Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

HIGHEST
HIGH 325
not only rejected them, but forbidden their
cultivation by those who are under their
obedience. But, on the other hand, they
have been strenuously supported by many
who have believed the Ancient Craft degrees
do not afford a sufficient field for the expansion
of Masonic thought . A writer in
the London Freemasons' Magazine (1858,
i ., 1167) has expressed the true theory on
this subject in the following language :
"It is the necessary consequence of an
exclusive addiction to Craft Masonry that
the intellectual and artistic development
of the minds of the members must suffer,
the ritual sink to formalism, and the administration
fall into the hands of the lower
members of the Order, by a diminution in
the initiations of men of high intellectual
calibre, and by the inactivity, or practical
secession, of those within the Order . The
suppression of the higher degrees, that is,
of the higher Masonry, may be agreeable to
those who are content to possess the administrative
functions of the Order without genuine
qualifications for their exercise, but it
is a policy most fatal to the true progress
of the Order . When Masonry has so fallen,
to restore the higher degrees to their full
activity is the measure essential for restoring
the efficacy of Masonry within and
without. Thus, in the last century, when
Craft Masonry had spread rapidly over the
whole of Europe, a reaction set in, till the
heads of the Order brought the high degrees
into vigor, and they continued to exercise
the most powerful influence ."
Highest of Hills. In the Old York
Lectures was the following passage : "Before
we had the convenience of such wellformed
Lodges, the Brethren used to meet
on the highest of hills and in the lowest of
valleys . And if they were asked why they
met so high, so low, and so very secret,
they replied-the better to see and observe
all that might ascend or descend ; and in
case a cowan should appear, the Tiler might
give timely notice to the Worshipful Master,
by which means the Lodge might be
closed, the jewels put by, thereby preventing
any unlawful intrusion ." Commenting
on this, Dr . Oliver (Landm ., i., 319) says :
" Amongst other observances which were
common to both the true and spurious
Freemasonry, we find the practice of performing
commemorative rites on the highest
of hills and in the lowest of valleys . This
practice was in high esteem amongst all the
inhabitants of the ancient world, from a
fixed persuasion that the summit of mountains
made a nearer approach to the celestial
deities, and the valley or holy cavern
to the infernal and submarine gods than
the level country ; and that, therefore, the
prayers of mortals were more likely to be
heard in such situations." Hutchinson also
says : "The highest hills and the lowest
valleys were from the earliest times esteemed
sacred, and it was supposed that the Spirit
of God was peculiarly diffusive in those
places." The sentiment was expressed in
the language of the earliest lectures of the
eighteenth century, and is still retained,
without change of words, in the lectures
of the present day . But introduced, at
first, undoubtedly with special reference
to the ancient worship on "high places,"
and the celebration of the mysteries in the
caverns of initiation, it is now retained
for the purpose of giving warning and instruction
as to the necessity of security and
secrecy in the performance of our mystical
rites, and this is the reason assigned in
the modern lectures . And, indeed, the
notion of thus expressing the necessity of
secrecy seems to have been early adopted,
while that of the sacredness of these places
was beginning to be lost sight of ; for in a
lecture of the middle of the last century,
or perhaps earlier, it was said that "the
Lodge stands upon holy ground, or the
highest hill or lowest vale, or in the Vale
of Jehosophat, or any other secret place ."
The sacredness of the spot is, it is true,
here adverted to, but there is an emphasis
given to its secrecy .
This custom of meeting on the "highest
hills and in the lowest valleys" seems to have
prevailed at Aberdeen, Scotland, for they
say : "We ordain that no Lodge beholden
within a dwelling-house where there is people
living in it, but in the open fields, except
it be ill weather, and then let a house be
chosen that no person shall heir or sie us ."
Also, "We ordain lykewayes that all entering
prentieses be entered in our ancient outfield
Lodge in the mearnes in the Parish of
Negg, at the Stonnies at the poynt of the
Ness." [E . E . C .]
High Grades. Sometimes used for High
Degrees, which see .
High Priest . The presiding officer of
a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons according
to the American system . His title is "Most
Excellent," and he represents Joshua, or
Jeshua, who was the son of Josedech, and
the High Priest of the Jews when they returned
from the Babylonian exile. He is
seated in the east, and clothed in the apparel
of the ancient High Priest of the Jews. He
wears a robe of blue, purple, scarlet, and
white linen, and is decorated with a breastplate
and miter . On the front of the miter
is inscribed the words, "HOLINESS TO THE
LORD ." His jewel is a miter .
High Priesthood, Order of. This order
is an honorarium, to be bestowed upon
the High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter
in the United States, and consequently no
one is legally entitled to receive it until he
has been duly elected to preside as High
Priest in a regular Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons. It should not be conferred when a
less number than three duly qualified High
Priests are present . Whenever the ceremony
is performed in ample form, the assistance
of at least nine High Priests, who
have received it, is requisite . The General
Grand Chapter of the United States has