Letter from Antoine Louis Moret to John James Joseph Gourgas, 1822 December 18

Letter from Antoine Louis Moret to Gourgas 1823/04/10

Addressed in C/O Lapes Dias & Crafsons, Merchants, New York

Letter answered by Gourgas in 1826 (sic).

Paris April 10, 1823

[To]: Mr. JJJ Gourgas New York

Most Illustrious and Very Dear Brother

It has been eleven months since I left New York City. I had the pleasure of writing you when I arrived in Liverpool and from Paris, but I have not heard a word from you. If your Masonic zeal has abandoned you and if you have renounced to the project of justice due to what is correct, you should, by responding to me [unreadable word], have informed me of your intentions so that I would have known what to do. I personally remain committed to my resolutions to serve the regularity of our Order, but you are well enough instructed in Masonry to know that my activities must be guided by legitimate actions to battle irregularity [in Freemasonry]. Our Regular Brothers in New York desire so much to get rid of the vexation imposed on them by the irregular [masons] that I must obtain their formal request and authorization regarding this matter. This should be very easy to obtain, that way, the tower of Babel will be soon toppled. The true temple will soon be restored if good workers want to work at it but if they just want to walk through its ruins, everything will remain in the desolation and confusion that surround them. If they do not want to labor at it and prefer to remain in their apathy and lack of zeal, my assistance to them will be useless.

I am, therefore, Very Dear Brother, waiting for your authoritative thoughts and instructions on this matter. As far as I am concerned, I could peacefully enjoy my prerogatives (sic) without bothering any more. But having given my word to my true Brothers in America, to keep them in masonic regularity, I would feel discharged from my obligation by their rebuttal or lack of responsiveness. The masonic intrigues of the [Rite of] Heredom [have lost their potency] and are thus easy to topple. Your affectionate Brother and Friend

A. L. Moret

Bergere Street # 5

I wish you, Health, joy, and prosperity Give your amiable Lady and children my best regards I greatly wish to get news from you.

NB: The Cerneau Chapter is not in any list of the Grand Orient of France. It is considered as a foreign [organization] because it was created by a nebulous Consistory outside the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient. As far as its Grand Council of the [Rite Heredom], [The Grand Orient] recorded it as affiliated but refused to it the title of Representative etc, etc, etc… to only accept that of Correspondent in Amity. It is a new title in masonry, and I intend to ask for some explanations from the [Deputy] grand master, the office of grand master at the Grand Orient is still vacant.

Vertically in the margin: But this chapter can only be of the 18th Scottish degree and not one from the French Rite Rose Croix, the highest of Freemasonry.

You can see that this is far away from the grand titles of Honorary Commander etc, etc, etc… that Cerneau gives away in his Beautiful Tableaux. To give preferential treatment to Cerneau, it (the Grand Orient) took advantage that, at the time, there were no opposition, but when the matter is revealed, it will not be able to justify it.

Translator’s remarks: Moret’s French is very rough and approximative.

Kamel Oussayef 1/4/2022