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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
What Is Spurious Masonry?
formed in the 32 of the modern "Ancient and Accepted Rite " that the Masonry of the Crusaders was confined to these seven grades , the last three of which were worked under the government of an Arch Chapter ; but it was not until the year 1753 that the Ancient Masons in London started a
separate organisation for the Arch degree of K . S . during the dormancy of the York Grand Lodge , which in 1780 resumed the working of the Templar . At this latter date the Camps of Bath and Bristol for a Grand Confederation under a " Charter of Compact , ' '' still existing , and bearing the seals of the
Knights Rosa ; Crucis , Templars , and Kadosh , and the Lodge of "St . George of Observance " at London practised a similar rite to that of Baron Hunde , and applied to the Royal Order of Scotland in 1782 for recognition in the degree of Rosy Cross .
In 1758 , Pirlet , a tailor , and Lacornc , a dancingmaster , invented a new and unauthorised rite of 25 , enabling them to confer the titles of Knights , Princes , Sovereigns , and even Emperors ! I under the pompous designation of the " Empire of the East and West" / / The Sovereign of the Order ,
Chaillon de Joinville , gave a patent in 1761 to a Jewish merchant , Bro . Stephen Morin , to propagate the rite in the West Indies , where it was decided to adopt the uncertain name of " Knights of the ( 10 ) While and Black Eagle" ( Templar colours ) prior to the promulgation of the Statutes of Bordeaux
in 1762 , a Templar Order being interpolated between it and the Rose Croix . This new rite , there is no doubt , was formed upon the excellent principle of universal tolerance , but this tolerance introduced by Jewish . brethren has altogether disappeared in this country . Bro . Stephen Morin granted a
certificate in 1767 to Bro . Franchcn , who founded a chapter , then of i < f , at Albany , New York ; thence the rite reached Charleston , where , in a circular of 1802 , issued bv Bro . Dalcho , the K . H . is the 29 ° ( n ) . It is , therefore , plain that it was subsequent to 1 S 02 that the undoubtedly forged Statutes of
Frederick the Great of Prussia were concocted . The present Supreme Council of Charleston honestly admit the fraud , which is proved by numberless authorities quoted by impartial historians ( 12 ) . After 1802 , one , Bro . Abraham Jacobs , a pedlar of degrees , travelled over America , where he
and settled at New York in 1801 , conferred by certificate the first 18 degrees upon Bro . J . J . J . Gourgas , clerk to a Dr . de la Motta . This Gourgas afterwards showed a patent in his own handwriting , signed by De la Motta , of the remaining 15 degrees , which enabled him to establish a
schismatic Council ; and in 1846 , he being then a clerk on a boat trading with Liverpool , established the S . G . C . 33 of London , which continues a system of self-election , and gives the 33 degrees to any Master Mason . We have seen that the old Templar Rite of seven
degrees continued to be lawfully and regularly practised in England between 1721 and 1782 , when it numbered at Bristol that eminent Mason Bro . TI 105 . Dunckerlcy , who was elected Grand Master of H . M . —K . H . in 1790 , at which time was ranged under his banner ( amongst many others ) the
following conclaves , then practising seven degrees of chivalry , which V , ro . Dunckerlcy stated had existed as chapters of the rites , time out of mind ; these were : —Observance . London ; Redemption , York ( whence , throu < h the York Grand Lodcre emanated , in 1786 , the Jerusalem Conclave . Manchester );
Baldwyn , Bristol ; Antiquity , Bath ( 13 ) . About this time the Irish Masons also conferred the Rose Croix degree under Templar authority ( 14 ) . but to this wc shall further on more particularly refer . The official reports of Urn . Dunckerlcy , between 1790 and 1701 , place the Rascc Crucis degree before
or after the Templar indifferently ; but wmlst giving the Templar epochs of the different degrees , he states that " the origin and history of the seventh degree , or Knights Kadosh , may not be written , " and no minutes were allowed . This last degree ( K . H . ) is a Temnlar history , and was called the
' •Commander's Degree of Ne Plus Ultra" : and as tho Grand Conclave in London was until 1850 composed solely of Commanders , it styled itself in all its circulars the " Grand Conclave of the Roval Order oflT . R . D . M . —k ' . D . S . U . — Ne Plus Ultra . The " Seven Sfefis of Chivalry" including Roval
Arch . Templar-Priest , Palestine East and West , Rosa Crucis , Kadosh , with other Cnmmandrrships , passed in 1796 to Baron Rancliffe ; in 1806 to H . R . H . the Duke of Kent ( acknowledged in Dr . Dalchn ' s circular as head of the K . H . ) ; in 1809 to J'udce Waller Rod wall Wright ; and 1811 to H . R . H .
the Duke of Sussex-who , after 7817 , censed all interest in the rile , and called no meeting of Grand Conclave . This want of government led the ancient premier conclaves to range themselves under a " Royal Grand Council of Anlicnt Rites ,
timeimmemorial , " the only untainted possessors of the high grades in the world ; and under this body was , and still is , practised all the superior degrees of Masonry , and as far back as 1822 the 90 of the Order of Mura ' nn .
What Is Spurious Masonry?
The state of affairs which we have described existed down to 1846 , when Drs . Goss ( rt / wj Crucefix ) , Leeson , Nash , and Oliver , applied to the beforementioned Bro . Gourgas to establish his rite in England . All these four brethren had received their high grades from the Templar Conclaves :
Drs . Goss and Leeson were members of the "Cross of Christ" Conclave , London , and received the Rose Croix and N . P . U . z ° from Bros - Golds worthy and Emly at a small tavern in Clerkenwell ( 15 ) ; Dr . Oliver from the Redemption , Hull ; and the learned and worthy Dr . Nash from the Baldwyn
Bristol . ( Bro . Nash was afterwards expelled by his confreres of the 33 for continuing his connection with his own ancient chapter !) It is evident that these four learned doctors could only have introduced the spurious rite of Bro . Gourgas by a breach of their O . B . as Templars , but this was of
little account with ambitious men . The doings of these destructive brethren met with no approbation from the Premier Conclaves , which had ancient power to confer all the degrees , and when the Antiquity , Bath ; Baldwyn , Bristol ; Redemptiou , Yor \ i ; Observance , London ; Jerusalem
Manchester ; and the ancient and regularly-continued chapter of H . M . —K . H . ; after much delay and controversy were induced to unite themselves with Grand Conclave ; they reserved to themselves all their original rights and privileges . Their system authorises the Templar Commanders to preside
over all other degrees , and these dignatorial offices include the K—H ., Grand Prince and Keeper of the Ancient Royal Secrets , Grand Inspector , & c , & c . It was to afford these ancient conclaves relief that the Grand Conclave of 1850 passed the following law , Dec . 14 th , 1 S 66 : —
" That in the case of any encampment of Knights Templar holding a warrant granted prior to 1791 , and which warrant gives power to confer degrees not connected with the Order of Knights Templar and Knights of Malta , a warrant of confirmation shall , on proper
application , be granted by the M . E . and S . G . M ., assuring to such encampment all the powers it possessed under the original warrant , so far as the Orders of the Knights Templar and Knights of Malta are concerned , leaving the
members holding such original warrant the discretionary exercise of the powers therein contained , so long as they are kept separate and distinct in every respect from the Order of Knights Templar and Knights of Malta , " * * *
It is in accordance with this law that the loyal Templar high grade chapters have unanimously confederated under the Council of Ancient Rites , and continue now , as in time past , to confer the Rose Croix degree on all worthy Templar Masons , no matter from whence they come ; but in confining
the degree to those brethren , and the K—H to Past Eminent Commanders , it will be seen that they require a higher qualification for their honours then the S . G . C , which emanated from New York , for under their jurisdiction any Master Mason could have the 33 ° ; and in the Scottish rite of
thirtythree degrees neither the Royal Arch nor Templar is included . We have shown the claims of the Royal Grand Council of Ancient Rites , and have proved its undoubted authority to confer the Chivalric and Philosophical degrees , which were worked in the
Masonic world at the end of the last century , and wc shall now very briefly refer to the systems under which , for some ninety years past , ' . he higher grades of Masonry have been conferrred in Ireland . The first Prince Mason's Chapter in Ireland of which we have any authentic information is
that which is now known as the Kilwinning , but which formerly claimed to be the Grand Prince Mason ' s Chapter , and which , in accordance with its title , asserted until a comparatively recent period its authority to issue warrants to hold subordinate chapters of Rose Croix . This body had
no warrant , but acted according to the inherent right which was in the Templars possessing the Rose Croix to confer it on others . With the assistance of an expelled member of that chapter the "Original " was formed , and the bitter feuds which resulted from its formation will be fresh in the
memory of many of the brethren who receive this circular . In 1825 , Fowler , Bryant , and McGill received from Charleston a warrant to confer the 3 ^ degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ( 16 ) ; but this warrant was a dead letter even as recently as 1862 , for in that year wc find the
constituents of the Council of Rites to be of the most mongrel character , embracing " representatives" from the 33 " , 32 , 31 , 30 , 28 ° , 18 ' . Rile of Miaraim ( 17 ) , & c . ; and the chaos in which the degrees were so faintly shown bv the anomalous
position in which our Most Noble Grand Master was placed by lining , at one and the same time , the head of three rites , which had , in their spirit and traditions , nothing in common—lhe Ancient Craft Masonry , the A . and A . Rite of 23 Degrees , and the
What Is Spurious Masonry?
Order of Mizraim of 90 . Since then , the possessors of the degrees above the 18 ° , as such , have ceased to be members of the Grand Council of Rites ; and the Soverei gn Grand Inspectors General of the 33 ° have confined their exertions to the supervision of the degrees above the 18 which are 0
worked in this country , namely , the 28 thand 30 ( 18 ) . The principle of excluding all but Templars from the Rose Croix is utterly opposed to the statutes of the Rite ( 19 ) under which this Council pretends to work , as are , indeed , a variety of rules which are set down in our Ahiman Rezon for its
government ; for , according to the regulations of the Charleston Council , provision is made for having in its Supreme Body brethren who do not profess the Christian religion , and such brethren are excluded altogether from the Rite here . Indeed ,
so lame and impotent has the action of its supporters been in Ireland , that the older Prince Masons here know nothing whatever of the degrees between the 3 and 18 ° , if we except the degree of Knight of the East and West , which they received with imperfect ceremony at their encampments of
In England , the S . G . C . 33 act at leas ; logically in giving the degrees to any Master Masnn without requiring Royal Arch or Templar qualifications ; but in Ireland the Soverei gn Grand Inspectors General have been unable to grasp the smthorily enjoyed by the sister councils , in consequence of
the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons having retained the full power which it possessed over the Rose Croix prior to the American warrant being obtained by Fowler and his confreres . In fact this so-called A . and A . Scottish Rite has been unable to establish itself in this country with the decree of
firmness which might be procured for it , one would think , by the eminently aristocratic supporters of it , had their acquaintance with the system been more than a name ; and although all the degrees from the 4 th upwards are energeticall y worked in the United States , they are unable here to work a single to the
one introductory Rose Croix . So that it is a simple absurdity for Bro . Deering to speak of " chapters of Prince Masons and other bodies under their jurisdiction" for no such bodies exist . The truth of the matter appears to be that Rose Crcix Masonry in Ireland exists onl y as the Templar
offshoot which it really is , and the connection between it and the S . G . I . G . of the 33 is merely nominal , so that it would be an act of common honesty to have it attached to the only body it can naturally be allied with—the Grand Conclave of H . K . T . If the members of the higher grades here
maintain the contrary , and say that the Prince Masons' Degree can only be conferred by permission of the Council of the 33 ° , let them then seethat it is worked according to the statutes and rules of the body from which they claim to have derived thcirauthority . for it is not in their power to sanction
any regulations which contradict those of the mother Council ; and most of the principal Rose Croix laws arc in direct opposition to them—as for instance , the requiring of qualifications which are not known in the Rite , forbidding brethren to seek the degrees ( 20 ) , & c .
We , however , emphatically assert that the Rose Croix Degree is the heritage of the Templars ; and that the Ancient and Accepted Rite , first of 25 degrees , then of 29 degrecs , and lastly of 33 degrees , is a spurious Templar offshoot of 1758 , which , at Charleston in 1802 , was organised under the
" authority " of forged statutes on a fraudulent basis ; and that the only legal possessors of the Ancient Degrees of Rosa : Crucis , K—H , Grand Inspector , Prince of the Royal Secret , & c ., in England , are the chapters working under the Royal Grand Councilof Ancient Rites and thcestablishment of the Supreme 0
Council of the 33 at London in 1846 , by a venereal quack and others , was an unprincipled interference with an older existing rite which had sprung from a pure and lawful source . We have , with extreme reluctance , penned this defence of our position ; and we can assure you
that it we had not been wantonl y attacked we should not have troubled ourselves about a matter in which , cither from ignorance or apathy , the Masonic Body in Ireland seem to have little interest . At considerable personal sacrifices we have warmly supported Freemasonry in this country , and have
taken no mean part in the working of its degrees ; and it has ever been our anxious desire to live in peace , love , and harmony with our brethren ; but we could not permit a slur to be cast upon us , or upon the illustrious Council of which we are members , without resenting it , and every endeavour to
defame our Masonic name shall be met as it deserves , whether the attempt be made by the Grand Prince Masons' Chapter of Ireland , or the " Holy Emperors" of Molesworth-street , Dublin , or of Golden-square , London .
Certain omissions in this circular were , from the nature of it , unavoidable , and we must accordingly again return to the subject . Meanwhile w ' e have said enough lo show at least that our censors would have acted with more prudence had they kept
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
What Is Spurious Masonry?
formed in the 32 of the modern "Ancient and Accepted Rite " that the Masonry of the Crusaders was confined to these seven grades , the last three of which were worked under the government of an Arch Chapter ; but it was not until the year 1753 that the Ancient Masons in London started a
separate organisation for the Arch degree of K . S . during the dormancy of the York Grand Lodge , which in 1780 resumed the working of the Templar . At this latter date the Camps of Bath and Bristol for a Grand Confederation under a " Charter of Compact , ' '' still existing , and bearing the seals of the
Knights Rosa ; Crucis , Templars , and Kadosh , and the Lodge of "St . George of Observance " at London practised a similar rite to that of Baron Hunde , and applied to the Royal Order of Scotland in 1782 for recognition in the degree of Rosy Cross .
In 1758 , Pirlet , a tailor , and Lacornc , a dancingmaster , invented a new and unauthorised rite of 25 , enabling them to confer the titles of Knights , Princes , Sovereigns , and even Emperors ! I under the pompous designation of the " Empire of the East and West" / / The Sovereign of the Order ,
Chaillon de Joinville , gave a patent in 1761 to a Jewish merchant , Bro . Stephen Morin , to propagate the rite in the West Indies , where it was decided to adopt the uncertain name of " Knights of the ( 10 ) While and Black Eagle" ( Templar colours ) prior to the promulgation of the Statutes of Bordeaux
in 1762 , a Templar Order being interpolated between it and the Rose Croix . This new rite , there is no doubt , was formed upon the excellent principle of universal tolerance , but this tolerance introduced by Jewish . brethren has altogether disappeared in this country . Bro . Stephen Morin granted a
certificate in 1767 to Bro . Franchcn , who founded a chapter , then of i < f , at Albany , New York ; thence the rite reached Charleston , where , in a circular of 1802 , issued bv Bro . Dalcho , the K . H . is the 29 ° ( n ) . It is , therefore , plain that it was subsequent to 1 S 02 that the undoubtedly forged Statutes of
Frederick the Great of Prussia were concocted . The present Supreme Council of Charleston honestly admit the fraud , which is proved by numberless authorities quoted by impartial historians ( 12 ) . After 1802 , one , Bro . Abraham Jacobs , a pedlar of degrees , travelled over America , where he
and settled at New York in 1801 , conferred by certificate the first 18 degrees upon Bro . J . J . J . Gourgas , clerk to a Dr . de la Motta . This Gourgas afterwards showed a patent in his own handwriting , signed by De la Motta , of the remaining 15 degrees , which enabled him to establish a
schismatic Council ; and in 1846 , he being then a clerk on a boat trading with Liverpool , established the S . G . C . 33 of London , which continues a system of self-election , and gives the 33 degrees to any Master Mason . We have seen that the old Templar Rite of seven
degrees continued to be lawfully and regularly practised in England between 1721 and 1782 , when it numbered at Bristol that eminent Mason Bro . TI 105 . Dunckerlcy , who was elected Grand Master of H . M . —K . H . in 1790 , at which time was ranged under his banner ( amongst many others ) the
following conclaves , then practising seven degrees of chivalry , which V , ro . Dunckerlcy stated had existed as chapters of the rites , time out of mind ; these were : —Observance . London ; Redemption , York ( whence , throu < h the York Grand Lodcre emanated , in 1786 , the Jerusalem Conclave . Manchester );
Baldwyn , Bristol ; Antiquity , Bath ( 13 ) . About this time the Irish Masons also conferred the Rose Croix degree under Templar authority ( 14 ) . but to this wc shall further on more particularly refer . The official reports of Urn . Dunckerlcy , between 1790 and 1701 , place the Rascc Crucis degree before
or after the Templar indifferently ; but wmlst giving the Templar epochs of the different degrees , he states that " the origin and history of the seventh degree , or Knights Kadosh , may not be written , " and no minutes were allowed . This last degree ( K . H . ) is a Temnlar history , and was called the
' •Commander's Degree of Ne Plus Ultra" : and as tho Grand Conclave in London was until 1850 composed solely of Commanders , it styled itself in all its circulars the " Grand Conclave of the Roval Order oflT . R . D . M . —k ' . D . S . U . — Ne Plus Ultra . The " Seven Sfefis of Chivalry" including Roval
Arch . Templar-Priest , Palestine East and West , Rosa Crucis , Kadosh , with other Cnmmandrrships , passed in 1796 to Baron Rancliffe ; in 1806 to H . R . H . the Duke of Kent ( acknowledged in Dr . Dalchn ' s circular as head of the K . H . ) ; in 1809 to J'udce Waller Rod wall Wright ; and 1811 to H . R . H .
the Duke of Sussex-who , after 7817 , censed all interest in the rile , and called no meeting of Grand Conclave . This want of government led the ancient premier conclaves to range themselves under a " Royal Grand Council of Anlicnt Rites ,
timeimmemorial , " the only untainted possessors of the high grades in the world ; and under this body was , and still is , practised all the superior degrees of Masonry , and as far back as 1822 the 90 of the Order of Mura ' nn .
What Is Spurious Masonry?
The state of affairs which we have described existed down to 1846 , when Drs . Goss ( rt / wj Crucefix ) , Leeson , Nash , and Oliver , applied to the beforementioned Bro . Gourgas to establish his rite in England . All these four brethren had received their high grades from the Templar Conclaves :
Drs . Goss and Leeson were members of the "Cross of Christ" Conclave , London , and received the Rose Croix and N . P . U . z ° from Bros - Golds worthy and Emly at a small tavern in Clerkenwell ( 15 ) ; Dr . Oliver from the Redemption , Hull ; and the learned and worthy Dr . Nash from the Baldwyn
Bristol . ( Bro . Nash was afterwards expelled by his confreres of the 33 for continuing his connection with his own ancient chapter !) It is evident that these four learned doctors could only have introduced the spurious rite of Bro . Gourgas by a breach of their O . B . as Templars , but this was of
little account with ambitious men . The doings of these destructive brethren met with no approbation from the Premier Conclaves , which had ancient power to confer all the degrees , and when the Antiquity , Bath ; Baldwyn , Bristol ; Redemptiou , Yor \ i ; Observance , London ; Jerusalem
Manchester ; and the ancient and regularly-continued chapter of H . M . —K . H . ; after much delay and controversy were induced to unite themselves with Grand Conclave ; they reserved to themselves all their original rights and privileges . Their system authorises the Templar Commanders to preside
over all other degrees , and these dignatorial offices include the K—H ., Grand Prince and Keeper of the Ancient Royal Secrets , Grand Inspector , & c , & c . It was to afford these ancient conclaves relief that the Grand Conclave of 1850 passed the following law , Dec . 14 th , 1 S 66 : —
" That in the case of any encampment of Knights Templar holding a warrant granted prior to 1791 , and which warrant gives power to confer degrees not connected with the Order of Knights Templar and Knights of Malta , a warrant of confirmation shall , on proper
application , be granted by the M . E . and S . G . M ., assuring to such encampment all the powers it possessed under the original warrant , so far as the Orders of the Knights Templar and Knights of Malta are concerned , leaving the
members holding such original warrant the discretionary exercise of the powers therein contained , so long as they are kept separate and distinct in every respect from the Order of Knights Templar and Knights of Malta , " * * *
It is in accordance with this law that the loyal Templar high grade chapters have unanimously confederated under the Council of Ancient Rites , and continue now , as in time past , to confer the Rose Croix degree on all worthy Templar Masons , no matter from whence they come ; but in confining
the degree to those brethren , and the K—H to Past Eminent Commanders , it will be seen that they require a higher qualification for their honours then the S . G . C , which emanated from New York , for under their jurisdiction any Master Mason could have the 33 ° ; and in the Scottish rite of
thirtythree degrees neither the Royal Arch nor Templar is included . We have shown the claims of the Royal Grand Council of Ancient Rites , and have proved its undoubted authority to confer the Chivalric and Philosophical degrees , which were worked in the
Masonic world at the end of the last century , and wc shall now very briefly refer to the systems under which , for some ninety years past , ' . he higher grades of Masonry have been conferrred in Ireland . The first Prince Mason's Chapter in Ireland of which we have any authentic information is
that which is now known as the Kilwinning , but which formerly claimed to be the Grand Prince Mason ' s Chapter , and which , in accordance with its title , asserted until a comparatively recent period its authority to issue warrants to hold subordinate chapters of Rose Croix . This body had
no warrant , but acted according to the inherent right which was in the Templars possessing the Rose Croix to confer it on others . With the assistance of an expelled member of that chapter the "Original " was formed , and the bitter feuds which resulted from its formation will be fresh in the
memory of many of the brethren who receive this circular . In 1825 , Fowler , Bryant , and McGill received from Charleston a warrant to confer the 3 ^ degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ( 16 ) ; but this warrant was a dead letter even as recently as 1862 , for in that year wc find the
constituents of the Council of Rites to be of the most mongrel character , embracing " representatives" from the 33 " , 32 , 31 , 30 , 28 ° , 18 ' . Rile of Miaraim ( 17 ) , & c . ; and the chaos in which the degrees were so faintly shown bv the anomalous
position in which our Most Noble Grand Master was placed by lining , at one and the same time , the head of three rites , which had , in their spirit and traditions , nothing in common—lhe Ancient Craft Masonry , the A . and A . Rite of 23 Degrees , and the
What Is Spurious Masonry?
Order of Mizraim of 90 . Since then , the possessors of the degrees above the 18 ° , as such , have ceased to be members of the Grand Council of Rites ; and the Soverei gn Grand Inspectors General of the 33 ° have confined their exertions to the supervision of the degrees above the 18 which are 0
worked in this country , namely , the 28 thand 30 ( 18 ) . The principle of excluding all but Templars from the Rose Croix is utterly opposed to the statutes of the Rite ( 19 ) under which this Council pretends to work , as are , indeed , a variety of rules which are set down in our Ahiman Rezon for its
government ; for , according to the regulations of the Charleston Council , provision is made for having in its Supreme Body brethren who do not profess the Christian religion , and such brethren are excluded altogether from the Rite here . Indeed ,
so lame and impotent has the action of its supporters been in Ireland , that the older Prince Masons here know nothing whatever of the degrees between the 3 and 18 ° , if we except the degree of Knight of the East and West , which they received with imperfect ceremony at their encampments of
In England , the S . G . C . 33 act at leas ; logically in giving the degrees to any Master Masnn without requiring Royal Arch or Templar qualifications ; but in Ireland the Soverei gn Grand Inspectors General have been unable to grasp the smthorily enjoyed by the sister councils , in consequence of
the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons having retained the full power which it possessed over the Rose Croix prior to the American warrant being obtained by Fowler and his confreres . In fact this so-called A . and A . Scottish Rite has been unable to establish itself in this country with the decree of
firmness which might be procured for it , one would think , by the eminently aristocratic supporters of it , had their acquaintance with the system been more than a name ; and although all the degrees from the 4 th upwards are energeticall y worked in the United States , they are unable here to work a single to the
one introductory Rose Croix . So that it is a simple absurdity for Bro . Deering to speak of " chapters of Prince Masons and other bodies under their jurisdiction" for no such bodies exist . The truth of the matter appears to be that Rose Crcix Masonry in Ireland exists onl y as the Templar
offshoot which it really is , and the connection between it and the S . G . I . G . of the 33 is merely nominal , so that it would be an act of common honesty to have it attached to the only body it can naturally be allied with—the Grand Conclave of H . K . T . If the members of the higher grades here
maintain the contrary , and say that the Prince Masons' Degree can only be conferred by permission of the Council of the 33 ° , let them then seethat it is worked according to the statutes and rules of the body from which they claim to have derived thcirauthority . for it is not in their power to sanction
any regulations which contradict those of the mother Council ; and most of the principal Rose Croix laws arc in direct opposition to them—as for instance , the requiring of qualifications which are not known in the Rite , forbidding brethren to seek the degrees ( 20 ) , & c .
We , however , emphatically assert that the Rose Croix Degree is the heritage of the Templars ; and that the Ancient and Accepted Rite , first of 25 degrees , then of 29 degrecs , and lastly of 33 degrees , is a spurious Templar offshoot of 1758 , which , at Charleston in 1802 , was organised under the
" authority " of forged statutes on a fraudulent basis ; and that the only legal possessors of the Ancient Degrees of Rosa : Crucis , K—H , Grand Inspector , Prince of the Royal Secret , & c ., in England , are the chapters working under the Royal Grand Councilof Ancient Rites and thcestablishment of the Supreme 0
Council of the 33 at London in 1846 , by a venereal quack and others , was an unprincipled interference with an older existing rite which had sprung from a pure and lawful source . We have , with extreme reluctance , penned this defence of our position ; and we can assure you
that it we had not been wantonl y attacked we should not have troubled ourselves about a matter in which , cither from ignorance or apathy , the Masonic Body in Ireland seem to have little interest . At considerable personal sacrifices we have warmly supported Freemasonry in this country , and have
taken no mean part in the working of its degrees ; and it has ever been our anxious desire to live in peace , love , and harmony with our brethren ; but we could not permit a slur to be cast upon us , or upon the illustrious Council of which we are members , without resenting it , and every endeavour to
defame our Masonic name shall be met as it deserves , whether the attempt be made by the Grand Prince Masons' Chapter of Ireland , or the " Holy Emperors" of Molesworth-street , Dublin , or of Golden-square , London .
Certain omissions in this circular were , from the nature of it , unavoidable , and we must accordingly again return to the subject . Meanwhile w ' e have said enough lo show at least that our censors would have acted with more prudence had they kept