The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-29
BOGUS SCOTTISH RITE MAsoNs.
The "Cerneaus' Make Trouble for the Regu-
lar Order I'm Kentucky.

The "Cerneaus' Make Trouble Tor the kegus
lar Order I'm Kentucky.
Louisville Courier-Journal
A subject which has attracted a great deal OF
attention among the Masons of Louisville with
In the past year or so, but which was supposed
to have been RELOCATED to the shades by the
recent action of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky,
has taken unto itself the attributes OF BanQuos
ghost in q measure. and insists upon appearing
when least expected. The subject alluded TO Is
that OF what is called Cerneau Masonry, and the
rite which it works Is that branch known as the
Scottish Rite. The followers Of Cerneau recent
IL organized a State grand body In this city,
under the title of the Grand Consistory OF Ken
lucky, and the publication of that fact, together
with some words calculated 10 raise q discussion.
AT least, created a mild sensation among the
Freemasons, who seem to recognize in the act
of organization q rebellion against the regu,
larly-constituted authority OF the order. the
Grand Ledge o. Kentucky.
eIn view of the fact that Past Grand Master j.
Soule Smith, in his message TO the Grand Lodge
at its session In October, had characterized the
Cerneau body as clandestine, which action war
sustained by the Grand Lodge. and the further
fact that, pending the passage OF a resolution
now before the Grand Lodge r~e-afirming the
Grand Masters decision, that decision. bsckee
by the approval Of the Grand Lodge. woult
seem to be law for the time being, a reporter fos
che Courier7Journal questioned several prom
inent Masons 40 10 the matter.
One of the first gentlemen seen was Capt
II. B. Grant, grand secretary of the Grand
Lodge. After stating the object OF his visit
and indulgine in q few remarks calculated Il
lead no to the subject. the reporter fred his frsl
ball cartridge, thus:
Had the Grand Lodge the right or authorit,
to pass q resolution declaring what is known a
'Cerneau Masonry unmasonic or clandestinef'
Replied Captain Grant, after some delibers
ton: The very first article of the Grand Lodge
constitution says that it has the power to enact
laws and regulations for the government of tbs
craft. and as this is such a law or regulation, !
L ~onEnn tho Gron6 Tnd0o hon fhA nnUo% 70 ANAL
II. By the same article of the constitution the
Grand Lodge has the inherent power to inves.
tigate all Masonic matters This appears to be
q question as to what is or what is not Masonic,
or. rather. whether Cernesuism is Masonry
hence it is a Masonic matter, and if the Grand
Lodge cannot determine such q question i am
unable 70 tell you what power on earth can do
il; as old King Solomon is not here to settle it
! About this time Past Grand Master j. w.
Hopper entered the room, aud the same cues.
ton was put to him, with much the same result
1.-The head Of this branch of the Cerneau
Rite. said he. has lately gotten himself into
trouble by seeking recognition OF the Grand
Orient OF France, a body with which every
Grand Lodge in the United States has cut OF
communication The funny thing about Mr..
Ferdinand S.. j. Gorsas. Sovereign Grand Com
mandsr,' ETC., is that in 1880, in a report TO tho
Grand Lodge of Maryland, has recently ~censureo
the Grand Orient for admitting atheists, yet he
went over there and sought recognition-not
only that, but under false pretenses. he was
/ pIONtuk 10 ave C4ulDllcQ a DaOcuk etkuCG ". a.
bert Pike. Sovereign Grand Commander for the
Scottish Rite, Southern jurisdiction, though be
denied it, and the only recognition he was able
to obtain was through that patent and some
papers from the Grand Lodge of Maryland The
Grand Orient, you know, recognizes all these
clandestine bodies-pegroes and all. Communi.
cation was interdicted between it and grand
lodges in the United States as long as fifteen
years ago."
"Whst will be the effect of the formation Of
this Grand Consistotyp was asked. "Does il
not seem as though the members of the Cerneau
Rite have made themselves amsnable to the
lawl'
at looks that way" said Mr.. Hopper. and the
reporter turned to Captain Grant and asked him
il he considered the Cerneau bodies clandestine.
1.-THE late Grand Master Smith" said Captain
Grant, declared them 10 be irregular, illegal
and unmasonic.' and the Grand Lodge approved
that decision. Hence i am forced TO conclude
that we must accept it as their condition so far
as Kentucky Masonry is concerned. whether we
like it or not. and whether they were clandes-
tine prior to that action or the reverse
when was the Grand Consistory Of the
Scottish Rite organized in KentuckyP
''On the 2lst day Of August, 1852, by Albert
G. Mackey. secretary general of the Southern
jurisdiction. Its records are preserved in the
body here, and three of its charter members still
live in this city,
Mr.. Frank johnson eminent commander OF
Louisville Commandery, Knights Templars, had
entered the room IN the meantime, and wae also
questioned as to date OF the organization, and
as to the standing OF the Cerneau bodies under
tie ruling of Past Grand Master Smith Mr..
Johnson's views were identical with those ex-
pressed by the other gentlemen. He further
said: There are three bodies working under
the Cerneau authority. There is one in Ohio.
which, in a report just received, charaterizes the
Kentucky bodies IS Illegal, and does not speak
well of them"
Does il seem to Won that the adherents on
the Cerneau bodies have placed themselves IN
a pretty bad fix, Masonically, by their actionr'
"Weli, it looks that way. No regular Mason
is allowed to visit a cIandestine lodge-ar lodges
are considered clandestine which are not regu-
larly constituted-and no clandestine Mason can
enter a regular lodge. II a regular Mason visits
m interdicted body he lays himself liable TO
heavy penalty under a law which every Mason
understands. The question Is, are the Cerneaus
clsndestinel'
And are they1"
"Under the ruling of the Grand Lodge they
must be so considered, il seems 70 me-
There are many good men in this Cerneau
business" said another gentlemen. land / be-
lieve they went into il because OF It's cheapness.
In the Scottish Rite the thirty-two degrees cost
considerably moro than q hundred dollars. and
the Cerneaus conferred those same degrees for
SIS dollars. l am not q betting mar, but / would
risk q little money on the proposition that every
member-ifhe will tell you the truth-went In
to it just for that reason
They are" remarked Past Grand Master
Hopper, 1.-THE same degrees conferred by the
regular body; but no man can say whether they
are OF nots unless ne oelongs 10 ooIn- Ell a
clined to the opinion that the low figures for
which they could be obtained was what caught
them. OF course they thought little about
them being illegal, as they undoubtedly are"
who is Gorgasl"
"He is q professor in the University OF Balti.
more, and quite q prominent man In that city
There was further Conversation on this sub
iect. and tie unanimous opinion seemed 10 be
among the regular Masons that the Cerneau
brethren were In a fair way 10 be disciplined by
the regular authorities. though no steps have
been taken, and may not be for some time. II
il likely thas there will be q pretty lively time
among the Masons when the grand master takes
il into his head TO issue his ecict on the subject
Gentlemen posted In Masonic law say they will
be forced to give mp the Cerneau business or be
cut of from all other Masonic affiliations. which
means that 'Cerussuism" 10 not likely TO live "a
q good old age in Kentucky. This is wha, the
kentucky Masons claim. On the other hand the
members Of the Cerneau say that they have
Just rs good men in their ranks. and that thei'
order will not be bulldozed-that 10 has como Z
aeay.