About Us
HISTORICAL OVERIEW OF THE CRYPTIC MASONRY IN LOUISIANA
The degrees of Royal and Select Masters were introduced into this country in approximately 1783 in Charleston, S.C. In various states and at various time in their history, the two degrees have been under various authorities and those authorities were responsible for the conferring of the degrees. They have been under the jurisdiction of Grand Councils, Grand Chapters of Holy Royal Arch Masons and Supreme Councils of the Thirty Third Degree A.A.S.R.
History of the “Most Illustrious Pelican Grand Council of
Royal & Select Masters of Louisiana, PHA, INC.”
During the late 1980’s, Brother Kenneth Brown had a vision of having an active “Cryptic Rite Council” in Louisiana while visiting Washington DC. Bro. Brown meets a friend in DC who was a member of Redemption Lodge #24 and was invited to their meeting. While waiting for that Blue Lodge meeting, he noticed a few brothers dressed in white aprons with purple borders and a broken triangle in the center emblem. This intrigued Bro. Brown so much that he checked the history of Louisiana and could not find that a Cryptic house had never been organized in Louisiana. At that Time the idea was met with much opposition when presented, the time was not right but the idea and dream never died. Bro. Brown met the late Walter Bradley at Esther Grand Chapter Grand session here in Louisiana. The late Bro. Bradley was a Past Thrice Illustrious Master and the sitting Grand Recorder of the Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Ohio. Bro. Brown received much advice along with written material on Royal & Select Masters but still opposition remained.
After lying dormant for a number of years a very courageous young man by the name of Bro. Kevin M. Burns, Sr. with a vision and high ambitions began to water that seed. Bro. Burns consulted Grand Master A. Ralph Slaughter of Louisiana, Grand Master Michael Moore of Florida and Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Earnest Daniels of Florida to inquire about the Royal & Select Masters order. Bro. Burns along with Bro. Byron Gray, Sr., Bro. Troy D.A. Magee, Bro. Christopher Taylor, and Bro. Toran Joseph began to set the plan in motion. By the guidance and permissive will of almighty GOD, on Saturday May 17, 2008 the very first ever Cryptic Rite of Royal & Select Masters was organized and set to work. Two councils were formed one in New Orleans and the other in Baton Rouge. New Orleans Council #23 UD with the elected officers of:
Other Ill Companions that were Greeted (ceremony for initiation) were: Edward L. Prater (deceased), Jonathon Johnson, George Downing, Don Taylor, Kenneth Brown, Sr., Rene Paige, Jr., Nathan Brumfield, Gerald Nettles, Everett Woods, Joe Long, Jr.,
Rene Watson, Jr., Chris Richard, Frank Bedell, III, Sundiata Hall, Reginald White, II, Miguel Smith, Andrew Wilson, Jr., Bernard Glapion, Sr., and Quinton Sambo.
These councils were set to work under The Most Illustrious Union Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Florida, PHA, and Jurisdiction with the Honorable Ernest K. Daniels as its Grand Thrice Illustrious Master. GTIM Daniels appointed TIM Kevin M. Burns, Sr. as Special Deputy of Louisiana. This was one of the biggest major milestones in Prince Hall Masonry for the state of Louisiana.
On September 19, 2009, a third council was formed in Alexandria Louisiana by the name of Johnnie Carter, III #25 UD which would use Ruston, LA as its original meeting home before relocating to Leesville, LA. The elected officers of this council are as follows:
What made this more of a special day was that we had our very own Most Excellent Grand High Priest A.D.Teno, III along with our Right Eminent Grand Commander Jeffrey N. Beasley in the Greeting class! This was truly a blessing for the York Rite of our great state of Louisiana.
On Saturday February 20, 2010 the three councils of New Orleans Council #23, Robert Buffington #24, and Johnnie Carter, III #25 were summoned to a ceremony presided over by Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Earnest Daniels of the Most Illustrious Union Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Florida, PHA and Jurisdiction to form the Pelican Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Louisiana Jurisdiction, PHA. The officers elected to positions were:
The following officers were appointed by our new Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Kevin M. Burns, Sr.
The three councils were renumbered to New Orleans Council #1, Robert Buffington Council #2, and Johnnie Carter, III #3.
Gratitude of thanks is given to Dr. A. Ralph Slaughter, Grand Master of the M.W. Price Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana, William Moore, Grand Master of M.W. Union Grand Lodge of Florida, A.D. Teno, III, M. E. Grand High Priest of M.E. Prince Hall Grand Chapter H.R. Mason of Louisiana, Jeffrey Beasley, Right Grand Eminent Commander of the Pelican Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Louisiana for your support and prayers in allowing a long-awaited dream become a reality.
On June 18, 2011, a fourth council was formed in Leesville Louisiana by the name of Kenneth Brown, Sr. #4 UD which will meet in Monroe Louisiana. The elected officers of this council are as follows:
On March 31, 2012 in the city of Alexandria Louisiana, the Most Illustrious Pelican Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of the State of Louisiana held its first Grand Assembly! One of the highlights of this session was to see Kenneth Brown, Sr. show suitable proficiency and come from under UD. Kenneth Brown, Sr. council was issued the number 4 and placed on the rolls with the Grand Council. Another highlight of this session was Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Kevin M. Burns, Sr. received two petitions one from New Orleans Council #1 and the other from Kenneth Brown, Sr. number 4. New Orleans Council #1 requested that the name Kenneth Brown, Sr. be given to them and Kenneth Brown, Sr. agreed and asks to name their council Rodney McFarland. Each petition was signed by each member of the respective councils and voted on by each council. By the hand of the Grand Thrice the names were switched to read Kenneth Brown, Sr. Council #1 and Rodney McFarland council #4.
On January 3, 2013, the following Illustrious Companions from the Opelousas area were Greeted: Michael Lazard, Preston Randell, Iverson Jarrell, Jr., Ronald Milburn, Charles Tyler, Troy Walker, Damien Thomas, and James Williams, Jr. Charles-Guidry Council U.D. was set to work on January 4, 2013. April 6, 2013, the council showed suitable proficiency and Greeted Rufus Charles and Joseph Guidry of whom the council derived its name. On May 2, 2013 in the city of Lafayette at the 2nd Annual Grand Assembly, Charles-Guidry Council #5 was charted for the city of Opelousas, LA with following officers: