-
Articles/Ads
Article LITERARY NOTICES. ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
the elaborate'rites of Zinnendorff , Swedenborg , Fessler , Bedaridde ,. Peuvret , or their compeers . It was not included in the order of . Mizraim ,, Adoptive . Masonry , or the Rite Ancien et Accepte ; nor , I am persuaded ^ in any other system which was ever practised , on the continent of . Europe . If itwere . I have failed in myendeayours to discover it . ' . It is therefore very properly denominated the English Royal Arch , for ., it was ; doubtless a fabrication of this countryandfrom hence was transmitted . to every
, . part of the world where it now prevails Let us then endeavour . to , ascertain its precise origin . . ,: . < . ... ., ; ,: ¦ "The ancients proclaimed to the public in their Book of Constitutions — ' It is a truth beyond contradiction , the Free and Accepted Masons in Ireland and Scotland , and the ancient Masons of England , have one and the same customs , usages , and ceremonies ; but this is not the case with the modern Masons in England , who differ materially , not only
from the above , but from most Masons in all parts of the world . ' And Iii another place they state particularly what some of these points of difference were , viz ., 'they differ exceedingly in makings , ceremonies , knowledge , Masonic language , and installations ; so much so , that they always have been , and still continue to be , two distinct societies , totally independant of each other . ' To authorize such assertions as these ; there must have been some organic difference , which could be nothing short of the institution of a new degree , practised in the ancient Lodges . And , to make it . more attractive , they dignified it with the title of the , Royal Arch , as Ramsay had done before them , although their degree differed
materially from that which he had promulgated under , the same name . Although it is extremely probable that Ramsay may , have had some hand in this business ; for he visited London at the very period , in question , for the purpose of introducing his new degrees into English Masonry ; , and his schemes being rejected by the ConstitutionalGrand Lodge , nothing appears- more likely than that he would -, throw himself into the hands of the schismatics , who would receive his communications with , pleasurebecause they presented the means of furthering their views
, in the propagation of what they termed ancient Masonry . And under these circumstances a new degree might be concocted , which , would cement the schism , and prove an effectual bar to all reconciliation , yby constituting a tangible line of demarcation between them and the moderns , which would be impregnable . Dermott confesses that the Royal Arch WAS EIUST PRACTISED in England by " the Excellent Masons pf the Grand Lodge of England according to the old Constitutions , who , duly
assembled , and constitutionally convened iny general Grand Chapter , carefully collected and revised the regulations . which have long been in use for the government thereof ; " thus asserting their claim to antiquity , although it ; had ' never yet been practised in England . Ramsay . had already made the same claim for the antiquity of his degrees , which , it is . well known , were invented by himself . . It . is , therefore ,, extremely probable that Ramsay was concerned in the fabrication of ; the- . English degree ; because it still embodies some of the details of his Royal Arch , the whole of which ; . I am inclined to think , in the earliest , arrangement ofthe English degree formedone of the preliminary ceremonies . " - *; ¦ . .. . *
. -, This ,. we think , is decisive of the . point iu question , But the Author goes a step further , and proves most satisfactorily , that at the time , when this new , degree was formed , and for many years afterwards ; the .. Grand Lodge of the modems knew nothing whatever about Royal , Arch
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
the elaborate'rites of Zinnendorff , Swedenborg , Fessler , Bedaridde ,. Peuvret , or their compeers . It was not included in the order of . Mizraim ,, Adoptive . Masonry , or the Rite Ancien et Accepte ; nor , I am persuaded ^ in any other system which was ever practised , on the continent of . Europe . If itwere . I have failed in myendeayours to discover it . ' . It is therefore very properly denominated the English Royal Arch , for ., it was ; doubtless a fabrication of this countryandfrom hence was transmitted . to every
, . part of the world where it now prevails Let us then endeavour . to , ascertain its precise origin . . ,: . < . ... ., ; ,: ¦ "The ancients proclaimed to the public in their Book of Constitutions — ' It is a truth beyond contradiction , the Free and Accepted Masons in Ireland and Scotland , and the ancient Masons of England , have one and the same customs , usages , and ceremonies ; but this is not the case with the modern Masons in England , who differ materially , not only
from the above , but from most Masons in all parts of the world . ' And Iii another place they state particularly what some of these points of difference were , viz ., 'they differ exceedingly in makings , ceremonies , knowledge , Masonic language , and installations ; so much so , that they always have been , and still continue to be , two distinct societies , totally independant of each other . ' To authorize such assertions as these ; there must have been some organic difference , which could be nothing short of the institution of a new degree , practised in the ancient Lodges . And , to make it . more attractive , they dignified it with the title of the , Royal Arch , as Ramsay had done before them , although their degree differed
materially from that which he had promulgated under , the same name . Although it is extremely probable that Ramsay may , have had some hand in this business ; for he visited London at the very period , in question , for the purpose of introducing his new degrees into English Masonry ; , and his schemes being rejected by the ConstitutionalGrand Lodge , nothing appears- more likely than that he would -, throw himself into the hands of the schismatics , who would receive his communications with , pleasurebecause they presented the means of furthering their views
, in the propagation of what they termed ancient Masonry . And under these circumstances a new degree might be concocted , which , would cement the schism , and prove an effectual bar to all reconciliation , yby constituting a tangible line of demarcation between them and the moderns , which would be impregnable . Dermott confesses that the Royal Arch WAS EIUST PRACTISED in England by " the Excellent Masons pf the Grand Lodge of England according to the old Constitutions , who , duly
assembled , and constitutionally convened iny general Grand Chapter , carefully collected and revised the regulations . which have long been in use for the government thereof ; " thus asserting their claim to antiquity , although it ; had ' never yet been practised in England . Ramsay . had already made the same claim for the antiquity of his degrees , which , it is . well known , were invented by himself . . It . is , therefore ,, extremely probable that Ramsay was concerned in the fabrication of ; the- . English degree ; because it still embodies some of the details of his Royal Arch , the whole of which ; . I am inclined to think , in the earliest , arrangement ofthe English degree formedone of the preliminary ceremonies . " - *; ¦ . .. . *
. -, This ,. we think , is decisive of the . point iu question , But the Author goes a step further , and proves most satisfactorily , that at the time , when this new , degree was formed , and for many years afterwards ; the .. Grand Lodge of the modems knew nothing whatever about Royal , Arch