Introduction by T.S. Akers
Historians use sources to weave together a tapestry that yields an image of the past. The two types of sources most encounter are primary, which are original firsthand accounts, and secondary, which are created after the fact and interpret primary material. There are also tertiary sources which compile or index primary and secondary sources. Primary sources can often be hard to come by and when located may “wow” the researcher. When dealing with the history of Freemasonry in the Indian Territory, many primary sources have simply not survived.
Recently, an archival collection was donated to the McAlester Scottish Rite Valley. The collection itself relates to Masonic history around McAlester and belonged to Edwin T. Richards, though it had since passed to another Mason. Upon his passing, Edwin T. Richards (1868-1963) had been a Freemason for over 60 years. That lifetime in the Fraternity yielded some rather interesting archival documents.
One document in this collection looks to be a carbon copy on onionskin paper titled “An Early Record of Royal Arch Masonry in the Indian Territory.” The document’s author is not noted, though it discusses Daniel M. Hailey having served the York Rite in every presiding grand office, as well as presiding over the Scottish Rite. This places authorship after 1919, and the source could have been used for the 1964 volume History of the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of Oklahoma by Norman E. Angel.
I would call this document a tertiary source for two reasons. First, the document opens with the minutes of the chapter from the 15th and 16th of March, 1878, the first convocation after receipt of its dispensation to operate on the 23rd of February. The document states this is a transcript of those original minutes, which were destroyed by fire, a common hazard in territorial Freemasonry. Secondly, the document goes on to give descriptions of the actions of the High Priest of the chapter, clearly from the minutes up to 1880, and provides brief biographical sketches of three Companions, including the first High Priest Col. Edward J. Brooks.
Some interesting items gleaned from the document are that on several occasions, Indian Chapter No. 1 worked through the night conferring degrees, and at least once did not close until 1:50 in the morning. Also, the fee for the Capitular degrees in those early days was set at $40. That would be approximately $1,300 today. When compared to the present fee of $175 to join all three bodies of the York Rite, it is clear that the cost of Freemasonry did not keep up with the times. And even with the steep cost to join, the chapter received thirty-two petitions during the twenty-eight months it was under dispensation. In 1879 the chapter gave $33 in fraternal assistance to the family of a late Companion, roughly $1,090 today. We can also glean one aspect about the author, as they refer to the American Civil War as The War Between the States, lending us to believe they were likely a Southerner.
There is also an interesting error in the document, which highlights how sources must often be cross-referenced. A Companion S.A. Drum is listed as the secretary initially and later the name is A.C. Drum. In referring to the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of the Indian Territory from 1880, an A.C. Drum appears as the Junior Warden for McAlester Lodge No. 9. After examining the Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of the Indian Territory from 1891, the man in question is Andrew C. Drumb, Jr. (1850-1937). Companion Drumb worked for the MKT Railway as a conductor and later a train auditor.
The document also provides insight into the demographics of the membership of Indian Chapter. None of the first officers appear to have been indigenous. Joseph M. Coodey (spelled Coody in the document) was apparently a Companion whilst the chapter was under dispensation, Coodey was a Cherokee citizen and member of what is now Eufaula Lodge No. 1. At the time Indian Chapter received its charter in 1880, Coodey was listed as Treasurer and George W. Stidham, a Muscogee citizen and member of Eufaula Lodge No. 1, was listed as Scribe. These are the only two indigenous names listed as officers. This shows how the higher degrees of Freemasonry were promulgated by white men as the MKT Railway crossed the Indian Territory and its right of way allowed for white entry.
This unique source “An Early Record of Royal Arch Masonry in the Indian Territory” is a valuable record of the beginnings of Capitular Masonry in Oklahoma, a source that is now available digitally below for future researchers.
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An Early Record of Royal Arch Masonry in the Indian Territory
Hall of Indian R.A. Chapter, U.D.
March 15, 1878.
By virtue of a dispensation issued by John Frizzell, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of the United States of America, bearing date of February 25, 1878, constituting and empowering a constitutional number of companions to hold a chapter at McAlester in the Indian Territory and to be known as Indian Royal Arch Chapter, U.D., and appointing Companion Edward J. Brooks to act as High Priest, Companion Joseph S. Murrow to act as King, and Companion George W. Stidham to act as Scribe;
Now, be it known that we have this 15th day of March, 1878, at 7 P.M. met in regular Convocation at our Hall in the town of McAlester, Indian Territory, and opened on the R.A. Degree in due form with the following officers presiding:
Petitions were received from Bros. Jas. Holland, A.J. Overstreet, H.B. Smith, A. Zimmerman, D.M. Hailey, and Chas. Hokey and referred to the following Committee, Companions E.J. Brooks, J.A. Trenchard, and S.A. Drum with instructions to report instanto. The Chapter was called from Labor to Refreshment for the purpose of giving the Committee an opportunity to prepare their report.
The Chapter was called from Refreshment to Labor. Committee on petitions of Brothers J.A. Holland, A.J. Overstreet, H.B. Smith, A. Zimmerman, D.M. Hailey, and Chas. Hokey reported favorably. On motion, report received and committee discharged. Ballot was separately spread for advancement of Bros. Holland, Overstreet, Smith, Zimmerman, Hailey, and Hokey, and found Clear. They were therefore declared duly elected.
Labor dispensed with on R.A. Deree and a Lodge of Mark Masters opened in due form. Brothers Holland, Overstreet, Smith, Zimmerman, Hailey, and Hokey were separately introduced and advanced to the Honorary Degree of Mark Master and received the lectures and charges pertaining thereto.
Lodge of Mark Masters closed and a Lodge of Past Masters opened in due form. Brothers Holland, Overstreet, Smith, Zimmerman, Hailey, and Hokey were separately introduced, obligated and inducted into the Oriental Chair of King Solomon and each presided as Master of the Lodge and received the lectures and charges pertaining thereto.
Lodge of Past Masters closed and a Lodge of Most Excellent Masters opened in due form. Brothers Holland, Overstreet, Smith, Zimmerman, Hailey, and Hokey were separately introduced, acknowledged, and received as Most Excellent Masters and received the lectures and charges pertaining thereto.
Lodge of Most Excellent Masters closed and labor resumed on the R.A. Degree. Chapter called from labor to refreshment. Chapter called from refreshment to labor. Brothers Hokey, Overstreet, and Hailey were prepared, introduced, and exalted to the August Sublime Degree of the Holy Royal Arch in due form and received the lectures and charges pertaining thereto.
Chapter was called from labor to refreshment until 9 A.M. tomorrow morning.
Hall of Indian R.A. Chapter, U.D.
March 16, 1878.
Chapter called from Refreshment to Labor. Officers presiding as the previous evening.
Brothers Holland, Smith, and Zimmerman were prepared, introduced, and exalted to the August Sublime Degree of the Holy Royal Arch in due form and received the lectures and charges pertaining thereto.
Companion E.J. Brooks, Acting High Priest, made the following appointments:
The following resolution was adopted, Resolved, That this chapter be governed by the By-Laws and Constitution of the Gen. Gr. Chapter of the U.S. America until such time as this Chapter shall adopt a code of their own.
On motion the 1st Thursday in each month be and the same is hereby unanimously adopted as the regular nights of meeting of this Chapter.
No further business appearing the Chapter was closed at 11:45 A.M., Peace and Harmony Prevailing.
S.A. Drum, Sect., P.T.
These were the things which were done at the first authorized convocation of Royal Arch Masons held in the Indian country and within, what is now, the confines of the State of Oklahoma. The original minutes were destroyed by fire long ago but, happily, a transcript exists from which the above is copied.
The chapter held twenty-five regular and six called convocations between March 15th, 1878, and July 1st, 1880, when it asked the General Grand Chapter for a Charter. No quorum was present on five of the dates set for the regular convocations.
It had selected the first Thursday of each month for its regular convocations but on May 1st, 1879, decided that it should meet on the first and third Thursdays. This did not prove satisfactory because, on July 3rd, it returned to the original practice. Two of the five “no quorums” occurred during the twice a month plan. The Chapter now meets on the first and third Thursdays.
The fee for the degrees was $40.00 and during the twenty-eight months (up to July 1st, 1880) it was under dispensation received thirty-two petitions of which 27 were elected and 5 rejected. Twenty-two Mark Master, twenty-one Past Master, twenty Most Excellent Master and eighteen Royal Arch Degrees conferred. No substitutes were used.
One application for affiliation was received on April 3rd, 1879; that of Edmund H. Doyle, afterward Grand High Priest, who was elected to membership on May 1st, 1879.
A “Certificate of Membership and Good Standing” was granted to Companion H.J. Van Lunen, who was moving out of the jurisdiction, on May 1st, 1879.
One Companion died some time prior to September 4th, 1879, and the sum of $33 was voted to his family in the way of fraternal assistance on that date.
As before stated, Companion Edward J. Brooks, the High Priest named in the Dispensation, was transferred from the jurisdiction and, on November 7th, 1878, Companion H.E. Smith became the High Priest. Companion Smith appointed A. Zimmerman Captain of the Host in the place of Companion Granville McPherson and Companion H.J. Van Lunen Principal Sojourner in the place of Companion S.A. Drum, both of whom were moving out of the jurisdiction. This was on January 2dn, 1879, and on May 15th he appointed Companion H. Jennings Secretary in the place of Companion Zimmerman. On June 5th Companion John Schular was appointed Principal Sojourner in the place of Companion Van Lunen who was leaving the jurisdiction. On September 4th, 1879, he appointed Companion A.J. Trenchard Treasurer in the place of Companion Coody who had never qualified.
The minutes appear to have been well and carefully kept although there are a few discrepancies. The record shows that one petition, whose signer afterward received the degrees, was never acted upon; that three, which were acted upon, were never formally received; that one brother did not receive the Past Master Degree while another received it twice.
With a single exception the minutes show the hour of opening and closing. That exception is when the convocation of March 15th, 1878, was “called to refreshment until 9 A.M. tomorrow morning.” Although “tomorrow morning” is specified we can well imagine that it was well after midnight when this strenuous day’s work was finished. In fact there are several instances where the Chapter worked until after midnight—once as last a 1:50 A.M.
Daniel Morris Hailey, afterward to be Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, Grand Master of the Grand Council, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, and Inspector General of the Scottish Rite, was among the three first Royal Arch Masons made in the Territory.
Edward J. Brooks, named as High Priest in the Dispensation, was a Colonel in the United States Army and then stationed in the Indian Territory. He had been a member and High Priest of Belle Vue Chapter No. 5 at Fort Smith, Arkansas, but had demitted in 1876, doubtless at the time he was transferred to the Indian Territory. During his connection with, and even after his demission, he was very active in the work of the Fort Smith Chapter, apparently sending to it many petitioners from the Indian country. In the latter part of the 1878 he was again transferred and, on November 7th, H.B. Smith, made a Royal Arch Mason as the first convocation, became High Priest of Indian Chapter, U.D. Unfortunately little is known of this Companion who was so active in the introduction of Royal Arch Masonry into the Indian country.
Joseph S. Murrow was born in Georgia on June 7th, 1835. He came to the Indian country as a missionary of the Baptist Church in 1857 and was first located at North Fork Town, north of the site of the present Eufaula, as an assistant to Rev. H.F. Buckner, another missionary who was prominent in the affairs of Freemasonry. During the War Between the States Brother Murrow acted as Indian Agent for the Confederate States. After the close of the War he located in Texas where he was made a Mason in Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 88 on December 15th, 1866. He was exalted in Saint John’s Chapter No. 60 on March 11th, 1867, and soon afterward returned to the Indian Country, locating at Atoka in the Choctaw Nation. He was active in the formation of Oklahoma Lodge No. 217 under the Arkansas Constitution in 1868 but opposed the formation of a Grand Lodge in the Indian Territory in 1874. However, he was its second Grand Master and served as Grand Secretary for many years. He was active in the formation of Oklahoma Chapter No. 2 under the General Grand Chapter and in the formation of the Grand Chapter, becoming its first Grand High Priest. He was also Grand Master of the Grand Council.
George W. Stidham was a noted leader of the Muscogee or Creek Nation. He was born in Alabama in 1817 of Scotch-Indian parentage. He came into the Indian Territory in 1837 with the enforced migration of the Indians from south-eastern United States to the territory west of Arkansas. He represented the Creek Nation in Washington for many years, was elected Principal Chief during the War Between the States but not seated because of the animosities of the time. In 1867 he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Creek Nation and remained such until his death in 1891. At his death he was said to be the oldest Mason in the Indian Territory. He was member of both Rites and it is probable that he received his Royal Arch Degree in Washington, D.C. while acting as the representative of the Creek Nation at the National Capital. He was a regular attendant at the convocations of Belle Vue Chapter at Fort Smith before the organization of Indian Chapter.
Indian Royal Arch Chapter was chartered as No. 1 by the General Grand Chapter on August 27th, 1880, and constituted on October 7th, 1880, by Companion Samuel Fellows, a Past Grand High Priest of Kansas, and the following officers elected and installed:
* Companion Joseph S. Murrow had become instrumental in the formation and was the High Priest of Oklahoma Chapter No. 2 at Atoka, Indian Territory, which was also chartered by the General Grand Chapter on August 27th, 1880.
† "An Early Record of Royal Arch Masonry in the Indian Territory," E.T. Richards Collection (manuscript, McAlester Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite).
