-
Articles/Ads
Article HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED. BIT... ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Ancient And Accepted. Bit...
of the Masonic art or science , is a study for life , and the mere passing through the ceremonial of any Degree cannot possiblymake one perfect or accomplished in that Degree : but , if attentive and apt , he will be furnished ' with material for reflection and edification , which , if properly exercised and treasured up , will lead to perfection .
Accordingly , if it be asked , " cui bono" are the superior Degrees cultivated , we might answer , that as to personal benefits , the opportunity " to do good and communicate , " to practise all the Masonic virtues as well as enjoy all the pleasures of fellowship and sociality , so far as these are considered within the sphere of the Masonic acquirements of any Brother , the original working Degrees of Ancient Craft
Masonry will for him suffice . Only to one who wishes to attain a more extensive knowledge of , and become fully accomplished in , the religious , philosophic , and ehivalric departments of our Order , as they w ere cultivated in the different ages of the world gone by , as well as at the present day , would we recommend initiation into the High Degrees . He only will be competent to appreciate the honours and
privileges attached to them , who possesses the disposition and ability to study the deeper and higher mysteries of our Cabala , and will not rest satisfied until he has discovered a satisfactory solution to every Masonic problem , and can in every case explain , " de quo fabulum narratur ; " who can thoroughly understand the moral mysteries as
well as those of art and science which our legends unfold , and who has a laudable ambition to participate in the most exalted sphere , with congenial associates in that subtle communion and fraternization which genuine " Sublime Freemasonry " is peculiarly calculated to afford .
I will not inflict upon your readers the names , much less a history , of the numerous Masonic rites which the vanity and innovating spirit of some continental Masons prompted them to invent and palm upon the public within the last century . Many of them are not half-acentury old , and will be found to be Degrees of other rites reproduced , some under the same and others under different titles . It will be
absolutely necessary , however , in order to give your readers a correct idea of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite , " so called , that I should refer to several other rites . Every rite is based upon the three original Degrees of E . A ., E . C ., and M . M , By this I mean that these Degrees are recognised by and deemed essential as a substratum to the whole rite ; and the candidate must be regularly initiated and instructed in them before lie can bo
admitted to the superior Degrees of the rite . The superior Degrees of any given rite vary in their arrangement and character , according to the object its founder had in view in organizing it . The assumption of authority by different governing bodies in the same Masonic territory over the same Degrees has occasioned much of the confusion which has prevailed for more than a century in different parts of the Masonic world , particularl y in Trance and the United States .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of The Ancient And Accepted. Bit...
of the Masonic art or science , is a study for life , and the mere passing through the ceremonial of any Degree cannot possiblymake one perfect or accomplished in that Degree : but , if attentive and apt , he will be furnished ' with material for reflection and edification , which , if properly exercised and treasured up , will lead to perfection .
Accordingly , if it be asked , " cui bono" are the superior Degrees cultivated , we might answer , that as to personal benefits , the opportunity " to do good and communicate , " to practise all the Masonic virtues as well as enjoy all the pleasures of fellowship and sociality , so far as these are considered within the sphere of the Masonic acquirements of any Brother , the original working Degrees of Ancient Craft
Masonry will for him suffice . Only to one who wishes to attain a more extensive knowledge of , and become fully accomplished in , the religious , philosophic , and ehivalric departments of our Order , as they w ere cultivated in the different ages of the world gone by , as well as at the present day , would we recommend initiation into the High Degrees . He only will be competent to appreciate the honours and
privileges attached to them , who possesses the disposition and ability to study the deeper and higher mysteries of our Cabala , and will not rest satisfied until he has discovered a satisfactory solution to every Masonic problem , and can in every case explain , " de quo fabulum narratur ; " who can thoroughly understand the moral mysteries as
well as those of art and science which our legends unfold , and who has a laudable ambition to participate in the most exalted sphere , with congenial associates in that subtle communion and fraternization which genuine " Sublime Freemasonry " is peculiarly calculated to afford .
I will not inflict upon your readers the names , much less a history , of the numerous Masonic rites which the vanity and innovating spirit of some continental Masons prompted them to invent and palm upon the public within the last century . Many of them are not half-acentury old , and will be found to be Degrees of other rites reproduced , some under the same and others under different titles . It will be
absolutely necessary , however , in order to give your readers a correct idea of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite , " so called , that I should refer to several other rites . Every rite is based upon the three original Degrees of E . A ., E . C ., and M . M , By this I mean that these Degrees are recognised by and deemed essential as a substratum to the whole rite ; and the candidate must be regularly initiated and instructed in them before lie can bo
admitted to the superior Degrees of the rite . The superior Degrees of any given rite vary in their arrangement and character , according to the object its founder had in view in organizing it . The assumption of authority by different governing bodies in the same Masonic territory over the same Degrees has occasioned much of the confusion which has prevailed for more than a century in different parts of the Masonic world , particularl y in Trance and the United States .