Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-11-27
MAS0NIC.
The Super-ExceNent Degree.

With the event that will take place
in the Adelphic Council on Noyem-
Der "a, natural query arises, what
is the Super Excellent Degree? The
origin OF the degree is unknown. 1t
is probably American, and came from
the Southern Jurisdiction of the An.
cient Accepted SCOTS Rite, as it
was conferred by the Inspectors
General rs an honorary degree, prior
to it's introduction into some of the
couucilsof Royal and Select Masters.
The convention of Royal and Select
Masters which met in this city in
June, 1873, resolved to place it as
an honorary or side degree, which
might or might or might not be con.
ferred Mt the option of the council,
but it was not regarded as an inte-
grail part of the Cryptic Rite. 1t has
so remained, and is SO conferred on,
ly on special occasions. The object
of the degrees is to impress upon the
mind of the candidate the importance
of fidelity to vows. Tho legend re.
fcrs to circumstances which occurred
on the last day of the seige of Jeru
salem by Nebuxaradan, the captain
of the Caldean Army, who had been
sent by Nebuchaduezer to destroy
the city and Temple, as Just pun.
ishment of the Jewish King Zede.
kiah, for his peridy and rebellion.
1t occupies, therefore, percisely that
point of time which is embraced in
that part OF the Royal Arch Degree
which represents the destruction of
the Temple, and the carrying of the
children of Israel rs captives to Bah.
ylon. 1t is. as Mackay says, an ex
emplification and extension of the
Royal Arch Degree. Zedekiah is the
synonym of perfidy. He was the
twentieth and last king of Judah.
When Nebuchadneztr had, in his
second siege of Jerusalem, deposed
Jehoiachin, he placed Zedekiah on
the throne. BY this act Zedekiah
was made tributary to the Chaldees
who 'xacted from him solemn oath
OF fidelity and obedience. He re
garded this oath only till opportuni
ty occurred for its violation. He re
belled,' rs says the Book of Chroni.
cles, against King Nebuchadnczel "
This of course brought down upon
the offenders the vengeance of the
Monarch, who invaded tho land OF
Judah with an immense army. After
a seige of about ono year the CITY
was captured, the Chaldeans enter.
ing through breaches in the wall.
The Super Excellent Degree repre-.
sents scene in the seigo and after
the capture. Zedekiaff, according
to the Masonic legend, called coun
Gil of his officers, after the Chal
deans had effected an entrance into
the city, for the purpose of consult
ing with them as to the best means
of escape. BY the advice of his Off
GERS, zedekiah attempted to make
his escape across the Jordan. But
he and his attendance according to
jeremiah. pursued by the Chaldean
army, and owe taken in the plain of
Jericho, and carried prisoners before
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Zedekiah's sons
and his mobiles were slain, and his
own eyes We're put out. He was
bound in chains and carried captive
to Babylon, where he was placed in
prison and remained there until his
death. The thrilling incident of the
terrible unishment are wildly por.
trayed in the ceremonies of the de.
gree, and cannot fail to make an i'm
precision upon anyone who gives any
thought to the real import and les
of the work.--New York Dispatch.
The TempIar Uniform.