The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-26
IN THE MASONIC ORIENT.
Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.
Distin guished Visitors Expected-The Re-
ception Committee-History of the Rite
Programme for Tuesday.

ception of the Rite
Programme for Tuesday.
The eighteenth annual convocation of the
bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Indiana will begin tomorrow at 2 p. NJ, and con-
tinue at p. NJ. and Wednesday and Thursday, at
the rooms of the Rite, in Baldwin's Block, corner
of Delaware and Market streets. The grades of
the Rite will be conferred under the authority of
H.. I. G. Hamilton, $50, Deputy of the Supreme
Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction for
the district of Indiana. Preparations have been
made for making this the most successful con-
vocation ever held in Indiana, and many distin-
guished visitors from neighboring States are ex-
pected to be present.
Hon. Henry L. Palmer, $50, NJ. Grand Com
mander of the Supreme Council of the Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction, the highest office in the
order, has notified District Deputy Z.
g.. Hamilton that he will be present during the
convocation, accompanied by the officers
and several members of Wisconsin Consistory,
to witness the superior work of the Indiana
body. 1t is considered by the Indianians the
highest compliment and best tribute to the
character of their work that could be paid them,
that their Wisconsin brethren should pass over
both Chicago and Cincinnati, where some bril-
liant work closed only two weeks ago, to visit
here; and they will endeavor to exempiify the
work in a manner which the Ohio Consistory,
with its national reputation, cannot equal.
The following gentlemen have been appointed
on the on reception during the con-
vocation:
g. ". Davis, $50, chairman; James W. Hess,
$50; John L. Pressiy, George F. Branham, Bruce
Carr, W L. Fletcher, John d. Steep, Sam b.
Sweet, c. B. Harris, e. NJ. Chaplin, A. NJ. Will
lougnby, Ell Huntsinger, H. j. Rice, John A.
Holman, j. I. Laynan, Justus G. Adams, W. o.
Patterson, r. o. Hawkins, Hiram Seibert, W. J.
Robie, s. A. Wilson, T.S. Mckinley, +. j. Church,
James A.. Adrian, Isaac T. Leyden.
Inc members of the are requested
to report TO 6. W. Davis, $50, chairman, at the
rooms of the Rite on Tuesday morning, March
9th, at IL o'clock.
HISTORY OF THE RITE.
There is no authentic historical account of the
existence of any degrees in Masonry above that
Of the master prior to the change from opera
tive to speculative Free Masonry,
i'll England in 1717; and, though it is probable
that bodies requiring the possession of the third
degree as a prerequisite TO membership, have
existed from a period Immediately after the in
%stitution of Masonry, it is difficult to decide
where the dividing line between truth and fable
should be located.
the term Scottish as referring TO the SUI
perior degrees in Masonry, was applied as early
as l640 and 1860; and came more generally into
use in France in 1876 and 1873. The higher
grades were originally conferred or communi-
Gated at the pleasure of persons possessing
them, without the consent, either asked or
granted, of any constituted body; and the bodies
existing we're independent OF any general au-
thority.
The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite derives
It's origin directly from the Rite of Perfection
known to have been practiced IN France as
carly as 175S land thence dlffused through
Europe), under the government of councils of
'Emperors of the East and West" All the le-
Ultimate bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish
Rite existing in the world trace their origin
through stephen NORM, a member of the Ma
tioual Grand Lodge of France, and also a Chap
ter of High Degrees, who received from the
Supreme Council of Prince Masous," practiclng
the Rite of Perfection, letters patent and powers
for America. dated August 81, 1851.
The Rite of Perfection was composed of
twenty-five degrees, but contained the essen
tials of tie grades now comprised in the Ancient
ah9 Aeceptea Scottlsn KIte' WIN tne exception
to or affiliated with it. Upon Morins arrival
in America ne appointed Henry A. Franokin
Franckin NJ. M. Hayes was appointed deputy
inspector-general for North America, with power
to appoint others. Franckin instituted a Lodge
of Perfection at Albany, N. Y, on Dec. 20. 1767,
and Da Costa, who had been appointed a deputy
acknowledgements by Hayes, constituted a Lodge
of Perfection at Charleston, 8, c., IN 1888.
A grand council of Princes Of Jerusalem was
opened at Charleston on the goth of February,
1888.
In 1896 a chapter of Knights of Kadosh was
organized in Philadelphia by brethren who had
fed thither from the West Indies, which soon
after became extinct through the return of its
founders; and in 1897 a chapter of Knights of
Kadosh was founded in New York city.
On the 31st of May, 1901, the Supreme Coun-
Masonic Jurisdiction was duly organized and
proclaimed at Charleston, 8. e., under the consti-
tutions of 1862 and 1888 and the secret ~constitu-
tions, being the first supreme council organized
In the world. OF this body Colonel John Mitchell,
a distin guished revolutionary soldier, was the
first grand commander.
In 1902 a Lodge of Perfection was constituted
at Savannah, and July 30, 1904, patents were
issued for the establishments of bodies of the
rite in New Orleans under the authority of the
Southern Supreme Council. On the 9th day OF
August, 1906, a sovereign grand consistOry was
founded in New York; and on Nov. 3, 1908, a
council of Princes of Jerusalem. under the title
of Concordia C~rescimus, followed on the 9Th of
November of the same year by Aurora Grata
Lodge of Perfection.
The Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction was formally established on the 5th
of August, 1913, with Daniel ID. Tompkins, Vice
president of the United States, as the first grand
commander. Before 1856 no supreme council
was organized, the governing power being in the
hands uf the deputy inspectors general. By the
constitution Of that year the ruling power was
vested in a Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand
Inspectorsgeneral for each nation, except IN
the United States of America, where provision
was made for Two, the Southern and the North
ern.
At the present time the Ancient Accepted Scot
fish Rite is more universally diffused aud widely
practiced than any other Masonic rite, and in
the United States the greatest harmony exists
between the Supreme Councils of the North and
South, and their constituent members.
In the States regularly included IN the North
ern Masonic jurisdiction maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania. Michigan, OHIO, Indiana, Illinois and
wisconsin,, there exists % Consistories s.. p.
R.. S.. 800, AZ Chapters r. c., $50, 46 Coun-
ellis of p. of j.. leo. and 81 Lodges of Perfec-
ton 14o.
THE WORK FOR TUESDAY.
On Tuesday the work of the convocation will
begin at 2 O'Clock p. NJ, when the degrees under
the control OF AdOnoram Grand Lodge of Perfec-
ton will be conferred on a large class of candi-
dates. These are known to the order as the in
effable degrees, as follows:
4, Secret master.