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HISTORY. 15
yet so little known to them, embracing the Historical,
Philosophical, and Chivalric.
With this purpose in view, attempts were made to
establish separate and distinct organizations, wherein
these sublime truths might be revealed and cultivated.
Nearly all these projects Avere ephemeral, and were
outlived by their projectors, while the " Rite of Perfec-
tion," the germ of the organization of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Kite—based upon the pure principles
of Mast**-:/ and the elucidation of the occult mysteries,
containing twenty-five degrees— gradually approached
development.
Doubtless the course of the Chevalier Ramsay, in
1740, hastened the consummation of the systematizing
and embodvino: the decrees which had theretofore been
for many years detached and unlocated.
Some authorities assert that this Rite of Perfection as
an organization was founded in 1753, while others insist
that in 1758 certain Masons, styling themselves " Sover
eicrn Princes and Grand Officers of the Grand and Sover-
eiarn Lodo-e of St. John of Jerusalem," founded at Paris
a body called "The Council of Emperors of the East and
West." This Council has been ordinarily known as the
Rite of Perfection, and according to Thory, Ragon,
Leveque, Vidal, Ferandie, Clavel, and others, consisted
of twenty-five degrees: in 1759 it established a Coun-
cil of Princes of the Royal Secret at Bordeaux, and from
this period began to extend itself.
By the year 1761, the Lodges, Councils, Chapters, and