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The following
categories are available:
Charter
Officers of
Past
Sovereign Masters of
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top The rank and
title of Knight Grand Cross, the highest award of the Grand Council,
may be conferred under the following regulations:
top Article XXII on "Honors": Section 2. The Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri and Appendant Orders is hereby declared, established and ordained to be existent within the bosom of the Grand Council and is a Chamber thereof, pursuant to the authority granted John Raymond Shute, II, and William Moseley Brown, who obtained permission of the English authorities to establish the Royal Order in the United States of America with the Allied Masonic Degrees in 1933, and using the 19th century English ritual as copied from the John Yarker Manuscript, and is governed by the Regulations set forth in Appendix A to the Constitution of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. "Man-at Arms" of the Red Branch of Eri (ARBE) = Associate, Red Branch of Eri Constituent Councils may confer upon any member who has not held or is not presently holding an elected office "for exceptional service to the Council," the Rank of: "Man-at-Arms" of the Red Branch of Eri. The Brethren of this Rank shall be designated as "Associate Members" of the Red Branch of Eri.
"Esquire" of the Red Branch of Eri (MRBE) = Member, Red Branch of Eri A Constituent Council may recommend to the Grand Council each year, two Brethren currently holding office in a Subordinate Council for the rank of "Esquire" of the Red Branch of Eri. The Brethren of this Rank shall be formally designated as "Members" of the Red Branch of Eri.
"Knight" of
the Red Branch of Eri (KRBE)
= Knight Red Branch of Eri Prior to February 12, 2005, every Constituent Council had the priviledge of honoring their members for distinguished service to the Allied Masonic Degrees, not exceeding two members per anum, by investing them as a Knight of the Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri and Appendant Orders. On and after February 12, 2005, a Constituent Council may recommend to the Grand Council each year one Brother for the award of "Knight" of the Red Branch of Eri. This Brother must have been a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees for a minimum of seven years.
"Knight
Commander" of the Red Branch of Eri (KCRBE) = A Constituent Council may recommend to the Grand Council each year, one Venerable Brother (the present presiding Sovereign Master), for the award of "Knight Commander" of the Red Branch of Eri. All Past Sovereign Masters shall be elevated to the Rank and Title of: "Knight Commander" of the Red Branch of Eri effective February 12, 2005.
"Knight
Grand Cross," Red Branch of Eri (KGCRBE) = All Present and Past Grand Officers of the Allied Masonic Degrees, including those currently holding the Rank and Title of "Past Sovereign Grand Master," shall be elevated to the Rank and Title of: "Knight Grand Cross" of the Red Branch of Eri, effective February 12, 2005.
"Knight
Supreme Grand Cross," Red Branch of Eri (KSGCRBE) = All Present and Past Sovereign Grand Masters of the Allied Masonic Degrees shall be elevated to the Rank and Title of: "Knight Supreme Grand Cross," Red Branch of Eri, effective February 12, 2005.
RED BRANCH OF ERI DATES: For the Year
of the Order add 1712 to the current calendar year
The namesake of the Marvin Edward Fowler Award is a Past Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America and is a Past Grand Master of Masons, a Past Grand High Priest, a Past Illustrious Grand Master, and a Past Grand Commander of the Grand York Rite Masonic Bodies in the District of Columbia. He is also a past presiding officer of the four Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Washington in the Orient of the District of Columbia. The award was inaugurated at the February 2002 Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees for the United States of America.
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THE
COUNCIL OF THE NINE MUSES, No. 13 The first roving council chartered by Grand Council was The Council of the Nine Muses, No. 13, which received its dispensation 15 February, 1934, being chartered five days later and holding its initial meeting during the same week (being the week of the annual national meetings held in and around the City of Washington during the week of 22 February). The Council was formed for purely literary purposes and its membership is restricted to nine Masonic authors; the membership consists of the following Masonic authors: Charles C. Hunt, Iowa; Walter L. Stockwell, North Dakota; Ray V. Denslow, Missouri; Henry V. A. Parsell, New York; J. Hugo Tatsch, Massachusetts; Harold V. B. Voorhis, New Jersey; William Moseley Brown, Virginia; J. Edward Allen and J. Ray Shute, North Carolina. The first five have been installed Sovereign Master of the Council. The Council meets annually, either in Alexandria, Virginia or Washington, D. C., at which time the Sovereign Master elect must read an essay, which is discussed and usually attracts much attention. The visitors to these meetings always enjoy themselves and the attendance has been over fifty. Papers on subjects, such as "The Nine Muses," "The Number 13," have been read and enjoyed and those who attend the meetings of this literary Council, which is patterned after the famous lodge by the same name, most assuredly are rewarded for the time spent there. As the presiding officer retires each year he becomes Tiler to the Council, thereby illustrating that he who humbleth himself shall be exalted and the first shall be last and the last first. In time, naturally, all members will preside over the Council and no new member can be elected until the death or resignation of one of the nine. The Council is justly proud of its work and the spirit of the Allied Masonic Degree's is truly exemplified in the work and enthusiasm of The Council of the Nine Muses, No. 13. (above
reprinted from Miscellanea, Volume II, Part 10, April 1938 at page 146
of the 1999 reprint) THE
ERA OF THE COUNCIL OF One of the more interesting and curious bodies one encounters during the pilgrimage to Washington DC is the AMD Council known as "The Council of the Nine Muses # 13." It is a Council composed of nine members, elected for life, and membership therein is considered a great honor. Each member serves as an officer and with only as many members as there are officers, each serves as Sovereign Master in rotation. A unique feature of this Council is that an inaugural paper is given by the incoming Sovereign Master each year and it must reflect original research on some Masonic topic. It had its genesis at the 1934 Grand Council Session when SGM J. Edward Allen mentioned in his report that he had "signed the dispensation for the organization of the Council of the Nine Muses, to be composed of brethren interested in Masonic literary work." He placed this in a section of his report designated as "Class Councils" and also refers to the dispensation for a Council composed exclusively of bachelors. (Four Crowned Martyrs #14). The Committee on Charters and Dispensations recommended that Roving Charters be granted to these two bodies and the Grand Council agreed. Council #13 was consecrated on February 21, 1934 by the Grand Master in Alexandria Virginia, the day following the Grand Council session. From its inception until 1949, Council #13 was represented at the Grand Council sessions and included in the list of voting Councils. From 1949 onward, it began to take on its current status as an "honorary" Council. One need only look at the early records of Allied Masonry to infer that the idea of forming a "special" council for "special" men probably came from M.V. J. Ray Shute 11. In a paper printed in the Collectanea, M.V. Brother Shute terms himself an "Innovator," and a quick review of the founding of such bodies as the AMD" Blue Friars, KYCH, Grand College of Rites, and others reveals that that title is most appropriate for him. Brother Shute was adept at forming bodies for specific purposes with small or limited membership. The concept of a body with only nine members which honors its members by granting them membership is decidedly his style and one can see traces of his handiwork in the founding of Council #13. His influence in the affairs of this Council can be suggested by the number of times that he represented the Council at the Grand Council meetings. It is interesting to note that during his membership in Council #13, no special mention is made of this Council and it is treated like any other subordinate Council. It appears that his philosophy of what makes a body special is the same as the reply given by people who are asked why they climb a mountain, "because it is there," not because of what it does. As Shute's control of Allied Masonry waned and others took up the reins of leadership, he grew more and more distraught and this, along with other factors, induced him to withdraw from the Craft. With his departure, the first great "era" of Council #13 comes to a close. As Council #13 had its birth and infancy under the influence of Brother Shute, it blossomed into maturity under the influence of M.V. Harold Van Buren Voorhis. It can be well said of this Brother that each body through which he passed became better for his presence in it. It was his style to organize and develop existing bodies as can readily be seen by the success of such bodies as the SRICF and the Order of Corks, as well as the Grand Council AMD. In each case, Brother Voorhis undertook the task of defining purposes, procedures and structure for the organization. With the departure of Brother Shute in 1950, Brother Voorhis took over as the controlling force in Council #13. The minutes of the Council of the Nine Muses appears in print for the first time in the 1951 Annals, with Brother Voorhis listed as "Permanent Secretary." Contained within these minutes are the first mention of such now understood "rules" as "newly made members took the position in the line of officers vacated by the brother to whose place they were elected," and "officers for the ensuing year were elected by the rotation policy." The effect of Brother Voorhis' ability can be seen in the observation that contained within those same minutes is the statement "each member thus becomes Master of the Council every ten years, seven having done so to date" and remembering that from 1934 to 1951 fifteen terms of office for the Council elapsed (there being no 1945 session), the rotation of the officers and the printing of minutes in the Annals followed like clockwork from 1951 until his death in 1983. Brother Voorhis developed and enforced many of the "rules" and procedures that the Council operates under to this very day. Had it not been for his drive and encouragement, Council #13 would probably have taken root as did Council #14, surrendering its roving Charter and becoming a regular Council. With his passing, the second great "era" of Council #13 closes. The Council of the Nine Muses has borne the imprint of an individual in each era. As an "Innovator" - Brother Shute gave it root, as an "Improver" - Brother Voorhis gave it form. These worthy brothers influenced the Council by their abilities and by the force of their personalities. The next influential personality will be cast in the role of a "Sustainer," someone who will keep the Council on an "even keel" and operating according to the traditions now long established. Under his leadership, the Council of the Nine Muses will bear great fruit and retain and enhance its position as a Council of Honor and premier research Council in the Allied Masonic Degrees. As this third "era" of Council #13 develops, the role of "Sustainer" will be filled by one of its illustrious members, perhaps even now a member of the Council. Of the present Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Urania, and Thalia, only history, with its unbiased eye, can discern whose personality will affect this Council in the years to come - but won't it be interesting to watch in progress. (above reprinted from Miscellanea, Volume XII, Part 10, 1991, at pages 59-60) Questions/comments: |
