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

Letter from Jean Baptiste Thounens to Gourgas 1807/01/10

Under the celestial canopy of the Zenith corresponding to the 14th [unreadable word] and the meridian of Paris. The 1st of the 8th Masonic month, 5507.

To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe

Very Dear and Most Illustrious Brother

It is with the greatest satisfaction that I received your baluster of the 26th of the 4th month 5568 [June 26, 1808] which inform me of the reception of the Status that you wanted to have. I am delighted to have pleased you by sending you this document and I am paid above its value by your offer to be of service to me.

I might have made a mistake with the name of the degrees which I asked you to provide me with the book-notes [describing] the reception [of candidates] but having researched the regulations of the Royal Arch’s Grand Chapter of New York, I did find them. Their real names are as follows:

2nd degree of the chapter Past Master

3rd “ “ “ Most Excellent Master

4th “ “ “ Royal Arch

I will be grateful if you could include the 4 books in English that you told me about in your baluster. I will make sure to pay the cost to you.

Since it happened that I had two Scottish Rose Croix notebooks, I asked brother Eggirman to bring it to you as well as a copy concerning the 33rd degree. During the formation of the Consistory in this colony, I provided many notebooks and items (sic) and when I asked for them back, many were lost or missing. Consequently, I am missing many notebooks that I would very much like to have again. Included in this number is one which pertaining to the Lodge of Perfection. At the first available opportunity, I will send you the “Knight of the Sun” that I am copying for you – fortunately for me, I did not loan my tuilleur (sypher), thus, while you wait, I could send you what it contains regarding the Lodge of Perfection.

Among the number of notebooks concerning the reception [of candidates] that were lost, I would like to get back the following ones:

Chief of the Tabernacle or 23rd degree

Prince of the Tabernacle or 24th degree

Knight of the Brazen Snake or 25th degree

Prince of Mercy or 26th degree

Sublime Knight of St. André of Scotland also called Of the Thistle or 29th degree

If you were able to get them for me, the cost does not matter to me.

I hope that this letter will find you in good health as I am myself and I reiterate my willingness to be of service to you. With these wishes and the esteem and affection that unite us in the C∴ M∴ [unknown abbreviation], I have the honor to salute you by l∴n∴s∴ [unknown abbreviation].

Very dear and most illustrious brother

Your very affectionate and devoted brother

Thounens, jr.

Scottish Rose Croix

Knight Herodon

Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

Printer of the Government

Grand rue [street] #76

On back of the letter:

Saint Pierre Martinique

October 1807

J. B. Thounens

Mr. JJJ Gourgas

C/O Mr. Stephen Richard

Jeweler

160 Broadway, New-York

Kamel Oussayef 2022