In earlier years the ritual consisted largely of unwritten work, but by 1847 a printed ritual existed. However, many decades before this time the degrees as we now know them had been conferred, both in Europe and in America and Canada.

Robert Morris, the sweet and beloved Masonic poet, whose fertile imagination and gifted pen added many adoptive degrees into Masonry - but who did not write any True Kindred ritual - was thoroughly familiar with the True Kindred degrees. Rob Morris is quoted in "Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" as saying in 1850 that he thought he could write a "better" ritual for women but said at that time of the "Good Samaritan" degree: "In my judgement (it) possesses dramatic elements and machinery equal to those that are in the Templar Orders, the High Priesthood and the Cryptic Rite. I have always recommended the Good Samaritan and a thousand times conferred it in various parts of the world."

Note the really important thing in this statement by Robert Morris so far as the history of True Kindred is concerned: the three degrees of True Kindred were well known to him. They had existed at least more than a hundred years before he wrote his adoptive rite rituals.

True Kindred is, indeed, the oldest of the Ladies' degrees we know them. But unfortunately, no attempt was made to organize True Kindred into conclaves, lodges or chapters. Master Masons continued to confer the degrees on their lady kindred all during the 1800's. But eventually True Kindred did become an organization.

Mrs. M. E. Degeer Gilmore, a young lady of Toronto, Canada, received the degrees from her father, and she became very interested in the study of its history and precepts. She visited the San Francisco Worlds Fair and while there she interested a number of Master Masons and their wives in the degree and in the possibility of organization and incorporation. A Supreme Conclave was founded in San Francisco in 1894, but expansion of the organization failed to occur.

Interest in organizing True Kindred conclaves sprang up in Chicago at the turn of the century, and in May 1901 the first conclave in Illinois was organized. Other conclaves in Chicago and in down-state Illinois were organized, and by the close of 1902 a Grand conclave of Illinois under the jurisdiction of the California-based Supreme Conclave was formed.

Because interest in operation of a Supreme body in the California area had waned, all connection of the Illinois Grand Conclave with it was severed, and the present Supreme Conclave was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1905. All conclaves anywhere in the world, and all degrees conferred, are completely under its jurisdiction.


CHARITIES
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal," so said St. Paul almost 2000 years ago. And this precept is fundamental in True Kindred belief and practice.

True Kindred members and conclaves take an active part in contributing to civic charities, orphans homes, homes for the aged, churches, hospitals, and the poor and unfortunate. Many members sew and mend garments, make layettes and blankets, and donate goods to alleviate the suffering of those in need.

Contributions are regularly made to organized charities and to groups dedicated to helping the sick, and disabled, the destitute and the lonely.
These include KNIGHTS TEMPLAR EYE FOUNDATION, SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN, SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATIONS, SHRINERS BURN INSTITUTE, SALVATION ARMY, and numerous local organized groups dedicated to the alleviation of suffering.

With hope in a blessed immortality, and charity to all mankind, fraternal love, and helpfulness to one another, improving our time in acquiring that knowledge that will make us better, wiser and happier, that as we go hence to enter that bourne whence none return, may we feel that we have made the world better and our loved ones and neighbors happier, for our living here; and that the beautiful temple of eternal truth upon which we have been builders, of which Christ is the corner-stone, and whose Divine Architect is God, shall never pass away.