Page 156 - Cornelius Hedges Story

143 The Cornelius Hedges Story

Scottish Rite

On May 15, 1881, Robert C. Jordan, 33°, Active Deputy for
Nebraska, of the Southern Jurisdiction, Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite, arrived in Helena to communicate the Scottish Rite
degrees and organize a Lodge of Perfection and a Chapter of Rose
Croix in Helena. Cornelius Hedges was a member of the first class
to take Scottish Rite.474 Other members of that class were: Harry R.
Comly, Past Grand Master and future A. & A.S.R. Active Deputy’
for Montana; A. J. Davidson, who was elected Grand Master of
Montana Masons in 1882; Richard Lockey; William N. Baldwin;
Daniel M. Dellinger; John C. Major; James H. Moe; and Henry
Cowden.475

On May 16, the class took the 4° to the 13°, and in the evening of
the 17th, they received the Perfect Elu Degree, 14°, to complete the
degrees of the Lodge of Perfection. On the 18th, in the afternoon and
evening, Mr. Jordan communicated all of the degrees of the Chapter
of Rose Croix, and the first six degrees of the Council of Kadosh.

The 26th through the 30th degrees were received by the class on
May 19. On the 20th, the final day, they received the 31° and 32°
in the Consistory, and had a class picture taken. An election was
also held that day; Judge Hedges was elected Venerable Master of
the Alpha Lodge of Perfection and Orator of the Helena Chapter of
Rose Croix.476

On April 11, 1887, he was also elected Wise Master of Helena
Chapter of Rose Croix.477 Judge Hedges, too, was an honorary
member of Eastern Montana Consistory at Livingston.478

In August, 1883, General Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand
Commander of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, visited Helena for three
days, and Hedges, in his journal, noted that he spent a large amount
of time with Gen. Pike.479

In August of 1885, Albert Pike again visited Helena.480 Cornelius
Hedges had been elected to receive the 33° by the Supreme
Council, A. &A.S.R., on October 23, 1884. On August 16, Albert
Pike conferred the degree of Inspector General Honorary, 33°, on
Cornelius Hedges.481