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

300 GRAND ELECT, PERFECT AND SUBLIME MASON. OIDrING OURUONIUS. 801Thrice Puissant—Why is the Delta the subject ofyour respect?Senior Warden—Because is contains the sacred nameof the Eternal God, known, revered and exalted inHeaven and on eartb by the name of the Great Archit?ctof the Universe.Thrice Pu~.ssan i—What age are yau?Senior Warden—Three times three, the perfect number81, when properly repeated by our mysterious calculation.Thrice Pui8sant—Haw, my brather, can you demonstratethis?Senior Warden—I am a Perfect Sublime Elect Mason,my travels are finished and it is now time for me toreap the fr’uit af my labar.Thrice Pui8sani—What did yau contract when youwere made a Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Mason?Senior Warden—I contracted an alliance with virtuednd the virtuous.Thrice Puiuant—What mark have yau got to shawit?Senior Warden—This gold ring, a symbal of purity.Thrice Pui8sant—What’s ~he clock?Senior Warden—Higti twelve.Thrice Puissant—What do you understand by hightwe!ve?Sdnior Warden—Because the Sun at ith zenith dartsts rays perpendicularly into this lodge, intimating thetime to work efficaciously to the end of our perfection,and to profit by it8 generosity.Thrice Pui8san i—Where will you find materials?Senior Warden—In the trea8ury and virtue of thepe?feet masons, ~n regularly composing my actian~ iI’my heart by the square avid cornpass of itivine wisao’~Thrice Puissant—Where is the divine wisdom displayed?Senior Warden—In the hearts of the worthy, uprightbrethren who compoes this respectable lodge, of whichyou are the supporter.Thrice Puissant—And now my respect*ble brethren,I am going to enforce your designs to this effect.Brother Senior Grand Warden, announce that I amgoiug to open this lodge of Grand Elect Perfect”’ andSublime Masons by the mysterious numbers, 3-5-7-9.Senior Warden—Brethren, you will please take noticethat the Thrice Puissant Grand Master is going to openthis lodge of Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Masonsby the mysterious numbers 3-5-7 and 9.Junior Wardet~—(Claps three slow; 000, all na..)Senior Warden—(Claps five slow; 00000.)Thrice Puissani—(Claps seven slow; 0000000, all are~iIent for a moment.)Thrice Puissant—(Claps three; 000.) To order mybrethren; (all make the sign of obligation.)Note Z41.—~Tbo Lodge in which tbe fourteenth degree of tbe Ancientand A~eepted Scottiub Rite a coofened. In England and America thisdegree is calied Grand Sleet Perfeet and Sublime Mainon. hut the Frencbdeuignate it Grand Scottish Mns3n of the Saered Vault of James VI..or BUM ~cmia dO k Vout. User.. du laquos VI. Tbls Is one ofthe eyldencq.—and a Ye~ pregnant oae—of tbe influence ezercised bythe exiled Stnafls and their adherents on tbe Mainonry of that time i~making it an instrument fcq the restoration of James II., and tben ot hiason, to the throne of 3ngland.This degree, as concluding all refecence to the Brat Temple. ha. been‘ailed the ultimate degree of ancient Masonry. It Is the last ot whati• technically styled the Ineffable degrees, bec,uae their inatruetlonsrelate to tbe Ineffasle word.It. place of meeting Is called the 5acred vault. Its principal offi.era are a ‘Thrice Pulagant Grand Maiter. two Grand Warden., a GrandTreasurer, and Grand Secretary. In the first organjmation of the Ritein this country, the Lodges of Perfeetlon were called SuhIIme GrandLndges. and, hence, the word “Grand’ is itill affixed to the title ottbe officer..Tbe tollowiiig mytbical bistory is connected with and related in thisde~~•n tbe Temple was finished. tbe Mamma wbo bad been employedin constructing it acquired immortal honor Their order became inoi,Iloiforml7 pstablisbed and regulated than it bad been befotp. Theirautlon and icser,e in admitting new memberu produced aeuect. mmdmerit alone warn required of the candidate, With thou. principlc Inmtilfrdinto their minds. many of the Grand Sleet left tbe Temple afterits dedicatI~rn. und. diaperuing themaelyes among the neigbboring nationa.instructed all who applied and wee found wcrtby i~ the sublime dev~g•f Ancient Croft Masonry.’ —Msok.~. EaqoIapa.dla of Szmsuaamq.AitioI. ?STfOtiOU, Lode, .(.