Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-09
ROYAL and select Masters

At the late annual convention OF lfe
Grand Chapter of New York, PROPOSE
ton was offered to resume control Of the
Cryptic Degrees, which proposition was
referred to the Grand Council, with the
request that they lay the subject before
the General Grand Chapter.
We cannot of course foresee what dis
position may ultimately be made Of the
subjects but we confess to an inability
to perceive on what ground the proposed
exercise of authority can reasonably be
placed. For many years the degrees
we're nominaIly under control of the va
rious Royal Arch Chapters, and were
rarely if ever heard of, as is the case
with the appendant orders of Masonic
Knighthood, the Communicates of which
in the State of New York at Least, have full
power and authority to confer the afore-
said appendant orders, but rarely if ever
enter upon upon the privilege. Nothing
having come of the Royal and Select De-
grees in Chapters, Councils of those de-
degrees were established with the tacit
if not open consent of the Chapters In
many of the States Grand Councils have
been permanently established, under
whose auspices the degrees have been
systematized and a regular system of
government established. In all the
Councils under this arrangement candi-
dates at their reception and officers at
their installation have covenanted to
maintain and support the constitutions
Of their respective Grand Councils. Now,
if the Grand Chapters attempt to resume
authority over the degrees of Royal and
Select Masters there will be a conflict of
authority, because it is hardly in the ma
ture of things that the Grand Council
should be willing to give up their organ
izations and allow the degrees to drift
back into the uncertain custody of the
Chapters, and still less likely that they
will allow them to be taken away bv
force, without at least doing battle for
the maintenance of their privileges.
Meanwhile there would be two sources
of supply, and as under the abnormal ex-
element the stream would run faster
than usual from each, it follows that for
time at least there would be such an
influx of Cryptic Masons as the world
and the balance Of humanity have not
seen. Ifnow we take into consideration
the fact that the degrees are no part of
the original Royal Arch system, but
have been taken bodily from the An
cient and Accepted Rite tackled on to
our system as side degrees, we shall see
that the original proprietor might, if so
minded, institute claim far more valid
than either or both the others. That up
to this time no such claim has been
made is, in our Judgment, conclusive
proof that it is not the intention of the
Supreme Council to interfere. But the
claims of the other bodies are thus re-
duced to a level, with the advantage, if
any, rather on the side of the Councils,
from the fact of their more perfect
knowledge of the degrees and greater
facilities for comforting them So far,
then, as our Grand Chapter is concerned.
it would appear that it would be wise to
let the subject alone. There is the more
reason for this course in the fact that at
least one State Grand Council has al
ready taken measures to dissolve its ex-
istence, an undertaking in which they
are likely to succeed, and as success is
apt to bring imitators, one which in all
probability will be followed until the
several Grand Councils become extinct
or at least inactive. We have no wish
to disguise our hope that such a consum-
nation may eventually be reached, be-
cause we are in favor of keeping the
American system as compact as possible,
and encouraging a tendency to contrae-
ton rather than expansion. Under this
idea We have been and still are in favor
Of dropping the degree of the Past Mas
ter from the Chapter and placing it in
the sole custody Of actual Masters of
symbolic Lodges, to be conferred by
them on such only as have been duly
elected to preside over regular Lodges
Of Master Nasons. Public sentiment
appears to be extending in this direction,
and we have only to wait time with
patience to reach the end in view.-Na-
tioHGI FreeBtaS0R.