1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

The Royal Purple of FraternalismI HE American, it seems, is almost instinctivelya "joiner." Our backwoodsgrandparents might have said "jiner."but still even they "jined." This gregariousexpression finds outlet in allsorts of societies, clubs, vereins, sodalities,auxiliaries, phalanges, circles,coteries, guilds and what have you.On the other hand they may bedignified and high-minded. The joininginstinct is not necessarily an indicationof puerility or an attributeof college days. It might be Menckenisticto lift an eyebrow at organizationsof the sort, but the large rosters,lodge buildings, and influence ofthese groups bespeak the popular mindin regard to them.The oldest, largest, wealthiest, andbest known of such fraternal organizationsis the Masonic fraternity. Thesuperlatives are not inspired by a patriotismtraceable to membership thereinbut are generally conceded facts,granted even by other fraternal orderswhich are, incidentally, patternedlargely after Masonry. In its presentform Freemasonry dates back morethan two hundred years and individuallodges have a much longer history.There would be little point in rehearsingin detail an account of theform which Masonry takes. Probablythousands of the alumni of * A 0are familiar with it through membershipin the organization. The basisof Masonry is, of course, the "bluelodge," presenting the degrees of "symbolic"Masonry. Upon this foundationthe architects of the organizationhave erected a superstructure whichextends through many more than thefoundational three degrees. Therehave in the past been a number of"rites" or groups of higher degrees.[399]By RUSSELL H. FITZGIBBONHanover, '24At present the ones most familiar andwidespreading are the York or AmericanRite and the Scottish Rite. Thelatter, one of the younger rites, is themost universal branch of Masonry,having its governing bodies, "SupremeCouncils," in most of the civilized sectionsof the world.All of the degrees exemplified by theYork Rite and twenty-nine of thethirty exemplified by the Scottish Rite(excluding the three of the "bluelodge," of course) are granted uponpetition. The Scottish Rite's "thirtythirdand last degree" is never sogranted, however. (It is "last" now,although in former centuries charlatanicdegree hawkers invented riteswith as many as ninety-nine degrees.)The "thirty-third" comes only for serviceto the order in a degree withwhich few if any fraternal honors canbe compared. It is the ne plus ultra ofFreemasonry, the summit of all thatcan come to an individual from fraternalorders of the United States. Allhis life the active and honored Masonmay remain a "thirty-second" and sufferno discredit; but if he is electedto take the long step up to the pinnacleof the last degree he becomesin truth a wearer of the royal purpleof Masonry.Forty-three living members of ^ A ©(according to the latest available records)have achieved this eminence.Twenty-two of them are in the "SouthernMasonic Jurisdiction" (the territorysouth of the Ohio River and theMason and Dixon line and west of theMississippi River) and twenty-one inthe "Northern Masonic Jurisdiction"(the rest of the states). We can takejustifiable pride in these men whohonor the rolls of thirty-third degree