E. H. ADDINGTON

4 OUTLINE OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS
CHAPTER I.
THE INTKODUCTION OP MASONBY INTO LOUISIANA.
THE natural advantages of the situation of New Orleans as an emporium
of commerce, became apparent to the Spanish Government several years
before its domination over Louisiana came to an end, and, to aid in its
development, subsidies were granted to the planters and the restrictions
imposed by the customs' regulations modified or removed. Favored by this
liberal policy, flatboats freighted with produce on the shores of the Ohio
were floated down the turbid waters of the Mississippi, and found a remunerative
market, at New Orleans, between" which city and the Spanish and
French colonies in the West Indies an extensive commerce existed. The
rich and fertile island of San Domingo was then at the heighth of its prosperity
: Freemasonry had been introduced by the French settlers at an
early date, and when the negro revolution broke out it was in a flourishing
condition—some of the lodges working under the authority of the Grand
Orient of France, and others under that of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.*
The white population of San Domingo, like that of New
Orleans, was almost exclusively of the Latin race, the greater portion being
French by birth or descent, and the combined influence of national affinity
and commercial intercourse led to the introduction of Freemasonry into
Louisiana. At what date and under what auspices it first obtained a foothold
is unknown, as Masonry was proscribed by the Spanish Government,
and the brethren, few in number, were compelled to exercise the utmost
prudence and circumspection to avoid giving offence to the authorities and
becoming amenable to the penalties of the law. This, however, only served
to strengthen the tonds of brotherly love which united them together, and
their number having been increased by refugees from the French West
India Islands they concluded, after mature deliberation, that the time had
arrived to establish Masonry in an organized form.
Accordingly, in 1793, several Freemasons, then residing in New Orleans,
met together, organized themselves into a lodge by the means of "Parfaite
Union" (Perfect Union), and applied to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina
for a charter, which was granted, and they were duly constituted as "Loge
Parfaite Union No. 29,." and the officers installed in the York Rite on the
30th of March, 1794, by Jason Lawrence, who was specially deputed for
that purpose. The first officers were Laurent Sigur, W. M.; Laurent
Chouriac, S. W., and Andres Wackernie, J. W.
In the same year (1794) several brethren of the French or Modern Rite
held a meeting, and resolved to form themselves into a lodge under the distinctive
title of "Etoile Polaire," (Polar Star,) and applied to the Grand
Orleans. During the excitement he was concealed by some friends to prevent his falling
into the hands of the mob, until he was able to effect his escape to Havana. He afterward
returned, and resigned his membership in the Supreme Council, July 30, 1853.
By the terms of the concordat entered into with the Supreme Council of the Southern
Jurisdiction. February 17, 1855, the Louisiana Council ceased to exist. On the 7th of
October, 1856, Foulhouze and two other ex-menibers of the defunct body held an informal
meeting and declared it still in existence. It was for refusing to dissolve this illegal
and self-constituted body that Foulhouze was expelled by the Grand Orient of Prance,
February 4, 1859.
*At the close of the eighteenth century Philadelphia was the commercial as well as the
political capital of the United States. Masonry and commerce go hand in hand on their
mission of civilization, and the followng lodges were chartered by the 'Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania in San Domingo: Lodge No. 47, at Port au Prince, December 18, 1789;
Les Freres Reunis No. 78, at Cape St. Domingo, May 10, 1801; Concorde No. 88, at St.
Marc, May 10, 1801; and the Provincial Grand Lodge of San Domingo, January 9, 1802.
The charter of the Provincial Grand Lodge was vacated April 7, 1806, but it was
reinstated and extended over Cuba, loth September of the samo year.