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  • The Masonic Press
  • Jan. 1, 1866
  • Page 22
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The Masonic Press, Jan. 1, 1866: Page 22

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    Article MASONIC ANTIQUITIES, DOCUMENTS, &c. JERUSALEM ENCAMPMENT, MANCHESTER. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Page 22

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Antiquities, Documents, &C. Jerusalem Encampment, Manchester.

Such , in substance , is the theory put forward by some members of the order , Avhilst maily good craft freemasons maintain that there is no Avritten proof of such theory . That previously to 1717 masonry Avas a mere operative benefit society , but that the Order of The Temple and St . John of Rhodes , amalgamated , in Scotland , about 1490 , and that after the Reformation they , continued

their ceremonies and eventually , under the Stuarts , united themselves AA'ith freemasonry , both Orders having opened their ranks to receive the Rosicrucians , and other sects , at the close of the seventeenth century . Having presented the main arguments for both theories , the reader must draAV his own conclusion . The history of the "Jerusalem" the oldest Encampment in

Lan-, cashire , commences in 1786 , but many old freemasons firmly believe that long prior to the issue of Avarrants for these degrees , they Avere practised under the sanction of the blue lodges . Indeed as the Athol Grand Lodge acknoAAdedged the Temple Knights as a masonic degree , their charters for Masonry , on the " Ancient system as practised throughout the Avorld" would appear to have rendered

, any other Avarrant unnecessary . It is deeply to be regretted that the constitution of the Order in former years was such as must , of necessity haA'e prevented the preservation of documents Avhich Avould noAv haA r e been so interesting , anything in Avriting being strictly prohibited , everything being left to tradition , of Avhich the ancient masons Avere such jealous conservators . Previously , say to 1725 ,

all degrees Avere conferred m Grand Lodge only , that is , the Grand Lodge AA'as similar to our private lodges , sometimes movable , and possessing parental authority , hence it Avas gradually , from this time that the modern private lodges obtained the privilege of one degree after another , sometimes even from foreign centres , until the system of the Ancient masons of last century Avas in full operation .

Thus , although York , appears to have been always looked up to , as the head and seat of English freemasonry , little energy Avas shown in organizing lodges , and degrees Avere obtained from many sources , and a brother , of high position in the Order , is in possession of a warrant granted by James III . from Arras in 1721 , authorizing certain London knights to confer the Rose Croixand

, K . D . S . H . Templar degrees . It appears improbable that the Ancient York Masons ever innoA ated on the system they practised during the last century , or that their system Avas other than Avhat had been organized and preserved from the time of the civil Avars and of the close of the seventeenth century . The A enerable and esteemed Brother Dr . Oliver informs us , that in 1786 , the " York Brothers" recognized

tAventy-frve degrees , —the Encijclopcedia Metropolitana , states twentytwo , —but this must be understood nominally only , counting the Rose Croix as the 18 ° of the Continental rite , and the Templar Ne Plus Ultra as the 25 ° . Thus they Avould appear , liberally , to have recognized all degrees , and Aidien they held a Grand Lodge , they seem to have opened a Chapter or a Royal Encampment , & c , and closed them Avithin a limited period . The ceremonies of the first three degrees c 2

“The Masonic Press: 1866-01-01, Page 22” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/msp/issues/mxr_01011866/page/22/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
NUMBER ONE. Article 4
"LIVE AND LET LIVE." Article 9
OBJECTS OF MASONIC REFORM. Article 11
MASONIC ANTIQUITIES, DOCUMENTS, &c. JERUSALEM ENCAMPMENT, MANCHESTER. Article 20
REPRINT OF SCARCE, OR CURICUS, BOOKS ON FREEMASONRY. Article 27
THE RITE OF MISRAIM. Article 32
NOTES AND QUERIES FOR FREEMASONS. Article 36
MASONIC ENCLAVES. Article 38
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 38
EVENTS AND THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED. Article 41
CLOTHING FOR THE RISING STAR OF WESTERN INDIA. Article 43
REVIEWS. Article 43
POETRY. Article 44
THE MASONIC REPORTER. Article 46
KNIGHT TEMPLARY. Article 47
CRAFT FREEMASONRY. Article 50
OBITUARY. Article 50
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 51
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Page 22

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Antiquities, Documents, &C. Jerusalem Encampment, Manchester.

Such , in substance , is the theory put forward by some members of the order , Avhilst maily good craft freemasons maintain that there is no Avritten proof of such theory . That previously to 1717 masonry Avas a mere operative benefit society , but that the Order of The Temple and St . John of Rhodes , amalgamated , in Scotland , about 1490 , and that after the Reformation they , continued

their ceremonies and eventually , under the Stuarts , united themselves AA'ith freemasonry , both Orders having opened their ranks to receive the Rosicrucians , and other sects , at the close of the seventeenth century . Having presented the main arguments for both theories , the reader must draAV his own conclusion . The history of the "Jerusalem" the oldest Encampment in

Lan-, cashire , commences in 1786 , but many old freemasons firmly believe that long prior to the issue of Avarrants for these degrees , they Avere practised under the sanction of the blue lodges . Indeed as the Athol Grand Lodge acknoAAdedged the Temple Knights as a masonic degree , their charters for Masonry , on the " Ancient system as practised throughout the Avorld" would appear to have rendered

, any other Avarrant unnecessary . It is deeply to be regretted that the constitution of the Order in former years was such as must , of necessity haA'e prevented the preservation of documents Avhich Avould noAv haA r e been so interesting , anything in Avriting being strictly prohibited , everything being left to tradition , of Avhich the ancient masons Avere such jealous conservators . Previously , say to 1725 ,

all degrees Avere conferred m Grand Lodge only , that is , the Grand Lodge AA'as similar to our private lodges , sometimes movable , and possessing parental authority , hence it Avas gradually , from this time that the modern private lodges obtained the privilege of one degree after another , sometimes even from foreign centres , until the system of the Ancient masons of last century Avas in full operation .

Thus , although York , appears to have been always looked up to , as the head and seat of English freemasonry , little energy Avas shown in organizing lodges , and degrees Avere obtained from many sources , and a brother , of high position in the Order , is in possession of a warrant granted by James III . from Arras in 1721 , authorizing certain London knights to confer the Rose Croixand

, K . D . S . H . Templar degrees . It appears improbable that the Ancient York Masons ever innoA ated on the system they practised during the last century , or that their system Avas other than Avhat had been organized and preserved from the time of the civil Avars and of the close of the seventeenth century . The A enerable and esteemed Brother Dr . Oliver informs us , that in 1786 , the " York Brothers" recognized

tAventy-frve degrees , —the Encijclopcedia Metropolitana , states twentytwo , —but this must be understood nominally only , counting the Rose Croix as the 18 ° of the Continental rite , and the Templar Ne Plus Ultra as the 25 ° . Thus they Avould appear , liberally , to have recognized all degrees , and Aidien they held a Grand Lodge , they seem to have opened a Chapter or a Royal Encampment , & c , and closed them Avithin a limited period . The ceremonies of the first three degrees c 2

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