E. H. ADDINGTON

OF FREEMASONRY IN LOUISIANA. ' 81
On the 29th of March, a new committee was appointed to draft a constitution,
which was submitted to the Grand Lodge April 19th, ordered to be
printed, and on the 24th of the same month it was resolved that a convention
of all the constituent lodges be held at Baton Rouge on the first Monday
in June, 1850. At that convention every lodge in the State was represented,
and the new constitution almost unanimously adopted.
The adoption of this constitution settled the questions which had divided
the fraternity in Louisiana, and as the proceedings of the Grand Lodge
have been regularly published since that date, it is only necessary to briefly
notice the events that followed.
Of the fifty-six chartered lodges represented in the convention, six
worked in the Scotch and French Rites and their representatives actively
aided in framing the constitution, "and heartily gave their sanction to it."*
By the new constitution the Grand Lodge became a representative body, and
the Masons of the different Rites were comprised under the title of "Free
and Accepted Masons"—thus abolishing the distinctions heretofore existing.
This completely destroyed the influence of the members of the Supreme
Council, and on the 14th of September, 1850, that body, alleging that the
Grand Lodge had violated the concordat of 1833, and also hy the resolution
of March 4, 1850, renounced jurisdiction over all symbolic lodges, except
those professing exclusively the York Rite, adopted resolutions to "resume"
its authority over "all symbolic lodges of the Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons of the Scotch Rite." At the instigation of its presiding officer,
James Foulhouze, three of the six lodges working jn the Scotch and French
Rites returned their charters to the Grand Lodge and passed under the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Council. As many members of those lodges
had an imperfect knowledge of the English language, this had been effected
by misrepresenting the action of the Grand Lodge and invoking national
prejudices. The same artifices created dissensions in a fourth lodge, which
resulted in the surrender of its charter—a portion of the members affiliating
with the regular lodges and others joining a clandestine organization.f
In a short time the absurd pretensions advanced by Foulhouze, combined
with his tyrannical sway, led to discontent in the Supreme Council which
culminated in the withdrawal of Foulhouze and a few of his adherents; an
investigation instituted by the remaining members soon convinced them
that the New Orleans Supreme Council was an illegal body; negotiations
were entered into with the Supreme Council at Charleston, and by the
concordat of February 6th and 17th, 1855, the New Orleans Supreme
Council was dissolved, and, the seceding lodges renewing their allegiance
to the Grand Lodge, symbolic Masonry again became a unit in
Louisiana.
This condition of affairs was not destined to be of long duration. Oil
the 7th of October, 1856, James Foulhouze, with the assistance of two of
his adherents, formed a new Supreme Council, commenced making Masons
at sight and manufacturing Thirty-thirds. Pursuing the same system of
•Pro. G. L. I/a. 1850-51, p. 38: Pro. Masonic Convention at Baton Rouge, 1850, in
Grand Lodge archives. The Annuary of 1849 shows that there were only twenty-nine
lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge; three of which practiced the Scotcn
Rite, two the Modern Rite, one cumulated the York, Scotch and Modern Rites, and
twenty-three practiced the York Rite. Previous to the union, the Grand Lodge
chartered two new lodges, both York Rite—thirty-one, and the twenty-five lodges
formerly under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Grand Lodge, were the fifty-six
lodges represented in the convention. But Folger (p. 233) quoting a report of LeBlanc
de Maconnay, says: "In 1849, the regular Grand Lodge of Louisiana numbered sixtysix
lodges under her jurisdiction, three of which followed the Modern Rite, four the
Scottish Rite, one cumulated the York, Scottish, and Modern Rites and the remainder
practiced the York Rite." • This is a fair specimen of the inaccuracy of Folger's statements,
as well as that of the authorities upon which he relies.
tThe three lodges were Polar Star • No. 1, Los Amigos del Orden No. 5, and Disciples
of the Masonic Senate fnow St. Andrew) No. S. Owing to dissensions amone its members:.
Amor Fraternal Lodge No. 4 surrendered its charter, and a number of them
joined Los Amigos del Orden.