The History of Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters

THE HISTORY OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS GRAND COUNCIL OF

ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS, JURISDICTION OF MISSISSIPPI

PRINCE HALL AFFILIATED

BY

RIGL RICHARD L. HUDSON JR., KYCH

Illustrious Companions have been on a journey since 1998, seeking to join the Royal and Select Masters. There were several Illustrious Companions from the state of Mississippi that petitioned the state of Florida and was greeted as Royal and Select Master under the direction of C. P. Randolph Council No.9, located in Crestview, Florida. Other Illustrious Companions joined Councils under the leadership of the Grand Council, Charles F. Williams Royal and Select Masters, State of Tennessee and Its Jurisdictions. Although there were two different Royal and Select Masters jurisdictions in Mississippi, their goal was to form a Grand Council in Mississippi eventually.

 

On 3 June 2006, a charter was issued from Florida to the State of Mississippi, establishing a Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters. A letter was written to the Most Illustrious Grand Thrice Master Earnest B. Daniels of Florida about the Grand Charter of the Royal and Select Masters. The letter from the Most Worshipful Grand Master Maurice F. Lucas Sr. explained that Florida and Tennessee jurisdictions were permitted to confer degrees and establish councils within the Jurisdiction of Mississippi. The scope of this permission was only to confer degrees and establish councils. Grand Master Lucas issued an order on 29 May 2006, through the Grand Attorney for the M. W. Stringer Grand Lodge, to the only Council established under the Jurisdiction of Florida (Andrew Stewart Council No.11). To inform the Council that when the combined requisite number of Royal and Select Masters councils had been established, the State of Tennessee would be allowed to establish the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters. The State of Tennessee had been operating under Mississippi’s Jurisdiction for over seven years. It was only fair to let Tennessee be the Jurisdiction to Charter the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Mississippi.

 

It took a letter from the Grand Counselor and Legal Advisor Melvin L. Pace, Esquire, 33°, to establish a dialogue to resolve the issue of what Jurisdiction would be invited to Charter the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in Mississippi Jurisdiction. Upon the approval of Maurice F. Lucas Sr., Grand Master of the State of Mississippi, Tennessee Grand Council was selected to establish Mississippi Grand Council.

 

On 13 April 2007, the Most Illustrious Royal and Select Grand Council, Jurisdiction of Mississippi, Prince Hall Affiliated, received its Grand Charter from the Most Illustrious Charles F. Williams Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters Jurisdiction of Tennessee Prince Hall Affiliated. Several Illustrious Companions traveled to Nashville, TN, to receive the Charter, which completed the York Rite side in Mississippi and brought the Cryptic Rites of masonry home.

On 9 June 2007, the Most Illustrious Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Mississippi Jurisdiction Prince Hall Affiliated held its first Grand Assembly with the following Councils and Grand officers present for roll call. The Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters Jurisdiction of Mississippi Prince Hall Affiliated has been in operation for fifteen (15) years. It is now presided over by the Most Illustrious Grand Thrice Master DeJohn K. Hampton, KYGCH.