Blanchard J (anti-masonic) - Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated Part I

250 GRAND MASTER ARCHITECT.secret place where you may rest from your labors, andwith joy unspeakable, contemplate the pillar of beauty.My brother, the history of the degree which you havejust now taken is short. [would merely say to you thatmasonic traditiQn informs us that King Solomon establishedthis grade with a view to forming a school ofArchitecture for the instruction of the craftsmen employedin the building of the temple and to animatethem with a desire of arriving at perfection in theRoyal Art.’” He was a prince equally renowned for hisjustice, wisdom and foresight; he therefore desired toreward the faithful and meritorious craftsmen, so thatby perfection in the Art, they might be better preparedto approach the throne of God.He accordingly, for this purpose cast his eyes ~iponthe Grand Masters of the workmen. The SublimeKnights Elected as persons properly qualified to assisthim in preparing for the fulfillment of the promisemade to Enoch, to Moses and to David, that in the fullnesof time, God would dwell in a axed temple and thathis name should be there.Thus my brother, ends the degree of Grand MasterArchitect.Nots 110.—If I were to deSne qFreemasonry as an.art I ahould any thatit ~us an art which taugi~t the construction of a spiritual temple. Justna the art of arebitecture teaches the conatruction of a material temple.And I should Illustrate the train of tdeaa by which the Freemasons wereled to symbolise the Temple of Solomon as a spiritual temple of mansusture, hy borroidug the language ~ St. Peter. wbo says to his Christiuninitiates: ‘Ye also. ~s Uyeiy atones, are built up a spiritual house.• Andwith great emphacia. and me attli more illustesti,e, would I cite thelanguage of the Apostle of the Gentiles—that Apostle who, of all others,moat delighted in symbolism and who aaya. •Know ye not that ye are thetemple of God, and that the spirIt of God dweileth In you?,,And this is the reason why Freemasonry is called an art.Baying thus determined the conditions under which Freemasonry becomesan art the next inquiry will be why it has been distinguIshedfrom all other arts In being designated. par szo.l1.nss. the Loyal hit.And here we must abandon all thought that this title comes in anyway from the connection of Freemasonry pith earthly monarchs—fromthe patronage or the membership of kings. Freemasonry obtains no additionto its intrinsic yalue from a connection with the political hesds ofstates. Kings, when they enter within its sacred portsls. are nolonlethinge. but brethren.”—Nankey’s Xnoyelopaedia of FresmasoarT, ArtiabLey~ hit.CLOSINGCEREMONIESGRAND MASTER ARCHITECT.Most Powerful—Brother Inspector, give me the sign?Inspector—( Gives it.)Most Powerful—(Opens his ease of instruments andsays:) Let us work, (all the brethren present arrangetheir instruments on the table three by three.)Most Powerful—(Puts his left hand on the comp.i-~of proportion, leaning on his right.) Brother Inspedoido you know only this work?Inspector—I comprehend another.Most Powerful—Give me the token.Inspector— (Advances and gives it.)Most Powerful—Give me the pass-word.Inspector—Rab.Most Powerful—Go on, Brother Inspector.Inspector—Ba.Most Powerful—Make an end.Inspector—Naim.Most Powcrful—(Makes a triangle with his compacsand rule and says,) my dear brethren, we will finish.All—(Replace tTieir instruments in their cases) wefinish.Most Powerful—Brother Inspector, what’s the hour?Inspector—The two principles are reconciled, andbeauty is generated, the morning star has risen.Most Powerful—(Strikes 0 00.) Brother Inspedorgive notice that this Chapter is closed.Inspector—(Strikes 0 00.) Brethren you will pleasetake notice that this Chapter is closed.Junior Warden—(Strikes 0 00.) Brethren you willplease take notice that this Chapter is closed.All give the sign and the Chaptcr is closed.