Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

370 WIAND iN~ll:CToiI iNQUIsITUII COMMANDER.
between Mason3 of the some or different degrees, when
such matters are either referred to them by subordinate
bodies, or by the parties themselves, or one of them, or
by other Masons, and shall examine into and weigh the
facts, merits, arid give and enforce such judgment and
decision as shall in their ~‘icwbe jiist~ right and equitable
in the premises.
ARTICLE Vii.
1. All mandates and piocess of the Tribdnal shall
be signed by the Chancellor and sealed with the seal of
the Tribunal.
2. A record shall be faithfully kept of all the proceedings
and judgments of the Tribunal, and all depnsitions
and other papers shall be filed and carefully preserved
fi
PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS
THIRTY-FIRST DEGREE; OR, GRAND INSPECTOR
INQUISITOR COMMANDER.
Filled With Vain RepetitIons—Republican Appointment of a Vaunnic
Rebei—Ciain,a to Rule Judicially the Masonic Order—The ways of
the Lodge Are Movable.
This degree covers sixty pages, so dull, prolix, and
humdrum, that they remind one of the “vain repetitions”
of the heathen, which Christ forbade. Nineteen
pages are filled by the “Illustrious Advocate,” with a
tedious compound dessertation on the metaphysics of
“justice,” “ideal,” and “actual,” leading nowhere, and
teaching nothing. Indeed, knowing that Masons who
run lodges are neither fools, nor blockheads, but sly, keen
men; one would be at a loss for the motive which has
produced such solemn humbuggery, but for the fact that
pickpockets practice similar arts to amuse the crowd,
while feelirg for their purses; and Mormons and other
religious impostors teach wonderful things, to awe the
ignorant, and keep them still, while devils mesmerize
them.
In this thirty-first degree, for which the writers give
neither date nor origin, nine men erect themselves into
a “Sovereign Tribunal,” or Supreme Court, to rule
Masons! Their “Advocate” (page 343) speaks of it as
“created,” but says not when, where, or by whom.
Who could “create” them into a tribunal, when there
was no higher power to create them; and in Masonry,
no appeals to the people are ever made. Mackey and
2lfacoy simply remark: “It is not a historical degree.”
Unless the nine got together, and initiated themselves