Greetings Brethren:

I am crafting an article on the development of the Ritual here in Washington (Prince Hall). I have traced it back to the Ecce Orienti. Many propose that it was Anthony Nizzardini who authored the Ecce Orienti, but he only revised and became the exclusive vendor for PH Grand Lodge Jurisdictions. The authorship, as far back as we can go, belongs to Moses Wolcott Redding.
I have a ciphered Ecce Orienti, and can read it, but I need to be pointed in the right direction to find why and who authorized Redding to author the Ecce Orienti? Was it his creation, or the revision of an older ritual?

Thank You in advance for you assistance...

Brother John L. Hairston
J. C. Logan Lodge #53, F. & A.M.
MWPHGL of WA