Masonic & Scottish Rite Time Line - Charleston, SC (Cont.)
By: Ill. Brother McDonald “Don” Burbidge, 33°
Copyrighted © 2017, Orient of California, all rights reserved
Masonic & Scottish Rite Time Line
Charleston, South Carolina
1788 to 1850
1788
St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 40, surrendered its Warrant of 1787, and together with Lodges Nos. 38 and 47 of Pennsylvania, and Nos. 190 and
236 under the Athol Grand Lodge of England, formed the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.
1789
Orange Lodge no. 14 held it’s first meeting on May 28th
1791
Ill. Brother John Mitchell arrives in Charleston, South Carolina.
When Brother George Washington toured the southern states in 1791, he was met by the Intendant of Charleston on Queen Street one
block from Lodge Alley.
May 7, 1791 President George Washington, with the City Intendment and Wardens, visited the Orphans House, and Col. John Mitchell is
listed as the senior Commissioner receiving him, afterwards entertaining him at breakfast in the Commissioners’ Room.
1792
December 8, Henry Laurens passes away. His remains are cremated and his ashes interred at his estate called, “Mepkin” which is located 30
miles above Charleston on the Cooper River. He is the first recorded white person to be cremated in America.
1793
August 29, it lists Bowen printing office.
“CHARLESTON: Printed by HARRISON & BOWEN, No. 38, BAY, and Corner of Elliot Street: -- Where EBay, Articles of Intelligence,
Advertisements, &c. will be gratefully received, and every Kind of Printing Performed. — Subscriptions for this Paper at Five Dollars per
Annum — one half on subscribing, the Remainder at the end of the year.”
(From this description we can locate where he had his printing shop. Address changed due to new buildings being built. However Bowen
pinpoints the location at 38 East Bay and corner of Elliot Street.)
The South Carolina Georgia Almanac, 1793, lists Bowen as Senior Warden of the Mount Zion Society {incorporated in 1777} and from its
establishment he was active in the Society of the Cincinnati at Charleston, holding offices and serving on various committees.
1794
The Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons charters the eleventh lodge in Charleston and it is called “Orange Lodge No. 31.
1795
A major point of interest is the revelation in a list of lodges meeting in Charleston. The Lodge No’s are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, and 31, nine in all
were holding meetings.
April 2, 1795, Bernard M. Spitzer appointed Col. John Mitchell a Deputy Inspector General and his patent as such were issued the same day.
He was still in East Bay Street, a Magistrate and Notary Public, according to the city directory.
1796
LaCandeur Lodge No. 36 is established on August 24th in Charleston. This lodge worked in the French language and kept its records in
French and was allowed to work in the French Rite. Ill. Bro. Comte de Grasse with his father-in-law became a founder of Lodge La Candeur at
Charleston.
December 12th Hyman Long and others issue a patent to De Grasse designating him to be a Deputy Grand Inspector General.
1797
Ill. Brother Israel De Lieben is listed as a member of Orange Lodge No. 14 and as Hospitaller of the Grand Lodge during this year.
1798
In a list of the officers and members of the South Carolina Society of the Cincinnati you will find these entries:
Thomas B. Bowen…Captain…Pa.
John Mitchell…D.Q.M. General…Pa.
Major Thomas B. Bowen was elected a member of the Society’s two Stewards on July 4, 1798, and it may be noted, parenthetically, that at
the same time Col. John Mitchell was elected to the Standing Committee.
Ill. Bro. Comte de Grasse is listed as Master of La Candeur Lodge in Charleston
1799
June 24th, Col. John Mitchell Under signed a circular as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodges to meet at Washington, D.C.
1800
Three French Rite Bodies, A Lodge of Perfection, a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and a Grand Sublime Council of Princes of the
Royal Secret, was established in Charleston.
1801
24th of May, the Bro. John Mitchell, “K.H.P.R.S., Deputy Inspector-General,” granted to “Fredrick Dalcho, Esquire, late First Lieutenant in the
First Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers, in the service of the United States of America, and Paymaster to the regular troops in the State
of Georgia), Physician in the city of Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the Medical Society of said State,” a patent, certifying him to
be K. H. and Prince of the Royal Secret, and creating him Deputy Inspector-General.
On April 01 Dr. Auld was elected the 65th member of the South Carolina Medical Society, preceding Dr. Dalcho (the 66th member) by three
months. Dalcho and Auld were within a few months of being the same age, and the two men had a number of mutual interests to draw
them together.
The Supreme Council for the Scottish Rite was founded on May 31st at Shepheard’s Tavern located at the corner of Church and
Broad Street.
Col. John Mitchell, Sov. Grand Commander
Dr. Fredrick Dalcho, Lt. Grand Commander
Emanuel de La Motta, Treasurer General of the Holy Empire
Abraham Alexander, Secretary General of the Holy Empire
Major T.B. Bowen, Grand Master of Ceremonies
Israel de Lieben, Sov Gr Inspector-General
Dr. Issac Auld, Sov Gr Inspector-General
Moses C. Levy, Sov Gr Inspector-General
Dr. James Moultrie, Sov Gr Inspector-General
Jean Baptiste Delahouge
Comte De Grasse
Colonel John Mitchell, a native of Ireland and an officer of the American Army in the War of the Revolution established “The New Age
Magazine on May 31, 1801.
September 23 Dr. Dalcho delivers his first Orations to the “sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection” at Charleston. The “Oration” was dedicated to
Col. John Mitchell, Supreme Grand Master, and President of the Supreme Council of Masons In the United States.
1802
Col. John Mitchell issues a “Circular through the two Hemispheres” commonly referred to as the Supreme Council’s manifesto. Dalcho states,
“The above report was taken into consideration, and the Council was pleased to express the highest approbation of the same. Whereupon
Resolved, that the forgoing report be printed and transmitted to all the Sublime and Symbolic Grand Lodges, throughout the Two
Hemispheres.”
The Register shows Brother Bowen as a Past Grand Master of the Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection, Grand Master of Ceremonies in the
Chapter of Rose Croix and in the Grand Consistory, as well as holding the same title in the Supreme Council.
Ill. Brother Abraham Alexander is listed in the Register of 1802 as the fourth officer of the Grand Council, as Grand Secretary of the Chapter
of Rose Croix, and holding the same office in the Consistory and in the Supreme Council.
Ill. Bro. Moultrie is listed as grand Orator and Keeper of the Seals in the Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection, Grand Minister of State in the
Consistory, and a Sov. Grand Inspector in the Supreme Council.
May 9th Ill. Bro. Moses Clava Levy was made an active member of the Supreme Council in Charleston.
August 2 Ill. Bro. Dr. James Moultrie, M.D. was made a member of the Supreme Council.
1803
Dr. Dalcho delivers an Oration before the Grand Lodge of South Carolina titled,” An Oration Delivered In The Sublime Grand Lodge Of South
Carolina, In Charleston on the 21st of March, A. L. 5807
1805
Brother Thomas Bartholomew Bowen dies at Hillsborough Plantation on July 12th and buried on the plantation. Brother Bowen is the first
member of the Supreme Council to pass away.
1807
Brother Israel Delieben dies at Charleston on January 28th
Dr. Dalcho published the “Ahiman Rezon or a book of Constitutions” at the request of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons for the state
of South Carolina. With the help of Dr. Dalcho the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and that of Ancient York Masons of South
Carolina united under the name of “The Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of South Carolina” which continues to exist to the present time.
John Fowler was directed by the Original Chapter of Prince Masons of Ireland to write Dr. Frederick Dalcho and ask his permission to reprint
his orations from 1801, 1803, and 1807. Dr. Dalcho replied on February 25, 1808, expressing his gratification at the request and readily
acceding to it.
1808
The Ancient Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge F. &A.M. (the Ancients and Moderns) consummated a union forming the Grand Lodge of
South Carolina.
1809
Col. John Mitchell is listed as a Past Master of Union Lodge No. 8
1813
September 13, Ill. Bro. De La Motta published a Manifesto at New York in which he declares Joseph Cerneau was described as an “Imposter
of the first magnitude” and all the bodies working under his direction as unlawful.
1816
(or 1826) Brother John Mitchell dies at Charleston January 25th
Brother Abraham Alexander dies at Charleston on February 21st And is listed as the fourth member of the Supreme Council to Pass away.
1817
Pythagorean Lodge No. 21 is established in Charleston, South Carolina. The first notice found on Pythagorean Lodge is in the proceedings of
the Grand Lodge of A.Y.M., held in 1817. It is there designated by its name, but without a number.
Dr. Dalcho publishes a book on the theological works titled; A Letter On Public Baptism As Established By The Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States of America.
Washington Lodge No. 5 Charleston, South Carolina. At the Union in 1817 there was a Lodge in Charleston, on the registry of the Grand
Lodge of South Carolina, whose number was 5, but whose name is no where to be found. In 1825 it united with Orange Lodge No. 14. In the
same year Washington Lodge No. 7 and Union Lodge No. 8, both of Charleston, and both Lodges which, at the time of the union, were
attached to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, were, on their own petition, amalgamated into one Lodge, to be known as “Washington
Lodge No. 5,” which name and number have been ever since retained by that Lodge.
1818
St. John’s Lodge No.13 Charleston, South Carolina. This Lodge, now long since extinct, once played an important part in the history of
Masonry in South Carolina. St. John’s Lodge No. 31 (for that was the original number) was the leader of that organized opposition of Ancient
York Lodges, which dissented from the union of the two Grand Lodges in 1808, and which caused the revival of the York Grand Lodge in
1809. It took its willing share, however, in the second and more successful union of 1817 and, on the necessary alterations being made in
the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons in 1818, it received the number 13.
1820
August Dr. Dalcho published another story, Evidences Of the Divinity of Jesus Christ; With The Testimony Of Christian and Heathen Writers,
That He was Called GOD, And Worshipped as GOD, In the First Three Centuries
1821
Brother Emanuel De La Motta dies at Charleston on May 17th
1822
February 9, Ill. Bro. Isaac Auld issued new letters of Constitution for the Council of Princes of Jerusalem at Charleston, inactive since the fire
of 1819. Brother Jean Baptiste Delahogue dies at Paris, France on April 13th (May) The alleged slave uprising of Denmark Vesey is revealed to
authorities.
The first native-born architect in America, Robert Mills, designs the first fireproof Building in America standing at the corner of Chalmers and
Meeting Streets. A native Charlestonians, Mills also designed the First Baptist Church And the Washington Monument in our nation's capital.
Dr. Frederick Dalcho published his second edition of the “Ahiman Rezon.”
November 15, Auld, Moultrie, and Levy meet as the Supreme Council to elect Dr. Moses Holbrook and Horatio Gates Street as newly made
members of the Supreme Council in Charleston.
1823
Ill. Bro. Moultrie is listed as a past master of Kilwinning Lodge No. 4 in the Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1823.
Ill. Bro. Rev. Dalcho on October 31, 1823 sends a letter of resignation to be read at the Grand Lodge meeting.
Dr. Isaac Auld is named the new Grand Commander of the Supreme Council.
1824
Dr. Auld issues a letter of patent on August 13 to the Duke of Leinster as Grand Commander, John Fowler as Lieutenant Grand Commander
of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree for Ireland, and Thomas McGill as Treasurer General.
September 16th Illustrious Brother General La Fayette arrives in Charleston and is warmly received by the Brethren of this city.
1825
Union Lodge No. 6 is incorporated with St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 10 Washington Lodge No. 7 is incorporated with Union Lodge No. 8
The membership of the Supreme Council was as follows:
Isaac Auld, Grand Commander
Moses Holbrook, Lieutenant Grand Commander
James Moultrie, Secretary General
M.C. Levy, Treasurer General
Horatio Gates
Alexander McDonald
Joseph Barker
Joseph Eveleth (Massachusetts)
John Rochie
Giles F. Yates (New York)
Frederick Dalcho (Past Grand Commander)
1826
May 16, Dr. Dalcho published another address, “An Address Delivered in St. Michael’s Church Charleston Protestant Episcopal Sunday School
Society, At their Seventh Anniversary May 16 Being the Tuesday in Whitsun Week 1826
Brother Isaac Auld dies at Edisto Island on October 23rd of country fever and is buried on Edingsville Island off of Edisto Island.
1836
Brother James Moultrie dies at Charleston on November 20th
Brother Frederick Dalcho dies at Charleston on November 26th
St. John’s Lodge No. 13, Charleston, South Carolina In 1836 it became extinct, and a considerable amount of funds, including ten shares of
Planters and Mechanics’ Bank stock passed into the treasury of the Grand Lodge. St. John’s Lodge, during its existence, contained on its roll
the names of some of the most zealous and intelligent Masons in the jurisdiction.
1839
Brother Moses Clava Levy is at Charleston on April 2nd
1844
Wallahalla Lodge No. 66 is established in Charleston on June 4th. The warrant was granted June 4, 1844, to J. A. Wagener, W.M., J. J. Boesch,
S.W., and C. Bruner, J.W. Several German Masons for the benefit of their countrymen who were not well acquainted with the English
language instituted the Lodge. It accordingly works in the German tongue.
1845
Brother Comte De Grasse dies at Paris, France on June 10th at 12:30AM due to chronic bronchial pneumonia.
1850
Albert G. Mackey, in his capacity as a Grand Inspector General from the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction,
organized the first Council of Royal and Select Masters in South Carolina.
Strict Observance Lodge No. 73, Charleston, South Carolina. The warrant of this Lodge was issued on March 5 to F. C. Barber, W.M., S. J. Hull,
S.W., and Langdon C. Duncan, J. W.
Landmark Lodge No. 77, Charleston, South Carolina. The warrant was issued on December 11 to John A. Gyles, W.M., Theo. S. Gourdin, S.W.,
and Wm. A. Gourdin, J.W. The Lodge was formed out of Solomon’s Lodge No. 1, five of the Past Masters, and five other members having
withdrawn from that Lodge to constitute Landmark Lodge.
References:
History of the Supreme Council 33°
1801-1861
By: Ray Baker Harris
Dated: 1964
The History of Freemasonry of South Carolina
By: Albert A. Mackey, M.D.
Copy Right: 1931
Various Documents on Locale Lodges in Charleston
Various Newspaper articles printed in Charleston
Various Documents obtain from Philadelphia on Masonic Lodges in Charleston
From the 1700-1800’s
Josh Silver-Liberian
Copyrighted © 2017, Orient of California, all rights reserved