The Washington times., 1912-10-08
SECRET SESSIONS
Of SCOTTISH RITE
:.MASONS HERE TODAY
Twenty-three Supreme Coun-
ellis Have Delegates Here
u to Urge Peace.

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry continued today at the
Scottish Rite Cathedral Third and Il
streets northwest, the adjournment of
the conference being followed by COM
riittee work. :,.
Much work is ahead of the $50 Scot
fish Rite Masons OF the thirty third
degree. as the purpose Of ,the present
conference Is to make unifor1n the ex-
ecutive work Of the several councils Of
the world. Ritualistic work 10 uniform
wherever Masonry 10 known, but the
Axecutive work Of the supreme councils
varies. .a
1T is fittSg that conference for
this purpose should be held In Amer
lea, because. the supreme council Of
the Southern Jurisdiction Of the united
States IL the parent Of each of the
other twenty-eight councils Of the
world. Despite she antiquity Of Mason-
ry, II Is from the United states that
the modern rejuvenation and extension
Of Scottish Rite Masonry has sprung.
Above the halls in which the CONFER
ence is being held floats the white ban
ner bearing the black double eagle Of
Frederick the Great. The present Con-
ference is being held during the 10th
anniversary q the signing Of the :lrst
constitutions Of the order by the great
frussian war lord. In compliment to
Him the organization adopted the black
double eagle Of Prussia as Its insignia.
Support Plea for Peace.
Through It's powerful organization in
all parts Of the world the Scottish Rite
Nelson's are supporting the plea which
comes from many sources for world
peace. The Masons take no official
part in public affairs beyond their own
assemblies but their advocacy of peace
ID none the less strong. This is one oil
the subjects before the conference.
Many Masons have taken part IN inter-
national peace conferences, but have
done SO as individuals and not as rep
resentatives of the secret body.
Scottish Rite Masonry has a defined
history of somethirts less than 100 years,
although accounts OF organizations
Identical In purpose and counted Masons
occur in all history. and the tradition
OF Masonry fades away only In the
nnists OF antiquity, Tie first organi.
cations similar TO Scottish Rite orders
were foormed after 1870. In 1I43. Cheva-
s rsna Ram snS II, mem Paris lr es,sSiisseS az
order having Twenty-Five degrees. Thi,
was known as the rite Of perfection.
The first constitutions were established
IN lI62, and were saBheo- py 'rreoerieN
the Great.
Official recognition went far In giving
the order influence and stability and tbs
continued use of the black double eagle
al the insignia OF the order II mem
orial Of the notable part played by thu
tablishing a Scottish rite OF twenty
Ave degrees were established. o.. Dr..
First Lodge in America.
The year before the first constitution;
we're signed Etienne NORM. acting AZ 9
deputy for the councils of the Emperor'
of the East and West, established 9
supreme council In Santo Domingo
This was the first Introduction OF tn,
lodge instituted by Chevalier Ramsa,
in the Western Hemisphere. In 1873
supreme council was established b,
Norm In Charleston. s. c.. the first II
the United states.
Twenty-Five degrees, equal to the OLE
"rite Of perfection" marked the high
est hoRors Of this order. Three year
later the supreme council at Charleston
established eight additional degrees ant
In 1901 the first supreme council In tn
world Of thirty three degrees was es
tablished in that city: -,
Through the institution Of these add
tionai degrees the see OF charleston
took on additional dignity. In iSS4
tnfrty-tnree-uekree COuHCi Wuo .obtdu
lished In Parist, where the old rite hat
practically died out. In 1913 the coun
cil OF Charleston established the North
ern Jurisdiction Of the United States
II comprises those States north Of tn
Mason and Dixon line and as far Yves
as the Mississippi river and 10 NOR
populous than the parent council. .
Gar as the United States Is CONCERNED.
The Southern Jurisdiction. however, Il
q. which Washington Is included an
which was honored yesterday by. IN
selection of James Richardson az presi
dent of the international conference
comprises the island possessions OF tn
United States, Japan. and China.
The most recently established cpunc
is that of Servia. instituted within tn
last year. The baby council is repre-
scented at the conference by +. Doucha
MiiitcheNitch. .... 3. .....' '..
General Session Today.
The program tomorrow comprises
general sitting OF the conference an
committee work. On Thursday a pi
grimage win be made to Mt. Vernon
The boat will leave the Seventh stree
wharf at 10 o'clock. Thursday after
noon a tour, through the parks and pub
lie buildings will be made, the Mason
leaving the New willard at 3 oclocl
a general session Of the conference wi
occupy Friday. Thirty-second degree
win be conferred on candidates tha
night by the Albert Pike Consistor!
The conference will conclude Its wor
SATURDAY. &c