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Article THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. ← Page 5 of 9 →
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The Ancient And Accepted Rite.
He congratulated bis 111 . Brethren on the great success that had attended their efforts in assisting the Supreme Council to place at the head of Ereemasonry the imperishable principles of the Ancient ancl Accepted Bite . They had begun with firmness and decision ; and hence the success that attended them in eA'ery forward movement they had made . They had throughout riidladhered to Masonic
gy law , and Avere , as they had ever been , the champions of obedience to all laAvful authority . The High Grades Union itself was , from this , as firm an estate as any that is established throughout the realm . The principles that bind the Order together are as immutable as the principles of truth and justice ; universal love predominates throughout . There is nothing in the ineffable or sublime Degrees that
teaches the Brethren to depreciate those AVIIO have not so far advanced in knowledge , or to say , " We are better than you . " They are taught to consider as fundamental , fchat Craft Masonry is the true opening to the light ; before that all is darkness . On the outside are the profane . Once admitted , you get to the dawn of day . Is it , hoAvever , anything-neAv to saythat the light of a Master Mason evenis onl
, , y darkness A * isible ? Look through the names of those , who haA'e had the privilege of advancing to yet greater light—who are they in respect to their knowledge of the Craft Degrees ? Are they undistinguished there ? Have they not been helpers and guides in those Degrees , and men , AVIIO have always been looked up to for general Masonic knowledge ? The light of a Master Mason then being only
darkness visible , was it not our duty to seek for more light ? Before the establishment of our Supreme Council , it was Avell known that greater knowledge could be obtained out of England ; that the learned Masons throughout the world , in both hemispheres , were members of Degrees that were not to be attained here . In Ireland , although not with the most complete organization , many of these Degrees were ivenunder the Supreme Councilpresided over by
g , , that accomplished and venerated Mason , tbe Duke of Leinster ; and it Avas thought by my Illustrious colleagues who afterwards formed the Supreme Council for England and Wales , that being offered a legal origin , it was most desirable to accept authority to give those Degrees in this country . We thought , that in doing this Ave Avere advancing the character and importance and upholding the dignity of
Ereemasonry in England . . We considered that it was a thing to be deplored , that English Masons should be obliged to leave this country to get Degrees elsewhere . Our desire therefore Avas , that the fullest light that could be imparted by Ereemasonry should bo obtained by an Englishman in the land of his birth—the country of his love . The exertions of our Supreme Council Avere from " the first
preeminently successful , and the good example set in this Council Avas soon followed by Scotland , and the Supreme Council formed there , which is now presided over by the Duke of Afcholl . Our earliest efforts brought about us a gallant band of thoughtful Brethren of the Order , and as they became full y acquainted Avith the princi ples of the High Degrees , they also became tho active agents in extending
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient And Accepted Rite.
He congratulated bis 111 . Brethren on the great success that had attended their efforts in assisting the Supreme Council to place at the head of Ereemasonry the imperishable principles of the Ancient ancl Accepted Bite . They had begun with firmness and decision ; and hence the success that attended them in eA'ery forward movement they had made . They had throughout riidladhered to Masonic
gy law , and Avere , as they had ever been , the champions of obedience to all laAvful authority . The High Grades Union itself was , from this , as firm an estate as any that is established throughout the realm . The principles that bind the Order together are as immutable as the principles of truth and justice ; universal love predominates throughout . There is nothing in the ineffable or sublime Degrees that
teaches the Brethren to depreciate those AVIIO have not so far advanced in knowledge , or to say , " We are better than you . " They are taught to consider as fundamental , fchat Craft Masonry is the true opening to the light ; before that all is darkness . On the outside are the profane . Once admitted , you get to the dawn of day . Is it , hoAvever , anything-neAv to saythat the light of a Master Mason evenis onl
, , y darkness A * isible ? Look through the names of those , who haA'e had the privilege of advancing to yet greater light—who are they in respect to their knowledge of the Craft Degrees ? Are they undistinguished there ? Have they not been helpers and guides in those Degrees , and men , AVIIO have always been looked up to for general Masonic knowledge ? The light of a Master Mason then being only
darkness visible , was it not our duty to seek for more light ? Before the establishment of our Supreme Council , it was Avell known that greater knowledge could be obtained out of England ; that the learned Masons throughout the world , in both hemispheres , were members of Degrees that were not to be attained here . In Ireland , although not with the most complete organization , many of these Degrees were ivenunder the Supreme Councilpresided over by
g , , that accomplished and venerated Mason , tbe Duke of Leinster ; and it Avas thought by my Illustrious colleagues who afterwards formed the Supreme Council for England and Wales , that being offered a legal origin , it was most desirable to accept authority to give those Degrees in this country . We thought , that in doing this Ave Avere advancing the character and importance and upholding the dignity of
Ereemasonry in England . . We considered that it was a thing to be deplored , that English Masons should be obliged to leave this country to get Degrees elsewhere . Our desire therefore Avas , that the fullest light that could be imparted by Ereemasonry should bo obtained by an Englishman in the land of his birth—the country of his love . The exertions of our Supreme Council Avere from " the first
preeminently successful , and the good example set in this Council Avas soon followed by Scotland , and the Supreme Council formed there , which is now presided over by the Duke of Afcholl . Our earliest efforts brought about us a gallant band of thoughtful Brethren of the Order , and as they became full y acquainted Avith the princi ples of the High Degrees , they also became tho active agents in extending