Gourgas, met the next morning at 9 o'clock, and declaring that the Sov .•. G.'. Commander had acted in an unconstitutional manner, placed the 111 .•. Deputy Van Rens- selaer in the chair, who declared the Council open, for the dispatch of business. An Election then took place for the pur- pose of filling the vacancies in the Supreme Council, and the following Inspectors were unanimously elected, viz. : 111. . KiLLiAN Van Rensselaer, P.-. Lieut.-. Gr.-. Commander, " C. R. Starkweather, Grand Minister of State, " John Christie, " Master of Ceremonies, " Archibald Bull, " Marshall, " Wm. B. Hubeaed, " Standard Bearer. The Council also made the following appointments : Bl.-. 0. B. Starkweather of Chicago, 111 .. Deputy for Illinois, In- diana and Wisconsin. 111.-. 0. T. Caeson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Deputy for Ohio, Pennsyl- vania and Michigan. And as there was a disagreement in the body before, con- cerning the Rev. Albert Case and Peter Lawson, it was resol- ved, that the Eev. Albert Case was a member of the Supreme Council, in good standing, and tlie lawful Assistant Grand Secretary General of that body, and that Peter Lawson having been illegally and unconstitutionally elevated to the grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, it is hereby declared that this Council do not recognize him in that capacity. They also expelled the 111 .•. Bro .•. Andres Cassard of New York, and for- mally requested 111 .•. Bro .'. Edward A. Raymond Sovereign Grand Commander to resign, on account of his advanced age, SUPKEMB COUNCIL— U. S. A. 267 physical infirmities, his extreme opinions, assumption of pow- ers, arbitrary exercise of authority, &c., &c. The following brethren were proposed for the Thirty-third degree, viz., M. W. Winslow Lewis, M. D. G. M. of the Grand Lodge, Wm. Parkman of Boston and Wm. S. Gardner, of Lowell. At the Annual Communication in May 1861, the number of active members who composed the Supreme Council, was in- creased to thirty-three — including therein, the existing mem- bers — and the following members were elevated to the Thirty- third degree, viz. Winslow Lewis, M. D. ; William Parkman, William S. Gardner', A. B. Thompson, H. A. Johnson, N. H. Gould, A. E. Stocker, M. D. ; George W. Deering. And thefollowing Deputies were appointed, viz. : 111 .-. A. E. Stocker, M. D., for Pennsylvania, " Gen'l A. B. Thompson, " Maine, N. H. Gould, " Rhode Island, " W. S. Gardnbe, " Massachusetts. A series of charges were preferred against 111. Bro. Edward A. Raymond, Grand Commander, and Protests entered against the legality of the act perpetrated by the Sovereign Grand Commander, iu conferring the Thirty-third degree upon Wm. Field of Rhode Island. At the meeting of May 20th 1861, 111. Bro. Edward A. Raymond was deposed from the office of Sovereign Grand Commander. The Supreme Council then proceeded by election to fill the ofiice, and the 111. Wm. B. Hubbard of Columbus, Ohio, was declared unanimously elect- ed. Also a Treasurer General of the H. E., \\^hich ofiice was declared vacant. Ill .". Wm. Parkman, was unanimously elect- ed in the place of 111 .'. Simon Robinson the former Treasurer General. Ill .•. Charles W. Moore Grand Secretary General tendered his resignation, and 111 .". Winslow Lewis, M. D., was unanimously elected to that ofiice, and 111. Bro. Moore accept- ed the ofiice of Grand Standard bearer, having acted as Secre- tary General from the time of the organization of the body. At the Annual Communication in May 1S62, the following brethren were exalted to the Thirty-third degree. 268 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Hon. JosiAH H. Deummond, ] " Wm. p. Feeble, [• Maine. Edward P. Buenham, J Hon. Newell A. Thompson, Maj. Gen. Wm. Suttox, John McClellan, N. B. Shuetleff, M. D., Chaeles a. Davis, M. D. Hon. Bbxjamin Dean, Mass. Fitzgerald Tisdall, Joseph D. Evans, New York. Rev. D. B. Tract, Michigan. RoBT. H. Foss, Illinois. It should be stated that 111 .*. Andres Cassard was restored at this Communication, to all his former rights and privileges. Ill .•. Bro .'. Killian H. Yan Rensselaer, was elected Sove- reign Grand Commander in the place of 111. Bro. Edward A. Raymond, expelled. 111.'. Bro.". Josiah H. Drummond, was elected P. Lieut. Grand Commander. Ill .•. Bro .•. Benjamin Dean, of Mass. Grand Captain of the Guards. Wm. Field, Peter Lawson, George M. Randall. Charles S. Westcott, ajid John- A. Foster, were visited with the "extreme peiial.ty" of the Grand Consistory, see Document No. 43. After having filled all the vacancies which had occurred in the body, the proceedings appear to have been harmonious to the end. A Committee was appointed for the purpose of pro- moting the unity of the A. aud A. Rite in the Northern juris- diction ; after which this Supreme Council brought its labors to a close. For a List of OiEcers, Active ilembers, etc.. &c., See Document No. 4J-. On the withdrawal of the 111. Bro. Edward A. Raymond, Sovereign Grand Commander, from the Supreme Grand Coun- SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 269 cil, the same closed sine die ; it will be remembered that the 111. BB. who remained, proceeded with the work of the body as before. Whereupon 111. Bro. Raymond, assuming that he had full power centering in himself, according to the Constitution of 1786, at once filled the offices of the Council which he considered had been vacated by this movement. The most, if not all the brethren with whom he made up the Council, appear to have been members of that body at the time, at least so far as the Sovereign Grand Consistory was concerned, and those of them who were only possessed of the Thirty-second degree he exalted to the Thirty-third. They assembled in Annual Session May 21st, 1861, and the proceedings published, give the following names as present at the opening of the body : M.-. P.-. Edwakd a. Raymond, Sov.-. Gr/. Commander, P.-. Slmon W. EobinsoNj Lieut.-. Gr.-. Commander and Gr. Trcas. Gen. 111.-. Peter Lawson, Grand Master of Ceremonies, " "William Field, " Cap.-, of Life Guards, " Eev. Geo. M. Randall,. " Minister of State, " Lucius R. Paige, " Marshall. The office of the Grand Secretary General was declared vacant, and the Sovereign Grand Commander nominated and appointed 111. Lucius R. Paige, and duly installed him into office. He also removed Killian H. Van Rensselaer from the office of Deputy Inspector General for any portion of the Northern Jurisdiction, and appointed 111. Peter Lawson as Assistant Grand Secretary of the body. A document appears to have been issued by the Sovereign Grand Commander, December 20th, 1860, entitled " Oeder No. 2," which declares " that all documents purporting to come from any other source than that emanating from Edward A. Raymond as Grand "Commander, are spurious, void, and of no effect ; that the Sovereign Grand Commander re-calls and revokes the exequator of K. H. Van Ransselaer as Deputy, and gives notice that all dues and revenues must be paid to the 111. Treasurer General, Simon W. Robinson, of Lexington, Mass., who is the only person authorized to receive them. 270 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. A letter of " Caution" was also issued by the" body, warning all loyal brethren not to visit any Lodge, Council, Chapter, or Consistory, within the jurisdiction, nor to hold Masonic inter- course with any BB .-. of the Ancient and Accepted rite, who do not acknowledge and yield obedience to this Supreme Grand Council. After organizing a Sovereign. Grand Consistory, the M. P. Sovereign Grand Commander delivered an address before the body containing in full, his views of the proceedings which led to the disturbance and separation, a brief outline of which we shall attempt to give. He states, after noticing in an appropriate manner the death of 111. and Rev. Bro. Paul Dean, that in accordance with the unanimous vote of the Council, at an Annual Meeting, the 111. BB.-. Wm. Field, of Providence, R. I. ; the Hon. Peter Lawson, of Lowell, Mass. ; Lucius R, Paige, of Cambridge, and Rev. Geo. M. Randall, of Boston, Mass., have been unanmiously admitted to the Thirty-third degree, and that those four brethren have been duly appointed to offices in the Council, have been regularly installed in their several stations, and are now active members of the body. And that there are two vacancies yet to be filled. After alluding to the disorderly proceedings, he claims that the Supreme Council, since its location in Boston, has had no regular book of proceedings kept, and that the Grand Secre- tary General, for the last two years past, has withheld from him all official documents addressed to the body, or to himself as Secretary General, which has involved him in a seeming neglect of duty. Also the proceedings published after his closing the Council, which were clandestinely circulated in distant parts of the jurisdiction for weeks and months before they were circulated in Boston ; and, finally, that on the 20th December^ several months after publication, he received a copy forwarded to him from a brother in a Western State. He complains of the statements therein contained as unfair, and calculated to mislead ; and that the meetings of the body after he had closed it, were altogether in open violation of the Constitution — a foul conspiracy, and productive of evil SUPREME COUNOIL-U. S. A. 271 results. He attempts to eater into particulars by stating that, " Previous to the Annual Meeting in 1860, the 111. Bro., R. P. Dunlap, died. That his body was hardly cold in the grave ere he received an application from K. H. Van Rensselaer soliciting the appointment of Lieut. Grand Commander in the place of 111. Bro. Dunlap. The indecent haste of the applica- tion disgusted him and he refused. This refusal mortified and chagrined Van Rensselaer, he sought to overthrow the Council and erect another upon its ruins." At the Annual Meeting in May, the plot developed itself, but the business of the Annual Session having been finished, the Council was closed without further embarrassment. The following August a Special Meeting was called. Charges preferred against 111. Bro. Andres Cassard, were fully sus- tained, and he was expelled. The day following, an attempt was made by Van Rensselaer to re-instate him by " simple resolution." The Sovereign Grand Commander refused to entertain the motion. A communication from Cassard was then presented by the Secretary General. The Sovereign Grand Commander would not allow it to be read. The business being finished, the Commander declared the Council closed until the next morning at 10 o'clock. Van Rensselaer (then not a member), openly announced that there would be a meeting of the body at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. This meet- ing was held. The next morning the Council met at 10 o'clock as adjourned ; and after finishing the business, the Commander closed the Council sine die, stating that there were strong and unmistakeable evidences of insubordination, &c. Again, Van Rensselaer gave notice that a meeting would be held in the afternoon of the same day, and requested his friends to be present. They met, as per appointment, for several days, during which time they organized a Supreme Council, sent out their circulars, &c. 111. Bro. Raymond, attempts to justify his proceedings by the Constitutions of 1786, and declares that the Commander is Sovereign and Supreme ; that he does not receive his office by 272 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. election, but is placed there by his predecessor, without a vote or confirmation, by virtue of his legitimate position. He is Commander, ad vitam. Here follows a review of the Constitu- tion of Frederick — a relation of the manner in which the body deposed and expelled him — the manner of constituting the Supreme Council — and closing by issuing a letter of caution, warning all brethren, &c. The proceedings are closed with a list of the officers of the body as follows : M. P. Edward A. Eaymond, Boston, (P.G.il.), Sov. Gr. Com. ad vitam, P. Simon W. Robinson, Lexington, (P. CM), Lieut. Gr. Commander, 111, Peter Lawso.v, LoweU, (P.D.D.G.^l.), Gr. Treas. Gen. H. B. " Lucius R. Paige, Cambridgep't, (P.D.G.M.), Gr. Sec. Gen. H. E. " Geo. M. Randall, D.D., BostoN, (P.G.M.), Gr. Min. of State, " Chas. T. McClenachan, New York, Gr. Mas. of Ceremonies, " VTm. Field, Providence, R. I., (P. G. M.), Gr. Cap. of Life Guards, " Wm. B. Hubbard, Columbus, Ohio, (P. G.M.), Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen. 33d " J. J. J. GouRGAS, N. T., (P. Sov. Gr. Com;), emeritus, S. G. I. G. lU. Aaron P. Hughes, Nashua, N. H., (G.M.), S. G. L G., 33d degree, " Deputy for New Hampsliire, " Chas. S. Westcott, New York, " " New York, " John A. Foster, " " " New Jersey, " E. T. Carson, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sov. Gr, Ins. Gen., 33d degree And in the month of January, 1862, the Council issued an Edict of Expulsion, declaring Charles W. Moore and Killian H. Yan Rensselaer to be no longer members of the Supreme Council or of the rite, and prohibiting all loyal Scottish Masons from holding Masonic intercourse with the parties. See Doc. Xo. 42 and 43. The Edicts of both Coun- cils, each expelling the members of the other, are placed side by side. " Behold how good and how pleasant it is, &c." It is believed that this is a plain statement of the facts given, which led to the disorderly proceedings and the separation, from which the reader can form his own conclusions. As both the Yan Rensselaer and the Raymond bodies profess to be loyal to, and to be governed by, the Constitutions of 1786, they will be obliged to settle the difficulty between themselves, as other bodies professing the same rite, and s.cknowledged SUPREME COUNOIL-U. S. A. 273 from the very commencement as regular, have long since discarded all such instruments as unworthy of notice, and are, therefore, disqualified from giving a judgement in the premises. One thing, however, is certain, viz., that there are now Iwo Supreme Councils in Boston and one Sovereign Grand Consis- tory, hailing, from the Supreme Council of New York (Cerneau), all rivals to each other, and each having their subordinate bodies throughout the Western hemisphere. How long this state of things may continue it is not possible to foresee ; but the contempt and bitter reproaches which such proceedings bring upon the Order, cannot be too greatly magnified or too severely condemned. RE C API TULA TION. The following Supreme Grand Councils of the Thirty-third degree. Ancient and Accepted Rite, now exist in the United States .: "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HER TERRITORIES, AND DE- PENDENCIES." New York. Renounces all rule over the first Three degrees. "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF THE NORTHERN JURISDICTION, U. S. A." Boston, Mass. " Waive " all right over the first three degrees. (Van Rens- selaer, Grand Com.) "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF THE NORTHERN JURISDICTION, U. S. A." Boston, Mass. " Waive " all right over the first three degrees. (Edw. A. Raymond, Grand Com.) "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN JURISDICTION U. S. A." Charleston, S. C. " Waive " all right over the first three degrees. "SUPREiME GRAND COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA." Located at New Orleans, controls the first three degrees, and has over Twenty Blue Lodges under it. 274 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA." Located at San Francisco, renounces all right over the first Three degrees. "SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF CONNECTICUT." Located at Bridgeport, renounces all right over the first Three degrees. Besides the above Councils, there are Consistobies in the following States : NEW YORK CITY— Established by the Gourgas body— A Rival to the Supreme Council. NEW YORK CITY— Established by the Raymond body— A Rival to both. ^ BOSTON, MASS.— A Rival to both Supreme Councils there. NEW ORLEANS, LA.— Established by Charleston Council — A Rival to Supreme Council there. TRENTON, NEW JERSEY— A Consistory by Supreme Council of New York, (Cerneau). hWim f obge of ip^rfedion. AND COUNCIL OF PRINCES OF JERUSALEM, AT ALBANY, N. Y. Having omitted in the history a particular notice of these bodies, and as there are many curiosities brought to light in the examination of this part of the subject, we feel it to be an act of duty to place what information we may be possessed of before the Fraternity, in order that it may not be said that ■we have neglected altogether to make mention of them. It is pretended that the Lodge of Perfection at Albany was founded there by 111.*. Beg.'. Henst A. Feanckbn, one of the Deputies of Stephen Morin, 1767. The seal of this Lodge bears this date upon it. We have reason to doubt the authenticity of the date. SUPREME COUNCIL—U. S. A. 275 Prancken was the first Deputy appointed by Morin after his arrival in St. Domingo. It is barely possible that Francken himself was made a Deputy before this date, and more than probable that the seal is his private one, containing the date of his commission from Morin, viz., 1767. As it was the invariable custom of Deputies to place their own seal upon all documents issuing under their hands, which seal always bore the date of their individual commission, we coQclude this to be one of that 'kind ; and that the Lodge in Albany was not found- ed so early as 1767 by several years. Again, Francken ap- pointed Moses Michael Hays in the city of Boston, Mass., and we have nothing of the doings of Hays until 1780, although he' had resided in Boston several years before that date. It is said that Morin himself established at Kingston, Jamaica,»a Lodge of Perfection in 1769, which proves clearly that Morin resided in the islands at that time. But it is also said in the Register of Abraham Jacobs : " That in 1774 Bro.-. Henry A. Francken established the Royal Orders in Jamaica, and continued at their head for several years, which afterwards fell and laid dormant." Here is a fiat contradiction — but both statements go far to show that both Morin and Francken were residents of the West Indies, and that Francken did not reach this country so early as the date named on the seal. Moreover, Hays had been appointed by him for this country, and was a resident here. This point, however, is not a very material one. The Lodge was established in Albany, by Francken, at sometime between 1767 and 1781. How long it continued operations there does not appear. After a while it went to sleep, and its very existence appears to have passed out of the memory of the " oldest Inhabitant." In the meantime, Bro.'. Giles Fonda Yates appears upon the stage of action — becomes a zealous workman in Sublime Masonry ; and, finally, M.'. P.'. Sovereign, Grand Commander of the Gourgas Supreme Council. At a meeting of that body in the city of Boston, Mass., in September, 1851, he delivered an address, from which the following extract is made ; 276 SCOITISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. "1 turned my atteation to the history of the Sublime degrees very soon after my initiation as a Mason. My intercourse, in 1822, with several old Masons in the city of Albany, led to the discovery that an Ineffable Lodge of Perfection had been (stablished in that ancient city -on the 20th December 1767. I also discovered, that not only the Ineffable, but the Superior degrees of our rite, had been conferred at the same time on a chosen few, by the founder of the Lodge, Henry A. Francken, one of the Deputies of Stephen Morin of iUustrious memory. It was not long, moreover, before I found the original warrant of this Lodge, its book of Minutes, the Patents of 111. Bros. Samuel Stringer, M. D., Jeremiah Van Eensselaer, and Peter W. Tates, Esquires, Deputy Inspectors General under the old system ; also the Regula- tions and Constitutions of the nine Commissioners, &c., 1761*— and other documents that had been left by Bro. Francken with the Albany bi^thren— when he founded their Lodge. With the concurrence of the surviving members of said Lodge in Albany, Dr. Jonathan Eights, and the Hon. aud E. "W. Stephen Tan Rensselaer, P. G. M., of the Grand Lodge of New York, I aided in effecting its revival. The necessary proceedings were thereupon instituted to place the same under the superintendence of a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, as required by the old Constitutions ; and such Grand Council was subsequently opened in due form in said city. "Having been made aware of the 'new Constitution of the Thirty-third degree,' ratified on the 1st of May, 1786, conferring the Supreme power over our rite, on ' Councils of nine brethren,' I hastened to place myself in cor- respondence with Moses Holbrook, M. D., at the time Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council at Charleston, and with my esteemed friends, Joseph ilcCosh, Illustrious Grand Secretary General of the last- named Council, and Bro. Gour^as. at that time Illustrious Grand Secretary General of the H. E. for this Northern Jurisdiction. Lodges of Perfection in the Counties of Montgomery, Onondaga, Saratoga, and Monroe, in the State of New York, wore successively organized and placed agreeably to the Consti- tutions, under the superintendence of the Grand Council before named. The establishment of this last-named body was confirmed, and all our proceedings in Sublime Free Masonry were legalized and sanctioned by the only lawful authorities in the United States, the aforesaid Supreme Councils. " On the 16th day of November, 1824, 1 received a Patent, appointing me S. of S. of a Consistory of S. P. of the R. S, established in the city of Albany. I would here also state, that on the 13th day of February, 1825, Charters were granted to Illustrious Bro. Edward A. Raymond, of Boston, Jfass., and eight associates, constituting them a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem. A Charter was also granted them for a Consistory of S. P. E. S., both bodies to be holdeu in the city of Boston. All the several bodies named, as well as the ' A mistake — as they were not put together and passed upon by the Convention until Sept. 22a 1762, and did not reach the United States, until long after that time. SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 277 Albany Grand Council and Consistory have, since their establishment, paid due faith and allegiance to our Xorthern Supreme Council. " In 1825 I took my vows as a ' Sovereign Grand Inspector General ' between the hands of our said Brother, Joseph McCosh, he having been specially deputized for that purpose. I was shortly after constituted, and accredited the Representative of the Southern Supreme Grand Council, near this Northern Supreme Grand Council, of which last I was made, and have ever since been, a member. " The proofs are undeniable, that the learning contained in the ' Sublime degrees ' was taught long previous to the last ceirtury — our M. P. Bro., Dalcho, thinks shortly after the first Crusade. In Russia, France, and Scotland, the principal degrees of our rite appeared in an organized form in 1713. The unfortunate Lord Derwentwater, and his associate English brethren, were working in Lodges of Harodim, in 1725, at Paris when the Grand Lodge of England transmitted to Prance the Ancient York Constitutions. INlany Scotch brethren (adherents of Charles Edward Stuart), being in Prance about this time, also cultivated some of the high degrees of our rite. Some of the important mysteries celebrated in the Superior degrees, were instituted by the successors of Jaques de Molay, and oljjrs derive their origin from the renowned Robert Bruce. The former gave^R Military, the latter the Chris- tian character, to the degrees and Orders of our rite ; and from what has been alluded to, relative to the connection of our Scotch brethren, with our degrees and Orders, I think we may readily account for the term (Ecossais), Scotch, as applied to them." Herein is given an account of the resuscitation of this Lodge, which, according to the iigures of 111.'. Bro.'. Yates, had enjoyed a " Bip Van Winkle sleep " of over lifty years. And the manner in which the thing was accomplished is rather mysterious. In the address, which is somewhat lengthy, not one word is said concerning the manner in which 111.'. Bro.'. Yates came into possession of the degrees — or whether he ever received them by initiation — or that he was a Sublime Mason before he made the discover!/; these points being studiously avoided. But he says, " He turned his attention to the sublime degrees, h'(i.s( ritu/ W'csl JUJLCC^ or Stpphcii Moiiu. no2. S.' Dom incio ffiXs:c££4jr^4Tr£ £ 'c e : « : ^ f:c< .^ R.-f- nii//)/er Tn/fArriitip. ix:ccccrrcr:cfx^s:i'i>'. Sov. G. Cnnsislory I yewYorU. .^u/JiCoitnril (TKirlfsfon, 1809. H'f' Chapter ThpMfrfiiire. WOfl of Perfect " Jttcohs " \Sup Council ■\ ycwYorli \ IN/ 2 JBI'i j\cknowled(/ed by Sup. Cl^ of France 1809 Consistory 'Tardy' aXX£XXU IS13 Consistory Newport li.l i^irTnrrrTrTrmnnrrf^, Trt-mit 1814 Roy & Select Masters CnLfJncamp^ Kn igh Is Temp In t WMAchnowledgeii by (}.Oneni i of h^diicf rfSricrrrrirtrrrrrrrTrrrTiiyb /.9tr, Consistory Cliarlestoii 1N16 Consistory Philadelptiia. jS^ firrf.i. ISH2 Consistories Porto Rico Ci I III (til a It fi VII II II a " Ltujiiayra . \ ft Btircelonil . \ J f^ort .Spill II. I" I/O I'll vettt' /tiC/lll/lIlT \ ■rcKsmnefTi Q^ 'joooace^ r 1S25 ..[(iron'sRnnd IS.l'S'iSecpdes /iviiiilie\rs.C. ts'20 Con.ustorv Bra'/.il. \ iiCCCX ^. 1.91.3 Consi.ftory New Orleans IS-7:Anti- masonic atL^'mtciiifiiif^ mi Revival of the Sup CI. JiS'/iS' liet. vivrs /,?JC)Lcunf. IS30 Un'lhvO IflVA \Siipfoniicil Dclu ilolla I a IS' Extinct Oofh'raii /s:i2 J'j.rtnicf lS33Foniis tl Chtwitterin Ci.lJ of La . 18S6 'frca l\ • with ' l-^aiice . fii'ttji 11/11 \ milt liidi.il . IK'l^ Consistorv \ ■S'lipCoiiiicU J It^lllSIIIIIII/ IS.W IS46 Rissolved hvmuiiiftl Co/ise/it. 1844- Re\ I wvy I fc t e t rmrt^encT srrr^n^ "L .SupCoitncil ^^Atwooil ' ^. LV41/ IV. 1 1 Peiin/i/ti '' '\h\-C/o.v.v ; '^ap. Caimcil Cioun/t/sj \J847 J r /*2_ Lafhveltc \ I ^^pCiBCCOJ^ IS26 Consistory liniy.il J827.Aritl masojiir f; m/ Rnn ri 1 nflhp Sup CI . I' bxcitemaits K.n^ fhmilhrXuS.C. Secedes ¥!/j»3i^ ]S30.U>,'.'/,yn^ OorFran'rc JS32 h'.rlincl IS33Fornis il Chiunberin Cr.cj of La . / _, ISM Treaty wilh y'rniicp 'fieltjuim 1 and lirirj.it . Consistorv 184^U iws t^Trx-XTmrrrt-rrg-rt-e-f^lr^ Tcam !^ .9.9uhardiiuitf Cotisisttiries Plate 4. SUPREME COTJNOIL— ¥. S. A. 281 EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV. As this plate is somewhat extended and intricate, embracing a period of one hundred years, it is deemed necessary that the explanation of it should be full, in order that it may be properly understood. We shall, therefore, first ' give a general explanation, and then enter into the particulars. The Tableau naturally divides itself into three sections, as follows : That on the left, and apparently the main section, serves to show the origin and progress of the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council of Cerneau down to the present time, with the various bodies which have emanated from it. The middle section shows the origin of the Consistory for the State of Louisiana ; the erection of the Supreme Council iu 1839, under the Marquis de Sant Angelo, with others who were Sovereign Grand Inspectors General Thirty-third ; the split in 1855 ; and the renewal of the original Supreme Council, which continues there at the present day. The third, or right hand section, shows the origin of the Supreme Council of Charleston, South Carolina, and its progress, together with the Supreme Council of De La Motta, established in New York, in 1813, by him, as a rival to the Cerneau body, follows it to the time when it becomes extinct ; shows the commencement of the Gourgas Supreme Council in 1847 ; bringing the whole number of the bodies down to the year 1862, with all the branches growing out of the same. Keeping these things in view, as the reader examines the plate placed before him, he will find no diflBoulty in understanding the entire progress of all these bodies, and will be prepared for the following particular explanation. On the top of the Tableau is seen represented the ' Grand Lodge of France ' and the ' Council of the Emperors of the East and West,' these two bodies being in treaty with each other. From these bodies, Stephen Morin received his Commission or Powers in 1761, arrived in St. Domingo about 1762. Here Morin appointed Henry A. Prancken, Fraucken appointed Hays, and Hays others, all of whom were known as the successors of Stephen Morin. The successors were scattered over the United States. In 1783 they estab- lished a Lodge of Perfection in Charleston, South Carolina; and in 1801, John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho established a new rite in Thirty-three degrees, and opened a Supreme Council in that rite (Ancient and Accepted), in the city of Charleston. The first body which came under the jurisdiction of this Supreme Council was the Lodge of Perfection and Council of Princes of Jerusalem, all the members of the same having been initiated in Savannah by Abraham Jacobs. 282 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. (See Diary Document No. 15, appendix). This body is represented at the right'of the Supreme Council emerging from the same in 1802. Following the course of this Council downward until we arrive at 1813, we find a body issuing from the same denominated the " Supreme Council of De La Motta." This body was established in New York city in 1813, by De La Motta in his "individual capacity," as a rival to the Sovereign Grand Consistory and Supreme Council of Joseph Oerneau, then in existence there. De La Motta's body continued in active exercise until 1818, at whi6h time it became extinct as delineated on the drawing. In 1816, the Charleston Council languishes, but revives again in 1822, and continues its functions until 1830, when it is acknowledged by the Grand Orient of Prance, and appears for the first time in the published Annuary of that body. But in 1832 the Council, as a body, becomes extinct. In 1844 it again makes its appearance, and at this time Dr. Albert G. Mackey becomes Secretary General of the same. Continuing its course down to the year 1852, it charters a Consistory in the city of New Orleans, for the State of Louisiana. This Consistory floats down to the year 1855, at whicb time it forms a union with the old Consistory of Cerneau, established in 1813 in that city, immediately after which the " united body " enters into a Concor- dat with the Supreme Council of Charleston, and becomes its dependant for the State of Louisiana. The Charleston Council continues its course down to the present day, and is now the authority for the Southern Masonic Jurisdic- tion of the United States. We will now return to the top of the Tableau, (Joseph Cerneau). Mr. Cerneau was a legitimate successor of Stephen Morin, having received from him his degrees and "Power" in St. Domingo. He arrived in New York city in 1806, and soon after established a Rose Croix Chapter, by title " Triple Amitie," which is represented on the left. This Chapter continued in existence but a short time. In 1807 he established the " Sovereign Grand Con- sistory for the TJnited States of America, their Territories, and Dependencies," which body, in 1809, granted a Charter to Eose Croix Chapter, by Title " Triple Alliance." II yiaa the Chapter " Triple Amitie" reYiYed. In 1812 he established the " Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, Thirty-third degree," which was acknowledged by the Sujn-eme Council of France in 1813. In the month of January, 1813, the body established a Grand Consistory for the State of Rhode Island ; also, in the month of June, a, Consistory for the State of Louisiana, boated in the city of New Orleans. This Consistory for the State of Louisiana, continued in the active exercise of its powers, and had several Blue Lodges under its control, when in the year 1833, the Grand Lodge of that State, fearing that difBculties would arise, entered into negotia- tions with the Consistory. This resulted in the formation of a " Scottish Chamber " in the Grand Lodge, whereupon the Consistory ceased its work in SUPEEMB COUNCIL— U. S. A. 283 the first three degreess, transferring all those powers to the Chamber in the Grand Lodge. In 1839, a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third was erected in N^w Orleans by the Count St. Angelo and others, in consequence of the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere having ceased its activity. It assumed to be the successor of that body, was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of Prance in 1843, and the Consistory came under its charge. This Supreme Council continued in active operation until 1850, when a disturbance took place between the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and itself. The Grand Lodge at that time dissolved the Scottish Chamber, which had been allied with it for seventeen years in harmony, and prohibited all connection with Scottish Masons and the Scottish rite. Whereupon the Supreme Council imme- diately resumed its control over the first three degrees, chartered and estab- lished Lodges, and has now over twenty under her jurisdiction in that State. As soon as the Grand Lodge dissolved the Scottish Chamber, Dr. Mackey, of Charleston established the Consistory of 1852 as represented in the drawing, and has already been alluded to. It was intended as a rival to the Supreme Council. In 1855 a quarrel takes place between the officers of the Supreme Council (by design), the principal officers resign their offices, leaving behind a party who were in favor of the Charleston Council. Whereupon that party declares the Supreme Grand Council for Louisiana extinct, and at once revive the Consistory of 1813, which Consistory unites with the Consistory of Mackey, created by him in 1852 ; and the united body entftrs into a Concordat with the Charleston Council and becomes its dependent. It is now in existence as the Grand Consistory for the State of Louisiana. Bat those members who resigned and withdrew, at once erected the Supreme Council, renewed active operations, and now have Twenty Lodges, and nearly as many Rose Croix Chapters and Councils of Kadosch under their control. We will now return to the Sovereign Grand Consistory of 1807, nearly opposite to which, on the right, will be seen a representation of a Lodge of Perfection 1808, and a Consistory 1809. The Lodge of Perfection consists of Masons Initiated by Abraham Jacobs on his own responsibility, and whom he formed into a Lodge of Perfection dnring that year (Nov. 1808). John G. Tardy took the Lodge under his pro- tection as Deputy Inspector General. The Consistory was formed in March 1809 by Tardy and others, but the Lodge of Perfection and Council of Prin- ces, together with the Consistory, went out of existence before the end of the year 1809, most of the members uniting with the Sovereign Grand Consistory of Cerneau. In 1813 appears the Supreme Council of Be La Motta. This Council has been before described, but not in connection with the Consistory and Council of Cerneau. This is the body which was erected by De La Motta to supersede the Council of Cerneau. Mr. Gourgas was Secretary General of this body, 284 SCOITISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. and from it issued the documents published by De La Motta. It expired in 1818, but assumes to continue on, Mr. Gourgas being its head. In 1814 the Sovereign Grand Consistory established the body known as the Council of Royal and Select Masters. It also constituted and established the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar for the State of New York. In 1816 the Sovereign Grand Consistory was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France, Germain Hacquet, Representative in that Orient for the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and Joseph Cerneau, Representative for the Grand Orient of France, near the Grand Consistory — New York. In 1822 the Sovereign Grand Consistory established Consistories at Porto Rico, Laguayra, Barcelona, Cumana, Havana, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. In 1825 it constituted a degree known as " Aaron's Band," which, soon after, became extinct. It also Chartered '^Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter," which has existed np to the present day. In 1826 it issued a Power to David Jewett to establish a Consistory in the Empire of Brazil. In 1827 the Anti- Masonic excitement destroyed all Masonic bodies, and the Sovereign Grand Consistory then ceased its existence in common with the rest. In 1831 the Count St. Laurent, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Grand Council for Terra Firma, New Spain, the Canary Islands, &c., and Honorary member of the Supreme Council of France, arrived in the United States, being the bearer of despatches from that body to the Sovereign Grand Consistory. These despatches contained the intelligence of the dis- placement of the Sovereign Grand Consistory from the Grand Orient, and the acknowledgment of the CharlEston Council and Gourgas by that body, together with the offer of the Supreme Council of France, of acknowldgment, where- upon the Consistory and Council were summoned to an extraordinary Con- vocation. A Union was effected with the Supreme Council of Terra Firma, and the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere, in 1 832, was the result. Owing to great dissatisfaction among fhe members with regard to the terms of Union, in connection with other matters, many members with- drew and took refuge in the Rose Croix Chapter Lafayette. Other mem- bers withdrew altogether. The remnant went on for two or three years, when the Council declined. In 1836, the Tripartite Treaty with the Supreme Coun- cils of France, Belgium, and Brazil, was ratified, which made the Council still more unpopular. In 1837 the difficulty occurred in the Grand Lodge, out of which originated " St. John's Grand Lodge," that body retaining the Charter and control of Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter. In 1846 the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere was dissolved by mutual consent. But in 1842 the members of Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter, with Henry C. Atwood at their head, had formed a Consistory, which, in 1846, took the place of the United Supreme Council, and re-formed a Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, their Territories, and Dependencies. In 1851, after the Union of the two Grand Lodges, that Supreme Council was re- organized under Jeremy L. Cross. It was just previous to this time (1848), SUPREME COUNCIL-U. S. A. 285 that Mr. Gourges made his appearance with a new Supreme Council (which see under this date), and pretending to be the Council of 1813. This Council continued its seat at New York until 1851. It then removed to Boston, Mass. In 1861 a difficulty occurred in the body resulting in a split, where- upon a new Supreme Council was there formed, thus making two Supreme , Councils in Boston, Icnown as " tlie Van Rensselaer " and " the Raymond Coun- cil," the former having nine Consistories under its jurisdiction in the several States, and the latter having one in the city of New York, with several subor- dinate bodies in Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Syracuse, and Hoboken, N. J. In 18.o2 the Supreme Council of Atwood was re-organized by M.-. P.-. Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of New Orleans, James Poulliouze, and at the same time entered into a treaty with that Council. In 1853 it entered into a treaty with the Supreme Council of New Granada ; also, in 1856, with the Supreme Council of Belgium. In 1858 it constituted tlie Supreme Council for the State of Connecticut. In 1860 it constituted the Supreme Council for the State of California. In 1862 it constituted a Sove- reign Grand Consistory at Trenton, for the State of New Jersey, and one at Boston, for the State of Massachusetts. The Plate exhibits the position which this branch of Masonry occupies at the present day in the United States, viz. : One Supreme Council in the City of New York. " Title." — The Sovereign Grand Consistory, and Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, their Territories ,and Dependencies. One Supreme Council in Nb's^ Orleans. "Tiric." — Supreme Grand Council for the State of Louisiana. One Supreme Council in Charleston, S. C. " Title." — Supreme Grand Council for the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction, United States of America. Two Supreme Councils in City op Boston. " TzWc."— Supreme Grand Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, United States of America. Van Piensselaer body and Raymond body. One Supreme Council in Bridgeport, Conn. " Title." — Supreme Grand Council for the State of Conn. One Supreme Council in San Francisco. " Title." — Supreme Grand Council for the State of California. The above Plate is intended as a representation of facts, the events occurring as there delineated. At the same time it must be remembered that if the doc- trine based upon the Institutes and Secret Constitutions of 1786 be accepted viz.: "That a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third, once constitutionally established, whilst a single member remains, is considered in existence; and that a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, once appointed, is so 286 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. for life," then the chain of succession is unbroken, and perfect, not only with the Cerneau Conncil, but also -with all the others, as there were many regular Thirty-thirds living, active members of the Councils, and officers of the same, from 1801 to 1862, so that all the bodies are alike in this respect. But neither the Author, or the Council from which he hailed, or the Grand Orient of Prance, from which that Council derived, ever believed in, or promulgated such a doctrine. On the contrary ; so long as a Council is in the active exercise of its functions ; is performing its work under a regular organization ; and is acknowledged by, and in correspondence with its peers ; so long it is considered a " Council, or body, or power." When these cease, when its organization is discontinued, its meetings brought to an end, and correspon- dence broken up, it is then no longer a body or power — it is extinct. On this basis the above diagram was formed. Note. — Having received Information since the above chapter was put to press, (Oct. 1st. 1862.) that the " Sup.-. Grand Council for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies," familiarly known as the " Cer- neau Council," of which Edmund B. Hays is Sov.-. Grand Commander, has been acknowledged fully by'the Grand Orient of France, also by the " Supreme Council of France," and that an exchange of Eepresentatives has taken place — and also of the negociations which are pending between that Supreme Grand Council and the Sup.-. Grand Councils of England, and Scotland, it is thought proper to insert this note of the fact, and to refer the reader to Appendix Doc- uments No. 47 and 48 for further particulars. CHAPTEE TENTH. STATISTIC ACCOUNT, DENOTING THE FORMATION AND PROGRESS OF THE M.'. P.'. SOVEREIGN GRAND CONSISTORY OF THE Bnptm Cljkfe of ^lalteb^ iSlEMrg, AND OF THE SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL OF THE 33?. DEGREE, m. m. 1807. The Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Supreme Oiiiefs of Exalted Masonry of the Ancient Constitutional Eite of Heredom, for the United States of America, her Territories, and Dependencies, was founded in the month of October of this year, by Joseph Cerneau, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, and Constituted in due form. The parties whose names appear in the records are Joseph Cerneau, John W. Mulligan, Charles Guerin, Jacob Schieifelin, Jonathan Schiefielin, John Telfair, J. B. Subrau, John Bleecker, John B. Pon- zolz, John C. Ludlow, Aaron H. Palmer, Joseph Colbert. The announcement was made in the daily papers, and by printed cir- culars, addressed to all the Masonic bodies in the United States. 1808. In the early part of this year, the arrangements were complete for the full formation of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, her Territories, and Dependencies, as the Grand East for the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Eite of Heredom, in the city of New York ; and in the month of September the following list of Officers was announced as Constituting the said Grand East for said Eite : The Most Illustrious Brothers, Joseph Cerneau, Past Master, M. P., Sovereign Grand Commander, John W. Mulligan, " Deputy " " Chakles Guerin, " ' First Lieut. " " Anthony Eainetaux, " Second " " " Jacob Schieffelin, " First Minister of State, 288 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. The Most Illustrious Brothers, Aakon- H. Palmer, Past Master, Second Minister of State, JosEpa BoncHACD, " Dl. Grand Chancellor, Joseph Gouix, " Grand Keeper of the Seals, ToussAXT MiDT, " " Expert Introductor, Francis Dcbuar, " " Treasurer, James P. Duraxd, " " Secretary. The following is a list of Members : Jonathan Schieffelin, John Telfair, Joseph Colbert, J. B. Snbrau, John Bleecker, John B. Ponzolz, John C. Ludlow. They claimed the definitive title of " The Trinity " and an announce- ment of the above claims, together with the degrees which they con- trol, was again made in the papers of the day. In the month of November information was received by announce- ment in the papers, of the eslablishment of a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, by a Jew named Abraham Jacobs, who had removed from the South to New York city, in or about the year 1802, and who professed to be in possession of the degrees. It appeared, in the coarse of the examination, that Jacobs had been at work for some months, had communicated the degrees to Nineteen brethren, and then Consti- tuted them into a Lodge of Perfection and Council of Princes of Jerusalem. He was waited upon immediately by a Committee from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, consisting of Messrs. Cerneau and Mnlligan, who tendered to him an invitation to be present at a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, then in session, which invitation he refused. After forbid- ding his proceeding, they left him. Jacobs then called in the assist- ance of John G. Tardy, who took the Council under his protection. 1809. In the early part of this year, a petition was presented for the organi- zation of the Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, under the title of " Triple Alliance." It was the oldest Chapter in the United States of that grade. The above petition was received and acted upon, the body re-organized, and established in due form. Also, during the year, the organization and establishment of a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for the State of New Tork was completed, and announced in due form. During this year the Consistory and Council of Princes of Jerusalem, formed by Jacobs, went dovm. The brethren composing those bodies, finding they were illesritimate, forsook them. Many came over to the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and united with that body, while others remained in seclusion. Those bodies were never revived. 1810- The officers were the same. An application to the Supreme Grand SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 289 Council of Prance signed by the Officers and Members, and aalting for recognition, was forwarded during tine year. The controversy between the remaining members of the Jacobs party and the Sovereign Grand Consistory, was continued. It had the effect of exposing the whole concern as a money-making transaction on the part of Jacobs, as well as a breach of his obligations, and most effec- tually put a stop to his progress. 1811. During this year the following brethren were received, viz. : Hon. DeWitt Clinton, Gov.State of New Tork, M. "W., Grand Master of the G. L., &c. ; Martin Hoffman, Oadwallader, D. Golden, Mayor of the city of New York ; and several other members and Officers of the Grand Lodge. Hon. DeWitt Clinton was appointed Deputy Grand Commander, and Messrs. Colden, Hoffman, Schisano, and others, to appropriate offices both in the Consistory and Council. The list of Officers will be found in Appendix, Document No. 20. 1812. A petition was received from a Constitutional number of brethren, in the city of Newport, Rhode Island, in December, asking for the Con- stitution of a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for that State, which petition was granted. The requisite number of the brethren at Newport were deputized to proceed to New York, io aU eight, and receive the degrees which was effected in January fol- lowing, after which they were Constituted as Officers of the body, and carried with them all the proper documents. The following is a list of the names of the Brethren with the Offices to which they were appointed to fill: The M .-. Ill .-. Brother, John A. Shaw Sov. Gr. Ins. Gen. 33d, Depu- ty Inspector General for tlie State of Rhode Island, and Representative for Sovereign Grand Consistory. ■. Isaac Stall, Illustrious President, John Brown, Grand Senior Warden, Rioh'd Merrill, " Junior Warden, Wm. Coggeshall, " Secretary, Stephen Dbblois, " Treasurer, James Pekry, " Master of Ceremonies, Edward Easton, " Keeper of the Seals, Elisha Chase, " Captain of the Guards. The following is a list of Members : Wm. Douglass, Elisha Bliss, Pratt, D. M. Coggeshall, Wm. Davis, and the Most Illustrious Brother Thomas Lownds, was appointed their Representative near the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New York. The Most III.-. Bro 290 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. In the early part of this year, a reply waa received from the Supreme Grand Council of Prance, and with the reply, a full and complete acknowledgment by that body. The Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree waa, therefore, publicly proclaimed by the daily papers, and the publication of a Tableau, containing a full list of the Officers of the Supreme Council Thirty-third, and also the Officers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, with bodies deriving from the same. (See copy in the Appendix, Document No. 20). From this date may be reckoned the permanent foundation of this Grand East, although the Supreme Council vras founded at the same time with the Sovereign Grand Consistory, viz., in 1807. The increase of confidence among the Fraternity, derived from this recognition and acknowledgment, caused a rapid increase of members both in this and other States. 1813. A Petition was received from a number of brethren in Louisiana (Ne^ Orleans), for the establishment of a Council of Princes of the Boyal Secret for that State, Thirty-second degree. The Petition was granted, and the Council was established there on the 19th day of June. It became a dependency of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The Most Illustrious Brother /. Pinard, waa appointed Deputy Inspector General for that State, and Representative for the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New Orleans ; and the Most Illustrious Brother James B. Durand, Representative for the Consistory of Louisiana near the Sovereign Grand Consistory — New Tork. (For a full list of the Officers, &c., see Appendix, Document No. 20). It was during the early part of this year, that the news of the recog- nition and acknowledgment by the Supreme Council of Prance, reached the city of Charleston, South Carolina ; and Emanuel De La Motta was deputized by the Supreme Council of that place to visit the city of New York, and call to a strict account all who were concerned in this unlawful proceeding. The result of his mission was "not at all satisfactory, whereupon he pretended to Constitute a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite, the particulars of which are given in the accompanying history. The Consiiitory at Newport, Rhode Island, was duly Constituted January 23d of this year. 1814. A Petition was received from a Constitutional number of brethren residing in Charleston, South Carolina, asking for the establishment of a Grand Council of Sublime Frinoea of the Royal Secret Thirty- Becond degree, for said State, which request waa granted, and said Council waa formed. The Most Illustrious Brother Peter Javain, was appointed Deputy Inspector General for that State, and Representative for the Sovereign SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. £91 Grand Consistory near that body ; and the Most Illustrious Brother Jacob Schieffelin, was Constituted for that body a Representative near the Sovereign Grand Consistory. Illustrious Brother Thomas W. Bacot, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of that State, was its first Presiding Officer — was succeeded by John S. Cogdell, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge ; and Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, of that State, was one of its most active members. Immediately after the founding of the Council, that body, at once formed and Constituted a Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix there, under the title of " Friends of Peace." (For full list, see Appendix, Document No. 20.) A Petition was also received from several brethren in Philadelphia, asking for the Constitution of a Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret for that State (Pennsylvania). The Petition was granted. The Most Illustrious Brother A. J. Blocquerst, was appointed Deputy Inspector General for Pennsylvania, and appointed as Representative for the Sovereign Grand Consistory near that body ; and the Most Illustrious Brother John W. Mulligan, was appointed Representative for that body near the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New York. (See list in Appendix, Document No. 20.) . The expulsion of Joseph Cerneau, DeWitt Clinton, John W. Mulli- gan, and others, all of whom were declared to be " Impostors," was published. It was the act of Emanuel De La Motta. It brought forth a reply from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, which appeared to be conclusive, judging by its effects. In the latter part of the year, a replication, full of arrogance and abuse, was published by De La Motta, but was not noticed. (They will be found word for word, in the Appendix, Documents 17, 18, and 19.) In consequence of the opposition manifested by the Supreme Council of Charleston, the Sovereign Grand Consistory renewed the publication of the Circular and Edict of 1812. As it was renewed from year to year until 1816, a copy of it will be found by referring to the Appendix, Document No. 20. 1816. In the early part of this year, a reply was received from the Grand Orient of Prance. A difficulty had occurred in the Supreme Counc;il of France, in December 1812, arising from mis-representations made to that body. They dissolved the connection with the Sovereign Grand Consistory, whereupon application was made to the Grand Orient. The reply contained a full recognition and acknowledgment by that body. ' The Sovereign Grand Consistory named the Most Illustrious Brother Germain Racquet, President of the Supreme Coun- cil of Rites and Sovereign Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Grand Orient, as its Representative near that body. He was accepted, and proclaimed as such. And the Grand Orient of France named the Most Illustrious Brother Joseph Cerneau, Represen- 292 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. tative for the Grand Orient of Prance, Supreme Conncil of Eites and Sovereign Grand Consistory, near the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New Tork. These Eepresentatives were continued by both bodies, and the regular correspondence of the same passed through their hands up to the year 1827. As soon as the acknowledgment was received, notice was given in the public prints, and circulars were addressed to all Masonic bodies in the two hemispheres, publishing the fact. 1817. The Circular which was addressed to the various Masonic bodies throughout the United States during the past year, brought under the Inspection and Approval of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, the following bodies, viz. : Sov. Chap. P. E. Croix, "Triple Alliance," New Tork city, " " " ". " F'rieTids of Peace," Cha.Tlestox>, 8. G., Grand Council S. P. E. S., State of New York, New Tork city, " " " " Louisiana, New Orleans, " " " " Ehode Island, Newport, " " " " Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, " •' " " Charleston, South Carolma. "Die following Depxjdies Inspectors General were confirmed for the several States: The M .•. Ill .•. Bro .-. J. Pinakd, State of Louisiana, " " " " John A. Shaw, " Ehode Island, '■' " " " A. J. Blocqoerst, " Pennsylvania, " " " " Peter Javain, '• South Carolina, " " " " Louis Le Loup, " Maryland. The Most Illustrious Brother J. J. Ittee, Eepresentative near the Supreme Grand Council of Grand Inspectors General Thirty-third de- gree. Island of Jamaica. 1818. The Sovereign Grand Consistory issued its Annuary again, with an official list of bodies recognized by them. The title was as follows : " List of the Grand Officers, Members, Honorary Members, &c., of the Supreme Council of Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third degree, and of the Sovereign Grand Consistory of Supreme Chiefs of Exalted Masonry of the Ancient Constitutional Scottish Eite of Heredom, for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, held in the city of New Tork ; also of the Constituted bodies of its Jurisdiction, and of the Grand Bodies Correspondent, Anno Lucius, 5818, 24 pages ; signed with a pen by each member of SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A-. 293 the General Committee of Administration, and stamped by the Grand Keeper of the Seals." Accompanying the same, was the Edict published the preceding year. (See Appendix, Document 20.) 1819. The list of Officers of the Sovereign Grand Consistory was slightly changed this year. The Most Illustrious Brother Aaron H. Palmer, was elected Grand Chancellor in the place of A. Eainetaux ; Joseph Bouchaud, Grand Secretary ; Harman Westeryelt, 2d Assistant Grand Secretary ; Elias Hicks, Grand Keeper of the Seals ; and Abraham Lott, W. M., of Holland Lodge, Grand Hospitaller. In all other respects, the offices were filled as before. General harmony prevailed in the various subordinate bodies under the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and those who had long and strenu- ously opposed that body were now silenced, — inasmuch as all Masonic bodies acknowledged its regularity both at home and abroad. 1820. In consequence of the Unmasonic proceedings of an Impostor by the name of " Joseph De Glock de Ohernay," alias " D'Obernay De Glock," who, under the pretence of his quality as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, had created members and erected a Grand Consistory in places under this jurisdiction, where the proper power had been previously 'conveyed, and also by conferring of his own mere motion, the first three degrees of Ancient Masonry, and trans- ferred the power of doing so to others within the jurisdiction of regularly organized Grand Lodges, and in the vicinity of regularly organized Lodges, the Sovereign Grand Consistory in its official capacity, and under the Grand Seal of the body, issued an Edict denouncing the above personage to all the Grand and Subordinate bodies in the world as an Impostor. (See Appendix, Document 22.) 1821. This year the Most Illustrious Brother Joseph Cerneau, withdrew from the Office of Sovereign Grand Commander, and the Hon. John W. Mulligan succeeded him. Mr. Cerneau then took the title of " Hono- rary Sovereign Grand Commander, ad vitam.'' A most interesting and valuable correspondehce was renewed with the Grand Orient of Prance, through her Representative the Most Illustrious Brother Germain Hacquet, near the Grand Orient, resulting in the forwarding to this Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Con- sistory a renewal of fraternal greetings, a copy of the proceedings of the Grand Orient of France, with a renewed letter of acknowledg- ment, signed by the Officers and Members of Supreme Council of Bites. 1822. In the month of September the Most Illustrious Brother Seth Driggs, was appointed by the Sovereign Grand Consistory a Deputy Inspector 294 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. General for the Island of Trinidad, and carried with him the necessary powers for forming and constituting a Sovereign Grand Council of Snblime Princes of the Royal Secret, together with subordinate bodies, and also for the constituting a Grand Provisional Committee at Port Spain, Island of Trinidad. (See Document No. 23, Appendix.) This Council was regularly formed in that island, and Brother Driggs acted in the capacity of Deputy Inspector General there, and Eepre- sentative of the Sovereign Grand Consistory in the United Statesi near that body. The Sovereign Grand Consistory also granted Patents for the for- mation of Grand Councils of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret Thirty-second, and Capitulary Charters for Chapters of Rose Croix at the following places, viz. : Baltimore, State of Maryland, Havanna, Island of Cuba, Mayaquez, Island of Porto Rico, CUMANA, 1 Barcelona, > Republic of Colombia. La Guayea, ) Appointing Deputy Inspectors General, residing in the above places, as Representatives. (See Document No. 24, Appendix.) 1823. The Sovereign Grand Consistory completed this year the fitting up of the Hall intended for its regular semi-monthly meetings. It was situated in St. John's Hall, Frankfort street, and was finished in a style which, in those days, was magnificent, and required a very considerable expenditure. During the preceding year, a very considerable excitement among members of the Order, was created by the notorious Emanuel De La Motta, through a man by the name of Joseph McCosh, whom he afterwards made a member of the Supreme Council there. The oppo- sition was arrayed against Peter Javain, Deputy Inspector General for the State of South Carolina. It at last, found a place in the daily papers there. The Sovereign Grand Consistory issued an Edict rela- tive to the matter, which will be found in the (Appendix, Document No. 24, and also Document No. 21.) 1824. On the 15th of August, the Marquis de Lafayette landed in New York city, was received as the Nation's Guest, and during this year was exalted by the Supreme Grand Council to the Thirty-third and last degree of Masonry. On the 22d of November the Sovereign Grand Consistory granted a Capitulary Charter for a Sovereign Chapter of Princes of Rose Croix, under the distinctive title of " Lafayette," for the valley of New York. (Document No. 14.) SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 295 1825. An application was made during the month of January to the Sove- reign Grand Consistory, by Richard S. Spofford, M. D., residing at Newburyport, Mass., for exaltation, which request was granted. And at a subsequent meeting of the Consistory, the Most Illustrious Brother Richard S. Spofford was appointed Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts, and clothed with full power to open and constitute a Sovereign Chapter of Prince of Rose Croix, and also to form a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret for that State. (See Document No. 25 .) A Representative, and Deputy Inspector General for the State of Virginia, was appointed this year. The Most Illustrious Brother John P. Schisano, formerly Secretary General, removed to Norfolk, Virginia, and filled the above appointment. 1826. There was nothing of importance which occurred during this year. The work of the Order progressed as usual, many new members were received ; and the present year may be considered as the period when the Masonic Institution in the United States enjoyed unprecedented popularity. 1827. The Anti-Masonic, or Morgan excitement, broke out in the early part of this year, carrying desolation in its course ; and by the end of the year had swept everything before it throughout the States of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, and some of the other States. All bodies which bore the name of " Masonry " were dissolved. Lodges, Chapters, Coun- cils, Encampments, &c., ceased to hold their meetings. Most of them surrendered their Charters and Properties, and in some of the States the meeting of a Masonic body for working purposes was made a seri- ous offence against the laws, and punished with heavy penalties. Tlie Sovereign Grand Consistory suffered in common with other Masonic bodies ; and it appears by the records, that its labors were brought to a close, by common consent, on the 28th day of November of this year. Much of the furniture and properties were removed from the Consistory Room to the care of Illustrious Brother Lewis B. Timolat and Henry Marsh, who, with a few of the brethren, kept up the con- stitutional meetings of the bodies for a considerable time after their formal dissolution. 1828. The Sovereign Grand Consistory met with a most severe and heavy loss in the death of the Hon. Dewitt Clinton, Sovereign Grand Com- mander for the United States. He died in the month of February, at Albany, the place of his residence. 1829, 1830, 1831— Are blank years in all Masonic undertakings. 296 SCOITISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 1832. An effort was made this year, in the midst of the Anti-Masonic excitement, to revive the work of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, by the Most Illus- trions Brother de St. laurent. Marquis de Santa Rosa and Count, Past Master, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, Ex- Grand Commander ad vitam of the former Supreme Council of South America, Xew Spain, &e., &c., who had arrived in New York, and who proposed to gather together the fragments of the former body, and erect a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third and las-t degree, under the dis- tinct title of the " United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere." The Most Illustrious Brother Elias Hicks, Ex-Grand Commander of the former Supreme Council of the United States of America, ad vitam, was constituted Sovereign Grand Commander ; and the offices were fiUed, as far as possible, by the members of the old body. A full list of which, together with all the active and honorary members, foreign members, dependent and corresponding bodies, wiU be found in the Appendix (Document No. 27). It was called '' United," because it entered into a Treaty of Alliance and Friendship with tie Supreme Grand Council of Terra Firma, New Spain, &c. For a full account of this Union, see history, page 203, and Treaty in Appendix, Document No. 27 and 28. During this year. Brother Leblano de Marconnay, was received. 1833. A proposition was made to the body to bring into it some of the mem- bers of another body, which had styled itself a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third degree in New York city. This led to a great deal of dissatisfaction among the members who had belonged ■ to the former body, and a very bad feeling was the consequence. Many members withdrew, and the Council again began to decline. The Patent for Leblanc de Marconnay, who was constituted a Sove- reign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third degree, December 20, 1832, was issued in January. Although some members were added, the public feeling against the institution of Masonry did not decrease. And the efforts of members to build up the Council were not attended with any great success. The correspondence was kept up. 1834. On the 23d of February the Treaty of Alliance and Friendship was drawn up and signed in Paris by the Representatives of the Councils there assembled in a Masonic Congress, for that purpose. (See Ap- pendix, Document No. 28.) The Marquis de Lafayette was the Representative to the Supreme Council of France from the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere. The news of the death of the Most Illustrious and P .-. Brother, the Marquis de Lafayette, a, former member of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and from the year 1832 the Represetative of the United SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 297 Supreme Council near the Supreme Council of France, was received, and a Committee appointed, in accordance with the following resolu- tion : " The Sovereign Grand Commander stated, that since the last sitting of the United Supreme Council the melancholy intelligence of the death of our Illustrious Brother and our Eepresentative in the Supreme Council of France, the Marquis General de Lafayette, had been received through the medium of the public press. He accordingly, availed himself of the present occasion, to call the attention of the United Supreme Council to the subject, that such order might be taken thereon, as would evince the deep and sincere sorrow felt by them, under this severe and lamentable dispensation. Whereupon it was ordered. " That the Illustrious Brothers Velasquez, Longworth, and Bouchaud, be a Committee to prepare and report proper resolutions expressive of the grief felt by the United Supreme Council, on hearing that the Most Potent and Illustrious Brother Lafayette, was no more, in order that the same may be entered upon the minutes of its proceedings, and a copy sent, with a suitable letter of condolence, to the family of the deceased Illustrious Brother. " The Illustrious Brother Count St. Laurent, who had returned to France in 1833, then became the Eepresentative, and filled the place made vacant by the death of Lafayette." The dissatisfaction of the members was on the inerease. The resig- nation of Miguel Cabrera de Nevarez, Assistant Grand Secretary for Foreign Languages, was received and accepted, he being obliged to return to Spain during the year. 1835. A Committee was appointed to wait upon Brother Timolat, and receive from him the properties of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, which had been removed by him and other brethren for safe keeping, in the year 1827, with power to pay all expenses which had accrued upon the same. The Committee consisted of Illustrious Brothers John Telfair, George Smith, and Thomas Longworth. The meetings of Lafayette Chapter of Kose Croix were continued under the Presidency of Ilostrious Brother Henry C. Atwood, assisted by Brothers Wm. F. Piatt, Henry Marsh, and others, and a consider- able number of new members from other bodies came in. 1836. On the 6th day of December the treaty of Alliance and Friendship was ratified and signed in fall Council, thus uniting the Supreme Council of France with the Supreme Council of Belgium, the Supreme Council of Brazil, and the United Supreme Council of the "Western Hemisphere. The spirit of this treaty was a Declaration of Indepen- dence of the Eite, forbidding intermixture with any other rite what- 298 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTP]D. ever and toleration. This was deemed antagonistic to Ancient York Masonry ; and as that system was about being revived, the United Supreme Council declined. 1837. A year of unexampled misfortune. The mercantile world was in a complete confusion, and Masonry was less thought of than at any previous time. A difBculty occurred this year between the Grand Lodge of the State of New Tork and a large number of brethren, who were desirous of celebrating the 25th of June or St. John's Festival, by a public pro- cession. The consequent proceedings which grew out of this matter, separated some of the members who owed allegiance to the Supreme Council in Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter. Its meetings were con- tinued, and out of it came a second Supreme Council and Consistory, which continued until the Union in 1850. 1838. The furniture and fixtures of the Sublime Lodge of Perfection, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, and Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, were purchased from Illustrious Brother Timolat, and paid for by Lafayette Chapter of Rose Croix. They were removed to Union Hall. The regular meetings of the United Supreme Council had ceased from want of numbers and want of interest. 1839. The popular feeling against Masonry began to subside, and some of the Lodges throughout the State of New Tork resumed their labors. There was but one meeting of the Supreme Council during the year. Present, Illustrious Brothers Joseph Bouchaud, Francis Dubuar, and five other brethren, most of the other members having dropped off. 1840. There was but one formal meeting of the Supreme Council daring this year. The meetings of the Lafayette Chapter of Rose Croix were continued. 1841 to 1846. The Minutes of the United Supreme Council show, that the stated or constitutional meetings of the same were continued (annual), up to 1846. Owing to various causes, the Council had dwindled down to a very small number. On the 27th day of October, ] 846, the final meeting of the body was held, and the following Illustrious Brothers were present, viz. : Joseph Bouchaud, President; John Telfair, George Smith, John S. Mitchell, Assistant Secretary. On motion of Brother Telfair, it was ordered that the funds of the Supreme Council, in the hands of the Treasurer, be distributed pro rata among the surviving members of the United Supreme Council, who composed the body previous to the introduction of new members. In accordance with this resolution, Illustrious Brother Bouchaud, Treasurer General, then paid over $120 to Illustrious Brother Gfeorge SUPREME OOUNCIL-U. S. A. 299 Smith, Secretary General of Supreme Council, to be divided among five brethren, Brother Bouchaud refusing to receive any part of the same. This date terminated the existence of this branch of the body as then constituted, and it thereby came to an end. It was replaced by the members who had retired at various times and took refuge in Lafayette Rose Croix Chapter, together with those who were not associated with any other body of Sublime Masons. 1848. During this year, a circular signed by J. J. J. Gourgas and others made its appearance, and was distributed to most of the Masonic bodies in this country. The document pretended to emanate from a body of men who styled themselves a Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty- third degree. Ancient and Accepted Rite. It was not noticed by any of the bodies to which it was sent. 1850. During this year, the difficulties which had existed between the two Grand Lodges for a period of Thirteen years, were adjusted, a union of the bodies took place, and the greav obstacle, which had been the means of preventing the full re-organization of the Supreme Grand Council, was removed out of the way. Immediately after this union was consummated, a meeting of some of the members of the Council was held, and it was decided to go forward in the work. A Committee was appointed to wait upon the old members, and if possible, to pro- cure their attendance at a future meeting. As yet no complete organi- zation was effected. 1851. In the month of June the Most Potent Sovereign Past Grand Comman- der, Hon. John W. Mulligan, visited the Supreme Council, confirmed the proceedings of the brethren, and pressed upon them the necessity of a complete organization under a proper head. This organization was soon after effected, and a full account of the same will be found in the history ; also Document No. 32. Appendix. The correspondence with various Supreme Councils was this year renewed, and several petitions were received for the re-organization of subordinate bodies. The publication of the circular brought forth two Edicts, viz., one from the Gourgas body, and one from the Charleston body, denouncing the whole of the members as " Impostors." 1853. In consequence of prolonged ill health. Illustrious Brother Jeremy L. Cross resigned his office as Sovereign Grand Commander, and re- moved his residence to New Hampshire. Illustrious Brother Salem Town, also resigned his office. In accordance with the petition of members of Jerusalem Chapter Sovereign Prince of Rose Croix, that Chapter was re-organized and 300 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. again commenced its labors; also Lafayette Chapter, under the old warrant sf 1824. Several communications were received daring this year from the Supreme Grand Council of Louisiana, and in the month of July the Grand Commander Illustrious Brother James Foulhouze, presented himself as a Deputy from that Supreme Council, with proper creden- tials, and was received in due form. Being about to re-organize the Council, in consequence of the resignation of the Grand Commander, the Most Puissant Brother Poulhouze then installed Illustrious Brother Henry 0. Atwood as Sovereign Grand Commander, with the other officers elect. A Treaty of Union was entered into between the two* Supreme Councils, and Illustrious Brother Poulhouze shortly after, sailed for Prance. 1853. During the early part of this year, the Sovereign Chapter Prince of Rose Croix, by title "La Sincerile," (French), deriving from the Supreme Council of Louisiana, came under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of New York. Two petitions were received for Symbolic Lodges, one for the English ritual, the other for the French, which petitions were granted. 'J^he French Lodge " La Sincerite," was soon after constituted in due form. Brother H. Rillet having been proposed as a member of the Supreme Council and favorably reported upon, was received in due form, and constituted and proclaimed a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree ; also Brother Gustav. Coutant, having been previously proposed, examined, and reported upon favorably, was ele- vated to the dignity of Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree, and constituted a member of the Supreme Council. In the early part of the year the Most Potent and Illustrious Brother General T. C. De Mosquera, of New Grenada, was received in ample form by the Supreme Council, and the most friendly congratulations were exchanged. In the month of October a reply was received from the Supreme Council of New Grenada, forming an alliance with the Supreme Coun- cil of New Tork, and appoipting Illustrious Brother Henri Eillet Representative for the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of New Grenada near the Supreme Council of New Tork. On the 1st day of January the Illustrious Brother Leblanc de Marconnay, Orator to the Chamber of Council and of Appeals, Grand Orient of Prance, was elected an honorary member of the Supreme Council of New York, and a Diploma forwarded to him to that effect. SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 391 In consequence of difficultieg arising among the German brethren, the Illustrious Brother Edward Unkart, tendered his resignation as an officer of the Council, which was accepted. 1854. In the early part of this year, the resignation of Illustrious Brother Eugene Vatet was received, also his withdrawal from the Council, also the resignation of Illustrious Brothers Dezelus and EouUier, and their withdrawal. , Some difficulties and dissensions having arisen in Lodge La Sincerite No. 2, the labors of that Lodge were suspended, and the said Lodge subsequently withdrew from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council, and placed itself under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. 1855. In consequence of the numerous resignations, an Election of Officers took place, and the new incumbents were installed in due form. A petition was received from Ten brethren, asking to be initiated in the various bodies, in order that they might form a Lodge of Perfec- tion, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Sovereign Chapter of Eose Croix, Council of Kadosch, and Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. After proper examination, and the usual inquiries, the petition was favorably acted upon, and the brethren referred to the proper bodies to receive their degrees. By the month of July, the brethren having completed their initia- tions, warrants of Constitution were granted for a Sublime Lodge of Perfection, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Sovereign Chapter Prince df Eose Croix, Council of Kadosch, and Council of Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret ; and all the above bodies were duly constituted. A petition was also received from Thirteen brethren, asking for a warrant of Constitution for a Grand Council of Princes of the Royal Secret Thirty-second degree. Most of the applicants being members of the Sublime Lodge of Perfection, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and Sovereign Chapter of Eose Croix, under the title of " Jerusalem," and they being desirou*of connecting the same with the above Coun- cil, the warrant was granted, and the Council was constituted in due form, in the mouth of August. 1856. During this year. Illustrious Brother Seth Driggs, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and Grand Commander of the Grand Consistory, Island of Trinidad, renewed his membership with the Supreme Coun- cil, and deposited his former Commission with the same. Also Illustrious Brother Richard S. Spoiford, M. D., Deputy Inspec- tor General for the State of Massachusetts, renewed his membership with the Supreme Council, and deposited his commission with the same for renewal. 302 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Applications were also received from the State of Maine and New Hampshire, for the establishment of the various bodies in those States. "From the period last named until 1859, there were no changes in the membership of the Supreme Council, with the exception of the admission of Illustrious Brother William H. Jarvis, who was appointed Grand Commander, of the Guard ; and indeed though the annual ses- sions were regularly held, the transactions were not of importance, if the year 1857 be excepted, when a recognition, &c., &c., of this Supreme Council was received from the Supreme Council of Belgium. "In the latter part of September, 1860, the Most Illustrious Brother Henry C. Atwood, Sovereign Grand Commander, died at his residence in the State of Connecticut. In the month of October following, the announcement of that event was made at a meeting of the Supreme Council, when Illustrious Brother Edmund B. Hays, P .-. Lieutenant Grand Commander became Most Potent Sovereign Grand Comman- der ; Illustrious Brother Hopkins Thompson, P.-. Lieutenant Grand Commander ; Illustrious Brother Geo. L. Osborn, Grand Secretary General of the H. E. ; Illustrious Brother Benjamin C. Leveridge, Grand Minister of State ; Illustrious Brother Robert B. Roberts, Grand Treasurer General, H. B. ; Illustrious Brother Harry J. Seymour, Grand Master of Ceremonies. "In 1861, Illustrious Brother Daniel Sickles became Grand Secretary General of H. E., in place of Illustrious Brother Osborn resigned ; Il- lustrious Brother Henry C. Banks, Grand Marshall, and Illustrious Brother John Innes Grand, Standard Bearer. "The Supreme Council at the commencement of this year (1862) was composed of the following Illustrious Brethren : Edmund B. Hays, Most Potent Sovereign Grand Commander, Hopkins Thompson, P .-. Lieutenant Grand Commander, Benj. 0. Leveridqb, Grand Orator and Grand Minister of State, Daniel Sickles, " Chanoelror, " Secretary G .-. of the H. B., and Keeper of the S .•. and A .•. RoBEKT E. Roberts, " Treasurer General of the H. E Henry C. Banks, " Marshall, Henry J. Seymour, " Master of Ceremonies, John Innes, " Standard Bearear, William H. Jarvis, " Commander of Guards. "On the 17th of January, 1862, the venerable Patriarch the Most Illustrious Brother John W. Mulligan, who with the Illustrious Brother Joseph Oerneau was one of the founders of the Sove- reign Grand Consistory in 1807, and Supreme Council in 1812, and who at the last annual meeting of the latter body, a short time SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 303 previous to his decease, was present during its deliberations, in the 94th vear of his age, and in the full possession of his intellectual faculties, was relieved of his earthly labors, for a better and more en- during Council on High. " On the '23d of same month, the Supreme Council convened at the city of Trenton, New Jersey, constituted a Grand Consistory for that State, and installed the following Illustrious Brothers as officers : "Thomas J. Corson, M. D., (Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, and Grand Com- mander of the Grand Commandery of the State,) Commander-in- Chief; George B. Edwards, Deputy Commander-in-Chief; Joseph H. Hough, (Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge,) 1st Lieutenant Commander ; Wm. T. Woodruff, 2d Lieutenant Commander ; Wm. E. Stagg, Grand Minister of State; Reuben S. Tan Tassell, Grand Chancellor ; John Woolverton. M. D., (Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter,) Grand Secretary ; S. R. Terrell, Grand Treasurer ; Wm. R. Clapp, Grand Keeper of Seals ; Wm. Armstrong, Grand Engi- neer ; W. T. Nicholson, Grand Hospitaller ; James E. Emerson, Grand Master of Ceremonies ; Charles Becbtel, Grand Captain of Guards ; John P. Nelson, Grand Standard Bearer ; A. P. Howell, Grand Sentinel. "The interesting ceremonies incident to the above organization vrere greatly heightened by the presence of Illustrious Brothers David Xaar, and Thomas W. Satterthwaite, Sovereign Grand Inspec- tors General, — signers of the ratification of the Triple Treaty of Alliance between the Supreme Councils of France and Brazil and this Supreme body in 1836, emeritus members of this Council, who parti- cipated in the proceedings. On the 3d day of May, 1862, in compliance with the petition of a constitutional number of Illustrious Brothers, who had previously received their degrees from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, New York city, the Officers of the Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, for the purpose of constituting a Grand Consistory, Thirty-second degree, for that State, and installing the Officers of the same. The ceremonies were of the most interesting character. , The following is a list of the Officers installed : Dlustriou? Brothers, Gilbert J. NorRSE, Cambridge, Grand Commander-in-Chxef. JoHX K. Hall, Somerville, Deputy Grand Commander. Richard M. Barker, Boston, 2d Lieut. Grand Commander. Wm. F. Ksowles, Cambridgeport, Isl LieiU. Grand Commander, 304 SCOTTISH EITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Illustrious Brothers. Eich'd S. Spofford Je., Newburyp't. Nicholas Hathaway, Dorchester, Elihu C. Baker, Medford, Albion K. P. Welch, Cambridge, Eob't Lewis Davis, Watertown, Wbakb B. Biokfokd, Brighton, James R. Gardner, Boston, James B. Bugbee, Somerville, Daniel W. Lawrence, Medford, m.-.Min.: of State, and Grand Orator. Grand Chancellor, " Secretary, " Treasurer, " Engineer and Int. " Hospitaller, " Master of Ceremonies, " Captain of the Guards, " Sentinel. MEMBERS : Benj. p. Nourse, p. M., Grand Lecturer for Mass, John D. Jennings, P. M., L. MnDGE, P. M., and W. P. BnTiERPiELD, P. M. For list of Officers, Active, and Honorary Members of the Supreme Grand Council for the United States of America, see Document No. 41. CHAPTER ELEVENTH. AN EPITOME OF EVENTS, AND OCCURRENCES, Directly, or indirectly connected with the " Hite " — very full, and extend- ing from the year 1700 to the year 1862, derived from various authors who have written upon the subject. m. m. 1700. Masonry, in any of its forms, entirely unknown in France. Nor were charters or warrants of constitution known in England or Scotland, it being lawful for all Master Masons to congregate and open a Lodge, by recording their intention before a Justice of the Peace. (Preston, page 304.) 1717. February. The first Grand Lodge was formed by Four Lodges meet- ing in London, which bodies constituted themselves into a Grand Lodge pro tem. At this convocation the Law was established, that the privilege for assembling Masons, " which had hitherto been unlim- ited," should be vested in certain Lodges, and assemblies of Masons, convened in certain places ; and that every Lodge to be hereafter eoa» vened should be legally authorized to act by a " warrant " from the Grand Master, granted to certain individuals by " Petition," with the consent and approbation of the Grand Lodge in communication, and that without such warrant no Lodge was regular or constitutional. (Preston and others.) 1722. The celebrated " Constitutions of Masonry " known as " Anderson's Constitutions," adopted by the Grand Lodge of England. 1725. The first Masonic Lodge known in Prance, was instituted at Paris by Lord Derwenwater, Markelyne, D'Hegnetty, and some other English brethren. It was chartered by the Grand Lodge of England, and worked' ia Three degrees. 1729. Masonry introduced into the East Indies in Three degrees, by the Grand Lodge of England. 1730. The " Primitive Scottish Rite," of Chevalier Eamsay, was introduced into France by " himself," and consisted of the Three Blue degrees and Three others. Prichard's celebrated book called " Masonry Dissected," was published in London ; and, subsequently, passed through many editions. Masonry was first introduced into Ireland by the Grand Lodge of England in Three degrees. 306 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 1731. Masonry was first introduced at the Hague, also into Prussia and Spain from England, in Three degrees, during this year. 1733. The first Master's Lodge was chartered in Boston by the Grand Lodge of England, out of which grew the Provincial Grand Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of England, by title " St. John's Grand Lodge." 1734. June 24th. The first Masters Lodge chartered in Philadelphia Penn., by the St. John's Grand Lodge of Mass., Benjamin Pranklim W. M. 1736. December 24th. The Four Lodges existing at Paris unite and elect Lord Harnsnester as Grand Master. The Chevalier Eamsay acts as Orator to the Assembly. At this meeting, the Grand Lodge adopto Ramsay's " Primitive Scottish Rite." The rite in this year was in- creased One degree, mailing Seven, viz. : Ecossai, Novice, and Knight of the Temple, with the new degree added. The first Masters Lodge, Constituted in South Carolina, by the Earl of London, G. M. of G. L. of England, called " Solomon's Lodge No. 1. 1737. The first Provincial Grand Lodge in the State of New Tork was chartered during this year by the Grand Lodge of England. 1738. June 24th. The Duke d'Autin elected Grand Master of Prance. 1739. Serious difficulties arise in the Grand Lodge of England, causing a large number of the members to secede and to take to themselves the name of " Ancients. They give the name " Modern ' to the Grand Lodge which they have left. This year Masonry was first introduced into Switzerland, and spreads with great rapidity there. 1740. A serious rupture takes place between the Grand Lodge at Tork and the Grand Lodge of England (London.) 1743. The Grand Lodge assumes the title of " English Grand Lodge of France." The Count of Clermont is elected Grand Master. It was working under a charter from the Grand Lodge of England. At this time the degree of " Knight of tlie Sun " was manufactured, also the degree of " Kadosch " was invented by the Masons of Lyons, under the title of " Felit Elu." The Jesuits also concocted and put together the degree of " Knights of the Rose Croix." 1744. The Count of Clermont left the Lodges to take care of themselves, and appointed first, Baure, a Banker, and afterwards Lacorne, a Dancing Master, a Special Deputy, thus putting the whole Order in Ijis hands. Disorders of every kind invaded Masonry. Charters became merchan- dise, new degrees swarmed like flies, Restaurateurs bought Masterships for life, and " everybody " sold degrees. The followers of Charles SUPREME OOUNOIL-U. S. A. 307 Edward Stuart, the Sou of the Pretender, opened Lodges without authority. 1747. Charles Edward Stuart, the son of the Pretender, on the 15th of April, founded the Primordal Chapter of Arras, under the distinctive title of " Ecosse Jacobite." This was the first chapter, or centre of the High degrees in Prance. 1748. The Rite " De la Vieille Brxie," or of the Faithful Scotsman, was established at Toulouse, in France. 1750. The Lodge of St. John of Scotland (St. Jean d' Bcpsse), was founded at Marseilles by a travelling Mason. This Lodge, previous to the French Revolution, took the title of " Mother Lodge of Marseilles," and after- wards of " Scottish Mother Lodge of France." Their rite was termed the " Scottish Philosophic Rite." It consisted of Eighteen degrees, the first three being the Symbolic degrees, and the Eighteenth the " Knight of the Sun." Some authors state this to be 1751. August 12th, Hiram Lodge No. 1, New Haven, Conn., was chartered by the Pro- vincial St. John's Grand Lodge of Mass. 1752. A power of the High degrees was established under the pompous title of " Sovereign Council Sublime Scottish Mother Lodge of the Grand French Globe." It was afterwards called, or rather called itself, " Sovereign Ccruncil, Sublime Mother Lodge of the Excellents of the Grand French Globe." The " Council of the Emperors of the East and West" assumed that title in 1780. November 30th, the first Masters Lodge was chartered in Boston, Mass., by the " Grand Lodge of Ancients " iu London, which afterwards became " St. Andrew's Grand Lodge," by Provincial Charter from that Grand Lodge. 1753. The Royal Arch degree, previously imported from France, was adopted in England by the " Grand Lodge of Ancients" (Athol), but rejected by the " Grand Lodge of Moderns, (G. L. of England.) 1754. The Chevalier de Bonneville established a Chapter of the High degrees at Paris, styled the " Chapter of Clermont." Martinez Pascalis, established his Rite of the " Elus Coens." He carried it to Paris in 1767. Martinism grew out of it. 1756. The " Grand Lodge of France" declared its independence and dropped the word "English," (Anglaise,) out of its title. It had worked hitherto, up to this date, under a Charter from the Grand Lodge of England, in the Symbolic degrees (the high degrees of Ramsay on its own account.) It now became the " Grand Lodge of France," revised its Constitution, and adopted New Regulations, declaring that it would recognize the Three degrees of Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and 308 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. >. Master only: Hitherto the Scottish Philosophic Eite of Eamsay, which had been adopted 1736, was worked in that body. 1757. The Order of " Noachites, or Prussian Knights," was introduced in Paris, by M. jde St. Gelaire. The Provincial Grand Lodge for South Carolina was chartered this year. A Masters Lodge chartered in New York city by the title of " St. John's." 1758. Certain Masons, styling themselves " Princes and Grand OfBcera of the Grand and Sovereign Lodge of St. John at Jerusalem," founded at Paris, a " Chapter of Emperors of the East and West." It consisted of Twenty-five degrees, divided into Seven Classes. It was formed from the ruins of the " Chapter of Clermont," founded in 1754, by the Chevalier de Bonneville. The First Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons in the United States was authorized this year, the power to confer that degree being granted to a Blue Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. A second Masters Lodge was chartered in Pennsylvania by the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons, styled " No. 2." 1759. A " Council of Princes of the Royal Secret - was founded at Bordeaux, by the Chapter of the Emperors of the East and West at Paris. 1761. Lacome, the dancing master. Special Deputy of the Grand Master, and as such, real head of the Order, enraged because the Grand Lodge refused to recognize him and its members to sit with them, established a new Grand Lodge. Both Grand Lodges granted Charters, and the Council of the Emperors of the East and West, constituted at Paris, and throaghout Prance, Lodges and Chapters. The old Grand Lodge denounced the "faction Lacome," which, nevertheless, continued to thrive. In the midst of all this, viz., in 1761, August 27th, Stephen Morin was commissioned. His Patent styles him as " Deputy Grand Inspector." 1762. Lacorne, the dancing master, a member of the Council of the Emperors of the East and West, and a Tailor, named " Pirlet," set up a, new body in 1762, styled " Council of the Knights of the East," with a rite opposed to the Templar system of the Emperors of the East and West. This body was formed July 22d. On the 21st of September the Council of the Emperors of the East and West published a list of the degrees administered by it instituted a Council of Princes of the Royal Secret at Bordeaux, where the rite was examined and arranged, and nine Commissioners, part from the Council of the Emperors, and part from the Council of Princes settled at Bordeaux, the Regulations of the Masonry of Perfection in Thirty- five articles. The Count of Clermont revokes the appointment of Lacorne, and appoints Challon de Joinville as his substitute. SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 309 1764. A Provincial Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania was chartered this year by the Grand Lodge of England, which continued its operations in that State until the Revolution. 1765. The members of the former 'Grand Lodge of Lacorne retire from the Grand Lodge, in consequence of the Election of OfScers on the the 2d June. 1766. August 17th. The Grand Lodge of France, in which the Council of Emperors had its Chamber, and was in union with the same, annulled the Patent of Stephen Morin, and appointed W. Brother Martin to fill his place. {Ragon.) The " Rose Croix rectified of Schroeder,'' established at Marburg, In Hesse Cassel. Thory, and other authors state : " The Grand Lodge of France in 1766, refused a Chamber for the Scottish degrees, and undertook to suppress them. The Council of Emperors of llie East and West, the Chapter of Clermont, the Chapter of Arras, the Council of Bordeaux, the Philosophic Mother Lodges, and the Scottish Directories, were all rival powers to the Grand Lodge. 1767. The Grand Lodge of Prance is closed by order of the Government, and does not resume its labors until 1771. The Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection said to have been established at Albany, New York, by Francken. (Address of Giles Fonda Yates, 1851.) 1770. The " Primitive Scottish Rite " established at Namur in Thirty-three degrees. 1771. Death of the Count de Clermont. The Duke de Chartres elected Grand Master. June 21st, the Grand Lodge of Prance resumes its labors. Provincial Grand Lodge for North Carolina, Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. 1772. Grand Orient of France instituted. The " Council of the Emperors of the East and West " was merged into the Grand Orient by Concordat, and with the Grand Lodge of France. (See Treaty, Appendix, Document No. 2.) The Grand Orient at this time wore the title of " National Grand Lodge." 1773. The " Rite of Philalethes," founded at Paris, by Salvalette de Langes and others. On the 27th December, the " National Grand Lodge " (Grand Orient) declared that it would thenceforward, work in Symbolic Masonry alone ; and forbade the Lodges to go beyond the Third degree in their labors. They appointed a Committee to revise the " High degrees." The Lodges were requested to suspend all labor in the Hjgh degrees, as the Grand Orient itself did. 310 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 1774 December 27th. The Grand Lodge of Prance assumes the title of " Sole and Only Grand Orient of France." Three Directories of the " Reformed Rite of Dresden " are established at Lyons, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. Francken established the Royal Orders in Jamaica. He continued at their head for several years, after which they fell asleep and laid dormant. 1776. The " Philosophical Scottish Rite," instituted at Paris by Boileau, a Physician, and worked until 1826, and in Belgium ever since. A Treaty of Union between the Grand Orient and the three Scottish Directories at Lyons, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg, was entered into. April 2d. The " Scottish Mother Lodge of France," (Philosophical Rite,) was established at Paris under the title of " Contrat Social." August 18th. The Mother Lodge of the " Contrat Vennaissin," in- corporated in the Mother Lodge of the Philosophical Rite at Paris. The Grand Lodge for the State of Georgia constituted. 1777. The Holy Royal Arch degree, manufactured by the Chev. Ram- say, and adopted in 1753 by the Grand Lodge of Ancients, as the Fourth degree of Masonry, was this year adopted by the ■■ Moderns " in Grand Lodge. 1778. The Grand Lodge for the State of Yirginia was formed. 1779. The rite of the " Elea of Trtith" created. The Grand Chapter of England was established during this year. 1780. The "Primitive Scottish Rite,'' or Philadelphi, founded at Narbonne, and united with the Grand Orient in 1806. The " Council of the Emperors of the East and West " assumes the title of " Sublime Scottish Mother Lodge of the Grand French Globe, Sovereign Grand Lodge of France." The " Scottish Chapter of Arras,'" instituted a Rose Croix Chapter, under the title of " Arras of tlie Val- ley of Paris." Unites with the Grand Orient in 1801. 1781. Concordat between the Grand Orient and the Mother Lodge of the Philosophical Rite. The Grand Orient created within itself a cham- ber of the High degrees, which labored at a revision of them, and in 1786 reported " Four," viz. : Elu, Ecossais, Knight of the East, and Rose Croix. These were adopted by the Grand Orient, to be worked in addition to the Three Symbolic degrees ; and it thereupon decreed that no others should be worked in the Lodges or Chapters under its jurisdiction. The Seven degrees thus arranged, have since been practiced by the Grand Orient, and are known all over the world as the " Modern French Rite." A so-called •' Convention of Inspectors" was held at Philadelphia. SUPREME COUNCII>_U. S. A. 311 The members were Solomon Bush, Inspector for Pennsylvania ; Isaac da Costa, for the West Indies and North America ; Simon Nathan, for North Carolina ; Samuel Myers, for Leeward Islands ; Barend M. Spitzer, for Georgia ; Thomas Randal, for New Jersey. (A goodly company.) At the Convention, Barend M. Spitzer, received his Patent as a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, dated June 25th. Sept. 5th. A Provincial Grand Lodge for the State of New Tork, chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ancients, under the Duke of Athol. 1782. The " RectiAed Rite" was established in Prance. July 2d. Abraham Jacobs initiated in St. Andrew's Lodge, Boston, and passed to a Fellow Craft. His Diary states, that some time subse- quently, he was raised to a Master Mason in Lodge No. 1, Charleston, South Carolina. 1783. The " Eclectic Rite," established in Germany and Switzerland. The " System of Swedenborg " introduced at Paris by the Marquis de Frome. 1784. The " Grand Chapter General of France " came into existence. 1786. The Grand Orient established the Modern French Rite of Seven degrees, which contain the substance of the first Eighteen degrees of the Rite of Perfection. It rejected all above the Eighteenth degree. The Scottish Directories, which by the treaty of 1776 with the Grand Orient, had the exclusive working and administration of the Reformed Rite, still continued to work. The Mother Lodge of the Scottish Philosophical Rite, the Chapter of Arras, and several other bodies were independent. Feb. 27th. The Grand Chapter General of France united with the Grand Orient. Dec. 18th. The Grand Lodge for the State of New Jersey formed. Sept. 25th. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania closed sine die, and the Grand Lodge for the State of Pennsylvania organized. 1787. May 1st. Abraham Jacobs initiated into the Ineffable degrees, Sublime Lodge, Charleston, South Carolina. The Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons, for South Carolina formed. April 17th. The Grand Lodge of Maryland formed. The Grand Chapter of Herodim, and the Chapter of Rose Croix of Ramsay established in England. 1788. Feb. 20th. The Grand Council Princes of Jerusalem was opened in the city of Charleston by three Inspectors, Myers, Spitzer, and Forst. The Grand Lodge of North Carolina formed. 1789. Moses Cohen raised to "Knight of the Sun" by Moses Michael Hays, Philadelphia. The Grand Lodge of New Hampshire formed. The Grand Lodge of Connecticut formed. 312 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 1790. Masonry in France in a langnishing condition. Moses Cohen goes to Kingston, Jamaica to renew tlie Sublime degrees. Abraham Forst also goes there. They there establish a Consistory, the degrees baving " died out." Abraham Jacobs removes from Charleston to Jamaica. He meets with Cohen and Forst there, who promote him to " Knight of the Sun." He returns in same year to Savannah, Greorgia, bringing with him fidl powers from these " two," to Enter, Pass, Raise, and Exalt, to the Sublime degrees. Pierre le Barbiere Plessis, made Deputy Inspector by Augustus Provost, in Philadelphia. 1791. The Grand Lodge of France suspends its labors, and its members dis- perse. June 25th. The Grand Lodge of Rhode Island formed. 1792. Abraham Jacobs, who had arrived at Savannah from Jamaica, begins the work of conferring the Sublime degrees there. Commences in earnest at Augusta, Georgia. A Union of both Grand Lodges (Ancient and Modern,) in the State of Massachusetts, and a regular Grand Lodge for that State formed. a 1794. Jan. 12th. Moses Cohen granted a Patent to Hyman Isaac Long, as Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, and Deputy Inspector General. The Grand Lodge of Vermont formed. 1795. A few Lodges began again to revive in France. April 2d. John Mitchell received his Patent from Barend M. Spitzer, as a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, and Deputy Inspect tor General. Rose Croix Chapter (Triple Union) Right of Herodim, founded in New Tork city by a few French refugees from St. Domingo. 1796. The " system of Fesder " was established. Nov. 12th. Hyman Isaac Long conferred the degree of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, and gave a Patent to Count Alexandre Francois August de Grasse TiUy, De La Hogue, Magnan, Saint Paul, Robin, Petit, and Marie. Abraham Jacobs confers the Sublime degrees upon Fifteen brethren, in AVashington, TVilkes County, Georgia. The Grand Orient of France resumes its labors. At this date there are only Eighteen Lodges existing in France. On the 17 th October the Grand Lodge resumes its labors. 1797. Jan. 12th. The Sublime Council of Princes of the Royal Secret was established at Charleston, South Carolina. On the 26th May Jean Baptiste Aveilhe subscribes himself K.-. H.-. Deputy Inspector Greneral. Louis Claude Henri Montmain, was conferring at Charleston, as a SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 3I3 detached or side degree, the " Sovereign Commander of the Temple.'^ De Grasse received it on the 21st December, 1798, two years after his having received the Sublime Prince of Royal Secret ; and being consti- tuted a Deputy Inspector General, and others received it on the 3d of August, 1799, from the hands of Montraain. The Grand Lodge of the State of New York issues its Edict against Lodge D Union Francais" as Spurious and Illegal, prohibiting all intercourse. Said Lodge was chartered by one of the '^woidd-be" Inspectors in the face of the Grand Lodge. It afterwards gave up its pretensions, and united with the Grand Lodge. Achille Huet Lachelle, pretending to be Provincial Grand Master of Chapter of Heredom of Kilwinning for America, chartered a Rose Croix Chapter, Rite of Heredom of Kilwinning, under the title of " Amis Choisis." Charter dated 1798. The Grand Chapter formed for the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, and New York. 1799. May 21st. A union formed between the Grand Orient and the Grand Lodge of Prance. 1800. The '■ Rite of Schroeder " having but three Symbolic degrees, was established at Hamburg, or very soon after this date. The Grand Lodge for the State of Kentucky formed. 1801. On the 24th May, Frederick Dalcho received the degree of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret from the hands of John Mitchell. On the 31st same month, the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for the United States of America, was opened in Charleston by John Mitchell and Frederick Balcho ; but who the persons were who made John Mitchell a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, or where he received, or found, that degree, is a question which has never yet been solved. Abraham Jacobs continues the work in Savannah, Georgia, and is assisted by the Illustrious Emanuel De La Motta. 1802. Emanuel De La Motta made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, and member of John Mitchell's Supreme Council in Charleston. The Count de Grasse elevated at the same time (Feb. 21st,) is appointed Grand Commander for life in the French West India islands, and Representative for the Charleston Council tfiere. Jean Baptiste Marie de la Hogue, also received the Thirty-third, was made a member of that Council, and appointed Lieut. Grand Com- mander under De Grasse. On the 4th December a warrant was granted by the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, for the establishment of a Sublime Grand Lodge in Savannah, Georgia. This new Council issued its first docu- ment, (9ee Appendix, Document No. 7.) 314 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. Abraham Jacobs removed from Savannah to New York city, or early in 1803. 1803. Germain Hacquet returns from St Domingo to France. He carries back with him the " Rite of Perfection " pure and unadulterated, and presented it as such to the Grand Orient of France. 1804. Organization of a " General Grand Scottish Lodge of the Ancient and Accepted Rite " at Paris. October 2d, by Supreme Council Thirty- third. On the 22d September De Grasse Tilly founds a Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General Thirty-third degree, " Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite." December 5th. A Concordat was signed between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council of France. They were united into one body, the Scottish Grand Lodge having had an existence of forty-four days, and the Council fifty-four days. While in existence, they created great confusion among the Fraternity, a contest for the Supremacy having commenced between the Orient and the Council, which ter- minated partially when the Concordat was simed in December. The Scottish Grand Lodge was then dissolved, the Grand Orient control- ling the first Eighteen degrees, the Supreme Council the rest. September 23d. Abraham Jacobs begins his work of conferring degrees in New York. 1805. September 24th. A rupture took place between the Grand Orient and Supreme Council. The bodies again became distinct and antago- nistic. The Grand Orient claimed the right to control the Ancient and Accepted Eite : " That the union of all the degrees, in one simple sphefe of Masonic Light, of which it was the centre, gave it, the Grand Orient alone, the right to rale the Scottish rite concurrently with the French rite ; and, consequently, the sole right, to confer degrees, and grant Charters of Constitutions." The grand Orient granted a Charter of Constitution to " Sovereign Chapter Ecossais," Ancient and Accepted Kite. The Supreme Council was opposed to this proceeding, and at once established a Grand Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, and on the 1st of October made a decree, &c. The Philosophical Scottish rite, the rite of Heredom, and in general, all the Masonic bodies, that had, by virtue of the Con- cordat, been united to the Grand Orient, resumed their independence. The Grand Orient, at once, created a '• Grand Directory of Rites," to govern all the united Eites, and to be composed of as many sections as there were rites. This was done July 21st before the split took place. The controversy lasted between the two bodies until 1838, and was not completely adjusted until 1841, a period of from thirty-three to thirty-six years. Still, from 1805 up to 1814, the Grand Orient con- SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 315 fined itself to the first Eighteen degrees, and suffered the Supreme Council to administer the rest. The Supreme Council was established at Milan, and also the Grand Orient of Italy. The Grand Orient of the Military division of Italy, at Naples, united with the Grand Orient of Milan, June 22d. 1806. The Rose Croix Chapter, " Triple Amitie," founded by Joseph Cerneau, in New York. It became extinct in 1807, at which time the Sovereign Grand Consistory took its place. The " Primitive Rite " united with the Grand Orient. On the loth July, the Count de Graase resigned as Grand Comman- der of the Supremo Council of Prance, in favor of Prince Cambaceres, who, also, accepted the Grand Mastership of all the bodies which had become severed from the Grand Orient, thus becoming " Chief" of all the systems practiced in Prance. He was Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Prance, Honorary Grand Master of the Rite of Herodim of Kilwinning, sitting at Rouen, in 1807. Grand Master of the Primitive Rite in 1808. Grand Master of the Rite of Benefi- cent Knights of the Holy City, Rectified Regime, a title offered him by the Directory of Auvergne. Grand Master of the Regime of the Directory of Septimanee at Montpelier in 1809, and Honorary Grand Master of all the Masonic bodies that was of any importance. July 21st. Pierre le Barbier Plessis, created a Sovereign Grand In- spector General Thirty-third degree, and Deputy, residing at Philadel- phia. June I9th, John James Joseph Gourgas initiated an Entered Ap- prentice Mason in Lodge L'Union Prancais. June 6th. The Grand Lodge formed for the State of Delaware. 1807. ^The " Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Ancient Constitutional Scot- tish Rite of Heredom," was established at New Tork, for the United States of America, her Territories and Dependencies, in the month of October, by Joseph Cerneau. October 14th. John Gabriel Tardy initiated to the Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, by Pierre le Barbiere Plessis, in Philadelphia, and appointed Deputy Inspector General by him. 1808. July 12th. The Grand Orient of France affiliated with, and entered into correspondence with the Grand Orient of Italy. November 3d. Abraham Jacobs, having initiated "Nineteen brethren," constituted them a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and a Sublime Lodge of Perfection. They were afterwards taken in charge by Gourgas and Tardy. Sovereign Chapter of Rose Croix, " Triple Alliance," established by Sovereign Grand Consistory. 316 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED 1809. On the llth of June, the Supreme Council of Prance established the Supreme Council at Naples. In the month of March, the adherents of Qourgas established a Con- sistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, but it ceased its existence by the end of the year. In the month of November, John Gabriel Tardy, Deputy Inspector General, promoted Abraham Jacobs to K. H. and Prince of the Royal Secret. On the 24th inst.. Tardy issued his Patent, and Jacobs oe- came a member of the Gourgas Consistory. 1810. Feb. 15th. Application made to the Supreme Council of France by the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, for acknowledgment, &c. Joseph Cerneau founded the Council of Royal and Select Masters., 1811. The Supreme Council of France established the Supreme Council of Spain at Madrid, July 4th. About this period the Sovereign Grand Consistory chartered Colum- bian Encampment of Knights Templar, New Tork city, reformed work. Jan. 8th. The Grand Lodge for the District of Columbia formed. 1812. The Supreme Council of France acknowledges the Sovereign Grand Consistory at New Tork, and enters into correspondence with the same. Feb. 13th, 1813. The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for America, founded at Paris by Masons who had received the Thirty-third degree in America. First Edict issued by the Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America. July llth. The Grand Lodge for the State of , Louisiana formed. 1813. Corespondence commenced with Supreme Council of France, under the title of Sovereign Grand Consistory of " the Trinity''' New York. Emanuel De La Motta arrives in New Tork from Charleston, consti- tutes a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree on his own responsibility, expels Joseph Cerneau, his abettors, and followers, publishes his acts in the papers, and returns to Charleston. January 23d. The Consistory for the State of Rhode Island founded by the Sovereign Grand Consistory, also the Encampment of Knights Templar, Accepted or Reformed rite, located at Newport. June. The Consistory for the State of Louisiana founded in New Orleans by the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The Union of the two Grand Lodges in England (Ancients and Moderns.) They, when united, adopt the "Holy Royal Arch" as the fourth degree of Masonry. December. The Grand Lodge for the State of Tennessee formed. 1814. June 24th. The Grand Orient of Prance decreed : " That by virtue SUPEEME COUNOIL-U. S. A. 317 of a Concordat, made in 1773 with the Chapter of Clermont, in 1787 ■with the General Urand Chapter, and in 1804 with the Scottish Grand Lodge, it re-took, or rather continued, but in a more special manner, the exercise of the powers that appertained to it, oteb ali> THE EiTEs." The Supreme Council resisted this usurpation, and a quarrel was kept up until the 6th November, 1841, when each recog- nized the other, and both administered the rite concurrently. The infamous papers published by De La Motta made their appear- ance in New York, during this year, viz., the expulsion of Joseph Cerneau, his abettors, &c. The Sovereign Grand Consistory replied in Feb. De La Motta came out with his published " Replication " in Sept. He also published in the Philadelphia newspapers his Edict, expelling Cerneau, January 31st. The papers of De La Motta were without any eflect, and were un- noticed by the Fraternity. The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, for the State of New Tork formed, being brought about mainly by the influence of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. 1816. The Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, at New York, acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France, and Ger- main Hacquet, its President and Grand Commander, appointed as Bepresentative near the Grand' Orient, continued so until 1827, when the Consistory ceased. The " Rite of Misraim " founded at Paris. Brothers Eckles and Niles, of Baltimore, convey a Power to Brother Jeremy L. Cross, General Grand Lecturer of the United States, to found and establish Councils of Eoyal and Select Masters throughout the United States. The Grand Council of Eoyal and Select Masters founded for the State of New York. The Consistory founded for the State of Pennsylvania, by Sovereign Grand Consistory. 1817. January 15th. The Supreme Council Thirty-third for Belgium estab- lished at Brussels. A Union is effected between the two Grand Lodges of South Carolina. 1818. The Annuary of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Consistory, containing a full list of the Grand Dignitaries, OfBoers, Members Active and Honorary, Subordinate bodies, list of Inspectors and localities, Corresponding bodies, &c., was issued. The Supreme Council, erected by Dc La Motta as a rival to the Sbvereign Grand Consistory, became extinct. The Grand Lodge for the State of Mississippi formed. 318 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. 1819. July 31st. The Grand Orient of France claims, " That in 1804, some Masons who had returned from America, or fled from our Colonies, brought back to Paris ' the degrees," which the same Orient had sent thither in 1761, by the intervention of Stephen Morin ; and that those degrees had not left France, but the Grand Council, established in the bosom of the National Grand Lodge, after it the General Grand Chapter of France, and after 1787, the Metropolitan Sovereign Chapter of the Grand Orient of France, always possessed them." 1821. The Supreme Council of France, which had been inactive since 1814, resumes its labors, and unites with the remains of the " Supreme Council for America," which had also been inactive. Joseph Cerneau withdraws from active duties as Grand Commander of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Consistory, and takes the title of " Honorary." He is succeeded by Hon. John W. Mulligan as Grand Commander. The controversy at Charleston, South Carolina, between P. Javain Representative of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, and Joseph McCosh, concerning the Sublime degrees, was at its height. The Supreme Council of Charleston, which had been inactive since 1813, now began to revive. It received a small addition to its num- bers, which before were "Jive." Grand Lodges were formed for the States of Alabama and Missouri. 1822. Joseph McCosh issues his Pamphlet, entitled " Documents on Sublime Masonry,'' containing the expulsion of Joseph Cerneau, his abettors, and followers, the reply of the Sovereign Grand Consistory, the " Replication " by De La Motta, the controversy with P. Javain, and copious remarks, notes, and emendations, by Emanuel De La Motta ; also a copy of the Charleston document of 1802, in which the Schedule of the degrees appears for the pikst time in a correct form, making " Kadosch" the 30th, and putting in the 29th and 31st according to the Statutes. The Charleston Council revives, and Joseph McCosh receives his degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, becomes a member, and fills the office of Secretary General. Brother Seth Driggs appointed Deputy Inspector General for the island of Trinidad, and establishes a Consistory at Port of Spain. The Lodge of Perfection at Albany, which had been dormant for many years, was revived by Giles Fonda Tates, and a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem established there ; also Lodges of Perfection in the Counties of Montgomery, Onondaga, Saratoga, and Monroe, under warrants of Constitution for said Council. The Sovereign Consistory issues an Edict denouncing the Charleston body. SUPEEME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 319 1823. Hon. John W. Mulligan retires from the office of Sovereign Grand Commander, and is succeeded by the Hon. Dewitt Clinton. June. A split takes place in the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, two Grand Lodges are formed, viz., City and Country. 1824. Nov. 16tb. Giles Fonda Yates establis^e5 in Albany a Grand Con- sistory, and is appointed S. of S. to the body. It becomes obedient to the Supreme Council of Charleston and J. J. J. Gourgas. The Marquis de Lafayette arrives in New York, and is exalted in Masonry. Nov. 22d. The Chapter of Eose Croix, under the title of " Lafay- ette," chartered. The degree of " Aaron's band " conferred in New York by power from the Sovereign Grand Consistory, but soon became extinct. 1825. Marquis de Lafayette made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, by Sovereign Grand Consistory. Eichard S. Spofford, M. D., created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, and appointed as Deputy Inspector General for the State of Massachusetts. John P. Sohisano appointed Deputy Inspector General for the State of Virginia, residing at Norfolk. Feb. 13th. Edward A. Raymond, and Bight Associates, residing in Boston, Mass., receive a Charter from the Council of Princes of Jeru- salem, at Albany, constituting them a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem ; also a Charter from the " Consistory " at Albany, consti- tuting them a Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Eoyal Secret. Giles Fonda Yates created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General by the hands of Illustrious Brother Joseph McCosh. Abraham Jacobs initiated Thirty-five persons into all the Sublime degrees. Jacob De La Motta, the son of Emanuel, made a Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, and becomes a member of the Supreme Council at Charleston ; also Alexander McDonald, Horatio G. Street, and Moses Holbrook. 1826. Nov. 3d. David JewM, Officer in Brazilian Navy, appointed Eepre- sentative by the Sovereign Grand Consistory for the Brazilian Empire, with Patent and Consistorial powers. June 28th. Grand Lodge of Michigan formed. 1827. ITie Anti-Masonic excitement commences, and all Masonic labors are suspended. Nov. 28th. The Sovereign Grand Consistory dissolves and is brought to an end. Elias Hicks was Deputy Grand Comman- der. Union of the two Grand Lodges in the State of New York. 1828. Feb. Hon. Dewitt Clinton died at his residence in Albany. 320 SCOTTISH EITB, ANCIENT AND AOOBPTBD. March. Blias Hicks becomes Grand Commander of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. The Supreme Council of Charleston, and J. J. J. Gourgas, under the title of " Supreme Council for America," is acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France, appear in the Annuary of the Grand Orient the next year. The Grand Lodge of the State of Nfiw Tork num- bered over five hundred working Lodges, which were in a state of great prosperity up to this time. But owing to the Morgan excite- ment, which commenced in the early part of the preceding year, four hundred and twenty-eight Lodges surrendered their Charters and pro- perties to the Grand Lodge, and came to an end. Seventy-two Lodges retained their Charters and refused to give them up. About one- third of these Lodges, which retained their Charters, were located in the city of New York, the remainder scattering throughout the State. Those in the city, and some in the country, managed to hold occasional meetings and to do some work, — at least sufBcient to answer the con- stitutional requirements — while some few as St. John's No. 1, German Union, Mariners, Naval, and L'Union Francais — kept along and main- tained their organization perfectly. The same may be said of Tork, Mystic, Benevolent, Silentia, and Trinity, (then a German Lodge.) For a more particular account, see Appendix, Document No. 46. including a list of most of the Lodges in the city, and some in other parts of the State. 1830. The Grand Lodge for the State of Florida formed. 1832. " The United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere," Elias Hicks, M. P., Sovereign Grand Commander, is established as the suc- cessor of the Sovereign Grand Consistory by Count St. Laurent. It was composed of the members of the Sovereign Grand Consistory. They adopt the prescriptions of 1786, proclaim a declaration of their principles, which are " a perfect independence of the rite — and Tolera- tion." It was published. in the month of April, together with a circu- lar, calling to it all the Masons of America of the Bxalted degrees ; and it entered into a treaty of Union with the Supreme Council of France, Supreme Council of Brussels, (Belgium,) and the Grand Orient and Supreme Council of Brazil, dated April 5th, 1832. It was com- posed of sixteen articles. The Marquis de Lafayette was the Eepresentative to the Supreme Council of France. 1833. Concordat entered into between the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and the Grand Consistory of that State, by which the Consistory relin- • quishes its rule over the Symbolic degrees, and the Grand Lodge establishes a Chamber in its bosom for the administration of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite. The Count St. Laurent returns SUPREME COUNCIL_U. S. A. 321 to Prance, and becomes the Representative to the Supreme Council of France, for the United Supreme Council, in the place of Marquis de Lafayette, who died in May of the following year. 1834. May 20th. Decease of the Marquis de Lafayette 1836. The treaty of Union ratified with the Supreme Councils of France, Belgium, Brazil, and the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere. 1837. A split in the United Supreme Council. Formation of St. John's Grand Lodge. 1838. Grand Lodge formed for the State of Texas. 1839. The Supreme Council of Louisiana formed, and the Consistory of 1813 becomes subject to it. It becomes a power for that State in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. 1840. Joseplfc Cerneau returns to France. Grand Lodge formed for the State of Illinois. Ancient Craft Masoni-y begins to revive in the State of New Tork and elsewhere. 1842. Count St. Laurent continues to be the Representative of the United Supreme Council to the Supreme Council of France. 1843. The Grand Orient of France acknowledges the Supreme Council of Louisiana, and again July 26th, 1845. 1844. Albert G. Mackey and Albert Case made Sovereign Grand Inspectors General Thirty-third, and become members of the Supreme Council of Charleston. January 2d. Grand Lodge of Iowa formed April 16th. Death of Elias Hicks Sovereign Grand Commander. 1846. Oct. 27th. United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere dissolved. Supreme Council formed by Henry C. Atwood, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thirty-third, _ as successor to the United Supreme Council. July 24th. Henry Marsh died. Rupture in Louisiana on account of the proceedings of Grand Lodge of Mississippi. 1848. The National Grand Lodge of France instituted by a portion of the members of the Supreme Council, is now extinct. June 1st. The Gourgas Council organized, and issues its maiden edict defining its position. 1849. Split in the Grand Lodge of the State of New Tork. Two Grand Lodges known as the " Willard " and " PInllips " factions. 1850. Convention of Masons in Louisiana. Scottish Masonry rejected. The Grand Lodge excludes the Scottish Chamber, and practices only Ancient Craft Masonry. 322 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. The Supreme Council of Louisiana resumes its rule over the first three degrees. Union of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York (Willard,) with St. John's Urand Lodge. 1851. The new Council of Gooirgas was remoyed to Boston, Mass., from New Tork city. Gourgas resigned, and Giles Fonda Tates appointed Grand Commander. In September, Tates resigned, and Edward A. Eaymond becomes Grand Commander. A Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection, and Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem for Western and Eastern New York were chartered by the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council of New York re-organized under Brother Jeremy L. Cross. 1852. Albert G. Machey forms a Consistory in New Orleans. Brother Jeremy L. Cross resigns, the Council re-organized under H. 0. Atwood, Grand Commander, and treaty of Alliance formed with S\ipreme Council of Louisiana. 1853. James Poulhouze, P. Wharton Collins, John Baptiste Paget, J. J. E. Maasicott, resign their ofBces and membership in the Supreme Council of Louisiana. The Supreme Council of New York acknowledged by Supreme Grand Council of New Grenada. Grand Lodges formed in the States of Oregon and Minnesota. Split in the Grand Lodge, New York. St. John's Grand Lodge revived. 1855. Concordat between the Supreme Council of Charleston and the New Orleans Consistories. 1856. The Supreme Council of Louisiana revived by its old members. The Supreme Council of New York acknowledged by Supreme Council of Belgium. 185". Sept. 13th. Grand Lodge for the State of Nebraska formed. 1858. The Supreme Council of Connecticut established. Edward W. Atwood Grand Commander. The Grand Orient of Prance acknow- ledges the Supreme Council of Charleston, South Carolina. Grand Lodge for the State of California formed. Union of the Willard and Phillips' Grand Lodge. 1860. Sept. Henry C. Atwood died. Edmund B. Hays succeeds him as Grand Commander. Supreme Council established in California James C. L. Wadsworth Grand Commander. Split in the Gourgaa Supreme Council at Boston, two Supreme Councils organized. 1861. Edward A. Raymond deposed by the Boston Council, and Killian SUPREME COUNCIL— U. S. A. 323 ^7'an Rensselaer becomes Grand Commander. Mr. Raymond estab- lishes a Council of his own, making two Councils in the city of Boston. 1862. Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret established in New Jersey, January 23d, located at Trenton, New Jersey. Jan. 17th. John W. Mulligan died. May. Illustrious Brother Henri Rilliet died. A Sovereign Grand Consistory for the State of Massachusetts constituted in Boston by the Supreme Grand Council of the United States of America. Each of the Supreme Councils publish Edicts expelling each other — thus Raymond and Robinson are expelled by Van Rensselaer & Co. and Van Rensselaer & Co. are expelled by Raymond & Co. CHAPTER TWELFTH. CONCLUSION. The Author's opinions. — Explanation of Plate 2 and 3.— Eemarks concerning the accompaniments to the progress of the new degrees. — The evils growing out of them. — Their causes.— How they may be remedied. — Eemarks addressed to the Fraternity. Having brought the history to a close, it is now proper to offer some remarks concerning many things therewith con- nected, partly in the way of recapitulation, and partly in the way of deductions, naturally growing out of it, which, had they been embodied in the history itself, might justly have been con- sidered out of place. And it is to be sincerely hoped that the reader will receive in good part the remarks that may be offered, especially when the author proffers to him the assur- ance that he is not actuated by any selfish or improper motive in tendering them for his acceptance. As far as he is able to say, the history is a faithful one. It assuraes 1;p give a statement of simple facts as they have oc- curred during the period of time which it embraces — those statements being fully corroborated by the documents con- tained in the work. And it has been his purpose to avoid all partizan feelings, however much there may seem to be any favor manifested toward any particular party. If he has failed in carrying out these feelings in the history, it has been the fault of the testimony of the " documents." Individually, he disclaims any partiality for either of the parties, having long since withdrawn his connection with the " High Degrees." His views upon the subject of Masonry do not accord with those which are generally received among the Fraternity, qs it regards these high degrees. It has been with him a matter of long and patient examination, and he has come to the conclu- sion, that all that ever has been, or is now, known as pure Ancient Masonrv. is contained in three degrees, viz., the Entered CONCLUSION. 325 Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, with the Royal Arch instructions. This is the Alpha and the Omega of Masonry, the beginning and the end. And that all which we meet in this or any other land under the denomination of Masonry, whether it be in ten or one hundred degrees, and bearing the name of a " Rite" whatever it may be, is nothing more than those three simple and beautiful degrees, dressed up to suit the fancy of the makers, and tricked out with jewels and decorations, in order to captivate the unthinking among the Fraternity. The rite, of which this work assumes to be a history, is an illustration of this assertion, and confirms it in every particular, inasmuch as there is not a single degree mentioned in the whole vocabulary, from the fourth to the thirty-third, which has not come into existence since the year 1730 of the Christian era, besides several hundred others which have not been mentioned. These degrees are all founded upon the three simple degrees of Masonry. And thus in look- ing at the rite presented to our view, we* see those three degrees dressed up in garments, a description of which is more proper in another place. We would offer a further illustration of this fact by a short explanation of Plate No. 2 and No. 3. It must be familiar to the mind of every well-informed Mason, that the year 1717 was an important epoch in the annals of Masonry, that being the year in which the first Grand Lodge known, came into being. From that body emanated warrants of constitution for subordinate Lodges, and without which, every Masonic assembly convened for the purpose of making Masons was deemed illegal. There were then but three degrees in Masonry, and from this centre the institution has overspread the habitable globe. The first foreign body chartered by this Grand Lodge was in the year 1725, viz., a Lodge of Master Masons for the city of Paris, France. By referring to Plate No. 2, the reader will find this Lodge delineated at the head of the Tableau, and can readily trace the progress of Masonry there down to the pre- sent day. Thus, by the year 1736, the number of Lodges had increased, and a Provincial Grand Lodge was formed by 326 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. by charter from the Grand Lodge of England. In 1743, it assumes the name of the " English Grand Lodge," but in 1756 styles itself " the Grand Lodge of the Kingdom," having, by that time, become independent of any other power. In 1773 a split occurred, the Grand Lodge continuing its course, and the separating portion of the body forming the " Grand Orient,' which worked as a rival to the Grand Lodge. This continued until 1799, when a union of these two bodies took place, after which time the united body was known as the " Grand Orient of France." This body has controled the first three degrees of Masonry from 1736 down to the present time. We hear nothing in Masonry of " Rites " or " new degrees " until the year 1730. It was about this time that Ramsay, the Scotsman, invented three new degrees, which he called the Ecossais, the JVovice, and the Knight of the Temple. To dis- tinguish these degrees from the three then practiced, he gave them the name of the " Primitive Scottish Rite." These new degrees were added to the first three by the Grand Lodge in 1736. And here may be dated the beginning of all the addi- • tions, improvements and innovations, which have since taken place in the great but simple system of Ancient Masonry, together with the birthplace of the word " Rite." The work of invention was now carried rapidly forward. The degrees of Kadosch and the Rose Croix were invented in 1742, and from the handy work of Ramsay came the " Holy Royal Arch " about this time, which was imported from France to England, there adopted by the " Ancients," but rejected by the " Moderns." In 1752 it was grafted upon the system of Ancient Masonry as the fourth degree, and from thence came to our own land. By the year 1752, at which time the invention of new degrees had been carried to a great length in France, we find a new system called the " Sovereign Chapter Sublime Scotch Mother Lodge, &c," practicing the three degrees with the new addi- tions, and continuing as a rival to the Grand Lodge. Lacorne was at the head of this affair, and as the Grand Lodge refused to recognize him, or those who were made under him, he estab- lished a Grand Lodge of his own, called the Lacorne Grand CONCLUSION. 327 Lodge. It continued its operations about one year, when the difficulties being settled, it united with the Grand Lodge in 1762, and the Sublime Scotch Mother Lodge united with the same soon after. In 1754 arose the " Chapter of Clermont," which, in 1758 became the " Chapter of the Emperors of the East and West," comprising in its schedule a list of Twenty-five degrees. As this new system embraced the first three degrees and practiced them, it became a rival to the Grand Lodge — they quarrelled, and remained for twenty years at variance with each other. In 1762 the members of this new Chapter quarrelled among themselves. A split occurred, out of which came the " Council of Knights of the East." These two bodies moved down together side by side. In 1780 the former body had assumed the name of Sovereign Grand Lodge of France, and in 1785 the two bodies united, forming the " General Grand Chapter of France." This General Grand Chapter united with the Grand Orient in 1786. In 1747 the " Chapter of Arras," or Ecossais Jacobite, was established, containing the degree of Rose Croix, with the other new degrees. This also continued down to 1780, when it took the name of " Rose Croix Chapter of Arras." In 1801 it united with the Grand Orient. In 1780, the " Primitive Rite of JYarbonne," beginning with the Entered Apprentice, and ending with the Rose Croix, took its rise, but finally united with the Grand Orient in 1806. The remainder of the " rites " there delineated, with others which are not mentioned, finally became extinct, or run out. While this Plate gives a view of these different embellish- ments of the first three degrees of Masonry, which, eventually, became the property of the Grand Orient of France, Plate No. 3 gives a view of the embellishments of a particular rite, known as the " Rite of Perfection " in twenty-five degrees, emanating from the Council of the Emperors of the East and West, and brought to this country by the hands of Morin and his succes- sors. This rite was built up by taking the first three degrees as a basis, and by dividing the third or Masters degree into several parts, out of which parts they have manufactured 328 SCOTTISH KITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. degrees, they have constructed them in such a manner that the third or Masters degree, extends to the Twelfth of their sys- tem, then by adding on Ramsay's Royal Arch, they form two more, reaching to the Fourteenth. The remaining degrees are mostly made up of matters connected with Chivalry and the Crusades — with the exception of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth; which are now synonymous with the first degree of the Tem- plar system of our own land. The Plate delineates these embellishments down to the year 1801, beginning with Ramsay's additions in 1736 — then exhib- iting the rite as formed in 1758 in twenty-five degrees — then the result of the meeting of the Commissioners of Paris and Bordeaux, in adopting these twenty-five degrees — next the list of degrees as transmitted by Stephen Morin — finally arriving in Charleston in 1783 — after which our own countrymen renewed their manufacturing operations, and added five entire new degrees to the system, also dividing the Prince of the Royal Secret into three degrees — thus making the number thirty-three instead of twenty-five, to which they attach the name of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite." (See Schedule of '"degrees conferred by the Charleston Council in 1802.") This schedule is followed by the system of the Grand Orient of France, adopted in the year 1805, and concluded by an exhibit of the system practiced by the Consistory of Cerneau in 1807, derived from, and precisely the same as, the Grand Orient of France. This is the condition in which the first three degrees of Masonry are presented to us in the present day. And in order to make them the more enticing they have called them the " Svilime." Attaching the name of "Symbolic" to the three degress of Ancient Masonry, they declare the Sublime degrees to be their exponents or interpreters — that without receiving these thirty new embellishments the Master Mason is yet in blindness, and knows nothing of the ceremonies through which he has passed. But — this is not ti'ue. The first three degrees are not " Symbolic degrees " in the sense in which they make use of that term — nor are the Sublime degrees their exponents or CONCLUSION. 329 interpreters. On the contrary. Ancient Masonry is the language of Symbolism, and this new system has no connection with it whatever. Throughout the whole of the rituals are to be seen, the fancies and wild vagaries of men, who have thus exemplified their ideas as it regards the meaning of the Symbols which they have witnessed, and the ceremonies through which they have passed. Let not the aspirant to these new degrees suppose that he will gain possession of anything that is really valuable in Masonry, or that this series of degrees offered for his accept- ance, will reveal to his view, antiquities or matters which he was not before acquainted with. If he thus believes, he will find, after he has taken them, that he has been greatly dis- appointed ; that all he really knows of Masonry is contained in the three degrees of Ancient Masonry, with the Royal Arch instructions — and that all the rest is a " Sham." He will find that all the reliable information he has gained will amount to this — that he has witnessed for himself that a very simple thing can be turned and twisted into a great variety of shapes and forms, but like the gutta percha faces, which can be pulled and squeezed, made long or short, round or square, to smile or frown, but in the end resume their original form, so do these newly invented affairs, stretched and twisted into every possi- ble shape by the handy work of the manipulator, return to what they originally were, when calm reflection takes its proper place. Viewing the history in its most favorable light, we are com- pelled to draw conclusions, which will by no means have a tendency to " raise the value " of this system of Masonry, in the estimation of the Fraternity. We have traced the degrees from their origin — followed them to St. Domingo— from thence to the United States— and have described their progress up to the present day. And what have been the accompaniments of this travel of One hundred and Thirty years ? From the time of the introduction of these new degrees into France, dating from 1730, about which period the Chevalier Ramsay introduced his system there, quarrels and dissensions began among the brotherhood. 330 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. We have seen that there was at that time a regular Grand Lodge in existence — established there by charter from England, in the symbolic degrees, between which, and the followers of Ramsay's system, a quarrel arose, the Grand Lodge disowning them except as Apprentices and Fellow Crafts. In 1740 to 1744, " Disorders of every kind invaded Masonry — charters became merchandise — new degrees swarmed like flies — Restau- rateurs bought Masterships for life — and everybody sold degrees." As we pass along, step by step, we find in our pro- gress, new degrees starting into being. The years 1752, 1754, 1757, 1758, were noted for these new improvements. At that time the different " Masonic powers," which were altogether assumed, came into collision, and one of them became a rival to the other. All this time the Grand Lodge worked the three symbolic degrees only, and had discarded everything else that was called Masonry ; while the Council of the Emperors of 4he East and West " worked the Twenty-five degrees of the Rite of Perfection, or Heredom, including the same Symbolic degrees, which were governed by a Scottish Symbolic Grand Lodge under that Conncil. Each publicly denounced the other, and soon the rival to the old Grand Lodge fell to pieces by inter- nal dissensions. It branched off itself into two bodies, which became rampant rivals to each other, and finally, after great discord and trouble, the whole were merged into the &rand Orient, by Concordat, in 1772. That body being weary of strife, and desirous of systematizing the work of the Lodges, revised the degrees, formed a system, and in 1786 reported four degrees as the standard, which became the " Modern French Rite," is known as such all over the world, and is worked up to the present day, in the form in which it came from their hands. It embraces the substance of the Rite of Perfection up to the Eighteenth, or Rose Croix degree. (Soe Plate 3, 1786.) But as soon as this took place, dissensions began again, bodies again became independent and worked as rivals, and it was not until 1799, at the Union of the Grand Lodge of France with the Grand Orient — which before had united with the CONCLUSION. 331 Grand Chapter General of France, that Peace was restored to Masonry in that land. But this peace was not of long continuance ; for in the month of September, 1804, a new cause of vexation arose, in the ap- pearance of the person of the Count de Grasse, who established in Paris a new rite in Thirty-three degrees, under the title of " Ancient and Accepted," as a rival to the Grand Orient. That body, seeing the difficulties in prospect, and warned by the experience of the past, entered into a Concordat with the Supreme Council of De Grasse, in the month of December of the same year. By this measure they hoped to restore har- mony again, but in 1805 the two bodies had again separated, a fierce quarrel arose, and continued up to the year 1841, a period of Thirty or Thirty-five years. It was happily ended at this time, but has left behind it bitter mementos, and Remembrances, which time alone can heal. If we follow the successors of Morin to this country, we shall discover the same accompaniments in their track. No sooner had they proclaimed the Supreme Council in Charles- ton, South Carolina, in 1801, than the Grand Lodge of that State, viewing them as a rival power, called upon them, re- questing to know by what authority they presumed to work ; and a severe contest would have ensued, had not the Supreme Council waived their right of control over the three Symbolic degrees. Although a quarrel was avoided in Charleston, yet the opportunity soon presented itself for a systematic and long- continued one in New York city, in the person of Joseph Cerneau, who had established a Sovereign Grand Consistory of the Eite of Perfection there in 1807, and a Supreme Coun- cil in 1811 — which was considered a rival, and, therefore, should be put out of the way. The quarrel was accordingly begun in the year 1813, by the notorious Emanuel De La Motta, it has continued with unabated malignity, is in lively exercise at the present day, and will probably be continued as long as the present organizations last. And if we pass to New Orleans, Louisiana, we shall find the same accompaniments there. The quarrel commenced there in 1850, the particulars of which it is not necessary here to repeat. 332 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. It is quite sufficient for us to say, that as in former instances, the trouble began in the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, which being adjusted, was commenced again by the same body, which in the first instance, originated it ; that two riral bodies in the Ancient and Accepted rite now exist in that State, one of the rival bodies taking into its own hands the control of the three Symbolic degrees, which act has re-produced the quarrel with the Grand Lodge, which continues now, and will continue, as long as that course is persisted in by the Supreme Council of New Orleans, Louisiana. There are, also. Three rival bodies existing in New York. This has long been the case, and all are laying the foundation for a long-continued controversy, by the establishment of sub- ordinate bodies, wherever the opportunity may occur. This must be the result, as long as these three bodies exist in their distinct form. « This, then, is one of the phases which the propagation and practice of '' 7iew degrees," under the name of Masonry, presents not only to the Masonic, but to the whole world. A con- tinued scene of quarrels and strife wherein every species of abuse and slander, have been resorted to, personal feelings have been disregarded, character injured, and bitter, long- enduring animosities engendered, which have torn asunder every fraternal tie, and given the appearance to the world of the Masonic institution, as a common hot-bed for hatred and dispute. The foundation, the very corner-stone of the institution is " Fraternal Love." It is the cement which holds the building together, unites it into one common mass. This doctrine is emblazoned on the very portals of every Masonic temple, and trumpetted forth by every member of the Order, wherever he may be found. It is, therefore, not a lie, when it is uttered here. And the very fact that Fraternal love is a stranger in these temples of the new degrees, should be a sign that Masonry is not there, and a " warning " to the passing traveller that a nuisance is near. Let him choose his habitation in some other place. Again. The whole proceedings of Stephen Morin and his CONCLUSION. 333 successors, from the very beginning, have been illegal and unmasonic, according to what is now, and has always been, received and accepted among the Craft, as Masonic law. When the disorders which had crept into Masonry, culmin- ated in England, and it became common for Masons to open a Lodge at pleasure, wherever and whenever they met, the Masons of England, in order to put a stop to these irregulari- ties, formed a Grand Lodge in the year 1717. Preston gives a few particulars, which we shall here quote. He says, page 304: " Previous to the Jear 1717, it was the custom, as well as Masonic law, that a sufficient number of Masons, met together within a certain district, with the consent of the Sheriff, or Chief Magistrate of the place, were empowered at this time to make Masons, and to practice the rites of Masonry, without a warrant of Constitution. The privilege was inherent in themselves as individuals, &c." At this meeting for the formation of the Grand Lodge, the following law was passed : " That the privilege of assembling Masons, which hitherto had been unlimit- ed, should be vested in certain Lodges and Assemblies of Masons, convened in certain places ; and that "every Lodge to be hereafter convened, should be legally authorized to act by a warrant from the Grand Master for the time being, granted to certain individuals by Petition, with the consent and ap- probation of the Grand Lodge in Communication, and that without such warrant, no Lodge should be hereafter deemed regular or constitutional." (Page 167.) This was adopted as a Law, forever unalterable, it was the foundation, and became the fundamental law of the Fraternity. It was adopted in England, Scotland and Ireland, it was adopted in France in 1725, before which, Masonry in any of its forms, was entirely unknown — it was adopted in the United States in 1730, and has become the fundamental law of the Order, wherever that Order is known, over the face of the habitable globe. All this was done at a time when none but the three degrees of Masonry had a being. And under what- ever rite, bodies in Masonry may be working now in any land whatever, this is deemed a " sine qua non." The body must regularly derive, and be able to exhibit the evidence of its legality, by a warrant of Constitution. Without such an 334 SCOTTISH BITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. instrument it is quite unnecessary to repeat tte epithets bestowed upon persons guilty of this breach of covenant. Is it so in any case, with the Masonry, and the degrees, of which we have attempted to give a history ? It is true that Stephen Morinhad proper authority for conferring the degrees, but it was for a special object, viz., the establishment of a Lodge. And if he had followed up this course he would not have laid himself open to censure. This he did not do, but on the contrary, he kept the power delegated to him, and used it for his own private purposes. He conferred the degrees on Francken, Francken conferred them on Hays, Hays conferred them on Isaac Da Costa, Joseph Myers, Solomon Bush, and Barend M. Spitzer. Cohen conferred them on Hyman Isaac Long, and Long conferred them on De la Hogue and De Grasse. Thus John Mitchell, Frederick Dalcho, Emanuel De la Motta, Abraham Jacobs, J. J. J. Gourgas, and a large num- ber of persons, at various times, have received these degrees. Now, it will be recollected, that to all these persons, and many more, a " Patent " was given, signed by the persona con- ferring the degrees, and authorizing him to " go and do likewise." As each of these persons were appointed for a State — thus Francken for Jamaica and the British Leeward islands, Col. Provost for the Windward islands and the British army, Da Costa lor the State of South Carolina, Solomon Bush for the State of Pennsylvania, Hays for Massachusetts, Spitzer for Georgia, Forst for Virginia, and a large number of others ; these, in their turn, appointed others, an^ in the course of time, these persons had initiated many, to all of whom they had given like powers. Now, we do not find a single subordinate body established by Morin's successors, until Feb. 1788, at which period they pretended to establish a Grand Council of Princes of Jeru- salem at Charleston, and, subsequently, a Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. A Lodge of Perfection was established by Francken at Albany, New York. The date of the seal is 1767, but this is no criterion to go by, as each Inspector has his own seal, bearing date at the time he received his, so-called commission. And as this is the date of Francken's CONCLUSION, 335 appointment at Kingston, Jamaica, we are inclined to think that, although this Lodge was established many years subse- quent to that period, yet it bore that date from Francken's seal. But none of these things amount to anything, so far as it concei'ns the conferring of degrees, as we find Abraham Jacobs in Savannah, Georgia, in 1796, and continuing until 1801, con- ferring the degrees, whenever and wherever, he could get the opportunity, in the face of the Charleston body and in the face of the Inspector appointed for that State ; we find De la Motta engaged in the same work ; we find Jacobs in the city of New York in 1804, pursuing the same business, which he continued up to 1840, in the face of all the bodies, even of the one in which he pretended to be a member, with numbers of others in different parts of the land, up to the present time. In fact, the most of those who have received the degrees previous to 1830, south of Mason and Dixon's line, have received them in this way, viz., from individuals, acting under what they term a " Patent." The Supreme Council of Charleston still retains in her Constitutions this individual power. (See Articles 20, 21, and 44.) John Barkerr, Cushman, and various other person- ages, and last of all, the Rev. Mr. Walker in Chicago, all of whom had this power, conferred the degrees on numerous per- sons and bodies of men. It is true there are bodies now working these degrees, which " derive," and may be considered legal, all of which is well. But, unfortunately, it is the case, that there are many still living who feel that they have a riglft, under their power, to confer these degrees, in the face of any legal body. Hence, when a dissension or trouble takes place in a Council, Con- sistory, or Chapter of this system, the common result of which, is either a withdrawal or an expulsion, the party separating goes on the same as before. He finds customers, confers the degrees, establishes a body, becomes a rival to the body from which he has withdrawn, or has been cut off, each denounces the other to the world, and so the war begins. Such has been the case during the present year. Brother Raymond was deposed by the Supreme Council of Boston as Grand Comman- 336 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. der. He claimed the power, inherent in himself, and at once initiated members, raised up a body by the side of the one he had been deposed from, as a rival, their mutual denunciations have already commenced, and where it will end no one yet knows. And this is not only the case now, but will continue to be the case, as long as these degrees, and this system, are countenanced by the Fraternity. Numerous instances of the kind have occurred, and are occurring every day. Take the proof of the truth of this statement from the exploit of De la Motta, in Xew York city, in 1813, in the face of the Supreme Grand Council then in existence and declared to be legal by the acknowledgment of the Supreme Council of France. Go to New Orleans, and witness the exploit of Dr. Albert G. Mackey, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Charleston, in constituting a Consistory in an upper chamber of that city, (New Orleans,) in the face of a Supreme Council there, which had been in exis- tence Thirteen years, was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France, and was known the world over, as a legal power. Many other instances might be adduced, but this is enough to prove the truth of all that has been said concerning the illegality of the proceedings of all these bodies. These are some of the effects, growing out of the encourage- ment, and patronage, given by the brethren, to the " new or high degrees.'' We might say here, that the brother who pays his money for such commodities, gets but a poor return for his investment — that he who spends his time in making himself proficient in the science which this system teaches, learns something else than what his labors have entitled him to, and if perchance, in his mistaken view of the matter, he should feel himself called upon to speak in praise of such a system, his hearers can, with truth, point the finger at occurrences and scenes, like those narrated above, and remind him " that Truth is a sterling virtue, and above all price." Jlgain. The unceasing strife in this country concerning what is called " Regularity" which has been the starting point of contention from the beginning, and continues so up to the present day. CONCLUSION. 337 By referring to the history, it will be seen that the Charles- ton Council commenced operations in 1801, ostensibly by Jnhrt Mitchell, who conferred upon himself the Thirty-third degree, and then conferred it upon Frederick Dalcho. Where John Mitchell procured the degi'ee, how he came in possession of it. or who made it, no one pretends to know. Previous to this time, all the persons who were in possession of the Sublime, Philosophical and Ineffable degrees, had only reached the Twenty-fifth, John Mitchell with the rest, and all these had received them from each other, Stephen Morin being the head. To speak more properly, the whole number, including Stephen Morin, were possessed of the Rite of Perfection in Twenty- five degrees, and no more. So it is quite evident that none of these officiated in this process. On the contrary, all their Patents show, that John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho con- feri'cd the additional degrees on them. (See Patents, Appen- dix.) It proves itself to have been a self-constituted affair altogether. Joseph Cerneau established his Sovereign Grand Consistory, in New York city, in 1807. He pretended to no more then than the Rite of Perfection in Twenty-five degrees. Subse- quently, he established a Supreme Council, viz., in 1811. Cerneau also received his degrees from Stephen Morin, and he conferred those degrees upon all those who received them here, in order to establish his Consistory. S6 far they were both alike. They were both regular or irregular, just as the reader pleases to judge. They soon, however, became different from each other. Thus, Cerneau conferred the degrees for a specific object, viz., the establishment of the" Consistory, and when his number was complete, and the body was constitution- ally full, he applied for, and obtained the recognition, and acknowledgment of the Supreme Council of France. This was in 1812, and so far as regularity is concerned, this made Mr. Cerneau's body regular. In 1816 the Grand Orient of France also acknowledged the Consistory, and Germain Hac-. quet, President of the Grand Orient in the chamber of Rites, and Sovereign Grand Consistory, was the Representative there, and continued so during the existence of the Sovereign 338 SCOTTISH RITE, ANCIE^TT AND ACCEPTED. Grand Consistory, ^n 1822 the acknowledgment was renewed. Now, as it regards regularity, according to Masonic law, Cerneau was regular. The Charleston Council, after having begun, died out, and did not revive again until 1821, when it began to look up, and by the year 1830, after the Consistory had ceased, from the causes which have been fully explained in the history, it ob- tained the acknowledgment' of the Grand Orient of France. This made that body regular. But many changes have since occurred. The United Supreme Council for the "Western Hemisphere, a continuation of the Cerneau Consistory, was established in 1832, and was in treaty of alliance with the Supreme Council of France, also of Bel- gium, also of Brazil, continuing until 1846. The Supreme Council of Louisiana was established in New Orleans in 1839, and was acknowledged by the Grand Orient of France in 1843. The Gourgas Council was also acknowledged in company with the Charleston Council, although it had been out of exist- ence at that time for Twelve years. Gourgas, however, was living, and he says he composed the Council. And what is now the existing state of things. Listen. We have a Supreme Grand Council in Charleston, South Carolina ; a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third in New Orleans, Loui- siana, and a Sovereign Grand Consistory, Thirty-second degree, same rite, under authorized Deputies from Charleston, which makes two rival bodies there ; a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree in New York, claiming to be a continnance of the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere, also a Sovereign Grand Consistory, Thirty-second degree, Yan Rensselaer, and a Sovereign Grand Consistory, Thirty- second degree, Raymond body ; a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, Connecticut ; two Supreme Councils in the city of Boston — the one a rival to the other — and a Sovereign Grand Consistory, Thirty-second degree, from the Supreme Council at New York, which will be a rival to both bodies. Who will not allow that the " new, ineffable, sublime and philo- sophical ' degrees, are in a fair way for notoriety ? And who or ''hoio many" of these Sublime CONCLUSION. 339 bodies are the real Simon Pure, in the general estimation and belief of the Fraternity ? We acknowledge it a puzzler. The Charleston body has occupied much of its time in de- nouncing the New York body, the Gourgas body uses every opportunity to do the same thing, the Boston bodies are fol- lowing in the same track, and pretty soon, if the work pro- gresses, there will be nothing heard of this system but billingsgate, the standing commodity in which they deal. But thus the strife goes on, and whoever may feel inclined to ven- ture in taking these degrees, will have to do so upon all the uncertainty which attend the proceedings of these bodies. No one of these bodies can be called fully regular, because there a.ve portions of the Masonic world in which they are repudiated — neither can any one of these bodies be called irregular, because there are portions of the Masonic world in which they are recognized and acknowledged. Again. The arrogant assumption of power, which this sys- tem authorises the " Dignitaries " of the Order to take upon themselves. Read over the list : Most Puissant and Thrice Illustrious Brother ; Sovereign Grand Inspector General ; Most Sublime Knight and Valiant Prince ; Thrice Equitable,