-
Articles/Ads
Article THE RITES OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 14 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rites Of Freemasonry.
THE RITES OP FREEMASONRY .
It is not , perhaps , generally known to English Masons ., , and more particularly to the younger members of the Craft , that in modern times numerous modifications have been introduced , or rather interpolated , in the glorious . fabric of Freemasonry , embodying a A ariety of degrees , the ceremonials of which greatly resemble one another , and have similar designations . These have nearly all originated on the
continent of Europe , and have been concocted , some for political , and some for religious , influence ; and to all of them is affixed the solemn appellation of c ( Rite . " We believe we are correct in saying , that in all these the three antient degrees and their essentials were preserved . Most of these novelties originated in the vanity of their contm ^ ers , ambitious of making themseh es a name ; some fell into oblivion in the inventors' life-time ; others died out A \ ith their authors ; and nearlyall are now extinct . At the present time the Masonic family in England may be considered as divided into four distinct bodies , in which we have four several constitutions acknowledged , viz . : —The United Grand Lodge , the
Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar , and the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters ; besides the schism , if Ave may so term it , of the Baldwin Encampment of Templars , claiming the same prerogatives as the Supreme Council and Grand Conclave .
Seeing the position of Masonry in this island , it does appear surprising that Ave can number little more than thirty of these varieties of Masonic government on the great continent of Europe . We believe that a Brother avIio has been admitted into a degree of any rite , is always received and acknoAvledged in a degree of like name or rank in any Lodge or assembly practising under the constitution
of another rite . The York Liite , the most ancient , has existed from time immemorial , and originated in tlie citv of York , Avhere the first Grand Lod e of England was held A . n . 92 G . in this , the parent Lodge of pure Masonry , only the three primitive degrees of ancient Craft Masonry were acknowledged . To them , in modern times , have been added
four other degrees , viz . : —Mark Master , Past Master , Most Excellent Master , and the supreme degree of tho Holy Royal Arch . Thus thhl rite consists of seven degrees ; but in some parts of the United States , where it is still practised , two have been annexed in addition—those of Royal , and Select Master . This rite is not , to our knoAvledge , now
practised in this country ; but as the most ancient Masonic institution in the British isles , and , it appears , " of all those Ave are about to describe , it is entitled to priority . From this arose—The English Rite , or that adopted by the United Grand Lodjv ot o 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Rites Of Freemasonry.
THE RITES OP FREEMASONRY .
It is not , perhaps , generally known to English Masons ., , and more particularly to the younger members of the Craft , that in modern times numerous modifications have been introduced , or rather interpolated , in the glorious . fabric of Freemasonry , embodying a A ariety of degrees , the ceremonials of which greatly resemble one another , and have similar designations . These have nearly all originated on the
continent of Europe , and have been concocted , some for political , and some for religious , influence ; and to all of them is affixed the solemn appellation of c ( Rite . " We believe we are correct in saying , that in all these the three antient degrees and their essentials were preserved . Most of these novelties originated in the vanity of their contm ^ ers , ambitious of making themseh es a name ; some fell into oblivion in the inventors' life-time ; others died out A \ ith their authors ; and nearlyall are now extinct . At the present time the Masonic family in England may be considered as divided into four distinct bodies , in which we have four several constitutions acknowledged , viz . : —The United Grand Lodge , the
Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar , and the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters ; besides the schism , if Ave may so term it , of the Baldwin Encampment of Templars , claiming the same prerogatives as the Supreme Council and Grand Conclave .
Seeing the position of Masonry in this island , it does appear surprising that Ave can number little more than thirty of these varieties of Masonic government on the great continent of Europe . We believe that a Brother avIio has been admitted into a degree of any rite , is always received and acknoAvledged in a degree of like name or rank in any Lodge or assembly practising under the constitution
of another rite . The York Liite , the most ancient , has existed from time immemorial , and originated in tlie citv of York , Avhere the first Grand Lod e of England was held A . n . 92 G . in this , the parent Lodge of pure Masonry , only the three primitive degrees of ancient Craft Masonry were acknowledged . To them , in modern times , have been added
four other degrees , viz . : —Mark Master , Past Master , Most Excellent Master , and the supreme degree of tho Holy Royal Arch . Thus thhl rite consists of seven degrees ; but in some parts of the United States , where it is still practised , two have been annexed in addition—those of Royal , and Select Master . This rite is not , to our knoAvledge , now
practised in this country ; but as the most ancient Masonic institution in the British isles , and , it appears , " of all those Ave are about to describe , it is entitled to priority . From this arose—The English Rite , or that adopted by the United Grand Lodjv ot o 2