Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-16
l. O. O. F. DEGREES.
Their History and Present
Order in the Lodges.
THE PATRIARCHS MILITANT.

III fAIhlAhCHo MILL AN u
The Rebekah's and Their Initiation
Into the Order-DecOratiOn
of Chivalry.
The scattered Lodges Of England in
the earliest times had but simple cere-
mony. 1t was limited to 'making" the
term for an initiation. and the formula
for opening and closing a Lodge. In
1914 the Manchester Unity formed a
federal independency, and it's first step
was in the direction of a secret work.
1t was about two years before this took a
form which led to anything like practical
results. A committee brought out a
scheme, and in 1914 reported three de-.
grees, the White, Blue and Scarlet. In
1918 the conditions were as follows: For
the White Degree, faithful membership
during three months; for the Blue De-
gree, six months for the Scarlet Degree,
twelve months. This was the law until
1880, when the White Degree was given
at any time after the payment for initia-
ton, the Covenant at three months after
wards, and SO on at intervals of three
months for all the degrees. The date Of the
fourth or Golden Rule Degree can
not be fixed, but it first appears of record
at the organization of the Grand Lodge
OF Maryland on February 22d, 1921,
when it was conferred on the five Past
Grands. 1t was conferred in the body
of the Grand Lodge until with the
Patriarchal and Purple Degrees it was
transferred to the Encampment branch of
the order. 1t then took its present place
of second in that ritual.
intermediate degrees called the
Covenant and Remembrance were estab-
lished in the same year.
The next accessions were the Past
Official degrees. They came to the
United States from the Manchester
Unity in the charge book by Mark
Wardle, issued in 1924. They were set
out in the book as part of the work are
known as P. N. g., P. V. G. and Past
Secretary's degrees.
The next in order of time was the de-
gree now known as the Royal Purple De-
gree. 1t was first designated as the Fifth
Degree, afterwards as the Past Grands,
or the Mazarine Blue Degree; purple at
last because of the color as indicative Of
its order of succession. 1t found it's way
into the Grand Lodge Of the United States
on the 3Oth of March, 1925. The Grand
Lodge Degree is also American, growing
naturally out of the creation of State
Grand Lodges, and has never been
changed since it's introduction. The Patri-
archial Degreee was adopted in England
in 1925 and the badge was of gold. 1t
was introduced fin the United States in
May 1926. Thus three new degrees of
kindred character were introduced, the
original design being to help consume the
time of the sessions and add to its attrac-
tions.
In 1927 the Grand Lodge of the United
States was successful experiment. 1t
had four Grand Lodges to support its dig
nifty, and the leaders felt that more
extended views regarding the secret
work would be beneficial. After numer-
GUS suggestions, the leaders met on May
9th, 1927, and took final action. 1t was
then determined to organize a new and
select branch of the Order, open to
Scarlet Degree members only. A dis
pensation was granted for the establish
ment of the "Encampment Lodge" in
which three new degrees could be con-
ferred on brothers of the Scarlet Degree.
The three degrees taken away from the
Grand Lodge were the Patrarchial, Col
den Rule and Purple, and very soon
afterward the Purple Degree was changed
in name to the Royal Purple Degree. In
1929 the name of the Lodge was changed
to Encampment of Patriarchs, and the
First Lodge was given powers to institute
others of the same class. This Lodge
held the title Of No. until 1882, when it
was supplanted by Grand Encamp-
ment in each State.
In 1S41 representation in the Grand
Lodge of the United States to Grand En-
campments the same as to Grand
Lodges. In 1870 it was resolved that
members of subordinate Encampments
might wear such uniforms as might be
approved by the Grand Patriarch Of the
Jurisdiction. In 1877 uniform street
dress was provided for members OF sub
ordinate lodges. A system Of drill was
shortly afterwards introduced, and the
Patriarchal branch, now called the Patri-
archs Militant, is now one of the best dis
ciplined bodies in the country. This
picked body Of noble men who have at
tanned to superior degrees, and overflow
with zeal and energy, now compose the
hope as well as the body guard of the
order.