The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-12-04


last week we print the following brief eX-
PLANTATION and classification of the degrees
of Scottish Rite Masonry:
1t will be understood that there are two
branches of Masonry springing from the
main tree. This tree comprises of all
Master Masons in good standing and in
cludes the first three degrees, which are
the foundation of all Free Masonry and
history does not record the time when it
did not exist.
From this tree extends one branch
called York Rite Masonry consisting of
the Chapter, four degrees, the Council two
degrees, and the Commandery or Knights
| Templar three degrees In Wisconsin it
is necessary to have taken all these de-
grees before one can be a candidate for
Scottish Rite Masonry. When this is
done the novitiate comes back to the
main tree again and takes his start on
the thirty degrees included in Scottish
Rite Masonry.
The first grade is the Lodge of Perfec-
ton and contains eleven degrees, as fol-
lows: 18th degree Secret Master, 9TH Per
feet Master, 9th Intimate Secretary, 1th
Provost and Judge, Sth Intendant of the
Buildings, 9th Elect of Nine 10th Knight
Elect of Fifteen, 18th Sublime Knight
Elected, 18th, Grand Master Architect,
18TH Royal Arch of Enoch, 18th, Grand
Elect, Perfect and Sublime Master Mason.
The third grade is the Council of
Princes. The 18th degree is the Knight
of the East, 10th, Prince Of Jerusalem.
The fourth grade is called the Rose
Croix Chapter, with the two philosophi-
cal degrees, Knight of the East and West
and Knight Of the Rose CroiX dc H r. D.
NJ
The fifth grade is the Areopagus with
eleven historical and philosophical de-
grees 10Th, Grand POntiff; Goth, Grand
Master Of all Symbolic Lodges; 2lst,
Noachite or Prussian Knight; 22d,
Knight of the Royal Axe; 3d. Chief of
the Tabernacle; Oath, Prince of the Tab
ernacle; 25th, Knight of the Brazen Ser
pent; goth, Prince of Mercy; 9th, Com
mander Of the Temple; 28th, Knight of
the Sun; Goth, Knight Of st. Andrew or
Patriarch of the Crusades.
The sixth grade is the Consistory itself
and includes the Both degree, Knight Of
Kad0sh: 31st, Grand Inspector Inquisitor
Commander, and 32d The Sublime
Prince of the Royal Secret. The 33rd de-
gree is conferred only by the Supreme
Council, composed of active BIRD degree
men and the title is Inspector General.
There are 63G 32d degree men in WiscOn-
sin but only three active 33rd degree men.
There are however twenty-three honorary
33rd degree men in the state. The Ma
sons Of the e. S. are divided into two jul
rIsdictions, the Northern and Southern.
Mr.. Henry L. Palmer of milwaukee, is the
Most Pussiant Sovereign Grand Comman-
der of the Northern jurisdiction and AL
bert Pike of Charleston, S. c., Of the
Southern Mr. Geo. III. Benzenberg Of
Milwaukee is the Commander-in-C Chief Of
the Wisconsin Consistory, but Mr. Palm
er himself officiated in comforting the de-
gree of Knight of ST. Andrew.
There are regular Supreme Councils Of
Masons In France, Spain, Belgium, Ire
land, Brazil, Peru, New Granada, Eng
land, Scotland, Uruguay, Argentine
Republic, Italy, Cuba, Mexico, Portugal,
Chill, Central America, Greece, Switzer-
land, Canada, Egypt Tunis and two in
the United States. A compact exists be-
tween these Councils by which the juris-
diction of the several Councils is guaran-
teed and upheld.
The various degrees included in Scottish
Rite Masonry have been in existence in
different Chivalric orders in Europe since
the days Of Feudal1sm but they were
brought together, amplified and arranged
consecutively about the latter part of the
seventeenth century. The three original
degrees of the Blue Lodge have existed in
some form for many centuries and had an
existence so far back that only tradition
the comforting of the higher degrees in
Masonry are as gorgeous and imposing as
any witnessed on the globe. The corona
ton of cardinals and potentates alone
equals or compares with them. Nor is it
all pomp and display. 1t is almost lib
era1 education to receive the whole forty
two degrees in Masonry and to grasp and
comprehend their teachings requires d
clear head and trained mind and its pre-
cepts if faithfully carried out will come
closer to making perfect gentleman than
any other code on earth except practical,
spiritual christianity and credentials from
the Consistory admit man to the best
company in the land.
Teachers Meeting.
u