NEW ORLEANS: THE CORNERSTONE OF SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY IN THE NEW WORLD By Clayton J. Borne III PGM 33º Personal Representative to the SGIG Valley of New Orleans, Orient of Louisiana
The Scottish Rite is one of the two dominant branches of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed. It is separate and distinct from the other branch commonly referred to as the York Rite. At various places in the world, other Rites are in use by the Brotherhood. The factual history of the Rite changed dramatically with the 1926 discovery in Paris of the Sharp Bordeaux Documents which report and define the formative years of the Rite namely 1750 to 1765. Since its beginning in 1732 in Bordeaux, France, to its establishment in 1756 in New Orleans of a 14 Degree, Rite of Perfection to its 1764 expansion in Hispaniola, (Domican Republic, Haiti) and Kingston, Jamaica, of the 25 Degree, Master of the Royal Secret to its expansion in 1801 in Charleston, South Carolina (Southern Jurisdiction) and the 1813, New York Cerneau, De La Motta, Supreme Councils (Northern Jurisdiction) of the 33 Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite to the 1839, Supreme Council for the United States of America sitting in New Orleans (now the Louisiana Supreme Council), the Scottish Rite has spread throughout the world. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction specifically covers the fifteen states East of the Mississippi River and North of the Mason-Dixon Line and the Ohio River including Delaware. Its headquarters, originally in New York, is in Lexington, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The other Supreme Council is that of the Southern Jurisdiction. It’s remains where it began in Charleston, South Carolina however its headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and covers the 35 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories and possessions. An overview of events as a predicate to more detailed historical examinations of the supporting evidence is tendered herein. The Scottish Rite, before its formal recognition as a Rite, was exclusively French. The Rite’s name “Scottish” was the result of Chevalier Andrew Ramsay’s 1737 Lecture delivered in the Provincial Grand Lodge of England in Paris wherein he states that Freemasonry was the secret organization to which the Knights Templar, after their persecutions in 1307, took refuge in Scotland. Ramsay stated that Masonry was founded in Antiquity with affirmative affiliations to certain ancient mysteries, especially Isis in Egypt and was restored in the Holy Lands at the time of the Crusades. Ramsay, an Oxford University graduate stated “Masonry was a Universal Brotherhood of cultured men, a spiritual empire that would change the world”. Ramsay’s theory gave rise to numerous Chivalric degrees in the French traditions, such as Sublime, Elect Soverign, Ecossais or Scottish Master, and Supreme or Superior Grades. The First “Ecossia” or Scottish Lodge was established in 1732 in Bordeaux, France, one of the oldest and most influential Masonic venues in the world. These movements developed in France and in other parts of Europe however for our study, migrated to the French colonies in the Americas, specifically Martinique, Santa Domingo, Jamaica and New Orleans. The degrees were created as specific elaborations upon the three degrees of British Craft Masonry. The higher degrees were viewed by some as a superior form of masonry. Its proponents initiated and thereafter advocated advancement into higher degrees which accentuated the separation or divisions created in society. Their convictions were that these divisions were those resulting from man’s aggressive pursuit of his spiritual advancement or enlightenment. Progress is and was
evidenced by advancement into the higher degrees. This issue must be made clear in order to understand the development of 18th Century French Masonry. The primitive or early Scottish Rite movement actually began at Paris with the organization of the Rite’s predecessor degrees. Masonic Historian, Rex R. Hutchens, in his 1995 publican, “Pillars of Wisdom”, writes that the elite Lodge of Clermont founded by Clevalier de Bonneville of the Jesuit College of Clermont in Paris in 1754, finding the traditional concept of equality taught in certain lodges distasteful, added degrees to recognize, confirm and honor social distinctions, exemplified by and through higher degrees, namely St. Andrew, Secret Master, Templar and Sublime Illustrious Knight. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the United States includes the degrees from 1º to 33º. By agreement or Concordance, the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions, of the A&ASR have agreed to allow the degrees of Symbolic Masonry to be exclusively conferred by the York Rite with the exception of the Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana’s 16th Masonic District, of “The Valley of New Orleans”, Orient of Louisiana where the (10) ten Lodges all of whom function under York Rite charters, use the degree of their origin, the Scottish Rite, with said privilege including the Symbolic Degrees of the Rite. The Louisiana Supreme Council, formally the Supreme Council for the United States of America sitting in New Orleans and the Grand Council or Consistory of New Orleans now the Valley of New Orleans share the same pedigree and were one and the same until the split in 1855. The still active Louisiana Supreme Council maintains jurisdiction over all degrees 1º-33º and has subordinate bodies structured as Grand Consistories and Lodges throughout the United States. The Scottish Rite Ritual used by the Louisiana Supreme Council and the Orient of Louisiana according to published reports are one and the same, and therefore would be consistent with our common heritage. Many of Louisiana Past Grand Masters served the Louisiana Supreme Council as SGIG’s including Most Worshipful Bros. John Henry Holland, Felix Garcia and Robert Preavy along with Jean F. Canonge, who served as its Soverign Grand Commander. The first reference to the Rite appears in old French records as “Ecossais”, meaning Scottish. Despite its French Origin for various reasons the name “Scottish” was added to the Rite. The French although respectful of English Ritual disliked its principles of equality and sought to correct the English deviation from what they saw as the natural order by the creation of many Higher “Hauts Gras” Degrees symbolizing moral advancement. The degrees origin was the Council of Knights of the East composed of the Bourgeoisie or Middle Class and the Council of Emperors of the East and West composed of the Nobility. The migration of the Scottish Rite to the Western Hemisphere or New World is a most interesting and fascinating chronicle. French historians criticize the expansion of the order stating that the Rite could not be expanded or modernized or arbitrarily changed. The disregard for this fundamental law or governing mandate contained in the basic covenant of the Rite addressing the principle of authority, was to cause much confusion. This initial lack of discipline and stability was reflected in all parts of the New Territory with the exception of French New Orleans. Unlike Morin’s exploits and travels, the Rite of Perfection came directly to New Orleans and because of its French cultural, was less likely to deviate from the original mandate of the Scottish Rite Mother Lodge in Bordeaux, Les Elus Parfaits. (Sharp Bordeaux Document # 50)
The 1738 Perfect Union Lodge on the Island of Martinique, confirms the earliest of these degrees were in practice in the French Islands of the Caribbean before 1750. This was long before the much-publicized Brother Etienne (Stephen) Morin’s 1761, patent to establish the Rite of Perfection on the island of Hispaniola, (Dominican Republic and Haiti). The
Symbolic degrees subsequently made their way to New Orleans with a Symbolic Charter being received in the city in 1752, and a Lodge of Perfection authorized in New Orleans in 1756. Both Lodges were chartered as “Perfect Harmony” as instructed by the Mother Lodge in Bordeaux, France. New Orleans had the ability and was the first to confer the Complete System of the Higher “Ecossia” Degrees. (Sharp Bordeaux Document #40-1 and # 102-1)
The 1756 Rousillon Patent resulted in a Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection charter issued to New Orleans by Perfect Harmonie the Premier Scottish Rite Lodge in Bordeaux. Bro. Tiphanie and Milhet, deputized Bro. Rousselon to travel to Bordeaux where he was appointed Deputy Grand Master and returned to New Orleans with a warrant to establish an Ecossia Lodge of Higher degrees in the City using the original 14 degree “Rite of Perfection”. The authority came directly to New Orleans and the Lodge chartered as “Perfect Harmonie”. Although legally functioning in the City by brothers in possession of the higher degrees, because of the “Seven Years War” this Lodge was not coronated with a seal until 1764. The 1756 New Orleans Authority, however was issued long before the much-publicized Brother Etienne Morin’s 1761 patent to establish the Rite of Perfection in the islands of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti). (Sharp Bordeaux Document # 50-1) The 1761 Morin Patent received a much higher degree of publicity then the 1756 Rousillon Patent until the Sharp-Bordeaux documents were discovered in Paris, France, in 1926. Using his patent, Morin was authorized to establish the Scottish Rite degrees in the French possessions located in the West Indies. Morin, after leaving France was captured, spent time in Britain and Scotland arriving in Santo Domingo in 1764. Upon his arrival, Morin appointed Inspector Generals for a system of higher degrees which he increased upon his own unauthorized volition from 14 to 25 Degrees. The Rite however, gained popularity in France and became known as the “Order of the Royal Secret”. It is now acknowledged by the Charleston Supreme Council that the Rite of Perfection or Master of the Royal Secret was actually established and functioning in New Orleans in 1756. The Morin’s claim to his expanded
Rite was challenged by French Scottish Rite historians who asserted the Rite and its authority originated in France and could not be arbitrarily expanded or changed, which is exactly what the histories confirm was initiated by Morin in the West Indies and by Mitchell, Dalcho and De Grasse Tilly in Charleston.
In 1767, Henry Francken, is credited by historians unaware of the Rousillon Rite of Perfection Patent in New Orleans as being the first Rite of Perfection in North America. Francken who had been deputized by Morin, as an Inspector General, did however establish the Rite of Perfection in Albany, New York. These same historians state that this New York Lodge was the forerunner of what was to become the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in the United States. The evidence in the Sharp Bordeaux Documents prove them wrong. This writer believes that the evidence in the Sharp-Bordeaux Documents, which chronical covers the history of the Scottish Rite Masonry in New Orleans from 1750 to 1765, the originals of which documents are housed at the A&ASR for the Northern Jurisdiction in New York, tender factual evidence to prove those historians wrong. In any event, what all historians must admit is that New Orleans is the oldest continuously operating Scottish Rite Valley in the world and the birthplace of the Scottish Rite in the Western Hemisphere. Subsequent to the Rites establishment in New Orleans but still during the Colonial Period, other deputies, appointed by Etienne (Stephen) Morin, organized Masonic bodies, which conferred the advanced degrees at venues along the Atlantic seaboard, including Charleston, South Carolina. These groups were independent and without any organization any organization insuring supervision or control. Variations in their organization and ritual was the result however, they all agreed that, unlike the system in New Orleans, wherein, the Rite came directly from Bordeaux, their Scottish Rite authority originated with Etienne (Stephen) Morin in the West Indies The 1796, De Grasse Tilly and Delahogue Filiation of Authority was conceived at Lodge La Candeau. In the books containing the minutes of La Candeau Lodge, a French speaking lodge in Charleston, South Carolina, founded by De Grasse Tilly and Delahogue, June 24, 1796, it was announce that they had met with Hyman Isaac Long, a Deputy Inspector General, who attends the Lodge in a state
of destitution needing assistance, who will become one of the initial names associated with the Charleston Supreme Council and Long gave them the 1786 Constitution and Ritual for the Morin’s Order of the Royal Secret; in return for the monetary aid the Lodge giving Long as he was in distress and in need of money. The Filiation of Powers declaration date on the Morin patent, the De Grasse Tilly patent and the 1786 Constitution are all dated November 12, 1796, and bears the seal of La Candeau Lodge. Interestingly, at this meeting the Lodge voted to continue to work as “Moderns”. This Lodge for no stated reason goes dark on February 4, 1798.
In 1801, the Supreme Council of the thirty-third degree for the United States of America titled, the first Scottish Rite Supreme Council in the World - was founded in Charleston, South Carolina on May 31 of that year. This groups noble aim was to unify the competing Morin Masonic bodies. Its purpose was to create or achieve “Order out of Chaos”. It was not until the inclusion of New Orleans Attorney Albert Pike in 1857 did this actually begin to happen. It was a valiant effort by Albert Mackey to transform an organization which was at the time not structured nor in possession of a complete system of thirty-three degrees into a stable respected Rite based in Charleston. In addition, it was made more difficult as the Charleston Supreme Council was composed of “South Carolina Modern Masons” who were still considered irregular Masons. In 1804, when De Grasse Tilly leaves Charleston for the islands, the Charleston Supreme Council, despite their “1802 Manifesto”, did not have a defacto functioning organization nor a complete system of 33 degrees. The evidence indicated that De Grasse Tilly developed his 1786 Constitution which was alleged to reflect the Authority of Frederick the Great of Prussia. The document was back dated in order to give the appearance of a proper chronology to his new system. Mitchell and Dachlo initially buy into the whimsical story but later realize that it was a fraud and not to lose face hastily develop the organization and desperately attempt to formulate complete system of thirty-three degrees. De Grasse Tilly is believed to have completed the degree system of 33 degrees while in Jamaica. This 1804 Jamaican Supreme Council was DeGrasse’s second just before returning to France and creating the Supreme Council of France later that year. The DeGrasse, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is that which was used by Cerneau for the establishment of his Supreme Council in New York, New Orleans, Central and South America. In 1806, Joseph Cerneau, replicated the actions of John Mitchell in Charleston and as Senior Inspector General of the Order was elevated to the status of 33º of the New System of the Order. Just as with Mitchell, in Charleston, neither could originally produce a 33º patent of authority. Cerneau, ultimately produces a patent for the purpose of substantiation of his authority and thereafter establishes his Supreme Council of the 33º in New York. Cerneau surrounded himself and his Counsel with men of distinction. Serving from 1813 to 1825, Daniel D. Thompkins, was the first Sovereign Grand Commander of the Cerneau Supreme Council in the Northern Jurisdiction. He was at the same time Vice President of the United States for two terms under President Monroe. The first Grand Secretary General of this Supreme Council, who was also third Sovereign Grand Commander from 1832-51 was Joseph Gourgas, 33º. In 1807 New Orleans, the unification was a little more complex. The 1752 and 1756 Rite of Perfection went underground when the 1763 Treaty of Fontainbleau transferred Louisiana from France to Spain was perfected. The transfer was not physically perfected until 1767, however the Spanish Inquisition put Freemasonry at risk. The AASR or Modern Scottish Rite reappears in New Orleans with the creation of Ecossia craft lodge Bienfaisance #1 in 1807. This lodge was created by 3 SGIG’s under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of Jamaica. Subsequently, there was authority for another Lodge of Perfection in New Orleans in 1809 and a Grand Council erroneously referred to as a Consistory, actually chartered in 1811 all out of the Supreme Council in Jamaica. In reality, evidence found by Masonic Historian, Bro. Pete Norman PM, in the Civil Records of the French Superior Council confirms that the Rite of Perfection never left the City of New Orleans. At the initial meeting of Perfect Union Lodge in New Orleans in 1793, Laurent Chouriac, a prominent Ship Captain, produced a diploma demonstrating he was in possession of the degree namely the Chevalier del “Orient au del Epee” which became the 15th degree of the Scottish Rite. The Records show Captain Chouriac in New Orleans in 1767 with Pierre Caresse, Joseph Milhet and Charles De Lalande, all close personal friends representing Chouriac business interest. These men were the Founders of the 1752 and 1756 Scottish Rite Lodges in New Orleans appearing with Chouriac as his attorneys’ and advisors’. (Sharp Bordeaux Document # 50-36)
This 1811 New Orleans Grand Council or Consistory exist today as the “Valley of New Orleans” or the “New Orleans Scottish Rite Bodies”. It has not been a “Grand” Consistory since 1972, but it traces itself to the same pedigree. Over the following years, the AASR in Louisiana had a most colorful, fast moving and interesting history where it passed under the jurisdiction of a number of Supreme Councils. Because the Charleston Scottish Rite brothers were still considered irregular, the New Orleans Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of New Orleans ultimately placed themselves under Cerneau’s Supreme Council in New York. There did exist AASR Rose Croix Chapters independent of, yet under the jurisdiction of the Grand Consistory of Louisiana until the 1950’s. A Brother could receive the degrees up to the 18th and as such be admitted to and a member of a Rose Croix Chapter. In addition, there were also Councils of Kadosh in New Orleans. Master Masons would receive the degrees of these bodies and then move to the Grand Consistory to take the remainder of the 33 degrees. It was difficult understanding the early history of the New Orleans AASR. The 25-degree Rite previously mentioned advanced by Etienne (Stephen) Morin and the 33-degree AASR of DeGrasse Tilly are often confused with each other. In addition, the 7 degree “French or Modern” Rite was also worked in New Orleans creating more confusion. The Rose Croix ritual of each these Rites are different. With only the degree markings behind his name, there was no way that a neophyte could know if it was, the 18th degree of the AASR, the 18th degree of the Order of the Royal Secret or the 7th degree of the French or Modern Rite. An example is the Rose Croix ritual of New Orleans was of a different form and nature than the one in Charleston. The 1856 ritual of the 18th degree of the AASR as worked in New Orleans, at last reported is still uniquely different from that of Charleston. All of these rites were being worked at the time and mistaking one for the other was very easy. Historians must be very careful to always try to separate the various Rites in New Orleans so that they are not confused. The AASR in New Orleans (pre-1855) was of a different structure than the AASR in Charleston. The original Charleston Supreme Council worked a different structure than what De Grasse, and all Supreme Councils that trace themselves to him worked. In 1813, Emanuel DeLaMotta, 33º, of Savannah, Georgia, a Jewish merchant and philanthropist, and Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council at Charleston, goes to New York and organizes without authority a Supreme Council of the 33rd degree in opposition to the established Cerneau Supreme Council sitting in New York. Much later in 1867, after years of acrimony the process of unification was complete, through merger with the 1806 Cerneau Council, this body became the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The 1813 Grand Council (Consistory) of Louisiana in New Orleans was formed by Emanuel Gigaud, WM of Perseverance Lodge and formed as a provisional Grand Council (Consistory) of Princess of the Royal Secret in New Orleans. This body petitioned the New York Grand Consistory presided over by Joseph Cerneau for a charter. The charter was granted on Feb. 8, 1813. The roster includes but not limited to Emanuel Gigaud, Jean Pinard, Noel Fournier, Francis Pizarro, Raymond Devere and Pierre Jarrie and others as members of the Grand Consistory of Louisiana. This writer believes Louisiana Historian Scot conceals this body despite the fact that it was so well known. On May 3, 1814, Lusson, a member of the Charleston Supreme Council living in New Orleans did not write but published a denunciation of Cerneau. The text which was written by Emmanuel DeLaMotta when establishing his Charleston Supreme Council in New York. Thereafter, in New Orleans, Lusson was tried and suspended. By 1826, both the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions had made little progress in unifying the scattered degree, competing groups, and in standardizing the rituals. They were handicapped by the pride of the local organizations; by leadership jealousies; and primarily by the anti-Masonic Morgan Affair political agitation and pressure which began in 1826 and last till 1850. This historical event more than any other resulted in the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions going “Dark”, by virtue of the fact that both Jurisdictions ceased to function as Supreme Councils. What was the end result of these historical factors? Scottish Rite Tradition dictates that unlike the York Rite, Supreme Councils never die, their authority automatically moves to the nearest Supreme Council. The Southern Jurisdiction did not organize and function until 1844 which was publicized as a “Rebirth” in an effort to reclaim seniority. Did the authority of the Dark Councils die or was there ultimately a Supreme Council to which it migrated? In 1831, the “United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere “sitting in New York was born. A Body was created in New York by Comte de St. Laurent under what has become known as
Cerneau Right of Perfection. St. Laurent claimed to be Sovereign Grand Commander of a Supreme Council for New Spain, Mexico, South America along with the Canary Island, also included were twelve States along with Florida and West Florida. This Body merged with or amalgamated with the Cerneau Right of Perfection. St. Laurent produced and presented to this Body the only known copy of the Grand Constitution of 1786. In 1832, SGIG Santangelo as Lt. Gr. Commander confirmed to the Grand Consistory in New Orleans that the Unified Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere of Comte St. Laurent in New York despite international recognition by a Treaty with the Supreme Council of France was no longer functioning. The only Scottish Rite authority existing was in New Orleans. The New Orleans Grand Consistory is early 1846 Research verifies that the Premier Grand Consistories of Louisiana both the 1811 and 1813 having their authorities based in Jamaica were by definition Legal Bodies and a solid foundation for what was to follow in Louisiana. The records of members composing the Grand Council or Consistories of Louisiana from 1813 to 1846 verifies that 1811 and 1812 Grand Consistory became members of the 1813 Grand Council and was the Body that was to survive, as the oldest continuous operating Valley in the Western Hemisphere. As the only surviving Scottish Rite Body, would this be the Body to which the Authority migrated? In 1839, Louisiana Supreme Council was formed by the 33ºs in Louisiana, from France, Spain, Jamaica and New Orleans. The only regular Supreme Council activity functioning during this time was the Supreme Council of the United States sitting in New Orleans, currently operating as the Louisiana Supreme Council. This is a unique event in Scottish Rite history considering the procedures relative to the automatic transferal of Power where a Jurisdiction ceases to function or goes dark, as did the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions during these years 1826-50. It creates an interesting legal question as to exactly who legally held the authority or power of the Scottish Rite in North America? By definition was its New Orleans and could this have been the reason Mackey was so determined to obtain the Louisiana Supreme Council authority through his creation of a Charleston Consistory in New Orleans in 1852. The move was parallel to the illegal 1847 Mississippi Grand Lodge invasion of the Louisiana Jurisdiction. Both intrusions from a review of the evidence were for the same reason namely to usurp the Louisiana Authority. The 1855 Mackey Concordant, Albert Mackey had put together for the Charleston Supreme Council, the largest collection of the Ritual at the time, but it was a disorganized and an incomplete collection. Mackey, in order to keep Charleston’s appearance of Unity and Conformity and knowing of the completeness of the1839 Louisiana Supreme Council’s Ritual and organization in New Orleans personally appeared the city, and proceeded to call a meeting of the 33º members residing in the city of which less than half attended. Mackey then boldly proceeded to inform the Body they had no right to exist, ironically citing the fallacious 1786 De Grasse Tilly Constitution. Mackey, then dissolves the Louisiana Supreme Council but ironically first, transferred and relinquished its power to the Charleston Supreme Council. He, then proceeds to merged the 1813 New Orleans Consistory into his 1852 Charleston Consistory meeting in New Orleans. (Valley of New Orleans Grand Consistory minutes 1854 to 1874). Mackey completely omits the obvious history of the 1801 Charleston and 1806 New York Supreme Council’s default for over 20 years. Extract of Minutes of the New Orleans Consistory at page 77 “To inform the Brothers that the Supreme Council in New Orleans is Dissolved and has transferred all of its powers and prerogatives to the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction of the USA”. Extract of Minutes of the New Orleans Consistory at pages 80, 81 & 82 As to the terms of the Concordant, “Supreme Council of New Orleans voluntarily relinquishes forever to transfer all of its powers and rights, purgatives to the Supreme Council of Charleston with members of the Supreme Council of New Orleans to be admitted as active members of the New 1852 Charleston Consistory in New Orleans upon their taking the required oath”. “According to the terms and conditions of the Concordant passed between the two Bodies which from this day forward shall be one Body”. The Mackey protocol must be questioned wherein he informs New Orleans, that although they have no right to exist, which would imply that New Orleans has no rights, however irrespective of that fact
whatever Rites New Orleans has are being taken back to South Carolina. It would be a factual contradiction and an illogical conclusion. This bold declaration by Mackey, ironically emanating from a Charleston system that has not functioned as a Supreme Council for over twenty years and the mandate is directed to an organized, actively functioning Louisiana Supreme Council in Possession of a complete 33 Degree Scottish Rite System. Mackey’s actions historically were comical. As a matter of Law, Mackey’s Charleston Concordant in New Orleans was in fact an Absolute Nullity i.e., it had no legal effort. Despite. Mackey’s declaration of the Dissolution of the Louisiana Supreme Council and the subsequent merger of the New Orleans Grand Consistory with the Charleston Consistory in New Orleans “Legally” nothing in New Orleans changed. The invasion by Mackey and the Charleston Grand Consistory into New Orleans was because Mackey knew Charleston was deficient in its organization, members, officers and ritual and the evidence verifies that New Orleans had it all with dynamic leadership. In addition, it appears that Mackey may have executed his Concordant without the knowledge contained in the Sharp Bordeaux Documents verifying New Orleans Senior Status and Authority. I personally, believe that Mackey had the information of New Orleans Senior Status and moved to claim it. The Louisiana Supreme Court, as a Matter of Law in the case of Etoile Polaire vs. Etoile Polaire (16 La Ann 53) confirmed the absolute nullity of Mackey’s action. Extract from the Etoile Polaire Decision: “The Act of the majority binds the corporation and the minority (which it was not, as the majority ignored Mackey’s meeting) only when it is consonant to and not in contravention of the purposes of the incorporation…….and the majority were powerless to destroy the corporations”. See also William vs Western State Lodge No. 24 F & AM of Monroe: (38 La Ann 625) Reflecting on Bro. Alan Bernheim quotation that the function of historical research is to try to understand events of the past not to pass judgement on them …. etc., the obvious question from this research is “What is the effect of Mackey’s 1855 Concordant being an Absolute Nullity? Does that mean that the Scottish Rite authority remained in New Orleans? In the introduction of the Gold Book at the House of the Temple in Washington, D. C. credit is given to a Past Sovereign Grand Commander of the Louisiana Supreme Council, the Honorable Judge James Foulhouse, for his philosophical contribution supporting the Ritual. This writer has attempted to determine why would Soverign Commander Albert Pike give credit to Soverign Commander James Foulhouze, whom Makey tried to destroy along with his Louisiana Supreme Council for his contribution to the Scottish Rite Philosophy. The historical evidence gives the answer. Pike was given his position only because Judge Foulhouze turned down the initial offer by Mackey. Pike takes the New Orleans Supreme Council Ritual which had been philosophically entranced by Judge Foulhouze in New Orleans to Charleston embellished it as he transforms the Charleston Supreme Council as the Soverign Grand Commander into a wellorganized Council. Pike as an outstanding lawyer in addressing the validity of the fallacious 1762 Morin and 1786 De Grasse Constitutions did tender a valid legal position namely that whatever the origin the adoption of any statute or law by its constituents forms the basis for a legal government. Therefore, Mackey’s actions and the transmittal of authority from New Orleans to Charleston because it has been accepted as valid it is considered the Law to validate the Charleston Supreme Council Authority. The question for this writer is not as a historian but as an attorney namely that the Louisiana Supreme Court clearly states that Mackey’s legal maneuvering had no legal effect therefore constituted an Absolute Nullity. At present, Scottish Rite Masons throughout the Northern and Southern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States total over one million. In each Jurisdiction there are Scottish Rite Centers called “Valleys” with the oldest Valley in the world being our valley in New Orleans. The 1750 and 1752 New Orleans “Loges La Parfait Harmonie Roster” confirmed members: Jean Milhet, Guillaume Roussillon, Augustin Chantalou, Gerard, Pollerin, Grandchamp, Andre Tung, Nicholas Lafreniere, Charles de Lalande, Pierre Rousillon, Louis Tiphaine, Joseph de Villere, Laurent Chouriac, not confirmed but determined to be members by family relationships; participants in Rebellion of 1768, close business associates, Jerome Doucet, Denis Foucault, Pierre Marquis, Balthazar de Masan, Joseph Milhet, Jean de Noyan, Joseph Petit, Pierre Poupet.
The 1801 Charleston Supreme Council Roster of names reflected in its original organization: De Grasse Tilly, John Baptiste Delahogue, John Mitchell, Frederick Dalcho, Abraham Alexander, Emanuel DeLaMotta, Thomas Bartholomew Bowen, Israel DeLieben, Isaac Auld, LeCompte Alexander, Francois Auguste, Moses Clava Levy and James Moultrie. Nine Council Members were born abroad, and only Brothers Isaac Auld and James Moultrie were native born. As to their religion affiliation, four Jewish, seven Christians, five Protestants and two Roman Catholics. One important point which must be recognized by all Masons is the fact that the Scottish Rite shares the belief of all Masonic organizations that there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason. Our degrees are in addition to and are in no way “higher” than the Blue Lodge or Symbolic degrees. Scottish Rite work amplifies and elaborates on the lessons of the Craft. It should never be forgotten that termination of a member’s Symbolic Lodge standing automatically terminates his Scottish Rite membership, whether the members rank be 14º or 33º.
Conclusion: The “Supreme Council at Charleston,” as it was sometimes called, was the first Supreme Council of the 33º in the world. It continues to exist today as the Supreme Council, 33º, Southern Jurisdiction, Ancient and Accepted Right of Freemasonry and its sea remains in Charleston, although its residence was moved to Washington, D.C., about 1870, now sits at the House of the Temple in Washington D. C. As the premiere Supreme Council, it exercised authority over the entire country with the exception of the 15 Orients of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Irrespective of the circumstances surrounding its historical and origin, our “Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States” whose historical SEA is in Charleston in the State of South Carolina known to its members as the “Mother Council of the World” is of tremendous importance to the stability of all of Freemasonry and has functioned with the highest degree of dignity in fulfilling the Discipline of the Scottish Rite Philosophy.