The first Chapters were called Courts styled after the Amaranth Degree.  At the institution of the Grand Chapter there were eight Chapters or Courts in Kentucky.

Deborah No. 1, Lexington, KY Susannah No. 2, Paducah, KY Naomi No. 3, Mayfield, KY
Queen Esther No. 4, Paducah, KY Elizabeth No. 5, Columbus, KY Bethsheba, No. 6, Clinton, KY
Rebecca No. 7, Henderson, KY  Golden No. 8, Louisville, KY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are told the first Chapters or Courts were under the sponsorship of the Jurisdiction of Tennessee, but no records were found to collaborate this.  The first Chapters instituted after 1895 were Celestine No. 9, Danville, Kentucky and Hagar No. 10, Earlington, Kentucky.

 

After the institution of Cecelia Dunlap Grand Chapter, they continued to meet annually, whenever and wherever they could.  The first proceeding on file was August 1901.  This meeting was held in Winchester, Kentucky.  The next meeting was in Georgetown in 1902.  These meetings are recorded as the Eighth and Ninth Annual Sessions, with eight Chapter/Courts represented and reported membership of less than 200 members. 

 

Sis. Fannie Shannon of Frankfort was the first officer who served from 1895 until 1900.  Sis. Nannie Slaughter served Grand Chapter as its second Royal Grand Matron from 1900-1901.  Sis. E. B. Jackson was the first secretary and served the Grand Chapter from 1901-1908.  The first officers were Sis. Fannie Shannon, GRM; Sis. Nannie Slaughter, GAM; Brother D.A. Langford, GWP; There was no Grand Associate Patron elected until 1901, when Brother D.C. Morton of Paducah was elected and served until 1913.   

 

Sis. Cecelia Dunlap for which, our Grand Chapter is named, served as its third Royal Grand Matron from 1901-1909.  Serving with her was Sis. E.B. Jackson, Honored Grand Secretary and Sis. Jennie Queen as Honored Grand Treasurer.  Prior to this date, Sis. Belle Hart and Sis. Sallie Harvey assisted with no titles.    Brothers serving in the early years were Brothers D.A. Langford, Brother Major Liggins and Brother Williams Hines. 

 

At the end of Royal Grand Matron, Cecelia Dunlap’s, term of office, The Grand Chapter was well organized.  The proceedings were being printed; Grand Communications was meeting in conjunction with the Grand Lodge.  Conferring of the Administrative Degree was now in place.  Palm Sunday was being observed as an Anniversary Day.  Sis. Dunlap recommended that consideration be given to incorporating.  Several references have been made that the Grand Chapter was incorporated at this time, but the oldest incorporation papers found are those of 1914.