The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

FRKKMASOXRY AND KXIGHTSTliMl'LAKand enlarged by tbe successive labors of Clare, of1 Hmckerlev, of Preston and of Hemming. Did Andersonand Desaguliers submit the simple ceremonialwhich they found at the reorganization of the( irand Lodge in 1/17, to a similar modification andenlargement ?RitualThe mode of opening and closing a Lodge, ofconferring the degrees, of installation and otherduties, constitutes a system of ceremonies whichare called the Ritual. Much of this Ritual is esoteric,and, not being permitted to be committed towriting, is communicated only by oral instruction.In each Masonic jurisdictionit isrequired by thesuperintending authority, that the ritual shall bethe same ;but it differs more or less in the differentRites and jurisdictions. This, however, does notaffect the universality of Masonry. The ritual isonly the external and extrinsic form. The doctrineof Freemasonry is everywhere the same. But whilethe ceremonies, or ritual, have varied at differentperiods, and stillvary in different countries,the science and philosophy, the symbolism andthe religion of Freemasonry continue, and will continueto be the same wherever true Masonry is practiced.80