ing to the death of four of the oi-io-inal twelve; namely, 
Brothers D'Aubigne, Chappell, Campbell and Eddy,
and the apathy and neglect of the remaining eight,
Mecca Temple No. 1, remained inactive until Decem-
ber 1875, when W. J. Florence came from Europe 
bringing with him the Oriental Ritual of the or-
der as it was worked in foreign countries. In 1876 
W. J. Florence called together such of the original mem- 
bers of the organization of . 1871 as were living and con- 
stituted in December 1876 Mecea Temple No. 1, as the 
head of the order in America. A Committee with W. 
J. Florence as chairman, was appointed to draft a con-
stitution and Ritual for the order in America, which 
constitution was on the 6th of June 1876 adopted in 
due form, and a special committee was appointed to re-
vise and prepare a Ritual for work in the United States,
of which W. J, Florence was chairman. Since Dr. 
Fleming and W. J. Florence were at that time members 
of the old burlesque association known as the Sons of 
Malta, a portion of the ritual of that order was adopted 
and a portion of the work was taken from the higher
degrees of the Rite of Memphis and the Scotch Rite,
as well as the Roval Arch and Templar degrees York 
Rite.