Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt01108)

Although, as I wrote previously, Leadbeater essentially claimed direct
authority from a Master for his Egyptian Rite, he did also lay claim to a
more worldly authority. A formal charter for the ER was issued by the
Sovereign Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis at Palermo (Italy) which was,
at the time, controlled by a Theosophist, Reginald Gambier Macbean
(1859-1942), who had become Grand Master in July, 1921 while serving as
the British Consul for Sicily.  Macbean, originally a 33rd degree Masonic
of the French jurisdiction, had become a Co-Mason, and had admitted
Leadbeater, Wedgwood, George Arundale, Oscar Kollerstrom and Jinarajadasa
to the Rite of Memphis. When the Palermo Sanctuary was suppressed by
Mussolini, Macbean transferred his rights in it to those five brethren.
The ER was originally called The Egyptian Rite of Ancient Masonry (as the
document appointing Arundale as Leadbeater?s successor ? of which I have a
copy ? describes it).

Dr Gregory Tillett