The Biblical history is most interesting to lovers of those ancient people who made it possible for the Masonic Rolls and Manuscripts to be persevered and handed down so that we may enjoy our loved True Kindred Order.

This ancient fraternal order originated in the Holy Land in a city dear to all our hearts, Palestine, and was conferred, mouth to mouth on women only relatives of the “Kin” as a means of care and protection against unscrupulous foes, on taking a journey, carrying on business affairs, and a guide in rearing little children. Down to the present time, women wearing T.K. emblem receive attention and assistance from Master Masons when needed.

Necessity requires women to provide and devise various things for practical use, and we are told in Gen. Chap. 4, 4000 B.C. of a family of four, three brothers and a sister, who were tired of fashioning clothes out of grass, animal skins, inside barks of trees, and living without shelter, so these four became inventors.

The men tended cattle, made farm implements, musical organs and harps, built houses, studied geometry and smithcraft. In fact, these four became the founders of all arts and crafts in the world. (Ancient Masonic Manuscripts.) They were also prophets and knew the world would be destroyed by water. Naamah (Pleasant) the woman, founded the art of weaving cloth for use, and when they viewed their various handicraft they decided to hold together their “Household of the Kin” and these four formed the first Guild. They pledged themselves to study all the arts, science, philosophy, geometry and astrology, and when Minerva Con. T.K. No. 1 was organized one of the requirements was to attend lectures for the study of these subjects.

During the reign of King Solomon (Peaceful), noted for his wisdom and riches, the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba (Oath) came to visit his country and was so impressed by his servants, houses and lands (1 Kings 11) she communed with him and he “gave her all his knowledge.” When her visit was completed he conferred upon her the “Word, Sign, and Handclasp” of this degree for her protection during her journey home.

Coming on down through the years, reference to this degree is found but conferred only upon a favored few as the “Kin of Royalty” in England and France. History tells us of the first fraternal Masonic Auxiliary in the year 1760, organized in Paris, France, named the “Lodge of Adoption” and fourteen years later Holland organized. These were presided over by Royal Ladies and made such rapid progress that in 1774 it officially reached the attention and supervision of the Grand Orient of France. In 1775, it no doubt changed its name, for it was now called “Independent Lodge of Adoption” and in 1777 again, “Adoptive Lodge.”

Lafayette, having possession of this degree, came over to America and finding much enthusiasm among the Masonic Brothers and realizing all “Kin of Masons” were entitled to instruction and benefit of this degree, he left its unwritten work with “The Brethren” for the mutual advantage of the “Household of the Faithful.” At this time the country was exposed to outlaws, Indian raids and other dangers, and the fame and protection of this degree for women spread among “those recognized and vouched for” until President George Washington conferred it on his wife, Martha, an intelligent and educated woman, and gave it the name, “The Martha Washington Degree” in the United States. It retained this name about fifty years or until the organization in California when it again became “The True Kindred”, its rightful name.

The Colonial Dames, having no taste for organization and no fraternal recognition, made no attempt to form a fraternal group, being content to simply receive its benefits.

M.E. Degeer Gilmore, then a young lady residing in Toronto Canada, interested in all the love and beauty of the Masonic Order, received this degree from her father and immediately began to study and learn its history.

During the California World’s Fair she reached San Francisco and having interested a small group of Master Masons and their wives, she called a meeting early in 1894 and appointed a Board of Directors who later applied for incorporation papers with a view of her becoming National Organizer.

At a meeting held July 10, 1894 in San Francisco, the organization was perfected and the body named “The Supreme National Conclave of True Kindred” They then proceeded to the election of officers, and S.I Hubbard, of San Francisco, was elected as the Most Worthy Supreme Commander, Kate J Williats, Secretary, and M.E. Gilmore as National Lecturer and Organizer. It was understood this body was to be the “Supreme Body” and all Grand and Subordinate Conclaves under its jurisdiction when organized, and I find in the Constitution and By-Laws, printed in 1895, the First degree was called the “True Kindred”. The second, or “Royal Companion,” degree “Heroes and Heroines of Jericho”, the third, “The Knights and Ladies of the Cross, Good Samaritan” and to be eligible to the “Supreme Body” a member must have received all three degrees.

The “Masons Daughter” degree was to be given as an honorary degree to those women who had proved themselves worthy by service to the order. Up to this time only women received the degree, but after the organization in California, both men and women were eligible. No Conclaves were formed in California or were attempted, because Mrs. Gilmore was called east by the illness of her daughter.

I have not touched in this history upon the lessons, instructions or charity of the order, but rather to recall a period of history that is from the organization of the original Supreme Conclave down to the organization in 1906.

Many of my coworkers have passed to the great spiritual T.K. Temple, and with a feeling of sadness I recall the many hours we spend trying to get this order on a substantial basis legally, financially, and free from all attacks from other sources. As the square and compasses are symbolical of the working tools of life, so the work of the women of the loom presents the five points of directions for the members of the T.K. order.

It is with gratitude I present the history as I know it and in obedience to the love and service I gave to it, I reverence the order today as when I received the degree 27 years ago.