USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 3 > Part 58
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Knights Templar .- This part of the Masonic system comprises three degrees, or Orders,-Knight of the Red Cross, Knight Templar, and Knight of Malta. Although this system is usually designated as Masonic, there is question whether the appellation, when strictly de- fined, is rightfully applicable. But the Order is and has been for a century in close sympathy and touch with the old Masonic system, and its first degree is essentially Masonic in character. The ground-work of this degree is the legend relating to seeking and finding help to rebuild the Temple, and has a well-defined resemblance to the sixteenth degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite. While the Red Cross cere- mony is looked upon by some authorities as having no real and rightful connection with the Templar Order, others take and uphold an op- posite view; in either case, the Red Cross Order has an abiding place in the organization that now gives it recognition and constitutes an honorable grade in the system of American Templary.
American Templary takes its distinctive character from the two
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Orders of Christian Knighthood-Knight Templar and Knight of Malta-and its rank, prestige, and influence are closely interwoven with the Order of Knights Templar of the Middle Ages. That Order was a military Brotherhood formed for the protection of Christian pilgrims in Palestine; it consisted of nine brethren, who at first took the name of "Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ", but when, in 1118, they were given an establishment near the supposed site of Solomon's Temple, they acquired the . title of "Knights of the Temple". The question as to whether the Ancient Order survived all persecution, maintained an existence in France and England, to be- come the source and authority of Templar organizations of compara- tively modern times, need not be discussed here. There is, however, no unimpeachable authority to justify such a conclusion. The Masonic Templarism of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries may claim to be identified with the Ancient Order by traditions, lessons and legends, and by the likeness of faith which is in many respects discernible. "There is a flavor of the old heroic spirit in modern Templary that could not well be spared; and there are reminders of pilgrims and warriors of crusading times, which brighten the pages of the Templar ritual as it is now learned and taught. But to claim more than this, seems alike unnecessary and unwise".1
In Great Britain, as in America, the first recognition of the grade of Knight Templar was by lodges, or chapters working under lodge warrants. In the old certificates and other documents is found the expression, "Royal Arch Templar", showing how the degree was re- garded and worked. St. Andrew's Royal Arch Lodge, of Boston, held its first meeting August 28, 1769, as shown by the records, where William Davis received "the four steps, that of Excellent, Super- Excellent, Royal Arch, and Knight Templar". According to Bro. William J. Hughan, "this minute contains the earliest known refer- ence in the world to the degree of a Masonic Knight Templar". A few years later the degree of Knight Templar was conferred in Scot- land, Ireland and England. Subsequently the old rule permitting three Knights Templar from three distinct bodies to meet and transact business, was taken to justify the creation of temporary organizations for the purpose of conferring the degree or degrees on a number of candidates, after which this temporary body ceased to act. Thus there were Knights of the Red Cross and Knights Templar in Boston, Provi- dence, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and elsewhere, previous to the establishment of Templary as an independent institu- tion. Maryland Commandery No. 1, of Baltimore, dates from 1790, if its claims are accepted. South Carolina Encampment is supposed to have been formed in 1780. Knights Templar marched in Masonic processions in New York as early as 1785, and the "Old Encamp-
1Freemasonry in R. I.", p. 224.
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ment", or "Morton's Encampment", is believed to have been in exist- ence several years before the close of that century; it disappeared in 1810. There were other Templar organizations in New York city and elsewhere about that period, among which was Temple Encampment No. 2, Albany, supposed to have been instituted in 1796; its early records are lost.
A Grand Encampment was formed in 1797, in which were recog- nized four Templar bodies, viz .: Philadelphia No. 1, Philadelphia No. 2, Harrisburg No. 3, and Carlisle No. 4. The life of this Grand Encampment was short, and the four encampments named went out of existence after 1824, although St. John's Commandery No. 4, Phila- delphia, which succeeded Encampment No. 1, may be regarded as in some sense identifying the early organization with the present institu- tion of Templary.
Masonic Templary was recognized in Connecticut in 1796, when an encampment was formed at Colchester. In the jurisdiction of Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island, where the Orders of Knighthood had been conferred from 1769, when St. Andrew's Chapter had sanctioned such acts, there were occasional attempts at independent organization. In 1795 there was an unconstituted association of Knights at Newbury- port, Mass. In Boston a council of the Knights of the Red Cross was organized March 12, 1802, which four years later merged in Boston Encampment, still in existence.
On March 3, 1806, a charter was granted to Boston Encampment by the Grand Encampment, which had been formed in Providence in May, 1805, under the title of the "Grand Encampment of Rhode Island and jurisdiction thereunto belonging". But going a little back of this date, it must be recorded that St. John's Encampment, of Providence, was formed as a body of Knights Templar, on August 23, 1802; and it was this body that influenced the creation of the Grand Encampment just mentioned, and indirectly had much to do with the establishment of the present Grand Encampment of the United States. There were in Providence Knights Templar previous to the organiza- tion of St. John's Encampment, and they had been recognized as such by Masonic brethren, and had marched in Masonic processions; they carried the Templar standard on January 7, 1800, in the demonstra- tion in honor of Washington. John Warner, one of the founders of St. John's Encampment, held a Templar diploma dated April 28, 1793. The first regular meeting of St. John's Encampment was held August 23, 1802, in Mason's Hall. There were present Sir Thomas S. Webb, Sir Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Sir Samuel Snow, Sir Daniel Stillwell, Sir John Warner, and Sir Nicholas Hoppin. The officers then elected were Sir Thomas S. Webb, Grand Master; Sir Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Generalissimo; Sir Thomas Snow, Captain-General; Sir Daniel Still- well, Standard Bearer; Sir John Warner, Sword Bearer; Sir Nicholas
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Hoppin, Guard. A code of by-laws was reported September 13, 1802, by a committee to whom the task had been assigned. These provided, among other regulations, that members should provide themselves with uniforms of "black coat, vest, breeches and stockings, or pantaloons, sash, half boots, apron, poniard, cocked hat, and hanger"; for a deficiency in these articles at any regular meeting a member was fined twenty-five cents. Fees were established of $25 for "promotion to the several Orders of Knights of the Red Cross, Knights Templar and Knights of Malta"; for "admission as a member, if not promoted in this Encampment, ten dollars". Thomas Smith Webb held the office of Grand Master until the charter was obtained in 1805. It is believed that Webb took the higher orders and degrees in Boston, or that pos- sibly he received the orders of Knight Templar and Knight of Malta in the Old Encampment in New York city in 1796; in any case his active Templar life found its first expression in the founding of St. John's Encampment, to which he contributed the more complete cere- mony and ritual which aided so much in bringing it into prominence. His was the mind which elaborated the system of American Templary, brought it into a form of order and beauty, and thus won the honor of the foremost place among the Templar, as well as the distinctively Masonic ritualists of this country.
St. John's Commandery (which was an Encampment until the recent change in that title) has had no interregnum from the date of its formation, and it has complete records from 1802. It claims seniority, not as the first body organized in the country to confer the Orders of Knighthood, but as the first permanent Templar organiza- tion, and with an unbroken career of almost a century. In its early membership were many ministers of the gospel. Rev. Barnabas Bates was knighted in 1817; he was pastor of the Baptist church in Bristol. Rev. Luther Wright, of Barrington, was knighted in April, 1818; Rev. George Taft, D. D., then late rector of the Episcopal church in Paw- tucket, in April, 1821; Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D., bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island; the Rev. Edward T. Taylor, for many years known as Father Taylor, the Sailor Preacher, and others.1
During the anti-Masonic excitement the commandery admitted no members, but officers were elected each year, and when the trouble
¡The Commandery has in its possession the first Templar banner ever dis- played in this country. It is of white silk about 24 x 30 inches, and on it are painted several emblems of the Order and of the Masonic degrees upon which the Order of the Temple is founded.
This banner was carried in a procession which moved through the streets of Providence on the 9th day of January, 1800, the occasion being the obsequies of Gen. George Washington, and this banner, and the fact that members of the Order took part in the procession is mentioned in the newspapers of the day This took place nearly two years prior to the organization of the Commandery, and the attendance of members of the Order residing in and about Providence was requested by advertisement. The meeting of these men thus called to- gether was the first step towards the establishment of the Commandery.
F
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BANNER CARRIED IN THE PROCESSION AT PROVIDENCE ON JANUARY 9, 1800, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OBSEQUIES OF GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON.
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began to wane, work was resumed. New by-laws were adopted in 1842, and a revision was made in 1859, and again in 1875; the present rules of government were adopted in 1900.
The Grand Encampment, before mentioned, was organized in Provi- dence, May 13, 1805, and the following first officers were elected : Sir Thomas S. Webb, of Providence, Grand Master; Sir Henry Fowle, of Boston, Generalissimo; Sir Jonathan Gage, of Neyburyport, Captain- General; Sir John Carlile, of Providence, Senior Grand Warden; Sir Nathan Fisher, of Providence, Junior Grand Warden; Sir John Davis, of Providence, Grand Sword Bearer; Sir William Wilkinson, of Providence, Grand Standard Bearer; Sir William F. Megee, of Provi- dence, Grand Recorder; Sir Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Grand Treasurer. The first very important act of the Grand Encampment was performed on March 3, 1806, when the name was changed to "the United States Grand Encampment", and an amended constitution was adopted, on May 29, of that year, establishing the limits of jurisdiction, etc. As thus organized, and with that title, the Grand Encampment continued to exercise its functions and powers until 1816, when the words "United States" were stricken from the title and its authority re- stricted to the jurisdiction of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. After ably presiding over and guiding the working of the Grand Body from 1805 to 1817, Mr. Webb was succeeded by Sir William Wilkinson, of Providence. In all this period, now covering nearly a century, the life of this oldest existing Grand Body of Knighthood in the United States, has never lapsed, or a stated meeting been omitted.
In Newport as well as in Providence there were Red Cross Knights and Templars in the early years of the last century, if not still earlier. Steps were taken in 1812 for establishing what they called a "Deputy Gd. Consistory in Newport, including all degrees of Knighthood". For this purpose Com. John A. Shaw was sent to New York city to obtain a warrant, in which he was successful, as he reported at a meeting held December 26 of that year. At that meeting a Grand Council of Knights of the Red Cross was opened for the admission of Richard Merrill and William Davis, in order to have the required constitutional number for establishing an encampment. The pre- scribed proceedings were then enacted and the encampment created, "including a Grand Council of Knights of the Red Cross, Grand Conclave of Knights of Malta, &c., as also the Ineffable Degrees to that of Prince of the Royal Secret". On June 7, 1814, the Newport En- campment petitioned the Grand Encampment organized in 1805 in Providence, for a charter under its allegiance; this was granted, and under it Washington Encampment enjoyed prosperity. During the anti-Masonic difficulties no meetings of Templars were held in New- port, but in 1851 there was a revival, and a meeting was held on the 16th of August, at which nine members attended. The loss of their
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charter during the dormant period was announced, but it was replaced by a new one in October, 1853.
These two bodies of Templars in Providence and Newport were the only ones in Rhode Island until after the close of the anti-Masonic period. There were Knights Templar in other cities and villages of importance, but no other organization was effected until 1848, when a dispensation was granted for Holy Sepulchre Encampment, of Pawtucket, which was followed by the granting of a charter by vote of the Grand Body on October 10, 1848. The petition was signed by fifteen persons, most of whom were leading citizens of Pawtucket. Holy Sepulchre Commandery (as it is now named) has had a pros- perous life of more than half a century. Its membership in 1900 was 287.
Calvary Commandery, of Providence, was an outgrowth of St. John's Commandery, all of the charter members of the new organiza- tion excepting one having been members of the old one. The dispensa- tion for the new commandery was dated November 9, 1859, and the charter was granted May 22, 1860. On January 2, 1861, the com- mandery was duly constituted by Grand Commander Sir William Field. Sir Henry Butler was chosen the first Commander, and to his ability and energy the early success of the body was largely due. The first candidate knighted in Calvary Commandery was James H. Armington, since which the orders have been conferred on more than 400 candidates. The membership in 1900 was 430.
Woonsocket Commandery was chartered on May 8, 1867, and was constituted at about the same date. The first Commander was Sir Emerson Goddard. This new organization began its life in promising activity, through the influence and energy of such men as Sir Knights Ira W. Arnold, S. W. Razee, Amos Sherman, F. G. Jillson, Walter E. Parker, and others. The membership of the commandery is now (1900) 227.
Narragansett Commandery, in Westerly, was chartered on May 12, 1869, and was constituted under direction of Grand Commander Ben- jamin Dean, September 26, 1870. Sir James M. Pendleton was in- stalled Eminent Commander ; Sir George C. Stillman, Generalissimo; Sir J. Alonzo Babcock, Captain-General. This commandery has had an active and prosperous life, and now (1900) has a membership of 120.
The five commanderies of the State have a total membership of more than 1,300. The Grand Commandery, with jurisdiction over the two States, works in harmony and effectively for the advancement of Templary and the general good of the brotherhood. Rhode Island has supplied ten of the Grand Masters or Grand Commanders in the united jurisdiction. Membership, 1900, 13,112.
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite .- The organization bearing this title
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is supposed to contain the best material of the Masonic Fraternity. It consists of thirty-three degrees, in seven sections, each section being distinguished by a special form of organization and name. The three degrees of the first section are those of symbolic Masonry-Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. These constitute the foundation of the Rite; practically, therefore, the Rite begins its own work with the fourth degree, on the essential foundation of the Blue Lodge.
The early history of this system is obscure and what is known of it can be only briefly treated. In 1754 the Rite of Perfection was or- ganized in Paris, France; it included twenty-five degrees and was controlled by the Chapter of Clermont until 1759, when those degrees appeared under direction of "The Council of Emperors of the East and the West". This organization commissioned Stephen Morin to represent the Rite of Perfection, with a view of his establishment of the higher degrees in America. In 1761 he was exercising the func- tions of his office in St. Domingo and Jamaica, where he appointed inspectors with powers equal to his own. One of these was Henry A. Francken, who proceeded to New York and on December 27, 1767, established a Lodge of Perfection in Albany; he also conferred the degree of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret (now the 32º) upon a number of brethren. The Council of Emperors adopted "the Consti- tutions of 1762", which were superseded by the new Constitutions of 1786; the latter were made the governing law of the new body into which the Rite of Perfection was merged, with the title of "The Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors-General of the Thirty-third Degree for the United States", as established at Charles- ton, S. C., May 31, 1801. This became the Southern Supreme Council, the so-called "Mother Supreme Council of the World"; in it was formally recognized the 33º. The formation of the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States took place at New York on August 5, 1813; this council, by a subsequent arrangement, was made to include only Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- necticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Both of these councils have had an eventful history, their prospects sometimes being gloomy and their destiny uncertain.
Among the prominent brethren appointed to important official position was Moses M. Hays, at one period a resident of Newport, and later of Boston. He was made Deputy Grand Inspector-General, probably in 1763; it has already been stated that he was active in founding King David's Lodge in Newport in 1780, and about the same time conferred the Scottish Rite upon Moses Seixas and Peleg Clarke, two distinguished early Masons. There was some confusion in the early years regarding the authority and legitimacy of action of some
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of the Newport brethren in conferring the degrees of knighthood, after the death of Moses Seixas, but there is no question of the fact that the first Consistory in Rhode Island dates from the year 1813, about which time Bro. John A. Shaw was constituted a Deputy Inspector for this State. Under sueh sanctions the Sublime degrees were conferred in Newport during the succeeding twelve or fifteen years. There was also a controversy between Emanuel De la Motta, of New York, who in 1813 established the Supreme Couneil for the Northern Jurisdie- tion, before mentioned, and Mr. Shaw and other Newport brethren, as to the lawful expression and government of the Rite in that jurisdie- tion. This controversy, and all other proceedings of the Seottish Rite, was dormant during the anti-Masonic troubles, but were renewed with the revival. In 1844 the Supreme Couneil had gained a large measure of influence and was aetive in promoting the interests of the Rite, and was applied to by brethren in Newport in 1848 for authority to con- vene as Seottish Rite Masons and to confer the Sublime degrees. In accordance with this application the Supreme Couneil issued charters dated December 14, 1849, for a Lodge of Perfection, a Couneil of Prinees of Jerusalem, a Chapter of R. M. of H-R-D-M-, and a Sublime Consistory of S. . P. .. R. S. . 32°, "all four of them to be located at Newport". On January 14, 1850, the officers of the Lodge of Per- fection and Couneil of Prinees of Jerusalem were installed.
Solomon's Lodge of Perfection was organized in Stonington, Conn., in 1849. The charter was signed and dated March 24, of that year. While located here the lodge was feeble, and ten years after its formation only eleven names were reported as members. In 1860 it was removed to Providenee, where its activities were more marked and successful. From that date to the present time the organization has exercised a large measure of influenee in Rhode Island Masonry.
In 1860 a disagreement arose, resulting in the formation of a rival Supreme Couneil, which elaimed authority in the Northern jurisdie- tion, and the Rite became divided in its adherenee to one or the other of the two faetions. Edward A. Raymond was then Grand Com- mander in Boston, and assumed what were believed by many brethren to be unwarranted powers. A bitter eontest followed, Raymond was
deposed from office, and K. H. Van Rensselaer eleeted in his place; but Raymond continued to aet as Grand Commander of another body, elaiming to be the only lawful Northern Supreme Couneil. Each of these men had a strong following of influential brethren, and the situation was anything but eneouraging. The Newport brethren ad- hered to the Van Rensselaer leadership. In Providenee bodies were organized under the New York Council, which afterwards united with the Raymond body; they included members of distinguished Masonic standing, but their organie existence eeased in 1867, and the Provi- dence brethren took the oath of allegianee to the United Supreme
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Council established by mutual agreement at Boston, May 17, 1867. 'This was a memorable meeting, where 195 Subordinate bodies were represented, and Bro. Josiah H. Drummond, who had been active in promoting conciliation, was elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council for a term of three years. Under his wise ad- ministration all of the interests of the Rite flourished. Since that time there have been futile attempts to organize so-called Supreme Councils, one in 1872, and again in 1881; the first attained little im- portance, but the latter, which claimed jurisdiction over the whole country, has succeeded in organizing Subordinate bodies in several States and holding their allegiance.
The later history of the Rite in Rhode Island may be briefly covered. The existing Council of Princes of Jerusalem, in Providence, is sup- posed to have been chartered May 16, 1866, but the matter is in dispute and there is some reason for believing it to have been two or three years earlier. Providence Chapter of Rose Croix was chartered De- cember 18, 1868, and Providence Consistory on the same date; these two bodies were authorized by the United Supreme Council. All of these organizations are enjoying a prosperous existence.
The Scottish Rite bodies in Newport became Subordinates of the United Supreme Council, and on June 16, 1885, under authority of the Supreme body, the Consistories, Chapters, and Councils in both Providence and Newport were consolidated into one body of each rank, and these bodies are now stationed at Providence. Under present conditions, therefore, the Rite in Rhode Island includes Van Rens- selaer Lodge of Perfection, Newport ; Solomon's Lodge of Perfection, Providence; Rhode Island Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Provi- dence ; Rhode Island Chapter of Rose Croix, Providence; and Rhode Island Consistory, Providence. There are more than three hundred members in the State who have attained the 32º, and a considerable number the 33º.
The colored Masonic bodies have a substantial membership in the state, the cities of Providence and Newport being the places repre- sented by the fraternity. The Most Worshipful Eureka Grand Lodge holds communications at Masonic Hall, 98 Weybosset street, Provi- dence; Joseph E. Brown of Providence is the Grand Master. The lodges in Providence are Harmony Lodge No. 1, Celestial Lodge No. 2, King Solomon Lodge No. 5, and Star of the East Lodge No. 6. Be- sides these lodges there are The United Supreme Council No. 33 A :. & A :. S :. Rite, De Molay Consistory 32 Degree and Constantine Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The Annual Convocations of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons is held on the fourth Friday in November. There are four subordi- nate chapters, Celestial Chapter No. 1 of Providence, Golden Rule Chapter No. 2, Providence ; Mount Olive Chapter No. 3, Providence,
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