The Wilmingtonian., 1885-11-21
Masonic.

There are a number OF estimable maSous
who pretend an inability to perceive the
necessity for Higher Degree embraced
in the schedule of the Ancient ano
Accepted Scottish Rite system, Will,
hey do advocate aud endorse til,
the American or York Rite system, whc
mad its origin and is only known in this
country. Others again insist that nothing
more is necessary than what is communica-
ted in our blue lodge system.
While we are willing to admit that tht
initial degrees may be made to subserve all
practical uses of Freemasonry, We do not
hesitate to assert, that should Mason
aspire to an attainment of elucdation of til,
mysteries and explanations of the symbol,
portrayed to him, during his journeys in
symbolic masonry, lie must not pause at
that point We can only compare such a
neophyte to a school boy emerging from a
primary academy, having an educational
ry life, yet still inadequate for its profession
al embellishments. In other words the
higher degrees may be considered as the
collegiate course into which a master mason
enters after leaving his preparatory school oi
symbolic masonry.
1t is not rational to presume that az
ambitious builder will be content to remail
: Il mere workman all his life, when the por
tails are opened to him for advancement to
: superior condition whereby he can contem
plate the innermost myteries of the craft
In the three degrees he is conducted anC
arrives at the unfinished SancUum Sanctor
um of the unfinished Temple of Solomon
0 and there his advance is terminated and tn
: legend of the Third deslee, which comprise
the fundamental element of symbolic Ma
. sonry, is manifestly incomplete and require
the philosophtc and historical to add to it
Z perfection.
In the lneffable degrees the Temple
completed and the candidate is enlightene
in the ceremonies enacted on his road to pei
= fection. As he proceeds in the hstorici
y degrees he participates theoretically in tn
> building of the second Temple, and after il
Il destruction he is advanced to the phiost
). phical degrees of the Rose Croix, and parti,
u pates in the building of spiritual Tempt
il wherein the inner mysteries of Masonry al
y fully unveiled.
Then again the mysteries of the grades
n tue Council of Kadosh open a new volume I
'S the Masonic investigator, wherein he ca
70 obtain instruction not to be CLEANED els
s. where information which cannot fail
elevate the human understanding and |
elucidate the intellect. In like manner IL
inquiring mason should ever progress,
order to attain enlightment; which can on
be acquired by course Of intellectual trail
ing at progressive stages, as in the case OF
mau desiring profession, he passes fro
school to college and then into son
acknowledged academy of learning where
he obtains an authoritative and a distincti
title by which he may be honored by Il
world at large. This is particularly trl
with masonry where symbolism is almo
inexhaustible. 1t is expected that many
the craft will maintain the idea that Il
higher grades are but supertluties W
however, must class them as carpers amoi
the indolent and unambitious craftsme
willing to loiter around the household of t
Temple.
Let no mason imagine that leprosecuti
ss- -saaSaaia- li4,lsSyl q aagsxu -
uninterestng. On the contrary, we regrt
J that the study of Masonry and its kindre
u sciences is too much neglected in this countr,
8 where the neophyte remains content wit
mere rituallsm and conceives brigl
e mason to be something of a parrot dealt
II in words and speaker in signs
y Finally, il the hame grades exercise II
a more serious influence than creation of il