The Cryptic rite - The Masonic Trowel

S2
CRYPTIC MASONRY.
time in Kentucky, and (as he says) visited all the principa'
lodges in the State.
From Baltimore he went North ;
among his papers found
after his death was one in his own handwriting, endorsed,
"Copy of a letter to P. R Eckel, Baltimore, Md. :" this I
examined personally, and had a copy of it made, which I
compared wit^ ^e original ; it was dated Haverhill, N.H.,
July 17, 1817 : is so important that I give an extract
from it verba:
** Dkar Fkibxd and Companion :
" After taking leave of your social society T repaired to New Castle,
where I met with a warm reception, and deviated so far from my stip-
Illation as to confer the Select degree on Comps. Hamblen, Reed and
Craw. The inducement that led me to do it was, their noted respectability
and influence they have in the Masonic institution might tend
to the general good. They have not their constitutional No. to confer
the degree, so they will have to apply to you for further information.
I made but a short tarry at Wilmington and Philadelphia, and stopped
a few days in New York. I found they had a Grand Council of Select
Masons there, and that they granted warrants to others for conferring
the degree.
" I made no further tarry till I arrived at Windsor, Vt., where I
established a Council of Select Masons. They finding that the degree
was full of information, and that it could not be given antecedent to
that of the R. Arch, wished for a warrant to empower them to confer
it, upon which I granted them one in the words following, viz.
** To all etc. . By the High Power ia me vested
by the Thrice Illustrious and Grand Puissant in the Grand Council of
Select at Bjiltimore, etc., till revoked by the Grand Puissant, etc., I
wish you to write me at this place by the next mail respecting my
granting warrants, and if approving grant me that power, signing your
name as Thrice Illustrious and Puissant in the Grand C )uncil at Baltimore,
for I do not know why the Grand Council at Baltimore have
not as good a right to grant warrants as the one at New York, which
must be self- created.
*' There are nine Chapters in Connecticut, as many in Vermont, and
four in this State, besides those in Misaachusetts and Rhode Island,
at each of which places I could establish the degree were I permitted
to grant them a warrant. There are so many of thosa little degrees
that are given by any one and in any place which are of no consequence
that they will have but little confidence in this, unless it has
the appearance of some kind of sanction, and I think those who do receive
it would not make suflicient application to perfect themselves in
the history, work, and lectures, unless there was an inducement held
out of an office in the Council. However, you and Companion Niles
will best know what will be best for its
and inform me accordingly."
general diffusion and utility,
This statement that there was a Grand Council of Select
Masons in New York v, erroneous ; there was then a Council
of Royal Masters in that city, which called itself a Grand
Council, and was approving, if not authorizing, the forma-
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