Originally posted by MrNECROS
Well here it is finally – after nearly a year of interruptions I have finally got the damn thing up on the web for all of you out there to see.
Necros, Thanks for putting the book up in electronic format. I have 3 original copies in my library, but they're getting fragile. It's
nice to have a "reading" copy...although I never read it because it's way out of date. The Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
in Massachusetts
www.supremecouncil.org...
which is the group this book was originally published for and NO OTHER SUPREME COUNCIL, just revised the majority of their rituals (as they for some
reason do periodically) and even re-arranged some of them. The 5th Degree has been completely replaced....and doesn't even RESEMBLE the old 5th
Degree. The same lessons are taught, but no in the same way. Several others are like this, including the "Four Chaplains Degree" which recalls
the heroism of the 4 chaplains who gave up their life-preservers so that others could live.
Officially this book is NOT for perusal by anyone under 32nd Degree so it’s unlikely any Freemasons in this forum will be allowed to read it – but
hey, knock yourself out.
I guess I won't have to knock myself out too hard then, since I'm a 32nd Degree Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (K.C.C.H.)
This link will show you what that is and will demonstrate the differences in even some of the degree titles from your out-dated (but historically
important) book
www.geocities.com...
Note that your book calls the 32nd Degree, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. The Southern Jurisdiction calls it the Master of the Royal Secret.
The body of the rituals is quite different as well
This book was compiled by Brother Charles T McClenechan and submitted to The Northern Supreme Council in 1867 where it was approved as being an
accurate synopsis of the Scottish Rite after the reformation by Grand Commander Albert Pike of the Southern Jurisdiction with the help of just about
every other Grand Master and Lodge in the world.
Let's clarify that. Yes, Pike and others HELPED, but it was approved as being accurate for the NORTHERN MASONIC JURISDICTION. ...and NO OTHER.
Today (2005) it's NOT accurate for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
It was first published in 1884 and is still published on demand today although it's circulation is highly restricted outside of the various Supreme
Councils.
That's simply NOT TRUE. The Supreme Council has NO authority over the book. It's an out-dated piece of Masonic history. Supreme Councils other
than the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction likely never even heard of it unless they happen to have a dusty old copy in their library....and I was sincere
when I expressed appreciation that it's now available on the web. I intend to mail that link to several friends (a couple who aren't Freemasons but
are interested).
The book does not contain the full monitors of each ritual but contains all the relevent parts that should be consistant across all jurisdictions.
Again, not quite. Parts are similar, but even in the N.M.J. much of it is completely different today. And actually a Masonic "Monitor" is exactly
what you've posted so "The Book" DOES contain "full monitors" "Monitors" contain the exoteric (non-secret) portions of the degrees. Rituals
contain the full degrees, including the "monitorial" portions. ANYONE, Mason or non-Mason, heck even ANTI-Masons like yourself can purchase a
"Monitor" Log onto the Southern Jurisdictions web-site and (if youhave a credit card) you can purchase the SJ's Monitors. They're called "The
Liturgy of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite" I wouldn't suggest that they be put on the internet, though...they ARE copyrighted. Better
hurry, though...there's a limited supply and they won't be reprinted. However there's a publishing company in Montana makes an unauthorized
photo-copy reprint of it that you can buy on-line. The quality is terrible, but the text is there.
Anyone who has full individual monitors or other material is invited to post them to me so I can place them along with other bonafide factual material
on the new site.
As stated above, you have the Monitors. It's the Rituals you don't have. I do, for several jurisdictions of the Scottish Rite, but I'd NEVER give
them to you. They actually mean something to me.
Hope you all find it as useful as I did for understanding the rituals and hierarchical structure of Freemasonry.
As I said before, it's historically interesting. Note though that the "hierarchial structure" you mention is for the Scottish Rite Northern
Jurisdiction ONLY. Has nothing to do with 3rd Degree Master Masons or the various Grand Lodges in the U.S. and elsewhere. Even the degree
structure of the NMJ is different. They're Rite consists of 4 "bodies"
4th-14th Degree Lodge of Perfection
15th & 16th Degree Council of Princes of Jerusalem
17th & 18th Degree Chapter of Rose Croix
19th - 32nd Degree Consistory
The southern Jurisdiction (and most other Supreme Councils) consists of
4th-14th Degree Lodge of Perfection
15th-18th Degree Chapter Rose Croix
19th-30th Degree Council of Kadosh
31st & 32nd Degree Consistory
So when reading "The Book" understand that it's only applicable to one small jurisdiction in the Northeastern part of the U.S.A. and NO OTHER
SCOTTISH RITE (particularly NOT that one that Akilles is certain is located 13 blocks from the White House for some silly reason) ...and really "The
Book" ISN'T applicable to the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction any more because they have revised the rituals so many times....
The original work is well over 100 years old so there is no possibility of copyright infringement here.
Not sure how true that is. I *believe* Kessinger reprinted that book a few years ago and may have taken a copyright on it. Better check...I'd sure
hate for you to get into trouble.
[edit on 13-3-2005 by senrak]
