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WHE HIGHER DEGREES HANDBOOK
by J.S.M. Ward
PREFACE.
In attempting to give an outline sketch of the various degrees in
Freemasonry in a book of this description, I am faced by many
difficulties, not the least of which is how to write in an
interesting way about degrees, which many of my readers have not
taken, without giving away more than is permissible.
One of my reasons for writing this book is to encourage Brethren to
take these "Advanced Degrees." We still meet Brethren who say that
there is nothing beyond the Craft worth taking. As one who has
taken all the degrees for which he is qualified, I can state from
personal experience that, with one or two small exceptions,
practically all the degrees are of the greatest value.
Of course, my readers must bear in mind that a Brother gets out of
Masonry in proportion to what he brings into it. If he approaches
it with a keen intellectual mind, based on a reasonable amount of
study of the meaning of symbolism, he naturally will learn far more
than if he approaches it merely from the point of view of a man who
knows a good dinner when he eats one, and cares nothing about the
meaning of the ceremonies which take place in the Lodge Room.
In conclusion I must express my indebtedness to Messrs. Toye & Co.
for the loan of the blocks which illustrate this book.
J.S.M.W.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Historical Survey
Chapter 2. The Mark Degree.............10
Chapter 3. The Holy Royal Arch.........17
Chapter 4. The Cryptic Degrees.........28
Chapter 5. The Allied Degrees .........35
Chapter 6. The Ancient and Accepted
Rite........................43
Chapter 7. The Royal Order of Scotland..54
Chapter 8. The Knights Templar and Knights of Malta.............66
Chapter 9. The Remaining Degrees........78
Conclusion........................... 83
CHAPTER 1.
HISTORICAL SURVEY.
The early history of the so-called "Higher Degrees" is even more
obscure than that of the Craft, and in consequence a tendency has
grown up to regard them as "Manufactured" during the 18th century.
In my opinion this is too hasty a conclusion, for some of these
degrees at any rate bear every evidence of antiquity, and contain
that wisdom which has been handed down from generation to
generation.
The third degree clearly foreshadows a subsequent degree, wherein
the lost s...s will be finally recovered, in fact without such a
degree the whole of the Craft ceremonies would be meaningless.
Moreover, as we shall show later, the most important Higher Degrees
use Sns. of great antiquity, which have been clearly handed down
from ancient days in precisely the same way as have our Craft Sns.,
of which full evidence has been given in the History Handbook.
There is also documentary evidence to show that the legends of some
of these degrees were well known by our medieval ancestors, and
actually incorporated in the Ancient Charges. As, for example, the
two pillars which were set up before the flood, survived that
deluge, and were subsequently re-discovered by masons. This legend
forms the theme of the 13th degree of the A. and A. Rite which is
called the Royal Arch of Enoch.
The earliest printed references to any of the Higher Degrees are to
the Royal Arch in 1741, and to the Royal Order of Scotland in 1743,
when it was in such a vigorous state of health that it had a
Provincial Grand Lodge in London, with at least two Chapters under
its control.
The Higher Degrees appear to fall into three main groups:-(1) Those
that extend the story of the Craft; (2) Those which purport to
restore the lost S..s; and (3) The Chivalric Degrees. With regard
to the first group two tendencies seem to have been at work during
the 18th century. The one being to cut out of the Craft various
parts of the legend, and the other being to enlarge certain
incidents referred to in the Craft stories, add picturesque detail,
and evolve out of them a new degree. My own convictio n is that
the root matter of nearly all the Higher Degrees comes from
traditions and legends cherished by our medieval predecessors.
There is no doubt that all our rituals, the Craft included,
underwent considerable revision during the 18th century. In the
case of the Craft Degrees a considerable amount of excision was
necessitated by the alteration of the clause in the constitution
which changed Masonry from a Christian to a non-Christian basis.
This process of excision of all Christian references was not
completed until the time of the Treaty of Union, in 1813, and one
example for England will suffice. Dunckley, in the second half o f
the 18th century, declared that the "Blazing Star" meant the star
at Bethlehem which guided the wise men to the infant Christ. In
Scotland to this day there still survives a distinct reference to
the Christ in the Craft Degrees, for the V.S.L. is opened by the
D.C. with a quotation from the opening verse of the gospel of St.
John, - "In the beginning was the Word," - whilst the Lodge is
closed with the following quotation from the same sou rce, "And the
Word was with God." Now this clearly indicates the e xistence of a
Christian explanation of the lost S..s which, though no longer
countenanced in the Craft Degrees in England, survives in such
degrees as the Rose Croix.
We thus see that anything Christian was eliminated from the lower
degrees, and this explains the probable origin of some of the
Higher Degrees. At the same time, the general style of our Craft
Rituals has been altered. Apparently in early days the actual part
taken by the candidate during the ceremony was comparatively small,
and the bulk of the work consisted of lectures, some parts being by
question and answer, while other parts contained various legends
connected with the Order. Gradually the tendency arose to make the
candidate take a more active and dramatic part in the ceremony, and
in order to do this legends and incidents which did not immediately
connect with the main theme began to be dropped. These parts were
prized by the older members, and rather than see them perish they
made them into side Degrees, nor are we justified in assuming that
they invented the Sn..s to go with these degrees. In the Royal
Order of Scotland to-day the bulk of the cer emony consists of
questions and answers put by the M. to the Wardens, and include the
giving of S..ns at certain points in the catechism, which S..ns,
however, are not specifically taught to the candidate. No doubt
when similar portions were cut out and became Christian degrees the
Sns. went with them, and naturally became tests to prove that a
Brother had taken this new Side Degree, which was nevertheless in
reality very ancient.
A characteristic example of a degree which has been cut out of an
existing craft degree is the Mark, which was almost certainly part
of the ceremony of a F.C., although no doubt it has been amplified
since it started on its independent career. On the other hand some
of the intermediate degrees of the A. and A Rite, such as the
Knights Elect of Nine, are merely amplifications of incidents
dismissed in a few words in the Craft ceremony. The Knights Elect
of Nine relates in dramatic form the apprehension of one of the
criminals.
To an entirely different order belong degrees like the Royal Arch,
the Royal Order of Scotland, and the Rose Croix. Each of these in
its own way claims to be the completing degree, in which the lost
s..s are discovered. The explanation in the case of the last two
is Christian, in the case of the R.A. non-Christian, whilst their
survival indicates the existence of two diametrically opposed
traditions. The Christian Degrees represent the solution put
forward in Medieval times, whereas the R.A., though now overlaid
with Jewish matter taken from the O.T. in the 18th century, has
still within it traces of a tradition which goes right back to
pre-Christian times, and clearly comes in part from Egypt, and in
part from India.
The third group claim to carry on the teaching of the Chivalric
Orders of the Middle Ages, and contain evidence of a mystical
tradition which was not entirely orthodox. A characteristic
example of these degrees is the Knights Templar.
With regard to these Chivalric Degrees, it may at first sight
appear difficult to justify the claim of a building guild to be
linked in any way with the proudest Order of Chivalry known to
exist in the Middle Ages, but those who hastily brush away this
tradition ignore certain salient features of the Templar
organisation. The Templars contained at least three sections, or
sub-orders, within their ranks, i.e., the Knights themselves, the
Templar Priests, and the so-called Serving Brethren, among whom
were m any Masons.
When the Order was suppressed thousands of Knights escaped the
general persecution, and simply disappeared from history. How did
they do it, and what became of them? The most reasonable
explanation is that they disguised themselves as Serving Brothers
and Lay Brothers of the Temple, and were shielded by these humbler
members of their own Order, who entirely escaped persecution. I
have gone into this question at great length in "Freemasonry and
the Ancient Gods," and will therefore content myself by saying here
that there was undoubtedly a link between Masonry and the Templars,
which is quite sufficient to explain a partial survival of Templar
Rites among the Masonic Brotherhood. The Templars certainly had a
mystical teaching very similar to that enshrined in Freemasonry,
and traces of it can still be detected in the present rituals of
the Masonic Knights Templar, despite the fact that they have been
considerably revised in the last half century .
CHAPTER 11. THE MARK DEGREE.
Those of my readers who have already studied the first three
Handbooks of this series will realise that the true S..s of a M.M.
are not restored to them. The real S.. which was lost was
comprehension of the Nature of God, and our Third Degree quite
clearly indicates that, despite popular beliefs, we shall not be
able to comprehend God as soon as we are dead. The Craft degrees,
in short, take us through birth, life and death, and shadow forth
the Creative, Preservative and Destructive sides of the Deity. The
majority of the other degrees either deal with what befalls a man
after death, or else endeavour to explain, or fill in, certain gaps
in that historic narrative which is the allegorical basis of the
Craft Degrees.
The Mark degree in part belongs to the latter group, and is in
reality the completion of the Second Degree. Unquestionably a
Brother should receive his Mark when he becomes a F.C., and the
degree itself still shows strong operative influence.
It is ruled by Mark Grand Lodge, which meets and has its offices at
the Temple in Great Queen Street, next door to the Connaught Rooms.
All who love the Higher Degrees owe a debt of gratitude to Mark
Grand Lodge, which has acted as Fairy Godmother to many of the
Higher Degrees which were left stranded after the Treaty of Union
in 1813. Indeed, in many cases it has more or less taken them
under its wing, and in consequence we shall have to refer again and
again to the fact that the Grand Body which rules a particular
degree has its Head Quarters at "Mark Mason's Hall."
The Mark Degree has its own regalia and a special jewel, and
perhaps our younger Brethren will be glad of the warning that, with
the exception of the R.A., no jewels of the Higher Degree may be
worn in a Craft Lodge.
The jewel of the Mark Degree consists of a keystone, made usually
of white cornelian, on which are engraved certain mystic letters,
the meaning of which are revealed to members of the Degree. It is
suspended from a blue and red ribbon. The aprons and collars are
also made of blue and red silk.
The teaching of this Degree is largely an amplification of the
Second, and tells of education and reward for labour. It also
contains a dramatic warning against attempting to obtain wages to
which we are not justly entitled, and there is a Messianic hint in
the fact "That the stone which the builders rejected has become the
headstone of the corner." Incidentally the stone is a keystone,
hence the origin of the jewel of the degree.
Several facts lead us to suspect that at one time the Degree may
have been more pronouncedly Christian than it is to-day. We know
that it was flourishing as far back as 1760 in Lodges attached to
the Ancients, who were unquestionably strongly pro-Christian.
The legend as now given relates to a period in the building of the
Temple previous to the tragedy, although there is abundant evidence
to show that as late as the time of the formation of Mark Grand
Lodge, 1856, many Mark Lodges in the North had a somewhat similar
legend to that now used, but associated it with the second Temple
instead of with the first.
Mark therefore, is, or should be, really part of our Craft system,
and in Scotland Craft Lodges still have the power to confer it, and
constantly do so. In that country it is a necessary qualification
for the Excellent Master which itself is an essential qualification
for the Royal Arch. We shall refer to the Excellent Master more
fully when we come to the Royal Arch, but it is desirable to point
out that in Scotland Royal Arch Chapters also have the right to
confer the Mark Degree, if a candidate has not already taken it in
his Craft Lodge.
The Mark, as we have said, is the completion of the Second Degree,
and in itself contains what are practically two degrees, namely,
Mark Man and Mark Master. There has been much learned controversy
as to whether the Mark Master was at one time conferred on a man as
soon as he received his Second Degree. Since it is impossible at
the moment to decide when the Mark Degrees arose in their present
form, all we can say definitely is that so far as documentary
evidence goes, i.e., back to 1760, it appears as if there were
always the Degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master, and that although
at any rate in theory, Mark Man might be conferred on a F.C., Mark
Master seems always to have been restricted to Master Masons. In
modern times both Mark Degrees are conferred together, and always
on a M.M., although the Mark ritual throughout emphasises the
connection with the Second Degree.
THE ARK MARINER.
The Mark Degree, or Degrees, also have associated with them, but in
a separate "Lodge," the Royal Ark Mariner Degree. This appears to
be old "Operative" work, probably built up in the 18th century by
genuine operative masons in the North of England, anxious to have
some way of distinguishing a real "Working" mason from a
"Speculative." The same explanation probably brought into existence
the Degree of St. Laurence the Martyr, of which more anon. The Ark
Mariner legend relates to the Deluge, and is taken d irect from the
Bible. The most interesting features are the use of a stone,
instead of the V.S.L., on which to take the Ob.. The reason for
this is explained in the ritual, but it may be that we have here a
survival of the old custom of swearing on a stone altar, which was
the earliest form of a binding oath. There is also some
interesting work with a triangle, but in the main it must be
confessed that there is not much really deep teaching in the Degre
e. It is, however, quite a pretty little Degree, and has many
ardent supporters. It is under the direct rule of Mark Grand
Lodge.
CHAPTER III.
THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH OF JERUSALEM.
The Mark completes the Second Degree, but to the youngest Master
Mason it must be obvious that a further degree is needed to
complete the Third Degree.
The genuine S..s were lost; but were they never re-discovered?
Moreover, since they were known to three people, why could not the
two survivors have appointed a successor and given him the lost
S..s? The Royal Arch sets out to give at any rate one answer to the
question - "What were the Gen. S..s of a M.M.?"
Briefly, it is a lost W., but that W. conveys in symbolism a most
interesting and illuminating explanation of the nature of God.
Indeed, the teaching of the Craft may be summed up by saying that
it teaches a man his duty to his neighbour, whereas the "Arch"
instructs him in his duty towards God. What is the nature of God
therein depicted? It is a trinity, but not the Christian Trinity;
it is more like the Hindoo Trinity of Creator, Preserver, and
Destroyer. It also clearly indicates the union of Body, Sou l, and
Spirit, and shows that by that Union we become united with God.
Thus, in its very essence the Royal Arch is supremely mystical, and
teaches of the Beatific Vision.
The legend deals with the "Discovery" of the lost S..s at the
re-building of the Temple after the return from the Captivity. It
will thus be seen that the "Setting" of the degree is from the Old
Testament, and this fact must be noted, for there is another
explanation of the "Lost Word" which is given in some of the other
"Higher" degrees, namely, that the "Lost Word" is Christ, the
Logos.
But we have not yet obtained an answer to the very natural
question, "Why could not the other two, who knew the S., appoint a
successor?" The full exoteric explanation, and also how it was that
the S.s came to be deposited in a place of security is given in one
of the "Cryptic Degrees," to which we shall refer later in this
book. Briefly however, three persons were necessary in order to
convey it, but in reality, of course, this is symbolism, and
implies that Body, Soul and Spirit must be in union before t hey
can fully comprehend the Divine Trinity. While, on the one hand,
no living man, trammelled by the bonds of the flesh, can really
comprehend the nature of God, nor even do so immediately after
death, for our souls will not yet be sufficiently evolved, on the
other, hand it is clearly taught that our body does not completely
perish, but is rather transmuted, even as St. Paul himself says
will take place at the day of judgment. This is no doubt a very
profound dogma and difficult for us to understand, bu t if we can
realise the fact that matter as well as Spirit is in its original a
manifestation of God, and therefore a part of Him, we shall
perceive that Matter also is indestructible, although its form may
change. This fact is perfectly well recognised by modern science.
In the original form of the Royal Arch, which still survives in
Bristol, in Scotland, and in America, the Candidate must pass
through four veils, which correspond to various spiritual states of
existence which lie beyond the grave, each being a little nearer to
the Divine Being than was the previous one. The four Veils are
coloured respectively Blue, purple, red and white, and at each Veil
the Candidate is challenged by a "Guardian of the Veil" who demands
of him the W. and Sn. of the previous Veil. This ceremony in
Scotland forms a distinct degree known as the Excellent Master, and
the Jewel thereof is a pentacle set with brilliants, which jewel,
of course, represents, among other things, man and his five senses.
The penal S. of this degree is of great antiquity, and is made by
Vishnu when in the form of the Lion Incarnation. Vishnu descended
to earth to overthrow an evil giant which was oppressing the world,
and slew him by disembowelling him. In Scotla nd no English Royal
Arch Mason can be admitted to a Scotch Chapter unless he previously
receives the Degree of Excellent Master, which degree he cannot
receive unless he has first taken the Mark.
The Passing of the White Veil is really an integral part of the
Arch ceremony, and the Sn. corresponding to the S.s of the other
Veils is one well known to English Royal Arch Masons. It is only
after having passed this barrier that the candidate is enabled to
obtain the real S.s of an M.M., the ceremony being very similar to
our own Royal Arch. In other words, it is only when we have passed
through various spiritual stages of existence that we shall at
length be able to comprehend the nature of God. The deletion of
the Veils from our ceremony has tended to obscure this important
lesson in the English form of the R.A.
A slightly different lesson is taught us by the fate of our
predecessor in the Craft. He could not have revealed the S. even
if he had wished to do so, for it was an experience, and therefore
could not be communicated by words to any living man. We cannot go
into a detailed explanation of this deeply mystical ceremony in a
book of this nature, but a brief explanation of a certain vault
which plays a prominent part therein is essential. Like all
symbols in Freemasonry it has several meanings, but the two most
important are (a), the underworld, or the grave into which man
descends at death, and from which his Soul ultimately ascends to
realms of Light. (b) The Mystical interpretation is that it is the
M.Ch., that dark recess of the Soul, where dwells the Divine Spark.
The jewel of this degree depicts quite clearly the nature of God.
The Double Triangle within the Circle and the Point therein, which
is represented by the All-Seeing Eye, is the age-old symbol for
God. The triangle within the Circle represents the Spirit within
the Circle of Infinity, and is peculiarly associated with God the
Creator. R.A. Masons will perceive the significance of this fact
in connection with the Altar. The Point within a Circle, among the
Hindoos, stands for Paramatma, the All-pervading , the Source and
End of All. The triangle with the point downwards is the symbol of
rain (water) and represents the preservative side of God (Vishnu),
while the triangle with the point upward represents fire, whose
flames go up to Heaven, and is therefore the emblem of the
Destructive, or rather the transformative, side of God (Shiva).
This great symbol was sacred to Babylonian, Egyptian and Jew, and
had to each the same inner meaning. It is also sacred to the
modern Hindoo, and was so to the ancient Mex ican, and indeed is
one of the most venerated symbols in the world.
It will thus be seen that the jewel of the R.A., far from being a
mere ornament, contains in itself a summary of the sublime
teachings of that degree; the more so as it also has a triple tau.
With regard to the tau cross, we have already shown in our earlier
handbooks that in its origin it was a Phallic symbol representing
the Creative power. We shall remember also that we make a tau
cross every time we receive the S.s in the Craft Degrees. Thus the
M.M. has himself made the triple tau. It is also worth reminding
our readers that only those who have passed the chair and actually
ruled a Lodge are entitled to wear three tau crosses on their
aprons.
As a Phallic symbol it became an emblem of the Creator, and also,
in time, of our animal passions, which must be trampled under foot
if we are to advance in Spiritual knowledge. By the time we have
reached the Arch, symbolically this has been done, and we are
reminded of this by the Union of these three taus beneath the
triangles, emblems of the spirit. Moverover, though this is
essentially a non-Christian degree we cannot forget that there were
three Crosses on Calvary.
The presence of the triple tau, after the experience we have had of
it in the Craft, shows how carefully each degree leads on to the
next, and it also conveys this important lesson. Each degree in
the Craft taught the evolution and purification of (1) the body;
(2) the soul; (3) the spirit. These three, now in perfect union,
rest under the Shadow of the Supreme Being depicted by the Double
Triangles. Thus the presence of the tau crosses teaches us that
Man will ultimately rest in the Presence of the King of Kings.
In fact the Royal Arch is full of interesting symbolism: the
colours of the regalia, red and purple, the shape of the altar, the
position of the three Principals, all convey important lessons, but
we cannot spare the space in a small Handbook like this to enlarge
further on this degree. Nevertheless, one cannot omit pointing out
that as in the Craft the W.M. represented the Spirit, the S.W. the
Soul, and the J.W. the Body, so do the corresponding officers in
the R.A., although here they are no longer separa ted, but are side
by side, and in all cases act as one. The reason for this is that
the R.A. depicts that sublime state wherein Body, Soul and Spirit
are truly one, and are at Peace in the Presence of God - now
properly comprehended.
Our readers will thus perceive that no Craft Mason can consider he
has fulfilled his duty as a Mason, until he has taken the Royal
Arch, for he has not recovered those lost S..s which he has
promised to try and find.
The regalia includes apron and a sash of purple and red.
CHAPTER VI. THE CRYPTIC DEGREES.
The Cryptic Degrees are four in number and are ruled by a Grand
Council of their own which, however, in reality is in close
alliance with Mark Grand Lodge, whose Hall is their Head Quarters.
They are "The Most Excellent Master," "The Royal Master," "The
Select Master," and "The Super-Excellent Master," and their legends
bridge the gap, historically, between the first Temple and its
destruction. The "Most Excellent Master" must not be confounded
with the "Excellent Master" which is worked in Scotland and is
really the "Passing of the Veils" in the Royal Arch, although it is
kept separate and given first. Its Legend, therefore, is
associated with the Second Temple, while the "Most Excellent
Master" on the contrary deals with the completion and dedication of
the first temple. The apron, which is seldom worn, is white edged
with purple, and there is a purple collar. The colour refers to
the grief felt by the Brethren for the loss of the third Principal,
whose chair is vacant. The most striking feature in the Lodge room
is a small replica of the Ark of the Covenant. In theory the
qualification for the "Most Excellent Master" is only Mark, but as
it is always followed by the "Royal Master," for which the
Qualification is Mark and Arch, in practice the Cand. must hold
both these degrees.
The Royal Master is a most interesting degree, for it shows how the
R.A. S..s came to be deposited in the place in which they were
subsequently found. Though H.A.B.'s chair was vacant in the "Most
Excellent Master," in the Royal Master he is the chief character,
and his disquisition on the subject of "Death" is one of the most
beautiful pieces of ritual in Freemasonry.
The apron in this degree is black, edged with red, but it is seldom
worn. The three Principals, however, wear robes similar to those
worn by the same officers in the R.A.
The "Select Master," unlike the preceding degrees, has a special
jewel of its own, namely a silver trowel within a triangle of the
same metal, which is suspended from a black collar edged and lined
with red. The apron is white, edged with red and gold, and is of a
triangular shape, but in England neither it nor the jewel are
usually worn. In Scotland the jewel of the Cryptic Degrees
combines the triangle and the trowel, whereas in England we wear
the Jewel of the "Super-Excellent Master" to represent all four
degrees.
The "Select Master" is supposed to be held in a crypt (hence the
name "Cryptic Degrees") which is the same crypt in which the S..s
of the R.A. were at a later date discovered. The legend is similar
to that of one of the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, and
relates how a well known mason employed by K.S. accidentally
intruded into this crypt when K.S. and H., K. of T., were present.
The intruder was subsequently pardoned, but the O.G. who should
have prevented his entry, was punished in his place. This is
undoubtedly an old legend which crops up again in a third degree,
namely, the "Grand Tyler of K.S." one of the Allied Degrees. Its
symbolic meaning is that those who push their occult investigation
beyond reasonable limits, and without the assistance and protection
of more experienced investigators, run serious risks.
The "Super-Excellent Master" is short and not very interesting, but
it brings the story of the first Temple down to the time of its
threatenened destruction and so bridges the gap between the "Most
Excellent Master" and the R.A.. The lesson taught is unswerving
loyalty to Jehovah. The colour of this degree is crimson, and a
crimson collar should be worn. In practice, however, this is worn
only by members of the Grand Council. The Jewel of these degrees
is a white enamel triangle with the point downwards, that is, the
triangle of the Preserver, and is as a rule the only regalia worn.
The most interesting part of this degree is a carpet on the floor
with the following design thereon. Inside a square is a circle,
within which is a triangle pointing towards the West, and within
the triangle is the C. of the C. on which rests an altar, and on
the altar is the ark of the covenant. As the "Floor" design is not
adequately explained, the following will be of use.
The triangle pointing West is the symbol of the Preserver, and has
been adopted as the jewel of all these degrees in England, and it
certainly denotes the underlying principle of the series.
(1). The "Most Excellent Master" teaches us that despite the loss
of the chief architect God preserved the work of the Temple and it
was duly completed.
(2). The "Royal Master" tells us how the R.A.S..s came to be
preserved.
(3). In the "Select Master" the over zealous friend of K.S. was
preserved from the dire fate which threatened him.
(4). In the "Super-Excellent Master" we are shown how God preserved
a remnant of the people because they preserved their faith in Him.
The triangle within a square denotes the Descent of the Spirit into
Matter, while the Circle symbolises Infinity - whence the Spirit
comes. The point links the Infinite with the emblem for the
All-Pervading - it also refers to each individual "Ego."
The whole symbol, therefore, means that God the Preserver descended
from Eternity, and entering into Matter became flesh, and He is one
with the All-Pervading. It is therefore a most sacred emblem, and
the fact that the Ark of the Covenant stands on the C. shows that
the New Dispensation arises out of the old, and the Prophetic
reference to this fact is emphasised by the real g. which should
remind us of Him Who died upon the Cross. Thus this degree has a
Messianic, esoteric meaning, often overlooked by t hose who have
taken it.
CHAPTER V. THE ALLIED DEGREES.
Under this heading are grouped a number of different degrees having
little in common. In theory the Grand Council which meets at Mark
Masons' Hall controls a large number of degrees, including five
which are androgamous, but in practice they only work six degrees.
At Newcastle-on-Tyne, however, the Time Immemorial Council also
works one or two others, including the Royal Arch Knight Templar
Priest, a highly mystical and beautiful ceremony.
The six degrees worked in London are not restricted to Christians,
and the only qualifications are Mark and Arch. This is despite the
fact that St. Laurence the Martyr and the Knights of Constantinople
are clearly Christian degrees. Most of these degrees are of
secondary importance, but the Red Cross of Babylon and the High
Priest are old and important. The degrees are as follows:-
(1). St. Laurence the Martyr. The Jewel is a gridiron, and it is
quite possible that it is to this fact that we owe the ribald tales
current in the outside world as to what befalls a man at his
initiation into Freemasonry. The legend of this degree in reality
has nothing whatever to do with Freemasonry, and is well known to
every student of Medieval legends of the Saints. The lesson taught
is that of fortitude. This degree appears to be a piece of old
Operative ritual brought from Lancashire, and original ly worked up
into a degree in order to enable a genuine "Working mason" to
distinguish other Operatives from "These newfangled Speculatives."
(2). The Knights of Constantinople is associated with the Emperor
Constantine, and inculcates the useful lesson of universal
equality. The Jewel is a cross surmounted by a crescent moon,
hardly a happy choice, for it suggests the triumph of the Crescent
over the Cross.
(3). The Secret Monitor is very similar to the first degree of the
Secret Monitor as worked by the Grand Conclave, and is associated
with David and Jonathan. Its presence among the Allied Degrees
bears testimony to an unfortunate split which occurred during the
early years of the organisation of the Grand Conclave of the Secret
Monitor. It is the only degree in English Freemasonry which is
under the control of two entirely distinct bodies. The Jewel is a
"Hackle" suspended from a crown, and on the ribbon above the jewel
is a bow.
(4). The Grand Tyler of King Solomon relates the story of the
accidental intrusion of a F.C. into the secret vaults where K.S.,
K.H. of T., and H.A.B. were met in consultation. The legend is
very similar to that related in the "Select Master" though there
are interesting variations, in particular. "The Period" of the
legend being earlier. The Jewel is the triangle of the Preserver,
point downwards, with certain Hebrew letters engraven in gilt upon
a black enamel background.
All these degrees are interesting, but can hardly be called really
important, whereas the next two stand in quite a different
category.
(5). The Red Cross of Babylon is undoubtedly old, and the sixteenth
degree of the A. and A. Rite also bears on the same theme, while
similar incidents likewise occur in the Royal Order of Scotland.
The Degree in historical order follows, and is closely associated
with, the Royal Arch and the rebuilding of the second Temple, and
in Scotland is actually controlled by the Supreme Royal Arch
Chapter. It has many interesting details, but its outstanding
feature is the crossing of the Bridge. This, although tr ansformed
into a physical and historical bridge, undoubtedly symbolises
something quite different. We are here in the region of
eschatology and are being told what befalls a man after death. In
all the great religions of the world there is a tradition that
sooner or later after death the soul must cross a certain "Bridge."
Clearly this "Bridge" means the passing from one state of
existence in the world beyond the grave to another, and indicates a
further advancement of the Soul away from earth conditions and
towards God. The Japanese, Chinese, Parsees, Mahomedans, and
Medieval Christians, all speak of this bridge. For example, the
Parsees say that the mourners must rise at dawn on the third day
after the death of their friend and pray for him, for at that hour
he comes to the bridge which he must cross to reach Paradise. The
bridge spans the gulf of Hell, and in the middle of the Bridge the
Soul will be met by a female form. If his life has been good this
form will be that of a beautiful woman who will lead him into
Paradise, but if his life has been evil it will be a hideous hag
who will meet him and fling him from the bridge into the bottomless
pit.
In England this bridge was called "The Brig of Dread," and is
depicted in a twelfth century fresco at Chaldon Church, Surrey,
where it is shown as if built like a saw. Among those attempting
to cross it is a Mason with his tools in his hand. It is also
spoken of in an old Lancashire dirge which relates what befalls the
Soul of the dead man immediately after it has left its dead body.
"When thou from hence away art passed Every night and alle; To
whinny-muir thou comest at last And Christ receive thy soule."
"From whinny-muir when thou mayest pass Every night and alle; To
'Brig of Dread' thou comest at last And Christ receive thy soule."
The exoteric lesson of the degree is "Great is Truth," but the
hidden reference to the Bridge of Testing which the soul must pass
on its journey towards Paradise is the most striking feature. The
Jewel is two crossed swords on a dark green background of enamel.
(6). The High Priest, unlike the other degrees, can only be
conferred on a mason who has been a 3rd Principal in a R.A.
Chapter. It deals with the Priesthood "after the Order of
Melchisedic," and the jewel is the triangle with the point upwards,
on which is imposed a mitre.
Briefly then the Allied Degrees link the Old Testament with the
New, and the most important are the Red Cross of Babylon and the
High Priest, although the other four are not without interest.
CHAPTER VI. THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE.
The Rose Croix of Heredom is now regarded as the 18th Degree of the
A. and A. Rite, whose total number of degrees is 33, in reference
to the 33 years of our Lord's Life. In practice, however, only the
18th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd are worked in full in England, and
the last three are but sparingly conferred.
In America all the intermediate degrees are worked, i.e., 4th to
33rd inclusive, but in England the 4th to the 17th are merely
conferred by name. The 18th is worked in full, but the 19th to the
29th inclusive are similarly conferred by name only.
The qualification for the 18th is one year a Master Mason, and for
the 30th it has usually been Prelate or M.W.S., the latter being
the title of the ruler of a Rose Croix Chapter. The 18th degree is
a highly mystical degree and full of the deepest interest, and in
England is restricted to professing Christians. In the U.S.A. and
on the Continent of Europe, however, it is not usually regarded as
Christian, and non-Christians can become members. One school of
Masonic research has prepounded a theory that t he Rose Croix was
originally Roman Catholic, and invented by the Jacobites.
Personally, I have, after very careful search, been unable to find
any evidence in support of this view, and frankly I cannot conceive
of any conscientious Roman Catholic taking part in the ceremonies.
It seems more probable that the degree is due to Rosicrucian
influence, and the earliest historic evidence we can find of these
mystics shows that they were Lutheran, but it is quite probable
that they inherited an earlier tradition. There appear to be
references to Rosicrucian doctrines in Dante, and the Commacine
Masons carved the Rose and Compasses over their Lodge door at
Assisi in the opening years of the 15th century. Moreover, the
ancient Aztecs who likewise venerated the cross had a very similar
R ite with the same Sn..s and many of the same incidents. Finally,
we cannot ignore the fact that Henry Adamson, M.A., in "The Muses
Threnodie" written in 1636, says:-
"For we are Brethren of the Rosie Cross, We have the Mason's Word
and Second Sight:"
Now this shows an association of the "Mason's Word" with the Rosie
Cross. Personally, I think this refers, not to the present 18th
degree, but to the Rosy Cross of the Royal Order of Scotland.
It indicates, however, Rosicrucian influence on Freemasonry long
before the rise of the Jacobite movements, and is in a poem
describing Protestant Perth.
To revert to the 18th degree as we know it to-day, we find it has
four distinct sections. The first consists of the conferring by
name of the intermediate degrees, and the other sections form the
Rose Croix Degree itself. It is a highly mystical piece of
symbolism, and expresses the passage of Man through the Valley of
the Shadow of Death accompanied by the Masonic Virtues F.H. and C..
It ends with his final acceptance into the abode of Light, life and
Immortality, and with his recovery of the L.W.
The Badge is twofold; on one side it is black, having in its centre
a red calvary cross; on the other side it is white, edged with rose
colour; on the apron itself is embroidered a Pelican feeding its
young, while on the flap is a triangle within which are certain
Hebrew Characters.
There is a collar which is similarly two faced; on the reverse it
is black with three red crosses, and on the front rose pink, richly
embroidered. Among the symbols depicted are the crown of thorns
and the serpent holding its tail in its mouth, the emblem of
Eternity. The jewel which is suspended from the collar is a golden
compass extended to an angle of 60 degrees, surmounted by a
celestial crown. On the one side is a scarlet cross within the
compasses, and beneath it a Pelican feeding its young. On t he
reverse the cross is silver, with a silver eagle rising towards the
heavens, and on both sides at the joint of the compasses is a rose.
Despite its present Christian setting it appears that this degree
in its main details is a very ancient ceremony. All its essential
features are found in the Bora Ceremony of the Australian
Aborigines, one of the most primitive races still living. In India
and China the Sns. of this degree are associated with God the
Preserver. In Ancient Egypt certain parts of the Book of the Dead
cover the same ground and show the same Sns. in use. The Ancient
Aztecs in Mexico appear to have had practically the same c eremony,
as already stated, and some of the Sns. which they make have
survived among the Red Indians to this day. In Medieval Europe we
find constant examples of the use of the two principal Sns.
employed, as for example at Coire Cathedral, - in both 12th and
15th century work, - in a fresco at Basle, painted in the opening
years of the 16th century, and in a 17th century panelled room now
in the Engadine Museum at St. Moritz. Moreover, a certain Sn.
associated with the 9th degree of the A. and A. Rite wh ich
indicates sorrow is also found side by side with these Rose Croix
Sns. in every one of the above mentioned cases in Europe. Facts
like these cannot be brushed aside lightly, and preclude us from
accepting the view that the Rose Croix was invented in the 18th
century. Indeed, the Mexican Codices, which practically show the
complete ceremony, are at least two and a half centuries earlier
than the date at which it has been suggested that this degree was
invented.
THE GRAND ELECT KNIGHT KADOSH
The other name for this, the 30th degree, is Knight of the Black
and White Eagle. In Latin Countries it is strongly Templar in tone,
and has acquired a sinister significance because in some of the
rituals the duty of avenging the Death of Molay, and the other
slaughtered Knights Templars, is taught in a dramatic way. Since
the chief culprits responsible for the slaughter of Molay and his
Knights were Philip, King of France, and Clement, the Pope, this
fact is stated to have been utilised to teach the Cands . that King
and Church are the oppressors of the People. Probably this inner
meaning is by no means so universally applied on the Continent as
anti-masonic writers pretend, but in any ease the English Ritual
has been purged of any such idea, if indeed it ever possessed it.
The degree is an elaborate one, necessitating three chambers and an
ante-room when worked in full, and only the Supreme Council itself
can confer it. The regalia, which may be worn in Rose Croix
Chapters, consists of a broad black sash suspended from the left
shoulder, the point fringed with silver bullion, and on it are
embroidered the emblems of the degree. These are an eagle soaring
towards the sun, holding the Anchor of Hope in his talons; on the
extremity is the banner of England and Wales, which is on a red
ground three golden lions; this is crossed by the banner of the
Supreme Council, and below it is a red cross formed of four tau
crosses, usually called the Cross of Jerusalem.
The breast jewel is a cross pattee in red enamel, with the number
"30" upon a blue enamel ground in the centre. From a collarette of
black ribbon with a silver edging is hung a black double
spreading-eagle, surmounted by a crown, and holding a sword in its
claws.
The word "Kadosh" is Hebrew, and means "separated" or
"consecrated." The remaining three degrees of the Ancient and
Accepted Rite are but sparingly conferred, and take the place to a
large extent of Grand Rank in other, degrees.
It will be many years before the young mason attains to these
exalted heights, and therefore any detailed description even of the
regalia is hardly necessary in a Handbook of this nature. As soon,
however, as he becomes a Rose Croix mason he is certain to have an
opportunity of seeing from time to time members of these exalted
degrees, and learning from them as much as he is entitled to know
before they are conferred upon him.
The Ancient and Accepted Rite as now organised derives its
authority from the charter granted to it in 1845 by the Supreme
Council of the Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S.A., but the Rose
Croix, Kadosh, the 28th degree, and several other intermediate
degrees were fully established and at work in the 18th century, as
historic records show, although how much further they date back is
still a matter of dispute.
With regard to the intermediate degrees it is a mistake to assume
that they are of no value or interest. They vary considerably in
merit, but such degrees as the Royal Arch of Enoch, with its clear
indication of Rosicrucian influence, and the account of the
discovery of one of the Ancient Pillars inscribed with old time
learning, (mentioned in the Ancient Charges), is worthy of careful
study, and the same is true of several of the other degrees. For
this reason I strongly urge all Rose Croix Masons to att end the
annual festival of King Edward VII. Rose Croix Chapter of
Improvement, which is held in the Spring each year at Mark Masons'
Hall, when two of the intermediate degrees are rehearsed in full.
This then is the Ancient and Accepted Rite; a great Rite
undoubtedly, which is full of mystical lore, and sets out to show
its members that the quest of the lost word ends, not at the Temple
at Jerusalem, but on Mount Calvary.
CHAPTER VII
THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND
This Order rules two degrees, the Harodim and the Rosy Cross. The
Harodim is conferred in a body called a Chapter, and so in this
Order a Chapter is below a Lodge. In practice, however, these two
bodies are the same.
The Royal Order has many peculiar features, and it is impossible to
do it justice in one chapter of this book.
Firstly, we may note that the Order is unique in that it has one
governing body for the whole world, and is the only English Masonic
body of which this is true. Grand Lodge must always meet in
Scotland.
Qualifications, as laid down by the Grand Lodge in Scotland, is
five years a Master Mason, but the Metropolitan Provincial Grand
Lodge in practice will only admit members of the 30th degree of the
Ancient and Accepted Rite. London Masons, who have not attained to
that degree, must therefore go to the Provincial Grand Lodge of the
Southern Counties, which meets at Windsor.
These degrees are of great antiquity, and, personally, I consider
them the greatest of all our masonic degrees. They are not so
dramatic as certain others, such as the Order of the Knights
Templar, but they have a unity of purpose and an ancient ritual
which is full of the most profound mystical teaching.
It is in curious old Border verse, for the most part, and from
internal evidence would appear to ante-date our present form of
even the Craft degrees, though it clearly presupposes their
existence.
From historical records we know that these "Scotch" degrees were at
work in 1743 in London, for there is a record of a Provincial Grand
Lodge in London, having at least two Chapters under its control, at
that time.
The mere fact that there were at least two Chapters of Harodim at
work at this date precludes the possibility of the Order having
come into existence in 1743, and the fact that it had to travel
from Scotland, and then establish itself and spread in London,
justifies us in considering that it can hardly be later in origin
than the date of the formation of the Craft Grand Lodge of Scotland
itself, which was in 1736. Seven years is, I consider, far too
short a time to allow a new degree to spread from Scotlan d to
London and establish itself firmly therein, but if we take this
date we shall see that the Royal Order takes precedence in
antiquity of any high degree. But, in view of these facts, we
cannot dismiss lightly the evidence of Henry Adamson's metrical
description of Perth, "The Muses Threnodie," written in 1638,
practically a century earlier, in which he writes :-
"For we are brethren of the Rosie Cross We have the Mason's Word,
etc."
Note. - He uses the phrase "Rosie Cross," the exact title of the
2nd degree of the Royal Order, and adds that "We have the Mason's
Word."
Now the Royal Order purports to give its members the lost "Mason's
Word."
Therefore, if language means anything, it means that the brethren
of the Rosie Cross claimed to have the true Mason's Word, a claim
still made by the Brethren of the Rosy Cross of the Royal Order.
My firm conviction is, therefore, that Adamson, who was a M.A. and
a clergyman, was a member of the Royal Order of Scotland, and since
the style and language of the ritual fits in with this period, or
with one even earlier, I consider that the Royal Order goes back to
that period at least. In connection with this it is well to
remember that the first record of the initiation of a speculative
into Freemasonry in England is on the 20th May, 1641, when Robert
Moray, "General Quartermaster of the armie of Scotl and," was
initiated at Newcastle by members of the Lodge of Edinburgh, who
were with the Scottish Army, which had entered England in arms
against King Charles.
Moreover, Moray, was "Protector" of Vaughan, the famous 17th
century Rosicrucian. If therefore beyond the Craft lay a
Rosicrucian Masonic Order, which could only be entered by those who
had first qualified as Freemasons, then we can see an excellent
reason why Moray, who was clearly interested in Mysticism in
general, and Rosicrucianism in particular, should trouble to be
initiated into a Lodge despite the fact that the Army of which he
was Quartermaster-General was actually on a campaign.
Incidentally, these facts go clean counter to the theory still held
by a few students that the Royal Order was Jacobite. Indeed, the
closer one studies this Order the less grounds can one find for
this view.
In such a case one would naturally look for some reference to the
Martyr King himself. Be it noted this could have been done with
perfect safety, for in the Prayer Book of the Established Church of
England there was, during the Eighteenth Century, a special service
in memory of Charles, King and Martyr. Thus the inclusion of
reference to the White Rose, or Charles the Martyr, could easily
and safely have been worked into this ritual.
Secondly, let us consider the teaching of the degree. Both the Old
and the Young Pretender were Roman Catholics; we should therefore
expect that either there would be traces of Roman Catholic teaching
in the ritual, or at least that care would be taken to avoid
anything that would be in direct opposition to the faith of the
hero of the Jacobites. Yet, on looking into the ritual, we find
certain most significant omissions. There is no mention of the
"Holy Catholic" Church, nor of the "Communion of Saints," both
relies of medieval days left standing intact in the Episcopal
Churches of Scotland and of England, but further, the ritual goes
out of its way to declare we shall obtain salvation through Christ
only, thus hitting at the doctrine of the Intercession of the
Saints, and even says that our salvation is by Faith alone.
Now this is just one of the particular points of cleavage between
Protestantism and Catholicism, for the latter always has maintained
the necessity of faith being proved by good works. Salvation by
faith alone was one of the outstanding tenets of the Presbyterians,
and shows clearly that the ritual in its present form is
Presbyterian, and emphatically so.
Would men who were inventing a degree to foster the Jacobite cause
go out of their way to insert phrases which must wound their hero,
and many of his loyal supporters?
This aspect is further emphasised by the fact that among all the
paraphernalia employed in the degrees there is neither cross nor
crucifix, although we find them in other Masonic High Degrees. The
omission must be deliberate, for from the nature of the ritual
these emblems might well have been employed.
Against these facts, no word in the ritual of a pro-Jacobite nature
can be adduced, and so I can see no reason for claiming these
degrees were made up to help the Jacobites.
The degrees themselves are highly mystical, and take the candidate
from the Master Mason stage, through the Old Testament, over the
"Bridge," onto the second Temple, and finally trace Christ's life
and death, and show that He is the L.W. .
There are clear traces of that outlook on life which is called
"Rosicrucian," and so they are good argument for those who claim
that Rosicrucianism did influence Freemasonry. Keeping strictly to
the Royal Order, we find in it the root matter of many of our
Higher Degrees, and it is possible that some of these have been
elaborated out of incidents passed over beliefly in the Royal Order
rituals.
As some guide I will indicate references to ideas which were
probably subsequently developed further, though it is but fair to
add that the alternative also is possible, namely, that these
degrees also already existed, and had contributed to the ritual of
the Royal Order, instead of having simply evolved from them. These
are Royal Arch, Mark, Red Cross of Babylon - the latter very
clearly - Templar and Rose Croix. In addition there are many
sections entirely unrepresented elsewhere in Masonry.
The ritual works mainly by question and answer, as in the Craft
lectures, but one significant ritual practice deserves particular
mention. At certain times the Brn. travel the reverse way of the
Sun. This is correct, for they are then supposed to be in the
region of the D - d, and popular tradition has always taught that
the ghosts of men go reverse of the Sun.
The Tower too is most significant, and calls to mind a somewhat
similar building described in the Mystical and "Chimycal" Marriage
of Christian Rosy Cross, translated by W. Bro. Waite.
The Sns. used in this degree are many in number, and every one is
of great antiquity and can be found in various parts of the world
associated with Heathen Gods and ancient Rites of Initiation. The
actual Sn. of the Harodim is to be seen in the ancient Aztec
manuscripts, and is shown in a scene on a vase found at Chama,
Mexico. This scene clearly depicts a cand. being initiated into a
Mexican Rite, and being taught the Sn.. The case is certainly not
later than 1500 A.D. and was only dug up a few years ago . In
India the Sn. of Harodim is associated with Vishnu the Preserver.
In Ancient Egypt it is shown on a fresco from Thebes dated about
1500 B.C., fragments of which are in the British Museum. Numerous
examples could be quoted from Medieval work in Europe, for example
in the 17th century panelled room known as the "Audience Chamber of
the Visconti-Venosta," which is now in the Engadine Museum at St.
Moritz, to which we referred in the previous chap ter. This room
also shows examples of the Sn. attached t o the Rosie Cross degree,
and, in the corners of it are figures making the Drinking Sn. of
the Royal Order of Scotland. These figures are arranged in pairs
as if answering each other.
Perhaps, however, the most significant fact of all is that the
ritual of the Hung Society in China, known also as the Triad
Society, or the Society of Heaven and Earth, is almost precisely
the same in its main incidents as the ceremonies of this Scotch
Order.
The regalia of the Order is fairly elaborate. It consists of a
Garter, star and two sashes, one red for the Harodim, and one green
for the Rosy Cross, and an elaborate apron of white, edged with
bands of red and green.
Each candidate receives . . . which is supposed to show his
characteristic virtue, and which, as a rule, is spelt without any
vowels.
This must suffice for the Royal Order, though it deserves far more
space.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AND KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
The Knights Templar carry on the tradition of the Medieval Order,
and may be regarded as teaching the Christian life in action. How
far there is any historical connection between the Masonic Order
and their Medieval predecessors is a question on which Masonic
students are at variance. The writer considers that a strong
probability exists that there is a definite connection, and has
given his reasons at considerable length in "Freemasonry and the
Ancient Gods."
It is not proposed to go fully into this controversy in this book,
since its purpose is to indicate, so far as is permissible, the
meaning of the Degrees, rather than their history. Certain facts,
however, deserve to be placed on record:
(1) That in England, and still more in Scotland, the Order, though
nominally suppressed in 1307 et seq., did not suffer the merciless
slaughter of its members which fell upon them in France. Moreover,
owing to the fact that Scotland was in open revolt against Edward
II., who was supposed to rule it, enforcement of the edicts against
the Knights was quite impossible.
(2) That certain branches of the Order - e.g., in Spain and
Portugal - unquestionably survived, merely adopting a new name.
(3) The Charter of Transmission claims to carry on the succession
in France. That Charter now hangs in Mark Masons' Hall, and if it
were generally accepted as genuine it would practically settle the
matter. The fact that it anathematizes the Scotch Templars, if it
is genuine, would indicate a separate organisation of the survivors
in Scotland, and therefore explain whence Scotch and English
Templary derive.
(4) The undoubted fact that not only many Knights, but also the
whole of the Templar Priests and lay Brothers, some of whom were
Masons, were not even imprisoned, points to another possible line
of descent.
Be that as it may, the Ritual worked to-day, though it has been
revised several times in recent years, contains many curious
features which would indicate considerable antiquity.
At Bristol a man may not take the Rose Croix unless he is a
Templar, and this supports the theory of those who believe that
originally the Rose Croix was the inner working of the Templars.
The Royal Order of Scotland also shows clear indications of a
connection with Templary, both in the legend of its foundation and
in the use of a certain word common to both Orders, and used in no
other Degrees.
In view of the fact that the Royal Order has its Knightly Degree of
the "Rosy Cross," these points are of special significance.
The Legend of the foundation of the Royal Order is that Bruce,
after Bannockburn, created the Degree of the Rosy Cross so as to
reward those Masons who had assisted him in the battle, and
conferred on them the honour of Knighthood. Now we know that the
Templar Knights, instead of surrendering themselves to Edward II.
when he sent his commissioners into Scotland to arrest them, joined
his enemy, Bruce.
Is it then not probable that Bruce, by the foundation of this new
Order, thus rewarded these Templars and restored to them the
Knighthood which by the abolition of the old Order had lapsed?
The Ritual as used to-day has undergone drastic revision recently.
To give but one example, there appears no doubt that the altar in
the East is a modern innovation, beautiful though it is. Formerly
there was only a sepulchre, and there are still a few preceptories
where the old Ritual is permitted. Even in the modern Ritual
members will recollect that they took the O. at the sepulchre,
which significantly is in the C., and not at the East.
This is a matter of great importance as we shall see in a moment.
In Scotland the Degree is divided into Novice, Esquire, and Knight.
In England there are still three points corresponding to these
Medieval divisions, though the fact is rather slurred over. If we
recollect
(a) The Robe marks the Novice; (b) The Tunic marks the Esquire; (c)
It is only the Knight who is invested with the Mantle;
we shall perceive that the Ritual still bears witness to these
three stages.
The Cup of Remembrance in the U.S.A. is still drunk from an unusual
resectable, and is emphatically the Cup of Mystical Death.
The Ritual of the Knight Templar, as we know it to-day, has
obviously an exoteric and an esoteric meaning. The exoteric
lesson, and a very good lesson too, is that the Christian soldier
must have ever before his eyes in his struggle with the world the
precepts of the Master - Christ. He must be a good soldier of
Christ outside the doors of Temple; he must uphold truth and
justice, defend the weak, and set a fine example of chivalrous
conduct in his daily life. In short, he must not only profess
Christian ity but really live it.
It will thus be seen that a candidate would need to be a Christian,
even if he was not definitely called upon to defend the Christian
faith - which he is. But within this sound practical lesson there
lies a high mystical message. We are taught of the Lamb who was
mystically slain before the beginning of the world. We enter as a
pilgrim striving to escape from the worldly spirit. We dedicate
ourselves to Christ at the C., that is to say, in the hidden
recesses of our souls.
In that hidden place our past life of sin lies dead, even as the
earthly body of the Redeemer lay in the tomb. Therefore, on it we
dedicate ourselves, finding that over our dead past rises, as it
were, the figure of The Crucified.
Armed with the weapons of the Spirit we go forth on our spiritual
journey, and after long and painful travels return victorious from
our conflict with the spiritual foes of man. Note the symbolical
three years, corresponding with the three years of Christ's life of
ministry on Earth.
But after action must come penance and meditation, and above all we
must meditate, not merely on physical death, but still more on that
greater mystery, the mystical death; and being thus prepared, we
must offer our sacrifice. Nay, more, we must be marked with the
sign of His sacrifice, but in Christian mysticism we are taught
that the true mystic must spiritually crucify himself, even as the
Great Master physically suffered on the Cross, and this is the
mystical death. Is that last incident in the life of the mystic
forgotten in the Ritual of this great Order? Think it over, Brother
Knights.
This is veiled language, and as far as is permissible, I have
endeavoured to indicate that Masonic Templary has a great mystical
lesson. There are countless small points in the Ritual which
support this view, but for obvious reasons I have omitted them,
e.g., the gradual investiture of the candidate indicates the
acquisition by degrees of certain spiritual qualities.
THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
If we regard the Knights Templar as one Degree we find that the
Order has two, or possibly three Degrees in all. After the K.T.
comes the Mediterranean Pass. It is now, practically, merely a
passing Degree leading to the Malta, but it has a significance of
its own. The sign, to begin with, is undoubtedly old. Major
Sanderson found the same sign in use among the Yaos in Central
Africa, and it was also known and venerated by the Arabs. In view
of the tradition connecting the Mediterranean Pass and the Ma lta
Degrees with the Arabs, this fact is obviously significant. Nor,
esoterically, can we ignore the importance of the serpent in
connection with a mystical journey, and in like manner "The Sea" is
a phrase well known among mystics to imply certain spiritual facts,
and is always said to lie beyond the mystical resurrection.
To make myself clear to non-mystical readers, let me add that
mystical death and resurrection are well recognised stages in the
development of the soul of the man who, while still in the body, is
striving to reach spiritual union with God. St. Paul says that he
died daily in Christ.
When we reach the Hall in which the degree of Malta is to be
worked, we pass certain emblems which we are told indicate birth,
life, death, resurrection and ascension. These are a symbolic
summary of our whole Masonic career from the time we entered the
Craft till the time we axe finally made a Knight of Malta.
Further, resurrection is a new birth which, in itself, presupposes
a new life, and in the mystical world we must, like St. Paul, be
prepared to die daily in Christ.
The Malta, then, is a Degree of mystical, not physical
resurrection, and the fact is emphasised by the linking up of the
symbolical acts with the true history of the old Knights of St.
John of Malta. The symbols on the table should be studied with
this key, particularly that of the galley which bore the souls to
safety though it perished itself. Our body must one day die, but
if we have lived aright it will bring our souls in safety to the
"Islands of the Blest." This is true whether viewed mystically, or
in regard to life in the world of action.
The Sns. used in this Degree are certainly old, and the Pen. most
peculiar and significant. It could hardly have been invented in
the 18th century. The Sn. in the Templar degree is shown in the
room of the Visconti Venosta to which we have already referred, and
in the same room are to be seen figures making the Sn. of the
Knights of Malta.
The colour of the Templar robes are white with a red cross, i.e.,
the "Blood of the Lamb," in which we have washed and become thereby
as white as snow. But those of Malta are black, with a white
cross: out of the black night of the Soul, out of the darkness of
mystical death, the cross of Salvation rises, no longer a cross of
suffering, but one of resplendent glory.
CHAPTER IX. THE REMAINING DEGREES.
There still remains another Order of Christian Chivalry and its
outstanding feature is that it is the only Order open to English
masons which avowedly sets out to give a Christian interpretation
of the Craft and Royal Arch. The degrees which constitute this
Order are:-
(a) The Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, and
(b) The Knights of St. John and the Holy Sepulchre.
Like the Knights Templar this Order has its Head Quarters at Mark
Masons' Hall.
The Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine teach us the well-known
story of how Constantine came to be converted, but the Lecture
contains a most interesting reference to the Roman College of
Architects, whom I personally regard as the direct ancestors of the
Comacine Masons, from whom Freemasonry descends. I must admit,
however, that I should require fairly strong evidence to convince
me that Constantine himself was a member of one of the Collegia.
But in any case this degree is merely a stepping stone to the
really great degree of the Knights of St. John and the Holy
Sepulchre. This degree appears to have consisted once of three
degrees and even now has at least three "points," in it, though
these may be interpreted as corresponding to novice, esquire, and
knight. The ceremonies are solemn, dramatic and of deep mystical
significance, but their most striking feature is an attempt to
explain the Craft and Royal Arch Ceremonies in a Christian sense.
While not prepared to admit that this is the only, or even the
original inner meaning of these degrees, I do consider that the
interpretation given is of a most interesting and instructive
nature, and if we realise that all through the middle ages
Freemasonry was avowedly Christian, and demanded of its members
belief in the essential doctrines of the Church, we shall see that
this interpretation is deserving of very great respect.
Since those desirous of obtaining this interpretation can do so by
joining these degrees, no good purpose would be served in
disclosing the points interpreted, beyond saying that the Architect
of the Temple is identified with Christ, and the various incidents
in the history of our hero are similarly interpreted in the light
of the Christian story. The outstanding fact, however, is that
here we are definitely told that our ceremonies have a secret inner
meaning and this is the only degree in English Freemas onry, of
which I am aware, which does endeavour to give the meaning of the
Craft and Arch.
The degrees enumerated up to this point are all that can be called
strictly masonic which are open to the average English Freemason,
but there are several quasi-masonic Orders, or Societies as they
are usually called, which for all practical purposes are masonic,
since they require a masonic qualification, and like other masonic
degrees work a ritual with special secrets. These we will now
consider.
QUASI-MASONIC DEGREES.
The Secret Monitor which works under the Grand Conclave is one of
the best known of these Societies, only Master Masons are admitted,
and there are two degrees and a Chair degree. Attached to it is
the order of the Scarlet Cord, which has no less than seven
degrees. The real object of the Secret Monitor is to strengthen
the bonds of Brotherhood and enforce the principle that a Brother
should, whenever possible, help another Brother. The Conclaves
often do possess more warmth than the average London Lodge , but
there is not much inner meaning in the ceremonies and no very
valuable lessons will be learnt from them.
Of quite a different type is the Soc. Ros. in Anglia. This, like
the Secret Monitor, admits none but Master Masons, and its rulers
are eminent members of the Craft. There are nine degrees and the
higher ones are said to be conferred only for merit. The Order
always has a Lecture at each of its meetings on some abstruse
subject. The Soc. Ros., as it is affectionately called by its
members, claims to have the same objects as the Medieval
Rosicrucians, and it seems probable that there is some historical
con nection. It is, however, not the only body which puts forth
this claim, even in England, but these are in no sense Masonic.
The Soc. Ros. is also linked with the Illustrious Order of Light
which works only at Bradford, at present, and with another Order.
It is not so much that these orders are under the control of the
Soc. Ros. as that the leading spirits in each are closely
associated with the Soc. Ros. and that the members of the Orders
are derived only from that Society.
CONCLUSION.
Thus it will be seen that practically all the degrees in
Freemasonry have a definite lesson to teach, and an inner meaning
to their ceremonies. Some, no doubt, are more important than
others, degrees but the man who has never gone beyond the Craft has
still much to learn. He has made no real effort to recover that
which was lost, and therefore has signally failed to make a daily
advancement in Masonic, knowledge. If he has not time to take all
the degrees, at least let him try to complete his second degr ee by
taking the Mark, and obtain one answer to the question of what was
lost, by taking his Royal Arch.
If he has done this, and has gone no further, let him still avoid
saying "I don't think much of the Higher Degrees" Until he has
taken them he is in no position to form any kind of opinion, and
after he has done so I feel sure that he will no longer speak
slightingly of some of the greatest mysteries of this or any Age.