The San Francisco call., 1904-09-04

Scottish Rite. The former is
the more numerous OF the two in the
United States. while the reverse Of this
Is true as 10 Europe. and. indeed. as TO
al foreign lands
The York is the older rite in so far
IS We have authentic history. AS 10
the Scottish rite Of Freemasonry, this
was in existence in France and other
countries Of Europe some years prior 10
1852. and was known as the Rite Of
Perfection or Heredom. It was COM
posed Of three degrees Of the York rite
and twenty-five others. the eighteenth
being the Rose Croix'' and the twenty
fifth degree the Prince Of the Royal
Secret"
In presenting q history OF the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite Of Freema-
sonry. 1t is but proper that I should re-
fer 70 the labors Of James D. Richard
son. thirty-third sovereign grand COM
nander for the southern jurisdiction in
the United States. and Edward A.
Sherman, thirty-third OF California, to
both Of whom we are indebted for their
isbors in the compilation Of digests in
their respective departments-the for
mer for the rite in general and the lat
ter as 10 the rite in California
Scottish Rite Masonry was intre-
duced into America by Etienns II
Stephen Norm, who held a patent froE
the Rite Of Perfection or Heredom,
Orient OF Paris, bearing date August
.. ISL He was then about 10 sail 10
America and as reward for services
done the order and for his zeal in Ma
sonry he was given authority by this
patent 10 establish perfect and sub
lime Masonry in the new world. He
was also given authority 10 create in
spectors general in all places where the
sublime degrees were not established
on September q, 1852. nine Masonic
commissioners or delegates from the
Council Of Emperors Of the east and
west Of Paris and from the Council of
Princes Of the Royal Secret at Bor-
deaux met al the latter place and set
tied the regulations of the Masonry Of
Perfection in thirty-five articles.
In 1863 he founded lodges of Per-
lection and other bodies of the rite in
Kingston. Jamaica, and in the ex-
,rcise Of the powers OF substitution
given him. he transferred his powers
and successive deputy inspectors were
created By him. AS the inspector gen
eraI OF the lodges. chapters. councils.
etc. in all parts Of the new world he
gave the degree Of inspector general to
Henry Andrew Francken in Jamaica
some time prior to 1867 and in his
turn the degrees were handed TO Hy-
man I. Long in 1895.
On the 18th day OF November. 1896,
Brother Long. deputy grand inspector
general in Freemasonry, granted let
ters patent OF that date to Alexander
Francois Auguste de Grasse-Tilly. late
an engineer in the services of the
United States. and TO others. creating
them deputies for grand inspector
general and on the same date giving
as the places OF Masonry at Kingston.
Jamaica, ne granted a patent TO Jean
Baptiste and others. authorizing the
establishment Of A body in Charles
ton. South Carolina.
Under this patent the brethren
named established grand sublime
council OF the Prince of the Royal Sc
cret ~ Charleston. January Is. 1877.
which was duly confirmed by the
Grand Council at Kingston. Later
there was granted to John Mitchell a
patent raising him TO the highest de-
gree in Masonry and creating him
deputy grand inspector general He
= as then a Justice Of the Quorum
Court. and a notary public in South
Carolina and was late colonel and
quartermaster general in the United
states army.
In 1853 the Sublime Grand Lodge Of
Perfection was established at Charles
ton. and 1888 and subsequent years,
other bodies Of the rite were organized
there. on May 81. 1901. there was
organized in Charleston. South Caro-
lima. q supreme council OF the Thirty
third Degree for the United States Of
America. 1t became the mother Su-
prene Council OF the world, being the
first body organized comprising de-
grees from the fourth 10 the thirty
third inclusive. The body was opened
with the high honors of Masonry by
Brothers Mitchell and Dalcho, sover-
eign grand inspectors general. and in
the course OF the year 1902. the whole
number Of grand inspector generals
was completed. agreeably to the grand
constitutions
The grand constitution as the law
II existence of this Supreme Council
was ratified by his Majesty Frederick
The Great. King Of Prussia, who as the
grand commander of the Princes of the
Royal Secret possessed the sovereign
power over all the craft