The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-04-01
1T Is NOT FREE MASONRY.
Grand Master of Masons whitehead Draws
the Distinction Of the Mystic shrine
from the Serious Order.

1Q6S6 are QuSeIIOlt5 tuat dLo uoolV
on every side as the time approaches
for the arrival of the "Carsvan"
which is to make its "pilgrimage" to
the city of Charleston in the near
future.
The A. A. O. N. M. S. which means
the Ancient Arabic Order Of the No
bles of the Mystic Shrine, is said to
be founded on the Oriental Society
which had for its object the dispens
ing of justice and executing pun
ishment upon criminals who escaped
their just deserts through the tardi,
ness of the courts. In other words,
1t was a sort of vigilance committee
in Arabia. The order was instituted
in the city of New York by William
J. Florence, the actor, of "Almighty
Dollar fame, who claimed that he
had obtained a knowledge of the
ceremonies from DR.. Walter M. Flem-
ing, man of some reputation as an
Oriental scholar. In September, 1872,
a regular Temple was organized in
the city of New York, with thirteen
charter members. The growth of
the order was rapid and, at the
present time, there are about eighty
or ninety separate organizations,
called Temples, in which there is a
membership of sixty thousand mobiles.
The order as it exists IN this coun-
try is purely social one, it has no
connection with law, justice or reli-
gious federation, but is designed for
the purpose of promoting convivial-
ity and good fellowship.
The only prerequisite for member
ship is that the applicant must be
either Knight Templar or a Mason
of the 80 degree of the Scottish Rite,
and here, and here only, does it
touch in any way the ancient and
honorable order of the Masonic Fra
ternity.
If the members of a military COM
pany were to organize a social club
which. only the men Of that special
company were permitted to join, the
social club, organized for the pur-
pose of card playing, golf, baseball
or theatricals, could not claim that 1t
was the military company, nor would
the military company be in any sense
responsible for the acts OF the club
while playing cards, golf, baseball or
comedies.
So. with the Mystic Shrine and
Masonry. Many persons are misled
by the high sounding titles and
references to Mystic Orders, and i'm
agine that the Shrine is the highest
| degree the very acme and perfection
| of Masonic distinction and hoaoI;
| whereas, in feet, it is an association
f)rmed for amusement and having
no connection with Ancient Graft
Masonry which knows nothing of its
ceremonial rites and exercises no
control over its members.
1t is to be expected that the "pro
fane," the uninitiated who has never
learned the beautiful system of NOR
atty that Masonry incnloates may
conclude from the absurd, farcical
parade and the reference to shot
sands" "bot air." ''sober camels," "
"astute astrologers," "rope ENDS" "
and other fantastic and nonsensicaf
terms, that Masonry is unworthy fhe
attention OF serious and dignifed
men.
Such, however, is not the case.
The Shrine should not be confounded
with the Masonic system, as it is
neither Masonry nor a branch of
Masonry. While it diVerts its mem
bers and amuses the gaping crowd
the grand old order of the Masonic
Fraternity, which has survived the
criticism of centuries of inquiring
thought, survived the hostility Of
crowded and mitered heads. grown
grander as it has grown older, which
has secured the fealty of sages, phi.
lanthropists and patriots, which has
dried the tears of orphanage, hushed
the wall Of widowhood, helped the
stranger to friends and the poor to
benefactors will continue to move
forward down the centuries undis-