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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Page 1 of 1 Article REVIEWS. Page 1 of 1 Article MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do mot hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , no necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
OUR FREEMASONRY—THE OLD HIGH GRADES . To the Editor of THE F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —In my first letter upon this subject I referred Bro . Buchan to two MSS ., which themselves prove the antiquity of the system of the three degrees , and their identity with the present first three ceremonials ; I cannot conceive what more he want 3 ; and if he will not acknowledge evidence when he sees it , then it is
useless to argue . The same may be said about his comments on the existence of the Eoyal Arch degree , which I showed to be alluded to by the 1721 Masonio Rosicrucians . The history of the so-called high grades is confessedly a very difficult subject , and I find , upon further reference to my papers , and to some recent private correspondence , that my raemory has been a little treacherous upoD some
points of theory . None of your correspondents have thought fit to attack my statements , that all ancient documentary evidence is opposed to the authenticity of the Mark degree in its present form as a degree ; and equally so to the existence of any ancient historical connection between the Master Mason and the Royal Arch degree , and yet there
is little doubt that the latter degree is Masomcally of some considerable antiquity . As to the other two degrees , which were recognised by the Old York Masons , we have only the traditional teaching of the Templar Camps or Conclaves of Bath , Bristol , York , Manchester , and London , of which some were apparently not English , but of the Rite of Strict Observance , or the System of Baron Hnnde . In Bath and
Bristol we find the chief remains of this ancient teaching . Nearly all the ancient Rites were a System of Seven degrees ; even the 32 nd degree of the Ancient and Accepted Cumulative Scotch Rite makes admission of this fact . I was taught , many years ago , in these old conclaves , that it had always been considered there , that the Priestly
Order of Holy Wisdom was the commander of the Templar , the Kadosh of the Kights ROSOJ Crucis , and the Prince of the Royal Secret of the Swedish Knights of Palestine . Therefore the principle of cumulation is bad , and destructive of ancient landmarks . Upon this evidence we may tabulate four Rites , as follows : — Scotch Bito Old York & English Trench Bite German & Swedish
4 . Past Master 6 , Heredom Boyal Arch Bed Cross Novice 6 . Bosy Cross Heredom Templar Boste Crucis Knight of Palestine 7 . Templar Priest KadoaU Boyal Secret Moreover an examination of the Ritual , however much altered in transmission , will show that this is not mere theory . There is an
identity of construction between them which indicates that they are not degrees which should be placed one npon another , but rites of one and the same derivation , altered by a transmission of some antiquity . The English Templar and Rose Croix had threefold trials of courage , constancy , and humility , whilst the Knights of Palestine is confessedly a Templar Order , and the Royal Order of
H . R . M . Rosy Cross has made the same claim . In the Priest , Kadosh , and Royal Secret , there are many identical points ; there are in each seven voyages , and seven pass-words , there are the same Templar claims , and the assertion that Masonry is a continuation of the Templar Order . In England tbe Arch , Templar and Priest were anciently presided over by a High Priest . Of all the Rites , that of
the York and English Masons is the most decidedly trinitarian , and yet the Christianity of the " Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest , " is of a most philosophical kind , and was represented by the late Bro . Godfrey Higgins , in his Anacalypsis , to be of the most ancient derivation ; it is , moreover , a degree of remarkable beauty and simplicity . The admission of a Past Master ' s degree in the Rite proves it not to be a very ancient system . Its certificate bears the formula
" Wisdom hath builded her house , she hath hewn out her seven pillars , the light that cometh from Wisdom shall never go out . " The late Bro . William Carpenter some time ago called attention to the fact that the German Rosicrucians and the English brothers of the Rosie Cross of the seventeenth century were in all probability differing rites , holding opposing views on doctrine , and the relative value of revelation and scripture ; which is saying precisely what we find to be the case in an examination of these rites .
Although the allusions of which I have made mention in 1721 and 1725 may only apply to the degree of Royal Arch , yet the variation in the four rites which I have mentioned seems to have been so marked between 1740 and 1750 that we must necessaril y give them some number of years in which to arrive at this varying position . There can be no doubt that tho speculative Masonry of
the 1717 Grand Lodge was at some short distance of time of an operative character , the operations in the South , which had been going on for about a century , had not play in the North , and we must not therefore be met with Scotch Minutes , wo must be faced with South of England's Minutes , aud these , if found , would confirm tho 1717 Masons . Kosicrucianfsm then all at once disappears , aud Freemasonry takes its place . Whilst " Eugenius
Philalethes jun" was dedicating "Long Livers , " in Alchemical Language , to the Grand Lodge of England in 1721 , the German Masonic Rosicrucians , still holding different views upon Christian teaching , were asserting , in 1745 , in their three degrees that the original " Philalothos" was still living , and presiding over the Rosicrucian Colleges . All this is too remarkable to be passed over carelessly . Indeed , it is not at all unlikely that all through the latter half of tie seventeenth century , the English Roaieraoians were spequ .
Correspondence.
lative Masons , and vice versa , and , therefore , the anoient Masonio boast that Freemasonry originated the Templars , Knights of Malta , and Rosicrucians , may not be such an idle one as many believe . Although the Antiont and Primitive Rite of Masonry derives from the Primitive Rite of Philalethes , yet it is no more free from the evils
of a cumulative system than that of Lacorne ' s , now called the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . It is formed of the Rose Croix Rite , the Rosy Cross , the Rosicrucian , and Lacorne ' s , with extracts from all others , supplemented by an Egyptian system of philosophy , such as yon are now so interestingly developing , iu the FREEMASON ' S
CHRONICLE , in the translations from Bro . J . L . Laurens , aud a system of lectures , which give considerable information upon the old rites , and are of a most interesting nature . The object of the old Encampments of the three English high grades , in heaping up rites was , at first , probably to give their members what they had a right to expect ,
namely , admission to the same system of degrees , as they were practised in foreign countries ; but they ended by adopting the cumulation of Lacorne , and in many cases forgot the true origin of their own customs . The old Camps have an unquestionable right to give
everything , but in giving an Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite certificate they do themselves an injustice , by adopting a system without truth . They had only three Craft Grades , Past Master , the ( place of which the Mark might fill ) , and three Rosicrucian Grades , and various synonymous ceremonies of other countries .
I remain , yours truly and fraternally , JOHN YARKER , P . E . C . and Pt . R . G . C . of all the High Grades . Manchester 31 st July 1875 .
Answers To Correspondents.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .
ALPHA . —The brother is not entitled to be addressed as a P . M . of the Lodge where ho may have acted occasionally for an absentee . A P . M . can only retain his status in the Lodge where he has served the office of W . M .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Bevie-w should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C .
Magazines Of The Month.
MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .
" THE State of the French Army " forms the subject of the leading article in Blackwood . The writer has clearly mastered all the details , so far as it was possiblo to do so , and the result is an able and succinct sketch of the military strength of France under the new law . Our readers will probably read with some surprise that the peace strength
is less than a quarter of a million , and that in spite of all her efforts since the late war , that country has done so little in the way of reorganization . The general belief , undoubtedly , is , that our neighbour is far stronger now than when , goaded by the nation he had ruled so long , Napoleon III . plunged into that unhappy struggle
which cost him his throne and his country two fair provinces . But the picture drawn in this article places the matter in a different light , to that extent that we almost wonder how it was there could havo been so terrible a scare in the spring of this year , lest war should again break out between the two great continental rivals .
Part IV . of " The Dilemma " brings ns into the full excitement of the mutiny , and the Residency of Mustaphabfld , with Colonel and Mrs . Falkland , Brigadier and Mrs . Polwheadle , Yorkes , Captain Sparrow and others within its limits , is formally besieged by the
mutineers . The native regiments mutiny , of course , and Yorke , being popular with his company , escapes with bis life , but all are not so fortunate . " My Swan Song , " we take leave to quote , it reads so prettily : —
To I . Sing ? How should I sing , Maiden , for thy pleasure ? My harp hath many a broken string , And few that keep the measure .
II . Of its olden tones , Shonld some faint chords linger , Waking , ghost-like , in response To a straying finger , —
III . Blent , like sun and shower , In false April weather , Forth at once would pour Tears and song together .
17 . Deftor hands fit lay For thine car must borrow ; Mine are weak and chill to-day , And will be cold to-morrow .
There are two other contribntions , one by the sahie pen as the above , which we strongly recommend to our readers' notice . The political article , which is a retrospect at the work of the Session , is well written , and , of coarse , favourable to the conduct of public affairs by the Conservative Ministry , but politics are no concern of cmre »
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do mot hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , no necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
OUR FREEMASONRY—THE OLD HIGH GRADES . To the Editor of THE F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAK SIR AND BROTHER , —In my first letter upon this subject I referred Bro . Buchan to two MSS ., which themselves prove the antiquity of the system of the three degrees , and their identity with the present first three ceremonials ; I cannot conceive what more he want 3 ; and if he will not acknowledge evidence when he sees it , then it is
useless to argue . The same may be said about his comments on the existence of the Eoyal Arch degree , which I showed to be alluded to by the 1721 Masonio Rosicrucians . The history of the so-called high grades is confessedly a very difficult subject , and I find , upon further reference to my papers , and to some recent private correspondence , that my raemory has been a little treacherous upoD some
points of theory . None of your correspondents have thought fit to attack my statements , that all ancient documentary evidence is opposed to the authenticity of the Mark degree in its present form as a degree ; and equally so to the existence of any ancient historical connection between the Master Mason and the Royal Arch degree , and yet there
is little doubt that the latter degree is Masomcally of some considerable antiquity . As to the other two degrees , which were recognised by the Old York Masons , we have only the traditional teaching of the Templar Camps or Conclaves of Bath , Bristol , York , Manchester , and London , of which some were apparently not English , but of the Rite of Strict Observance , or the System of Baron Hnnde . In Bath and
Bristol we find the chief remains of this ancient teaching . Nearly all the ancient Rites were a System of Seven degrees ; even the 32 nd degree of the Ancient and Accepted Cumulative Scotch Rite makes admission of this fact . I was taught , many years ago , in these old conclaves , that it had always been considered there , that the Priestly
Order of Holy Wisdom was the commander of the Templar , the Kadosh of the Kights ROSOJ Crucis , and the Prince of the Royal Secret of the Swedish Knights of Palestine . Therefore the principle of cumulation is bad , and destructive of ancient landmarks . Upon this evidence we may tabulate four Rites , as follows : — Scotch Bito Old York & English Trench Bite German & Swedish
4 . Past Master 6 , Heredom Boyal Arch Bed Cross Novice 6 . Bosy Cross Heredom Templar Boste Crucis Knight of Palestine 7 . Templar Priest KadoaU Boyal Secret Moreover an examination of the Ritual , however much altered in transmission , will show that this is not mere theory . There is an
identity of construction between them which indicates that they are not degrees which should be placed one npon another , but rites of one and the same derivation , altered by a transmission of some antiquity . The English Templar and Rose Croix had threefold trials of courage , constancy , and humility , whilst the Knights of Palestine is confessedly a Templar Order , and the Royal Order of
H . R . M . Rosy Cross has made the same claim . In the Priest , Kadosh , and Royal Secret , there are many identical points ; there are in each seven voyages , and seven pass-words , there are the same Templar claims , and the assertion that Masonry is a continuation of the Templar Order . In England tbe Arch , Templar and Priest were anciently presided over by a High Priest . Of all the Rites , that of
the York and English Masons is the most decidedly trinitarian , and yet the Christianity of the " Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest , " is of a most philosophical kind , and was represented by the late Bro . Godfrey Higgins , in his Anacalypsis , to be of the most ancient derivation ; it is , moreover , a degree of remarkable beauty and simplicity . The admission of a Past Master ' s degree in the Rite proves it not to be a very ancient system . Its certificate bears the formula
" Wisdom hath builded her house , she hath hewn out her seven pillars , the light that cometh from Wisdom shall never go out . " The late Bro . William Carpenter some time ago called attention to the fact that the German Rosicrucians and the English brothers of the Rosie Cross of the seventeenth century were in all probability differing rites , holding opposing views on doctrine , and the relative value of revelation and scripture ; which is saying precisely what we find to be the case in an examination of these rites .
Although the allusions of which I have made mention in 1721 and 1725 may only apply to the degree of Royal Arch , yet the variation in the four rites which I have mentioned seems to have been so marked between 1740 and 1750 that we must necessaril y give them some number of years in which to arrive at this varying position . There can be no doubt that tho speculative Masonry of
the 1717 Grand Lodge was at some short distance of time of an operative character , the operations in the South , which had been going on for about a century , had not play in the North , and we must not therefore be met with Scotch Minutes , wo must be faced with South of England's Minutes , aud these , if found , would confirm tho 1717 Masons . Kosicrucianfsm then all at once disappears , aud Freemasonry takes its place . Whilst " Eugenius
Philalethes jun" was dedicating "Long Livers , " in Alchemical Language , to the Grand Lodge of England in 1721 , the German Masonic Rosicrucians , still holding different views upon Christian teaching , were asserting , in 1745 , in their three degrees that the original " Philalothos" was still living , and presiding over the Rosicrucian Colleges . All this is too remarkable to be passed over carelessly . Indeed , it is not at all unlikely that all through the latter half of tie seventeenth century , the English Roaieraoians were spequ .
Correspondence.
lative Masons , and vice versa , and , therefore , the anoient Masonio boast that Freemasonry originated the Templars , Knights of Malta , and Rosicrucians , may not be such an idle one as many believe . Although the Antiont and Primitive Rite of Masonry derives from the Primitive Rite of Philalethes , yet it is no more free from the evils
of a cumulative system than that of Lacorne ' s , now called the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . It is formed of the Rose Croix Rite , the Rosy Cross , the Rosicrucian , and Lacorne ' s , with extracts from all others , supplemented by an Egyptian system of philosophy , such as yon are now so interestingly developing , iu the FREEMASON ' S
CHRONICLE , in the translations from Bro . J . L . Laurens , aud a system of lectures , which give considerable information upon the old rites , and are of a most interesting nature . The object of the old Encampments of the three English high grades , in heaping up rites was , at first , probably to give their members what they had a right to expect ,
namely , admission to the same system of degrees , as they were practised in foreign countries ; but they ended by adopting the cumulation of Lacorne , and in many cases forgot the true origin of their own customs . The old Camps have an unquestionable right to give
everything , but in giving an Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite certificate they do themselves an injustice , by adopting a system without truth . They had only three Craft Grades , Past Master , the ( place of which the Mark might fill ) , and three Rosicrucian Grades , and various synonymous ceremonies of other countries .
I remain , yours truly and fraternally , JOHN YARKER , P . E . C . and Pt . R . G . C . of all the High Grades . Manchester 31 st July 1875 .
Answers To Correspondents.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .
ALPHA . —The brother is not entitled to be addressed as a P . M . of the Lodge where ho may have acted occasionally for an absentee . A P . M . can only retain his status in the Lodge where he has served the office of W . M .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Bevie-w should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C .
Magazines Of The Month.
MAGAZINES OF THE MONTH .
" THE State of the French Army " forms the subject of the leading article in Blackwood . The writer has clearly mastered all the details , so far as it was possiblo to do so , and the result is an able and succinct sketch of the military strength of France under the new law . Our readers will probably read with some surprise that the peace strength
is less than a quarter of a million , and that in spite of all her efforts since the late war , that country has done so little in the way of reorganization . The general belief , undoubtedly , is , that our neighbour is far stronger now than when , goaded by the nation he had ruled so long , Napoleon III . plunged into that unhappy struggle
which cost him his throne and his country two fair provinces . But the picture drawn in this article places the matter in a different light , to that extent that we almost wonder how it was there could havo been so terrible a scare in the spring of this year , lest war should again break out between the two great continental rivals .
Part IV . of " The Dilemma " brings ns into the full excitement of the mutiny , and the Residency of Mustaphabfld , with Colonel and Mrs . Falkland , Brigadier and Mrs . Polwheadle , Yorkes , Captain Sparrow and others within its limits , is formally besieged by the
mutineers . The native regiments mutiny , of course , and Yorke , being popular with his company , escapes with bis life , but all are not so fortunate . " My Swan Song , " we take leave to quote , it reads so prettily : —
To I . Sing ? How should I sing , Maiden , for thy pleasure ? My harp hath many a broken string , And few that keep the measure .
II . Of its olden tones , Shonld some faint chords linger , Waking , ghost-like , in response To a straying finger , —
III . Blent , like sun and shower , In false April weather , Forth at once would pour Tears and song together .
17 . Deftor hands fit lay For thine car must borrow ; Mine are weak and chill to-day , And will be cold to-morrow .
There are two other contribntions , one by the sahie pen as the above , which we strongly recommend to our readers' notice . The political article , which is a retrospect at the work of the Session , is well written , and , of coarse , favourable to the conduct of public affairs by the Conservative Ministry , but politics are no concern of cmre »