Wheeler Cable Cerneau Masonic collection, 1891-1897

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: A2002-018

Scope and Contents

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Folders 1-7: Wheeler Cable Cerneau Masonic collection, 1891-1897. This collection of correspondence was found at the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and was taken to the Supreme Council archives in May, 193[?]. The bulk of the letters were sent from various Cerneau bodies to Wheeler Cable, Grand Secretary and later, Sovereign Grand Commander, Massachusetts body. Several notable members of the Cerneauites are represented, including William H. Peckham, M. W. Bayliss, P.F.D. Hibbs, James McGrath, J. P. Steffner, J.S. Fraser, J. Russell, and J. Moses. Many of the letters in this collection document the last years of Cerneauism, disagreements among members, attempts to defend itself from both the Supreme Councils of Northern and Southern Jurisdictions, and the formulation of strategies for union within. Folder 7 contains letters from M.W. Bayliss, the last of the Cerneauites, who joined the Peckham Cerneau Consistory in 1884 and later became head of another clandestine body which he called the Supreme Council of the United States and Its Territories and Dependencies, claiming it to be the only regular body of Scottish Rite Masons in America.

Dates

Creation: 1891-1897

Creator

Cable, Wheeler (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in this collection may be governed by copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Please contact the Archivist regarding permission to publish material.

Biographical / Historical

The last half of the nineteenth century witnessed much splitting up and reorganization among the Scottish Rite Freemasonry organized after Joseph Cerneau. Although Cerneauism spread geographically, it was divided into smaller and smaller groups with Supreme Councils often headed by promoters for their own benefit. As these leaders invaded new territories, tensions developed both within and from without. As Cerneauism attempted to spread geographically, the Grand Lodges exerted their own power and gradually Cerneauism was starved out.