The Degree Rituals The Supreme Council, 33 ... - Scottish Rite, NMJ

50 The Degree Rituals
allegory to an American setting with the American Masonic icon George
Washington replacing Frederick as the lead character. The primary author of
the transplanted allegory was J. Frank Davis, 32°, K.C.C.H., of San Antonio,
Texas.
As the first Scottish Rite degree ritual with an American setting and theme,
the 20° Ritual of 1922 enjoyed immediate acceptance. Within a few decades
its popularity was enhanced by the patriotic fervor generated during the era
of World War II. The allegory was so well received that over the years there
were repeated requests for permission to make public presentations. All such
requests, of course, were rejected, as by law and by custom the degree work
of the Rite may be exhibited only to persons who are Scottish Rite Masons
of the requisite degree.
In 1936, a prologue and epilogue to the allegory were approved for optional
use on a trial basis. The effect was to portray the drama as a multiscene
dream sequence. The additional scenes never were adopted as part of
the ritual and were withdrawn in 1951.
The ritual was reissued without significant change in 1939 and 1951. More
than 40 years then passed before the ritual again underwent scrutiny by the
Committee on Rituals. In the interim concern had arisen over the depiction
of some prominent historical characters in the allegory as Masons, as no documentary
evidence was known to prove their membership. There also was a
question as to when and where Lafayette had become a Mason. These concerns
over historical accuracy were partially addressed in 1980, when the
Committee on Rituals directed that some of the characters in the allegory be
replaced by others with proven Masonic credentials.
The significant change made by the ritual of 1994 was elimination of the
ceremonial opening, i.e., the “candle section,” which dated back more than
200 years to the Francken Manuscript. This ceremony had been the essence
of the 20° ritual until the allegory was introduced shortly before the turn of
the 20th century. Its removal from the ritual was unquestionably a blow to
Scottish Rite tradition. It was justified, however, for the sake of facilitating
presentation of the allegory, which exemplified what had evolved as the Masonic
lessons of the degree. For this reason the Supreme Council already had
made the presentation of degree ceremonials optional, and many Valleys routinely
omitted them in the interest of tightening reunion schedules. Although