Letter from Edward A. Raymond to John James Joseph Gourgas, 1845 March 8

Letter from Edward A. Raymond to John James Joseph Gourgas, 1845 March 8

Letter from Edward A. Raymond to John James Joseph Gourgas. Dated March 8, 1845. In this letter, Raymond, a member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, asks Sovereign Grand Commander Gourgas to “pardon” his late reply; a series of responsibilities, including his eulogy for the late Past Grand Master Benjamin Russell of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, have delayed his response. Giles F. Yates is in Boston for several days attending to business, including the eulogy services for Russell. Yates will shortly call on Gourgas to make an “appointment for the day of our meeting in New York for the purpose of completing our organization.” Raymond discloses that sickness and other “unfortunate circumstances” have prevented the Boston contingent from coming to New York on March 4, and Raymond, who hopes to bring John Christie, now proposes April 10. Raymond expresses interest in an abstract Gourgas had quoted from the “Scottish statutes of the Temple” and believes that these “movements” should be monitored and the “ancient land marks customs and constitutions . . . put down where we have the power.” He agrees with Gourgas in regard to the “cause pursued by some of” the members of the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction; they do not use the same “caution and wisdom” as they did under the leadership of the late Moses Holbrook. Raymond concludes by stating he looks forward to meeting Gourgas.

Collection of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, Lexington, Massachusetts. SC 300.002

1845 03 08

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English

A2019/178/0068a

Records and correspondence of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. See the Museum Archives for more information regarding this collection.

1 item (2 pages) ; 25 x 20 cm.

Gift of the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite