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Article THE HISTORICAL DEGREES; ← Page 6 of 12 →
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The Historical Degrees;
public ^ reputation of the institution will generally be found to rise or fall , according to the skill , fidelity , and discretion , Avith Avhich its concerns are managed , and in proportion as the conduct and character of its principal officers are estimable orj ^ Qsurable . "' In the first degree of Scotch Knighthood , the adept is informed
that he has been elevated to the degree of High Priest , which entitles him to receive the following information ; that in future he has to adore the Deity under the name of Jehovah , which is much more expressive than the word Adonai ; that in this degree he receives the Masonic science as descended from Solomon and revived by the
Templars . In the second degree the royal art is traced to . the creation , from-which period it has been transmitted through Noah , Abraham , Moses , Solomon , and other worthies , down to Hugo de Pay ens , the founder of the Knights Templar and Jaques cle Molay , their last Grand Master . In the next decree the great word is
revealed to him , discovered by the Knights Templar when building a church at Jerusalem . It is related , that in digging under the spot whereon had been placed the holy of ¦ holies , in the bosom of Mount Moriah , they discovered three stones , on one of which was this word engraven . The , Templars , on leaving the Holy Land , carried with
them these relics , and on their arrival in Scotland , deposited them , on St . Andrew ' s clay , as the foundation stones of their first Lodge , whence they assumed the name of Knights of St . AndreAv . The tradition adds that their successors , being entrusted Avith this secret , are perfect masters of Freemasonry at the present day , and High Priests of Jehovah .
Our Royal Arch Brethren will readily trace in this legend a resemblance to certain parts of the ceremonial belonging to that supreme degree ; and in reference to the place in which the discovery was made , it is to be observed that Josephus speaks of some vaulted chambers that existed on the holy spot in his time . The old traveller Maundrell , also says that in a ga-rden situate at the foot of
Mount Moriah lie Avas shown several lame vaults nomine : at least o o fifty yards under ground : they were built in t \ vo aisles arched at the top with a huge firm stone , and sustained by tAvo pillars , each consisting of a single stone two yards in diameter .
Knight of the Brazen Serpent , which is the tAventy-fifth degree , k founded upon the events described in the book of Numbers , xxi . 6—9 .
" And . tlie Lord scut fiery serpents among the people , and they hit the people ; and much people of Israel died . Therefore the people came to Moses , and said , We have sinned , for avc luwe spoken against the Lord , and against thee ; pray unto the Lord , that lie take away the serpents from us . And Moses prayed lor the people . And the Lord said unto Moses , Make thee a fiery serpent , and set it upon a pole : and it shall come to pass , that every one that is 'bitten , when lie looketh upon it , shall live . And Moses made a serpent of brass , and put it upon a pole , and it came to pass , that if a serpent had bitten any man , when be beheld the serpent of brass , he lived .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Historical Degrees;
public ^ reputation of the institution will generally be found to rise or fall , according to the skill , fidelity , and discretion , Avith Avhich its concerns are managed , and in proportion as the conduct and character of its principal officers are estimable orj ^ Qsurable . "' In the first degree of Scotch Knighthood , the adept is informed
that he has been elevated to the degree of High Priest , which entitles him to receive the following information ; that in future he has to adore the Deity under the name of Jehovah , which is much more expressive than the word Adonai ; that in this degree he receives the Masonic science as descended from Solomon and revived by the
Templars . In the second degree the royal art is traced to . the creation , from-which period it has been transmitted through Noah , Abraham , Moses , Solomon , and other worthies , down to Hugo de Pay ens , the founder of the Knights Templar and Jaques cle Molay , their last Grand Master . In the next decree the great word is
revealed to him , discovered by the Knights Templar when building a church at Jerusalem . It is related , that in digging under the spot whereon had been placed the holy of ¦ holies , in the bosom of Mount Moriah , they discovered three stones , on one of which was this word engraven . The , Templars , on leaving the Holy Land , carried with
them these relics , and on their arrival in Scotland , deposited them , on St . Andrew ' s clay , as the foundation stones of their first Lodge , whence they assumed the name of Knights of St . AndreAv . The tradition adds that their successors , being entrusted Avith this secret , are perfect masters of Freemasonry at the present day , and High Priests of Jehovah .
Our Royal Arch Brethren will readily trace in this legend a resemblance to certain parts of the ceremonial belonging to that supreme degree ; and in reference to the place in which the discovery was made , it is to be observed that Josephus speaks of some vaulted chambers that existed on the holy spot in his time . The old traveller Maundrell , also says that in a ga-rden situate at the foot of
Mount Moriah lie Avas shown several lame vaults nomine : at least o o fifty yards under ground : they were built in t \ vo aisles arched at the top with a huge firm stone , and sustained by tAvo pillars , each consisting of a single stone two yards in diameter .
Knight of the Brazen Serpent , which is the tAventy-fifth degree , k founded upon the events described in the book of Numbers , xxi . 6—9 .
" And . tlie Lord scut fiery serpents among the people , and they hit the people ; and much people of Israel died . Therefore the people came to Moses , and said , We have sinned , for avc luwe spoken against the Lord , and against thee ; pray unto the Lord , that lie take away the serpents from us . And Moses prayed lor the people . And the Lord said unto Moses , Make thee a fiery serpent , and set it upon a pole : and it shall come to pass , that every one that is 'bitten , when lie looketh upon it , shall live . And Moses made a serpent of brass , and put it upon a pole , and it came to pass , that if a serpent had bitten any man , when be beheld the serpent of brass , he lived .