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

70 The Degree Rituals
General Hancock and Confederate General Armistead that ended with their
confrontation and the latter’s death at Gettysburg. Period music was arranged
for scene interludes and the finale and was recorded for use by Consistories
unable to provide live musicians. The traditional title of the degree, “Prince
of Mercy,” was to be changed to “Friend and Brother Eternal.”
All was completed and recommended by the committee for approval in
2005, only to encounter the most unanticipated and acerbic criticism of a ritualistic
proposal and the work of the committee since the impasse over the
proposed revision of the 14° ritual in 1945. In the end, the proposed ritual
was spared outright rejection and tabled, only to be recalled the following
day and referred back to the committee for further study. Thus, the “Lincoln
Allegory” remained in place as the ritual of the 26° instead of being released
for public presentation that year as many had expected.
As the criticisms of the proposed ritual had been nonspecific, the committee
was at some loss as to what modifications might improve its acceptability.
The approach pursued was to reduce the length and complexity of the
proposed ritual. The first scene and the flashback feature, as well as one of
the principal characters, were eliminated. There was minor editing of the dialogue,
but the substance of the drama remained. A revised version was presented
and approved over minority opposition as the 26° Tentative Ritual of
2006. “Friend and Brother Eternal.” The “Lincoln Allegory” was withdrawn
as a degree ritual and approved for public presentation as The Last Full Measure.