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Article THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE IN AMERICA. ← Page 2 of 3 Article THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE IN AMERICA. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient And Accepted Rite In America.
claim was presented to this Supreme Council for reimbursement of the funeral expenses of William S . Garrick , 32 ° , who died in Memphis , Tennesse . Tho degrees were conferred on Bro . Carrick in Supreme Council 'before the union , " by the Body having its Grand East at New York . The expenses of his burial were borne by the Mr . P . ' . Sov . . G . \ Commander of the
Southern Jurisdiction . I had considerable correspondence with 111 . - . Bro . GEAIIAM , the Representative of that Supreme Council , which resulted in a withdrawal of the claim . I may be iu error , but I am of opinion that a Mason ' s claim for charity is upon the fraternity , and uot upon a particular lodge : that it is our duty to relieve the necessities of a worthy
brother , ivhether of our own household , or the stranger in our gates , according to our ability , without expectation of return ; that Masonic charity is not an absolute , unlimited right or duty , but depends upon the ability of the giver as well as the need or the recipient : that therefore , it can never be the basis of a claim for reimbursement .
Nevertheless , I recommend in this case that reimbursement be made to Bro . PIKE of the amount expended by him . While 1 hold that he has no claim upon us , I also hold , that haviug the ability , we may properly make him whole ; and the claim having been withdrawn , it seems due to our own dignity that we should do so .
The Constitutions—In 1852 , M . ' . P . \ Bro . Albert Pike , 33 ° Sov . - . Commander of the Supremo Council for the Southern Jurisdiction , published the Constitutions of 1786 , and other 3 translated by him . In 1866 , a Committee of the Supreme Council , having its Grand East at Boston , reported that the Constitutions , as published by Bro . Pike , were not correct , aud recommended that , the Constitutions as found in its archives should be published .
But although the recommendation was adopted , nothing was done in execution of it . After the close of the session last year it came to my knowledge that 111 . - . Bro . E . T . Carson had made a translation of the Constitutions ivhich be deemed accurate , aud that lie was williug that it should be published . I directed tlie G . Sec . General to add it as an Appendix to the proceedings . Tho report I have
referred to was made at a time when great excitement prevailed , and I have no personal knowledge upon what foundation its al . legations were based , and was desirous of arriving at the truth , a result more likely to be reached now that the animosities and excitements of 18 G 6 have passed away . It is well knowu that Bro . J . J . J . Gourgas claimed to have
certain " secret constitutions , " which he would exhibit to no one ; but delivered to his successor , who in turn delivered them to Bro . E . E . Raymond , and lie to Bro . Simon W . Eobinson , by whom they wore placed in my charge . If . they pertained exclusively to the Sov . G . Commander for his own government , I might hold that they should be kept sacred to himself , and
dedelivered only to his successor . But upon examination I find that they have a much wider scope ; and are intended to bo in the possession of every Sov . - . Grand Inspector General , and therefore , I perceive no reason why any Sov .- . G . ' . Insp . - . General , should not have access to them , or in fact , why they may no ^ be published in the same manner as our other Constitutions .
They comprise thirty-three articles ; are accompanied by the copy of a certificate of Stephen Morin , that they are a true copy of those inscribed on his register at the Orient of Port-au-Priuce on the nineteenth day of February , 1768 ; also by a copy of the certificate of Auguste de Grasse , that they are a true copy of those inscribed upon the Register of the Sov / . Gr .-. Iusp . - . General o f tho Supreme Council at Kingston , Jamaica , August 19 , 1809
The Ancient And Accepted Rite In America.
and by the copy of the certificate of E . De La Motta , that they are true copies of those inscribed upon the Registers of the Sov . - . Gr . - . Inspectors General of the Supreme Council for tbe Southern Jurisdiction , dated the Sth of August , 1813 ; and by the original certifltate of J . J . J . Gourgas over his genuine signature , dated August 5 , 1813 .
What credit should be given to these it is not necessary now to inquire : but they were evidently followed by Pranckeu and others , in disseminating the Eite when it was first introduced into this country ; or else have been formed from those by which the early disseminators of the Rite governed themselves . I recommend the appointment of a committee to investigate the
whole subject , and report at a future session of the Supreme Council , to the end that an authorised version of the old Con _ stiii-tii ns may be published for the use of the Craft . TRituals . —It is well known that two different rituals are in use in this jurisdiction , so far as relates to the degrees actually con . ferrcd . One is the old ritual that has been in use many years ,
and in some of the degrees is crude and imperfect . The other is the ritual taken , for the larger part , from that prepared by M . P . Bro . Pike , who has devoted much labour , study , and time to its preparation . He very kindly furnished me with a complete set ; but I have not been able to devote to them the time necesnecessary for their proper examination . This Supreme Council
has not yet adopted a ritual . A committee has had the mattejy in charge , and will be prepared to report in part at the present session . The work is really much too great to be done by ono committee ; and I apprehend if it had been divided among several smaller committees , much greater progress ivould have been made . I believe I do not touch upon theprovince of that committee in saying that the ritual which has been supplied by the Supreme Council , from the fourth to the sixteenth degree ,
inclusive , is very generally acceptable to the brethren , not being in any material degree in conflict with the old ritual . The same may he said of some of the other degrees . Whethers this differs materially in these degrees from that of Bro . Pike , I am not able to inform you ,- but a brief examination will enable us to de . termiue . 111 . Bro . Robert M . C . Graham , 33 ° , by consent of Bro . Pike ,
has placed in my hand ., to be preented to this Supreme Council the ritual of the Southern Supreme Council , for the thirty-third degree . I have examined it with considerable care , and find it to be a production worthy of the fame and ability of its author . There are a few expressions in ii which I deem objectionable , and others may take exceptions to
other portions of it ; but I deem it worthy of the most careful examination , with a view to its adoption as a whole , or with such modifications ( if they are permitted ) as may be found necessary to adapt it to us . The ceremony of this degree has been with us but little more than an induction into office— the degree being in fact an official degree . I hope a ritual for this degree
will be adopted as soon as may be . It is extremely importan that , if possible , a uniform ritual should be authorized in the two jurisdictions , as most of the other Supreme Councils will eventually take their ritual and general polity from the Councils in the United States . If it should be found that these rituals for some of the degrees are substantially alike , 1 trust you will
adopt so much of them as is not in dispute . The Monitors , the use of which has been sanctioned by the Supreme Council , are as different as the rituals . They were prepared by 111 . Brethren upon their own responsibility , aud each with a view to a particular work . When the ritual shall have been adopted , a method of disseminating it should be provided . It is certain that officers c-uunot
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ancient And Accepted Rite In America.
claim was presented to this Supreme Council for reimbursement of the funeral expenses of William S . Garrick , 32 ° , who died in Memphis , Tennesse . Tho degrees were conferred on Bro . Carrick in Supreme Council 'before the union , " by the Body having its Grand East at New York . The expenses of his burial were borne by the Mr . P . ' . Sov . . G . \ Commander of the
Southern Jurisdiction . I had considerable correspondence with 111 . - . Bro . GEAIIAM , the Representative of that Supreme Council , which resulted in a withdrawal of the claim . I may be iu error , but I am of opinion that a Mason ' s claim for charity is upon the fraternity , and uot upon a particular lodge : that it is our duty to relieve the necessities of a worthy
brother , ivhether of our own household , or the stranger in our gates , according to our ability , without expectation of return ; that Masonic charity is not an absolute , unlimited right or duty , but depends upon the ability of the giver as well as the need or the recipient : that therefore , it can never be the basis of a claim for reimbursement .
Nevertheless , I recommend in this case that reimbursement be made to Bro . PIKE of the amount expended by him . While 1 hold that he has no claim upon us , I also hold , that haviug the ability , we may properly make him whole ; and the claim having been withdrawn , it seems due to our own dignity that we should do so .
The Constitutions—In 1852 , M . ' . P . \ Bro . Albert Pike , 33 ° Sov . - . Commander of the Supremo Council for the Southern Jurisdiction , published the Constitutions of 1786 , and other 3 translated by him . In 1866 , a Committee of the Supreme Council , having its Grand East at Boston , reported that the Constitutions , as published by Bro . Pike , were not correct , aud recommended that , the Constitutions as found in its archives should be published .
But although the recommendation was adopted , nothing was done in execution of it . After the close of the session last year it came to my knowledge that 111 . - . Bro . E . T . Carson had made a translation of the Constitutions ivhich be deemed accurate , aud that lie was williug that it should be published . I directed tlie G . Sec . General to add it as an Appendix to the proceedings . Tho report I have
referred to was made at a time when great excitement prevailed , and I have no personal knowledge upon what foundation its al . legations were based , and was desirous of arriving at the truth , a result more likely to be reached now that the animosities and excitements of 18 G 6 have passed away . It is well knowu that Bro . J . J . J . Gourgas claimed to have
certain " secret constitutions , " which he would exhibit to no one ; but delivered to his successor , who in turn delivered them to Bro . E . E . Raymond , and lie to Bro . Simon W . Eobinson , by whom they wore placed in my charge . If . they pertained exclusively to the Sov . G . Commander for his own government , I might hold that they should be kept sacred to himself , and
dedelivered only to his successor . But upon examination I find that they have a much wider scope ; and are intended to bo in the possession of every Sov . - . Grand Inspector General , and therefore , I perceive no reason why any Sov .- . G . ' . Insp . - . General , should not have access to them , or in fact , why they may no ^ be published in the same manner as our other Constitutions .
They comprise thirty-three articles ; are accompanied by the copy of a certificate of Stephen Morin , that they are a true copy of those inscribed on his register at the Orient of Port-au-Priuce on the nineteenth day of February , 1768 ; also by a copy of the certificate of Auguste de Grasse , that they are a true copy of those inscribed upon the Register of the Sov / . Gr .-. Iusp . - . General o f tho Supreme Council at Kingston , Jamaica , August 19 , 1809
The Ancient And Accepted Rite In America.
and by the copy of the certificate of E . De La Motta , that they are true copies of those inscribed upon the Registers of the Sov . - . Gr . - . Inspectors General of the Supreme Council for tbe Southern Jurisdiction , dated the Sth of August , 1813 ; and by the original certifltate of J . J . J . Gourgas over his genuine signature , dated August 5 , 1813 .
What credit should be given to these it is not necessary now to inquire : but they were evidently followed by Pranckeu and others , in disseminating the Eite when it was first introduced into this country ; or else have been formed from those by which the early disseminators of the Rite governed themselves . I recommend the appointment of a committee to investigate the
whole subject , and report at a future session of the Supreme Council , to the end that an authorised version of the old Con _ stiii-tii ns may be published for the use of the Craft . TRituals . —It is well known that two different rituals are in use in this jurisdiction , so far as relates to the degrees actually con . ferrcd . One is the old ritual that has been in use many years ,
and in some of the degrees is crude and imperfect . The other is the ritual taken , for the larger part , from that prepared by M . P . Bro . Pike , who has devoted much labour , study , and time to its preparation . He very kindly furnished me with a complete set ; but I have not been able to devote to them the time necesnecessary for their proper examination . This Supreme Council
has not yet adopted a ritual . A committee has had the mattejy in charge , and will be prepared to report in part at the present session . The work is really much too great to be done by ono committee ; and I apprehend if it had been divided among several smaller committees , much greater progress ivould have been made . I believe I do not touch upon theprovince of that committee in saying that the ritual which has been supplied by the Supreme Council , from the fourth to the sixteenth degree ,
inclusive , is very generally acceptable to the brethren , not being in any material degree in conflict with the old ritual . The same may he said of some of the other degrees . Whethers this differs materially in these degrees from that of Bro . Pike , I am not able to inform you ,- but a brief examination will enable us to de . termiue . 111 . Bro . Robert M . C . Graham , 33 ° , by consent of Bro . Pike ,
has placed in my hand ., to be preented to this Supreme Council the ritual of the Southern Supreme Council , for the thirty-third degree . I have examined it with considerable care , and find it to be a production worthy of the fame and ability of its author . There are a few expressions in ii which I deem objectionable , and others may take exceptions to
other portions of it ; but I deem it worthy of the most careful examination , with a view to its adoption as a whole , or with such modifications ( if they are permitted ) as may be found necessary to adapt it to us . The ceremony of this degree has been with us but little more than an induction into office— the degree being in fact an official degree . I hope a ritual for this degree
will be adopted as soon as may be . It is extremely importan that , if possible , a uniform ritual should be authorized in the two jurisdictions , as most of the other Supreme Councils will eventually take their ritual and general polity from the Councils in the United States . If it should be found that these rituals for some of the degrees are substantially alike , 1 trust you will
adopt so much of them as is not in dispute . The Monitors , the use of which has been sanctioned by the Supreme Council , are as different as the rituals . They were prepared by 111 . Brethren upon their own responsibility , aud each with a view to a particular work . When the ritual shall have been adopted , a method of disseminating it should be provided . It is certain that officers c-uunot