Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
AMONG THE
FRATERNITIES

The Supreme Council Of the Southern
Jurisdiction, Ancient and Accepted Scot
fish Rite. will meet at the house of the
temple, in this city, at high noon Mon
day. This high Masonic body exercises
jurisdiction over thirty states and terri
tories. the Philippines, Porto Rico, China
and Japan 1t is the mother jurisdiction of
the world.
The Supreme Council was first organized
at Charleston, S. c., May 81, 1901 and cele-
brated its first centenary in this city two
years ago. Grand Commander James D..
Rio harrison is the thirteenth person to hold
the principal Office In Scottish Rite Ma
sorry of the southern jurisdiction, which
carries with 1t the distinction of being the
ranking grand commander of the world.
His predecessors were as follows: John
Mitchell. 1S0116 Gifteen years.; Dr. Fred
erick Dalcho, 1S16-22 (six years.; Isaac
Aud. 1926 -four years.; Moses Holbrook,
1904 eighteen years.; Jacob de la
Motta, 1s44-5 Zone year, Alexander Nc
Donald 1886 Zone Year,; Rev. John H.
Honour, 1S46-1s5S Twelve years.; Charles
NJ Furman. 1859 Gone Year,; Gen. Albert
Pike, 1S59-91 Ohirty-two years.; James c.
Bachelor. 1913 Uwo years.; Philip C.
Tucker 1884 Zone year,; Thomas H. Cas-
we'll, 1S94-19OO (siX years.. Mr.. Richardson
succeeded to the office November 10, 1900
by reason of his position as lieutenant
general commander. on the death of Mr.
Caswell. AT the session of the supreme
council in this city two years ago he was
elected grand commander.
Nearly all of the grand commanders of
the Scottish Rite have been men Of note
in official life, well as eminent in Ma
sorry. The first in the line was Col. John
Mitchell, a native Of Ireland and was an
officer in the continental army serving
with distinction throughout the revolution.
After peace was declared he settled in
South Carolina. where he became a justice
of the quorum court, high judicial po
sition in the young days of the republic.
DR.. Dalcho was young physician when he
was made lieutenant grand commander.
He was brilliant man, and esteemed for
many accomplishments. Before he en-
gagged in the active practice of his profess
sion he had been first lieutenant in the
1st Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers.
Gen. Albert Pike, famous as statesman,
soldier and scholar, poet. patriot and phil
osopher. is recognized as the most brilliant
man in the long line of able leaders of
Scottish Rite Masonry
For the information Of those who do not
belong to the fraternity the distinction be-
tween so-called Scottish and York Masonry
may be stated. OF all the many divisions
OF Masonry, SO widespread a hundred years
ago, there now remain only: % the York
Rite; (2) the French Rite, or Grand Orient
and co the Scottish Rite. These three
great divisions are all founded on the SYM
bOlic Tor first three) degrees but thew differ
in that while the several degrees of the
modern French Rite are confined to French
men and the degrees above master Mason
usually classed as part of the York Rite
are not In use, except to a very limited
extent, among people of other than Anglo
Saxon lineage and descent, and even among
them the same degree as well as the sig
| MITIGATION of degrees varies. The thirty
degrees which the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite possesses beyond the masters
degree are practiced not only in Engla nd
| Ireland. Scotland, France and the United
States, but among the Germans, the
lea, in Asia and elsewhere. to an extent not
| known to other so-called high degrees and
are everywhere the same.
The York Rite In this country has for its
| highest degrees those of Knight Templar
| and Knight Of Malta The York Rite proper,
entered apprentice; fellow craft; B. master
| Mason, given in symbolic lodges and under
| the control OF grand lodges; L. mark mas
| tiers; 5, past master; q, most excellent mas
| ter: Z, royal ARCH given in chapters
| and under control of grand chapters; 8,
| royal master; ., select master, given in
| councils, and under control Of grand coun-
| ellis. A tenth degree. called superexcellent
| master, Is conferred in some councils as an
| honorary rather than as a regular degree.
The degrees or orders of the commandery
| sometimes known as the degrees of chiy-
airy, are open only to York Rite Mason.
of the seventh or royal arch degree. The
| possession Of the eighth ninth and tenth
| degrees Is not considered a necessary
! qualification for membership in the COM
| mandery. The Ancient and Accepted
| Scottish Rite is the youngest of Masonic
| diffused of all rites Governing bodies OF
the rite, called supreme councils, are to be
| found In almost all civilized countries and
in many Of them 1t is the only Masonry