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Lancaster Council #3, Royal & Select Masters
WB Pat King, Thrice Illustrious Master
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Meeting Schedule: 4th Tuesdays, 8.30 PM
A history of Lancaster Council #3
On January 11, 1828, Companion John Barker, as Sovereign Inspector from the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite and Honorary 33° Mason from South Carolina, conferred the Royal and Select Masters (now called Royal and Select Masons) on nine Companions in Lancaster, including Charles Sherman as Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, James Gates as Deputy Illustrious Grand Master, and George Ring as Principal Conductor of the Work. Charter members included Joseph Grubb, James Deitrick, Gottlieb Steinman, Henry Matthews, George Myers, and George Sanderson.
As was the custom in those days, Ill. John Barker sold Council Degrees for a consideration. It was required that he produce a commission to establish the right to sell these degrees and the legitimacy of what he was selling. There is no record of the issuance of a Charter, though there are several records of charters ordered or requested for Lancaster Council #4.
In 1830, five Councils - of which Lancaster was one - met in Worthington to form the Grand Council. William James Reese served as Illustrious Grand Master 1836-38.
In 1850 Lancaster Council #4 was renumbered as Lancaster Council #3 by the Grand Council.
At the Grand Council of 1865 Lancaster #3 cast the deciding vote not to relinquish the Council degrees to Grand Chapter. Lancaster Council requests a Charter, as the previous one was lost or not issued.
In 1882 the Charter for Lancaster Council 3# was forfeited and annulled, and the records of Lancaster Council No. 4 and 3 returned the Grand Council in 1884.
On 22 March 1902 Lancaster Council met Under Dispensation for an institutional meeting. Lancaster Council #88 was formed, and was dedicated on 25 December 1902.
On 7 October 2003 during the Grand Council's Assembly on Columbus, Grand Historian and member of Lancaster #88 read the following petition:
"We, the members of Lancaster Council #88 petition the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons in Ohio to be renumbered with our old number 3. Rationale: Lancaster Council originally number 4 was one of the five Councils to meet and form the Grand Council of Ohio in 1830. At that first meeting, William James Reese, a member of Lancaster Council, was elected as the first Grand Recorder. Reese continued the serve the Grand Council until being elected Grand Puissant in 1834, serving continuously in that office until 1838. Reese was the first elected Grand Puissant to wield a gavel over Grand Council. Reese was the "conservator of York Rite" and left a legacy to Masons that is unexcelled and unequalled to this day. In 1850 the Grand Council renumbered the subordinate Councils, giving Lancaster Council number 3 and Chillicothe number 4 .....
... Now as Lancaster Council #88 is over 100 years old, and the old number 3 is still available; we the members of Lancaster Council #88 would be very grateful and humbled to be given our old number 3 back."
After the reading, a vote was taken and the petition passed, and Lancaster Council #88 became Lancaster Council #3.
On January 11, 1828, Companion John Barker, as Sovereign Inspector from the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite and Honorary 33° Mason from South Carolina, conferred the Royal and Select Masters (now called Royal and Select Masons) on nine Companions in Lancaster, including Charles Sherman as Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, James Gates as Deputy Illustrious Grand Master, and George Ring as Principal Conductor of the Work. Charter members included Joseph Grubb, James Deitrick, Gottlieb Steinman, Henry Matthews, George Myers, and George Sanderson.
As was the custom in those days, Ill. John Barker sold Council Degrees for a consideration. It was required that he produce a commission to establish the right to sell these degrees and the legitimacy of what he was selling. There is no record of the issuance of a Charter, though there are several records of charters ordered or requested for Lancaster Council #4.
In 1830, five Councils - of which Lancaster was one - met in Worthington to form the Grand Council. William James Reese served as Illustrious Grand Master 1836-38.
In 1850 Lancaster Council #4 was renumbered as Lancaster Council #3 by the Grand Council.
At the Grand Council of 1865 Lancaster #3 cast the deciding vote not to relinquish the Council degrees to Grand Chapter. Lancaster Council requests a Charter, as the previous one was lost or not issued.
In 1882 the Charter for Lancaster Council 3# was forfeited and annulled, and the records of Lancaster Council No. 4 and 3 returned the Grand Council in 1884.
On 22 March 1902 Lancaster Council met Under Dispensation for an institutional meeting. Lancaster Council #88 was formed, and was dedicated on 25 December 1902.
On 7 October 2003 during the Grand Council's Assembly on Columbus, Grand Historian and member of Lancaster #88 read the following petition:
"We, the members of Lancaster Council #88 petition the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons in Ohio to be renumbered with our old number 3. Rationale: Lancaster Council originally number 4 was one of the five Councils to meet and form the Grand Council of Ohio in 1830. At that first meeting, William James Reese, a member of Lancaster Council, was elected as the first Grand Recorder. Reese continued the serve the Grand Council until being elected Grand Puissant in 1834, serving continuously in that office until 1838. Reese was the first elected Grand Puissant to wield a gavel over Grand Council. Reese was the "conservator of York Rite" and left a legacy to Masons that is unexcelled and unequalled to this day. In 1850 the Grand Council renumbered the subordinate Councils, giving Lancaster Council number 3 and Chillicothe number 4 .....
... Now as Lancaster Council #88 is over 100 years old, and the old number 3 is still available; we the members of Lancaster Council #88 would be very grateful and humbled to be given our old number 3 back."
After the reading, a vote was taken and the petition passed, and Lancaster Council #88 became Lancaster Council #3.