Justices of the Supreme Court and Freemasonry, Part 2

Continuing from Part 1, this article will discuss those Freemasons who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America during the 19th century. There are sixteen Freemasons who served in this time and they are: John Marshall, Thomas Todd, Joseph Story, Robert Trimble, John McLean, Henry Baldwin, John Catron, Samuel Nelson, Levi Woodbury, Noah H. Swayne, David Davis, Stephen J. Field, John M. Harlan, William B. Woods, Stanley Matthews, and Samuel Blatchford.

John Marshall was a lawyer who as a young man had little formal education, but read as much as he could before attending a 6-week course at William and Mary College, and then accepted to the bar. He joined the "Minute Men" after being inspired by Patrick Henry's memorable speech of "Give me Liberty or give me Death!" He enlisted along side his father and they both served at battles at Great Bridge, Norfolk, Valley Forge, Brandywine, Monmouth, Germantown, Stony Point, and Yorktown. After his military career was done, Marshall returned to the House of Burgesses, served in the US House of Representatives and as US Secretary of State before becoming Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court in 1801; he would serve as Chief Justice for 34-years and holds the record for longest serving Chief Justice. In this position, he ruled on several fundamental legal decisions that shape our nation even today. It is unsure exactly when he became a Mason, but many believe it was while at Valley Forge with General Washington. He is listed as a member of Richmond Lodge No.13 (today No.10), Richmond-Randolph Lodge No.19, as well as Richmond Chapter No.3 of Royal Arch Masons. He is never listed as serving as Worshipful Master of either those Lodges, but is listed as Grand Master of Masons of Virginia from 1793 to 1795.

Thomas Todd is less known, but he served as an Associate Justice from 1807 to 1826. Born on January 23, 1765, Todd was the youngest of five children and was orphaned at a young age. He attended Liberty Hall Academy (now Washington and Lee University) and graduated at the age of 18. Afterward he worked to earn room and board and studied law at the same institution. After fighting in the Revolutionary War, Todd entered into a career as a lawyer in Danville, KY. He was a key proponent for establishing Kentucky as a state and once the state was established was made clerk for the courts in Kentucky; he became judge of that court in 1801 and Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1806. He was appointed by President Jefferson in 1807 to the US Supreme Court and served there for 19-years. In regards to Freemasonry, he was a member of Pittsylvania Lodge No.24 in Chatham, VA, and once he moved to Kentucky became a charter member of Lexington Lodge No.1.

Born in the middle of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Story served as an Associate Justice from 1811 to 1845. He graduated Harvard in 1798 and started his own practice in 1801 where he established himself as a prominent member of the bar in New England. When he was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice on November 18, 1811, he was only 32-years old. Story remains the youngest Supreme Court Justice at appointment. Here he found a congenial home for the brilliance of his scholarship and the development and expression of his political philosophy. Soon after Story's appointment, the Supreme Court began to bring out into plain view the powers which the United States Constitution had given it over state courts and state legislation. Chief Justice John Marshall led this effort, but Story had a very large share in the remarkable decisions and opinions issued from 1812 until 1832. For instance, Story wrote the opinion for a unanimous court in Martin v. Hunter's Lessee following Marshall's recusal. He built up the department of admiralty law in the United States federal courts; he devoted much attention to equity jurisprudence and the department of patent law. He was an opponent of slavery and his 1841 opinion in the US v The Amistad is still remembered today. In 1829, he became the first Dane Professor of Law at Harvard University. He both taught law and served as a Supreme Court Justice until his death on September 10, 1845. He was a member of Philanthropic Lodge in Marblehead, MA.

Robert Trimble was born in Virginia in 1777, but raised and lived in Kentucky where he was largely self-educated and, after studying law in Lebanon, OH, began to practice law in 1803 in Paris, KY. He served one term in the Kentucky House of Representatives, but didn't enjoy the political environment and refused to take any further elections to public office. He was better suited for law and was known for his fairness and sound judgment. He became a Judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1808, Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1810, US District Attorney in 1813, Federal Judge of Kentucky in 1816, and then became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1826. He is listed as a Past Master of Union Lodge No.16 in Paris, KY, where he was initiated on December 27, 1808, passed on January 21, 1809, and raised on August 2, 1809. His life was cut short due to illness and died on August 25, 1828.

John McLean was quite the traveler as he was born in NJ in 1785 and by the age of 14 he had lived in Virginia, Kentucky, and finally settling in Ohio. He studied law in Cincinatti and practiced law for 5-years in Lebanon, OH, until hew as elected as a member of the US House of Representatives in 1812 where he served for 3-years. In 1815 he was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. In 1822 he was appointed by President Monroe as Commissioner of the General Land Office and then the next year was appointed Postmaster General where he remained until 1829. In that year he was nominated and confirmed as an Associated Justice for the US Supreme Court where he served until his death on April 4, 1861. He is listed as a member of Columbus Lodge No.30 in Ohio.

A controversial figure on the bench, Henry Baldwin believed the Supreme Court should have it's judiciary power reigned in. He was born in 1780 in Connecticut to a wealthy family. He didn't take much of his education seriously and it wasn't until attending lectures by Tapping Reeve that he took an interest in the law. His political beliefs formed when clerking

for Alexander Dallas, a Philadelphia attorney. Baldwin was admitted to the bar in 1801 where he began work as Deputy Attorney General in Meadville, PA. To help further the Jeffersonian Party agenda, he moved to Pittsburg where political tensions were often so intense that they were often resolved with duels, one of which almost resulted in Baldwin's death. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1816. During his three terms in office, he became known as a staunch supporter of Andrew Jackson. He resigned in 1822 due to health reasons and would not resume a federal position until he was nominated and confirmed to the US Supreme Court in 1830 by President Andrew Jackson. His time on the bench was marked aggressive opposition to the decisions of his fellow Justices. He served until his death on April, 21, 1844, in Philadelphia, PA. Little is known about his Masonic history, but what is known is that he served as Worshipful Master of Lodge No.45 in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1805. Lodge No.45 is the "oldest continuously operating Masonic Lodge in the United States west of the Appalachian Mountains."

John Catron is quite the paradox: he opposed secession, but supported slavery and states' rights. He was born in 1786 in Philadelphia, PA. He served in the Army and was involved the New Orleans campaign during the War of 1812. Once he was done with the war, he moved to Nashville, TN, to practice law. In 1824, he was appointed as a Judge on the Kentucky Supreme Court of Error and Appeals and becoming its first Chief Justice in 1830. He became an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court in 1837, a tumultuous time before the Civil war. His appointment occurred just after the Judiciary Act of 1837 when the Supreme Court was temporarily expanded from seven to nine members on the bench. He served on the Supreme Court until May 30, 1865, when he died. He is listed as a member of Cumberland Lodge No.8 in Nashville.

Samuel Nelson, in comparison to some of his fellow Justices and Brothers, led quite the uncontroversial life on the bench. Nelson was born on November 10, 1792, in Hebron, NY (eastern central NY; near the Vermont border), to farmers. He wenet to Vermont for college, but would eventually move back to NY (Cortland) where he set up a private practice around 1817. In 1820, he was appointed Postmaster and also served as a Presidential Elector that year for the Democratic-Republican Party. In 1823, Nelson was appointied to the 6th Circuit Court of New York. He was appointed as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the State of NY in 1831. He would later serve as Chief Justice of this court from 1837 to 1845. He was remembered on this court as being no nonsense and logical in his decision and opinions which made him a safe choice for a nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States of America by President John Tyler. Samuel Nelson was confirmed on February 14, 1845. He was known for not wanting to rock the boat and that is seen during the Civil War when he often voted along with the majority. He did speak up against President Lincoln during the Prize cases and criticized some of the Union's actions during the Civil War, but as he was so highly regarded, he was still asked to serve the government in various capacities aside from the Supreme Court; an example is when he served on the 1871 Alabama Claims Commission after the Civil War. He retired from the Supreme Court on November 28, 1872, where he moved back to New York and enjoyed the remaining year of his life. He died of old age on December 13, 1873. He is listed as a member of Solomon's Lodge in New York.

While not listed in 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Levi Woodbury is listed as a Freemason on the Masonic Info website (his specific Masonic information is unknown). Woodbury served the United States in a number of offices including Governor of New Hampsire, US Senator, Secretary of the US Navy, Secretary of the Treasury, and Supreme Court Justice. He was born on December 2, 1789, to a family who traced their lineage back to the Puritan settlers on the American continent. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1809 before heading to law school, but he did not enjoy the academic environment so he decided to learn law as an apprentice. He was admitted to the bar in 1812 and opened a practice in Francestown, NH. He aligned himself with the new Jeffersonian Republican Party where he took on leadership roles. He would go on to be a state Senate clerk before serving on New Hampshire's Superior Court. Starting in 1823, he served for one term as Governor before being defeated. He then went on to serve in the New Hampshire House of Representatives where he would serve as Speaker of the House until 1825 when he was elected to the US Senate. He represented New Hampshire in the Senate until he was appointed, by President Andrew Jackson, as Secretary of the Navy. President Van Buren then appointed him Secretary of the Treasury. When President Harrison took office, Woodbury returned to serving as a US Senator. Once President Polk took office, Woodbury was nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court where he served until his sudden death on September 4, 1851.

Noah Swayne was the first of Lincoln's five appointed Justices and the first Republican appointed to the Supreme Court. Swayne was born on December 7, 1804 and raised in Frederick County, VA. At the age of 19, being so opposed to slavery, he moved to Coshocton, OH, where he would serve as a prosecuting attorney, state legislator, and US District Attorney. Due to his pro-Union and anti-slavery stances, he was a great candidate for Lincoln to nominate when a vacancy occurred in the Supreme Court by the death of Justice John McLean. He served until January 24, 1881, when he resigned due to complications of old age. He died on June 8, 1884, in New York City. Swayne had joined Clinton Lodge No.96 in 1827, but in 1841 affiliated with Columbus Lodge No.30.

While remembered as a Supreme Court Justice, David Davis is also remembered a close friend as Abraham Lincoln. Born on March 9, 1815, in Sassafras Neck, MD. He graduated from Yale University in 1835 and moved to Bloomington, IL, to practice law. He started serving as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1845 and served until his appointment to the Illinois Eighth Circuit Court in 1848. It was during his time in the House that he met Abraham Lincoln. Davis served as Lincoln's campaign manager in 1860 and in turn President Lincoln nominated Davis to the Supreme Court; Lincoln had tried cases before Davis when he was a judge in Illinois. He was confirmed on October 17, 1862, and served in that position until 1877 when he desired to take part in more partisan politics. He was elected as a US Senator from Illinois in 1877 and served in that position until 1883. After that one term he retired from public life and died on June 26, 1886. Davis is listed in 10,000 Famous Freemasons as having been buried with Masonic ceremonies in Bloomington, IL, but there are no other sources that show him having been a Mason.

Born on November 4, 1816, in Haddam, CT, Stephen J. Field, was the sixth child of nine. He lived quite an extraordinary life which included traveling to Turkey as a teenager. He attended Williams College where he helped found the Delta Upsilon fraternity. After school, he practiced law with his brother David until 1848 when he traveled to California during the gold rush. Due to his success as a lawyer, he was elected as alcalde (a magistrate or mayor in Spanish towns) of Marysville. In 1850 he was elected to the California State Assembly. After an unsuccessful Senate run, he was elected in 1857 to the California Supreme Court where he was would rise to Chief Justice in 1859. In 1863, the number of US Supreme Court Justices was expanded to 10 and Fields was appointed by Lincoln to fill that position. He holds the record as second longest serving Associate Justice and wrote 544 opinions while serving on the bench. He served as an Associate Justice until 1897 when he resigned. He died on April 9, 1899, in Washington DC. He is listed as a life member of Corinthian-Hammonton Lodge No.9 in Marysville, CA.

Born to a civic-minded family, John M. Harlan served as a Colonel of the 10th Kentucky Infantry for the Union during the Civil War, Adjutant General of Kentucky, Attorney General of Kentucky, and Associate Justice for the US Supreme Court. He attended Centre College and then law school at Transylvania University in Lexington. After graduating, he worked at his father's law office. Though a slaveholder, he stayed loyal to the Union during the Civil War. He was a driving force behind the nomination of Rutherford B. Hayes as President and it was this President who nominated Harlan to the Supreme Court. He is listed in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky from 1858 to 1867 as a member of Hiram Lodge No.4 in Frankfurt, KY.

Though born and raised in Ohio, William B. Woods would later move to Alabama and he would be the first appointment from a Confederate state since 1853. After graduating from Yale in 1845 he returned to Newark and practiced law. In 1856, he was elected as Mayor of Newark and 2-years later he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly where he served as Speaker of the House and Minority Leader. In 1862, he left the political life to join the Union Army. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 76th Ohio Infantry. Due to his service he was promoted to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General and later Brevet Major General. A brevet rank is given as a reward for meritorious conduct, but does not bestow the authority or pay of the real rank. He took part in many battles and campaigns including Sherman's March to the Sea. He was promoted to full Brigadier General in early 1865, but would only serve for another year. He didn't return to Ohio, but moved to Mobile, AL, and then to Montgomery, AL, where he started practicing law and cotton planter. He would serve as Chancellor of the Middle Chancery Division of Alabama from 1868 to 1869 before being appointed by President Grant to the 5th Circuit Court on December 22, 1869, where he served for eleven years. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on December 21, 1880, by President Hayes where he would serve until his death on May 14, 1887. He is listed as a member of Newark Lodge No.69 in Ohio.

Another Ohioan, Thomas Stanley Matthews (went by Stanley) was another appointment by President Hayes to the Supreme Court. He was born in Cincinnati on July 21, 1824, and was considered a wunderkind, having graduated from Kenyon College (Gambier, OH) by age of 16. He moved to Maury County, TN, where he was admitted to the bar at the age of 18 and practiced law until 1845 where he then moved back to Cincinnati. He became an Assistant Editor of the Cincinnati Herald, the first daily anti-slavery paper in that city. He would go on to serve as Judge of Common Pleas, Ohio State Senator (1856 - 1858), and US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio (1858 - 1861). Then with the onset of the Civil War, Matthews took a commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 23rd Ohio Regiment. He took part in many battles, but resigned his commission as a Colonel in 1863. He was elected in March of 1876 to the US Senate to fill a vacancy after the resignation of John Sherman. President Hayes' initiatial nomination of Matthews failed because the Senate accused Hayes of cronyism; Hayes and Matthews attended Kenyon College together, both practiced law in Cincinnati, and both serve as officers in the Ohio Infantry. President Garfield renominated Matthews and he was narrowly approved on May 12, 1881. He would serve as an Associate Justice until his death on March 22, 1889. He is listed as a member of Cincinnati Lodge No.133 in Cincinnati, OH, where he is listed as receiving degrees on January 28, 1847, and on March 11, 1847, but took a demit on November 27, 1856.

Samuel Blatchford was born on March 9, 1820, in New York City. He entered into Columbia College at the age of 13 and graduated top of his class. By the age of 19, he became the private and military Secretary to Governor William Seward, and served in that capacity until 1843. Having been admitted to the bar in 1842, Blatchford practiced law in Auburn, NY, with former Governor Seward. In 1854, he moved back to New York City where he served as a reporter of decisions for the Circuit Court in New York as well as practiced law in admiralty and international law. From 1867 to 1878, he served as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. In 1878, he served as a Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. He was appointed by President Arthur to the US Supreme Court in 1882 and served for eleven years as an Associate Justice. He is listed as a member of Manhattan Lodge No.62.

References

1. Bessel, P. M. (1998, May 21). United States Supreme Court Justices who were Freemasons. Retrieved from Paul M. Bessel's Homepage: http://bessel.org/sctfmy.htm

2. Chalmers, G. M. (2012). Masonic Leaders in the United States and their Influence on this Century, 1900-1999. Northern California Lodge of Research.

3. David Davis. (n.d.). Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/social-sciences-and-law/supreme-court-biographies/david-davis 

4. David Davis. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/david_davis

5. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 1. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_1_A_to_D.htm 4. 

6. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 2. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_2_E_to_J.htm 5. 

7. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 3. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_3_K_to_P.htm 6. 

8. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 4. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_4_Q_to_Z.htm 7. 

9. Famous Freemasons. (n.d.). Retrieved from Lakeshore Lodge No.30 (OH): http://www.mastermason.com/lakeshorelodge307/famous_freemasons.htm

10. Henry Baldwin. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/henry_baldwin 


11. John Catron. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_catron

12. John M. Harlan (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_m_harlan 


13. King, E. (n.d.). Famous Freemasons: A through L. Retrieved from Masonic Info: http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous1.htm 

14. King, E. (n.d.). Famous Freemasons: M through Z. Retrieved from Masonic Info: http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous2.htm

15. Levi Woodbury. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/levi_woodbury

16. Melina, R. (2017, February 2). Why Are There 9 Supreme Court Justices? Retrieved from Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/9857-9-supreme-court-justices.html

17. Members of the Supreme Court of the United States. (2017, April 23). Retrieved from Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx

18. Noah Swayne. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez:https://www.oyez.org/justices/noah_swayne

19. Robert Trimble. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/robert_trimble

20. Samuel Blatchford. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/samuel_blatchford

21. Samuel Nelson. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/samuel_nelson

22. Stanley Matthews. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/stanley_matthews

23. Stephen J. Field. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/stephen_j_field

24. William B. Woods. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/william_b_woods


25. Thomas Todd. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/thomas_todd

The Ancient & Accepted Rite

The British equivalent of the Scottish Rite is known as the Ancient & Accepted Rite. The Ancient & Accepted Rite is frequently referred to simply as "Rose Croix," though that is only one of its degrees. This Rite is governed by the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas." Membership in this Rite is by invitation only those Master Masons who have been in for one year and profess a belief as a Trinitarian Christian. It shares much of the same history as it was from the United States that the British version received a patent:

In Bordeaux, an influential Masonic center in France, was established a "Scottish Lodge" which had a set of "advanced degrees." In 1761, Masonic authorities granted a patent to Stephen Morin, a resident of Bordeaux, to spread the degrees across the Atlantic to the American colonies. In 1763, Morin was established in the West Indies. The degree system he established was one of 25-degrees and were known as the "Rite of Perfection." 

In 1767, Henry Francken, a Dutch merchant, organized a "Lodge of Perfection" in Albany, NY. Prior to his time in the colonies, he had been to the West Indies and had been deputized by Morin. In addition to creating this body in Albany, he transcribed four times all of his degrees into books which are referred to as the "Francken Manuscripts", from the 4° (Secret Master) to the 25° (Royal Secret or Knights of St. Andrews-the faithful guardians of the Sacred Treasure). The years following other deputies were appointed by Morin which organized Masonic groups and conferred these "advanced or higher degrees" along the colonies. These groups were decentralized and independent of one another, but all agreed upon the authority they had received from Stephen Morin. 

It wasn't until May 31, 1801, that a central authority was set up which was called "the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree for the United States of America" in Charleston, South Carolina. This Supreme Council sought to create "Order out of Chaos" (it's motto). With this creation, it added eight more degrees ending with the 33°. Today the headquarters is in Washington DC at the well known House of the Temple.

In 1819, Prince Augustus Frederick, the Duke of Sussex, received a patent from the US to form a Supreme Council in England, but this was not accomplished until 1845 when the Supreme Council for England and Wales received a patent from the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

The Ancient & Accepted Rite confers the following degrees:

4° - Secret Master

5° - Perfect Master

6° - Intimate Secretary

7° - Provost and Judge

8° - Intendant of the Building

9° - Elect of the Nine

10° - Elect of the Fifteen

11° - Sublime Elect

12° - Grand Master Architect

13° - Royal Arch of Enoch

14° - Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Master

15° - Knight of the Sword or of the East

16° - Prince of Jerusalem

17° - Knight of the East and West

18° - Knight of the Pelican and Eagle and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix H.R.D.M.

19° - Grand Pontiff

20° - Venerable Grand Master

21° - Patriarch Noachite

22° - Prince of Libanus

23° - Chief of the Tabernacle

24° - Prince of the Tabernacle

25° - Knight of the Brazen Serpent

26° - Prince of Mercy

27° - Commander of the Temple

28° - Knight of the Sun

29° - Knight of St. Andrew

30° - Grand Elected Knight Kadosh, or Knight of the Black and White Eagle

31° - Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander

32° - Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret

33° - Sovereign Grand Inspector General

The basic organizational unit is known as the "Rose Croix Chapter" and is where the business meetings are held. The Rose Croix Chapter is composed of the following officers.

Most Wise Sovereign

Prelate

First General

Second General

Treasurer

Recorder

Director of Ceremonies

Marshal

Raphael

Assistant Director of Ceremonies

Assistant Recorder

Almoner

Herald 

Organist

Captain of the Guard

Stewards

Outer Guard

Chapters are grouped into Districts that are governed by an "Inspector General of a District." Districts then fall under the governance of the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council is composed of only nine Sovereign Grand Inspectors General rather than the thirty-three of the Supreme Councils in the US. This Supreme Council has over 900 Rose Croix Chapters and Districts in 25 different countries.

A Rose Croix Chapter only communicates the 4° through the 14° while the 15° through the 17° are conferred in a shortened form before conferring the 18° in full form. The 18° "Ceremony of Perfection" is divided into 4-sections and is said to be "most imposing and impressive." It is meant to represent man's journey from darkness to light and the recovery of the Lost Word.

Progress beyond the 18° cannot be attained without having served as the Most Wise Sovereign of a Rose Croix Chapter. The 19° through the 29° is communicated to the candidate before going through the 30°. The 30° draws upon the philosophical interpretations of the Masonic system and they are pledged to figuratively punish crime and protect innocence. The 30° Kadosh is considered Templar in nature. 

In the 31°, one is charged to oversee the observation of Masonic laws, and in the course of his induction is introduced to representatives of great lawgivers of the past. One is advanced to this degree in recognition of service rendered to the Order over a lengthy period of time.

The 32° "counsels charity and tolerance towards all mankind. This is exemplified by a symbolic pilgrimage in search of truth when the candidate is conducted around the Camp of Chivalry where the respective points mark the renowned philosophies or religions of the world. Here, within the Consistory, is hidden a mystery of great import and where its true interpretation, the Royal Secret, is to be found. Only those who have merited additional recognition following long or active service to the Order can attain this degree."

The 33° is considered the "supreme degree" of the Rite that "incorporates a most impressive ceremony in which the candidate is required to endure a test demanding great courage, which is followed by a lengthy obligation, a fitting climax being attained when he is solemnly cemented to the Order with a golden ring of special significance. His particular duty entails the encouragement of charity and fraternal love throughout the Order, and the preservation with a due reverence of the dogmas, statutes, and doctrines of the Rite. This, the ultimate degree of the Rite is only conferred upon members of the Supreme Council, Inspectors General of Districts, and other distinguished members of the Order."

References

1. History. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Supreme Council 33° For England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas: http://www.sc33.org.uk/

2. Jackson, K. B. (2012). Beyond the Craft (6th ed.). Lewis Masonic.

3. Scottish Rite - United Kingdom. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Rite#United_Kingdom

Justices of the Supreme Court and Freemasonry, Part 1

As it is usually the Executive Branch that has received the most focus as to whom held Masonic members there is little discussed on Justices of the Supreme Court. Conducting research for this group was difficult as the published works conflict with each other and primary sources are very scarce when researching the earliest Justices and there is little written today about more recent Justices who would have been Masons. Looking at all the sources, roughly one third of the Supreme Court Justices have been Masons. Bro. Paul Bessel put it nicely with:

"This might be just an interesting statistic, if they were Masons in name only, and some probably were. However, it appears that several were Masters of their Lodges, and some were Grand Masters of their Grand Lodges. Undoubtedly, then, the philosophy and spirit of Freemasonry had some effect on them, as well as the other Masons on the Supreme Court. This, in turn, may mean that to some extent the decisions of the Supreme Court, which have had so much of an impact on the lives of all Americans, reflect some of the teachings of Freemasonry."

To gather the names, I pulled from Paul Bessel's website, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, and the Masonic Info website primarily with other reputable sources at my disposal. This article is split into three parts and this first part will cover only those Freemasons who served as Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States of America during the 18th century.

Although there exists no evidence, John Jay is listed as a Mason in 10,000 Famous Freemasons. John Jay was born Dec 12, 1745, but in contrast to many of the Founders of the US, he was a child to French Huguenot refugees rather than British citizens. He attended King’s College (now Columbia University) where studied law in his final year. John Jay is most known as the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, but is considered a prominent figure of the Revolutionary times as he was a member, and President for 2-years, of the Continental Congress; Minister to Spain; signer of the Treaty of Paris; US Secretary of Foreign Affairs; was one of the authors of what would be known as the Federalist Papers; and served the people of NY as Governor. Many believe that John Jay was a Freemason as he wrote to Washington on April 21, 1779: 

The dissolution of our governments threw us into a political chaos. Time, Wisdom and Perseverance will reduce it into Form, and give it Strength, Order and Harmony. In this work you are (in the style of your professions) a Master Builder, and God grant that you may long continue a Free and Accepted one.

There is also question as to whether John Rutledge was also a Mason or not. He received his education from his uncle Andrew Rutledge, South Carolina’s Speaker of the Common House of Assembly, and helped kick start his journey to a political career. After spending three years in England for law school, he returned to South Carolina. John Rutledge is known for being a Governor of South Carolina and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was also a member of the 3rd committee created to propose designs for the Great Seal of the US. He was appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court. He took over as Chief Justice after John Jay resigned to serve as Governor. He was appointed during the recess of the Senate, but was removed after the Senate reconvened or his public rejection of a Treaty that Jay had supported. According to Paul Bessel, "Masonic Trivia and Facts and The MSA 1940s study say he was a Mason, without identifying his lodge, but 10,000 Famous Freemasons does not list him."

The longest of Washington's appointees, William Cushing served as an Associate Justice for nearly 21-years. Cushing was born in 1732 to a long line of Massachusetts jurists. He attended Harvard for theology, but changed to law. He also served as Attorney General for Massachusetts, Massachusetts Superior Court judge and Chief Justice, a founder of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and President of the Massachusetts convention that ratified the US Constitution. He was appointed to the US Supreme Court on September 24, 1789. He is remembered for the shortness of his opinions, one of them being only two sentences. His health was never the best. After John Jay's resignation, he was offered the position of Chief Justice, but he declined the offer. He remained on the bench until his death in 1810 and was buried in a small cemetery in Scituate, MA, which is now a state park. He is said to have been a member of St. Andrew's Lodge in Boston.

John Blair is remembered as a US Supreme Court Justice and member of the Constitutional Convention. He was a famous legal scholar who seems to have avoided dealing with state politics and preferred to remain behind the scenes. He is not remembered so much for his contributions at the Constitutional Convention, but rather for his time as a jurist on the Virginia Court of Appeals and later the US Supreme Court, where he influenced the interpretation of the Constitution in a number of important decisions such as the case of Chisholm v. Georgia in 1793, which held that a state could be sued in federal court even if it objected to the suit. The outcry at this opinion led to the adoption of the 11th Amendment in 1798. Blair resigned from the Supreme Court on October 25th, 1795, and died in Williamsburg in 1800. In Freemasonry, was unanimously elected as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1778.

Serving as the 2nd Governor of New Jersey, US Senator, and one of the signers of the US Constitution, William Paterson also served as Associated Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1793 to 1806. He entered the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) at age 14. After his graduation in 1763, he studied law with the prominent lawyer Richard Stockton. After Independence, Paterson was appointed as the first Attorney General of New Jersey, serving from 1776 to 1783. He was sent to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where he proposed the New Jersey Plan for a unicameral legislative body with equal representation from each state which was struck down and later replaced with the Great Compromise that established a bicameral legislative body. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he played an important role in drafting the Judiciary Act of 1789 that established the federal court system. The first nine sections of this very important law are in his handwriting. George Washington nominated Paterson for the Supreme Court on February 27, 1793. The nomination was withdrawn by the President the following day since Washington had realized that since the law creating the Supreme Court had been passed during Paterson's current term as a Senator, the nomination was a violation of Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution. Washington re-nominated Paterson to the Court on March 4, 1793, after his term as Senator had expired. He was immediately confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission. He served until his death on September 9, 1806. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason and passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Mason on May 17, 1791, and was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on November 7, 1791, in Trenton Lodge #5 (now Trenton Cyrus Lodge #5).

The third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was Oliver Ellsworth. Born and raised in Connecticut, Ellsworth attended Yale in 1762, but later went to Princeton and graduated in 1766 with honors. It was at Princeton that he became a member of St. John's Lodge on December 27, 1765. In 1771, he was admitted to the bar and worked as a lawyer until 1778 when he was selected to be a delegate to the Continental Congress where he served until 1783. In 1784, he was appointed as a Judge in the Superior Court of Connecticut, but served in the position for only 3-years as he would be sent to represent Connecticut at the Constitutional Convention, but was unable to sign the Constitution. Before serving on the Supreme Court, he served as a Senator from Connecticut from 1789 to 1796. On March 4, 1796, Ellsworth was confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme court where he served for 4-years before resigning due to failing health.

References

1. Bessel, P. M. (1998, May 21). United States Supreme Court Justices who were Freemasons. Retrieved from Paul M. Bessel's Homepage: http://bessel.org/sctfmy.htm 

2. Chalmers, G. M. (2012). Masonic Leaders in the United States and their Influence on this Century, 1900-1999. Northern California Lodge of Research. 

3. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 1. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_1_A_to_D.htm 

4. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 2. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_2_E_to_J.htm 

5. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 3. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_3_K_to_P.htm 

6. Denslow, W. R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. 4. Retrieved from Phoenix Masonry: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/10,000_famous_freemasons/Volume_4_Q_to_Z.htm 

7. Famous Freemasons. (n.d.). Retrieved from Lakeshore Lodge No.30 (OH): http://www.mastermason.com/lakeshorelodge307/famous_freemasons.htm 

8. John Blair, Jr. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_blair 

9. John Jay. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_jay 

10. John Rutledge. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/john_rutledge 

11. King, E. (n.d.). Famous Freemasons: A through L. Retrieved from Masonic Info: http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous1.htm 

12. King, E. (n.d.). Famous Freemasons: M through Z. Retrieved from Masonic Info: http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous2.htm 

13. Members of the Supreme Court of the United States. (2017, April 23). Retrieved from Supreme Court of the United States: https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx

14. Oliver Ellsworth. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/oliver_ellsworth

15. William Cushing. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/william_cushing

16. William Paterson. (n.d.). Retrieved from Oyez: https://www.oyez.org/justices/william_paterson

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers. I am blessed to still have my mother alive and well, and she has always been a support for me. I am spending the day with her at my aunt's house where aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, parents, and grandparents all congregated to celebrate this day honoring motherhood. 

A Great SRICF Weekend

Well, I've made it back home after a weekend in Wyoming. Today was the annual collation of the Wyoming College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. After the long drive on Saturday, I and my fellow Fratres were able to check in to our hotel before heading to the College's collation dinner. I was honored to be the keynote speaker where I presented my paper "Celestial Clothing."

Sunday morning we started bright and early, and the College initiated three Idaho Masons into the First Order (I° to IV°) as well as a Wyoming Frater who received the III° and IV°; we're getting ever closer to being able to petition the High Council to charter a College in Idaho. I had the pleasure of presiding over the Grade of Zelator. This meeting is also when Wyoming College has its officer elections. I was appointed and installed by the Chief Adept to be the Acolyte, the outer guard of the College, for the next year.

During the meeting, it was discussed advancing me to the Second Order. After discussing it further after the meeting, I will receive them at a later date at our next semi-annual meeting. However, it is late and I just spent the last 9-hours in a van and I am exhausted. Good night everyone.

Celestial Clothing: A Comparison

I am honored to have presented this paper tonight at the annual collation dinner of the Wyoming College of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis:

I was inspired to write this paper while I was reading the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz, one of the three founding documents of Rosicrucianism. The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz, attributed to Johann Valentin Andreæ, is a story of self-improvement through initiatic rituals that our legendary founder goes through that is composed seven chapters or days. On the first day, Christian Rosencreutz is visited by a divine messenger who is described as a “wonderfully beautiful female figure, dressed all in blue, spangled liked the heavens with golden stars”. Of all the symbols and allegories found within the Chymical Wedding, the clothing of this divine messenger caught my attention and the purpose of this paper will be the comparison of this star-spangled clothing to other myths and legends. It was interesting to see when researching these various mythoi that in the Gnostic traditions “garment” not only meant clothing, but also the flesh of the body as I’ll explain further along in this paper.

Roman Mithraism

In the Roman Cult of Mithras, Mithras is said to have worn a cloak that was covered with the with constellations and the symbols of the seven planets. The stars on the cloak were said to represent every person that ever was and will ever be. This cult centered on the Proto-Indian, Persian god Mithra (Mithras being the Greco-Roman spelling). The son of Ormuzd, a god of light, Mithras is said to have been born out of a rock on the Winter Solstice. Myth states that he was born wearing a Phrygian cap and the celestial cloak while holding a dagger and a torch of light.

 

One of the central legends of the Mithraic Mysteries is the "Tauroctony". The Tauroctony, from the Greek word "tauroktonos" meaning "bull killing," concerns the myth where the god Mithras sacrifices a sacred bull. Ahura Mazda, the supreme god of Zoroastrianism, is said to have sent a crow, an animal traditionally used a messenger of the gods, to Mithras and ordered him to subdue and kill the bull, which was Ahura’s first creation, in a cave which resulted in the creation of all the plants and animals of the world. Upon the death of the bull, legend states that Mithras transformed his cloak into the sky.

Ancient Egypt

To the Ancient Egyptians, the body of the sky goddess Nut, who arched over the earth, was covered in the heavenly bodies; some legends say she is naked and others say she clothed in blue bedecked with the heavenly bodies. It is said that the sun, moon, and stars moved across her body, starting at her feet and ending at her mouth where she would consume them and pass through her along an “inner sky” to be birthed out of her at their appointed time; sun at dawn and stars and moon at dusk.

Nut is an enigma because in most mythologies there is a sky god and an earth goddess, but, in this case, Nut is the goddess of the sky while her consort, Geb, is the god of the earth. From the union of Nut and Geb came Isis, Osiris, Set, and Nephthys. Nut is also considered a protector of the dead. To invoke her protection, she was sometimes carved or painted on the underside of coffin and sarcophagi lids.

Catholicism

Within Catholicism, there are some interesting figures, particularly in new world areas where the Church wished to smooth the transition from the native pagan religions to Catholicism. The Virgin Mary is depicted in a variety of ways in Latin America. One such way is with Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, sometimes called the Virgin of Guadalupe, is a reference used for the Virgin Mary in Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe is enshrined at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. In this depiction, she wears a mantle covered in stars. Her mantle was colored as blue-green which was considered the color of the gods by the natives. The stars were said to denote that she came from Heaven. While this is contested, some theorize that the 46 stars that cover her mantle are said to correspond to the position of the stars of the winter solstice of 1531 when the legend of this particular personification of the Virgin Mary is said to have originated.

According to legend, the story of the Lady of Guadalupe dates to December 9, 1531, when Juan Diego, a Christianized native was on his way to Catholic mass when he received a vision from a lady who declared herself the Virgin Mary and The Lady of Uruk, sometimes called the “Sumerian Mona Lisa” is a statue that dates back to circa 3100 BC and is one of the earliest representations of the human face. Many believe it is a statue of the Inanna, goddess of love, fertility, and warfare in Sumerian mythology; an interesting dichotomy for a goddess to have. [expand on Inanna]whose garments were like the sun in their brilliance. She asked him to erect a temple dedicated to her on Tepeyac Hill. Some see this as a victory of Christ over the former pagan temples built on that hill. She assured Juan Diego that she would give love, aid, and protection to the people.

Sumerian

The Lady of Uruk, sometimes called the “Sumerian Mona Lisa” is a statue that dates back to circa 3100 BC and is one of the earliest representations of the human face. The statue depicted a woman that was wearing a garment that was "covered in golden stars”. Sadly today, the only thing left remaining is the facial portion and is now known as the Mask of Warka.

Many believe it was a statue of Inanna, goddess of love, fertility, and warfare in Sumerian mythology; an interesting dichotomy for a goddess to have. Inanna is said to be another name for the Akkadian goddess Ishtar, Phoenician goddess Astarte, Aphrodite in Greece, and Venus in the Roman pantheon. Inanna is said to be “clothed with the heavens and crowned with the stars” with the “rainbow as her necklace and the zodiac as her girdle.” Among her several titles she was known as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, Light of the World, Morning and Evening Star, and Holy Shepherdess. She was the protector deity of the city of Uruk was the first city built by the legendary Gilgamesh, who was the champion of the goddess Inanna.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, Ratri is the goddess of night. She is the sister of Ushas (goddess of the dawn), brother of Parjanya (god of rain), and daughter of Dyaus (god of sky) and Prithvi (goddess earth). She is also said to be “the guardian of eternal law and order in the cosmos and of the waves of time.” While her physical appearance is rarely discussed, the few accounts state that she is clothed in a black cloak and covered in stars. The stars on her cloak are there to provide light in the darkness as a means of protecting people from the dangers of the night.

Another legend in Hinduism centers on Harishchandra who was a legendary Indian king. In one story, Harishchandra gave away his kingdom then sold himself and his family into slavery to fulfill a promise he had made to the sage Vishvamitra. While in servitude he demonstrated sincere remorse for his past sins and his obligations to the gods where the gods restored his fortunes and robed him in celestial garments.

Chinese

I found a curious story in Chinese mythology concerning Chin Nu. Chin Nu was a weaver goddess and daughter to the Jade Emperor for whom she is said to have woven seamless robes. One story she is found in, concerns her descending to the earth to bathe. While bathing, her clothing is stolen by a cowherd and without her divine clothing she is incapable of returning to heaven. To get her clothing back she consents to marrying the cowheard, but eventually they become separated. The husband, with the help of the ox, searched the heavens for his wife. When he encountered her father, the Jade Emperor, but he refused to allow them to be together all the time as she would forget to perform her duties. The Jade Emperor instead gave her husband a place as guardian of Ch’ien Niu, a star to the west. Chin Nu was given a star that was situated to the east of the Heavenly River. Because of their positions in the heavens, they are only reunited on the 7th day of the 7th month each year.

Persian

Shapur II, the 10th and longest reigning monarch of the Sasanian Empire, is said to have clothed himself in a “mantle and tiara were adorned with stars and with solar and lunar signs”. While not necessarily a divine being, monarchs are often considered divine or rule by divine right and were referred to as "illustrious" or "shining" (think of King Louis XIV who was known as the Sun King). During the wars with the Roman Empire, Shapur II sent a letter to the Emperor Constantius stating that he was the “Companion of the stars, Brother of the sun and moon”. Along with military and strategic renown, it was under the reign of Shapur II that the Avesta collection was completed. The Avesta is the primary religious text of Zoroastrianism.

 

To conclude, among the various mythologies that have existed there are a number of mythologies that include divine or celestial clothing. A common theme that is seen among these different myths are that those who are garbed in celestial clothing are creators and guardians whether of the cosmos and mankind. Even the everlasting JHVH is described in heavenly clothing in Psalms 104:2 “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain”. Again, thank you all for giving me this opportunity to speak tonight.

References

1. Arendzen, J. (1911, October 1). Mithraism. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10402a.htm. 

2. Baring, A., & Cashford, J. (2000). The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image. London: Arkana. 

3. Beck, R. (2000). Ritual, Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel. The Journal of Roman Studies, 145-180. 

4. Chinese Goddesses. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/chinese-goddesses.htm. 

5. Colavito, J. (2014). Jason and the Argonauts through the ages. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. 

6. Coulter, C. R., & Turner, P. (2000). Encyclopedia of ancient deities. Jefferson: McFarland. 

7. Dimmitt, C. (1978). Classic Hindu Mythology: A Reader in Sanskrit Puranas. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 

8. Dunnington, J. O. (2004). Celebrating Guadalupe. Tucson: Rio Nuevo. 

9. Egyptian Gods: Nut. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://egyptian-gods.org/egyptian-gods-nut/. 

10. Fisher, W. B., Gershevitch, I., & Yarshater, E. (1986). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

11. Godwin, J., McIntosh, C., Pahnke, D., & Rosencreutz, C. (2016). Rosicrucian Trilogy. Newburyport: Weiser Books. 

12. Hani, J. (2011). Sacred Royalty: From the Pharaoh to the Most Christian King. London: Matheson Trust. 

13. Holy Bible. (2011).

14. Hunt, L. (n.d.). 'Mona Lisa' back to Iraq's National Museam. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=7116. 

15. Jordan, M. (2005). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses (2nd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books.

16. Kinsley, D. R. (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition. London: UC Press, Ltd. 

17. Mark, J. J. (2010, October 15). Inanna. Retrieved May 02, 2017, from http://www.ancient.eu/Inanna/ 

18. Merkelbach, R. (2016, August 18). Mithraism. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mithraism. 

19. Nabarz, P. (2005). The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World. Rochester: Inner Traditions. 

20. Pinch, G. (2004). Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt. NYC: Oxford University Press. 

21. RATRI: Goddess of Night. (2014, January 28). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/indian-mythology.php?deity=RATRI. 

22. Seawright, C. (2012, November 29). Nut, Sky Goddess, Mother of the Gods. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/nut.html#.WG7bO_krLIU

23. Symbolism of the Image. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.olgaustin.org/symbolism.shtml. 

24. The 46 Stars of Guadalupe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.holymary.info/the46starsofguadalupe.html. 

25. Wallis Budge, E. A. (1969). The Gods of the Egyptians. New York: Dover Publications. 

26. Wilber, D. N. (1998, July 20). Shapur II. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shapur-II

A Rosicrucian Prayer

Eternal and Universal Fountain of Love, Wisdom and Happiness; Nature is the book in which Thy character is written, and no one can read it unless he has been in Thy school. Therefore our (or my) eyes are directed upon thee as the eyes of the servants are directed upon the hands of the masters and mistresses, from whom they receive their gifts. Oh Thou Lord of Kings, who should not praise thee unceasingly, and forever with his whole heart? For everything in the universe comes from Thee, out of Thee, belongs to Thee and must again return to Thee. Everything that exists will ultimately re-enter Thy Love or Thy Anger, Thy Light or Thy Fire, and everything, whether good or evil, must serve to thy glorification. Thou alone art the Lord, for Thy Will is the fountain of all powers that exist in the universe; none can escape Thee. Thou art the King of the World; Thy residence is in Heaven and in the sanctuary of the heart of the virtuous.

Universal God, One Life, One Light, One Power, Thou All in All, beyond expression and beyond conception. On Nature! Thou something from nothing, thou symbol of Wisdom! In myself I am nothing, in Thee I am I. I live in Thine I made of nothing; live thou in me and bring me out of the region of self into the Eternal Light! Amen.