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Article THE HISTORICAL DEGREES; ← Page 7 of 15 →
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The Historical Degrees;
appointed twelve of these latter , chosen by their companions , to constitute a new degree , on which he bestowed the name of Sublime Sleet , and endowed them with a certain command over the workmen , who were , in imitation of the tribes of Israel , divided into twelve companies . These Sublime Elect rendered to Solomon daily an account of the work that was done in the Temple by their respective
companieSj and received the payment for them . The assembly is called a " grand chapter ; " the presiding officer represents King Solomon , whose name he bears as Thrice Puissant ; his two chief officers are a G-rand Inspector and a Master of Ceremonies . The apron is white , with a black border and lining , and on the flap a
heart in flames ; there is also a black sash suspended from the right shoulder ; to the left hip , and on it is also a flaming heart . The costume resembles very closely that of the Knights Templar , differing only in the emblem . The room or place of meeting is hung with black . Wo believe this degree is included with two others in the fourth of the
French rite . The title of Knights naturally suggests the idea that this degree could not have been formed before the Christian era , and is favourable to the suggestion that it was instituted by the military orders in Palestine . Grand Master Architect is the twelfth degree . In this the principles of operative Masonry become prominent ; it is a purely
scientific degree , in which the rules of architecture and the connection of the liberal arts with Masonry are dwelt upon . Although the lectures on the Fellow Craft Degree illustrate architecture from the same point of view , the subject is susceptible of great extension , and under the G-rand Master Architect" numerous details illustrative of the Temple dedicated to the Most High by the wisest man might be worked out . In the absence of distinct information upon many points , there is some exercise for the imagination in furnishing a
complete description of the Temple of Solomon , which we must conclude was an astonishing and magnificent work for tho time in which it was built ; and it seems to have been distinguished from all other temples of remote antiquity by its sumptousness of detail . Tho officers of this degree are the Master , who is denominated Most Powerful , and two Wardens . The Chapter is decorated with red and white hangings ; tho ornaments are the columns of the five
orders of architecture , and -a case of mathematical instruments . The jewel is a gold medal , on both sides of which , in high relief , the five orders are represented ; this is suspended by a stone coloured ribbon , We think that every Mason who carefully studies the subject , will agree with us that this degree ought not to be laid aside ; if it is not
in its present state so full of interest as might be desired , the works of Josephus , Strabo , Calmet , and others afford abundance of illustrative materials of which the compilers of tho Fellow Craft lecture have made no use . Tho degree might also become a useful school of instruction in practical architecture , and by diffusing a correct taste among the fraternity , and through them among the world at
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Historical Degrees;
appointed twelve of these latter , chosen by their companions , to constitute a new degree , on which he bestowed the name of Sublime Sleet , and endowed them with a certain command over the workmen , who were , in imitation of the tribes of Israel , divided into twelve companies . These Sublime Elect rendered to Solomon daily an account of the work that was done in the Temple by their respective
companieSj and received the payment for them . The assembly is called a " grand chapter ; " the presiding officer represents King Solomon , whose name he bears as Thrice Puissant ; his two chief officers are a G-rand Inspector and a Master of Ceremonies . The apron is white , with a black border and lining , and on the flap a
heart in flames ; there is also a black sash suspended from the right shoulder ; to the left hip , and on it is also a flaming heart . The costume resembles very closely that of the Knights Templar , differing only in the emblem . The room or place of meeting is hung with black . Wo believe this degree is included with two others in the fourth of the
French rite . The title of Knights naturally suggests the idea that this degree could not have been formed before the Christian era , and is favourable to the suggestion that it was instituted by the military orders in Palestine . Grand Master Architect is the twelfth degree . In this the principles of operative Masonry become prominent ; it is a purely
scientific degree , in which the rules of architecture and the connection of the liberal arts with Masonry are dwelt upon . Although the lectures on the Fellow Craft Degree illustrate architecture from the same point of view , the subject is susceptible of great extension , and under the G-rand Master Architect" numerous details illustrative of the Temple dedicated to the Most High by the wisest man might be worked out . In the absence of distinct information upon many points , there is some exercise for the imagination in furnishing a
complete description of the Temple of Solomon , which we must conclude was an astonishing and magnificent work for tho time in which it was built ; and it seems to have been distinguished from all other temples of remote antiquity by its sumptousness of detail . Tho officers of this degree are the Master , who is denominated Most Powerful , and two Wardens . The Chapter is decorated with red and white hangings ; tho ornaments are the columns of the five
orders of architecture , and -a case of mathematical instruments . The jewel is a gold medal , on both sides of which , in high relief , the five orders are represented ; this is suspended by a stone coloured ribbon , We think that every Mason who carefully studies the subject , will agree with us that this degree ought not to be laid aside ; if it is not
in its present state so full of interest as might be desired , the works of Josephus , Strabo , Calmet , and others afford abundance of illustrative materials of which the compilers of tho Fellow Craft lecture have made no use . Tho degree might also become a useful school of instruction in practical architecture , and by diffusing a correct taste among the fraternity , and through them among the world at