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Table of Contents:
Forward
The preparation of a record of the activities of Grand Chapter during the first century of its existence has ranked high in the minds of those charged with planning for the Centennial.
It was recognized that a work of this sort would require time, enthusiasm, and, above all, a broad grasp of what had taken place in the past. M.E. Companion R. V. Harris readily accepted the assignment but unfortunately death intervened and it was with regret that a fresh committee was hastily named and given instructions to bring forward the sixty-year history by the late M.E. ·Companion George Dewar Macdougall, published in 1930.
Those who are fortunate enough to possess, or have access to, that informative booklet will observe that his arrangement has been followed throughout. Where time has changed the relevance of events his text has been abbreviated and new material has, of course, been added in appropriate places. His tabulation of officers, a ready reference of names and dates, has received similar treatment.
The committee has given special attention to those sometimes forgotten work horses of the organization, the Grand Secretaries. Without in any way wishing to detract from the great and often brilliant contributions of successive Grand Councils, the maintenance, growth and welfare of Grand Chapter has rested squarely on the shoulders of the Grand Secretaries. That most of them previously served as Grand High Priests in no way lessens the importance of their later work. If this is an innovation, we commend it to other historians.
We hope that the verdict of time and the opinion of the Craft will approve our efforts.
E. L. Eaton, Grand Archivist
H. F. Sipprell, Grand Secretary
C. T. Burgess, Past Grand King
It was recognized that a work of this sort would require time, enthusiasm, and, above all, a broad grasp of what had taken place in the past. M.E. Companion R. V. Harris readily accepted the assignment but unfortunately death intervened and it was with regret that a fresh committee was hastily named and given instructions to bring forward the sixty-year history by the late M.E. ·Companion George Dewar Macdougall, published in 1930.
Those who are fortunate enough to possess, or have access to, that informative booklet will observe that his arrangement has been followed throughout. Where time has changed the relevance of events his text has been abbreviated and new material has, of course, been added in appropriate places. His tabulation of officers, a ready reference of names and dates, has received similar treatment.
The committee has given special attention to those sometimes forgotten work horses of the organization, the Grand Secretaries. Without in any way wishing to detract from the great and often brilliant contributions of successive Grand Councils, the maintenance, growth and welfare of Grand Chapter has rested squarely on the shoulders of the Grand Secretaries. That most of them previously served as Grand High Priests in no way lessens the importance of their later work. If this is an innovation, we commend it to other historians.
We hope that the verdict of time and the opinion of the Craft will approve our efforts.
E. L. Eaton, Grand Archivist
H. F. Sipprell, Grand Secretary
C. T. Burgess, Past Grand King