Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-07-16
MASONIC DEGREES
ARE ON The MARKET
Thomas Perrott, Arrested for Selling
Scottish Rite Degrees, WIN
Fight Case.

SFOhANE, wash. July 1b.-- In
vestigations by Denton NJ. Grow, dep
uty prosecuting attorney OF Spokane
county. and Alexander Macdonald. a
member OF the city detective depart
ment, following the arrest here of
Thomas Perrott OF Seattle. state
president OF the Fraternal Order OF
Eagles in Washington, charged with
obtaining money under false pretens-
es In bargaining to confer the de-
gree OF the Knights Templars In the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons for $50. has disclosed the
fact that any OF the degrees, from the
FIRST to the thirty-second in the al
legged American and foreign Masonic
orders, may be bought in the open
market, Perrots prices range from
SS5 for the blue lodge work to SITS
for the more advanced degrees.
Major r. d, Gwydir. former Indian
lighter and veteran of the Confeder-
ate army. now sidewalk Inspector for
the city OF Spokane, and member of
local Masonic lodge. preferred the
charge In the Spokane police court.
where, after passing several hours in
a cell. Perrot gave a bond of $500 for
his appearance. DeFcary Smith. past
worthy grand to president OF the
Eagles, who has been retained as
counsel. says PerTot Is a member In
good standing of IL secret and FRA
ternal orders. adding that he holds a
certificate signed by |. NJ. Howell,
secretary of the state Of Washington,
authorizing him to do business" un-
der the American Masonic Federation
of Idaho, also that Perrot Is an on
etal OF the American Federation OF
Masonic Lodges, incorporated under
the laws Of the state OF Washington.
Documents found in an ONCE oc-
cupied by Perrot show he Is an
agent for the Scottish Grand Council
Of Rites and Is working here under
the direction of A. E. Lucas OF Taco
ma. deputy grand marshal OF Wash
lngton. while some OF the stationary
picked up In the raided quarters In
dicateB that the "sixtieth" and the
"ninetieth" degrees of Masonry we're
also dealt in by Perrot.
s. Harry Rush. secretary OF the
Masonic Temple association of Spo-
kane, said In an interview that no
degrees conferred by the Idaho organ
ization are recognized by the lodges
in Spokane. The Masonic order has
no solicitors and IL never solicits
members" he added, "and IL Is not
probable that Perrot has been auth
orized by any recognized body TO sell
the degrees"
Perrot declares he has the right 70
confer the first three degrees In Mas
onry by virtue of holding once In
the American Federation OF Masonic
Lodges, saying also that the power TO
confer the degrees, from the fourth
to the thirty-second. Is vested By au-
thority sent to him By the Scottish
Rite Masonic Order OF Scotland. He
has been organizing Thistle Lodge
No IN Spokane and had appliea-
tons from Eve men.
My arrest Is the result Of stool
pigeon work on the part Of the Ma
sonic lodge" Perrot said. Il ex-
pscted II at the time I frst met Ma
ior Gwydir, but took his money.
gave him a receipt and told him to
call a few days later for the degrees.
That would have given me time 70
ascertain II he Is a member Of the
Masonic order in good standing and
entitled to the work.
This is not the first time | have
had trouble I have encountered OPP
position elsewhere. but the Masons
learned 1t did not pay to fool with
me. They will find the same thing
In Spokane.