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          EXPORT FREEMASONRY
          by
          John J. Olk, MPS
          
          A student of American Freemasonry comes, very soon, to
          the opinion that all elements of our fraternity had their origin
          in England. This is, perhaps, a natural conclusion in that
          English Constitution Bodies have had the greatest influence
          in the establishment of our basic Craft, or Blue, Lodge
          organization. By definition, in the 1813 Constitution of the
          United Grand Lodge, the Holy Royal Arch is included. Thus,
          a majority of our York Rite Bodies are shown to have been
          imported from England.
          However, further study will show that when we go "Beyond
          the Craft," we, in the United States, are, indeed, Masonic
          exporters. If the "Balance of Trade" concept can be applied
          to fraternal matters, we come close to balancing the
          accounts.
          This paper will concern itself with three bodies that originated
          in the United States and are now practiced in most of the
          English-speaking world. Perhaps, English-speaking Masonry
          would be a better term - more than a few are located in
          countries where English is not the native or dominant
          tongue. Those three are; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,
          the Council of Royal and Select Masters, and the Order of
          the Secret Monitor. 
          The story of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite is too
          complex to be included in this paper. Suffice it to say that
          after a protracted period of disorder and near anarchy,
          strong leadership managed to formulate the two jurisdiction
          structures that we now know. The first Charter, and/or
          Constitution of the Scottish Rite established one Supreme
          Council in all member nations except for the United States
          where two are specified to be "as far separated,
          geographically," as possible.
          In 1819, a patent was issued by the Supreme Council, in
          Charleston, to the Duke of Sussex. It authorized the
          formation of a Supreme Council for England with its Grand
          East in London. However, it was not acted on and it was not
          until 1845 that definitive action was taken to form a Scottish
          Rite Body in England. 
          A Patent was issued on October 26, 1845 to Robert Thomas
          Crucefix. It authorized the formation of the Grand and
          Supreme Council of England with Crucefix as the first
          Sovereign Grand Commander to hold that office "ad vitam."
          The letter of transmittal carried an unusual paragraph, as
          follows:
          "No Jew Brother is ever to be received under any
          circumstances. None but Christian Brothers can be initiated."
          As a result, the Accepted Scottish Rite, in England and all
          areas adherent to the English Constitution, is a Christian
          organization. In fact, the Northern and Southern Masonic
          Jurisdictions of the United States are the only Supreme
          Councils that have "de-Christianized."
          Scottish Rite, in the United States, at one time included the
          degrees of Royal and Select Master. In the early Nineteenth
          Century, they released control of these degrees to the
          General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.
          Subsequently, Grand Councils were erected in the several
          States, and a General Grand Council came into being. There
          were periods of ennui and in some cases, Grand Councils
          surrendered their Charter and authority to the Grand
          Chapters. This did not prevail for more than a very few years
          and control was returned to Grand Councils. The control of
          the degrees was, meanwhile, ceded to them from the
          General Grand Chapter.
          After a period of correspondence, the Grand Council of New
          York, in 1871, issued dispensations for the formation of four
          Councils in England. These Councils, in 1873 formed the
          Grand Council of England under the patronage of the
          Reverend Canon G. R. Portal, Past Grand Master of the
          Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. Administered from
          Mark Masons' Hall, the Grand Council now exercises
          authority over four degrees; Most Excellent Master, Royal
          Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent Master. 
          At about the same time, the Grand Council of Illinois granted
          dispensations for the formation of Councils in Scotland.
          These Councils, then established, under the auspices of the
          Supreme Grand Chapter, of Royal Arch Masons, of
          Scotland, the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters of
          Scotland. The Grand Council remains a part of the Grand
          Chapter, and the council, or "Cryptic" degrees are conferred
          in "Holy Royal Arch" Assemblies. The Grand Chapter
          Officers also function as Grand Council Officers.
          At some time in the early Nineteenth Century, the "Order of
          the Secret Monitor" arose in the United States. Originally, it
          was an honorary, or "side" degree conferred by any Master
          Mason possessing it. It gradually lost popularity and was no
          longer conferred. This fact, along with the lack of a
          centralized governing organization, brought it under the
          umbrella of the Allied Masonic Degrees. It is still a part of the
          A.M.D. in America.
          The degree was brought to England, about 1875, by Doctor
          I. Zacharie who was instrumental in forming a Grand Council
          of the Secret Monitor, in 1887. Two further degrees were
          added - one of which - "Supreme Ruler" pertains to the
          presiding officer. The original Order came under the
          jurisdiction of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England, and
          for years there was conflict over which Body was the "True"
          Order of the Secret Monitor.
          The conflict was resolved in 1931 when C. W.
          Napier-Clavering effected the transfer of all authority from
          the Allied Masonic Degrees to the Grand Council of the
          Order of the Secret Monitor. He was able to exert influence
          because he was both Grand Supreme Ruler of the Secret
          Monitor, and Grand Master of Allied Masonry.
          The expanded Order, under the strong centralized
          leadership, became very popular in England and the
          "Colonies." This was largely due to the fact that its ritual
          concerned the basic friendship and brotherly love of Craft
          Masonry. Also, it included, by design, the family unit and not
          simply the Brother involved. 
          The writer has been told, by an Australian Lady, the wife of a
          very active Brother Companion, and Sir Knight, that the
          Secret Monitor was her favorite of all Bodies. She stressed
          the factor of family involvement. Could there be a message
          here for American Freemasonry?
          In Toronto, Ontario, in September 1994 there was a
          consecration ceremony involving the Order of the Secret
          Monitor. Under the aegis of the Allied Masonic Degrees, and
          dispensation from England, Conclaves of the Order of the
          Secret Monitor were created - in the expanded three-degree
          form. This was done in anticipation of the creation of a
          Grand Conclave of the Order in Canada, followed by the
          transfer, of the Order, from the Allied Masonic Degrees.
          Introducing this activity, by our Canadian Brothers, opens
          another facet of our theme of "Exported Freemasonry."
          Technically, when these Masonic activities cross the longest
          undefended border in the world, in either direction, they are
          "exported" and "imported." There are, however, several
          organizations which may be better described as "shared."
          The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine,
          Knights of the York Cross of Honor, and the York Rite
          Sovereign College of North America come to mind
          immediately.
          All three originated in America. All three, almost immediately,
          had members on both sides of the border. All three have
          constituent bodies - Shrine Temples, K.Y.C.H. Priories, and
          York Rite Colleges, on both sides of the border. All three
          have Officers, in their respective International governing
          bodies, from both sides of the border. Q.E.D., they are
          shared between the North American nations. 
          Finally, a disclaimer. The author recognizes that
          documented Scottish Freemasonry predates that of England.
          However, English Freemasonry exerted a greater influence
          on the Colonial American fraternity than did those of
          Scotland or Ireland. The theme of this paper was the "Export
          of Freemasonry" and was not intended to expand arguments
          of British fraternal precedence. 
          
          BIBLIOGRAPHY
          
          G. R. Newbury & L. L. Williams, A History of the Supreme
          Council 33 degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for
          the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of
          America, Supreme Council N. M. J., Lexington,
          Massachusetts 1987 
          
          A. G. Mackay, An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Revised
          Edition by Hughan & Hawkes, The Masonic History Co., New
          York 1918
          
          Keith B. Jackson, Beyond the Craft, Lewis Masonic,
          Terminal House, Shepparton, England
          
          Annals, the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of
          the United States of America, Volume IX, Part 2.
          Proceedings of the Ninety-ninth Annual Communication
          1991 
          
          The Quaternion, Transactions of the Convent General,
          Knights of the York Cross of Honor