How the Scottish Rite Come to Michigan

1761

   Stephen Morin secures a patent signed by officers of both the Council of Emperors and the Grand Lodge of France, constituting him Inspector General of North America and giving him powers to appoint and create deputies. He sails for Port au Prince, San Domingo, and soon after to Kingston, Jamaica, where, in

1762

   He appointed Henry Andrew Francken a Deputy Inspector General. Francken confers a like honor upon Moses M. Hayes and Hayes does likewise on others.

1762

   The noted Constitutions and regulations are drawn up by nine Commissioners at Bordeaux.

1767

   Francken organizes a Lodge of Perfection at Albany, New York. This body still retains its old charter and minute book.

1770

   Francken returns to Jamaica and we find him with a Morin Patent establishing the first Grand Council of the Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in the Western Hemisphere.

1783

   Lodge of perfection opened at Charleston S.C., by Isaac DaCosta (appointed by Hayes). Organization of a Lodge of Perfection in the Northern Jurisdiction therefore precedes a like organization in the Southern Jurisdiction by 16 years.

1788

   Grand Council Princes of Jerusalem, organized at Charleston.

1797

   Sublime Council of Princes of the Royal Secret established at Charleston.

1798

   The Council at Kingston, Jamaica, recognizes the council at Charleston.

1801

   Form Mother Supreme Council of the World at Charleston, controlling in all 30 degrees.

1806

   Antoine Bideand (appointed by De Grasse Tilley who had his patent from Charleston) comes to New York and confers degrees upon J.J.J. Gourgas.

1813

   Emanuel de la Motta, third ranking officer of the Charleston Supreme Council visits New York and helps Gourgas establish the Second Supreme Council in the United States.

1845

   Gourgas reorganizes Northern Supreme Council.

1851

   Council moves Grand East to Boston.

1860

   Schism created by Grand Commander Raymond, he leading one faction and Lieutenant Grand Commander Van Rensselaer the other.

1861

   Dispensation granted to brethren in Detroit by the Van Rensselaer Council to conduct a Lodge of perfection and a Chapter of Rose Croix.

1862

   Charters were granted to Carson lodge of Perfection, Carson Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Mt. Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix and Michigan Sovereign Consistory at Detroit, Michigan, and this same session Brother D. Burnham Tracy was made a member of the Van Rensselaer Supreme Council and Deputy for the State of Michigan. In 1862 Reverend Francis A. Blake was made a Sublime Prince, and in 1863 an active member of the Supreme Council.

1866

   Revived Raymond Council institutes a Grand Consistory in Michigan and elevates Abraham T. Metcalf to Active membership.

1867

   Raymond and Van Rensselaer Councils unite; Actives from Michigan are Tracy, Blades, Metcalf and Rufus W. Landon.

1868

   Establish Scottish Rite in the Valley of grand Rapids.

1878

   Within the State of Michigan there resided, according to the best information available, 18 Sov. Gr. Inspectors General 33° and 238 S.P.R.S. 32° are member of Michigan Sovereign Consistory.

1884

   Establish Scottish Rite in Valley of Bay City.

1886

   Metcalf becomes Deputy for Michigan. The Rite is established in the Valley of Marquette.

Source: From Michigan Masonic Tracing Board 1976 p. 44

Henry Andrew Francken, born in Holland in 1720, was naturalized an English subject in March 1758 at Kingston where he arrived a year earlier. He came to North America in August 1767 where he stayed two years before sailing back to Jamaica. He died at Kingston, 20 May 1795.

Source: Photo

Moses Michael Hays Lodge, A.F. & A.M

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: Our Historical Roots

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, U.S.A.