G.C.R. HISTORICAL SUMMARY

(Extracted from Collectanea Vol. 9 Part 2 (1970), pp. 97–115)

SUMMARY OF MATTERS CONCERNING THE FORMATION OF THE GRAND COLLEGE OF RITES OF THE U.S.A.

In 1931, J. Raymond Shute, II, of Monroe, North Carolina, obtained information from Harold V. B. Voorhis, of Red Bank, New Jersey, that the Right Reverend Henry V. A. Parsell of New York, New York, was a surviving member of the defunct Egyptian Rite of Memphis in the United States.

Following some correspondence between Brothers Shute and Parsell, and talks with a few other interested brethren, it was decided and agreed to revive this Rite and thus gain control of it, together with its rituals and archives. The purpose of such action was to give a body to be subsequently formed—a Grand College of Rites—some material to publish, namely rituals. The idea of forming a Grand Body to print rituals of dormant Masonic bodies had already been planned by Brother Shute and a few brethren interested in such a project.

The minutes and details of this procedure follow:

PROCEEDINGS HELD IN THE MATTER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOVEREIGN SANCTUARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS DEPENDENCIES AND TERRITORIES OF THE EGYPTIAN MASONIC RITE OF MEMPHIS.

Brother Henry V. A. Parsell of New York, N.Y., holding the 95th Degree, dated April 24, 1906, signed by Harvey Goodale, 96°, M.I. Sov. Grand Master General; John S. Phillips, 95°, Grand Chancellor General; and Edgar F. Stewart, 95°, Grand Secretary General, acting as Grand Hierophant, 96° of the Sovereign Sanctuary for the United States of America, etc., conferred the 45° on J. Raymond Shute, II, of Monroe, North Carolina, Feb. 10, 1931.

On October 2, 1931, the said Henry V. A. Parsell elevated Brother George Winslow Plummer of New York, N.Y., to 95°.

On October 3, 1931, the said Henry V. A. Parsell issued a Dispensation to Brother J. Raymond Shute, II, to invest Brothers W. C. Crowell, Monroe, N.C.; Michael Saliba, Wilson, N.C.; Kennon W. Parham, Raleigh, N.C.; and J. Edward Allen, Warrenton, N.C., and such others as eligible, with the 18° and 45°. The four Brethren named in the Dispensation were so invested in the City of Durham, N.C., on October 9, 1931.

A meeting was held at Washington, D.C., on October 22, 1931, being called to order at 11 o’clock A.M. for the purpose of reviving the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Egyptian Masonic Rite of Memphis.

Brother Parsell duly conferred the 90° of the E.M.R. of M. on Brother J. Raymond Shute, II, and J. Edward Allen.

The above-named brethren were then invested with the rank and dignity of the 95° of the E.M.R. of M., and the members present proceeded to organize a Sovereign Sanctuary.

On December 18, 1931, the Sovereign Sanctuary was opened in the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, and the following brethren were invested with the 18°, 45°, 90°, and 95°, to wit:

Frank M. Pinnix, Oxford, N.C.

Luther T. Hartsell, Jr., Concord, N.C.

William B. Hodge, Charlotte, N.C.

John H. Anderson, Raleigh, N.C.

J. Hugo Tatsch, New York, N.Y.

The Grand College of Rites was formally organized in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 1932, at 2400 16th Street, N.W., at 9:25 P.M.

Present: J. Edward Allen; John H. Anderson; Luther T. Hartsell, Jr.; William B. Hodge; Kennon W. Parham; Henry V. A. Parsell; J. Ray Shute, II; J. Hugo Tatsch; Harold V. B. Voorhis.

Election resulted in the following officers:

Grand Chancellor — J. Edward Allen

Grand Vice Chancellor — J. Ray Shute, II

Grand Registrar — Harold V. B. Voorhis

Grand Prelate — Henry V. A. Parsell

Grand Redactor-General — J. Hugo Tatsch

Grand Archivist — Luther T. Hartsell, Jr.

Grand Seneschal — William B. Hodge

Grand Mareschal — John H. Anderson

H V. B. Voorhis
For Publication Committee
Formatted for digital publication by Aaron M. Shoemaker, KGC