Early Royal Arch & Cryptic Degrees in America

Freemasonry in the United States of America has an unusual early history. Imported from Europe - England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Germany - it quickly became one of the most important colonial organizations. It remained an exclusive organization through the revolution, and began expanding its membership base into the middle class.

Masonic historians have safely set 1730 as the date of the beginning of American Masonry. Whatever Masonic meetings may have been held before 1730 they were not recorded. Although activity after 1730 rapidly increased and is documented. Traveling British military Lodges spread Masonry through much of North America as they initiated civilians in towns where they were stationed.

Royal Arch

The first "high degree" to appear in America was the Royal Arch Degree first recorded in December 1753 at Fredericksburg Lodge in Virginia. The degree began to spread through the colonies.

The earliest Chapters were:

1758 - Jerusalem Chapter in Philadelphia
1769 - St. Andrew's Chapter, Boston
1790 - Cyrus Chapter, Newburyport, Mass.
1792 - A Chapter in Charleston, SC
1793 - Harmony Chapter, Philadelphia

In 1795 the first Grand Chapter was organized in Pennsylvania, and on October 24, 1797 the first national American organization was created in the General Grand Chapter of the New England States, which is today the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International.

Cryptic Council

The Degrees of Royal & Select Master seem to have originated as "side degrees" available from itinerant Masonic lecturers. They are known collectively as the Cryptic Degrees, or the Cryptic Rite. The Secret Master Degree was conferred at Charleston, SC, in 1783, and the Royal Master Degree in New York City in 1804.

In 1810 the degrees became permanently associated together with the formation of Columbia Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters in NYC - even though "Grand" is in the name, the body was only local.

The earliest Councils were:

1810 - New York City
1815 - New Hampshire
1817 - Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont
1818 - Rhode Island, Connecticut

By 1830 there were Grand Councils in 10 states. Under the influence of the well known ritualist Jeremy Ladd Cross's Chart and other monitors, the Select Master's Degree came to be viewed as the culmination of 'American Craft Masonry', even if Councils were found in only a few metropolitan areas and their degrees available to only a few. The General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International was organized on August 23, 1890 and is the ruling body.

It all started in 1730 and the later growth of the Royal Arch and then eventually Cryptic Degrees was probably what lead to the super structure of the American York Rite system consisting of the Craft Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Royal & Select Council, and the Knight Templar Commandery.

*** posted for Ill Allan Miller. 25Jan08

Not 4 Everybody

Letters and Figures
By RmOlano
21Jan06

More often than not, success is always measured in numbers. In the context of declining membership, most of the letters or articles I have seen and read were the expressions of concern of a “dying Fraternity.” Because the Order loses X number due to passing away or disinterest compared to X number of raised to Master Mason degree with its collateral result of amount of paid membership dues. This writer tends to lean in favor of the camp of those who believe in quality rather than quantity. Like many of the current members, this humble traveler will be extremely glad if more good men flock to join our Fraternity in a hope of making themselves a better man. However, reality dictates that the Craft is not the only group that offers that notion. Freemasonry does not have the monopoly of self improvement while respecting other beliefs. Our Craft will always have “competition” to the pool of good men and to dream of taking them all is just like that word---dream.

An argument could be advanced that the Fraternity was never conceived to be a large group. All the indications to limit the membership were still being practiced and observed despite of the attempt of those craved for change to adapt to modern times. It seems that adaptation means a way to reverse the downward slope of membership issue and the mathematical answer to the problem is to increase the production. Many ideas that floated around and some were actually implemented were designed to bring more individual “to participate in our privileges” as in one-day conferrals and ease off usual requirements such as writing an essay instead of “committing to memories certain parts of the lecture.” How many of us do not even pause to discard something we consider cheap, easy to replace and of little value if not outright worthless?

Men used to flock in our Fraternity because they expect that the Craft were “above” or rather, not like other organizations. The Order used to attract men who are not “ordinary” people; they may be living better than familiar folks, possess skills that are not common or engaged in a profession that pays a notch or two higher than average. The fact was that during the Golden Years of Freemasonry, members of the Fraternity were not your everyday “ordinary” men. One could ask why does “exclusive” country clubs have a year-long waiting list for membership. Despite of expensive membership fees, men who can barely play golf lined up to get in? Why? Because they expect quality; be it may in service, using real glass instead of Styrofoam cup, real sit down dinner instead of being catered by amateurs or kids, or maybe the need to be associated with people and environment that is not “ordinary.” An assembly with room full of attendees wearing open neck shirt and jeans feels different than with a gathering of people wearing coat and tie and/or tuxedo. Men who understand quality dressed up for important events, they “adorn great and important undertakings.”

This humble writer submits that our Fraternity is not for everybody and limited only to those who qualifies. Just like military or religious vocation, our Craft is NOT for general population. Not everybody can get in; there are requirements to be met such as capability to meet financial obligations, mental aptitude to tackle what are needed for the rituals, availability of time for the Craft without concern for second job, etc. The lowering of standards such as requirements to be more financially “affordable,” and taking anyone who ask without regard to the issue of “bringing honor to our ancient institution” are some of the reasons why members dropped off and some of unintended consequences of quantity approach and not to mention an unpleasant result in the coffers of those who depend on it. A Master once said that he rather have a membership roll with nine names of brothers who regularly shows up in meetings and conferrals listed than one hundred names on the roster including names of those regular nine. People showed up because they like to and not because they have to. Numbers seems irrelevant in the context of maintaining “those truly Masonic ornaments, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.”

...

Printed in Ventura County York Rite Bulletin May-June 2007