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On March 16, 1950, a letter was received
in the office of the Grand Recorder,
Grand Council of Kentucky, Royal and
Select Masters, stating that the writer,
Companion Gilbert Kinmouth, Past TIM of
Washington Council No.1, R. & S.M., of
Lexington, Kentucky, had recently
received the "Order of the Silver
Trowel" in Washington, D.C., while
attending the Annual Assembly of the
Grand Council of the District of
Columbia. He was so impressed with the
beauty and the symbolism of the degree,
that he desired to assist in the
formation of a Council of Thrice
Illustrious Masters, or the Order of the
Silver Trowel in Kentucky. Inquiry was
made, and it was found that several Past
Masters of Kentucky Councils were
already members of the Order in various
Grand Jurisdictions and that the
sentiment of these Companions was that
the Grand Council of Kentucky should
sponsor the Order in Kentucky.
On order of Most Illustrious Companion
Fred E. Phillips, Jr., Grand Master of
the Grand Council of Kentucky, the Grand
Recorder wrote the Grand Council of
North Carolina, Royal and Select
Masters, who claim to be the original
authority, to issue a Grant, Patent or
Charter under which to work. The result
was that a Charter was granted the Grand
Council of Kentucky on July 6, 1950,
subject to the approval of the Grand
Council of Kentucky, at its next Annual
Assembly to be held in October, 1950.
On October 16, 1950, the following
resolution was presented to the Grand
Council by the Grand Recorder, Right
Illustrious Companion Charles K.A.
McGaughey:
"RESOLVED, That this Grand Council
endorse the organization, and sponsor
and organize a Council of Thrice
Illustrious Masters, securing the
Charter or authority to work from the
Grand Council of North Carolina, Royal
and Select Masters, who hold the
complete jurisdiction thereover.
PROVIDED, That the Grand Council of
Kentucky will remain the sovereign body
of the Kentucky Council of Thrice
Illustrious Masters, or over such body
whatever name shall be chosen at some
future date".
This resolution was adopted by the
unanimous vote of the Grand Council.
On page 36 of the 1950 Proceedings of
the Grand Council of Kentucky is a
record of the seven rules governing the
operation of the new body. Page 55 of
the same proceedings carries the
approval of the Committee on
Jurisprudence and the adoption of the
resolution by the Grand Council.
One year later, October 14, 1951 at 2:30
P.M., the actual organization of the new
council took place in the Scottish Rite
Temple, Brook and Gray Streets,
Louisville, Kentucky.
At this Assembly 61 new candidates were
greeted, together with affiliations from
four different Grand Jurisdictions:
Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and the
District of Columbia, making 71 original
members of the Order in Kentucky.
One honorary member was elected at this
assembly, Most Illustrious Companion
Arch E. McClanahan of Nashville,
Tennessee. Companion McClanahan was a
Past Presiding Officer of the four York
Rite Bodies in Tennessee.
In the election of officers, that
followed, Most Illustrious Companion
Robert Austin, Grand Master of the Grand
Council of Kentucky, Royal and Select
Masters, was chosen as the first Thrice
Illustrious Master; Harrar W. Taylor,
Thrice Illustrious Senior Warden; Harry
W. Baker, Thrice Illustrious Junior
Warden; Charles K.A. McGaughey, Thrice
Illustrious Treasurer-Recorder; Charles
C. Reddick, Thrice Illustrious Steward;
Robert Marcum, Thrice Illustrious
Chaplain; and Earl A. Cook, Thrice
Illustrious Sentinel.
The first committees appointed were:
Committee on Ritual, Wylie B. Wendt, as
Chairman; Dr. Charles E. Reddick; Dr.
Harry W. Baker. Committee on By-Laws:
Ray S. Stewart, as Chairman; Fred E.
Gross; Dr. J.C. Gabbard.
A resolution was presented that the name
of the Council of Thrice Illustrious
Masters be changed to "The Kentucky
Council of Anointed Kings, Order of the
Silver Trowel". The resolution was
adopted.
The Thrice Illustrious Master then
appointed Most Illustrious Companion
William J. Netherton as the Grand
Representative near the Grand Council of
Kentucky, Royal and Select Masters.
For his zeal and fidelity during the
organization of the Council of Anointed
Kings, Companion Gilbert Kinmouth was
elected an Honorary Past Thrice
Illustrious Master of the Council.
The Second Annual Assembly of the
Kentucky Council of Anointed Kings was
held on October 20, 1952. The Assembly
was opened at 10:00 A.M. Twenty
petitions were presented for initiation,
as well as one petition for affiliation.
The petitions were approved and the
candidates greeted.
The Committees of Ritual and By-Laws
reported, and both were continued for
another year.
At this assembly, it was voted to change
the nomenclature of the names of the
officers to correspond with those in the
ritual. Thus the title of the Thrice
Illustrious Master became that of
Illustrious King; the title of the
Illustrious Senior Warden became
Illustrious Prince of the West; the
Illustrious Junior Warden became
Illustrious Prince of the South; the
Illustrious Recorder became Illustrious
Scribe; the Illustrious Steward became
Illustrious Prince of the Court; and the
Illustrious Sentinel became Illustrious
Captain of the Guard.
The Kentucky Council of Anointed Kings,
Order of the Silver Trowel has met each
year since, in conjunction with the
Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of
Kentucky, Royal and Select Masters, and
has greeted over 800 members, while
creating nearly 200 Honorary Members. |
