Letter from Jean Baptiste Thounens to John James Joseph Gourgas, 1808 June 04

Letter from Jean Baptiste Thounens to Gourgas 1808/06/04

H-R-D-M (incomprehensible abbreviation) under the Celestial Canopy near the Burning Bush at the vertical point of the 14°, 35’ 55” North latitude of the Meridian of Paris, the 4th day of the 4th Masonic month, 5507. June 4th, 1808, of the common era.

To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe

Brother Thounens 32°, Worshipful Master of the Worshipful Lodge “La Sincérité des Cœurs” at the Orient of St. Pierre, Martinique, and Grand Secretary of the Holy Empire for the French Islands of America.

To his Very Dear, Most Worshipful and Most Illustrious Brother J.J.J. Gourgas 32° (sic) and Deputy Inspector General etc, etc, etc…

Health Prosperity Power

Very Dear & Most Illustrious Brother

Your baluster of the last 26th of 6th month Nisan reach me by some type of a miracle. The vessel that was carrying it was visited [Probably by the customs authority] all the letters were put in a bag which was thrown in the sea attached to a short rope: after the visit, the bag was pulled out of the water. Knowing that, you can imagine the condition in which the letters were. We had them dried and this is how I had the satisfaction of getting the precious news about you of which I was deprived for so long. It was with great pleasure that I learned that you were in good health.

I am immensely grateful for the degrees that you sent me. They also took their bath; but I got interrupted, first by the monitor (sic) that I don’t yet have and the passwords and the Sacred [words] that I have not yet been able to decipher not having the [key] alphabet that you used to write them.

If you have not received duly legalized our consistory’s document, it’s because trying to take advantage [probably the departure of a vessel] I did not have the time to wait for those I gave to the Captain General (sic) to sign. I am repairing this by sending you one signed [document].

Brother Frigieres with whom I am intimately close, is as much embarrassed as I am since at his departure from New York he only took a few [unreadable word, probably “incorrect documents]”. This make us very uncomfortable with some degrees, particularly the 32° that I lost at the constitution of our consistory. It is the one I requested of you then and that makes me even more miserable.

The seals that you sent us are absolutely conform to those that the Grand Inspector Duquesne brought with him when he came from Paris.

Mr. Auguste Gobert, who cover the trips to New York will take charge on his returns here to bring back the books and other objects that you might ask him to bring for me. I thank you in advance for the [extra] work that I ask from you with my [repeated] requests.

I will always receive with the greatest pleasure all things new related to the Royal Art when you can provide them for me. The document that you are asking me for concerning the feast of the Scottish 1st patron was held by the Grand Inspector General as a unique specimen. After I finished the printing of what is at the end of the work that I am send you, I gave it to him. He lended it to a member of the consistory but cannot remember which one. Since then, it has been lost. We have not been able to find it or find my notebooks. I wrote to your Deputy at the Grand Orient of France asking him to provide us with these Precious documents.

I thank you for your wishes for my happiness. Trust that my wishes for you are not less. May the Great Architect of the Universe make them come true so that your felicity and happiness will not lack any thing. It is with these thoughts of the highest brotherly friendship that I again wish you Joy, Health, and prosperity and that I salute you by the masonic numbers that you know and [Abbreviations not recognized] I am

Very Dear and Most Illustrious Brother,

your affectionate and devoted Brother

Thounens Royal Arch, Rose-Croix Kight Heredon, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, 32nd degree

On the back of the letter

Saint Pierre, Martinique

June 4, 1808

J. B. Thounens

To The Very Dear and Most Illustrious Brother

J. J. J. Gourgas 32nd degree (sic)

and Deputy Inspector General of

the ancient and modern masonry

Kamel Oussayef2/3/2022