The Cryptic rite - The Masonic Trowel

CHAPTER XI.
OONOLVSIOM OF THE HiSTOBT OF THE GbAND O0UKOIL8 OF THE UVITBD
Statbh.
ILLINOIS.
HE degrees were introduced into Illinois from Kentucky.
In 1852, the Grand Council of Kentucky
chartered one Council in Illinois, and in 1853
another, and authorised the Grand Puissant to
issue a charter to another (to which a dispensation had been
granted) upon receipt of the returns which had been miscarried
in the mail ; the charter was not issued till February
28, 1854.
Erroneously supposing that all three Councils had been
chartered, their delegates met and formed a Grand Council,
September 30, 1853. The error being discovered, the Grand
Council was reorganized March 10, 1854.
In its Constitution it declared its exclusive jurisdiction
throughout the State ; and that no Council could lawfully
exist m that State except under its authority, and all Masonic
intercourse between members of its obedience and such
illegal Council or assemblage or any of its members, or any
person advanced in such Council, was absolutely forbidden.
In 1854, the following resolution was adopted
" Reaolved, That all Royal Arch Masons receiving the degieea of
Royal and Select Masters in Chapters since September, 1831, in this
State shall be treated as clandestine Royal and Select Masters, and in
no event shall be healed, but shall be admitted to Councils only in the
regukur manner."
Dispensations for new Councils were refused to petitioners
who had taken the degrees before that* date until they were
lawfully healed.
The Grand Council met annually until 1877. Then, although
one of the largest and most prosperous of the Grand
Councils, it attempted to surrender the degrees to the Grand
Chapter, but with the proviso that if the Grand Chapter
should not make provision for conferring the degrees within
two years, they should revert to the Grand Council ;
the
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