In 1981, he was elected vicar capitular. However, the capitular canons then elected Henry's brother Frederick, succeeding the late Ludwig von Varendorf. He was further promoted to cathedral capitular of Oliva in 1935. He was sworn in as the Vicar Capitular on May 23, 1973. The institute opened as the Sala Capitular del Convento de Santo Domingo in 1553. The building's main hall, the Sala Capitular ("Meeting Room"), was originally utilized as a courtroom. Capitular knights were generally high-ranking government officials or military officers. The Sala Capitular was the site of several landmark court cases, including "Plessy v. Ferguson".