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The History of Freemasonry

by Albert Gallatin Mackey

Chapter 57 - The Cryptic Degrees

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The Cryptic Degrees

IN the Freemason's Library and General Ahiman Rezon, by Samuel Cole, P.M., published in Baltimore in 1826, we find a list of forty-three degrees which was taken from a "late publication, 1816," which the author states are conferred in the Sublime Grand Lodges in Charleston, S. C., in the city of New York, and in Newport, R.I., which we have heretofore quoted.

"Besides those degrees, which are in regular succession, most of the Inspectors are in possession of a number of detached degrees, given in different parts of the world, and which they generally communicate, free of expense, to those brethren who are high enough to understand them. Such as Select Masons, of 27, and the Royal Arch, as gnven under the Constitution of Dublin, etc., etc."

In a description of the degree of Select Master, the writer says: There is reason to believe that this degree was in use long before those of Most Excellent or Mark Master." (1)

It is well enough to quote from the charge to a Select Master, to indicate its proper place in the "curriculum" of the degrees: "Companion - Having attained to this degree, you have passed the circle of perfection in Ancient Masonry." (2)

This indicates that the Select degree closed all the degrees appertaining to the "Secret Vault," as it really did, up to 1826 at least.

The edition of the above work of 1817 contains an article by Hezekiah Niles on the Select degree, in which he says : "Though this beautiful Degree is known to some persons in many parts of the

(1) Freemason's Library," Cole, p. 220. (2) Ibid., p. 223.

United States, we are not informed that it is worked anywhere but in Baltmore. We have been told that a regular Chapter of Select was held at Charleston, S.C., many years ago, but believe it has declined. (1)

Bro. John Dove of Virginia, says: "This beautiful Degree is comparatively of Modern Origin, having been, with the Degree of Royal Master, in the possession of a distinguished Chief, in the State of Maryland, as a purely honorary Degree, elucidatory of, and appendent to Royal Arch Masonry, and by him conferred without fee; he delegated authority to others, to use them, in the same way, until the year 1824, when the Grand Chapter of Maryland, with his consent, took charge of the Degrees, and ordered them to be given before the Most Excellent Master; where all intelligent workers in the Royal Arch must at once perceive the propriety of their location." (2)

Brother A.G. Mackey says: "For many years there have been three distinct claims urged for jurisdiction over these degrees, in America - first, by the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree; next by some of the Grand Chapters; and lastly by the Grand Councils, composed of the subordinate Councils of each State."

"Connected with this question of jurisdiction is another in reference to the historical origin of the Degrees, and, as the person or persons, by whom they were first introduced into America. The Masons of Maryland and Virginia contend, that the Royal and Select Degrees were introduced by Philip P. Eckel, of Baltimore, one of the most distinguished and enlightened Masons of his day, who, in 1817, communicated them to Jeremy L. Cross, and gave him authority to confer them in every Royal Arch Chapter which he might visit in his official character." This clearly shows that they were to be subsequent to the Royal Arch.

Dr. Robert Folger says: "The Masons of that day (1816) were divided in opinion concerning the proper place to which these degrees (Royal and Select) belonged. One party preferred that they should be kept separate, and left where they were - a separate system."

At the fourth meeting of the General Grand Chapter, June 6, 1816, a discussion took place upon the proposition for the admission of the Grand Chapter of Maryland and the District of Columbia,

(1) Schultz's "History of Masonry in Maryland," vol. i., p. 335. (2) Ibid., p. 336.

Philip P. Eckel and Benj. Edes being the representatives of that Grand Chapter. We learn from the published minutes of that meetig, that a committee made the following report:

"The undersigned having been appointed a Committee for the purpose of conferring with M.'. E.'. Comps. Philip P. Eckel and Benjamin Edes, delegates of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Maryland, beg leave to report that they have had an interview with the above named Companions, from whom they received the following proposition, to wit : The Grand Chapter of the State of Maryland and District of Columbia is willing to support the Constitution of this General Grand Chapter. It will not grant any warrants out of its District and will discountenance all chapters formed contrary to the General Grand Constitution; but requests that it shall not be forced to alter its mode of working, if any difference should exist, at present, and to be received on an equality with the other Grand Chapters.

"Under a consideration of all the above circumstances, your Committee recommend that the said Grand Chapter of the State of Maryland be admitted to an union with this General Grand Chapter. "(Signed by the Committee).

The Undersigned, delegates from the Grand Chapter of Maryland and District of Columbia, agree to the above report.

"Signed P.P. ECKEL, G.'. H.'. P.'. "BENJ. EDES."

This report being read and accepted, it was thereupon voted to receive the said Grand Chapter of the State of Maryland and District of Columbia under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Chapter. (1) Folger, referring to this meeting of the General Grand Chapter, says: "The whole matter then came up for discussion, Mr. Eckel, of Maryland, taking a very prominent part in advocating the Union of these two degrees with the services of the Royal Arch Chapter. The discussion became warm and lasted the better part of two days, when the motion to unite them was rejected. Whereupon, immediately after adjournment, the State Grand Council of Royal Masters was formed, and the different Councils came under that governing power, and continued so up to 1828. It was this move

(1) Proceedings General Grand Chapter, 1816, p. 44.

on the part of the General Grand Chapter, in refusing a recognition of those degrees, that determined Mr. Cross in his future course.

"Mr. Eckel, the Baltimore delegate, then went home; and when Cross, who at that session of the General Grand Chapter had been appointed and confirmed as General Grand Lecturer, started on his lecturing tour, he stopped at Baltimore and purchased and received the privilege from Eckel and Niles to erect and establish councils of Royal and Select Masters throughout the Southern and Western States. This privilege he carried out pretty effectually, beginning with New Jersey; and all the councils in existence in those States, mentioned in his narrative, were established by himself, also the Eastern States, except Rhode Island." Bro. Edw. T. Schultz, in commenting upon what Folger had published as above, said:

"From the above quotations it will be perceived that it was the general belief that the control of the Royal and Select Degrees were vested in Eckel and Niles.

"But we think Bros, Dove, Mackey, and Folger, and others, make a great mistake in coupling the Royal Master's Degree with the Select, in connection with the names of Eckel and Niles; for there is no evidence whatever to show that these Brethren ever exercised or claimed control of the Royal Master's degree, or that they were even in possession of that degree, at the periods named by them." (1)

From Bro. Josiah H. Drummond we learn that, on apparently good authority, Eckel did not get the Royal Master's degree until 1819; when he and Benj. Edes, of Baltimore, received it from Ebenezer Wadsworth, of New York. Bro. Schultz thinks "this is probably true, for there is no mention of that degree being worked in this jurisdiction (Maryland) in any document, or upon the records of the Grand Chapter or its subordinates earlier than 1850. Bro. Cole, in 1817, speaks of it incidentally, but not as among the degrees conferred." (2)

Cole's edition of 1826 (p. 319), says Royal Master and Ark Master or Noachite."

These are considered as merely preparatory, and are usually conferred immediately before the solemn ceremony of exaltation. (3) It

(1) Schultz, "History," vol. i-, p. 339. (2) Ibid., p. 338. (3) Cole, p. 319.

will be remembered itat on page 220 of Cole we quoted him as saying that among those degrees communicated "to those brethren who are high enough to understand them, such as Select Masons of 27" and the Royal Arch, as given under the Constitution of Dublin, etc. This evidently shows that even as late as 1826 these two degrees of Royal and Select were not united; and also, that the Royal Master preceded the Royal Arch; and it was most likely that the Select degree followed the Royal Arch. We show herewith a facsimile copy of the original commission to Jeremy L. Cross, from Eckel and Niles.

To all whom it may concern

Imprest with a perfect conviction that a knowledge of the misteries of the degree of Royal Arch are eminently promoted by a knowledge of those revealed in the Council of Select Masons; and Whereas, the said degree of Select is not so extensively known as its wants and the good of the Craft require - Therefore Know Ye, That reposing especial confidence in my beloved and trusty Companion, Jeremy L. Cross. I do hereby, by the high powers in me vested, authorise and empower him to confer the said degree as follows (viz.): In any place where a regular chapter of Royal Arch Masons is established, the Oficers or Members approving, he may confer said degree according to its rules & regulations, but only on Royal Arch Masons, who have taken all the preceding degrees, as is required by the General Grand Chapter. When a competent number of Select Maosns are thus made, he may grant them a warrant to open a Council of Select and confer the degree and do all other business appertaining thereto.

Given under my hand and Seal at Baltimore, the 27th day of May, A.D. 1817, and in the year of the Dis. 2817,

Sigm Philip L. Eckel

Thrice Illustrious & Grand Puissant in the Grand Council of Select at Baltimore & Approved as G.G. Scribe.

Approved and attested as Ill. in the Grand Council. H. Niles

The Select degree was recognized by the constitution of the Grand Chapter of Maryland adopted in 1824, but the Royal Master's degree is not mentioned. (1)

Bro. Schultz continues: "Furthermore, the Warrant granted to Cross, by Eckel and Niles, a copy of which, taken from a photograph copy of the Original, in the possession of Bro. Wm. R. Singleton, of Washington, is here inserted, and from which it will be seen that the Select Degree alone is mentioned."

In the first warrants issued by Cross under this commission, the Companions were empowered "to form themselves into a regular Council of Select Masters," but in the warrants issued by him in 1819 and thereafter, the High Powers in him vested, by the Grand Council at Baltimore, were enlarged to include the Royal Master's degree. (2)

It is well to state that from the action subsequently taken by Grand Chapter of Maryland in 1827, from documents submitted, "upon the subject of the institution of the Select Degree independent of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter," which were referred to a committee, who recommended that a circular be sent to the several Grand Chapters, regarding the matter, and which was adopted. Cross was charged with having abused the "authority delegated or meant to be delegated" to him, and it had been asserted that he had been expelled by the Grand Chapter but Bro. Schultz assures us that there is nothing in the records to warrant such an assertion." Moreover, Cross did not belong to any chapter under the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Maryland.

Cross, it is said, established about thirty-three councils in various

(10 Schultz, p. 338. (2) Ibid. (3) Ibid.

parts of the United States. He also delegated others, with power in like manner to issue warrants for councils of Royal and Select Masters.

"From all that has been stated, it is evident, not only that Eckel and Niles claimed to have had the supreme control and authority over the Select degree, but that this claim was generally regarded valid; and it is equally as evident, we think, that these Brethren never claimed the control of the Royal Master's degree." "It has always been a question of much interest with Masonic writers to know the source whence these Brethren received their authority, and the control of the Select degree. An old document, that most unexpectedly came to the knowledge of the writer about a year ago, settles that question beyond a doubt. It is as follows :

"Whereas, In the year of the Temple, 2792, our thrice illustrious Brother Henry Wilmans, Grand Elect, Select, Perfect Sublime Mason, Grand Inspector General, and Grand Master of Chapters of the Royal Arch, Grand Elect and Perfect Master's Lodges and Councils, Knight of the East, Prince of Jerusalem, Patriarch Noachite, Knight of the Sun, and Prince of the Royal Secret, did by and in Virtue of the powas in him legally vested, establish, ordain, erect and support a Grand Council of Select Masons in the City of Baltimore, and wrought therein, to the great benefit of the Craft, and to the profitable extension and elucidation of the Mysteries of Masonry:- and Whereas, we the subscribers to these presents are by regular succession possessors of all the rights, privileges and immunities and powers vested in any way whatsoever in the said Grand Council of Select Masons, considering the great advantages that would accrue to the Craft, in an extension of the knowledge of the Royal Secret, as introductory to, and necessary for, the better understanding of the Superior Degrees.

"Know all, whom it may concern, that we do hereby authorize and empower our trusty and beloved Companions K.S....K. T.... H.A.... of the same, to open and to hold a Chapter of Select Masons in the City of Baltimore and under such By-Laws and regulations as may be enacted and established for the government of the same subject to the following general rules and regulations."' (Which we omit.)

From some cause the dispensation was not used, but the fact is fully and emphatically stated by Eckel and Niles, under their hand and seal, that they were, "by regular succession, possessors of all the rights, privileges, and immunities and powers vested in any way whatsoever in the said Grand Council of Select Masons," which has been instituted in the city of Baltimore, in the year 1792, by Henry Wilmans, "Grand Inspector General."

"This document, in connection with the Rules and Regulations of the Lodge of Perfection (referred to above), leave no room for doubt that Wilmans was an Inspector of the Rite of Perfection, and that he exercised, in the City of Baltimore, in 1792, the powers claimed by such Inspectors. But from whom did Wilmans acquire his powers of 'Grand Inspector General,' and the authority 'to establish, ordain, erect and support a Chapter of Select Masons?'"

"We regret that we can not answer the question, nor could the learned Brethren in vaious parts of the country, to whom we applied. The name of Wilmans does not appear upon any register or document in the archives of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, or upon any other known document or record containing the names of the early Inspectors. From the fact that in both the documents he is styled 'Grand Inspector General,' while those deriving their powers from Morin are styled 'Deputy Inspectors,' led to the supposition that he might have derived his powers from Europe; acting upon which supposition, letters were addressed to the Grand Lodges at Berlin and Bremen. While the result of the correspondence, which ensued, was of an interesting nature, nothing in regard to his Masonic character could be learned.

"It has been ascertained that Wilmans was a native of Bremen, and that he emigrated to this country as early at least as the year 1790, and settled in Baltimore. The first mention of his name, on the records of the Grand Lodge, is in connection with Concordia Lodge, in 1793, of which he was appointed the first or Charter Master. In the same year he was elected Deputy Grand Master and in the following year, Grand Master of Masons in Maryland. The register of the Old Zion Lutheran Church, of this city, shows that he died in 1795."

"In a MSS. book of Moses Holbrook, of South Carolina, written in 1829, it is stated that Joseph Myers, a Deputy Inspector General, deposited in the year 1788, in the archives of the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem at Charleston, 'a certified copy of the Royal and Select Master's degrees received from Berlin.'"

"This is evidently an error, so far as it relates to the Royal Master's degree. As intimated, the degree was first known in the Eastern States, and the earliest reliable mention of it there, is in the year 1809." "Bro. Holbrook wrote his book in 1829, at which time both degrees were conferred at Charleston, and naturally he connected the two in his statement, making a similar error that others do, when stating that Eckel and Niles claimed the control of the Royal Master's degree. The book referred to contains also the statement, that somewhere about the year 1788, Joseph Myers was for a time located at Baltimore."

"Did Wilmans receive the Select degree from Myers, or did Myers receive it from Wilmans?"

"If the degree came from Berlin, it is quite probable that Wilmans brought it with him, as he came from Germany, about the time mentioned for the deposit, in the MSS. of Holbrook."

"There is a tradition existing in the Eastern States, that Eckel received the degree from a Prusian, temporarily sojourning in Baltimore. The period of Wilmans' residence in Baltimore was perhaps not over eight years, and with some propriety, he might have been regarded as a sojourner - and a Prussian."

"It is stated, but upon what authority we know not, that the Royal and Select degrees were conferred by Andrew Franken at Albany in 1769, and that he conferred them upon Samuel Stringer, who afterwards removed to Maryland; but we have not been able to find this name upon any of the records of this jurisdiction."

"These statements or traditions, it will be seen, all point to Maryland as the source from whence the select degree, and (as the writers will have it) Royal Master's degree also, were subsequently introduced into other parts." (1)

Folger says Eckcl, at the session of the General Grand Chapter, advocated "the Union of the degrees with the services of the Royal Arch Chapter."

"From 1824 to 1852, the Select degree only was worked in the chapters in Maryland and District of Columbia. After 1852, both degrees were worked in Councils specially convened for the purpose, after the Most Excellent and prior to the Royal Arch." (2)

The true history of the origin and progress of the Cryptic Rite

(1) Schultz, "History of Maryland," vol. i., pp. 335 to 344. (2) Ibid., p. 344.

in the several States, if it were possible to produce it, would prove of great interest to the Masonic student.

From the preceding pages, taken mostly from the labors of Companion Edw. T. Schultz in his valuable History of Masonry in Maryland, we learn that, while the degrees of Royal Master and Select of Twenty-seven may have been conferred in various places prior to 1792, yet we must concede that the organization of the Council of Select Masons in Baltimore by Philip P. Eckel and Hezekiah Niles, under the sanction of Henry Wilmans, was the very first organized effort to propagate the rite in this country. Companion Schultz has shown, very clearly, that we can not go beyond the date of that organization, so far as any ancient records have been discovered.

After Companion Jeremy L. Cross had been appointed the Grand Lecturer of the General Grand Chapter, at the session of 1816 - we learn, from several sources, that Cross went to Baltimore in 1827 - and there, no doubt, was initiated into the degree of Select Master and recoved the Warrant from Eckel and Niles which is referred to on the preceding page of this chapter. A photograph copy of the original is in the possession of the present writer. This photo copy was submitted to the daughter of Bro. Eckel, who was the wife of Brother, Hon. Elijah Stansbury, Ex-Mayor of Baltimore, and they both certified that they recognized his signature; and, moreover, sent the writer an original letter written by Bro. Eckel in 1819. These evidences were submitted to experts in handwriting, and the certificate to Cross was pronounced a forgery because the real later signature was of so much better caligraphy than the signature in the suspected paper, as, according to the expert's idea, it should not have been better, being two years older!!! The writer has in his possession several other papers signed by Eckel, and in no two of them do his signatures correspond. Our duty as a historian requires this statement to be made. Our own opinion is yet, that the document shown by Cross was a veritable commission from Eckel and Niles to propagate the degree, and the Masonic World should be glad thereof; as by his means, the rite spread rapidly in the South and West. The writer was made a Royal and Select Master, in one of Cross's councils, in St. Louis, Mo., in 1841, about the time the Grand Council of the State was organized, as he then copied their records into the record-book. The Grand Chapter of Maryland, having incorporated the Select degree into the chapter work in 1824, in 1828 that Grand Chapter sent communications to other Grand Chapters suggesting the propriety of the several Grand Chapters in the United States assuming jurisdiction over the degrees of Royal and Select Masters.

In the Grand Chapter of South Carolina, this matter was referred to a committee, who reported February 26, 1829, which report was unanimously adopted by the Grand Chapter :

"That Committee, after extensive and careful investigation, reported, that in February, 1783, Dr. Dalcho and many others received those degrees in Charleston in the sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection, then established in that city. That when the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem was established in Charleston, February 20, 1788, Joseph Myes, one of the Deputy-Inspectors who established it, deposited in the Archives certified Copies of the degrees of Royal and Select Masters from Berlin in Prusia, to serve for the future guidance and government of that new body. That from 1788, the Grand Officers and Supreme Council of Inspectors-General, at Charleston, had been steadily in the habit of conferring these degrees; and in 1828, numbers of councils of Select Masters were acting under their authority in the Southern and Western States.

"The Committee had seen and perused the first copy of those degrees that ever came to America, and old copies of Charters that had been returned by Councils, in States where Grand Councils had been formed, and Charters obtained from such Grand Councils. And the Committee reported, that these degrees had been under regular and independent Masonic protection and authority for more than forty-six years, and were so circumstanced in the United States, at a period long prior to the establishment of Grand or General Grand Royal Arch Chapters, or even of Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, in any part of the world; and that the Grand Chapter of South Carolina ought to avoid all collision with contemporary Masonic jurisdictions, regularly established, and much longer in existence than their own; and so reported a formal resolution (which the Grand Chapter unanimously adopted) that it was 'improper and inexpedient to assume a jurisdiction over the said degrees, and thus to interfere with the rights and privileges of our brethren in another and higher order of Freemasonry.'

"Of the Illustrious brothers Myers, Spitzer and Forst, that Committee said, 'the above named three respectable Brethren and Companions are, and steadily have been, Members and Officers of the said Council of Princes of Jerusalem. Their evidence therefore, must be conclusive upon these points.'

"The same Committee (Royal Arch Masons, be it observed, and a Committee of a Royal Arch Chapter, enquiring into its own jurisdiction) said of the Brothers and Companions, Dr. F. Dalcho, Dr. Isaac Auld, Dr. James Moultrie, Senior, and Moses C. Levy, Esq., who received these degrees in Charleston in 1783, from the sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection: 'Three of the above named Brothers are still living, venerable for their years and warm attachment to the glorious cause of Freemasonry, and highly respected and esteemed for their standing in the community where they have so long honorably sojourned, and they are still members of the same Sublime Body.' There is still further testimony to be adduced. The report to the Grand Chapter, which we have quoted, was made by Compn. Moses Holbrook, its Chairman, and unanimously adopted; the Grand Chapter thus affirming, the veracity of the Masonic Witnesses, whose testimony was adduced. In 1830 the same Compn., Holbrook, was M.'. P.'. Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33 degree for the Southern jurisdiction of the United States at Charleston.

"In February, A.I. 2383, the M.'. E.'. G.'. High-Priest of the Grand Chapter of South Carolina, John H. Honour, who was then and still is (1853) M.'. P.'. W.'. Commander of the Sup.'. Council, S.'. G.'. I.'. G.'. of 33 degree, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States at Charleston, stated in his address to the Grand Chapter, that he had in his possession a manuscript copy of the degrees of the Royal and Select Masters, in which there was a note in the handwriting of Brother Holbrook dated March 15, 1830, in these words:

In Brother Snell's book is written the following:

"'Supreme Council Chamber, Charleston, S. C., 10th Feb., 1827.

"'I hereby certify that the detached degrees, called Royal and Select Master, or Select Masters of 27, were regularly given by the Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection (No. 2 in the U.S.A.), established by Brother Isaac Da Costa, in Charleston, in Feb., 1783, one of the original Members of which Most Illustrious Brother Moses C. Levy, is still alive and a Member of it to this day, without ceasing to be so for a day; and further, that at the first establishment of a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, in Charleston, February, 1788, by the III.'. Dep.'. Inspectors General, Joseph Myers, B. M. Spitzer, and A. Forst, Brother Myers (who succeeded Brother Da Costa after his decease) deposited a certified copy of the Degrees from Berlin, in Prussia, to be under the guidance and fostering protection of the government of the above Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem.'

"Brother Myers shortly after this (Feb. 20, 1788,) resided some time in Norfolk, Richmond, and Baltimore, previous to his removal to Europe, and he communicated a knowledge of these degrees to a number of brethren in those cities. The original copy is still in my keeping, and agreeably to the obligations of the same, and the Grand Constitutions governing those degrees, viz. : Royal and Select Mason Of 27, it is correct and lawful to give them either to Sublime Masons, who have arrived to the Knights of the Ninth Arch (13th) or to the Companions of the 3d Arch (Royal Arch Masons)."

From this statement, of those who held the control originally, it will be observed that it was the design, always, to confer, at least the Select degree, only on those who had a knowledge of the Royal Arch degree; hence to impart the mysteries of the Ninth Arch to anyone "beneath the dignity of the Royal Arch," was to invert the true order of succession, so essential in all Masonic degrees.

It has been asserted by some that the Cryptic degrees had been worked in this country earlier than 1783; as early perhaps as 1766 in the city of Albany, and that they were brought from France, and not from Prussia. Brother Pike said in his report: (1)

"We can soon learn how it was that the Council degrees came about 1766 from France and not from Prussia. In 1761, the lodges and Councils of the superior degrees being extended throughout Europe, Frederic II. (or the Great), King of Prussia, as Grand Commander of the Order of Princes of the Royal Secret, or 32d degre, was by general consent acknowledged and recognized as Sovereign and Supreme Head of the Scotch Rite."

"On the 25th October, 1762, the Grand Masonic Constitutions

(1) "History of Masonry and Concordant Orders," p. 649.

were finally ratified in Berlin, and proclaimed for the government of all Masonic bodies working in the Scotch Rite over the two hemispheres; and in the same year they were transmitted to Stephen Morin, who had been appointed, in August, 1761, Inspector General for the New World by the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, convened at Paris, under the presidency of Chaillon de Joinville, representative of Frederic, and Substitute-General of the Order. It will be remembered that the 33 degree was not then created; and, under Frederic the Great, there was no rank higher than the 32 degree, nor any body superior to a Consistory. When Morin arrived in the West Indies, he, agreeably to his patent, appointed M. Hayes a Deputy Inspector General, with the power of appointing others when necessary. It was under this authority, coming, it is true, from the Consistory of Paris held by that consistory as the delegate and representative of Frederic the Great, that the Lodges of Perfection in Albany and Charleston were established, with authority to confer these detached degrees."

"Many rites flourished in Europe awhile and died. The French and Scotch Rites reduced the degrees practiced by their votaries, the former to seven, the Seventh being the Rose Croix, the latter to thirty-three and some auxiliary degrees. By common consent it became Masonic law that the first three degrees were the joint property of all, but the others, the peculiar property of the inventors. Royal Arch Masonry separated itself from 'Blue' Masonry, organized itself, invented three new degrees, and commenced an independent existence. The Royal and Select Masters formed themselves into councils, and after a time they, too, organized themselves into Grand Councils, and claimed an independent existence. The Supreme Council did not deny the right, but simply retained their original right to confer the degrees, and Charter councils in States where no Grand Councils have been organized."

The following is a copy of a decree issued by the Supreme Council A.'. A.'. A.'. S.'. Rite of the Northern jurisdiction, the true copy of which was sent to the Southern jurisdiction and was presented to the writer many years since by General Albert Pike.

"The Supreme Grand Council of Sov. Grand Inspectors General for the Northern Masonic District and jurisdiction of the U. States of America duly, lawfully, and constitutionally assembled on the 10th day of June, 1850, at its Grand East, the City of New York, in its Supreme Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem do declare and make known as follows:

"That in addition to the regular series of degrees and order of the ancient and accepted rite, the said rite had, from time immemorial, been in possession of, and claims as its exclusive property, a number of detached degrees which are illustrative of, connected with, and necessarily appendant to certain degrees in said right or departments thereof: and that the Supreme Grand Council, as the sole conservators of said rite, in said Northern Jurisdiction, is sacredly bound to preserve intact and free from any amalgamation with foreign rites or Masonic Bodies, not acknowledged by us or our said rite, all and every one of the detached degrees referred to.

"That two of such detached degrees, called 'Royal Master' and 'Select Master,' or 'Select Masons of 27,' having in various ways and at different times fallen into the hands of persons in no way connected with the sublime system of free Masonry, or the said 'ancient and accepted rite,' have been and are now cultivated in a garbled form, by bodies styling themselves Masonic, and working under self-assumed powers and authority in this regard, claiming the right to grant charters to confer them; and, moreover, that these degrees, in some places of this jurisdiction, have become amalgamated with a Modern American rite, and are also claimed as the property of the American Royal Arch Chapters.

"This Supreme Grand Council therefore, as in duty bound, protests against this invasion of its rights and privileges, and further declares and makes known that the said degrees of Royal and Select Master, from their nature or character, and the history they develop, and circumstances upon which founded, can not, except in an anachronistic and improper manner be conferred disconnected from the ineffable degrees, and lodges of perfection (14th degree ancient and accepted rite) and that said degrees belong not only characteristically and historically, but legitimately, to 'Ineffable Masonry' and 'Lodges of Perfection,'and do not appertain and can not consistently and lawfully be made an appendage to any Masonic system except said 'Sublime System,' nor to any rite except said 'ancient and accepted rite.'

"And whereas, such assumed authority over the detached degrees aforesaid, may, as we have reason to believe in some instances, have been exercised in good faith, but without a due appreciation of our rights and prerogative in regard to them, this Supreme Grand Council for the sake of harmony is willing to confer and advise with our illustrious Brethren, the Southern Supreme Grand Council at Charleston, S. Carolina, and act in concert with them in adopting such measures in reference to those degrees, as may be mutually adjudged most feasible and proper, without infringing in any way whatever upon our Supremacy over the said degrees.

"'Deus meumque jus,' "J.J.J. GOURGAS, Sovereign Grand Commander of 33d" for the Northern D. and J., U.S.A. JILES F. VATES, Insp. Lieut Grand Commander.

"N.B. - Signed on the original by Arch d Bull, Sov. Gr. Insp. General 33d; K.H. Van Rensselaer, Sov. Gr. Insp. Gen (1) 33 d, and Francis Turner, Prince of Jerusalem Rose + H.R.D.M.; K.H.; S.P.R.S, and now a member of this Supreme Grand Council.

"To the Supreme Grand Council of the 33 degree, ancient and accepted rite,' at their Grand East, the City of Charleston, S. Carolina.

"Through their Illus. Brother, Albert G. Mackey, M. D., Grand Secretary General of their H. E."

A true copy, W.R. SINGLETON, 33d.

The Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction held to the same contention until at a meeting of the Supreme Council at Baltimore, May, 1870, they surrendered all claim to these degrees.

Dr. Olivar, in his Historical Landmarks, (1) gives an account of the legend of the Secret Vault as discovered in the construction of theSecond Temple, as follows:

"The foundations of the Temple were opened, and cleared from the accumulation of the rubbish, that a level might be procured for the commencement of the building. While engaged in excavations for this purpose three fortunate sojourners are said to have discovered our ancient stone of foundation, which had been deposited in the secret crypt by Wisdom, Suength, and Beauty, to prevent the communication of ineffable secrets to profane or unworthy persons.

"The discovery having been communicated to the prince, (2)

(1) Vol. ii., p. 434. (2) Zerubbabel was Tirshatha (Governor).

prophet and priest of the Jews, the stone was adopted as the Chief Corner-Stone of the re-edified building, and thus became, in a new and more expressive sense, the type of a more excellent dispensation. An avenue was also accidentally discovered, supported by seven pairs of pillars, perfect and entire, which, from their situation, had escaped the fury of the flames that had consumed the Temple, and the desolation of war that had destroyed the city.

"The Secret Vault, which had been built by Solomon as a secure depository for certain secrets that would have inevitably been lost without some such expedient for their preservation, communicated by a subterranean avenue with the King's palace; but at the destruction of Jerusalem, the entrance having been closed by the rubbish of falling buildings, it had been discovered by the appearance of a keystone among the foundations of the Sanctum Sanctorum. A careful inspection was then made, and the invaluable secrets were placed in safe custody."

Brother Mackey says: (1)

"To support this legend there is no historic evidence and no authority except that of the Talmudic writers. It is clearly a mythical symbol, and as such we must accept it. We can not altogether reject it, it is so intimately and so extensively connected with the symbolism of the Lost and recovered Word, that if we reject the, theory of the Secret Vault we must abandon all of that symbolism, and with it the whole of the science of Masonic symbolism. Fortunately there is ample evidence in the present appearance of Jerusalem and its subterranean topography to remove from any tacit, and as it were, conventional assent to the theory, features of absurdity and impossibility.

"Considered simply as a historic question, there can be no doubt of the existence of immense vaults beneath the superstructure of the original Temple of Solomon. Prime, Robinson, and other writers, who in recent times have described the topography of Jerusalem, speak of the existence of these structures, which they visited, and, in some instances, carefully examined." Dr. Barclay (City of the Great King) describes in many places of his interesting topography of Jerusalem, the vaults and subterranean chambers which are to be found beneath the site of the Old Temple.

(1) "EncycIopoedia of Freemasonry," p. 852.

"In the earliest ages the cave or vault was deemed sacred. The first worship was in cave-temples, which were either natural or formed by art to resemble the excavations of nature.

"The vault was, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave; for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found. The Masons have adopted the same idea. They teach that death is but the beginning of life; that if the first or evanescent temples of our transitory life be on the surface, we must descend into the Secret Vault of death before we can find that sacred deposit of truth which is to adorn our second temple of eternal life. It is in this sense an entrance through the grave into eternal life, that we are to view the symbolism of the Secret Vault. Like every other myth and allegory of Masonry, the historical relation may be true, or it may be false; it may be founded on fact, or be the invention of imagination, the lesson is still there, and the symbolism teaches it, exclusive of the history."

The above quotations; have been made because the present writer had devoted many years to the study of the topography of Jerusalem and its immediate vicinity in connection with his studies in the various Masonic rites which locate their mysteries in that city and in and about the Temple area now called Harem-esh Sheriff. His conclusions are that not a single degree in Masonry can properly be located near the city of Jerusalem nor on or in the "Sacred Area" of the Temple.

So far as the caves or cisterns which are to be found under the surface of the "Area" at the present day did give a key to those who formulated the Cryptic degrees, he feels assured that the originators of those degrees did have some knowledge of their existence - but with accurate maps of that "Area" and the location of every vault or cistern before us, furnished by the accurate survey of Captain Chas. Warren in 1867, we could not for one moment entertain the belief that such a system of vaults or arches ever existed there, as described in our lectures of any of the Rituals - but we do believe that these rituals, being symbolic and allegorical, were founded upon the fact of vaults found in that locality. We can refer to the legend of Enoch and his vaults, erected to conceal the sacred delta, constructed by him and his son Methuselah, after the ineffable NAME of Deity had been revealed to him, and which name he had engraved upon the delta, which by the command of God, he was to conceal and secure, for future generations to discover. These vaults, nine of them, were securely constructed, and two pillars were erected, and placed near, with inscriptions to indicate the locality of the vaults. It is possible that the pillars were destroyed and carried away by the flood. The fable further states that when King Solomon commenced the preparation of the ground on Mount Moriah for the temple, his workmen broke into these vaults and found certain mysterious things there; and upon reporting to King Solomon what they had found, he directed them to cease their labors, as he supposed the vault had been a secret place for the worship of the gods of the original inhabitants of Canaan. God, however, notified him in a dream that he should proceed; as he had designed that spot for the erection of the Temple for his worship, as it had been thrice dedicated, first by Enoch when he constructed the vaults and made the deposits of these mysterious emblems - second, on this spot Abraham erected the altar to sacrifice his son Isaac (1) - and third, by his father David, where he erected the altar on the threshing floor of Arauna and sacrificed to stay the hand of the destroying Angel. (2)

There is no doubt whatever in the mind of the writer but that the inventors of the degrees above the three original degrees - such as the Royal Arch and Select, designed to demonstrate to the postulant the value of the great and now ineffable and mysterious name of Deity.

It is well known to all students of the ancient mysteries of the Orient that after the initiation of a candidate in the lower mysteries, and a certain period having elapsed, by many severe tests, lustrations by the four elements and trials, he was invested with the great WORD in a very solemn and mysterious manner, by the Archi-Magus, who alone could communicate this word to the postulant. In receiving this word, was conveyed to him by its interpretation, the meaning of all the preceding ceremonies.

Those who arranged the series of degrees as above mentioned, from the Entered Apprentice to the Select Master, designed that in the last degree there should be a full explanation of all that which was concealed in the various forms and ceremonies, and in our present lectures in that degree it is very evident that such was the design

(1) Gen., ch. xxii. (2) 1. Chron., ch. xxi., verses 25 to 27.

sign of closing the Ancient Craft Masonry with the Select of Twenty-seven, "to pass the Circle of Ancient Craft Masonry."

GENERAL GRAND COUNCIL.

In 187I the Grand Council of Massachuseas undertook the task of bringing mder out of the disordered condition of the Cryptic Rite in the United States, and having enlisted the valuable services of our most distinguished Companion, Hon. Josiah H. Drummond, of Maine, (1) who, in compliance with their request, called a convention, and fourteen Grand Councils were represented at the meeting in New York City, June 12, 1872, at which the following was adopted:

"Whereas, In some jurisdictions the question has been mooted of surrendering the Cryptic Degrees to the Chapters; and

"Whereas, There are many Companions who have received the degrees in Chapters or from Sovereign Inspectors of A.'.A.'.S.'. Rite, therefore

"Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention that the Cryptic degrees should be under the exclusive jurisdiction of Grand Councils, and that no one should be recognized as a regular Companion of the Rite who had not received the degrees in a lawfully constituted Council or by authority of the Supreme Council of the A.'.A.'.S.'. Rite previous to the date, or has been lawfully healed."

The convention adopted a uniform system of nomenclature, which has since been generally adopted.

In June, 1873, another meeting of the Convention was held in New York and nineteen Grand Councils were represented. The following was adopted:

"That the order of the succession of the degrees be: First, Royal Master's; second, Select Master's; and that it be left optional with each Grand Council to confer the super-excellent Master's degree as an honorary degree."

The convention announced as its opinion that a General Grand Council of the United States should be formed. Subsequently meetings were held, December, 1874, in New Orleans; August, 1877, in Buffalo, N.Y.; at which latter meeting twenty-two Grand Councils were represented, and also Ontario, Canada. The convention

(1) Drummond, "History of Grard Council in United States," p. 89, in the Cryptic Rite

met at Detroit, August 23, 1880, when a constitution was adopted which it was required should be adopted by not less than nine regular Grand Councils, and then should become operative. The General Grand Recorder, George W. Cooley, gave notice, February 23, 1881, that the Grand Councils of New York, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Louisiana had ratified the constitution. On March 1, 1881, Hon. Josiah H. Drummond, General Grand Master, issued his circular to the officers, and also announced that the Grand Council of South Carolina had adopted the constitution. (1) The first sesion was held pursuant to this circular, at Denver, Col., August 14, 1883, and the following Grand Councils were represented: California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont. (Forever blessed be their memory.) Of those seventeen who originally acceded to the first formation of the provisional General Grand Council, in 1880, these were absent: Georgia and Alabama; and South Carolina had since given her adhesion. Alabama, having been with the seventeen Grand Councils to join in the formation of the provisional General Grand Council in 1880, was never represented at any subsequent assembly.

We will now, in a more regular manner, give the history of the formation of the General Grand Council. The General Grand Council of the United States was organized at a convention of delegates of seventeen Grand Councils which met at Detroit, Mich., August 23, 1880.

The action of this convention was at once approved by the following Grand Councils: New York, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Louisiana.

South Carolina Grand Council soon thereafter organized, and ratified the constitution of the General Grand Council and resumed work. In the address of the General Grand Master, Josiah H. Drummond, at the first Triennial Assembly, held at Denver, Col., August 14, 1883, he states: "At the time of the formation of the provisional General Grand Council there were twenty-three Grand Councils, which had not adopted the 'Mississippi Plan.'

(1) Proceedings, 1883, p. 20.

"Of these, seventeen, viz., Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Vermont, have become constituents of the General Grand Council. (1)

Of the other six, five continue to exist, but have not become constituents of this body, viz., Connecticut, Michigan, New jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Some of these, however, have the matter under consideration. It is understood why Connecticut has not given her adhesion is, the law of this body, that persons receiving the degrees in Chapters, or in Councils appurtenant to Chapters, can not be recognized.

"The remaining one of twenty-three, North Carolina, at its session held in June last undertook to dissolve and turn the degrees over to the Chapter. While this occasions regret, it is no matter of surprise, because Royal Arch Masonry is at an exceedingly low ebb in that State, and it sometimes seems a matter of doubt whether the Grand Chapter itself will be able to maintain its existence.

"Grand Councils at the advent of the 'Mississippi Plan' existed in other States, as follows: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. All of which accepted in some form the general features of the 'Mississippi Plan.'

"The Grand Councils of Arkansas, Illinois, and Kentucky have reorganized, but have not as yet ratified and adopted the General Grand Constitution. The Grand Council of Illinois never formally dissolved, but maintained its existence and undertook to surrender the degrees to the Grand Chapter; this action had been rescinded by both grand bodies, and the Grand Council now exists with all its powers, and I trust with its pristine vigor." (2)

We have followed thus far the history of the Cryptic Rite as given by Companion Josiah H. Drummond in his address to the General Grand Council at the first Triennial Assembly, three years after the inauguration of that body. He further stated the following Grand Councils had taken no definite action, viz., Iowa and Nebraska. Mississippi had taken action in reference to the over-whelming sentiment of the Craft, which looks toward reorganizing the Grand Council System. The situation in Wisconsin is anomalous; the Grand Council surrendered the degrees to the Grand Chapter,

(1) Proceedings General Grand Council, 1883, p. 7. (2) Ibid., General Grand Master's Address.

which authorized the conferring of them in a council appurtenant to a chapter, (1) so that in theory, if not in practice, each chapter had a council appurtenant to it, the chapter officers being the officers of the council. But in 1881, in consequence, as I understand, of objections to the recognition of persons receiving the degrees in such councils, a convention of the delegates of these councils was called, and a Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters was organized. (2)

We have given the above very interesting information as to the several States wherein the Cryptic Rite was worked in this place rather than in the separate individual jurisdictions, as it greatly saves space and time, reserving both of these for the details property belonging to each subordinate jurisdiction as to the organization of the constituent councils in each, as it will appear under the alphabetical arrangement.

Note. - Companion Drummond in the above sketch begins with Alabama, but that Grand Council never appears in any subsequent proceedings as a constituent of the General Council.

Alabama.

The information which we have been enabled to obtain concerning Cryptic Masonry in Alabama is somewhat vague. It is supposed that John Barker, of the A.'.A.'.S.'. R.'. Southern Jurisdiction, started the first councils of Royal and Select Masters, under his authority as Deputy Inspector-General. It is conceded that a Grand Council was organized in 1838 (December 13th). (3) This Grand Council repudiated, very properly, the course of the Grand Chapter of Virginia, in capturing the degrees of the council, and incorporating them with the chapter work, in 1843. The council also, in 1849, protested against the Grand Consistory of Charleston granting (of) these degrees in its jurisdiction. (4)

This Grand Council met, with some omissions, as in 1840, 1861, 1862 or 1863, until in 1886 it was dissolved, when all branches of Masonry in that State were much depressed. Since then, however, matters have greatly improved. This Grand Council was never connected with the General Grand Council after 1881, although one of the first to join in the organization in 1880.

(1) Charters issued to chapters in 1848-49 provided for this usage.-EDITOR. (2) Ibid. (3) "History of Masonry and Concordant Orders," p. 661. (4) Ibid.

Arizona.

The proceedings of the Triennial assembly of the General Grand council of 1897 show that the following councils secured their warrants

Dispensation Granted. Chartered

Olive Council, No.1. At Prescott, July 1, 1893. August 22, Phoenix, U.D. At Phoenix, April 4, 1895. Surrendered February 17, 1897 Tucson, U.D. At Tucson, April 5, 1895. Surrendered September 2, 1897

Arkansas.

Four subordinate councils were, at an early date, chartered by the Supreme Council A.'. A.'. S.'. R.'. of the Southern Jurisdiction. These four councils were formed by the State Grand Council, November 6, 1860. In 1878 the Companions adopted the system of incorporation with the chapters; but in 1881 resumed the independent form; and in 1886 united with the General Grand Council, and is yet within that organization. On the 25th of April, 1899, they had the sad misfortune to lose their Grand Recorder Companion James A. Henry.

California.

The Grand Council of Alabama granted charters to organize two councils in California. One council was chartered by the Grand Council of Tennessee, and one by the Grand Council of Texas. These four councils organized a Grand Council, June 26, 1860. In 1880 this Grand Council united with the General Grand Council in its organization.

Colorado.

The following councils were organized in Colorado under the General Grand Council :

Dispensation Granted. Chartered. Denver, No. 1........Denver, January 16, 1892. August 21, 1894. Rocky Mountain, No. 2 Trinidad, March 24, 1893 August 21, 1894. Durango, No. 3........Durango, May 16, 1893. August 21, 1894. Akron, No. 4..........Akron, May 23, 1893. August 21, 1894. Canon City, No. 5.....Canon City, June 5, 1893 August 21, 1894. Gunnison, U.D.........Gunnison. Pueblo, No. 7.........Pueblo, April 10, 1894 August 21, 1894.

All of these councils are reported as being in existence at the Triennial held in 1897. At that session the General Grand Master reported that he had issued dispensations as follows :

To Hiram Council, at Greely, with sixteen members, December 8, 1894; but no interest being taken, the dispensation was surrendered, December 9, 1896.

To Zabud Council, at Colorado Springs, with thirty-two members, May 27, 1895. This council made reports for 1895, 1896, and 1897; paid dues for 1895 only, and asked for a Charter; but does not appear in the list of councils whose dispensations were continued; nor was it chartered.

To Leadville Council, at Leadville, June 10, 1895, and dispensation was surrendered, November 10, 1896.

Hiram, U. D., Greely, December 8, 1894, and surrendered. Zabud, U. D., Colorado Springs, May 27, 1895, and continued. Leadville, U. D., Leadville, June 10, 1895, surrendered.

Connecticut.

In 1818 Companion Jeremy L. Cross was very industrious in propagating the Cryptic Rite, and succeeded in forming ten councils in Connecticut. The first Grand Council of Select Masters for the State was organized by that name as claimed. There are no records of this body up to 1830. In 1825 the two degrees of Royal and Select Masonswere recognized. From 1826 to 1846, in consequence of the Morgan episode, very little if anything was done in this as well as other branches of Masonry.

Since the revival, in all the States where the anti-Masonic spirit had prevailed, Masonry has taken a "new and prolonged lease," and flourishes to a much greater degree than ever before in its history. The sons and grandsons of the bitterest anti-Masons of 1830 are now the most zealous in their efforts to spread abroad the glad tidings of peace on earth and good-will toward men."

Connecticut Grand Council does not belong to the General Grand Council, which is much to be regretted. The benefits of her union with that body would be mutual.

Delaware.

It is said that Jeremy L. Cross, when on his lecturing tour in the early days, visited Delaware and conferred the degrees in Wilmington and Newcastle. We have no funher information from that State.

District of Columbia.

The Cryptic degrees are first mentioned, in the history of Masonic degrees in the District of Columbia, in the records of the Grand Chapter which was organized in 1822. At the Semi-Annual Convocation held June 9, 1829, the report of the Committee on Correspondence refers to a circular letter which had been sent by the Grand Chapter of Maryland to each Grand Chapter in the United States; which is as follows: (1)

"M.E. Sir and Companion:

"I am instructed by the Grand Chapter over which I have the honor to preside, to address you, and through you your Grand Chapter, upon the unsettled state of the degree of Select Mason, a subject deemed by us of sufficient importance to claim the particular attention of your Grand Chapter.

"This degree existed under the authority of a distinguished Chief in the State of Maryland, but without the recognizance of our Grand Chapter for many years; until, in the year 1824, upon the revision of our Constitution, it appearing, evident that the Select Degree not only has an intimate connection with, but is in a measure necessary, as preparatory to and elucidatory of that of the Royal Arch; it was formally recognized by our Grand Chapter, and required to be given by our subordinate Chapters in its proper order immediately preceding that of the Royal Arch. Under this arrangement we have since progressed, much to our satisfaction; but it is with regret that we have learned that Councils or Chapters of Select Masons have been established in some of our sister States, independent of Royal Arch Masonry, avowedly in pursuance of, but, as we are satisfied, through a great mistake or actual abuse of any authority delegated, or meant to be delegated, in relation to the Select Degree. We would, therefore, beg leave respectfully to

(1) Proceedings of Grand Chapter of District of Columbia, 1822-1833, p. 108.

recommend to your Grand Chapter the consideration of this degree, and the circumstances under which it exists, within your jurisdiction; with the hope that you will see it to be for the general interest of the Craft to take the degree under your recognizance and control, to whom of right it belongs, and thereby do away with what is felt to be a grievance, by those distinguished Chiefs, whose authority, delegated to a limited extent, and for special reasons, has been perveaed for sordid purposes, by the creation of an independent order, never contemplated by them; and which we believe to be inconsistent with the spirit and best interests of our institution. "Respectfully and fraternally, &c."

This was never officially communicated to the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia by the Grand Chapter of Maryland, but was taken from the printed proceedings of that body, pp. 15, 16, and 17.

That committee also reported: "The Grand Chapter of North Carolina had determined that the degree should come under the jurisdiction of State Grand Chapters, and recommended it to the favorable consideration of the General Grand Chapter. The Grand Chapter of Maine had referred the subject to a Committee. It remains for the Grand Chapter to take such orders in the premises as it shall seem proper."

The Grand Chapter of Ohio has passed a resolution of which the following is a copy, and which has officially been communicated to this Grand Chapter for its consideration. "At a regular communication of the Grand Chapter [of Ohio] in January, 1829, the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Grand Chapter that the General Grand Chapter of the United States ought to be dissolved.

"BELA LATHAM, "Grand Secretary."

A committee to whom the subject was referred reported: (2)

"That they are decidedly of the opinion that the Royal and Select Master's Degrees should be recognized by and conferred under the direction of the several Grand Chapters of the respective States and Territories of the Union. With regard to the proper time when

(1) Proceedings of Grand Chapter of District of Columbia, p. 109. (2) Ibid., 113.

these degrees should be conferred, whether before or after the Royal Arch Degree, they decline expressing an opinion, preferring that this point should bc left to the determination of the General Grand Chapter; and they recommend that the representatives from this Grand Chapter to that body, at its Triennial meeting, in September, be instructed to conform in their proceedings on this subject, to the tenor of the foregoing." This was laid on the table for the present. When taken up again, it was "Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed till the first Tuesday in August next; and that in the meantime the Grand Secretary be directed to forward a copy of the report this day made on that subject to the several Councils of Royal and Select Masters in the District of Columbia." (1)

At the special convocation, held August 31, 1829, the following appears: Companion Baldwin, from a committee appointed by the Council of Royal and Select Masters of the City of Washington (which body had been addressed on the subject by the Grand Secretary, pursuant to order) presented to the Grand Chapter the following letter and report, viz. : (2)

"WASHINGTON, August 31, 1829.

At a special meeting of the Council of Royal and Select Masters, held at the Central Masonic Hall, on Saturday, the 29th of August, instant, the written report having been presented and read, was, on motion, ordered to be transmitted to the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia at their next meeting. "JOHN CAROTHERS, T.I.G.M. W.W. BiLLINGS, Recorder."

Report.

"The Committee appointed by the Council of Royal and Select Masters of the City of Washington, to whom was referred the propriety of extending the jurisdiction of the General, Grand, and Subordinate Royal Arch Chapters so as to embrace the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters, have the honor to report :

"That they have had the subject under consideration, and are duly impressed with its vast importance. After the most mature deliberation they have corne to the following conclusions: That Masonic light in its principles, and the order of its development, is fixed and unchangeable ! That whatever power the Fraternity may

(1) Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia, p. 115. (2) Ibid., 119.

have over forms and ceremonies, yet no body of Masons, however exalted, neither have nor can assume the power of changing the original landmarks, or altering its clements. Your committee are confident, from an intimate acquaintance with all the degrees, that those of 'Royal and Select Master' are not only posterior in order to the 'Royal Arch,' but that in our opinion it would not be consistent with ancient Masonry to make them previous.

"Whether the interests of the Craft would be promoted by this extended jurisdiction, your Committee are unable to say; but should that course be thought advisable, by the General Grand Chapter, in its solemn deliberation, your Committee are decidedly of the opinion that it can only be done under the following restrictions:

"1st. That the Degrees of Royal and Select Masters can only be conferred on Royal Arch Masons. "2d. No one can be an officer of any Chapter who is not both a Royal and Select Master.

"Without these restrictions your Committee can never consent to a change in the present established mode of proceeding. (1)

"All of which is most respectfully submitted.

"E. BALDWIN, "W.W. BILLINGS, Committee." "J.A. KENNEDY,

The report of a committee made in June last on the subject of the degree was taken up and read, and was passed by a majority of one vote only, and on motion it was

"Resolved, That the Grand Secretary transmit to the General Grand Secretary copies of the two reports above stated, together with the proper credentials of the proxies appointed to represent this Grand Chapter in the General Grand Chapter of the United States, at its ensuing meeting in New York; and that the Grand Secretary do prepare the proper instructions."

At the meeting of the General Grand Chapter, September 11, 1829, the question came up for action on a communication from Comp. J.K. Stapleton, upon which a suitable committee made the following report, and it and the resolutions were adopted:

"Whereas, It is satisfactorily proved to this General Grand Chapter, that the Constitution of the Councils of Royal and Select

(1) Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of District of Columbia, p. 120.

Master Mason, in different parts of the United States, by sundry persons, has been without any legitimate authority,

"And Whereas, Those degrees are conferred in some chapters, under the authority of the General Grand Chapter; and whereas it was proved that it was the only and sole intention of the Most Excellent Companions from whom these degrees emanated that they should be conferred under the authority of Royal Arch Chapters; therefore,

"Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter cordially recommend to the different Councils in the United States to adopt measures to place those degrees under the authority of the State Grand Chapters.

"Resolved, That authority be, and is hereby, granted to the several Grand Chapters, under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Chapter, to make such arrangements as shall be found necessary for conferring the degrees of Royal and Select Masters in Royal Arch Chapters; provided always that no Grand Chapter, within the limits of which is a Grand Council, shall authorize the Royal Arch Chapters under the jurisdiction to confer such degrees without the consent of such Grand Council."

We have no records or accounts whatever in the District of Columbia as to what became of the "Council," or Councils, if more than one, which is referred to above.

The chapters in the District continued to confer the Royal and Select degrees prior to the Royal Arch, until in 1833, when the Grand Chapter was dissolved. Several of the chapters again joined the Grand Chapter of Maryland, which body, thereafter, in 1844, added to its nomenclature "the District of Columbia," and the Council degrees were worked within the chapters prior to the Royal Arch, until May 23, 1867, when the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia was again organized; and on that day, the new Grand Chapter, by resolution, unanimously dropped those degrees from the curriculum of the chapter work, being well satisfied that they did not properly belong to the chapters. Soon after the organization of the Grand Chapter in 1867, Companion Benjamin B. French, the Inspector-General of the Southern Jurisdiction for the A.'.A.'.S.'.R.'., for the District of Columbia, issued three dispensations to form three new councils of Royal and Select Masters, for the District of Columbia.

Those who had recoved those degrees in regular organized councils refused to join in this movement. Soon after this, the question was agitated as to the legality and propriety of thus inaugurating a new method of propagating the Cryptic degrees, and the result was, these three councils went into "innocuous desuetude." When the time was deemed judicious, the present writer, with eight others, who had been regular Council Masons, prepared a petition to the Grand Council of Massachusetts for a dispensation to open LaFayette Council. This was granted August, 1870, with the writer as Most Illustrious Master. The Grand Officers of the Grand Council of that State came to Washington and opened LaFayette Council.

Inasmuch as the great body of Royal and Select Masons in the District had received the degrees of Royal and Select Masters in their several chapters prior to the Royal Arch, it was decided that all such Royal Arch Masons, as well as those who had never received the Council degrees, should be received at a nominal price (five dollars) for those degrees. Accordingly, in two nights sessions the Grand Officers conferred the Royal, Select, and Super-excellent degrees upon 158 R.A. Masons. A Charter was granted December 14, 1870, and the council started with flying colors and great success. This council continued with some measure of prosperity for several years, when from internal dissensions the members lost their interest and in a few years ceased to attend, and the council died out.

When the General Grand Council of the United States was organized in 1881, the present writer, after correspondence with Companion Josiah H. Drummond, the General Grand Master, and a few members of the defunct body, petitioned for another council to be called "Washington," with the principal officers of the deceased LaFayette Council at the head. A dispensation was granted, and started with good prospects. At the next meeting of the General Grand Council a Charter was granted. Since that time Washington Council, No. 1, has continued to grow, but not as rapidly as she should. Indeed, the District of Columbia should have several councils in prosperous operation, and that, too, under the constitution of a Grand Council for the District.

Florida.

The Southern Supreme Council, exercising its undoubted right of control at that time over the degrees of Royal and Select Masons, through some one of her inspectors, perhaps in South Carolina, had, previous to 1858, issued at different times warrants to form three councils in Florida. The present writer is personally aware of the one existing at Warrington, adjoining the navy-yard at that locality, as he reported for duty as Chief Constructing Engineer at that naval station February, 1857, and found a thriving lodge, chapter, and council in full operation, and it was his great pleasure to assist in the work in all of these bodies at that time.

January 13, 1858, these three councils organized a Grand Council, at the time of the agitation of who should control these degrees. After much discussion the Grand Chapter of Florida declined to act. The Grand Council became a member of the General Grand Body.

There have been no proceedings of the body issued since 1882, and there have been no meetings since 1884. In the proceedings of the General Grand Council for 1897 there is a broad black mark across the page opposite to Florida, where the Grand Recorder's name should have been, but in the tables of annual assemblies from 1894 to 1896 Florida appears with names of the Grand Officers.

Georgia.

We learn that one of the deputies of the Southern Supreme Council, Abram Jacobs, conferred the degree of Select of Twenty-seven in the State of Georgia. On May 2, 1826, a Grand Council was organized by the authority of the Inspector-General of the Supreme Council, which is noticed in the publications of that day. June 25, 1841, three councils met, and a Grand Council was established by the authority of the Supreme Grand Council of the 33 degree, in Charleston, S.C. They adopted the constitution of the former Grand Council of 1826. That body, having ceased to work, became dormant and the records were lost. In the revised constitution of 1842 they claimed to be the highest source of legitimate Masonic authority in the State of Georgia, and of right ought to have the government and superintendence of all councils of Royal and Select Masters within its jurisdiction. (1) This Grand Council belongs to the General Grand Council and is reported in the proceedings of 1897.

Idaho

A council was organized in Idaho by a dispensation from the Officers of the General Grand Council, viz., Idaho Council, No. 1, at Pocatillo, December 15, 1896 - which was annulled afterward; also a dispensation for Adoniram Council, at Boise, January 30, 1896. Dispensation continued until next assembly.

Illinois

The Grand Council of Kentucky having issued charters to several councils in the State of Illinois, a Grand Council was organized March 10, 1854. In 1877 the degrees wcre surrendered to the control of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, notwithstanding that in 1854 it refused to heal Royal and Select Masters who had been made in the chapters. The Grand Council, however, continued its annual sessions, its constituents being composed of the mixture of regularly made Council Masters and those made in the chapters. This did not prove satisfactory, and in 1882 the Grand Council and Grand Chapter agreed to resume their old condition. Illinois Grand Council is an independent Grand Body.

Indiana.

In the State of Indiana the Council degrees were given in the chapter work. After the General Grand Chapter's decision, councils were chartered by the Grand Councils of Kentucky and Ohio. Chapter Royal and Select Masons were "healed" and the Grand Council of Indiana was organized December 20, 1855.

Iowa.

When Royal Arch Masonry was first planted in Iowa, the Council degrees were part of the chapter work. After the decision of the General Grand Chapter, in regard to these degrees, Companions were "healed" by the authority of the Grand Master of the

(1) "History of Masonry and Concordant Orders," p. 662.

Grand Council of Illinois. Charters were issued by that Grand Council to councils in Iowa, which subsequently organized the Grand Council of Iowa, January 2, 1857. In 1878 the Grand Council merged itself into the Grand Chapter of Iowa, nineteen councils having been duly organized prior to that time. To the present day those degrees are merged into the chapter of Royal Arch.

Kansas.

Three councils of Royal and Select Masters were chartered by the Grand Council of Missouri, in the State of Kansas, and December 2, 1867, these three councils organized a Grand Council of Royal Select and Super-excellent Masons.

Kentucky.

The Select degree was carried into the State of Kentucky by J.L. Cross, when in 1817 he made his official tour through the Western States as General Grand Lecturer of the General Grand Chapter. December 10, 1827, six councils met by their delegates and organized a Grand Council of the State, which is said to be the result of John Barker's efforts in behalf of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, A.'. A.'. S.'. R.'. This jurisdiction felt the effects of the Morgan anti-Masonic period from 1830 to 1840, when the Grand Council met only once. The degrees were merged into the chapter from 1878 to 1881. After the organization of the General Grand Council the Grand Council of Kentucky was re-organized. Companion H.B. Grant, M.'. III.'. Gr.'. Master, in his annals mentions the case of a Thrice Illustrious Master of a council who communicated the degrees outside of a council, and who construed his obligation to mean that he could not confer the degrees except in a council, but could communicate the degrees, and so directed the record to be made as if conferred in a council. This was declared by the Grand Master to be irregular, and required recognition to be refused until they were "healed" in open council. The Grand Council of Kentucky is an independent body.

Louisiana.

It is stated that John Barker in 1827 organized Holland Council, No. 1, in New Orleans, and in the "tableau" of the Grand Chapter of Louisiana in 1828 it is referred to. When in or about 1850 Capitular Masonry was re-organized, Cryptic Masonry was also revived. Four councils formed a Grand Council February 10, 1856. One of these was Holland, No. 1. The others had been chartered by the Grand Councils of Kentucky and Alabama.

Maine

At an early period a council had been organized in Maine, working under the General Grand Chapter. The Grand Council of Massachusetts organized three councils, and these, by their delegates, formed the Grand Council, May 3, 1855.

Maryland

In the introduction of this history of the Cryptic Rite, the connection of Eckel and Niles, as leaders at an early date, was noticed. (1) The Select degree was then only recognized as an appendant to the regular curriculum of degrees of the A.'. A.'. S.'. R.'. which was controlled by the Deputy Inspectors of that rite. This was prior to 1800, and perhaps extended into the present century, as late as the date of the certificate, or dispensation, given to Cross. We have seen, under District of Columbia, the steps which were taken, as eady as 1824 to incorporate these degrees with the chapter work and to precede the Most Excellent Master's degree. This union of the Cryptic with the Capitular system continued until 1872, when, by law, the Grand Chapter separated them. Six council after this (May 12, 1874) organized the present Grand Council of the State, which became a member of the General Grand Council and so continues.

Massachusetts.

In 1817 a voluntary council of Royal Masters was organized by Benjamin Gleason and others, and subsequently obtained the sanction of Columbian Council of New York. A Select council was formed at Springfield, May 28, 1818, by J.L. Cross. Six councils, at different times, having been organized, their delegates met February 8, 1826, and on June 15, 1826, completed the formation of a Grand Council. The records of this body having been lost during

(1) See pp. 1549, 1550.

the anti-Masonic period, nothing is known concerning these degrees until the re-organization in 1847. From the year 1853 the Grand Council has met regularly and great prosperity has followed. It is asserted that Hiram Council, at Worcester, with 1,070 members in 1897, is the largest council of Royal and Select Masters in the world.

Michigan

The Grand Council of Connecticut had chartered three councils in the State of Michigan, and these, by their delegates, met in convention on January 13, 1858, and organized a Grand Council for the State. In 1856 that Grand Council granted a Charter for a council at Detroit. This Grand Council is independent, and chapter - made Royal and Select Masons are not in favor.

Minnesota

The Grand Council of Iowa having chartered three councils in Minnesota, December 12, 1870, these three by their delegates organized a Grand Council. The council which had been chartered by the Grand Council of New York in 1855 soon became dormant. This Grand Council is a member of the General Grand Council.

Mississippi

From our careful exarnination into the early history of Cryptic Masonry in the State of Mississippi, we find that John Barker, before mentioned as agent for the Southern Supreme Council, established at Natchez, Miss., a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem in 1829, which assumed the control of the Royal and Select Master's degrees, and under the auspices of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem seven councils were organized, and these by their delegates organized a Grand Council January 19, 1856. After the close of the war, in 1865, a number of the councils having surrendered their charters, and others having become dormant, the Grand Council, which had assemtacd annually, in 1877 adopted a plan which became widely known as the "Mississippi Plan," which provided:

"Each Royal Arch Chapter shall hereafter open within its bosom, under its charter, as a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Royal and Select Masters; the officers of the Chapter corresponding in rank to those of the Council.

"All the Royal Arch Masons who have not received the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master shall be entitled to have the same conferred or communicated on their request and without charge; but candidates who shall hereafter receive the Royal Arch degree shall immediately thereafter, and in connection with the Royal Arch degree, receive the degrees of Royal and Select Master without additional charge."

The Grand Council was dissolved, and this plan was adopted in many jurisdictions, the General Grand Chapter having placed on record at Lexington, Ky., at the meeting September 16, 1853, the following resolution :

"Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter and the governing bodies of Royal Arch Masonry affiliated with, and holding jurisdiction under it, have no rightful jurisdiction or control over the degrees of Royal and Select Master."

"Resolved, That this General Grand Chapter will hereafter entertain no question or matter growing out of the government or working of these degrees while in their present position." (1)

All of the independent jurisdiction except Iowa, which adopted the Mississippi Plan," have rescinded the same and returned to the council organization. In 1888 the Grand Council of Mississippi at its session that year adopted the following :

"Resolved, That the Grand Royal Arch Chapter hereby releases control of the Cryptic Degrees and recommends that the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters resume its former jurisdiction of the degrees.

"That Chapters are hereby prohibited from communicating and conferring the Cryptic Degrees, recognizing the authority of the Grand Council in all matters pertaining to said degrees." In February, 1888, the Grand Council of Mississippi met, six of the officers being of those elected in 1877. Six councils were represented.

At the sixth triennial assembly of the General Grand Chapter, which met in Baltimore, Md., October 11, 1897, the following paper was unanimously adopted :

"Whereas, The report of Companion Josiah H. Drummond as

(1) Proceedings of the General Grand Chapter, 1856, p. 317.

chairman of the Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Council of Maine for the year 1894, and the Address of Companion Frederic Speed, Grand Master of the Grand Council of Mississippi for the year 1895, present facts that conclusively show that a misunderstanding has existed in the minds of our Companions in Mississippi for some years past, as to the attitude of General Grand Council towards the Grand Council of Mississippi; therefore be it

"Resolved, That the General Grand Council, through its Grand Master, extend to the Companions of the Grand Council of Mississippi its fraternal greetings and its best wishes for the prosperity of the Cryptic Rite in Mississippi." (1)

Also this minute appeared: "Most Illustrious Frederic Speed, Grand Master of the Grand Council of Mississippi, was announced and received with the Grand Honors, escorted to the East, and greeted by the Most Puissant Grand Master in a happy and felicitous manner.

"Companion Speed thereupon addressed the General Grand Council in very eloquent language; thanking the Puissant Grand Master for the cordiality of his reception, etc. The above preamble and resolution was then read and Companion Speed spoke feelingly as follows:

"'Most Illustrious Sir and Companions:

"'When I say that the reading of the resolution, which I have just heard, affords me the most sincere satisfaction and pleasure, I but feebly voice the emotions of my heart. If I know myself or the great-hearted men who comprise the Cryptic Masons of Mississippi, I can honestly say that we have taken no pleasure in the long estrangement which has unfortunately divided us, and I am sure they will receive with no less happiness than I now do, the message of peace and good will which come to us, through the action of this most illustrious Body. Receive then, Sir, this right hand as a pledge, in their name, of reconciliation and peace, given with a determination to forget the past, and to strive in the bonds of friendship and brotherly love, with you, for the upbuilding of the temple of the Lord, letting the past bury its dead, and acting in the living present, heart within and God overhead. Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." (2)

(1) Proceedings General Grand Council, 1897, p. 79. (2) Ibid., p. 82.

Missouri,

It is said by very good authority that Cross, in his tour through the West, conferred the Select degree in Missouri; in what year is uncertain. Also it is said that the Royal degree was introduced as early as 1828. In 1841 there were three councils in the State: one in St. Louis, one at Palmyra, and where the other was located the present writer can not recollect. At that time, 1841-42, he was in St. Louis and received the Royal and Select degrees in Missouri Council, No. 1, at St. Louis, about the time the Grand Council met. Immediately after the Grand Council closed he wrote up and recorded the transactions of the Grand Council.

These bodies became extinct, as well as some councils which had been chartered by the Grand Council of Kentucky. May 21, 1864, the Grand Council was organized.

In 1848 the writer having gone to Independence to construct a local railroad, found the Council degrees incorporated in the chapter by the Charter, to be worked subsequent to the Royal Arch.

Montana.

The following councils in Montana received dispensations from the General Grand Council, viz.:

Glendive, at Glendive...........April 22, 1896. Dispensation. October 12, 1897. Chartered. Custer, at Miles City...........October 24, 1897. Dispensation, Annulled. Adoniram, at Livingston.........May 13, 1897. Continued. Mystic at Bozeman...............May 20, 1897. Continued. Zabud, No. 2, at Butte..........May 22, 1897. October 12, 1897. Montana, at Dillon..............October 24, 1897. Annulled. Deer Lodge, at Deer Lodge.......June 10, 1897. Annulled. Anaconda, at Anaconda...........June 11, 1897. Annulled. Hellgate, at Missoula...........September 1, 1897 Continued. Hiram, at Kalispell.............September 2, 1897, Annulled.

These councils were all reported at the triennial of the Supreme Council in 1897.

Nevada.

The following councils were organized by dispensations issued by the Grand Officers of the General Grand Council for Nevada.

Dispensation.

Carson, at Carson................September 3, 1896. Continued. Mountain, at Virginia City.......September 4, 1896. Continued. Reno, at Reno....................September, 1896. Continued. Eureka, at Eureka................September 21, 1896. Continued.

These were reported to the triennial of the General Grand Council in 1897.

New Mexico

The following, councils were granted dispensations, by the Officers of the General Grand Council, for New Mexico, viz.

Deming, No. 1, at Deming............April 8, 1887. November 19, 1889. Las Vegas, at Las Vegas.............March 16, 1895. Annulled. Santa Fe, at Santa Fe...............May 1, 1895. Continued. Hiram, at Albuquerque...............May 7, 1895. Annulled. Alpha, at Raton.....................May 11, 1895. Annulled.

Nebraska.

Omaha Council was organized July 8, 1867, by a Charter from the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. Two other councils were chartered by the Grand Council of Kansas. The Grand Council was formed by the delegates of the above-mentioned three councils, November 20, 1872. In 1878 the councils adopted the "Mississippi Plan." In 1886 the Grand Council was revived, and then afterward joined the General Grand Council, where she is now.

New Hampshire.

August 5, 1815, four Companions organized a council of Royal Masters at Hopkinton, N.H. J.L. Cross, in 1819, instituted another council of Select Masons, at Hopkinton; these two were united in 1822. On July 9, 1823, a Grand Council was formed. During the period from 1835 to 1855 the councils were dormant. The above two councils, Orphan and Columbian, after 1855 were revived, and Adoniram Council, which had been chartered by the Grand Council of Connecticut united and formed a Grand Council, June 11, 1862.

New Jersey

Kane Council, No. 11, was chartered by the Grand Council of New York; and two other councils, viz., Scott, No. 13, at New Brunswick, and Gebal, No. 14, at Tretiton, were chartered by the Grand Council of Pennsylvania. These three councils organized the Grand Council, November 26, 1860. It has always been an independent Grand Council.

New York.

The earliest time when we find any organization in the State of New York of the Council degrees is September 10, 1810; at which time a meeting of Royal Masters was held in St. John's Hall, in New York City, and a council of Royal Masters was opened, with Companion Thomas Lowndes presiding; and it was determined to organize a Grand Council to be called Columbian Council of Royal Master Masons for the City of New York. Thomas Lowndes was elected and installed Thrice Illustrious Grand Royal Master. Nineteen members, Royal Master Masons, were present. It is thought, and no doubt correctly so, that this was the very first council formed, and was regarded as authority, as on the evening of December 6, 1817, a petition was received from a council organized in Boston, asking the sanction of Columbian Council for its formation. This was granted, and Benjamin Gleason was recognized as T.I.G.M. of the said new council.

From the records of Columbian Council it appears that a council of Knights of the Round Table was convened, as also a Chapter of Illustrious Knights of the Holy Order of the Garter, wherein Companions were installed Knights of the Illustrious and Invincible Order of St. George of Cappadoci, by which latter title the Order was sometimes known.

Thomas Lowndes was annually elected T.I.G.R.M. from the organization, September 2, 1810, to July 9, 1820, and presided at every meeting. Five Companions received the degree of Superexcellent Master December 22, 1817. There is no record of the Select Master's degree earlier than November 25, 1821. In January, 1823, it was "Resolved, That it is expedient to form a Grand Council of Royal Master Masons and Select Masons for the State of New York, and that T.I.G.R.M. Thomas Lowndes be requested to call a convention of all the present and past Grand Royal Masters and Deputy Grand Royal Masters and Grand Wardens in this city, in order to carry into effect the formation of said Grand Council." A convention was held January 25, 1823, and a Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters was formed Thomas Lowndes being elected M.I.R.G.M., which council continued until June 4, 1860, when it united with a Grand Council which had been organized in the city of New York, May 27, 1854, by delegates from councils of Royal and Select Masons working under the authority of the Grand Council of Connecticut. In the formation of the General Grand Council the New York Companions took a very active part.

North Carolina.

At a very early date Masonry was introduced into North Carolina. A Warrant for a lodge, called "Royal White Hart Lodge," at Halifax, was granted August 21, 1767, and the first Grand Council was formed at Fayetteville, June 21, 1822. At the convention for the organization of this body five councils were represented, they having all been chartered by the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. The effort to incorporate the degrees with the chapter did not succeed. The Grand Chapter had endeavored to control the degrees, but in 1859 "Resolved, That this Grand Chapter, after due consideration, hereby disclaims for itself and subordinates any and all control over the Royal and Select Master's degrees." The Supreme Council of Southern jurisdiction chartered, by Dr. A, G. Mackey, as agent, three councils, and a Grand Council was organized June 6, 1860. In consequence of the War no meeting was held until 1868. This body was dissolved in 1883, and the degrees were turned over to the Grand Chapter. In 1887 the Grand Council was re-organized. It is now an independent body.

Ohio.

John Barker, the agent of the Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction, at a very early day organized five councils in Ohio. J.L. Cross had been in Ohio perhaps as early as 1817; some authors say 1816; we think not, as he had not received his commission as General Grand Lecturer until the session of the General Grand Chapter, June 8, 1816. Moreover, as the General Grand Chapter refused the proposition, at that session, to incorporate the degrees in the chapter work, and as it is asserted by Folger that Cross went to Baltimore, and the paper issued by Eckel and Niles is dated in 1817 (May 27th), the very fair presumption is that Cross did not attempt to confer the Select prior to the date of his authority, whether that "paper" was genuine or a forgery, as Companion Josiah H. Drummond has pronounced it to be. Companion Drummond has traced the "itinerary" of Cross through Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and thence to Baltimore, May, 1817. In 1827 a council was established at Cleveland by Charter from the Grand Council of New York. A Grand Council for the State was organized January 6, 1830, by the five councils organized by John Barker.

North Dakota.

The following councils received their dispensations from the Officers of the General Grand Council, viz. :

Dispensation. Charter. Casselton, No. 1, at Casselton, December 7, 1888 November 10, 1889. Hilkiah, No. 2, at Jamestown, September 1, 1893 August 21, 1894. Dispensation.

Hiram Council, at Valley City......................December 31, 1895. Continued.

Rae Council, at Grand Forks........................ January 2, 1896. Annulled.

Zabud Council, at Devil's Lake..................... January 3, 1896 Annulled. Towner Council, at Towner..........................January 6, 1896 Continued Adoniram Council, at Fargo........................February 15, 1896 Continued Damascus Council, at Wahpeton.................... February 18, 1896 Annulled. Mizpah Council, at Park River..................... March 15, 1896 Annulled. Tyrian Council, at Lisbon..........................April 6, 1896 Continued Bismarck Council, at Bismarck.....................April 20, 1896 Continued

Oregon.

By authority of the General Grand Master of the General Grand Council, Companion A.H. Hodson was authorized to convene not less than five Royal and Select Masters, and to confer the degrees upon not exceeding nine Royal Arch Masons. A dispensation was issued to Pioneer Council, U. D., at McMinnville.

Three councils convened February 3, 1885, and formed a Grand Council for Oregon under the jurisdiction of the General Grand Council.

Pennsylvania.

October 26, 1847, two councils in Pennsylvania, and one in Texas, formed the Grand Council. This Grand Council disbanded and was re-organized in 1854. Papers of the meetings from 1847 to 1851 have been found, but it seems no regular records were ever kept. It was proposed in the Grand Council, in 1854, to turn the degrees over to the control of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, which, however, was not accepted; and December 30, 1854, the Grand Council was re-organized. It is an independent jurisdiction, but does not recognize those who have received the degree in chapters.

Rhode Island.

A meeting of Royal Masters was convened in Providence, R.I., March 28, 1818, and May 19th "Resolved, That the degree of Select Master be attached to this Council." J.L. Cross gave that council a Charter in 1819. For many years this council was dormant, and no meeting was held until 1841. The Grand Councils of Massachusetts and Connecticut issued charters to other councils, and the Supreme Council of Northern Jurisdiction A.'.A.'.S.'.R.'. gave authority to confer the degrees of Royal and Select Master upon a Charter for a Lodge of Perfection at Newport, which in 1870 was revoked, a Grand Council having been organized on October 30, 1860, from which a Charter was obtained. This Grand Council is independent.

South Carolina

In the preface to this chapter much of the early history of the Cryptic degrees has already been given in detail. The Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction had great influence in the direction of the government of the Cryptic Rite in South Carolina. Nine councils of Royal and Select Masons were chartered in the years of 1858 and 1859. The Supreme Council in 1860 waived its rights, and a Grand Council was regularly formed, February 15, 1850. In 1880 the "Missisippi Plan" was adopted. However, in 1881, the Grand Council was re-organized and became a member of the General Grand Council.

South Dakota.

The following councils received dispensations from the Officers of the General Grand Council in South Dakota:

Alpha Council, No. 1, at Sioux Falls... D. April 11, 1891. C. July 21, 1891. Lakota " " Deadwood........September 7, 1895. Annulled. Black Hills Council " Hot Springs.....September 9, 1895. Annulled. Zabud " " Yankton.........September 25, 1895. Annulled. Scotland " " Scotland........October 1, 1895. Surrendered. Omega " " Salem...........October 10, 1895. Continued. Hiram " " Canton..........October 30, 1895. Annulled. Koda " " Flandreau.......October 31, 1895. Surrendered.

Brookings Council, No. 1 at Brookings... November 1, 1895. Annulled. Aberdeen " " Aberdeen........November 4, 1895. Annulled. Adoniram " " Webster.........November 6, 1895. Annulled. Emanuel " " Millbank........November 14, 1865. Annulled. Mitchell " " Mitchell........November 28, 1895. Annulled. Oriental " " Pierre..........December 12, 1895. Annulled. Mystic " " Huron...........December 30, 1895. Surrendered. Faulk " " Faulkland.......December 31, 1885. Annulled.

Tennessee

Two councils derived their authority to organize councils in the State of Tennessee from the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction. Two other councils had obtained charters from the Grand Council of Kentucky, and one other had received a dispensation from the Grand Council of Alabama. These five councils by their delegates organized a Grand Council, October 13, 1847.

This Grand Council united with the General Grand Council.

Texas

From the history of the Cryptic Rite in Pennsylvania we learn that a council of Texas united with two councils in Pennsylvania in the organization of a Grand Council in 1847; hence these degrees must have been worked in a council in Texas at that time. June 24, 1856, a Grand Council for Texas was organized, which was disbanded in 1864, and the degrees remanded to the chapters, which can be conferred upon Royal Arch Masons only.

Utah.

The following dispensaions were issued by the Grand Officers of the General Grand Council to form councils in Utah, viz. :

Summit Council, at Park City, September 2, 1895, which was very soon surrendered.

Utah, No. 1, at Salt Lake City, dispensation granted February 13, 1892, and chartered August 21, 1894.

Vermont.

After J.L. Cross had made his tour in the South and West he was in Vermont in July, 1817. In a letter from Haverhill, N.H., he says: "I made no further tarry until I arrived at Windsor, Vermont, where I established a council of Select Masons. They, finding that the degree was full of information, and that it could not be given antecedent to that of the Royal Arch, wished for a warrant to empower them to confer it, upon which I granted them one in the words following." (Omitted.)

Cross was made a Royal Arch Mason in Champlain Chapter, No. 1, at St. Albans, Vt., July 11, 1815, while engaged as a lecturer to the lodges.

Companion Drummond claims that the first permanent body of Select Masters was the council formed by Cross at Windsor, Vermont, July 5, 1817. He founded a council at Bradford, also, in 1817.

By himself or by his deputy, John H. Cotton, Cross organized nine councils.

The Warrant of the counch at Bennington having been preserved, we give it, as follows:

"To all whom these presents may come, GREETING:

"Know ye, that by the high powers in me vested by the Thrice Illustrious and Grand Puissant in the Grand Council of Select Masters, held at the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, North America, I do hereby constitute and empower the within named Companions to form themselves into a regular Council of Select Masters, and I do hereby appoint my worthy Companion Samuel S. Young to be first Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, Zacheus Hovey, to be first Illustrious Deputy Grand Master, and Oliver Abell to be the Principal Conductor, and I do grant them full power, with their constitutional number, to assemble, open, and confer the Degree of Select master, and do all other business appertaining to said degree, for which this shall be their warrant, until revoked by the Grand Puissant. And I do further direct said Council to hold its meetings at Bennington, Bennington County, and State of Vermont. Given under my hand at Bennington this twenty-third day of May, A.D. 1818, and of the Discovery 2818.

"Signed JOHN H. COTTON, "Acting Deputy Puissant in Grand Council."

These councils continued until 1826-1828. During the Morgan anti-Masonic period, like all other branches of Masonry, nothing was done. A re-organization took place in 1849, under their original warrants, until 1854. Four of these councils organized a Grand Council August 10, 1854. Vermont united with the General Grand Council.

Virginia.

In the previous history of the rite we have shown that Myers remained for some time in Virginia and was in Norfolk and in Richmond, where he communicated the degrees of Royal Master and Select of Twenty-seven, under his authority as Inspector of the A.'.A.'.S.'. Rite. Jeremy L. Cross, it is said, established a council of Select Masters in December, 1817, in Richmond, and soon thereafter in Portsmouth and other towns.

A Grand Council was formed in 1820 and often failed to meet, as in 1829 to 1839, and in 1847 was dissolved, and the degrees were remanded or rather turned over to the chapters, where they have remained to the present time.

These degrees are conferred in the chapter preceding the Royal Arch under the mistaken idea that the incidents therein related occurred at the building of the Temple, and those of the Royal Arch were laid at the rebuilding thereof, forgetting that, as allegorical representations, they should of necessity for proper instruction be, as they were originally designed, subsequent to the "Mason of the Royal Arch," or thirteenth of the A.'.A.'.A.'.R.'.

Washington.

The General Grand Council by its Officers issued dispensations to Washington to organize councils as follows :

Dispensation. Chartered. To Tacoma, No. 1, at Tacoma.....February 9, 1891. July 21, 1891. To Colfax, No. 2, at Colfax....June 9, 1893. August 21, 1894. To Mt. Baker, No. 3, at New Whatcom... June 14, 1893 August 22, 1894. To Spokane, No. 4, at Spokane...July 8, 1893 August 21, 1894. To Pomeroy, No. 5, at Pomeroy...July 16, 1893 August 22, 1894. To Seattle, No. 6, at Seattle...May 9, 1894 August 21, 1894.

These councils, by order of the General Grand Master, issued May 31, 1895, were assembled by their representatives, June 5, 1895, and the adoption of a constitution and the election of their Officers were duly and regularly constituted, and the Officers were installed by the Special Deputy, Elijah M. Beatty, and so reported to the General Grand Recorder.

Zabud Council, No. 7, at Walla Walla, had a dispensation granted December 8, 1874, and was reported for 1895. This council became a constituent, under a Charter, of the Grand Council of the State, chartered June 8, 1896.

Wisconsin.

The Grand Council of Ohio chartered three councils in Wisconsin, and a Grand Council was organized by the delegates of these three October 28, 1857. By arrangement and consent the degrees were turned over to the Grand Chapter in 1878. In 1881 a Grand Council was again organized by delegates from forty-nine councils.

Wisconsin is an independent Grand Council.

Wyoming.

The following dispensations were issued by the Grand Officers of the General Grand Chapter for Wyoming, viz.:

Cheyenne Council, at Cheyenne...........June 24, 1895. Surrendered June 5, 1896.

Laramie " " Laramie............July 4, 1896. Annulled.

Zabud " " Evanston.......... September 2, 1895. Annulled.

Tyrus " " Green River........September 3, 1896. Surrendered.

Sheridan " " Sheridan...........May 12, 1896. Annulled.

ABSTRACT OF RETURNS OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS FOR THE YEAR 1896

Name of Grand Lodge Held at Membership.

Washington, No. 1......Washington, D.C............125 Olive, No. 1...........Prescott, Ariz..............10 Phoenix, U.D...........Phoenix, Ariz................. Tucson, U.D............Tucson, Ariz.................. Canon City, No. 5......Canon City, Col.............32 Hiram, U.D.............Greeley, Col................16 Zabud, U.D.............Colorado Springs, Col.......35 Leadville, U.D.........Leadville, Col..............30 Glendive, U.D..........Glendive, Mont..............12 Custer, U.D............Miles City, Mont.............9 Adoniram, U.D..........Livingston, Mont.............8 Mystic, U.D............Bozeman, Mont...............15 Zabud, U.D.............Butte, Mont.................22 Montana, U. D..........Dillon, Mont................12 Deer Lodge, U.D........Deer Lodge, Mont............11 Anaconda, U.D..........Anaconda, Mont..............12 Deming, No. 1..........Deming, N.M.................37 Las Vegas, U.D.........Las Vegas, N.M................ Santa Fe, U.D..........Santa Fe, N.M...............16 Hiram, U.D.............Albuquerque, N.M.............. Alpha, U.D.............Raton, N.M..................15 Casselton, No. 1.......Casselton, N. Dak...........23 Hilkiah, No. 2.........Jamestown, N. Dak...........20 Hiram, U.D.............Valley City, N. Dak.........22 Rae, U.D...............Grand Forks, N. Dak.........19 Zabud, U.D.............Devil's Lake, N. Dak .......13 Towner, U.D............Towner, N. Dak..............11 Adoniram, U.D..........Fargo, N. Dak...............17 Damascus, U.D..........Wahpeton, N. Dak............10 Mizpah, U.D............River Park, N. Dak...........9 Tyrian, U.D............Lisbon, N. Dak..............11 Bismarck, U.D..........Bismarck, N. Dak............18 Alpha, No. 1...........Sioux Falls, S. Dak.........23 Lakota, U.D............Deadwood, S. Dak............21 Black Hills, U.D.......Hot Springs, S. Dak.........16 Zabud, U.D.............Yankton, S. Dak............16 Scotland, U.D..........Scotland, S. Dak............11 Omega, U.D.............Salem, S. Dak...............10 Hiram, U.D.............Canton, S. Dak..............14 Koda, U.D..............Flandreau, S. Dak...........17 Brookings, U.D.........Brookings, S. Dak...........16 Aberdeen, U.D..........Aberdeen, S. Dak............14 Adoniram, U.D..........Webster, S. Dak.............14 Emanuel, U.D...........Milbank, S. Dak.............10 Mitchell, U.D..........Mitchell, S. Dak............19 Oriental, U.D..........Pierre, S. Dak..............15 Mystic, U.D............Huron, S. Dak...............14 Faulk, U.D.............Faulkton, S. Dak............13 Utah, No. 1............Salt Lake City, Utah........38 Summit, U.D............Park City, Utah.............22 Cheyenne, U.D..........Cheyenne, Wyo................. Laramie, U.D...........Laramie, Wyo................18 Zabud, U.D.............Evanston, Wyo...............13 Tyrus, U.D.............Green River, Wyo............17 Sheridan, U.D..........Sheridan, Wyo...............12

SUBORDINATE COUNCILS UNDER THE IMMEDIATE JURISDICTION OF THE GENERAL GRAND COUNCIL, 1896.

Council Location. Date of Date of Charter. Dispensation.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Washington, No. 1 Washington No dispensation August 14, 1883.

ARIZONA.

Oliver, No.1 Prescott July 1, 1893 August 22, 1894. Phoenix, U.D. Phoenix April 4, 1895 Surrendered. Tucson, U.D. Tucson April 5, 1895 Surrendered.

COLORADO.

Denver, No. 1 Denver Jan. 16, 1892 August 21, 1894. Rocky Mountains, No.1 Trinidad March 24, 1895 August 21, 1894. Durango, No. 3 Durango May 16, 1893 August 21, 1894. Akron, No. 4 Akron May 23, 1893 August 21, 1894. Canon City, No. 5 Canon City June 5, 1893 August 21, 1894. Pueblo, No. 7 Pueblo April 10, 1894 August 21, 1894. Hiram, U.D. Greeley Dec. 8, 1894 Surrendered. Zabud, U.D. Colorado Springs May 27, 1895 Dispensation continued Leadville, U.D. Leadville June 10, 1895 Surrendered.

IDAHO.

Idaho, U.D. Pocatillo Dec. 15, 1896 Annulled. Adoniram, U.D. Boise Jan. 30, 1897 Dispensation continues.

MONTANA.

Zabud, No. 2 Butte May 22, 1896 October 12, 1897. Glendive, U.D. Glendive April 22, 1896 Dispensation continued. Custer, U.D. Miles City April 24, 1896 Annulled. Adoniram, U.D. Livingston May 13, 1896 Dispensation continued. Mystic, U.D. Bozeman May 20, 1896 Dispensation continued. Montana, U.D. Dillon May 24, 1896 Annulled. Deer Lodge, U.D. Deer Lodge June 10, 1896 Annulled. Anaconda, U.D. Anaconda June 11, 1896 Annulled. Hellgate, U.D. Missoula Sept. 2, 1896 Dispensation continued. Hiram, U.D. Kalispell Sept. 2, 1896 Annulled.

NEVADA.

Carson, U.D. Carson Sept. 3, 1896 Dispensation continued. Mountain, U.D. Virginia City Sept. 4, 1896 Dispensation continued. Reno, U.D. Reno Sept. 19, 1896 Dispensation continued. Eureka, U.D. Eureka Sept. 21, 1896 Dispensation continued.

NEW MEXICO.

Deming, No. 1 Deming April 25, 1887 November 19, 1889. Las Vegas, U.D. Las Vegas March 16, 1895 Annulled. Santa Fe, U.D. Santa Fe May 1, 1895 Dispensation continued. Hiram, U.D. Albuquerque May 7, 1895 Annulled. Alpha, U.D. Raton May 11, 1895 Annulled.

NORTH DAKOTA.

Casselton, No. 1 Casselton Dec. 17, 1888 November 19, 1889. Hilkiah, No. 2 Jamestown Sept. 1, 1893 August 21, 1894. Hiram, U.D. Valley City Dec, 31, 1895 Dispensation continued. Rae, U.D. Grand Forks Jan. 2, 1896 Annulled. Zabud, U.D. Devil's Lake Jan. 3, 1896 Annulled. Towner, U.D. Towner Jan. 6, 1896 Dispensation continued. Adoniram, U.D. Fargo Feb. 15, 1896 Dispensation continued. Damascus, U.D. Wahpeton Feb. 18, 1896 Annulled. Mizpah, U.D. Park River March 15, 1896 Annulled. Tyrian, U.D. Lisbon April 6, 1896 Dispensation continued. Bismarck, U.D. Bismarck April 20, 1896 Dispensation continued.

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Alpha, No. 1 Sioux Falls April 11, 1891 July 21, 1891. Lakota, U.D. Deadwood Sept. 7, 1895 Annulled. Black Hills, U.D. Hot Springs Sept. 9, 1895 Annulled. Zabud, U.D. Yankton Sept. 25, 1895 Annulled. Scotland, U.D. Scotland Oct. 1, 1895 Surrendered. Omega, U.D. Salem Oct. 10, 1895 Dispensation continued. Hiram, U.D. Canton Oct. 30, 1895 Annulled. Koda, U.D. Flandreau Oct. 31, 1895 Surrendered. Brookings, U.D. Brookings Nov. 1, 1895 Annulled. Aberdeen, U.D. Aberdeen Nov. 4, 1895 Annulled. Adoniram, U.D. Webster Nov. 6, 1895 Annulled. Emanuel, U.D. Milbank Nov. 14, 1895 Annulled. Mitchell, U.D. Mitchell Nov. 28, 1895 Annulled. Oriental, U.D. Pierre Dec. 12, 1895 Annulled. Mystic, U.D. Huron Dec. 30, 1895 Surrendered. Faulk, U.D. Faulkton Dec. 31, 1895 Annulled.

UTAH.

Utah, No. 1 Salt Lake City Feb. 13, 1892 August 21, 1894. Summit, U.D Park City Sept. 2, 1895 Surrendered.

WASHINGTON

Zabud, U.D. Walla Walla Dec. 8, 1894. Became Constituent Grand Council of Washington.

WYOMING.

Cheyenne, U. D.......... Cheyenne........ June 24, 1895.. Surrendered. Laramie, U. D........... Laramie.......... July 4, 1895 ... Annulled. Zabud, U. D............. Evanston.......... Sept. 2, i895- .. Annulled. Tyrus, U. D........... Green River . . . . . SePt- 3, 1895... Surrendered. Sheridan, U. 6......... Sheridan.......... May I2, i896.. Annulled.

SUMMARY OF GRAND COUNCIL RETURNS FOR THE YEAR 1896. From the Proceedings of the General Grand Council, 1897.

Grand Council. Held at Membership.

Arkansas............Little Rock.............321 California..........San Francisco...........901 Florida.............Milton...................72 Georgia.............Macon...................518 Indiana.............Indianapolis..........2,525 Indian Territory....Muskogee.................97 Kansas..............Wichita.................797 Louisiana...........New Orleans.............207 Maine...............Portland..............2,189 Maryland............Baltimore...............555 Massachusetts.......Boston................5,294 Minnesota...........St. Paul................734 Missouri............Springfield.............704 Nebraska............Omaha...................371 New Hampshire.......Concord...............1,416 New York............New York City.........3,932 Ohio................Sandusky..............4,222 Oregon..............East Portland...........189 South Carolina......Charleston..............133 Tennessee...........Nashville...............507 Vermont.............Burlington............1,056 Washington..........Seattle.................215 Subordinates of General G Council...........962

INDEPENDENT GRAND COUNCILS.

Grand Council. Held at Membership.

Alabama..........Montgomery.................. Connecticut......Hartford.................... Illinois.........Chicago..................... Kentucky.........Covington................... Michigan.........Coldwater................... Mississippi......Jackson..................... New Jersey.......Trenton..................... North Carolina...Wilmington.................. Pennsylvania.....Lancaster................... Rhode Island.....Providence.................. Wisconsin........Milwaukee...................

FOREIGN GRAND COUNCILS.

Canada, Ontario...........Barrie, Ontario England and Wales.........London New Brunswick.............St. John ........

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