Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-03
SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY.
The Branch Of the Order of Which Gen
Pike Was the Head.

Some Of the degrees of Scottish Rite Ma
| sonry, Of which Gen. Pike was the foremost
representative in this country had their ORR
gin, it is claimed, as early as the fourteenth
century, yet the rite as such terminated in the
latter part Of the seventeenth century and took
its distinctive character in the beginning of the
eighteenth century.
By the year 1761 the lodges, chapters, coun-
ellis and consistories of the rite had increased
and extended throughout the continent of Eu-
rope. On the 9th of August. 176i, Stephen
NORM was commissioned inspector general for
the new world by the Grand Consistory con-
vened at Paris. When Norm arrived in America
he appointed Moses Michael Hays deputy
general with power to appoint others. Hays
appointed Isaac De Costa deputy for South
Carolina, who after his death was succeeded by
Joseph Meyers. On the 25th of October, 1852,
Prussia and on the 1st of May, 1856. the con-
situations of the Supreme Council of the
Ihirty-third Degree were granted at Berlin.
No supreme councils Of the thirty third degree
were established anywhere in the world until
after that date, and the powers of the inspec-
tors general and their deputies became vested
IN the supreme councils and the bodies under
them.
The first supreme council ever established
under the new constitution Of l7S6 was that at
Snai stoL, .. u, whose jurisdiction extended
constitutionally over the whole United States
until the Northern Supreme Council WAS consti-
tuted. Then the northern and southern juris-
dictions were geographically defined.
On May 81, 1901, the supreme council at
Charleston was opened by John Mitchell, who
succeeded Meyers and Frederick Dalcho, and
the number was completed by the addition OF
Emanuel De Ia Motta, DIR. J. Aud, Dr. James
Moul.rie, Abraham Alexander, NJ. C. Livy.
Thomas B. Bowen and J. De Lieban. This su-
II
world and all other supreme councils of the rite
derive their authority from it, directly OF indi-
rectIy. This rite is in amity with all symbolic
grand lodges, grand chapters councils of royal
and select masters and grand COMMUNICATES
recognizing no other bodies claiming to be
Masonic.
THE THRTY-rHREE DEoHEEs.
The Scotch Rite, or as it is now more usually
designated, the Ancient and Accepted Bite, con-
sists of thirty-three degrees, divided as follows:
l, Entered Apprentice; 2. Fellow Craft; 8, Mas
ter Mason; 4. Secret Master; 5, Perfect Master;
=, Intimate Secretary: Z. Provost and Judge; 8,
Iutendent of the Building; g. Elected Knights
of Nine; 10, Illustrious Elect of Fifteen; IL,
Sublime Knights Elected; u, Grand Master
Architect; Is, Knight Of the Ninth Arch; IA,
Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Mason; Is,
knight of the East; Ii, Prince of Jerusalem;
II, knight of the East and West: 49, Sovereign
Prince OF Rose Croix; IS, Grand Pontif; 70,
Grand Master Of all Symbolic Lodges; 81, Noa-
chite or Prussian knight; %, knight Of the
Royal AZ, or Prince OF Libanus; %, Chief of
the Tabernacle; "a, Prince of the Tabernacle;
70, knight of the Brazen Serpent; &c, Prince Of
Mercy, or Scotch Trinitarian; 81, Sovereign
Commander of the Temple; %, knight of the
Sun: 20, Grand Scotch Knight of st. Andrew;
3d. Grand Elect Knight of kadosh; 81, Grand
Enquiring Commander; 80, Sublime Prince of
the Royal Secret.
BODIES IN THE DISTRICT
The supreme council issued a charter to
Osiris Lodge Of Perfection in the District of
Columbia and to grand consistory here, and
they were both mentioned and recognized As
Masonic bodies entitled to representation in
the board OF corpOrators Of the Masonic Hall
Association In the act OF Congress which incor-
porated it. These bodies suspended work at
the breaking out of the war of the rebellion
and the survivors of the members in 1870 petit
TONED the supreme council for a charter for a
new lodge OF perfection, to be known as NTH
ras Lodge, which charter was issued December
30, 1870, and the existing Evangelist Chapter of
Hose Croix, Robert de Bruce Council Of IA.
dosh add Albert Pike Consistory we're char
tered soon after.
Any Master Mason Of the York Rite-"the
rite OF the multitude"-is eligible to the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish degrees. This
statement Is made because many people are
under the impression that one must be a
knight Templar before he can enter the lin
effable" and chivalric course. In few months
the aspirant, if he be fairly bright, may pass up
the scale through the Lodge Of Perfection the
Chapter OF knights Rose Croix, the Council of
knights Kadosh and the Consistory of Princes
or Masters of the Royal -thirty-second
degree; but the thirty-third and last degree is
never to be got by asking. Only those who
have distinguished themselves either in Ma
ssonry or in public life can receive the thirty
third. And then they are elected to this honor
without their previous knowledge.
The grand commander can make Scottish
Rite Masons Eat sight" up to and including the
thirty-second degree; that is he can invest
them with the degree without their having to
pass through the work of the local bodies:
but only the supreme council can create the
thirty third. The nomination of Gen. Pike is.
however, equivalent to election, for he is both
hierophant and monarch. The supreme coun-
ellis are organized on the self-perpetua:ing
principle. All vacancies in Office are filied from
among the thirty -thirds, and all vacancies in
the active list Of the thirty thirds are filled by
the supreme council. In other words, it is in
this respect much like the cardinals college.