Grand Master S. Stacker Williams was besieged with requests for a clarification of "the legality of certain bodies in this jurisdiction" during 1887. He said he had referred to his decision of 1886, which was upheld by the Grand Lodge. In most cases this satisfied the questioners. But, there were those who demanded a more specific declaration.

"Some who are members of such bodies" desired a "direct answer to the question," are the Cerneau bodies "irregular and illegal?" They received a direct answer from Stacker: "They are irregular, illegal, and un-masonic, and ought not to be countenanced or recognized in any manner by Brethren under obedience to this Grand Lodge."

The Jurisprudence Committee determined the decision of the Grand Master was "in conformity to law, and to the rules and regulations of this Grand Lodge, and in harmony with Masonic usage." It was moved that his decisions regarding the Cerneau bodies be overruled, and the Grand Lodge "take no action in regard to the contending Scottish Rites." The Grand Master refused to accept the motion. A point of order was called for. It was overruled. An was taken from his decision. "The Chair was sustained!" The final vote was 544 in favor of the Grand Master; 230 against.

Masonic publications and especially the Masonic Review had attacked the Grand Lodge and its officers for discharging their duties. The Grand Lodge unanimously adopted the following:

RESOLVED, That the Grand Lodge severely condemns the un-Masonic newspaper and magazine publication referred to in the address of the Grand Master, and reminds its members of their sacred duties to each other, as well as to the best welfare of the Craft, that news papers or so-called Masonic magazines of the character in question be neither read nor patronized hereafter by the loyal and truehearted.

RESOLVED, That the Grand Master be requested to exercise the powers invested in him by the Constitution for the enforcement of the preceding resolution, and name, to those properly interested, the obnoxious news papers and magazines, even now existing or which may hereafter be published.

The Grand Master was requested to have extracts of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge sent to all the Lodges in the State. These extracts were to cover his decisions regarding illegitimate Masonic Bodies and the report of the Committee on Jurisprudence, along with the action of the Grand Lodge approving both.

This information was furnished to every Lodge in the State. Most of the Lodges complied with the order to read the action of the Grand Lodge prior to the holding of elections. Some did not. As a result Grand Master Williams had to report in 1888.

A number of Brethren who were members of those organizations (Cerneau) were elected to offices in their Lodges, and feeling that while they retained such membership they were disqualified from serving in the face of the action of the Grand Lodge, fraternally asked
their respective Lodges to excuse them. Others upon their election to Lodge offices, renounced their allegiance to the interdicted bodies, renewed their vows to their Lodges and to this Grand Lodge, and were installed.

Complaints were lodged with me that certain Lodges had, in disregard of the Grand Lodge, elected to office active and persistent adherents of the illegal bodies; and that installation would breed discord and confusion and lead to further acts of contempt. But for all these acts, thanks to the great army of loyal Masons in Ohio, only a small number of cases of contempt came to my knowledge.

His authority was accepted in "all Lodges but Coshocton No.96, and Ahiman Lodge No.492" (Newark). Certain numbers of these Lodges filed suits for an injunction. The case of Coshocton Lodge was heard in the circuit court in May, 1888. A unanimous decision was granted in favor of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge by the three judges of the court. The "factitious Brothers abandoned the hall and books." The Grand Master gave the loyal members a Dispensation to elect and install new officers.

Thornville Lodge No. 521, a month after the regular officers were installed ran into problems. Another group took possession of the hall and records, then conducted "a clandestine Lodge." This group asked for an injunction. The case was heard on October 20, 1888.

What was "Cerneanism"? This was one of the questions most frequently asked. When informed it was connected, even if irregularly, with the Scottish Rite, another question was asked. Why should the Grand Lodge of Ohio which trolled only the first three degrees in Masonry interfere with bodies controlling other degrees?

According to Henry Wilson Coil, an eminent Masonic historian, "Cerneauism" was a "type of clandestinism and fraud." It was established by Joseph Cerneau and his followers in 1807 and lasted for more than a century. "Conditions were favorable to Cerneauism in the North, because
two irregular Supreme Councils or Consistories got started there about the same time, 1800-7." Scottish Rite conditions in the North were so chaotic preceding 1867, "it was often impossible for well intentioned Masons to know which was a regular and which was an irregular body."

This condition did not exist in 1886 when Cerneauism invaded Ohio. The Northern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite was well established.

It was, and is, true that the Grand Lodge was responsible for the first three degrees in Freemasonry. But the Grand Lodge took the position, correctly, that all Masonic bodies must have Master Masons to exist. Therefore, all Masonic bodies are controlled by the Grand Lodge. It has the right and responsibility to determine what is legitimate or illegitimate Masonically.

A fairly typical response to the action of the Grand Lodge in 1887 was drafted by Cynthia Lodge No. 155 of Cincinnati. It stated: "Not one of our members belongs to the Cerneau Rite, and only a few of them to the Scottish Rite, and we, as a Lodge, have no knowledge of these rites whatever, not even knowing them to be Masonic."

It added: "It is our conviction that the welfare of Master Masons can be best subserved by a noninterference in the quarrels of bodies of which we have no knowledge and over which we have no jurisdiction." It wanted every Lodge in the state to know its representative had no right
to vote "in the negative on the motion to recommit the report of the Committee on Jurisprudence, with instructions to report adversely to the decision of the Grand Master." It ended by stating: "We propose to abide by the decisions of our Grand Lodge as we have always done in the past."

New England Lodge No.4 of Worthington agreed with the sentiments of Cynthia Lodge. It appeared, however, a majority of the members of this Lodge sympathize with the Cerneau movement. This would be confirmed by their actions later.

Bucyrus Lodge No. 139 had sent a "discourteous circular" throughout the state. The Grand Master sent a representative to advise the Lodge to rescind its action. When the representative arrived "he was served with a summons in an injunction suit brought by the Lodge against
the Grand Master." He was also served with similar summons" in an action brought by Crawford Lodge No. 443" of Bucyrus.

The Grand Master suspended the Worshipful Master of Olive Lodge No.210 of Sarahsville, Mt. Olive Lodge No. 148 of Chesterfield, and Temple Lodge No.28 of Painesville. He placed those Lodges "in charge of the Senior Wardens."

The various suits brought against the Grand Master were referred to a joint committee composed of the Committees Masonic Jurisprudence, Grievances, and Charters and Dispensations. It divided the subject into four inquiries and answered each at length:

1. Did the Grand Master have any authority in Masonic law for his actions in the premises? ("The inherent power of the Grand Master must be preserved in all inherent vigor." . . . "During vacation (judicial and executive sovereignty) abides with the Grand Master, subject, however, to be reviewed by this Grand Body, and by this Grand Body only.")

2. If so, was this authority properly exercised in each given case? ("The facts warranted the action taken by the Grand Master.")

3. What at motive or spirit prompted a resort to the civil courts of the state by certain Lodges, and what is the effect on our fraternity of these injunction cases? ("The members or Lodges who brought these actions were actuated by no desire to redress any wrong, but in pursuance of a settled plan to aid the interdicted Cerneaus in their welfare against legitimate Masonry.")

4. What at action, if any, should now be taken by this Grand Lodge on each of the given cases? (Two Lodges, Bucyrus and Crawford, "were guilty of insubordination and rebellion, and recommended that the charters of both be arrested, and that both Lodges be stricken from the
rolls of this jurisdiction.")

The Grand Master permitted the four questions to be divided and voted on separately. The first three were passed with little opposition. The fourth question was heatedly opposed, with the Deputy Grand Master, J. L'H. Long, heading the opposition. The vote was taken by Lodges. The
Committee, and the Grand Master were upheld. The vote was 673 for; 318 against. The Grand Master then declared Bucrus Lodge, Crawford Lodge, and Ahiman Lodge "to be stricken from the rolls of the Grand Lodge."

The Committee on Jurisprudence recommended all of the acts of the Grand Master be approved. They were. It then recommended the arresting of the Charters of Mt. Pleasant Lodge 216 and Kilgore Lodge No.523. The Grand Lodge concurred and these Lodges were stricken from the roster.

The Proceedings are silent about opposition for the office of Grand Master. They simply state: "The tellers reported that there had been 1,053 votes cast for Grand Master, and that R. W. Bro. Leander Burdick had received a majority of the votes cast." It was then reported, "On motion of R.W. Deputy Grand Master J. L'H. Long, the Grand Lodge then took a recess until 2:30 p.m." At the time "it was unanimously agreed that the call of the roll in the further balloting for Grand officers should be dispensed with." Levi C. Goodale was elected Deputy Grand Master. Nowhere in the list was the name of J. L'H. Long. It would appear his arguments in favor of Cerneanism had received the disapproval of the delegates.

By "an almost unanimous viva voce vote" th Lodge adopted:

Be it Resolved, That any Mason subordinate to the authority of this Grand Lodge, who shall hereafter take, or receive, or communicate, or be present at, or assist any one to take or apply for said degrees ("The Ancient Accepted Rite for the United States of America, its. Territories and Dependencies" and commonly called the "Cerneau Rite"), or any of them, shall be subject, after due trial under the Code, to expulsion from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.

No time was lost by Grand Master Leander Burdick, of Rubicon Lodge No. 237, in informing the Lodges of what had transpired during the 1888 session of the Grand Lodge. The Cerneau Rite immediately issued "an anonymous circular" stating: "That expulsion from a Lodge of Master Masons on account of membership in this Consistory or any Bodies subordinate thereto, shall not affect his standing as a member of any Bodies of this Rite."

Consequently, Burdick ordered this test oath to be included in the examinations of all visitors: "Furthermore, I do not hold membership in, or allegiance to, any Cerneau or other Body claiming to be Masonic, that has been declared clandestine by the Grand Lodge of Ohio."

The test oath caused a major split in a few Lodges. One of them was New England Lodge No. 4, where a majority of the officers elected in 1889 were active in Cerneauism. This encouraged the followers of that Rite. On February 12, 1891, representatives of several Lodges met in Columbus. Many of them refused to take the test oath. Among them were the Worshipful Master and Secretary of New England Lodge.

The Grand Master asked why, when the oath "was tendered to you as a visitor to Magnolia Lodge No. 20, you refused to take said oath, and withdrew from the Lodge rather than do so"? He closed his letter by asking:" I wish to inquire whether you are now a member of the Cerneau or any other rite which has been declared clandestine or illegal by The Grand Lodge of Ohio. A simple 'yes' or ‘no' answer is all I require."

The Master and Secretary refused to reply to the Grand Master. On April 8, 1891, the Lodge passed a resolution d in part:

The Grand Master has written a letter ordering our officers to answer yes or no as to whether or not they belong to certain organizations outside or foreign to ancient Craft Masonry, and threatening them with expulsion if they answer in the affirmative. Such acts and assumptions of power are subversive to the rights of Master Masons and are not authorized by the Constitution, Landmarks, and Usages of Masonry.

Resolved, That New England Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M. Being a duly constituted Lodge, and as such recognized by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, convened in just, perfect, and legal forms, hereby withdraws its affiliation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, taking with it all the rights, powers, and prerogatives, and declaring itself free and independent.

But in so doing, it also declares that whenever The Grand Lodge of Ohio shall rescind the unreasonable, wise, and un-masonic acts adopted by it under the influence of the aforesaid foreign element, and shall restore the ancient landmarks, and resumes the ancient customs, rules, and usages of Freemasonry, New England Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M., will be willing to affiliate with The Grand Lodge of Ohio.

Adopted by unanimous vote of the Lodge.

DAN W. WRIGHT, Worshipful Master
JUSTIN PINNEY, Secretary

Copies of this action were sent to the Grand Master, Grand Secretary, and every Lodge in the state. In addition, the Master wired the Grand Master: "New England Lodge No. 4 F & A.M., answers your communication to it by unanimously withdrawing its affiliation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio."

Grand Master Levi C. Goodale, of McMillan Lodge No. 141, sent Past Grand Master William W. Cunningham to pick up the Charter and property of the Lodge. He didn't get them. On April 18, 1891, a week later, the Grand Master issued an edict:

Edict No.1 – To the Masters, Wardens, and Brethren of Lodges of this Jurisdiction:

Brethren, the Charter of New England Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M., located at Worthington, Ohio, has been arrested by me for disloyal and rebellious conduct. Until said Charter shall be restored by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, it is my order that all Masonic intercourse, affiliation, or fellowship with said Lodge, or the members thereof, shall cease.

The edicted Lodge continued to work, drawing mem bers from everywhere, but as one might suspect, it wasn't long before the obstacles of non-Masonic intercourse became insurmountable.

On September 9, 1891, Past Grand Master S. Stacker Williams and Grand Treasurer Ralph R. Rickly met with those members of New England Lodge who were unwilling to give up their allegiance to the Grand Lodge. They assembled in the home of Horace W. Wright. Wright became Worshipful Master and the Lodge was again at work. But the report to the Grand Lodge tells a sad story. The membership in 1890 was 92; the present (1891) membership, 9. Eighty members had been suspended.

It was 1899 before the legitimate Lodge got back its property. The Governor of Ohio, Asa S. Bushnell, interceded. The deed to the property was secured. There was rejoicing and a "great celebration was appointed for the evening of December 27, 1899. Grand Master E. L. Lybarger
and Governor Bushnell were among the large gathering of members and guests present for the occasion. Three months later, Bushnell, who had been made a Mason-at-Sight on October 18, 1892, by Grand Master Levi C. Goodale, was made an Honorary Member of New England Lodge.

Relations with the Grand Lodge of Tennessee were broken off by Grand Master Burdick in 1888. He had suggested the Grand Master of Tennessee, H. T. Ingersoll, appoint J. W. Iredell, Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ohio as its representative. Ingersoll wanted to appoint a staunch supporter of the Cerneau movement. Burdick recalled the commission of Tennessee's representative, reluctantly. The correspondence was studied at length by the Committee on Foreign Correspondence of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. It concluded: "The action of M. W. Grand Master Leander Burdick, in his official correspondence with M.W. Henry H. Ingersoll, at that time Grand Master of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Tennessee, in maintaining the dignity and honor of this Grand Lodge and the official position held by him as Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, be and is hereby approved."

In every Grand Lodge in which this matter was discussed, Burdick's actions were approved and commended. Josiah Hayden Drummond of Maine covered the controversy at length, then asked the Grand Lodge of Tennessee tp review its action. It was 1895 before normal relations were restored.

In 1891, Grand Master Levi C. Goodale noted that several members of New England Lodge, along with two members of Goodale Lodge No. 372 of Columbus had "entered into a conspiracy to form a pretended and clandestine Grand Lodge." The Jurisprudence Committee called these "acts so flagrantly violative of all Masonic duty as to put them, and each beyond the protection of this Grand Lodge; and they, and each of them, are hereby declared to have forfeited all right, privilege and benefit of Masonry; and that they are hereby expelled from all rights and benefits, immunities and privileges of Masonry, from this time forth." The report was unanimously adopted.

Goodale said: "The time had come when the interests of loyal Masons throughout this state as well as throughout the world, demand of this Grand Lodge active measures toward suppressing Cerneauism, which seems to have proven an element of discord wherever it has obtained a foothold."

He reported litigation was still being carried on because of the Cerneau affair. The Columbus cases had been decoded in favor of the Grand Lodge. When they were appealed to the Circuit Court of Franklin County, the Grand Lodge was again upheld.

Early in the year, Goodale learned "irregular Masons" were endeavoring to visit regular Lodges. He sent out an edict stating: "It is ordered, and you are hereby commanded to exact from every visitor to your Lodge without exception (and taken in the usual forms of oath from visiting Brethren), the following declaration, to wit:

"I hereon declare on my Masonic honor, and in all truth and soberness, that I am a member in good standing of a Lodge of Masons recognized by the Grand Lodge of Ohio as regular, and that I am not a member of any organization or society which has been declared by The Grand Lodge of Oho to be bogus, irregular, illegitimate, or un-masonic."

"And any visitor failing to make such declarations must be denied admission to any Lodge room."

Grand Master Allen Andrews was pleased to report to the Grand Lodge on October 18, 1893:

The Cerneau bodies have melted away, and, with perhaps a single exception, have become extinct. The clandestine and illegal Grand Lodge which pretended organize at Worthington, in 1891, according to best information, started five unlawful Subordinate Lodges, one each at Worthington, Coshocton and Bucyrus, and two at Columbus. These Lodges are aimless, lifeless and fruitless, except the two at Columbus, styled Franklin and Columbian, which have a membership, and continue to hold meetings. They solicit candidates and accept as members persons rejected by regular Lodges, and persons having but one eye, one arm, one leg, or other physical or moral imperfections, disqualifying them from membership in regular Lodges. Attempts were made to establish clandestine Lodges elsewhere in the state, but were frustrated by diligent Brethren who made known the character of these illegal organizations. The method is to make up a class of men desirous of Masonry, and pretend to them that they are about to organize a new Lodge, and that all who join in the beginning can obtain the degrees for $10.00.

"The attempt to organize a rebellion against this Grand Lodge, and plant clandestine bodies in this state, has not only failed of recognition, but has encountered the just condemnation of all the Grand Lodges in the world in fraternal correspondence with us. This is a source of satisfaction to us, and a new guarantee of the perpetuity of our institutions."

About forty members of Franklin and Columbian Lodges told the Grand Master they desired to dissolve "these clandestine bodies." They asked him to "heal" them. He informed them their proper course was to "renounce and withdraw from their present affiliation, and apply regularly for admission to a lawful Lodge." Many of them did.

Andrews stated the courts had held in all Cermeau cases "that the controversy is not a subject matter of civil jurisprudence, to be decided in secular court, but that it is a Masonic question, to be settled by the authorities of our Order and the civil courts of the land have no power to interfere." This is what the Grand Lodge contended from the beginning of the conflict.

The Cernean affair had ended in Ohio. This was emphasized in 1896 when Grand Master William B. Melish said: "The Grand Master has made no decision of law during his term. This announcement may bring about a stroke of paralysis to some of our elder Brethren who have attended Grand Lodge for a score of years. The Committee on Grievances has only one case to worry over. The effect it will have on the learned and usually hard worked Committees on Jurisprudence and Grievances can not be foretold, but it is hoped they will conclude they are entitled to ‘a day off' and spend the time enjoying the hospitality of the Cincinnati Brethren."

Throughout the internal strife, however, the Grand Lodge had grown, and it had taken a far-reaching step to help its needy Brethren, their widows and orphans.

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