Masters within its jurisdiction.' This Grand Council belongs to the General Grand Council and is reported in the proceedings of 1897.

Idaho.

A council was organized in Idaho by a dispensation from the Officers of the General Grand Council, viz., Idaho Council, No. 1, at Pocatillo, December 15, 1896—which was annulled afterward; also a dispensation for Adoniram Council, at Boise, January 30, 1896. Dispensation continued until next assembly.

Illinois.

The Grand Council of Kentucky having issued charters to several councils in the State of Illinois, a Grand Council was organized March 10, 1854. In 1877 the degrees were surrendered to the control of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, notwithstanding that in 1854 it refused to heal Royal and Select Masters who had been made in the chapters. The Grand Council, however, continued its annual sessions, its constituents being composed of the mixture of regularly made Council Masters and those made in the chapters. This did not prove satisfactory, and in 1882 the Grand Council and Grand Chapter agreed to resume their old condition. Illinois Grand Council is an independent Grand Body.

Indiana.

In the State of Indiana the Council degrees were given in the chapter work. After the General Grand Chapter's decision, councils were chartered by the Grand Councils of Kentucky and Ohio. Chapter Royal and Select Masons were "healed" and the Grand Council of Indiana was organized December 20, 1855.

Iowa.

When Royal Arch Masonry was first planted in Iowa, the Council degrees were part of the chapter work. After the decision of the General Grand Chapter, in regard to these degrees, Companions were "healed" by the authority of the Grand Master of the History of Masonry and Concordant Orders,” p. 662.

Grand Council of Illinois. Charters were issued by that Grand Council to councils in Iowa, which subsequently organized the Grand Council of Iowa, January 2, 1857. In 1878 the Grand Council merged itself into the Grand Chapter of Iowa, nineteen councils having been duly organized prior to that time. To the present day those degrees are merged into the chapter of Royal Arch

Kansas.

Three councils of Royal and Select Masters were chartered by the Grand Council of Missouri, in the State of Kansas, and December 2, 1867, these three councils organized a Grand Council of Royal, Select, and Super-excellent Masons.

Kentucky.

The Select degree was carried into the State of Kentucky by J. L. Cross, when in 1817 he made his official tour through the Western States as General Grand Lecturer of the General Grand Chapter. December 10, 1827, six councils met by their delegates and organized a Grand Council of the State, which is said to be the result of John Barker's efforts in behalf of the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, A.:. A... S.:. R... This jurisdiction felt the effects of the Morgan anti-Masonic period from 1830 to 1840, when the Grand Council met only once. The degrees were merged into the chapter from 1878 to 1881. After the organization of the General Grand Council the Grand Council of Kentucky was re-organized. Companion H. B. Grant, M.. Ill.. Gr.. Master, in his annals mentions the case of a Thrice Illustrious Master of a council who communicated the degrees outside of a council, and who construed his obligation to mean that he could not confer the degrees except in a council, but could communicate the degrees, and so directed the record to be made as if conferred in a council. This was declared by the Grand Master to be irregular, and required recognition to be refused until they were "healed" in open council. The Grand Council of Kentucky is an independent body.

Louisiana.

It is stated that John Barker in 1827 organized Holland Council, No. 1, in New Orleans, and in the "tableau" of the Grand

Chapter of Louisiana in 1828 it is referred to. When in or about 1850 Capitular Masonry was re-organized, Cryptic Masonry was also revived. Four councils formed a Grand Council February 10, 1856. One of these was Holland, No. 1. The others had been chartered by the Grand Councils of Kentucky and Alabama.

Maine.

At an early period a council had been organized in Maine, working under the General Grand Chapter. The Grand Council of Massachusetts organized three councils, and these, by their delegates, formed the Grand Council, May 3, 1855.

Maryland.

In the introduction of this history of the Cryptic Rite, the connection of Eckel and Niles, as leaders at an early date, was noticed.1 The Select degree was then only recognized as an appendant to the regular curriculum of degrees of the A... A.·. S... R... which was controlled by the Deputy Inspectors of that rite. This was prior to 1800, and perhaps extended into the present century, as late as the date of the certificate, or dispensation, given to Cross. We have seen, under District of Columbia, the steps which were taken, as early as 1824, to incorporate these degrees with the chapter work and to precede the Most Excellent Master's degree. This union of the Cryptic with the Capitular system continued until 1872, when, by law, the Grand Chapter separated them. Six councils after this (May 12, 1874) organized the present Grand Council of the State, which became a member of the General Grand Council and so continues.

Massachusetts.

In 1817 a voluntary council of Royal Masters was organized by Benjamin Gleason and others, and subsequently obtained the sanction of Columbian Council of New York. A Select council was formed at Springfield, May 28, 1818, by J. L. Cross. Six councils, at different times, having been organized, their delegates met February 8, 1826, and on June 15, 1826, completed the formation of a Grand Council. The records of this body having been lost during

1 See pp. 1549, 1550.