The History of The Valley of Chicago

Around mid 1850, interest in Freemasonry began to extend to the “higher degrees,” especially toward to the system known as the Scottish Rite, which theretofore had been in the possession and under the control of small and select coteries. This search for expansion and growth led Bro. K.H. Renssealer to establish a set of coordinate bodies of the Rite in Chicago, under direction of the Grand Commander at the time.

On May 14, 1857, a new set of bodies were granted charter under distinctive names, “Van Rensselaer Grand Lodge of Perfection,” “Illinois Council of Princes of Jerusalem,” “Gourgas Chapter of Rose Croix, H-R-D-M,” and “Occidental Sovereign Consistory S.P.R.S.” These bodies would follow the idea that the “high degrees” were composed of superior knowledge and, as such, membership should be limited to the select few. The active membership was limited to 32 with provisions for emeritus and honorary membership. Furthermore, as per the by-laws, 27 of these members had to reside in Chicago.

Due to political and social changes brought by the Civil War, the Rite, and Masonry in general, suffered a decline. It was not until 1865 that the Scottish Rite began to grow again. As the country began to unite, so did Masonry. The separate Councils began to unite around 1866 and a subsidiary governing body in Illinois, under the name of “Grand Consistory of Illinois,” was established. Within that year, the Grand Consistory of Illinois was organized and formed an opposing set of the already established Scottish Rite bodies in Chicago.

This new addition to Masonry was not welcome by the existing bodies, and a battle for legitimacy began. This warfare continued for 4 years, even after the union of the parent councils in 1867. The feud between the two bodies almost destroyed the Rite in Chicago. It was not until early 1871, after all parties agreed on the decisions from the Council of Deliberation, that an amicable union was achieved. This merger yielded one set of coordinate Scottish Rite bodies in the City of Chicago.

The tension was still high as the bodies began to merge; everything came to an abrupt halt on Oct. 9, 1871, with the Great Chicago Fire. The spirit of brotherhood would be truly tested as homes and lives were lost; however, Masonry continued. On November 29, 1871, the bodies of the Scottish Rite met in order to fully resolve their differences as part of a rebuilding effort. From that point forward, the Resolutions that followed would unite the bodies into one Scottish Rite in Chicago.

For a period of time, the unified Scottish Rite was housed at the Masonic Temple at Halsted and West Randolph. Soon after the completion of the Masonic apartments in the American Express building, the Rite moved in and has called this their home for many years. It was not until 1900 that the Scottish Rite would move again, to homes 293-5 Dearborn Street. In 1911, the Rite acquired Medinah’s Mosque situated at the corner of Dearborn and Walton Streets, and continued to grow until the Rite owned all the adjoining properties. After over a century of existence, the Rite sold the property bounded by Dearborn, Walton, State and Delaware Streets, and has purchased property in Bloomingdale, Illinois, where the new Scottish Rite headquarters is being built.