Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-01-18
} MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICAN masonic TEMpLARIsm

no. 2.
CONTINUED FROM LAST SATURDAY.
The warrant OF the Enesmpment at
Manchester, signed by John Parker, s.
G. A. c., ," "Gso. KitsoD, ]. G.. A. c."
and counterslgned by VIM. Blanchard,
Secretary Of the Grand Lodge at York,
on the 10th Of October, 1885, shows this;
for it Is issued by Edward Wolley, g.
G.. c" "by the power and authority
vested in US from the earliest
sges Of G. X, and derived to
us from the successors of that
worthy 5. X. T., S. G. B., the first c. X.
Of Jerusalem 5" and power is reserved to
recall the warrant, if the r. e. should
become irregular or obnoxious to the
Ancient Order OF c. K" The letters {.
X. are the initials Of the French words,
CheUGiiers RadOSh.
Bro. Narker continues to say, IN the
same number:
"The Arch or Red Cross Degree appears,
however. 10 be- Of old date in Scotland, ;,
for a correspondent of the FreeHadsonS
ACq0qsi1e. speaking of the Stirling Rock
Chapter, which Is believed TO DO the
oldest in the world, though they nave
lost their minutes previous to l74o, says
TT is well known that Bruce iostered
the Templsrs, aud that their heedqusr-
ters wss Stirling. II has therefore oeen
be lieyed that the ceremonial OF tne
Roval Arch was imported from the East
bv the Crusaders, and worked up there
after as a Masonic degree. We are more
strengthened ia this idea by having seen
two rudeIv engraved brass plates about
nine inches long by three inches broad
The ages of these plates Is UNKNOWN,
but they can scarcely be more mooerH
than the beginning or middle OF tne
century. The one plate has
reference to the first two degrees. On
one side are the symbols of tke Appren-
tice Degree, while the other hss tho5e OF
the FeIIow-Craft. On the other plate
one side is devoted to the NJ. Nj. Degree,
and on the diverse, at the top, are Ger
tain symbols with the inscription, heaa
CrOe o. Ark :" at the bottom are series
of c0rceutric arches, which might De
mistaken for a TGHbOt0, were there hot
kevst lne on the summit, indicative OF an
srch In addition TO what has already
baan 5ascr.bed, on this side of the plate
sTo enclosed in a border divided into
tbTre e0usl divisions, certain other In
scrintioi ; with the respective names Of
"a Sspulchre," +" " Knights OF Maltai" and
81 knights Templars."
isVhe Red Cross Degree here mentioned,
in some versions, is 50 similar to the old
Arch Degree that it is quite possible that
the order OF tue Ancient Grand Lodge
of the South was compiled from the De-
gree. 1t is said when three X. T.'s hail
iug from different Encampments meet,
thew have the power to confer it. Gene
rsIiy il was conferred after the Tenn
Mar Half 8 century ago it was con-
ferred at Warrington, and they have
sGII the minutes: and the degree referred
IN The time OF Daniel and the vision Of
Belshazztr. and was named the Mys-
-aTious Red Cross Of Babylon" an
.old on respectable authority that at
Fa .twood. near TodmOrden, they have
.arerste York warrants authorizing
nom 10 confer the R4d Cross Degree, as
as, the X. T the Priestly Order, the
Rsse Croix and other degrees. II such
: the case they will do well to settle the
Joint bv communicating with you. |
some time sgo copies we're promised the
writer. bu. have not been rt ceiyed. Un- /
Ter whstever name known, there can be
40 doubt that a similar degree to our /
present r. A. is alluded TO, as the Oh |
order in the Rawliuson papers under
late Of l724, at which period the press
.eemed with charges of Il isicrueianism |
against the London Lodges"