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Article THE HISTORI C ← Page 4 of 7 →
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The Histori C
The degree in ^ England at the present tinte , can only be conferred in the presence of a certain number of the Supreme Council . We cannot hut think the degree is of high antiquity , though not in in its present form , for , as now practised , there appears a want of unity of design . Thus we find the emblematic ladder / prominent
in the symbolic degrees as well as in the Rose Oroi ± ; while the admixture of the military and religious ceremonies is more conspicuous in this than In any other degree . In its preset traces of Teutonic origin ; and most probably it was devised by the German knights . One standard used In this rite bears a green cross , Avhich designated that nation ^ ^^
same as was borne by the pilgrims in the first crusade ; the red cr ^ belonged to the Templars , and wa $ assumed by the two other orders on the extermination of the Templars ; to this ceremonial additions Avere made in the eighteenth century , \ vhen the Ancient aM Accepted Rite was established .
Although much impprfcanee is attached to the degree , it will not bear cpmparisoh with the Rose Croix . There ar ^ which strike us upon examining this degree ~ -we may , for instance , inquire Aivhy the second chamber is named after the celebs justice at Athens . That court took cognizance of all crime and immorality , and idleness as the cause of vice : it heard causes in the
darkness of night , that its members might not be prepossessed in favour of either plaintiff or defendant by their appearance : it allowed only a plain statement of facts , and hence its decisions were most just and impartial ; we can see no possible connexion between the degree and the Greek tribunal . Again , the third chamber bears a Roman name , and one not applicable to a body which acknowledges a superior council . Other anachronisms might be noticed , but these are sufficient fco illustrate the weak points of the ceremonies .
The thirty-first degree is that of Grand Inquisitor Commander . It is not an historical degree , but is simply administrative in its character ; the duties of the members being to examine and regulate the proceedings of the subordinate Lodges and Chapters . The meeting is designated a " Sovereign Tribunal , ' * and is composed of nine officers , viz . : —a Most Perfect President , a Chancellor and six Inauisitors- —one being elected to perform the functions of
Inspecting Inquisitor . The decoration of the Lodge is white , with eight golden columns ; on the dais above the presiding officer ' s throne are the letters J . E . ; there is also an altar covered with white drapery . In the east , on a low seat , is placed a case containing the archives of the Order covered with blue drapery , having on its
front a large red cross ; on the right of the altar is the table of the Chancellor , on the left , that of the Treasurer . The floor of the Sovereign Tribxmal is covered by a painting , the centre of which represents a cross , encompassing all the attributes of Masonry . As regalia , the members wear a white collar , on which is embroidered a triangle with rays , having in its centre the number 31 , to Avhich is suspended
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Histori C
The degree in ^ England at the present tinte , can only be conferred in the presence of a certain number of the Supreme Council . We cannot hut think the degree is of high antiquity , though not in in its present form , for , as now practised , there appears a want of unity of design . Thus we find the emblematic ladder / prominent
in the symbolic degrees as well as in the Rose Oroi ± ; while the admixture of the military and religious ceremonies is more conspicuous in this than In any other degree . In its preset traces of Teutonic origin ; and most probably it was devised by the German knights . One standard used In this rite bears a green cross , Avhich designated that nation ^ ^^
same as was borne by the pilgrims in the first crusade ; the red cr ^ belonged to the Templars , and wa $ assumed by the two other orders on the extermination of the Templars ; to this ceremonial additions Avere made in the eighteenth century , \ vhen the Ancient aM Accepted Rite was established .
Although much impprfcanee is attached to the degree , it will not bear cpmparisoh with the Rose Croix . There ar ^ which strike us upon examining this degree ~ -we may , for instance , inquire Aivhy the second chamber is named after the celebs justice at Athens . That court took cognizance of all crime and immorality , and idleness as the cause of vice : it heard causes in the
darkness of night , that its members might not be prepossessed in favour of either plaintiff or defendant by their appearance : it allowed only a plain statement of facts , and hence its decisions were most just and impartial ; we can see no possible connexion between the degree and the Greek tribunal . Again , the third chamber bears a Roman name , and one not applicable to a body which acknowledges a superior council . Other anachronisms might be noticed , but these are sufficient fco illustrate the weak points of the ceremonies .
The thirty-first degree is that of Grand Inquisitor Commander . It is not an historical degree , but is simply administrative in its character ; the duties of the members being to examine and regulate the proceedings of the subordinate Lodges and Chapters . The meeting is designated a " Sovereign Tribunal , ' * and is composed of nine officers , viz . : —a Most Perfect President , a Chancellor and six Inauisitors- —one being elected to perform the functions of
Inspecting Inquisitor . The decoration of the Lodge is white , with eight golden columns ; on the dais above the presiding officer ' s throne are the letters J . E . ; there is also an altar covered with white drapery . In the east , on a low seat , is placed a case containing the archives of the Order covered with blue drapery , having on its
front a large red cross ; on the right of the altar is the table of the Chancellor , on the left , that of the Treasurer . The floor of the Sovereign Tribxmal is covered by a painting , the centre of which represents a cross , encompassing all the attributes of Masonry . As regalia , the members wear a white collar , on which is embroidered a triangle with rays , having in its centre the number 31 , to Avhich is suspended