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AASR Valley of New York City : History | ||
HISTORY Local History Coming Soon!! During the early 1730's many Scottish, Irish, and English Masons moved to the Bordeaux region of France to escape the civil strife in England . They became known as the “Ecossais” or Scottish Masons. The following is a timeline of the development of the advanced degrees, beginning with the 25 Rite of Perfection degrees, and evolving into the Scottish Rite 33 degrees known today. 1732 (Apr 27) Loge L'Anglaise , the first Ecossais Lodge organized in Bordeaux , Capt. Martin Kelly was Master. – Adhered to 3 symbolic degrees. 1738 Advanced degrees may have been used. 1740 (Dec 13) Loge La Francaise in Bordeaux , established as a subordinate lodge by Loge L'Anglaise. Stephen Morin was probably a member. 1744 Loge Parfaite Harmonie set up by Loge La Francaise (Possibly Stephen Morin as Master) for the express purpose of conferring advanced Ecossais degrees. 1746 Loge Amitie established by Loge Parfaite Harmonie. 1750 (Jan 28) Bordeaux Ecossais Constitutions were issued. 1753 Ecossais Chapter at Port e Paix in Santo Domingo 1761 (Aug. 27) Stephen Morin granted a patent to carry the advanced degrees to the New World . 1766 (Mar 8) Grand Lodge of England issued a warrant of confirmation to Loge L'Anglaise. 1767 Henry Francken deputized by Morin to establish a Lodge of Perfection in Albany , NY . It spread south from there to Charleston , SC. (25 Rite of Perfection degrees). 1783 Morin established degrees in French West Indies . (25 rite of perfection degrees). Eventually, more degrees were added. 1801 (May 31) Supreme Council of 33° established in Charleston . 11 Grand Inspectors. 1813 (Aug 5) NMJ formed in NY. 1813 On August 5th Daniel D. Tompkins is chosen as the first Sovereign Grand Commander (SGC) of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Tompkins had enjoyed a successful political career. In 1804 he was simultaneously elected to Congress and appointed to the New York Supreme Court. He chose the latter, serving until his election as Governor in 1807. He was offered the post of Secretary of State in the Madison administration, and was elected U.S. Vice President in 1816, with fellow Mason, James Monroe. 1827 Anti-Masonic movement spreads across the nation, and nearly extinguishes the fraternity. John James Joseph Gourgas was elected as SGC and kept the rite alive during this dark period. Through his dedication and loyalty he earned the title “Conservator of the Rite.” 1840's Giles F. Yates (later SGC) sets about rebuilding the organization. One of his followers, Killian H. Van Rensselaer, established new valleys in New Haven , Pittsburgh , and Chicago . 1851 Edward A. Raymond is elected as SGC. 1860 Raymond's contentious leadership causes a split in the Supreme Council. He was deposed and replaced by Van Rensselaer. Raymond established a rival Supreme Council, which operated for six years. 1867 Following the death of Raymond, the two rival councils unified. 1879 Henry L. Palmer is elected SGC, beginning the longest tenure (30 years) in the history of the rite. 1927 SGC Leon Abbott consilidates the Supreme Council administrative offices with the archives at the headquarters in Boston . Upon his death, his will provided for the Abbott Scholarships. 1933 Melvin Maynard Johnson is elected and serves as the first full-time SGC. Johnson led the rite through the Great Depression, World War II, a membership drop to 208,000, and its rebound to 422,000. He established a foundation to fund schizophrenia research and wrote many papers on early freemasonry. 1968 SGC George A. Newbury moved the Supreme Council headquarters from Boston to Lexington , MA , just a mile from where the American Revolution began. 1970 The Northern Light begins publishing. 1975 On April 20, the day after the American Revolution Bicentennial began on Lexington Green with President Ford presiding, the National Heritage Museum opens on the grounds of Supreme Council headquarters. It is called the gift of the Scottish Rite Masons to the nation. 1995 SGC Robert O. Ralston begins a new charity as the first 32° Masonic Learning Center for Dyslexia opens. 2000 The Supreme Council opens its new headquarters building on the grounds in Lexington , MA . 2003 Walter E. Webber succeeds Robert Ralston as Sovereign Grand Commander. 2005 The number of children's learning centers exceeds 50. 2006 John Wm. McNaughton assumes the post of Sovereign Grand Commander upon the death of Ill. Walter E. Webber. |
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