Letter from Jean Baptiste Thounens to John James Joseph Gourgas, 1807 July 10

Letter from Jean Baptiste Thounens to Gourgas 1807/07/10

At the Orient of St. Pierre, Martinique the 10th Day of the 5th Masonic month A∴ L∴ 5807 [July 10, 1807]

To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe

Brother Jean Baptiste Thounens

To the Very Dear, Right Worshipful and Most Illustrious Brother Gourgas

Salutation, Strength, Union

Very Dear and Illustrious Brother

The Worshipful Lodge “La Sincérité des Cœurs” assigned to me to respond to the letter that you honored us to write on the 2nd of last month which included the notebook for the degree of “Mark master”. I rush to do it to take advantage of an opportunity that must leave now and cannot wait to give me time to respond according to the rules prescribed by our regulations which requires the signatures of the Officers of our worshipful Lodge. Forgive this neglect due to my zeal to let you know of the great satisfaction that our Worshipful Lodge felt after receiving your communication. It did let you know its great satisfaction even though it did not have what you asked for (sic) but it turns out that I [personally] have two copies. With immense pleasure, I take this occasion to be of help to you by sending it to you and to beg you to fraternally accept it and to request my services for anything in my power that you might need. I kindly ask that you act without ceremony with me as I intend to do the same with you.

In my collection of masonic degrees’ notebooks, I am missing a few, some of them fairly important such as: 1) Super Excellent Mason, 2) The Royal master and 3) The American Royal Arch. Even though I have enough notes to not completely forget these degrees, I am missing the receptions [ritual] hints. I will be extremely grateful if you could get them for me. In exchange, if in my archives or in those of our Worshipful Lodge there were anything that could be of interest or please you, we have in our custody all of the masonic knowledges, be it symbolic, theological, or philosophical (sic).

Be assured, Very Dear & Most Illustrious Brother, of my fraternal affection that unites me with you in the camp [of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite] and with what I have the privilege to salute you the numbers Q∴ V∴ S∴ C∴ [that are known to you].

Very Dear & Most Illustrious Brother

Your affectionate and Devoted Brother Thounens

[Thounens’ Address] : Grande rue #6 Saint Pierre, Martinique

In the back of the letter:

Saint Pierre, Martinique July 10, 1807 Lodge: “La Sincérité des Cœurs”

J. B. Thounens

Thounens’ Note to the person in charge of delivering the letter to Gourgas.

I kindly entrust these letters (sic) to you to be delivered at their [mentioned] addresses.

your devoted Brother

JBT,

Gourgas’ address: At the Orient of New York

Kamel Oussayef 2022