by
George R. Koeln, 33°
The Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33rd
and Last Degree for the United States of America, was founded on May 31, 1801,
in Charleston, South Carolina. There was no great celebration to herald the
occasion; nevertheless, it marked an epoch in the history of Free Masonry.
This Franco-American Rite, which sprang from the ashes of many old and
burnt out systems of Masonry, was to grow into a new and vigorous order, and was
destined to play a significant role on the world stage.
The Rite that proceeded the formation of the Scottish Rite has a most
interesting history. It has been claimed that it was allied more or less with
the Jacobite movement in Scotland
and England, the cabalistic and Rosicrucian societies of Europe and with much
that was fascinating and romantic with the history of France.
Before reviewing the history of the Rite that proceeded the Supreme
Council of the Scottish Rite, founded in 1801, it might be well to call
attention to the fact that many people believe that the name Scottish indicated
that the degrees were of Scottish origin. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Assumption of the name Scottish was most probably in deference to the Temple
Degrees that connected the Rite with Scotland.
In studying the history of Masonry, there are two basic facts that must be considered; documentary history on one hand, and the realm of historical speculation and probability on the other.
Chapter II
In 1754, there was organized by the Chevalier of
Bonneville, the celebrated Chapter of Clermont. This system was called the Rite
of Perfection or Rite Heredom. The name Clermont was given to the Chapter as a
compliment to the Duke of Clermont, who was Grand Master of Free Masonry in 1743
until 1770. This system consisted of twenty five Degrees. In the year 1758, the
Marquis de Lernais, a French prisoner of war in
In 1762, the Council of the East and
West and the Consistory of
Chapter III
On August 27, 1761, the Emperors of the East and West
meeting in
On August 17, 1766, the Emperors of the East and West met
and annulled the patent of Brother Morin for arbitrary and un-masonic proceedings,
appointing in his place Worshipful Brother Martin, who was Master of Saint
Fredericks Lodge. The minutes of the Grand Lodge of France show that Brother
Martin had Just been appointed Secretary of the Paris Bodies. He declined this
appointment and prepared to leave for the
Chapter IV
Arriving in
Before returning to the islands in
December of 1768, Francken commissioned Moses H. Hayes of
In 1781, the British blockade of the
Chapter V
On June 22, 1781, an advertisement appeared in the
Philadelphia paper signed by Lee Droict DeBussey as Sublime Grand Secretary,
stating that Solomon Bush, D. I. G. of Pennsylvania, invited all Grand Elect
Perfect and Sublime Masons and all Knights, Princes and Inspectors of Masonry
now in the city of
Just before this meeting, several men
were commissioned Deputy Inspectors General, most writers say by Hayes, but the
minutes do not show that Hayes attended the meeting, and it is definitely known
that the Grand Secretary, DeBussey, was not present. This meeting was the
first and only (of which there is documentary record) Grand Chapter of Grand
Elect, Perfect and Sublime Masons, to be held in the Western World during the
18th Century. The minutes show Brother Solomon Bush, D. I. G. for
It is interesting to note that there was
probably only one Gentile present, as the identity of Thomas Randall, D. I. G.
for
Chapter VI
All historians say that Brother Spitzer was made a Deputy Inspector General in Philadelphia in 1781, but this probably was an error, since a copy of the patent issued to Stephen Morin in Paris further states that Morin created Henry Andrew Francken, D. I. G., and that Francken later deputized Moses M. Hayes of Boston (which was in 1768), and shortly after, Barend M. Spitzer for Charleston . It seems certain that he became D. I. G. prior to 1781.
It would seem that after Brother Hayes was put in charge and became involved with King David Lodge in New York, Francken fearing that no effort would be exerted on behalf of the Rite of Perfection, returned to the Islands and in 1770, created Brother Spitzer a D. I. G. for the Windward Islands and North America. Brother Spitzer arrived in Charleston in the same year. This was probably with the understanding that Brother Hayes would confine his activities to the Northern Colonies, and Brother Spitzer to the Southern.By this time in 1781, quite a few Masons had received the Sublime Degrees in Charleston, and other Southern Colonies. Brother Spitzer left Charleston in 1781, when the other members of the Jewish congregation moved to Philadelphia, and it is probable that Brother Hayes at this time deputized him D.I.G. for Georgia to help organize the Grand Chapter in Philadelphia . This is probably why historians associated his name with this date. Another fact that seems to indicate this, is that all commissions issued by Brother Hayes were for the colonies, and later the States. Those issued by Brother Spitzer were for the Windward Islands and North America. The one exception to this was his issue of a patent for South Carolina , with the understanding that it would not become effective until after his death.
Chapter VII
The Warden at the Chapter meeting in Philadelphia
was Issac DaCosta, a merchant and reader in the Jewish Congregation in Charleston, South Carolina. Brother DaCosta was a great friend of Brother Spitzer, who commissioned him a D.I.G. for the West Indies and North America (Prior to the meeting in 1781). In the fall of 1782, Brother DaCosta returned to Charleston where he was joined by Brother Spitzer in 1783. In February, 1783, Brother DaCosta established a Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston, working the fourth through fourteenth Degrees, unfortunately, he did not live long enough to see the Lodge prosper, as he died in November of the same year. After Brother DaCosta's death, Brother Hayes elevated Brother Joseph M. Myers to the position of D.I.G. for South Carolina.Brother Myers served as Grand Secretary protem at the
1781 meeting. In 1784, shortly after Brother Myers was made D.I.G., Brother Spitzer left Charleston and was said to have returned to Jamaica. This is doubtful, because he was too active in the States to be living in Jamaica. One of the members in attendance at the 1781 Meeting was Brother Moses Cohen, a broker and shopkeeper in Philadelphia. Brother Cohen was a knight of the Sun. In 1784, Brother Spitzer commissioned him a D.I.G. for Jamaica. In the same year, a meeting of Grand Inspector Generals was called to meet in Sublime Council in Philadelphia. Brother Spitzer accompanied by Brother Cohen attended the session. In 1788, Brother Myers, D.I.G. for South Carolina, established in Charleston a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, working the fifteenth and sixteenth Degrees. The first meeting was held on February 10, 1788. Brother Spitzer, D.I.G. for Georgia, and Brother Abraham Forst, D.I.G. for Virginia, were present to assist with the opening and the installation of officers. This was the first and only Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem as a distinct and separate Body to be opened in North America before 1801.Abraham Jacobs was born in New York City in 1757.
His father was a merchant in that city. Later in life, Brother Jacobs moved to Charleston where, in 1787, he became Master of King Solomon Lodge. During the year that he was Master, he received the Degrees in the Sublime Lodge of Perfection up to the Royal Arch (the Thirteenth Degree).About 1790, he made a trip to Kingston, Jamaica, where he met Brother Moses Cohen, D.I.G. for Jamaica, who had moved to Kingston sometime previously. Brother Jacobs, in the year 1790, was made a Knight of the Sun in a Consistory presided over by Brother Cohen. Shortly after this, Brother Jacobs left for Savannah, Georgia, with a certificate giving him authority to promote the interest of the Rite of Perfection in Georgia. This certificate did not give him the authority to form Lodges, but only to confer the Degrees from the Fourth through the Fourteenth.
After a shipwreck, he landed in Savannah in 1790, where his only source of income was teaching at a Hebrew School for children, and performing ritualistic work*at so much a head, Later he became a storekeeper on the river front, selling clothes and sailor outfits. Shortly after Brother Jacobs arrived in Savannah, Brother Zimmerman of Augusta, Georgia, wrote him requesting that he confer the Sublime Degrees on sixteen members of a Lodge in Augusta, which was operating under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. For some reason, the Brothers in Augusta felt that some members of their Lodge were disagreeable to them, and wanted to form a Sublime Lodge of Perfection where they could meet in peace but, at the same time, did not want to be connected with the Lodge of Perfection in Charleston, Brother Abraham Jacobs arrived in Augusta June 9, 1792 where, after satisfying the Brothers of his authority to confer the Degrees, they agreed to pay all his expenses and fees. The next night, he began conferring the Degrees upon sixteen Brothers. After he completed the work on July 3, he returned to Savannah. On April 20, 1796, he conferred the Degrees on Brother John Clark, Worshipful Master of Solomon's Lodge in Savannah. In November of the same year, he was invited by fourteen Brethren of Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia to confer the Sublime Degrees at that place. Arriving there on November 23, he immediately proceeded with the work, completed it on December 26, and returned to Savannah after receiving his fee. One of the candidates in Washington, upon who he conferred the Degrees, was Brother William Stythe (Stith), Deputy Grand Master of Georgia.
On December 28, 1796, Lodge No. 5 of Savannah conducted a festival and procession. The Brothers from Washington, Georgia, asked for and received permission to participate. They marched as Sublime Masons with the insignia of the 9th degree. (This is the first known celebration of Sublime Masons in Georgia.) In 1797, upon request, Brother Jacobs returned to Washington, and conferred the Degrees up to the Prince of Jerusalem.
One Masonic writer says that during the 1790 - 1796 period when Jacobs was active in Savannah, Abraham Forst was D.I.G. in Georgia. We have found no proof. Forst was the D.I.G. for Virginia, and Spitzer did not die until 1796.
In 1783, shortly after Brother Spitzer returned to Charleston, Colonel John Mitchell, a friend of his, moved to Charleston. Brother Mitchell was born in Ireland about 1741, and early in life migrated to the West Indies. (From later developments, it appears that he most likely was a friend of Brother Spitzer in the Islands, and received a few of the Sublime degrees about the time Brothers Spitzer and Francken received theirs.) Brother Mitchell left the Islands around 1767, and lived for a time in Baltimore. He later joined his brother, who was a merchant in Philadelphia.
During the war, he was Deputy Quartermaster in the Continental Army. Some historians say he received some of his degrees in the Lodge of Perfection in Philadelphia in 1782, but there are no records of his attending any of the meetings. (There is a probability that he met Brother Spitzer in Philadelphia, and that Spitzer communi6ated some additional degrees to Brother Mitchell.) Shortly after Brother Mitchell moved to Charleston he became a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina, and the records show that he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.
Indications are that Brothers Spitzer and Mitchell in the early 1790's had given some thought to forming a governing body for the Rite of Perfection in the States. This was probably brought about by the fact that the Rite in America was poorly organized, and the adaptation of the Grand Constitution of 1786 in European Masonry.
Frederick the Great, as King of Prussia, was the sole and absolute head of Masonry in his country. Using this power, after consulting with other Masonic leaders of Europe, he promulgated the Grand Constitution of May 1, 1786. This document set forth a frame work of general principals of government and organization (rather than the details of administration), which later became the prime source of our Scottish Rite Laws.
With the departure in 1795 of Brother Myers, D.I.G. South Carolina, Brother Spitzer, to make sure Brother Mitchell became head of the Rite of Perfection in South Carolina, issued a patent to Brother Mitchell, designating him Deputy Inspector General of South Carolina. It was with the understanding that this would not become effective until after the death of Brother Spitzer, which occurred in 1796.
Another item that points to Brother Spitzer's part in the forming of the future Supreme Council, was an item that appeared in a balustre under the date of June 21, 1828 (27 years after the event.) This item was written by Brother Doctor Holbrook, who stated that, "The copy of the 33rd Degree used by our late M. Ill. and P. Brother Mitchell while he presided over the Supreme Council was supposed to be the very copy used by Brother Barend M. Spitzer, at the establishment of the Supreme Council on May 31, 1801. Since Brother Spitzer died in 1796, this was probably a typographical error, and should have read "prepared by", instead of "used."
On January 11, 1795, Brother Moses Cohen, in Jamaica, gave a patent to Hymann Isaac Long making him a Deputy Inspector General of Jamaica. Two years later, on January 13, 1797, Brother Long was in Charleston to assist in the opening of a Sublime Grand Council of the Princes of the Royal Secret, probably organized by Jeane Baptist Marie de la Hogue, and others, under the authority given them by Brother Long, D.I.G. for Jamaica, acting for the Princes of Masonry, of Kingston. This was approved on August 10, 1797 by the Grand Council of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, at Kingston Jamaica, and was the first Consistory. (Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, twenty-fifth degree) organized in this country.
Brother Mitchell, having at a now unknown time received the Thirty-third Degree and a copy of the Grand Constitution of 1786 decided to act. We find him six days before May 31, 1801, giving the necessary qualifications to Brother Frederick Dalcho, preparing him for the first meeting of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Thirty-third Degree, for the United States of America. This was the first known body in America to operate under the Grand Constitution of 1786.
Brother Dalcho was born in England, and educated in medicine at Baltimore. He received his symbolic degrees in Savannah, Georgia, in 1792, probably in Hiram or Union Lodge. His patent for the Sublime Degrees was issued under the date of 1801, but did not specify the day or month, however, his patent as Inspector General was dated May 24, 1801. He was to be the first Lieutenant Grand Commander in the new Supreme Council. The first meeting of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for the United States of America was open with High Honors on May 31, 1801, by Illustrious John Mitchell, 330 and Illustrious Brother Frederick Dalcho, 330 but the Grand Constitution of 1786 required three members to be present. Brother Albert Pike was of the opinion that on May, 31 1801, Count Alexander Francois Auguste de Grasse-Tilly and Jean Baptiste were present, but not put on roll because they intended to establish a Supreme Council in Santo Domingo. On July 5, 1801, three more Thirty-thirds were Crowned and added to the list of active members. A circular issued by the Supreme Council in 1802 contained a list of the active Thirty-third Degree members of the Supreme Council. The old Rite of Perfection consisted of twenty-five degrees, but the new Scottish Rite added eight degrees, bringing the total to thirty-three degrees.
The degrees of the Lodge of Perfection, Fourth through the Fourteenth, remained the same. The Twenty-third Degree of the old series, "The Knight of the Sun" or "Prince Adept'' was made the Twenty-Eight Degree. The Twenty-fourth Degree, 'Kadosh" of the old series, was made the Thirtieth Degree, and the Twenty-fifth Degree, "The Prince of the Royal Secret", was made the Thirty-second Degree. All the supplementary degrees were selected from the existing material, with the exception of the Thirty-third and Last Degree (the origin of which has not been determined), this degree to be composed of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and Last Degree of Legitimate Freemasonry. (Clegg's Mackey's History of Freemasonry same in number corresponding to the Thirty-three years Christ was on earth.)
A short time prior to 1801, Brother Jacobs became very active in Savannah, In December of that year, he began conferring degrees on a new set of candidates. The number, up to July 29, 1802, was twelve. Brother Jacobs in his ledger states that he made a total of forty-five, but there were probably more.
With the new activity in Charleston, Brother Jacobs became anxious to organize a Lodge of Perfection in Savannah, Georgia. He sent out a notice to the Brethren in Savannah stating that on Sunday, November 1, 1801, there would be a meeting in his home to discuss the matter. Six of the Brethren attended. They were:
Brothers: Abraham Jacobs, Knight of the Sun
William Moore, Grand Elect Mason
Isaac Franks, Grand Elect Mason
Ebenezer Prescot, Intendant of the Building
James Simpson, Intimate Secretary
Jacob Cunes, Perfect Master
John Kachler, Secret Master
Brother Franks and Kachler had some doubts about the status of the Rite of Perfection and Brother Jacobs' power to form a Lodge. They reported to the Brethren assembled, that Illustrious Brother Emanuel De LaMotta, K-H, P. R. S., a member of the new Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree, was in town (Brother De LaMotta was made an active member of July 5, 1801,) and proposed that a committee of their own members be appointed to wait on Brother De LaMotta and invite him to meet with them. This was agreed upon. After the committee performed this duty, they reported that on account of his indisposition, Brother De LaMotta could not attend that evening, but would do so as soon as his health permitted.
On Monday, November 9, 1801, at a meeting in the house of Brother Jacobs, Brother De LaMotta made his appearance, and accepted the invitation to occupy the chair and assist in the ceremony of elevating Brother Kachler to the grade of Intendant of the Building. The assembled Brethren then made known their wish to put themselves under the protection of the Grand Council of the Princes of Jerusalem in Charleston. They stated that they wanted to apply for a warrant and constitution to establish a Lodge of Perfection in Savannah, and requested that Brother De LaMotta assist them in obtaining this wish. Brother De LaMotta informed them that it would be necessary that at least nine Brethren be brought to the Degree of Grand Elect Mason before such an application could be made. He told them he would be glad to extend his stay in Savannah for a few days in order to assist them in conferring the necessary Degrees. This he did, meeting with the Brethren on November 12th and 15th, occupying the chair he assisted with the necessary work to elevate the required number of Brethren to the grade of Grand Elect Mason.
One year later, on November 21, 1802, the Brethren made formal application to the Council of Prince Jerusalem of the A.A.S.R. in Charleston for a warrant and Constitution to establish a Lodge of Perfection. This warrant was issued under date of December 4, 1802. On December 30, 1802, Brother Alexander Placid P. R. S., special representative of the Council of Princes Jerusalem, presented the warrant to the Savannah Brethren and constituted the Lodge of Perfection. At the installation of the new officers, by Brother Placid, Brother Jacobs was installed as the Sublime Grand Master. He had at last become a member of the new Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the first Master of a Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection in Georgia.
The first Grand Constitution declared that the Princes of Jerusalem Sixteenth Degree were the governing body of all degrees from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Degree. Under the second Grand Constitution, the Supreme Council refrained from exercising direct control over the degrees below the Seventeenth Degree. Accordingly, the Brethren at Savannah applied to this body for their Charter. In the Supreme Council's transactions of 1868, Brother Pike said,
"Under the system established by us, the Council of Princes of Jerusalem are not invested with their ancient power of supervision and control of the Lodge of Perfection."
It is not clear when this change took place.
From 1801 until 1860 the Supreme Council was made up of nine active members, all of whom were residents of South Carolina. There are no records of any transactions of the Supreme Council during this period. What minute books there may have been were either lost or destroyed along with papers, pamphlets and books of the Secretary General during the Civil War.
The only known minutes of any session during this period were those of a called session held in New Orleans in the year 1851. Brother Pike later said that no regular record books of transactions were kept until the meeting in 1866. In Georgia, there were probably no records of what transpired in the way of membership, or number of Lodges in the State. Therefore, what work was performed in the Savannah Lodge of Perfection charted in 1802, or how long it operated, is unknown. The next we hear of this body was on July 3, 1866. Illustrious Brother William S. Rockwell, 33° S.G.I.G., reported that he had revived a Lodge of Perfection in Savannah whose original charter was issued in 1802. During this period, there lived in Savannah a Brother, Doctor Jacob De LaMotta, a member of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and a son of Brother Emanuel De LaMotta, 330 one of the first to be elected an active member of the Supreme Council. Brother Jacob De LaMotta had been an army surgeon. After leaving the army, he located in Savannah where in 1820 he was elected Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. In 1823, he moved from Savannah to Charleston, and in the same year became the Seventeenth active member of the Supreme Council.
In the early 1820's, it became apparent that if the Rite was to propagate in the Southern Jurisdiction, some method had to be employed that would be more fruitful than that used by the nine active members in South Carolina. The decision was reached to set up not more than one Body in each state, to be known as a Grand Consistory. These were to operate similar to the Supreme Council, with the power of a deputy of the Supreme Council. The Grand Consistory were to confer the Thirty-first and Thirty- second Degrees in their respective States, similar to the way the Supreme Council conferred the Thirty-third Degree.
These Consistories were to have full governing power of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the State in which they were organized, and from these Consistories, after their organization and installation, all charters for bodies of Degrees below the Thirty-first would emanate, and all patents, briefs and diplomas for the Degrees from the Fourth through the Thirtieth inclusive would originate. The Grand Consistory was made up of a Grand Commander in Chief, and not less than nine, or more than twenty-two active members. The active members were to be selected by seniority from the membership of the Consistory. All Thirty-thirds, I.G.H., were active members of the Grand Consistory.
In addition to the Thirty-three Scottish Rite Degrees, there were several detached degrees that were communicated by the Inspectors. One of these degrees was the Cryptic Degrees of Royal Master and Select Master. Dr. B. D. Thompson, David Clark and seven companions of Augusta, Georgia, petitioned the Supreme Council at Charleston, South Carolina, for a charter to form a Council of Royal and Select Masters at Augusta, Georgia, on October 10, 1822. The Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Brother Isaac Auld, 330, granted the dispensation for the formation of Adoniram Council No. I at Augusta, Georgia; the first in Georgia, and probably the first since the formation of the Supreme Council. In the year 1826, Illustrious Brother Isaac Da Costa, 330, a member of the Supreme Council, arrived in Augusta, where on January 24, 1826, he organized a Grand Consistory, charted by the Supreme Council, under letter of patent signed on October 26, 1824, by Illustrious Brother Moses Holbrook, 330, Sovereign Grand Commander pro tem of the Supreme Council.
During the years 1826 and 1827, The Daily Georgia of Savannah carried a Masonic Calendar, listing a meeting date for a chapter of Rose Croix, chartered by the Grand Consistory at Augusta. There also appeared the dates for Georgia Chapter No. 2 and Georgia Council No. 2, the latter probably working under a warrant of the Supreme Council. In 1840, W. Tulman and ten other companions of Adoniram Council No. I certified that the original dispensation issued in 1822 had been destroyed or lost, and petitioned that a new charter be granted. Sovereign Grand Commander Moses Holbrook authorized this under date of April 23, 1840.
There lived in Georgia a very prominent Mason, Brother William S. Rockwell, member of Benevolent Lodge No. 3, of Milledgeville. Brother Rockwell did some newspaper work, practiced law, and later became Judge of a Minor Court, but most of his time was spent on his two great loves; the Georgia Militia and Masonry. (Brother Rockwell was also the author of "Ahiman Rezon" in 1857.)
Brother Rockwell was a son of Col. Samuel Rockwell, Worshipful Master of Benevolent Lodge No. 3 of Milledgeville, Georgia. Brother Sam Rockwell's prominence led to his selection in 1825 as a member of a Masonic Committee to welcome General Lafayette on his visit to Georgia.
Sovereign Grand Commander Honour, in 1847, adopted a policy of bringing into the Supreme Council able Brethren from other parts of the Southern Jurisdiction. Brother Rockwell, a member of the Grand Consistory of Augusta, and a member of the Lodge of Perfection of Savannah, was selected to be the first active member in the Southern Jurisdiction who was not a resident of South Carolina. He was elected the thirty-first member of the Supreme Council and S.G.I.G. of Georgia. This made him an ex-officio member of the Grand Consistory of Augusta, with veto power over its actions. In 1856, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia and served until 1862. In 1857 he moved from Milledgeville, Ga., to Savannah, Ga. The thirty-sixth active member of the Supreme Council was Illustrious Brother Albert Pike, 330, who was elected in March, 1858, and was elevated to the office of Sovereign Grand Commander about January 2, 1859.
On March 25, 1859, the Supreme Council decided it was time to increase the members of the Council and voted to allow Georgia to have two active members. During this period, Brother Pike became acquainted with three men in Georgia whom he greatly admired. Two of these friends were distinguished Masons, and Brother Pike probably felt that their prominence would help the Rite in Georgia. One of the two, Brother William Tracy could, was a member of Social Lodge No. I of Augusta. Brother Gould received his Scottish Rite Degrees from Brother Rockwell. Unfortunately, no records have been found of the date. The second, Brother Howell Cobb, a resident of Athens, Georgia, became a member of Mount Vernon Lodge No. 22 in 1840, and later became Master of this Lodge. Brother Cobb was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and served that body as speaker in 1850 and 1851. In 1851, he was elected Governor of Georgia. The third of this trio was Robert Toombs, who was not a Mason, and had no desire to become one. In fact, he spent part of his time trying to convince Brother Pike that if he spent more time on politics, he would serve his country better than he could in Masonry. Brother Pike tried to convince Toombs that in building Masonry, more good could be accomplished for the country by instilling good will in men. Toombs practiced law in Georgia, and served four terms in the Georgia Legislature. In 1842, he was elected to the National House of Representatives where he served four years with distinction. Later he became Secretary of State in the Confederacy from which he resigned to become a General in the Confederate Army.
Brother Pike, anxious to get the Rite underway in Georgia, felt that Brother Cobb's apparent dedication to Masonry, and his wide acquaintance in the State would add prestige to the movement, and nominated him as the fifty-third active member of the Supreme Council on March 31, 1860. Brother Rockwell was authorized to communicate the Degrees to him.
Illustrious Brother Howell Cobb, 33°, attended one session of the Supreme Council, which was held in New Orleans in 1861. Shortly after he became inactive and returned to politics. Brother Pike said that he never heard from him after the second year of the war. During the war, there is little evidence of any activities in the Rite, except that of Brother Pike, which was quite limited. However, his effort did seem to preserve the spark of life in the Rite.
After the adjournment of the 1861 session, Brother Pike accepted a commission in the Confederate Army, and served until 1862 when he was relieved of his duties. He spent the rest of the war working on the revisions of the rituals.
The next we hear of the Scottish Rite was after the war, when Brother Pike called a meeting of the Council for November 15, 1865. Brother Rockwell was one of the few to attend. Due to poor attendance, the meeting was adjourned until 1866. Before the adjournment, Brother Rockwell reported that he had conferred the Degrees from the Fourth to the Thirty-second on seven candidates in Savannah; that in Augusta, he conferred the Degrees, Eighteenth through Thirty-second, on one candidate; the Eighth through the Thirty-second on another; and that he also had six candidates for the Fourth through the Thirty-second. The fees for this work he turned into the Supreme Council, along with sixty dollars he received in Savannah from a Brother to charter a Consistory.
On December 13, 1865, a letter was received from Brother Austin, 33°, of Fort Valley, Georgia, complaining that the Brethren of that City had paid a Brother G. M. Hillyer, 330, S.G.I.G. in Mississippi, a sum of money for a Charter, and rituals to organize a Lodge of Perfection in Fort Valley. He said they had never received the Charter or material, and Brother Hillyer would not answer their correspondence. The matter was cleared up and a Charter, dated April 2, 1866, was issued and sent to Fort Valley. But, the Lodge never got underway. At their first meeting, they disagreed, and the Body ceased to function.
In 1866, Brother Rockwell communicated the Degrees, Fourth through the Thirty-second, to Dr. Richard Joseph Nunn, a prominent physician in Savannah. Brother Nunn was a member of Zerubbabel Lodge No. 15 in Savannah, and was elected Master of the Lodge in 1867. In the same year, he became a member of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. At the April 16, 1866 session of the Supreme Council, Brother Rockwell was elevated to the Post of Lieutenant Grand Commander. On July 3, of that year, he revived the original Charter of 1802 for the Lodge of Perfection of Savannah. Later, in that year, he revived the Charter granted to the Grand Consistory in 1824. Brother B. D. Russell, 320, was named Commander in Chief of the Grand Consistory, and lost no time in putting into operation Enoch No. 1 Lodge of Perfection in Augusta. On November 17, 1866, Brother Nunn was made a 33rd Degree Honorary. Shortly after, Brother Rockwell appointed him his Deputy.
At the 1868 session, Brother Nunn was made a Deputy of the Supreme Council, and Brother Rockwell was moved to Maryland, where he lived until his death in 1870. After Brother Rockwell's departure, Brother Pike, dissatisfied that he had no reports from the Grand Consistory, and believing it to be dormant, ordered it's removal. At the same time, he ordered local Consistories to be started at Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, Macon and Atlanta. Brother Pike, at the 1868 session, reported that the following Charters had been granted; one to Benzabee Consistory No. 2 at Savannah, dated November 17, 1867, and one to Melchisedek Consistory No. 3 at Columbus, Georgia, dated July 9, 1866. Brother John King, 320, was named the Commander-in-Chief. The report also stated that Bezaloel No. 4 at Macon had been put in operation, but no date was given for the Charter. Brother A. L. Maxwell, 320, was Commander-in-Chief. A Charter, dated March 4, 1868, was granted to Atlanta Consistory No. 5. Thomas L. Chandler, 320, was named Commander-in-Chief. At the same time, Brother Pike reported that a Charter, dated July 3, 1866, was granted to the White Eagle Chapter of the Rose Croix at Atlanta. During the 1868 session, Brother Pike furnished Brother Nunn with all available material to do a good job in Georgia, but after Brother Nunn's return home, he made no report of any progress.
Early in 1869, rumors were reaching Pike of trouble brewing in Georgia. What Pike thought was a local Consistory at Augusta, was actually operating as a Grand Consistory, thus interfering with the local Consistories in the State. Brother Pike, unable to get reports from Brother Nunn, decided to visit Augusta. Arriving there in 1869, he found that Brother Nunn had failed to meet him. Brother Pike then made arrangements to visit the Lodge of Perfection. Much to his surprise, he found that the officers were thoroughly instructed, and that they were zealous, enthusiastic, and proficient in their work. He later reported that he had never seen a Lodge of Perfection work so admirably with so much regularity and order.
While at work in the Lodge, Brother Pike received word that Robert Toombs was in town, and wanted to see him. Brother Pike could not get away until ten P.M., and arriving at Toombs' hotel found him ready for bed. Brother Toombs told Brother Pike that he had good news. Lafayette No. 23 in Washington, Georgia, had made him a Master Mason and insisted Brother Pike go home with him for a few days. This Brother Pike was unable to do, but promised to see him on his next trip to Georgia.
Upon Brother Pike's arrival home, he directed Brother Nunn to proceed, together with the other Thirty-thirds in the State (all of whom were automatically members of the Grand Consistory) to establish a Grand Consistory at Augusta. Because of his previous order, he felt that the one at Augusta was local. Brother Nunn paid no attention to Brother Pike's orders. In fact, Brother Pike did not hear from him until March, 1870, nearly a year later. Brother Pike resented this, and felt that Brother Nunn lacked dedication and ability, a view he seemed to hold for many years, but Brother Nunn was a dedicated and able Mason.
After his appointment as Deputy, Brother Nunn became pessimistic and frustrated with the future of the Rite because of the difficulties that confronted him. During the war, Masonic Bodies had practically ceased their labors in Georgia, while all attention was given to the prosecution of the war. The state was now in a reconstruction period. The collapse of the Confederacy had made its currency and securities worthless. This and other losses produced a desperate economic situation, both public and private. There was no surplus capital in the area. Coupled with this, Brother Nunn inherited four Consistories with no sub- ordinate bodies to supply them with new material. In addition, he had been ordered to establish a Grand Consistory which he thought was contrary to the laws of the Rite.
In 1870, the Supreme Council met from May 2nd through the 7th. The report stated that Augusta had thirty-five members and at the same meeting a motion was made to create a Court of Honour to be composed of Knights Commander of the Court of Honour and Grand Crosses of Honour. The matter was held over to be voted on at the next session. Brother Pike was anxious to have this matter passed at once, so after the adjournment he took a vote by mail and announced on June 8, 1870 that the motion had passed and had been adopted.
On the second day of the session, Brother William Tracy Gould, who had been made a 330 I.G.H. on April 18, 1866, was elected the seventy-third active member, but due to his advanced age, was immediately transferred to the emeritus list. Immediately after this transaction, the name of William Letcher Mitchell, 33° I.G.H., was presented and he was elected the seventy-fourth active member and crowned the same day as S.G.I.G. for Georgia. Brother Mitchell was a member of Mount Vernon Lodge No. 22 of Athens, Georgia, but there is no record of when or where he received his Scottish Rite Degrees, but he had been coroneted 33° I.G.H. on April 3, 1861. Brother Mitchell was a prominent citizen of Georgia, well-known for his work as an educator, lawyer, and for the great service he had rendered the state in the field of engineering and construction work. At the same session, Brother Nunn made his report and complained of the lack of activities in Savannah, saying that there were only eighteen members of the 32° and one of the 26°. He called attention to the report of Brother Rockwell in 1865, showing no activity and no dues paid in Savannah.
Brother Pike, in his report, called attention to the irregularities in the state of Georgia since Brother Rockwell's death, and said that in Brother Mitchell he now had a S. G. I. G. who would correct these troubles. Brother Mitchell returned from the session prepared to correct the mix-up in Augusta. On November 1, 1870, he and a Brother T. H. Nelson, 33° I. G. H., issued a notice advising all 33° I. G. H.s and 32° Masons that a meeting would be held in Augusta, November 18th and 19th, to form a Grand Consistory. At this meeting, Brother Charles C. Goodrich, 32°, was elected Commander-in-Chief. Around May, 1871, Brother Pike visited Charleston, South Carolina, then proceeded to Georgia. (It is not known whether he visited Augusta or Savannah.) While in Georgia, he was a guest of Brother Toombs in Washington, Georgia. He communicated the Degrees from the Fourth to the Thirty-second to Brother Toombs. During 1871, Brother Charles G. Goodrich, 320, the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Consistory, reported that he was endeavoring to organize Lodges of Perfection at Albany, Fort Valley, Atlanta, and Macon, and that he had organized one in Milledgeville, Georgia. During the same year, Brother Mitchell reported to Brother Pike that Lodges could be established at Atlanta and Rome. His Deputy, Brother R. M. Smith, 330 I. G. H., reported that two more would be formed in 1872, but did not give the location.
About this time, Brother Pike wrote to Brother Mitchell that he was seeking a loan to pay his printer so that he could proceed with the printing of Morals and Dogma. Brother Mitchell was not in a position to advance the money, but advised Brother Pike that he was sure that Brother Toombs would do so. Shortly after Brother Toombs wrote Brother Pike that he would gladly let him have three thousand dollars; sometime before March, 1872, he sent Brother Pike two checks for one thousand dollars each.
Brother Mitchell granted a letter of Constitution for the establishment of Hermes Lodge of Perfection in Atlanta, and on the evening of November 9, 1871 with the letter as their authority, a number of the Brethren assembled in the Asylum of Couer de Lion Commandery and elected officers. They again met on November 10th, and voted to forward the letter of Constitution issued by Brother Mitchell to the Grand Consistory of Augusta, praying that the Grand Consistory would issue them a Charter. The original of the present Charter of the Lodge of Perfection in Atlanta was received at the next meeting of the Lodge and was dated June 10, 1872.
At the 1872 session, the first group of Knights Commander Court of Honor designates were elected on May 6th. Brother Robert Toombs was a member of this first group, after which he was elected a 330 I. G. H., and on May 8th, he was elected the seventy-sixth active member of the Council, but was not Crowned until May 7, 1874.
On November 29, 1872, Hermes Lodge of Perfection lost their meeting place and ceased to function. During the 1874 session, Brother Mitchell reported that a Lodge of Perfection had been formed at Albany, but there does not seem to be any evidence that the Lodge was chartered with Letter Perpetual. Brother Mitchell also reported that the Savannah and Columbus Bodies had become dormant.
Brother Pike reported at the 1876 session that he had discouraged the Grand Master of Georgia from adopting the Pike rituals for the Symbolic Degrees in Georgia. At the same session Brother Nunn received the Grand Cross of Honour. There was also a considerable amount of discussion about revoking the Charter of the Grand Consistory at Augusta, and Brother Pike was authorized to do so.
In 1877, Mitchell reported that the Bodies in Albany and Atlanta were dead. During the 1880 session, Brother Toombs, because of ill health, asked that his name be removed from the active list, and be transferred to the emeritus list. Brother Mitchell had worked hard but could not breathe new life in the Grand Consistory, and because of this situation in Augusta, all work in Georgia was at a standstill. Brother Pike, on June 23, 1882, suspended all work of the Grand Consistory, but before taking action he decided to visit Georgia and endeavor to breathe new life into the Order.
On April 23rd to the 28th, 1882, Brother Pike accompanied by Ill. Bro. William M. Ireland, 33° was in Albany where he established Emeth Lodge of Perfection. From April 30th until May 3rd, he worked in Macon. On May 3rd, he established Zerbal Lodge of Perfection. (There is a tradition in Macon that Brother Pike walked from Savannah to Macon for the meeting, but this is probably untrue since he was in Albany two days before he arrived in Macon and went to Savannah later on this trip.) Leaving Macon, he proceeded to Atlanta where he remained from the 16th to the 29th. On May 29th, Brother Pike called a meeting of Hermes Lodge of Perfection, acting as Secretary of the meeting. During this meeting, he communicated the Degrees from the Fourth through the Fourteenth to a sufficient number of the Brothers to allow the Lodge to be revived and reestablished with continuity from its former being. One of the Brethren receiving the degrees was Charles L. Wilson, who later in 1884 became the Venerable Master. Leaving Atlanta, Brother Pike proceeded to Savannah, where he remained from June 1st to the 12th, at which time he established Alpha Lodge of Perfection.* The Venerable Master of this lodge was William S. Rockwell, son of the first S. G. I. G. in Georgia.
The Supreme Council meeting of 1882 began in October. In attendance was Brother Mitchell, who was getting old and feeble. On the last day, October 20th, he bade Brother Pike goodbye, but not before making arrangements for Brother Pike to visit Athens later in the year and spend a week at Brother Mitchell's house. But, Mitchell was seriously ill after his return, he died on October 31st. However, Brother Pike made the trip to Augusta as planned, and on October 13, 1882, he issued an edict which provided that the original Consistory was to continue as a local Consistory and would be known as Augusta Consistory No. 1; Letters of Constitution were temporarily issued to form St. Armand Preceptory, Knights Kadosh; Augusta Chapter No. 1 Rose Croix was reestablished to activity; and Enoch Lodge of Perfection was restored. With this authority, the various Bodies met on November 15th, and elected officers to serve until the next regular election. In order to have better control over the Bodies in Augusta, Brother Pike, before leaving, commissioned Brother Frank J. Moses, 330 Deputy of the Supreme Council to serve in Banks County in the Eighth Congressional District.
On November 14th, Brother Pike visited Athens to pay his respects to Brother Mitchell's family and pick up the property belonging to the Supreme Council. Brother Pike next stopped in Atlanta on November 18, 1882, where he communicated the Rose Croix Degrees to one candidate and those from the Fifteenth to the Thirty-second Degree to Brother Charles L. Wilson.
* The records of the Supreme Council list it as Alpha
#1 Lodge of Perfection, the minutes at Savannah show
the Lodge to be Epilson #5.
At this time, a new method of operation was tried in
Georgia. Instead of appointing a Deputy for the State, the State was divided into Districts; each District headed by a Deputy of the Supreme Council. Brother Mitchell had several personal Deputies serving him in the State. Under this new arrangement, they were to be Deputies of the Supreme Council.Accordingly, on February 5, 1883, commissions were sent to Brother R. J. Nunn of the Savannah District, Brother T. W. Chandler, Atlanta District, J. E. Blackshear of Macon District, A. M. Wolihin, Albany District, and F. J. Moses of the Augusta District. This new venture probably did not work as yell as anticipated by Brother Pike, and he became anxious to find a man in Georgia who had the qualifications to make a strong Inspector General, one who could unite the Rite in the State into a strong, well run organization. The right man was hard to find, and he still had no confidence in Brother Nunn.
While in Atlanta, Brother Pike had met a Brother, who seemed to be dedicated to the Rite and had the personality to make a good Inspector General. Early in 1884, he wrote Brother Chandler, 330 Deputy in Atlanta, for his recommendation. But Brother Chandler was not on the best of terms with the Brother in question. Probably having some ambitions of his own, he replied that the only man with the necessary qualifications was Brother Charles L. Wilson, the Venerable Master of Hermes Lodge, but that he could not recommend Brother Wilson because in his opinion, he was not eligible, since he was not a K. C. C. H., and he knew Brother Pike's attitude toward making a Thirty-third who was not a K. C. C. H.
At the 1884 session, a report from Brother Wolihin said that sickness and money famine had prevented him from working. Brother Chandler's report was also bad because he stated sickness had prevented him from making any progress. At the session held on October 23, 1884, Brother Pike, for reasons not known, proposed Brother Charles L. Wilson for K. C. C. H. Immediately after the election, he nominated him 33° I. G. H. After the vote, he proposed him for the one hundred-fifth active member of the Supreme Council. Brother Wilson was not in attendance at the session and the records do not show that he was ever Crowned, but he did continue as Venerable Master of Hermes Lodge until 1887 when he moved from Atlanta to Indianapolis, Indiana. Brother Pike visited Macon on December 19, 1884, but there is no record of his activity.
At the 1888 session on October 16th, Brother Pike reported that interest in the Rite was growing in Georgia. At this session, Brother Nunn, who had served as Deputy to the Supreme Council and personal Deputy under various S. G. I. G.s from 1868 until 1888, was, at last, nominated and elected the one hundred-thirteenth member of the Council, and made S. G. I. G. in Georgia. He immediately commissioned Brother Chandler, his Deputy in Atlanta. At this session it was also recommended to issue Letters Perpetual of Constitution to Temple Chapter Rose Croix and Epsilon Lodge of Perfection No. 5, Savannah. Both Charters were dated October 17, 1888. The Supreme Council, on October 23, 1890, voted to revive the Permanent Letters of Benzabee Consistory No. 1 Savannah. It was also recommended that Permanent Letters be given to Gethsemane Council of Kadosh in the same city. At the same meeting, Permanent Letters were issued to White Eagle Chapter Rose Croix, Atlanta.
On May 6, 1891, Brother Chandler died and Brother Nunn appointed Brother John R. Wilkerson, 33° I. G. H., as his new Deputy for Atlanta. Brother Nunn reported in 1895 that Savannah, Atlanta, and Macon were working, and he had been promised that Albany and Columbus would soon be in operation. The report of 1897 was the same, except Brother Nunn said that Zerbal in Macon was languishing.
At the 1899 session, the Sovereign Grand Commander Brother Thomas H. Caswell, 33° reported he had visited Atlanta and found a flourishing Lodge and Chapter, with membership of fifty-four, and thirty-nine respectively. He also reported that Brother Nunn was much inspired by the mental and healthy tone.
In 1904, due to the efforts of a Supreme Council Committee of which Brother Nunn was a member, the Supreme Council issued the first issue of The New Age Magazine. On September 23, 1905, Brother John R. Wilkerson, 33° Deputy to Brother Nunn and Brother Joseph C. Greenfield, 320, both members of Gethsemane Council of Kadosh. Benzabee Consistory of Savannah, called a dinner meeting (of eleven members of the Council living in Atlanta) at the home of Brother Wilkerson. After dinner, by special authority granted by Benzabee Consistory, the 31st and 32nd degrees were communicated to the eleven. In 1905, Brother Nunn reported to the Supreme Council that Georgia made a gain of seventy-three members, and that there was one Lodge in the state that would not allow a member to participate in the work unless he was properly clothed as prescribed by the ritual.
Sovereign Grand Commander Richardson, accompanied by Brother Nunn, visited Herme Lodge of Perfection in Atlanta on December 12, 1906, and commented that he had never traveled so far to attend a Lodge meeting. Brother Richardson was back in Georgia on April 16, 1907. Upon arrival in Savannah, he immediately rushed to the Temple where he found Brother Nunn conducting a Reunion. In his report of that year, he said that from what he had witnessed in Savannah and Atlanta, the South was recovering.
Brother Nunn (who at that time was temporarily in charge of South Carolina) reported that South Carolina had been dormant for many years, but that there was strong evidence of a revival of the Rite in that state. At the above session, Brother Joseph Greenfield, of Atlanta, and Brother Hyman Wallace Witcover of Savannah were coronated 330 I. G. H. There was also a recommendation that a permanent Charter be issued to Binah Council of Kadosh No. 2, Atlanta, the Charter, dated October 23, 1907, had been applied for in 1906, but was not received in Atlanta until June 26, 1908.
During the year 1908, the Savannah Bodies received permission to install a collection of books in the Supreme Council Library, which was to be known as the Nunn collection. This was completed in 1917, at which time it was dedicated as a memorial to Brother Nunn. On the 11th of April, 1909, the eleven Brethren who had met at Brother Wilkerson's home in 1905, gathered with a few other Brethren from Binah Council and petitioned the Supreme Council for permission to install a Consistory in Atlanta, to be known as Atlanta Consistory No. 2. This Charter, dated October 20, 1909, was received by the members on October 14, 1910. Brother Nunn, who had been ill for sometime, wanted to be relieved of some of his duties. Therefore, early in 1910, he appointed Brother Hyman Wallace Witcover, 33° I G. H., his Deputy in Georgia.
Brother Witcover was an architect by profession, and headed many of the Georgia State Commissions. One of his latest works was the design and building of the Masonic Temple in Savannah. A close study of the designs in the Blue Lodge rooms of the Temple will confirm that he was not only a master architect, but a profound student of Masonry. Brother Witcover was raised in Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 231 Savannah in 1900, was elected Master of his Lodge in 1904, was made a Master of the Royal Secret in 1901, a K. C. C. H. in 1905, a 33° I. G. H. in 1907, and received the Grand Cross in 1909.
Brother Nunn, who attended his first session of the Supreme Council in 1868 and never missed a session until 1909, died at his home on June 29, 1910, and was the first Mason in the State to receive a Knight Kadosh funeral. This ceremony was held at the first stroke of the hour of midnight at St. John's Church in Savannah.
Brother Witcover was then appointed the Deputy of the Supreme Council in Georgia for the Savannah District, Brother John R. Wilkerson, for the Atlanta District, and Brother Marshall Weir for the Macon District. Early in 1911, the Sovereign Grand Commander, James D. Richardson visited Georgia to study conditions in the state and to check up on his Deputies. About this time, three counties of South Carolina were added to the Orient of Georgia. On March 13th, he visited the Lodge of Perfection, and the Council of Kadosh in Atlanta. On March 23rd, he was a guest of the Lodge of Perfection at Savannah, then conferring the Fourth to the Fourteenth Degrees in memory of Brother Nunn. The Grand Commander later reported he was pleased with the work as exemplified in Georgia. At the next Supreme Council session on October 21, 1911, Brother Witcover was Crowned the one hundred, forty-third active member and designated S. G. I. G. in Georgia.
During the year 1911, it was found that Herme Lodge of Perfection was operating under a Charter granted by the Grand Consistory of Augusta in 1872. (This body had been removed in 1882.) The Supreme Council immediately made a correction, and issued a new Charter dated back to June 10, 1872.
Atlanta newspapers, on October 3, 1912, announced that the body of Jack Morton Wilson, 32° K.C.C.H., was lying in state at Phillips Cathedral. "Services will be held by the Council of Kadosh under the auspices of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Atlanta at the stroke of the hour of midnight. Interment immediately after the services."
The first Scottish Rite Guard in the State of Georgia was organized by the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Bodies. Its first meeting was held on January 20, 1914. The Guard members were to consist of all 33°, I.G.H. and 32° K.C.C.H., together with thirty Brethren of the 32° selected from the Rite.
On March 4, 1915, The Lodge of Perfection and the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Bodies, under the leadership of Brother Forrest Adair, 33°, I.G.H., accepted a plan for the organization of a Children's Hospital to be located in Decatur, Georgia, which later became known as the Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children. Sovereign Grand Commander George F. Moore accom- panied by Brother Witcover attended a reunion and banquet in Atlanta. In his allocutions of 1915 to the Council, he was lavishing in his praise of the reception he had received in Atlanta, and the work the Rite was doing to help the crippled children in Georgia.
After Brother Moore's Atlanta visit, he proceeded to Savannah where no work was in progress, but the Brethren tendered a banquet in his honor. During the 1917 session, a permanent Charter was granted to Enoch Lodge of Perfection No. 5 in Macon. The 1919 session of the Council granted a permanent Charter to Emeth Lodge of Perfection No. 2 of Albany. At this same session, a permanent Charter was granted to Marshall A. Weir, Council of Kadosh No. 3, and Macon Consistory No. 3, both of Macon.
The 1921 session granted a permanent Charter to Delta Chapter Rose Croix of Augusta, and to the Columbus Lodge of Perfection No. 6 at Columbus. (This lodge was originally known as Mithra Lodge of Perfection.) Brother Witcover reported at the 1923 session that all Bodies in the State were working and progressing. He also made a report on the Hospital at Decatur, and nominated Dr. Michael Hoke, the surgeon in charge of the Hospital, for 33° I.G.H. At this same session, permanent Charters were voted for Cherokee Chapter Rose Croix, Albany, the Francis William Coffin Council of Kadosh at Augusta, the Augusta Consistory, the Columbus Chapter of Rose Croix, the Columbus Council of Kadosh, and the Columbus Consistory. Brother Witcover, at this same 1923 session, was honored by being elected to the office of Secretary General of the Supreme Council.
In 1931, Sovereign Grand Commander John H. Cowles made an official visit to Columbus, Albany, Macon and Atlanta. In 1935, he visited Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah; in 1937 Brother Cowles returned to Savannah. During the 1935 session, Brother Witcover resigned as Secretary General and was named Past Secretary General. Immediately after the session, he moved to Darlington, South Carolina, where he passed away on October 1, 1936.
With the retirement of Brother Witcover, the Orient of Georgia was placed under the temporary jurisdiction of Brother S. Carey Beckwith, the S.G.I.G. of South Carolina. Brother Beckwith named Brother John F. Bradley, 33°, I.G.H., his Deputy in Atlanta, and Brother Charles A. McAllister, 330, I.G.H., Deputy for Macon.
In his 1939 allocation, Brother Cowles had high praise for the Hospital- in Decatur, and the various means they had of raising funds for its operation. At the same session, on October 21st, Brother McAllister was made a Deputy of the Supreme Council to Georgia. Brother McAllister was President of Taylor Iron Works of Macon. He was raised in Mable Lodge No. 255 in Macon, and coroneted a 33°, I.G.H. in 1919. Brother John F. Bradley, the Deputy in Atlanta, died the same year Brother McAllister was made a Deputy for the Supreme Council.
The Sovereign Grand Commander, Brother John H. Cowles, made a special trip to Atlanta where on April 18, 1940 he coroneted four Brothers 33°, I.G.H., E. W. Brown of Atlanta, F. C. Shepard Jr. from Birmingham, Alabama, W. W. Smith from Charleston, South Carolina and C. S. Lehey of Savannah, Georgia. This was the first and only time the Thirty-third Degree was exemplified in Georgia.
On October 23rd, at the 1941 session, Brother McAllister was elected an active member and S.G.I.G. of Georgia. During the year 1941, Brother Cowles, accompanied by Brother McAllister, made an official visit to Macon, Savannah, Columbus and Albany. In 1945, Brother Cowles visited Atlanta and at the session of the Council later in the year, permission was given for Albany and Augusta to change the names of their Lodges of Perfection to that of their respective cities. At the same time, Letters were temporarily authorized for the Albany Council of Kadosh and the Albany Consistory. Brother Cowles visited Savannah in 1947. Later, at the fall session of that year, the Macon Bodies were authorized to change their names to that of their city. At the same time, the temporary Letters issued for Albany Council and Consistory in 1945 were continued.
On April 3, 1950, Brother McAllister, because of poor health, retired and passed away in the same year on May 1st. The Sovereign Grand Commander appointed Illustrious Thomas C. Law, 33°, I.G.H., Deputy of the Supreme Council in Georgia.
Brother Law was President of Law and Company Industrial Chemists of Atlanta, and was a member and Past Master of Palestine Lodge No. 486. Brother Law was coroneted a 33°, I.G.H. in 1937. Brother Law started his tenure of office with trouble, because on September 7, 1950, the Masonic Temple in Atlanta, where the Rite was quartered, was completely destroyed by fire, along with most of the records and equipment of the Rite. Much of Brother Law's time in the next few years was spent in planning and raising money for the new Temple.
The Charters of the Atlanta Bodies were replaced early in 1951. At the fall session in October of the same year, Brother Law was elected an active member and crowned S.G.I.G. of Georgia. On January 17, 18 and 19, 1956, Sovereign Grand Commander Luther A. Smith, 33°, visited Atlanta - while there, he visited the Hospital. On November 16, 1957, he was in Savannah for the K.C.C.H. Investiture, and on February 11, 1958, he again visited Brother Law in Atlanta. On November 19, 1959, Brother Smith attended a dinner party in Augusta; from there he traveled to Atlanta where he spent November 20th and 21st. While there, he attended a dinner party given in his honor. On November 9, 1960, Brother Law's dream came true; a Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite quarters were dedicated. Brother Smith made a special trip to Atlanta for the occasion.
Brother Law, after a short illness, died on May 4, 1962. Sovereign Grand Commander Luther A. Smith, 33°, accompanied by Grand Secretary General Brother Claude F. Young, 33o, attended the funeral on May 6th.
On May 10, 1962, the Grand Commander appointed Raymond C. Cropper, 33°, I.G.H. of Macon, Deputy for the Supreme Council of Georgia. Brother Smith visited Macon on October 22, 1962 for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Scottish Rite Temple in Macon. During the year 1963, at the request of the Supreme Council, the Atlanta Bodies voted to change the name of Hermes Lodge of Perfection to Atlanta Lodge of Perfection, White Eagle Chapter to Atlanta Chapter, and Binah Council to Atlanta Council. These three charters were dated October 24, 1963.
On January 25, 1964, Brother Smith returned to Macon for the dedication of the new Temple at 3:00 P.M., and the K.C.C.H. Investiture at 7:30 P.M. On March 10, 1965, Brother Smith, accompanied by Brother Cropper, rededicated the Temple at Savannah, and from there they went to Albany where, on March 11th, they dedicated the new Temple at Albany. On March 15th, Brother Smith and Brother Cropper visited Augusta. On May 6, 1965, Brother Smith was in Atlanta where he met and dined with a group of the Brethren from Augusta. At the 1965 session, Brother Smith made a detailed report on the Scottish Rite Hospital in Decatur, and at this same session, Brother A. John Fulton of Atlanta was coroneted a 33°, I.G.H.
Through the efforts of Brother Cropper, permission was granted by the Grand Masters of Georgia and Louisiana for Brother J. Chris Nungesser, 33°, I.G.H., and Past Grand Master of Louisiana to visit Atlanta on January 13, 1966 to exemplify the Entered Apprentice Degree of the so called Scottish Rite ritual of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. The Cobb County Scottish Rite Association was the first such Association in Georgia, and was organized on October 12, 1965 at Marietta, Georgia. On March 1, 1966, Brother A. John Fulton, 33°, as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Bodies, presented the Charter to the Association. In April, 1966, Brother Cropper resigned as Deputy of the Supreme Council in Georgia.
On May 3, 1966, the Sovereign Grand Commander appointed Brother A. John Fulton, 33°, I.G.H., Deputy of the Supreme Council in Georgia. On March 25, 1967, Brother Smith arrived in Atlanta where, on the 26th, he attended Easter breakfast at the Temple. Brother Smith was the principal speaker at the Easter services. On the 27th, Brother and Mrs. Smith visited the Hospital at Decatur. Later they were honored guests at a luncheon for the Honor men of the Atlanta Valley and their wives.
On September 16, Brother Fulton held a one day class in Macon for all the Bodies in the Orient of Georgia. Three hundred, twenty-three were made Masters of the Royal Secret.