Circular throughout the two Hemispheres
Circular throughout the two Hemispheres.
UNIVERSI TERRARUM ORBIS ARCHITECTONIS GLORIA AB INGENIIS.
Deus Meumque Jus.
Ordo ab Chao.
From the East of the Grand and Supreme Council of the Most Puissant Sovereigns, Grand Inspectors General, under the Celestial Canopy of the Zenith, which answers to the 32° 45' N. L.
To our Illustrious, Most Valiant and Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Knights of K∴ H∴, Illustrious Princes and Knights, Grand Ineffable and Sublime, Free and Accepted Masons of all degrees, Ancient and Modern, over the surface of the two hemispheres.
To all whom these letters shall concern :
HEALTH, STABILITY, POWER.
At a meeting of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General in Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, duly and lawfully established and congregated, held at the Grand Council Chamber, on the 14th day of the 7th month called Tisri, 5563, Anno Lucis, 5802, and of the Christian Era, the 10th day of October, 1802.
UNION, CONTENTMENT AND WISDOM.
The Grand Commander informed the Inspectors, that they were convened for the purpose of taking into consideration, the propriety of addressing circular letters to the different Symbolic Grand Lodges and Sublime Grand Lodges and Councils, throughout the two hemispheres, explanatory of the Origin and nature of the Sublime degrees of Masonry, and their establishment in South Carolina.
When a resolution to that effect was immediately adopted, and a Committee, consisting of the Illustrious Brethren Doctor Frederick Dalcho, Doctor Isaac Auld, and Emanuel De la Motta, Esq., Grand Inspectors General, was appointed to draft and submit such letter to the Council at their next meeting.
At a meeting of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, in Supreme Council of the Thirty-third, &c., &c., on the 10th day of the 8th month called Chisleu, 5563, A. L., 5802, and of the Christian Era, this 4th day of December, 1802.
The Committee to whom was referred the foregoing resolve, respectfully submitted to the Council, the following report.
To trace the progress of Masonry from its earliest period, and to fix precisely, the dates of the establishment of each of the degrees, is involved in much difficulty. As Symbolic Masons, we date our origin from the creation of the world, when the Almighty Builder, the Grand Architect of the Universe, established those immutable laws, which gave rise to the sciences. Mutual wants and necessities impelled our primordial brethren to seek for mutual assistance. Diversity of talents, genius, and pursuits, rendered them, in some measure, dependent on each other, and thus society was formed, and as a natural consequence, men of the same habits and dispositions, associated more intimately together, which gave rise to institutions connected with their designs, and suited to their genius : these led to the exclusion of those whose talents, habits, and circumstances, either disqualified them from participating in the knowledge of the others, or rendered them dangerous or unprofitable to the welfare of their general interests.
As civilization began to extend through the world, and the minds of men became enlarged from the contemplation of the works of nature, the Arts and Sciences were cultivated by the most ingenious of the people.
The contemplation of the Planetary system, as the work of an Almighty Artist, and the attributes of their God, gave rise to RELIGION, and the Science of Astronomy. The measurement of land, and the division and marking of their property, gave rise to Geometry, and these, collectively, to the Mystic Order ; and Watchwords, Signs, and Tokens were established to designate the Initiated, or Admitted.
It is, perhaps, impossible to fix precisely the time, when the first degrees were established in the form in which they are now given, as most of the Ancient records of the Craft were lost, or destroyed in England, in the wars of the Danes and Saxons. Much of the history of Masonry in the early stages, is so mixed with fable, and enveloped with the rust of time, that little satisfaction can be obtained ; but as we approach nearer to our own times, we have authentic records for our government.
The peculiar manner in which the three first or Blue degrees are given, as well as the matter of them, clearly evince them to be merely symbols of the Superior or Sublime degrees. They were formed as the test of the character and capacity of the initiated, before they should be admitted to the knowledge of the more important mysteries.
In the Third degree we are informed that, in consequence of the death of H. A., the Masters Word was lost, and that a new one, which was not known before the building of the Temple, was substituted in its place. If Masonry, as is generally believed, and as many of our ancient records import, took its rise from the creation, and flourished in the first ages of man, they were in possession of a Secret Word, of which, the Masons under Solomon had no knowledge. Here then was an innovation of one of the fundamental principles of the Craft, and a removal of one of the ancient landmarks : this, however, we are unwilling to allow. It is well known to the Blue Master, that King Solomon and his Royal Visitor, were in possession of the real and pristine word, but of which, he must remain ignorant, unless initiated into the Sublime degrees. The authenticity of this mystic word, as known to us, and for which our much respected Master died, is proven to the most skeptic mind, from the sacred pages of Holy Writ, and the Jewish history, from the earliest period of time. Doctor Priestly, in his letters to the Jews, has the following remarkable passage when speaking of the miracles of Christ — " and it has since been said by 'your writers' that he performed his miracles by means of some Ineffable name of God, which he stole out of the Temple." Notwithstanding the Symbolic Masons profess their societies to have originated in the first ages of the world, and date from the creation, yet in their degrees nothing is taught them but occurrences which took place at the building of the first temple, (an inconsiderable period of about seven years) 2992 years after the creation. The history of their Order, previous to that period, and the extensive and important improvements in the Art, both before and since, they are unacquainted with.
Many of the Lectures of the Sublime degrees contain an Epitome of the Arts and Sciences, and in their history many valuable and important facts are recorded, obtained from authentic archives in the possession of our society, and which, from the manner of their communication, can never be mutilated or corrupted. This is an object of the first magnitude, in a society, whose principles and practices should be invariable. Much variety and irregularity has unfortunately crept into the Blue degrees, in consequence of the want of Masonic knowledge, in many of those who preside over their meetings, and it is particularly so with those who are unacquainted with the Hebrew language, in which all the words and passwords are given. So essentially necessary is it for a man of science to preside over a Lodge, that much injury may arise from the smallest deviation in the ceremony of initiation, or in the lectures of instruction. We read in the Book of Judges, that the transposition of a single point over the " Sheen," in consequence of a national defect among the Ephraimites, designated the Cowans, and led to the slaughter of Forty-two thousand. The Sublime figure of the Divinity formed in the Fellow Crafts degree, can be elegantly illustrated, only by those who possess some knowledge of the "Talmud." Most of the words in the Sublime degrees are derived from the Chaldean, Hebrew, and Latin languages.
The various translations which the Symbolic degrees have undergone since their first establishment, from one language to another, and that, oftentimes, by men illiterate even in their mother tongue, is another cause of the variety which we lament. Not so the Superior degrees ; they appear in that Sublime dress which their founders gave them, originating in Science, and embellished by Genius. Many of the Sublime degrees are founded on the polite arts, and unfold a mass of information of the first importance to Masons.
Although many of the Sublime degrees are, in fact, a continuation of the Blue degrees, yet there is no interference between the two bodies. Throughout the continent of Europe and the West Indies, where they are very generally known, they are acknowledged and encouraged. The Sublime Masons never initiate any into the Blue degrees without a legal warrant obtained for that purpose, from a Symbolic Grand Lodge ; but they communicate the secrets of the Chair to such applicants, who have not already received it, previous to their initiation into the Sublime Lodge, but, they are at the same time informed that it does not give them rank as Past Masters in the Grand Lodge.
The Sublime Grand Lodge, sometimes called the Ineffable Lodge, or Lodge of Perfection, extends from the Fourth to the Fourteenth degree inclusive, which last, is the degree of Perfection. The Sixteenth degree is the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, who hold jurisdiction over the Fifteenth degree, called Knights of the East, and also over the Sublime Grand Lodge, and it is to them what a Symbolic Grand Lodge is to the subordinate Lodges. Without a Warrant and Constitution, regularly issued by them, or by a higher Council or Inspector, they are deemed irregular, and are punished accordingly. All the degrees above the Sixteenth are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, who are Sovereigns in Masonry. When it is necessary to establish the Sublime degrees in a country where they are unknown, a brother of the Twenty-ninth degree, which is called Kadosh, is appointed Deputy Inspector General over the District. He selects from among the Craft such brethren as he believes will do honor to the Society, and communicates the Sublime degrees to as many as is necessary for the first organization of the Lodge, when they elect their own officers, and govern themselves by the Constitution and Warrant which is furnished them. The jurisdiction of a Lodge of Perfection is Twenty-five leagues.
It is well known, that about twenty-seven thousand Masons accompanied the Christian Princes in the Crusades, to recover the Holy Land from the Infidels. While in Palestine, they discovered several important Masonic manuscripts, among the descendants of the ancient Jews, which enriched our archives with authentic written records, and on which some of our degrees are founded.
In the years 5304 and 5311, some very extraordinary discoveries were made, and occurrences took place, which renders the Masonic history of that period of the highest importance— a period dear to the Mason's heart, who is zealous in the cause of his order, his country, and his God.
Another very important discovery was made in the year 5553, of a record in Syrian characters, relating to the most remote antiquity, and from which it would appear that the world is many thousand years older than given by the Mosaic account ; an opinion entertained by many of the learned. Few of these characters were translated until the reign of our Illustrious and Most Enlightened Brother, Frederick IL, King of Prussia, whose well known zeal for the Craft, was the cause of much improvement in the society over which he condescended to preside.
As society improved, and as discoveries of old records were made, the number of our degrees were increased, until, in progress of time, the system became complete.
From such of our records as are authentic, we are informed of the establishment of the Sublime and Ineffable degrees of Masonry in Scotland, France and Prussia, immediately after the Crusades. But from some circumstances, which to us are unknown, after the year 4658 they fell into neglect until the year 5744, when a nobleman from Scotland visited France, and re-established the Lodge of Perfection in Bordeaux.
In 5761, the Lodges and Councils of the Superior degrees being extended throughout the continent of Europe, His Majesty the King of Prussia, as Grand Commander of the order of Princes of the Royal Secret, was acknowledged by all the Craft, as the head of the Sublime and Ineffable degrees of Masonry throughout the two hemispheres. His Royal Highness, Charles, Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Duke of Sudermania, Heir of Norway, &c., &c., was, and still continues, the Grand Commander and Protector of the Sublime Masons in Sweden ; and His Royal Highness, Louis of Bourbon, Prince of the Blood, Duke of Chartres, &c., &c., and the Cardinal Prince Bishop of Rouen, were at the head of those degrees in France.
On the 25th of October, 5762, the Grand Masonic Constitutions were ratified in Berlin, and proclaimed for the government of all the Lodges of Sublime and Perfect Masons, Chapters, Councils, Colleges and Consistories of the Royal and Military Art of Free Masonry, over the surface of the two hemispheres. There are Secret Constitutions, which have existed from time immemorial, and are alluded to in these instruments.
In the same year the Constitutions were transmitted to our Illustrious Brother, Stephen Morin, who had been appointed on the 27th of August, 5761, Inspector General over all Lodges, &c., &c., in the New World, by the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, convened in Paris, at which presided the King of Prussia's deputy, Challon de Joinville, Substitute General of the Order, Right Worshipful Master of the first Lodge in France, called St. Anthony's, Chief of the Eminent degrees. Commander and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, &c., &c.
The following Illustrious brethren were also present :
The Brother Prince of Rouen, Master of the Grand Intelligence Lodge, and Sovereign Prince of Masonry, &c.
Lacorne, substitute of the Grand Master, Right Worshipful Master of Trinity Lodge, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Maximilian de St. Simon, Senior Grand Warden, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Lavalette de Buchelay, Grand Keeper of the Seals, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Duke de Choiseuil, Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge of the Children of Glory, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Master, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Topin, Grand Ambassador from His Serene Highness, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Master, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Boucher de Lenoncour, Right Worshipful, Master of the Lodge of Virtue, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Master, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
Brest de la Chausee, Right Worshipful Master of the Exactitude Lodge, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Master, Knight and Prince of Masons, &c.
The Seals of the Order were affixed and the Patent countersigned by Daubertain, Grand, Elect, Perfect, Master, Knight and Prince of Masons, Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge of St. Alphonso, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge and Sublime Council of Princes of Masons, &c.
When Brother Morin arrived in St. Domingo, he, agreeably to his Patent, appointed a Deputy Inspector General for North America. That high honor was conferred on Brother M. M. Hayes, with the power of appointing others where necessary. Brother Morin also appointed Brother Frankin Deputy Inspector General for Jamaica and the British Leeward Islands, and Brother Colonel Provost for the Windward Islands, and the British Army.
Brother Hayes appointed Brother Isaac Da Costa, Deputy Inspector General for the State of South Carolina, who, in the year 5783, established the Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston. After Brother Da Costa's death, Brother Joseph Meyers was appointed Deputy Inspector General for this State by Brother Hayes, who, also, had previously appointed Brother Colonel Solomon Bush, Deputy Inspector General for the State of Pennsylvania, and Brother Barend M. Spitzer to the same rank for Georgia, which was confirmed by a Convention of Inspectors when convened in Philadelphia, on the 15th of June, 1781.
On the 1st of May, 5786, the Grand Constitution of the Thirty-third degree, called the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, was finally ratified by His Majesty the King of Prussia, who, as Grand Commander of the order of Princes of the Royal Secret, possessed the Sovereign Masonic power over all the Craft. In the new Constitution this high power was conferred on a Supreme Council of nine brethren in each nation, who possess all the Masonic prerogatives in their own district, that His Majesty individually possessed, and are Sovereigns of Masonry,
On the 20th of February, 5788, the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem was opened in this city, at which were present, Brother I. Meyers, D∴ I∴ G∴ for South Carolina ; Brother B. M. Spitzer, D∴ I∴ G∴ for Georgia ; and Brother A. Frost, D∴ I∴ G∴ for Virginia. Soon after the opening of the Council, a letter was addressed to His Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans, on the subject, requesting certain records from the archives of the Society in France, which, in his answer through Colonel Shee, his secretary, he very politely promised to transmit, but which the commencement of the French Revolution most unfortunately prevented.
On the 2d of August, 5795, Brother Colonel John Mitchell, late Deputy Quartermaster General in the Armies of the United States, was made a Deputy Inspector General for this State by Brother Spitzer, who acted in consequence of Brother Meyers' removal out of the country. Brother Mitchell was restricted from acting until after Brother Spitzer's death, which took place in the following year.
As many brethren of eminent degrees had arrived from foreign parts, Consistories of Princes of the Royal Secret were occasionally held for initiations and other purposes.
On the 31st May, 5801, the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third degree, for the United States of America, was opened with the high honors of Masonry, by Brothers John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General ; and in the course of the present year the whole number of Grand Inspectors General was completed agreeably to the Grand Constitutions.
On the 21st of January, 5802, a warrant of Constitution passed the Seal of the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, for the establishment of a Master Mark Masons Lodge in this city.
On the 21st of February, 5802, our Illustrious Brother, Count Alexandre François Auguste de Grasse, Deputy Inspector General, was appointed by the Supreme Council a Grand Inspector General and Grand Commander of the French West Indies ; and our Illustrious Brother, Jean Baptiste Marie de la Hogue, Deputy Inspector General, was also received as an Inspector General, and appointed Lieutenant Grand Commander of the same islands.
On the 4th of December, 5802, a warrant of Constitution passed the Seal of the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, for the establishment of a Sublime Grand Lodge in Savannah, Georgia.
The Names of the Masonic Degrees are as follows, viz.:
1st degree, called Entered Apprentice,
2d degree, called Fellow Craft,
3d degree, called Master Mason, — Given in a Symbolic Lodge.
4th degree, called Secret Master,
5th degree, called Perfect Master,
6th degree, called Intimate Secretary,
7th degree, called Provost and Judge,
8th degree, called Intendant of the Building,
9th degree, called Elected Knights of 9,
10th degree, called Illustrious Elected of 15,
11th degree, called Sublime Knights Elected,
12th degree, called Grand Master Architect,
13th degree, called Royal Arch,
14th degree, called Perfection, — Given in the Sublime Lodge.
15th degree, called Knight of the East,
16th degree, called Prince of Jerusalem, — Given by the Princes of Jerusalem — the governing Council.
17th degree, called Knight of the East and West.
18th degree, called Sovereign Prince of Rose Croix de Heroden.
19th degree, called Grand Pontiff.
20th degree, called Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges.
21st degree, called Patriarch Noachite, or Chevalier Prussien.
22d degree, called Prince of Libanus.
23d degree, called Chief of the Tabernacle.
24th degree, called Prince of the Tabernacle.
25th degree, called Prince of Mercy.
26th degree, called Knight of the Brazen Serpent.
27th degree, called Commander of the Temple.
28th degree, called Knight of the Sun.
29th degree, called K∴ H∴
30th, 31st and 32d degrees, Prince of the Royal Secret, Princes of Masons.
33d degree, Sovereign Grand Inspector General. — Officers appointed for life.
Besides those degrees, which are in regular succession, most of the Inspectors are in possession of a number of detached degrees, given in different parts of the world, and which they generally communicate, free of expense, to those brethren who are high enough to understand them : such as
Select Masons of Twenty-seven, and the Royal Arch as given under the Constitution of Dublin ; six degrees of Ma9onnerie d' Adoption, Compagnon Ecossais, le Maitre Ecossais, and le Grand Maitre Ecossais, &c., &c., making in the aggregate fifty-two degrees.
The Committee respectfully submit to the consideration of the Council, the above report, on the principles and establishment of the Sublime degrees in South Carolina, extracted from the archives of the Society. They cannot, however, conclude without expressing their ardent wishes for the prosperity and dignity of the Institutions over which this Supreme Council presides ; and they flatter themselves that, if any unfavorable impressions have existed among their brethren of the Blue degrees, from the want of a knowledge of the principles and practices of Sublime Masonry, it will be done away, and that harmony and affection will be the happy cement of the Universal Society of Free and Accepted Masons. That as all aim at the improvement of the general condition of mankind, by the practice of virtue and the exercise of benevolence, so they sincerely wish that any little differences that may have arisen, in unimportant ceremonies of Ancient and Modern^ may be reconciled, and give way to the original principles of the Order, those great bulwarks of society, universal benevolence and brotherly love, and that the extensive fraternity of Free Masons throughout the two hemispheres may form one band of brotherhood. " Behold, how good, and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity."
They respectfully salute your Supreme Council by the Sacred Numbers.
Charleston, South Carolina, the tenth day of the eighth month, called Chisleu, 5563, A. L. 5802 ; and of the Christian Era, this fourth day of December, 1802.
Frederick Dalcho, K∴ H∴, P∴ R∴ S∴, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, and Lieutenant Grand Commander in the United States of America.
Isaac Auld, K∴ H∴, P∴ R∴ S∴, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third.
E. De La Motta, K∴ H∴, P∴ R∴ S∴, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, and Illustrious Treasurer General of the H∴ Empire.
The above report was taken into consideration, and the Council was pleased to express the highest approbation of the same.
Whereupon Resolved, that the foregoing Report be printed and transmitted to all the Sublime and Symbolic Grand Lodges throughout the two hemispheres.
Signed: J. Mitchell, K∴ H∴, P∴ R∴ S∴, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, and Grand Commander in the United States of America.
True extract from the deliberations of the Council.
Ab. Alexander, K∴ H∴, P∴ R∴ S∴, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Thirty-third, and Illustrious Secretary General of the H∴ Empire.
Seal of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third.
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