Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry.pdf - FatimaMovement

It is generally known among Masons, that in the
Northwestern States the lectures and "work" are
those as taught by Barney. There is a great degree
of uniformity in Michigan, Illinois, and
Wisconsin--also in Indiana and Iowa. The Barney
"work" is that adopted by the Baltimore
Convention. The "work" in Minnesota and New
York is strongly impregnated with what is called,
among Masons, "Morganry"--very similar to the
disclosures of Morgan and Richardson--so much
so, that many Masters purchase these publications
for their instruction in their duties and in the
ritual. Masonry has but little changed, and a
knowledge of the alterations which have been
made since Morgan's exposure was written is all
that is requisite to make a "bright Mason." The
only alterations which occur in the lectures of
each degree are in the commencement. A concise
sketch of Brother Barney, the author of the three
lectures introduced in
p. 148
this work, would not be out of place, as it will
account to the reader for the difference existing
between Masonic "works" in the several States,
and in Europe:
"In the year 1817, Brother John Barney, formerly
of Charlotte, Vermont, went to Boston, and
obtained possession of the Preston Lectures,
taught there by Gleason, and approved by the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. With these
lectures he returned to Vermont, and submitted
them to the Grand Lodge, at its annual session in
October, 1817. The subject was there referred for
examination to a committee, which reported that
these lectures were according to the most
approved method of 'work' in the United States,
and proposed to give Brother Barney letters of