Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-16
ECHOESFROM TIE ANTE ROOM
A Contributor Talks About the
Scottish Rite OF Masonry.
MASONIC OFFICERS ELECTED.
knights OF PythiSs Memorial Day at
Hastings-Prepnfatio for the
A. U. w. sdpteme Lodge
The Knights Tempiar.

gitimacy or iliegitimacv of the respective ju-
risdictions of Scottish Rite Masonry in this
country has been dragged into the Iowa
grand LODGE it may be of interest TO the
community at large, both profane and Ma
sonic, to review briefly the more salient
points in the history of the rite in this
country.
In 1125 the Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite of Masonry was first instituted in
France under the name of the Rite of perfec-
ton. This was the foundation upon which
was built the Council of East aud West.
consisting of twenty-five degrees, the last
one corresponding to the thirty y-second de-
gree. On the 9th of August, 1871,
patent OF deputy inspectors general was given
to Illustrious Brother Stephen Ulorin by
the Council of Emperors of east and west,
which was in union at this time with the
Grand Lodge of France. or. In other words
under the control of the Grand Orient of
France, commissioning him to spread the
rite in ST. Domingo, the West Indies and
America.
That this document is genuine has never
been questioned. 1t is addressed. ITO the
Grand Orient, the Grand Architect of the
Universe, and under the will and pleasure of
His Most Sovereign Highness Ill Bro. Louis
of Bourbon, Prince Of the Blood, Grand
signed by Chaillon de Joivile, deputy gen.
eral of the order, etc., and all the grand Of
ficers. If this document proves anything, it
proves that in l76i (the date OF the commits
sion) Louis of Bourbon, count of
Ciermont, was grand master and protector
of all the lodges in France, and that Chailton
de Joiville was his deputy, and not the dep
uty of Frederick the Great. That Stephen
Morin's authority had the seal of his royal
highness, Louis of Bourbon, and not that of
Frederick the Great as head of the order,
nor is any allusion whatever. made TO this
monarch In i716 Bro. Stephen Morin's
patent was revoked and he recalled on ac-
count OF unmasonic conduct. Bro. NORM
continued to institute chapters and councils
in the United States surcnarged with eight
new degrees, and claimed that the rite was
attested by Frederick the Great, KIN G of
Prussia, who was never received in the an
cient and accepted rite and held. the higher
degrees in holy horror and who opposed
them during his whole life.
The above named grand orient,
having the sole right to great
a patent and powers to Stephen
MORN, had also the sole right TO revoke his
patent when they fouDd he was guilty Of
un-Masonic conduct. In 1901 body of the
rite was organized in Charleston, S. e., by
successors of Stephen fiorin without any
Masonic legal right whatever. In 1893 some
of the members, beingconvinced of the ille-
gality of their proceedings. withdrew from
the body, and nothing,fG ether was heard of
1t urtil it was resurreeted in 1859 by Brother
Albert Pike. This is the body now known
as the Southern Jurisdiction.
From 1904 to 1907 thereS were no Scottish
Rite bodies engaged in ;ictive work. Such
was the condition of affairs when Joseph
Corneau arrived in New York from Caba.
Cereau was deputy iuspector-generai and
was commissioned TO edafer degrees and or
ganize councils He e9lnserred the degrees
on Il numberof the most acted men of the
times, among them peiag Hon;DeWitt Clin-
tom. governor Of New York, aud Grand
master of the Grand Lodge of New York;
Hon. John w. Mulligan, deputy grand mas
Ter of the grand lodge, and many other emf
nent Nasons of New York city. On October
81, 1884, q law of grand .consiStory and su-
preme council OF the rite was organized and
notice of the same sent to tho supreme ma
sonic bodies in Europe and the West Indies.
Thase were followed by full recognition
from the Grand Orient of France.
In 1914 Brother De La Motta organized an
Illegal supreme council in New York city,
while regular and legitimate body was
already in existence there. This unlawful
body lived less than two years., when it
ceased to exist.
Thirty years afterward. in 1915, under the
name of Supreme Council Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction, another unlawful council was
organized in New York by one j. j. j.
Gourgas They removed It's Grand East to
Boston, and in 1860 quarreled among them.
selves aud separated. Bro. E. A. Raymond
was in command of the council and retained
his position. Those who withdrew elected
Brother Killian a. Van Rensselaer, grand
commander and also took the name Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction.
At that time Brother Edmund r. Hays
was in command of the supreme council for
the United States and territories, which was
the strongest and most influential. The
other two bodies each made overtures to the
Hays council aud sought to unite with them,
and on April is. 1868, IA union was affected
between the Hays and Raymond councils, the
Raymond council giving up maze, property,
commander and identity. and took oath OF
fealty to the Hays council
December ID 1855, Brother Simon w.
Robinson succeeded Brother Hays in the
command of the council
On December ID, 1Se6, Prother Simon w.
Robinson, acting under suggestions from
Albert Pike called q meeting of a select
and in an unlawful and revolutionary man
ner declared the Hays council dissolved, and
revived the Raymond council. This revoln-
tionary proceeding was carefully concealed
from the old members of the Hays council
who continued in the belief that they were
still members Of the Hays consolidated su-
preme council.
On May IL, 1867, a union was formed with
the Van Rensselaer, council, some of whose
members were anxious to familiarize them
selves with the entire history of the rite,
particularly from 1850 TO 1867 A committee
was appointed in 1872 which collated, and in
1881 published the proceedings OF the body
during that period from which the members
of the Hays supreme council of 1869 first
learned that the Hays supreme council had
lam dormant since December ID, 1866. Bro.
Hopkins Thompson, who had been
lieutenant commander under Ill, Bro.
Edmund r. Hays consulted with his former
associates in the Hays council, and on Sep
tember "a, 1851. they resusctated the Hays
supreme council, and SO, announced to the
world.
When these members Wished to withdraw
from the Raymond bodyythe matter was re-
ferred to committee, who reported that IA
brother may Withdraw, but he has no right
or power to withdraw his bath of allegiance
to this council while within its Jurisdiction.
- " Thatthe oath of fealty
and allegiance of any -rnenber of this su-
preme council is of mutual and perpetual OBJ
legation, and can only Hereleased by mutual
consent of both parties thereto, and when
such consent has not beeii given by this su-
preme council, the attempted withdrawal of
any member Is of no binding or conclusive
effect" ,HS
According to the letthnand spirit of said
report, all who were ni0hlbers of the Hays
consolidated council now owe allegiance
to this, the construction of said council from
which they never have and never can be abb
solved.
Since September 81, 1881, the supreme