Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemason
  • June 15, 1872
  • Page 3
  • RANDOM NOTES ON FREEMASONRY.
Current:

The Freemason, June 15, 1872: Page 3

  • Back to The Freemason, June 15, 1872
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article RANDOM NOTES ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 3 of 4
    Article RANDOM NOTES ON FREEMASONRY. Page 3 of 4
    Article RANDOM NOTES ON FREEMASONRY. Page 3 of 4 →
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

Rite over the two hemispheres . In the same year they were transmitted to Stephen Morin , who had been appointed in j 761 , Inspector General for the new world by the consistory of Princes of the

Royal Secret , convened at Paris , under the presidency of Chaillon de Joinville , Substitute General of the order . On the ist May , 1786 , the Grand Constitutions of the Supreme Council

of tlie . 3 . 3 were ratified by the King of Prussia , by which the Masonic prerogatives of Inspectors were deposited in a council consisting of nine brethren in each nation . On the , 31 st May

3801 , the Supreme Council of the , 3 , 3 ° was opened in Charleston with the grand honours of Masonry by John Mitchell , and P ' rederiek Dalcho , S . G . I . G . On the ( th August , 181 . 3 , a

Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction ol the United States was opened at New York , but has since been removed to Boston . In 1845 , the Supreme Council of the , 3 , 3 ° was opened in

London for Phigland and the Dependencies of the British Crown under warrant from the S . C . , 3 . 3 ° Southern Jurisdiction U . S ., and similar

Supreme Councils' have since been founded in almost every country in the world . Findel , in his liistory of Freemasonry , disbelieves the connection of P ' rederiek the Great with the

A . & A . Rite , and quotes the declaration ol the Grand Lodges of the Three Globes at Berlin on the subject . The Grand National Mother Lodge of the Three Globes was founded on the

1 , 3 th September , 1 740 , under authority of Frederick the Great , who was its lirst Grand Master , it asserts , "he never had anything to do with the organisation and legislation of the Grand

Podge . All that has been related of his having in 1716 originated a high Masonic Senate , & e , has no historical basis . " It goes on to say , that P ' rederiek tlie Great was ill at

the tune he is stated to have signed the Constitutions , that lie never came to Berlin after September , 178 ' ,, and moved on the 171 I 1 April , 1786 , to Jiis Castle of Sans Souci , wliere Jit

died some four months afterwards . 'Phe declaration further states that " the documents kept from time to time in the Archives of the ( hand National Mother Lodge do not show the

slightest trace of the above mentioned documents , or of the existence of a Grand Council in Berlin . " This argument does not go for much however—rememberimr that there were at the

time , several opposing Masonic Bodies in Germany—that Count Xiimendorf had introduced the higher degress into the system , and that the Three Globes Lodge at that time would be as

fair an authority to go to , respecting the Secret Constitutions of the A . and A . Rite as the Grand Lodge of England at this moment . Another of the arguments used against the

Constitutions of Frederick the Great , is that the names of but two of the Hgnilaries are known , yet those two , Dr . Stark , Professor of Oriental Languages , at Konigsberg , and Woellner ,

elected National Grand Master in 1791 , were both well-known Masons . It is admitted that a letter is kept in the Archives of the National Mother Grand Lodge , signed b y Bro . Lavalette des

Langes , and touching upon the meeting of a convention in Paris , on the njth June , 1786 , but the declaration alluded to , adds " Nowhere in the Archives can be found evidence , that he took

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

an interest in the higher degrees . " Supposing 100 years hence , a masonic student groping amongst the papers belonging to the Grand Lodge of Plngland came upon the names of

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Carnarvon—he might just as well conclude , that as no mention ol" the higher degrees is made in connection with their names , that therefore thev

had nothing to do wdth them , and like Bro . P'indel and the German opposers of the higher degrees , ( is it on account of their being Christian 1 wonder ?) he mig ht deny that the former was a

Knight Templar , Knight of the East and West , ( 17 A . and A . Rite , ) and Knight of the Masonic Order of Charles XIII . of Sweden , or that the

latter was , besides being Deputy Grand Master , S . G . I . G . . 3 , 3 ° , and Past Grand Master of the Mark .

A learned and very distinguished brother of my acquaintance is now translating the third volume of " Mirabeau ' s Secret History of the Court of Berlin , " and he tells me he discovers

in it evidence sufficient to establish the truth ol the Secret Constitutions of Frederiek ' the Great . It does not seem to me at all improbable that an ambitious man like Frederick , should aim at the

universal empire of Masonry , and the idea of a Sovereign Grand Commander of the whole world was worthy of the ambition of even P ' rederiek the Great , if Masonry were only what

it prolesscs , and what it ought to be . At any rate the truth or falsehood of the constitutions , so far as Frederick is concerned , is a matter of no great importance to this , the most powerful

and widely spread rite 111 the world , and ol no more value than the truth or falsehood of sonic other of the traditions of Masonry which can never be verified .

The fact remains that , whoever lirst re-modelled the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , it is at this moment : the most perfect embodiment of Masonic learnino- that exists ; and

remembering the condition of Masonry in Germany and its three Grand Lodges , one must look with an eve of suspicion upon this declaration of the Grand Loilsre . of the Three Globes .

P ' reemasonry is , as it is received , to some a religion , to others , a system of morality only . I have known Jews wdio thought they did their duty by their God and Creed , il' they attended

their Podge , no Synagogue being near . . Masonry , as Geometry , is an exact science . As- a Religion , it bears the impress of a higher wisdom than is contained in the study of Mathematics and

Astronomy . In fact , Masonry stands next to revealed reli g ion in the opinion , of many people , unfortunately , however , like , religion , il has been made the instrument , in the hands of evil

designing men , for much , wrong doing . instance , the Carbonari , J . lltuninali , Cagliostro , the Communists . The Chevalier Ramsay is said to have invented certain , of the degrees in the A . and A .

Rite—as secret associations the real object ol wdiose members was the restoration of the Stuarts . The Royal Order of Scotland , from

which some think the Rose Croix , iBthdegrec , is derived , was presided over by Charles Stuart , the Young Pretender , who granted a charter to a chapter at Ami ? , ( which charter is still in

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

existence ) , as Hereditary Grand Master of the Order . Cagliostro was made a Freemason in London , and it is said that he and the Illuminati were instrumental in bringing about the

great revolution of France . Alexandre Dumas has written a very powerful romance , founded upon this , called "The Memoirs of a Physician . " The reign of the Communists , and the part many

misguided Masons took in the late unhappy struggle in PYance , is too recent to need more than a passing allusion here . I cannot help repeating wdiat I said at a recent meeting of the

St . Luke ' s Royal Arch Chapter , at Ipswich that Masonry without Christianity , in a Christian country , cannot be said to be complete . This was recognised in the fact , that before the Union

of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 , the Knights Templar degree was especially recognised by the Grand Lodge of all England , at York , previous to 1770 , at which time the Rose Croix

18 ° , and Kadosh . 30 ° were also worked ; and I fearlessly assert , that the perfection of Masonry and its Christian character can only be obtained , in the Antient and Accepted Rite , and

the Order of knights Templar . Much difficulty exists in tracing the origin of the Royal Arch Degree . Dr . Oliver thinks it did not exist before the middle of the last century , whilst

Mackay is of opinion , thatbelore the year 1 740 , the essential element of the . Royal Arch constituted a part of the third degree . In America , as formerly in England , it is necessary to be a P . M .

before the candidate is eligible for the R . A . In Ireland it is the same , and there the degree differs essentially from otirown . In Scotland you must be . a Mark , as well as a P . M ., to be eligible , and

chapters in Scotland also confer the degree of Royal Ark Mariner , whieli is now , I believe , given in I'higland , under the ( hand Lodge of Mark Masters . The Scotch Masons contend

that the Royal Arch , with its subsidiary degrees , constitute a pari of Templar Masonry , and in this country , as you are doubtless aware , it is necessary to be a R . A . M . before you are eligible

lor the rank ol K . I . My own opinion is that the degreejike thatof the Rose Croix is verv ancieiil , but I am quite willing to admit ( hat it took its present form as Dr . Oliver asserts , about

1 740 or i 7 ^ 0 . Nothing is more surprising than the ignorance of Masons about Masonry , and one is quite surprised to find excellent Masons ,

who have never yet joined in the sublime mysteries of the Royal Arch degree , which is as necessary to the completion of the Third as the Mark is to the second degree .

Findel says , " Ihe Royal Arch degree , now the fourth degree in England , is in its essential elements decidedly French in its origin , but received a somewhat diiierenl form in Phigland ,

with additions from the higher degrees , then flourishing on the Continent , ( Kni ghts of the Burning Bush , Red Cross , Ike ., ) and adopted by the Schismatic Ancient Masons , adherents of

Dennett , who himsell testifies that this degree was first introduced into Plngland by the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Masons . Ramsey calls the Royal Arch the Ami Plus Ultra ( sic ) of

Masonry , and these Antient Masons boasted of their bungling composition as the " summit and perfection of Ancient Masonry . " But they are quite in the wrong , for in truth , this degree of the

“The Freemason: 1872-06-15, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 16 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_15061872/page/3/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS Article 1
FREEMASONRY AND ISRA ELITISM. Article 1
RANDOM NOTES ON FREEMASONRY. Article 1
CONSECRATION OF RED CROSS ON CLAPE AT LITERPOOL. Article 4
Original correspondence. Article 4
UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 5
VISIT OF THE CHANNEL FLEET TO LIVERPOOL. Article 5
THE HENRY BLAGROVE TESTIMONIAL FUND. Article 5
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Untitled Article 6
AIDS TO STUDY. Article 6
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 6
Royal Arch. Article 7
Mark Masonry. Article 7
Knights Templar. Article 7
GRAND MARK LODGE. Article 8
CONSECRATION AND DEDICTION OF A MASONIC TEMPLE IN CARNARVON CASTLE. Article 8
THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE IN THE UNITED STATES. Article 10
Obituary. Article 11
Masonic Tidings. Article 12
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 12
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
Page 1

Page 1

5 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

3 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

3 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

5 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

6 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

9 Articles
Page 7

Page 7

6 Articles
Page 8

Page 8

4 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

3 Articles
Page 10

Page 10

4 Articles
Page 11

Page 11

3 Articles
Page 12

Page 12

7 Articles
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

Rite over the two hemispheres . In the same year they were transmitted to Stephen Morin , who had been appointed in j 761 , Inspector General for the new world by the consistory of Princes of the

Royal Secret , convened at Paris , under the presidency of Chaillon de Joinville , Substitute General of the order . On the ist May , 1786 , the Grand Constitutions of the Supreme Council

of tlie . 3 . 3 were ratified by the King of Prussia , by which the Masonic prerogatives of Inspectors were deposited in a council consisting of nine brethren in each nation . On the , 31 st May

3801 , the Supreme Council of the , 3 , 3 ° was opened in Charleston with the grand honours of Masonry by John Mitchell , and P ' rederiek Dalcho , S . G . I . G . On the ( th August , 181 . 3 , a

Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction ol the United States was opened at New York , but has since been removed to Boston . In 1845 , the Supreme Council of the , 3 , 3 ° was opened in

London for Phigland and the Dependencies of the British Crown under warrant from the S . C . , 3 . 3 ° Southern Jurisdiction U . S ., and similar

Supreme Councils' have since been founded in almost every country in the world . Findel , in his liistory of Freemasonry , disbelieves the connection of P ' rederiek the Great with the

A . & A . Rite , and quotes the declaration ol the Grand Lodges of the Three Globes at Berlin on the subject . The Grand National Mother Lodge of the Three Globes was founded on the

1 , 3 th September , 1 740 , under authority of Frederick the Great , who was its lirst Grand Master , it asserts , "he never had anything to do with the organisation and legislation of the Grand

Podge . All that has been related of his having in 1716 originated a high Masonic Senate , & e , has no historical basis . " It goes on to say , that P ' rederiek tlie Great was ill at

the tune he is stated to have signed the Constitutions , that lie never came to Berlin after September , 178 ' ,, and moved on the 171 I 1 April , 1786 , to Jiis Castle of Sans Souci , wliere Jit

died some four months afterwards . 'Phe declaration further states that " the documents kept from time to time in the Archives of the ( hand National Mother Lodge do not show the

slightest trace of the above mentioned documents , or of the existence of a Grand Council in Berlin . " This argument does not go for much however—rememberimr that there were at the

time , several opposing Masonic Bodies in Germany—that Count Xiimendorf had introduced the higher degress into the system , and that the Three Globes Lodge at that time would be as

fair an authority to go to , respecting the Secret Constitutions of the A . and A . Rite as the Grand Lodge of England at this moment . Another of the arguments used against the

Constitutions of Frederick the Great , is that the names of but two of the Hgnilaries are known , yet those two , Dr . Stark , Professor of Oriental Languages , at Konigsberg , and Woellner ,

elected National Grand Master in 1791 , were both well-known Masons . It is admitted that a letter is kept in the Archives of the National Mother Grand Lodge , signed b y Bro . Lavalette des

Langes , and touching upon the meeting of a convention in Paris , on the njth June , 1786 , but the declaration alluded to , adds " Nowhere in the Archives can be found evidence , that he took

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

an interest in the higher degrees . " Supposing 100 years hence , a masonic student groping amongst the papers belonging to the Grand Lodge of Plngland came upon the names of

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Carnarvon—he might just as well conclude , that as no mention ol" the higher degrees is made in connection with their names , that therefore thev

had nothing to do wdth them , and like Bro . P'indel and the German opposers of the higher degrees , ( is it on account of their being Christian 1 wonder ?) he mig ht deny that the former was a

Knight Templar , Knight of the East and West , ( 17 A . and A . Rite , ) and Knight of the Masonic Order of Charles XIII . of Sweden , or that the

latter was , besides being Deputy Grand Master , S . G . I . G . . 3 , 3 ° , and Past Grand Master of the Mark .

A learned and very distinguished brother of my acquaintance is now translating the third volume of " Mirabeau ' s Secret History of the Court of Berlin , " and he tells me he discovers

in it evidence sufficient to establish the truth ol the Secret Constitutions of Frederiek ' the Great . It does not seem to me at all improbable that an ambitious man like Frederick , should aim at the

universal empire of Masonry , and the idea of a Sovereign Grand Commander of the whole world was worthy of the ambition of even P ' rederiek the Great , if Masonry were only what

it prolesscs , and what it ought to be . At any rate the truth or falsehood of the constitutions , so far as Frederick is concerned , is a matter of no great importance to this , the most powerful

and widely spread rite 111 the world , and ol no more value than the truth or falsehood of sonic other of the traditions of Masonry which can never be verified .

The fact remains that , whoever lirst re-modelled the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , it is at this moment : the most perfect embodiment of Masonic learnino- that exists ; and

remembering the condition of Masonry in Germany and its three Grand Lodges , one must look with an eve of suspicion upon this declaration of the Grand Loilsre . of the Three Globes .

P ' reemasonry is , as it is received , to some a religion , to others , a system of morality only . I have known Jews wdio thought they did their duty by their God and Creed , il' they attended

their Podge , no Synagogue being near . . Masonry , as Geometry , is an exact science . As- a Religion , it bears the impress of a higher wisdom than is contained in the study of Mathematics and

Astronomy . In fact , Masonry stands next to revealed reli g ion in the opinion , of many people , unfortunately , however , like , religion , il has been made the instrument , in the hands of evil

designing men , for much , wrong doing . instance , the Carbonari , J . lltuninali , Cagliostro , the Communists . The Chevalier Ramsay is said to have invented certain , of the degrees in the A . and A .

Rite—as secret associations the real object ol wdiose members was the restoration of the Stuarts . The Royal Order of Scotland , from

which some think the Rose Croix , iBthdegrec , is derived , was presided over by Charles Stuart , the Young Pretender , who granted a charter to a chapter at Ami ? , ( which charter is still in

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

existence ) , as Hereditary Grand Master of the Order . Cagliostro was made a Freemason in London , and it is said that he and the Illuminati were instrumental in bringing about the

great revolution of France . Alexandre Dumas has written a very powerful romance , founded upon this , called "The Memoirs of a Physician . " The reign of the Communists , and the part many

misguided Masons took in the late unhappy struggle in PYance , is too recent to need more than a passing allusion here . I cannot help repeating wdiat I said at a recent meeting of the

St . Luke ' s Royal Arch Chapter , at Ipswich that Masonry without Christianity , in a Christian country , cannot be said to be complete . This was recognised in the fact , that before the Union

of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 , the Knights Templar degree was especially recognised by the Grand Lodge of all England , at York , previous to 1770 , at which time the Rose Croix

18 ° , and Kadosh . 30 ° were also worked ; and I fearlessly assert , that the perfection of Masonry and its Christian character can only be obtained , in the Antient and Accepted Rite , and

the Order of knights Templar . Much difficulty exists in tracing the origin of the Royal Arch Degree . Dr . Oliver thinks it did not exist before the middle of the last century , whilst

Mackay is of opinion , thatbelore the year 1 740 , the essential element of the . Royal Arch constituted a part of the third degree . In America , as formerly in England , it is necessary to be a P . M .

before the candidate is eligible for the R . A . In Ireland it is the same , and there the degree differs essentially from otirown . In Scotland you must be . a Mark , as well as a P . M ., to be eligible , and

chapters in Scotland also confer the degree of Royal Ark Mariner , whieli is now , I believe , given in I'higland , under the ( hand Lodge of Mark Masters . The Scotch Masons contend

that the Royal Arch , with its subsidiary degrees , constitute a pari of Templar Masonry , and in this country , as you are doubtless aware , it is necessary to be a R . A . M . before you are eligible

lor the rank ol K . I . My own opinion is that the degreejike thatof the Rose Croix is verv ancieiil , but I am quite willing to admit ( hat it took its present form as Dr . Oliver asserts , about

1 740 or i 7 ^ 0 . Nothing is more surprising than the ignorance of Masons about Masonry , and one is quite surprised to find excellent Masons ,

who have never yet joined in the sublime mysteries of the Royal Arch degree , which is as necessary to the completion of the Third as the Mark is to the second degree .

Findel says , " Ihe Royal Arch degree , now the fourth degree in England , is in its essential elements decidedly French in its origin , but received a somewhat diiierenl form in Phigland ,

with additions from the higher degrees , then flourishing on the Continent , ( Kni ghts of the Burning Bush , Red Cross , Ike ., ) and adopted by the Schismatic Ancient Masons , adherents of

Dennett , who himsell testifies that this degree was first introduced into Plngland by the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Masons . Ramsey calls the Royal Arch the Ami Plus Ultra ( sic ) of

Masonry , and these Antient Masons boasted of their bungling composition as the " summit and perfection of Ancient Masonry . " But they are quite in the wrong , for in truth , this degree of the

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 2
  • You're on page3
  • 4
  • 12
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy