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Article THE RED CROSS ORDER. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE " RED CROSS " and MASONIC CHIVALRIC DEGREES. Page 1 of 2 Article THE " RED CROSS " and MASONIC CHIVALRIC DEGREES. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Red Cross Order.
body-guard of Constantine , and the command of these privileged soldiers was confided to Eusebius , bishop of Nicomedia , who was thus considered the second officer of the Order . " And at page 27 , it is stated that " we are , in all probability , indebted to the learned Abbo
( Giuistiniani ) who was long attached to the Venetian Embassy in London , for the existence of the Order in England . " The Masonic Order has never claimed to be a branch of the Parmese-ITeapolitan Order , but upon Lupus ' s own showing in a letter which appeared in your
contemporary of the 6 th February , 186 9 , "the present head- of the combined Parmese and Sicilian Order of Constantine is King Victor Emmanuel IL , " a statement which is entirely borne out by facts , and I can assure Lupus that it was solely in deference to his opinion , so expressed , that the Red Cross Committee
placed themselves in communication with the Italian Government , the result being , to quote again the words of Lupus in the same letter , that " all obstacles are dissipated , " "Victor Emmanuel being perfectly aware , " that the Red Cross Order " exists in this country , " and further that His Majesty has no intention to revive the Italian Order .
Ihe theory suggested by Count Maffei was simply this , that the Masons derived the decorations , & c , through their connection with the Crusaders , many of whom wereKnights of theOrder . The . Order is , however , no longer a " public " one , ' and I cannot therefore understand the
allusion made by Lupus to the ex-King of Naples , in view of the opinion he formerly expressed as to Victor Emmanuel . I have consulted various works on Chivalry and the Orders of Knighthood , and am unable to find any evidence that the Order has been conferred except in Italy as a public Order , and in England as a
Masonic degree , since 16 99 . Upon this point , like " Lupus , " I shall be glad to see further information , for it would be affectation to deny that a Greek gentleman , now resident in England claims the Order of Constantine as his private property , while similar pretensions are made by another gentleman of Greek extraction , and also by a personage at Rome .
Has it ever occurred to Lupus that in the event of the Order having been perpetuated privately by the alleged descendants of Constantine in the Isle of Scio , Bro . Wright , who was Consul-General for the Ionian Islands , would probably have known something of the fact ? This
is rather an interesting question , for although the value of a decoration bestowed by a private individual may not be very great , yet when viewed in connection with the high antiquity claimed for the Order of Constantine , it is entitled to some consideration and respect .
•It is now my conviction that , although Lord Rancliffe governed the Red Cross Order , ns proved by the charter of 179 6 , Walter Rodwell Wright was the first to establish a Grand Council , and he may have followed this course after an understanding and arrangements with
the Knights who were hitherto scattered and few in number . I am not aware that any other so-called Red Cross Order was ever practised in London ; the degree called the " Red Cross of Babylon " and the American Red Cross are the only degrees of a similar name of which I
have any knowledge , and neither of these are Christian ceremonies . On the contrary , the Constantinian rituals breathe the purest spirit of Christianity , and this is especially observable in the " Grand Cross " ritual recently discovered from which I may venture to quote the following passage : —
" Make us worthy of the glorious distinction which we have assumed , and grant that we may serve Thee in spirit and in truth , maintaining inviolably the Christian faith and our solemn vows of secresy , fidelity and obedience . " However we may differ in opinion , let me
assure Lupus that I highly appreciate his merits as an archaeologist and antiquarian , and it is but due to myself to state that many of the explanations now given were sent to your contemporary for publication in March 106 9 , but for reasons to which it is unnecessary to refei thc paper never appeared . R . W . L .
The " Red Cross " And Masonic Chivalric Degrees.
THE " RED CROSS " and MASONIC CHIVALRIC DEGREES .
BY WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . AVe have an idea that the " Red Cross " degree has as much right to be worked in the present day as the Knights Templar , Knights of Malta , or any other Masonic chivalric degree whose communications were provided for in the
"Articles of Union of A . D . 1813 . We are told that the degree was patronised during the last century by several excellent Masons , whose connection with Freemasonry was of much value to the institution . Bros . James Galloway ( one of the chief promoters of Royal Arch Masonry
under the " Moderns " ) , James Heseltine ( Past Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary ) , AVilliam White ( Grand Secretary A . D . 17 S 0 and for several years afterwards ) , and other distinguished brethren received the Red Cross degree under Bro . Major Charles Shirreff . Lord Rancliffe
was Grand Master in A . D . 179 6 , as also of the Masonic Knights Templar . Bro . Walter Rodwell Wright succeeded his lordship as Grand Master A . D . 1804 , and on the 19 th July H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was installed " Grand Master for and during his natural life . "
I might enumerate a host of worthy names connected with this Masonic Order from A . D . 178 S to the Union of A . D . 1813 , but time will not permit . Suffice it to say , that several of the most active and useful members of the Craft were foremost as Red Cross Knights . The
minutes of their meetings , which are partly reproduced in the "Statutes of the Red Cross Order" ( Geo . Kenning , London ) , contain a little information which those who glory in opposing its claims to rank as a Masonic Chivalric degrees would do well to peruse before
again rushing against the facts of its history . For our part , we are no enthusiastic admirer of Masonic Chivalric degrees at all , and although a member of mail ) ' , would join in voting their funds to be devoted to the charities of the Craft ,
and their meetings be at an end , provided a greater interest would be taken in purely Craft Masonry , and our charitable institutions be more generally supported than they are . Some excellent Masons think these chivalric
degrees tend to keep alive the regard of many for the Craft , and that without such their fondness for Craft Masonry would not last many months If so , then we are better with than without these additions , which , costly and
Masonically useless as they are , so far as the grand and universal principles of the Craft are concerned , are supported by many of the greatest Masons of the land . We have been led simply to examine the claims of the Red Cross from the
amount of petty opposition its votaries have been subjected to . We find that it was worked during the latter part of the last ccntury . and though some maintain that it was given subsequent to th ; Templar degree , the admission of Bro . William Henry White ( the second last Grand
Secretary ) , on the 13 th March 1809 , before he was either a Royal Arch or a Knight Templar , does away entirely with that notion . The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree issued a circular against the degree , which , however , so far from staying its progress actually
gave it an impetus never before manifested . Apart from the amazing circumstance of a body of a few years' experience presuming to question the character of a degree ' worked during thc last century , and for years under the rule of H . R . H .
the Duke of Sussex , the " declaration of war " was most inexpedient and unkind . We need not now examine further into this matter , as happily the two authorities have virtually joined hands in amity , and we trust nothing but a wholesome rivalry anil Masonic zeal will be found lo actuate tlieir members .
Of late the historical position of the "Red Cross " has been called in question by one of the commissioners on behalf of the ( . rand Conclave of England to make a convention between
the Knights Templar of Great Britain and Ireland , lie has taken the noni de pin me of " Lupus , " which we easily recognise as belonging to a brother well-known in the Craft . The discussion has been mainly between him and
The " Red Cross " And Masonic Chivalric Degrees.
" R . W . K , " and we have no doubt that the latter , with his accustomed ability , will clear up the doubtful points , and show to the Masonic world that the Red Cross degree is neither a delusion nor a snare , and supported neither by " magic numbers nor persuasive sound , " as Bro .
" Lupus " is pleased to hint is the fact . Were the degree on a basis of deception or fraud , I presume it is only for such to be pointed out to cause its immediate overthrow , seeing that its chief adherents are Masons , recognised as " just and upright men of sound judgment and strict
morals . " To suppose otherwise would be to insult some of the brightest ornaments of the Craft . Bro . " Lupus " in THE FREEMASON of April 16 has thought fit to question a few statements of mine made the week before , and about which he says , " to the surprise and disappointment of ALL your readers will be found utterly
deficient in Bro . Hughan ' s usual excellent characteristics , proof and logic . " It is a pity to lose anyone ' s good opinion , especially when it is worth having , as it certainly is in this case ; so for the sake of truth , and to examine why such startling assertions are made , it will be well to take the objections seriatim , and test their
soundness : — 1 . When was the unequivocal evidence of the connection of the Red Cross degree with Freemasonry during the latter part of the last century produced ? What and where is it ?
In a series of articles by Bro . R . W . Little in the Freemason ' s Magazine , Vol . XV , page 502 , Vol . XVI ., pages 22 and 102 ; Vol . XIX ., page 208 , in which the Red Cross degree is traced Masonically by records from A . D . 1780 to after the " Union of A . D . 1813 . "
2 . What has the connection with Freemasonry to do with being " the only legitimate representative of the Order in the world ?" Nothing that I am aware of , as none of the Masonic Chivalric degrees have any other origin than Masonic , and that after the revival of Frcc
masony A . D . 1717 . 3 . Probably the Duke of Sussex was the Grand Master of a Masonic Red Cross Order . I know of no reason why the Minute Book still preserved that records the election and installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex should
be doubted . Unless Bro . " Lupus" says it is a . forgery , he is bound to accept it as genuine , and he can examine it when in London , so that perhaps it would be well to suspend so harsh a judgment until he has seen and handled it . After which he can be shown His Royal Hi ghness ' s signature as Grand Master of the Bed
Cross A . D . 1813 , which is accepted as genuine by those who are familiar with such writing . This document is also open for inspection b y any brother , and has been submitted to me , so also have the old Minute Book , and other papers . 4 . The Articles of 1 S 13 do not say a word about Constantine .
With respect to thc name Constantine , I cannot say aught , but leave it to my friend , Bro . " R . AV . L , " to answer . I onl y know that the Red Cross degree that was under H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was given to Bro . A \ . H . AVhite and others , who gave the degree to Bros . H yde Clarke , Little and others , who revived the Masonic Order .
5 . What original Masonic Order of the last century ? The Masonic Order called Consianliiie did not exist in the last century . How could one or more of the members of thc Old Body create " Knights Grand Cross , " __ c .
The original Order I refer to i . s thc Red Cross given by Major Shirreff and others about A . D . 1780 . I know nothing of any regular succession from any Chivalric degree other than Masonic , and . do not believe in any Masonic Order of such a kind—Templar , Malta , or aught else in
connection with Freemasonry . AVith respect to the Constantine name , if Bro . " Lupus " is ri ght , the title should be dropped ; but I wait the production of more evidence on the part of " R . \ V . L . " before giving my decision .
Meantime , and hitherto I have merely used the name Constantine to make it clear which " Red Cross " is meant , in contradistinction to the Red Cross degrees of Scotland . It will be for " R . AV . L . " to show some earlier authority than the work of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Red Cross Order.
body-guard of Constantine , and the command of these privileged soldiers was confided to Eusebius , bishop of Nicomedia , who was thus considered the second officer of the Order . " And at page 27 , it is stated that " we are , in all probability , indebted to the learned Abbo
( Giuistiniani ) who was long attached to the Venetian Embassy in London , for the existence of the Order in England . " The Masonic Order has never claimed to be a branch of the Parmese-ITeapolitan Order , but upon Lupus ' s own showing in a letter which appeared in your
contemporary of the 6 th February , 186 9 , "the present head- of the combined Parmese and Sicilian Order of Constantine is King Victor Emmanuel IL , " a statement which is entirely borne out by facts , and I can assure Lupus that it was solely in deference to his opinion , so expressed , that the Red Cross Committee
placed themselves in communication with the Italian Government , the result being , to quote again the words of Lupus in the same letter , that " all obstacles are dissipated , " "Victor Emmanuel being perfectly aware , " that the Red Cross Order " exists in this country , " and further that His Majesty has no intention to revive the Italian Order .
Ihe theory suggested by Count Maffei was simply this , that the Masons derived the decorations , & c , through their connection with the Crusaders , many of whom wereKnights of theOrder . The . Order is , however , no longer a " public " one , ' and I cannot therefore understand the
allusion made by Lupus to the ex-King of Naples , in view of the opinion he formerly expressed as to Victor Emmanuel . I have consulted various works on Chivalry and the Orders of Knighthood , and am unable to find any evidence that the Order has been conferred except in Italy as a public Order , and in England as a
Masonic degree , since 16 99 . Upon this point , like " Lupus , " I shall be glad to see further information , for it would be affectation to deny that a Greek gentleman , now resident in England claims the Order of Constantine as his private property , while similar pretensions are made by another gentleman of Greek extraction , and also by a personage at Rome .
Has it ever occurred to Lupus that in the event of the Order having been perpetuated privately by the alleged descendants of Constantine in the Isle of Scio , Bro . Wright , who was Consul-General for the Ionian Islands , would probably have known something of the fact ? This
is rather an interesting question , for although the value of a decoration bestowed by a private individual may not be very great , yet when viewed in connection with the high antiquity claimed for the Order of Constantine , it is entitled to some consideration and respect .
•It is now my conviction that , although Lord Rancliffe governed the Red Cross Order , ns proved by the charter of 179 6 , Walter Rodwell Wright was the first to establish a Grand Council , and he may have followed this course after an understanding and arrangements with
the Knights who were hitherto scattered and few in number . I am not aware that any other so-called Red Cross Order was ever practised in London ; the degree called the " Red Cross of Babylon " and the American Red Cross are the only degrees of a similar name of which I
have any knowledge , and neither of these are Christian ceremonies . On the contrary , the Constantinian rituals breathe the purest spirit of Christianity , and this is especially observable in the " Grand Cross " ritual recently discovered from which I may venture to quote the following passage : —
" Make us worthy of the glorious distinction which we have assumed , and grant that we may serve Thee in spirit and in truth , maintaining inviolably the Christian faith and our solemn vows of secresy , fidelity and obedience . " However we may differ in opinion , let me
assure Lupus that I highly appreciate his merits as an archaeologist and antiquarian , and it is but due to myself to state that many of the explanations now given were sent to your contemporary for publication in March 106 9 , but for reasons to which it is unnecessary to refei thc paper never appeared . R . W . L .
The " Red Cross " And Masonic Chivalric Degrees.
THE " RED CROSS " and MASONIC CHIVALRIC DEGREES .
BY WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . AVe have an idea that the " Red Cross " degree has as much right to be worked in the present day as the Knights Templar , Knights of Malta , or any other Masonic chivalric degree whose communications were provided for in the
"Articles of Union of A . D . 1813 . We are told that the degree was patronised during the last century by several excellent Masons , whose connection with Freemasonry was of much value to the institution . Bros . James Galloway ( one of the chief promoters of Royal Arch Masonry
under the " Moderns " ) , James Heseltine ( Past Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary ) , AVilliam White ( Grand Secretary A . D . 17 S 0 and for several years afterwards ) , and other distinguished brethren received the Red Cross degree under Bro . Major Charles Shirreff . Lord Rancliffe
was Grand Master in A . D . 179 6 , as also of the Masonic Knights Templar . Bro . Walter Rodwell Wright succeeded his lordship as Grand Master A . D . 1804 , and on the 19 th July H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was installed " Grand Master for and during his natural life . "
I might enumerate a host of worthy names connected with this Masonic Order from A . D . 178 S to the Union of A . D . 1813 , but time will not permit . Suffice it to say , that several of the most active and useful members of the Craft were foremost as Red Cross Knights . The
minutes of their meetings , which are partly reproduced in the "Statutes of the Red Cross Order" ( Geo . Kenning , London ) , contain a little information which those who glory in opposing its claims to rank as a Masonic Chivalric degrees would do well to peruse before
again rushing against the facts of its history . For our part , we are no enthusiastic admirer of Masonic Chivalric degrees at all , and although a member of mail ) ' , would join in voting their funds to be devoted to the charities of the Craft ,
and their meetings be at an end , provided a greater interest would be taken in purely Craft Masonry , and our charitable institutions be more generally supported than they are . Some excellent Masons think these chivalric
degrees tend to keep alive the regard of many for the Craft , and that without such their fondness for Craft Masonry would not last many months If so , then we are better with than without these additions , which , costly and
Masonically useless as they are , so far as the grand and universal principles of the Craft are concerned , are supported by many of the greatest Masons of the land . We have been led simply to examine the claims of the Red Cross from the
amount of petty opposition its votaries have been subjected to . We find that it was worked during the latter part of the last ccntury . and though some maintain that it was given subsequent to th ; Templar degree , the admission of Bro . William Henry White ( the second last Grand
Secretary ) , on the 13 th March 1809 , before he was either a Royal Arch or a Knight Templar , does away entirely with that notion . The Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree issued a circular against the degree , which , however , so far from staying its progress actually
gave it an impetus never before manifested . Apart from the amazing circumstance of a body of a few years' experience presuming to question the character of a degree ' worked during thc last century , and for years under the rule of H . R . H .
the Duke of Sussex , the " declaration of war " was most inexpedient and unkind . We need not now examine further into this matter , as happily the two authorities have virtually joined hands in amity , and we trust nothing but a wholesome rivalry anil Masonic zeal will be found lo actuate tlieir members .
Of late the historical position of the "Red Cross " has been called in question by one of the commissioners on behalf of the ( . rand Conclave of England to make a convention between
the Knights Templar of Great Britain and Ireland , lie has taken the noni de pin me of " Lupus , " which we easily recognise as belonging to a brother well-known in the Craft . The discussion has been mainly between him and
The " Red Cross " And Masonic Chivalric Degrees.
" R . W . K , " and we have no doubt that the latter , with his accustomed ability , will clear up the doubtful points , and show to the Masonic world that the Red Cross degree is neither a delusion nor a snare , and supported neither by " magic numbers nor persuasive sound , " as Bro .
" Lupus " is pleased to hint is the fact . Were the degree on a basis of deception or fraud , I presume it is only for such to be pointed out to cause its immediate overthrow , seeing that its chief adherents are Masons , recognised as " just and upright men of sound judgment and strict
morals . " To suppose otherwise would be to insult some of the brightest ornaments of the Craft . Bro . " Lupus " in THE FREEMASON of April 16 has thought fit to question a few statements of mine made the week before , and about which he says , " to the surprise and disappointment of ALL your readers will be found utterly
deficient in Bro . Hughan ' s usual excellent characteristics , proof and logic . " It is a pity to lose anyone ' s good opinion , especially when it is worth having , as it certainly is in this case ; so for the sake of truth , and to examine why such startling assertions are made , it will be well to take the objections seriatim , and test their
soundness : — 1 . When was the unequivocal evidence of the connection of the Red Cross degree with Freemasonry during the latter part of the last century produced ? What and where is it ?
In a series of articles by Bro . R . W . Little in the Freemason ' s Magazine , Vol . XV , page 502 , Vol . XVI ., pages 22 and 102 ; Vol . XIX ., page 208 , in which the Red Cross degree is traced Masonically by records from A . D . 1780 to after the " Union of A . D . 1813 . "
2 . What has the connection with Freemasonry to do with being " the only legitimate representative of the Order in the world ?" Nothing that I am aware of , as none of the Masonic Chivalric degrees have any other origin than Masonic , and that after the revival of Frcc
masony A . D . 1717 . 3 . Probably the Duke of Sussex was the Grand Master of a Masonic Red Cross Order . I know of no reason why the Minute Book still preserved that records the election and installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex should
be doubted . Unless Bro . " Lupus" says it is a . forgery , he is bound to accept it as genuine , and he can examine it when in London , so that perhaps it would be well to suspend so harsh a judgment until he has seen and handled it . After which he can be shown His Royal Hi ghness ' s signature as Grand Master of the Bed
Cross A . D . 1813 , which is accepted as genuine by those who are familiar with such writing . This document is also open for inspection b y any brother , and has been submitted to me , so also have the old Minute Book , and other papers . 4 . The Articles of 1 S 13 do not say a word about Constantine .
With respect to thc name Constantine , I cannot say aught , but leave it to my friend , Bro . " R . AV . L , " to answer . I onl y know that the Red Cross degree that was under H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was given to Bro . A \ . H . AVhite and others , who gave the degree to Bros . H yde Clarke , Little and others , who revived the Masonic Order .
5 . What original Masonic Order of the last century ? The Masonic Order called Consianliiie did not exist in the last century . How could one or more of the members of thc Old Body create " Knights Grand Cross , " __ c .
The original Order I refer to i . s thc Red Cross given by Major Shirreff and others about A . D . 1780 . I know nothing of any regular succession from any Chivalric degree other than Masonic , and . do not believe in any Masonic Order of such a kind—Templar , Malta , or aught else in
connection with Freemasonry . AVith respect to the Constantine name , if Bro . " Lupus " is ri ght , the title should be dropped ; but I wait the production of more evidence on the part of " R . \ V . L . " before giving my decision .
Meantime , and hitherto I have merely used the name Constantine to make it clear which " Red Cross " is meant , in contradistinction to the Red Cross degrees of Scotland . It will be for " R . AV . L . " to show some earlier authority than the work of