Our History
On August 18th, 2011, the first Council of Royal & Select Masters was established in the Jurisdiction of Arkansas, when the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Mississippi, issued a dispensation for Marshall Gilkey, UD. with Companion Monroe Murdock as Thrice Illustrious Master. Marshall Gilkey was eventually chartered Marshall Gilkey No. 12.
In 2016, the Membership of Marshall Gilkey No. 12, developed an overwhelming desire to establish the Grand Council for the State of Arkansas. Companion Joseph Pierce Jr & Companion Lamar Smith solicited signatures from members of the Council to establish & petition The Most Illustrious Grand Council Royal & Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Mississippi for a second and third council. The Most Illustrious Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Mississippi received the petitions, and two more councils were chartered.
• George Myles # 16 with Companion Joseph Pierce as Thrice Illustrious Master
• David Anderson No. 17 with Companion Lamar Smith as Thrice Illustrious Master
On the 26th Day of August 2017, by the action of then Thrice Masters, William Fauntleroy (Marshall Gilkey No. 12), Joseph Pierce (George Myles No. 16), and Lamar smith (David Anderson No. 17) and the assistance of the Most Illustrious Grand Council Royal and Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Mississippi, Prince Hall Affiliated with Luther Steele Jr. serving as the Most Illustrious Grand Thrice Illustrious Master, the Most Illustrious Monroe B. Murdock Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Arkansas, Prince Hall Affiliated was formed.
The Charter officers of the Most Illustrious Monroe B. Murdock Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, Jurisdiction of Arkansas are.
William Fauntleroy, Most Illustrious Grand Thrice Illustrious Master
Earnest Womack, Right Illustrious Grand Deputy Master
Lamar Smith, Right Illustrious Grand Principal Conductor of the Work
Ross Bell, Right Illustrious Grand Recorder
Joseph Pierce, Right Illustrious Grand Treasurer
The three councils under the Most Illustrious Monroe B. Murdock Grand Council were chartered in Arkansas as: Marshall Gilkey No. 1 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas with Xavier Young as Thrice Illustrious Master, George Myles No. 2 in North Little Rock, Arkansas with Joseph Pierce Jr. as Thrice Illustrious Master, and David Anderson No. 3 in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas with Lamar Smith as Thrice Illustrious Master.
The Most Illustrious Monroe B. Murdock Grand Council will stand tall, remain steadfast during this test of time, and proudly move forward to continue service to the Cryptic Rite.