THE ORIENT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

Valley of Harrisburg

 

 

NIMROD CONSISTORY NO.9

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Prince Hall Affiliation

Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc.

Lodge of Perfection, 4th - 14th Degrees

Thrice Potent Master
John D. Leak, Jr. S.P. 32°
Hiram Tyre, Deputy Master PAUL R. Hodge, S.P. 32°
Venerable Senior Warden John L. Fannin, S.P. 32°
Venerable Junior Warden
William E. Barmore, S.P. 32°

Chapter of Rose Croix, 15th - 18th Degrees

Most Wise and Perfect Master Jessie E. Webb, S.P. 32°
Perfect Knight Senior Warden Dan Wright, S.P. 32°
Perfect Knight Junior Warden  
   

Nimrod Consistory No. 9, 19th - 32nd Degrees

Illustrious Commander-In-Chief Richard Jones, S.P. 32°
Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander Isom Mobley, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander Jessie Webb, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Treasurer Willie McCoy, G.I.G. 33°
Illustrious Treasurer Emeritus Gaylord N. Myers, G.I.G. 33°
Illustrious Secretary William E. Williamson, S.G.I.G. 33°
Illustrious Assistant Secretary Johnny R. Pearce, G.I.G. 33°
Illustrious Hospitaller Robert E. Pierce, Sr, G.I.G. 33°
Illustrious Minister of State & Grand Orator Jonathan W. Clark, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Chancellor Roosevelt Bennett, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Standard Bearer John D. Leak, Jr., S.P. 32°
Illustrious Prior Gaither Williams, III, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Master of Ceremonies James Womack, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Captain of the Guard Richard A. States, S.P. 32°
Illustrious Sentinel David L. Shell, S.P. 32°

HISTORY

HISTORY OF NIMROD SCOTTISH RITE BODIES, NO. 9, A.A.S.R.F.M. (1919-2003)

COMPILED BY S.G.I.G. WILLIAM E. WILLIAMSON, 33°

According to the date inscribed on its Seal; Nimrod Consistory No.9, Ancient and Accepted Scottish of Freemasonry was organized on October 30, 1919. The date and names inscribed on the Charter reveals that Nimrod Consistory, Nimrod Chapter of Rose Croix, and Nimrod Lodge of Perfection was charted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, under the Jurisdiction of the United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, Incorporated on May 9, 1922 attested as follows:

Ill. Samuel Alex Furnace, 33°- Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander 
Ill. William Henry Miller, 33°- Grand Secretary General, Holy Empire

Ill. Robert I. Barns, 33° -Grand Minister of State

 
 

                 

Chartered Officers of Nimrod Consistory were:

S.P. John P. Scott, 32°- Illustrious Commander-In-Chief

S.P. Benjamin H. Gray, 32° -Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander S.P. Percy C. Moore, 32° -Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander

Charter Officers of Nimrod Chapter of Rose Croix were: J. P. Taylor -Most Wise and Perfect Master

Noah Pinkey -Most Excellent and Perfect Knight Senior Warden

James Anderson -Most Excellent and Perfect Knight Junior Warden

Chartered Officers of Nimrod Lodge of Perfection were: William N. Brown- Trice Potent Master

Henry Richardson -Hiram of Tyre, Deputy Grand Master Unknown -Venerable Senior Warden Unknown -Venerable Junior Warden

The records from years 1919 to 1928 are non-existent, however, Nimrod elected officers for this period are included in the chronological listing of "Presiding Officers of Nimrod Bodies."

Following the year of 1928, many things happen to cause Scottish Rite Freemasonry to chart a fluctuating course. In 1929, under the administration of Illustrious Commander- In-Chief Harry T. Smith, 32°, Nimrod Consistory met regularly. Social activities were shared with the Estella Scott Assembly, Order of the Golden Circle, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Officers assisting that year were such outstanding Fraters as Illustrious John P. Scott, 33°, Illustrious Percy C. Moore, 33°, Sublime Princes :Milton Brown, James Anderson, George Johnson, James Ross Johnson, and Charles w. Beckwith. During this period of time, Sublime Princes Stephen H. Dorsey, of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Jerry Bear of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania transferred their membership into the Nimrod No. 9 Scottish Rite Bodies from the deactivated Prince Hall Consistory of York, Pennsylvania and Sublime Prince Page Anderson demitted from Perfect Ashier Consistory No.37 of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Although membership retention and growth was the cry during the depression years from 1929 to 1933, Nimrod Scottish Rite Bodies was forced to suspend twenty-two of its members for non-payment of dues. Membership drives for new and suspended fraters were still the order of the day. The Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation lowered the initiation and reinstatement fees in order to aid in the membership drives. Initiation during this period was very small.

Because of the lack of interest and the non-attendance at meetings, Nimrod Consistory met only twice during , the [ years 1933 to 1940. However, Nimrod retained its Charter. On November 7, 1935 the Illustrious Walter C. Beckett, 33°, Deputy for Pennsylvania, visited Nimrod Consistory No.9 to assist the Consistory on developing plans to satisfy the United Supreme Council requirements.

On Tuesday evening February 4, 1941, Nimrod Consistory No.9 met at 812 East Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the purpose of promoting Scottish Rite Freemasonry within the Central Masonic Area. Under the leadership of the newly elected Illustrious Commander-In-Chief Percy C. Moore, 33°, Nimrod Consistory No. 9 outlined plans for the projected growth of the Scottish Rite Bodies. Financial members performed, with renewed interest, personal contacts with "Blue Lodge" brethren and many former Scottish Rite members.

On Sunday April 27, 1941, fourteen candidates were "PURIFIED" by fire, water, and incense. Illustrious George White, 33° and Sublime Princes George Hunter, George Bass, and Walter Durnall from DeMolay Consistory No.1 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania performed the purification. The work was under the direction of Illustrious Walter C. Beckett, 33°, Deputy for Pennsylvania.

On Sunday February 15, 1942, nineteen candidates were "PURIFIED" by fire, water, and incense. Again, the work was by the same team from DeMolay Consistory No.1 and under the Illustrious Deputy for Pennsylvania.

The renewed interest subsided during 1943 and 1944. On Friday evening February 4, 1944, the Illustrious Commander-In-Chief Harold Gray, 32°, called a meeting of Nimrod Consistory No.9 to revive interest back into the Consistory. The Consistory began to meet more frequently. A special election meeting was called on Friday June 1, 1945. The election produced the following results:

S.P. Harry T. Smith, 32°- Illustrious Commander-In-Chief

S.P. Frank Johnson, 32°- Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander

S.P. Thomas N. Potter, 32°- Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander

S.P. Howard Keys, 32°- Illustrious Treasurer

During the lean years from 1929 through 1945 (when the Consistory was active), Nimrod Chapter of Rose Croix observed the annual Maundy-Thursday Celebrations, initiated candidates, and elected its officers periodically. Nimrod Lodge of Perfection initiated candidates and elected its officers during this period. Following the year 1945, the Nimrod No.9 Scottish Rite Bodies has progressed on ward and upward by taking its active participation in the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation and the United Supreme Council. Nimrod's Chapter of Rose Croix teams have performed both the burial and Maundy- Thursday celebrations with dignity and proficiency. Nimrod members have received and are still receiving many accolades and awards for outstanding performances and many Thirty-Second Degree members have been elevated to the Thirty-Third and last degree of Freemasonry with membership into the United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, USA.

During the years, the Nimrod Scottish Rite Bodies of Freemasonry met in the various buildings of Chosen Friends Lodge No.43, Free and Accepted Masons of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Most notable of these locations were 504 South Street, 812-814 East Street, 1419 N. 6th Street, and its present location at 1401 Hanover Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17104.

Harrisburg Assembly Number 50, Order of the Golden Circle received the "COVERING" of Nimrod Consistory No.9 in 1972.


 

RETURN