History of Cryptic Masonry in Kentucky 

As early as 1808 when the first Book of Constitutions was authorized by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, it showed notes on the Mark Master, Royal Arch Mason and Super-Excellent Master Degrees, showing clearly that the Super-Excellent Degree, was at that time known, if not practiced by Chapter Masons under Lodge warrants.  

During the early part of the year 1816, Jeremy L. Cross, a noted Mason of Maryland, received the Council Degree from Phil E. Eckel of Maryland, with authority to confer it without fee on Royal Arch Masons, and to “open and hold Chapters of Select Masters and to confer the degree.” Brother Cross, after having received the Council Degrees in Maryland, made a trip through the South, and established the first Council of Royal and Select Masters at Lexington, Kentucky, November 23, 1816, under the name of “Lexington Council #1.” Shelbyville Council was established the following January on the fifteenth of the month. These two Councils seem to have been the oldest bodies of Cryptic Masonry established in Kentucky, of which there is documentary evidence of their existence, but they were short lived and probably never possessed life sufficient to be entitled to a place in history. 

Upon invitation extended by Frankfort Council #5, the six subordinate Councils then working in Kentucky, met at Frankfort, and there formed December 10, 1827 “The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Kentucky” with the following Councils in attendance: 

• Washington #1 Lexington
• Warren #2  Hopkinsville
• Centre #3  Danville
• Louisville #4  Louisville
• Frankfort #5  Frankfort
• Versailles #6  Versailles
  
  The first officers were:
  
• Robert Johnson, Grand Puissant
• James M. Pike, Deputy Grand Puissant
• Albin G. Smith, Grand Thrice Illustrious
• Isaac H. Taylor, Grand Principal Conductor
• John M. McCalla, Grand Captain of the Guard
• Philip Swigert, Grand Recorder
• Francis G. West, Grand Treasurer
• William Sterman, Grand Chaplain
• Francis Walker, Grand Sentinel
  

There is no actual record to show where these Council obtained their warrants or dispensations. However, Louisville Council #4 has in it’s archives an old time warrant, or dispensation, from the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree, dated September 26, 1827, authorizing the establishment of that Council, and signed by John Barker, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council of the United States of America. It is thought that the other Councils above mentioned, received likewise warrants for their organization.  

Almost from it’s birth, the Grand Council of Kentucky was the center of fraternal warfare between those who favored the formation of a distinctly “American Rite” in which the Royal and Select Master Degrees were to be necessary links between the Chapter and the Commandery, and those who believed the Grand Chapter should be the governing body. As a result of this struggle the Grand Chapter was given permission October 17, 1878 to confer the Cryptic Degrees, and for the next four years the Degrees were conferred upon Royal Arch Masons under warrant of their Chapters to which Councils were appendent. The plan did not work very well for many Councils as well as Council members never agreed to it, deeming it irregular and unconstitutional. Much agitation was brought upon the subject, and on November 25, 1882 by order of the Grand High Priest the Degrees were turned back to the Grand Council. 

[Taken from Masonry in the Bluegrass, by J. Winston Coleman, Jr., Transylvania Press, 1933]