Sketches Of Notable Masonic Works.

SKETCHES OF NOTABLE MASONIC WORKS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 17 , 1869 .

By % Bro . t WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , 18 ° , W . M . 131 Truro , Hon . Member , 75 , Falmouth , § 'c , author of History of " Freemasonry in Cornwall , " < yc , < $ •< :. No . 5 . " THE EJBEEITASONS' MONITOR . "

By THOMAS SMITH WEBB . [ Continued from page 143 ) . The second part of the work commences thus : " The ineffable degrees of Masonry , the history

and charges of Avhich are contained in the following pages , are as ancient ( it is alleged ) as the time of King Solomon ; the proof of which , is probably known only to those who are professors of the degrees . The general design of this part of

the work , is to prevent the history and charges of the several ineffable' degrees from falling into oblivion ; Avith which they have been long threatened , as AY ell as from the small number of conventions of Masons who possess them , as from the little attention that has been paid to their meetings of late years . "

The ineffable degrees are thus enumerated , and short but ably written descriptions accompany each . 4 . Secret Master . 5 . Perfect Master . 6 . Illustrious Secretary . 7 . Provost and Judge . 8 . Intendant of the building , or Master in Israel .

9 . Elected Knights , or Knights of the Ninth Arch , 10 . Elected Grand Master , or Illustrious elected of fifteen . 11 . Illustrious Knights , or Sublime Knights elected . 12 . Grand Master Architects . 13 . Knights of the Ninth Arch , or Royal Arch .

14 . Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Master . The motive Bro . Webb had in alluding to the " Ineffable Degrees seems to have been to convince Masons Avho have taken , the Craft and Royal Arch degrees , that there was a total

difference between those and the ancient and accepted Scottish Rite . " At least such he assigns in the preface as a likely result of his labour , as he states "it is a circumstance necessary to be known , that there are no parts of these degrees , that have any

resemblance to the Past Master , Mark Master , Excellent Master , or Royal Arch , or that have any reference or allusion to any of the circumstances on which the latter degrees were founded . " Prom this statement , I should judge that Bro .

Webb never received any of the ineffable degrees , because his assertions are contrary to fact . Especially so with respect to the 13 th degree , in which are to be found many points of resemblance with the present Royal Arch of England .

Particularly in connection with the ritual in vogue during the last century , and known as the " Dunckerley working . " Por information on this point . I cannot do better than refer the interested reader to the history of the Royal Arch by the late Dr .

Oliver , a work of great value published by the well-known Mason Bro . E . Spencer , London . Strange to say Bro . Webb never alludes to the higher degrees ! Not even to the Rose Croix ? Notwithstanding the whole were in working order in the United States before the monitor was issued .

Stephen Morin introduced the Hautes Grades into the United States A . D . 1761 . He derived his authority from the "Rite of Perfection" Paris , a body only then beginning to extend its ranks , and in fact of but short expeiience . It gradually

however extended in America , as we find Hayes subsequently busy at work as Deputy Grand Inspector General for North America . By his endeavours ., Isaac Da Costa became Inspector General for South Carolina , who by

virtue of his patent established a Supreme Grand Lodge of Perfection at Charleston . Joseph Mayers succeeded the latter on his decease . In 1788 , a Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem was opened at Charleston , and another in Virginia . On May

31 , 1801 , a Supreme Council of the thirty-third and last degree was formed at the former place , and from that time to this , nearly the whole of the Supreme Grand Councils of the world have been indebted to this body , either for their warrants

directly or indirectly . The Supreme Grand Council of New York that instituted the " Ancient and Accepted Rite " in England by warrant dated 26 th October , 1845 , derived its authority from Charleston A . D . 1813 . The leading principles taught in these degrees may be thus epitomized .

* 1 . That as all the rites of Masonry , originating from one common source , tend to the same object , philosophy , morality , benevolence , and the adoration of the Great Architect of the Universe , the obligations imposed upon and practised by

Scotch Masons are the same everywhere . 2 . All the Masons , whatever their country or rites , form a single family of brethren .