Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THIRD DEGREE
BY
MEREDITH SANDERSON
I - FOREWORD.
It does not come within the scope of this book to trace the
history of the Craft down to modern times, but it is absolutely
necessary that its extreme antiquity be thoroughly
appreciated. Let us therefore consider very briefly the
evidence of this antiquity and its effect on the ritual.
We see then that there is at least a prima facie case that the
Hiramic legend evolved not only from the Osirian myth but
from the magical ceremonies of primitive man: that such is
actually the case is the writer's belief.
In the cult of Osiris these phallic rites are also found as in the
great Asiatic religions, including India. There is therefore no
greater gap to be bridged between the primitive rites and
Masonry, in this respect, than in others. Space permits only
a brief reference to a very big subject, but more evidence of
the origin of Freemasonry in these ancient rites will be given
under specific headings.
The year 1717, when the first Grand Lodge was founded,
formed a turning point in the modern history of the Craft.
Before this period Freemasonry was little more than an
operative body observing certain ancient forms, mostly
derived from Sun-worship, and possibly embodying the last
remnants of Druidism. This operative body differed from
other similar associations of craftsmen in the possession of
these forms and in that it welcomed non-operative members
to a greater extent than they; these "gentlemen-masons"
were admitted at once to full participation in the secrets of
the Craft, (22) the apprentices being, latterly at any rate, all
operative members. The Freemasons of the Middle Ages,
also, were probably architects rather than stone-masons,
and there is no doubt that the operative members of the
Craft were artists rather than artisans. The prefix "free" was
not peculiar to Masonry and other guilds called themselves
Free Carpenters, Free Sewers, Free Vintners, Free
Dredgers, Free Miners, and so on; it meant that the member
of any of them was free to exercise his trade by virtue of due
service and qualification. (23)
AN EXAMINATION
OF
THE MASONIC RITUAL
BY
MEREDITH SANDERSON
THE QUESTIONS.
(2) The P. W.
(2) Perambulation.
Here the form of going through the lodges of the E.A. and
F.C. is observed in the course of the perambulations, which
seems incorrect - the latter is and should be observed as a
distinct ceremony.
The P.W. should be given to the W.M. who presides over the
M.M.'s Lodge. This is done, though by proxy (the candidate
not being put in possession of the P.W. until after the ob.) in
the Scotch ritual.
In the English ritual the three doors at which the m..rs were
posted are given as S., N. and E.; in that of the Scotch
Constitution they are E., W. and S.. Both are agreed in this,
that the fatal blow was struck in the East. The reason for the
difference in the Scotch ritual would appear to be the custom
still observed in some lodges of enacting the m. . r, instead
of merely relating it, the three principal officers taking the
parts of the assassins; thus the cand. is taken first to the
South, then to the West, and is finally despatched by the
W.M. in the East.
(16) "Caught hold of a shrub ... which ... came easily out of
the ground."
(17) Acacia.
It will be observed that the position of the r.b. in the first Cas.
S.n is identical with the final position of the same h. in the
English S.n of G. and D.: that of the Lh. is seen on Egyptian
monuments and in the vignettes, in association with a S.n
now belonging to a higher masonic degree, and made with
the r.. The second Cas. S.n is also found in Egyptian
pictures where it is used by those saluting Osiris in his coffin.
(50) The second part of the P. S.n is found in India where it
is used by Shiva (51): the navel is frequently regarded as
symbolical of the centre in Eastern and African thought; in
some Bantu (Central African) languages it is the only word
for "centre." There may also be an esoteric meaning having
reference to rebirth, which is a common rite, especially in
secret societies, in all parts of the world.
AN EXAMINATION
OF
THE MASONIC RITUAL
BY
MEREDITH SANDERSON
THE END.
REFERENCES.
(Part III.)
Appendix.
Still pursuing the same simile, and passing from the general
to the particular, think of the number of personages whom,
you have been told from time to time, the J.W., for instance,
typifies; (I myself have a brand new theory founded on my
experiences in Central Africa, but I spare you that now).
Consider our tree of evolution as applying to that officer only
and you will see, I think, that every one of the
impersonations you have heard claimed for him may be true.
Sitting on one branch will be the member of the Mexican
Trinity with the unpronounceable name; on another is Bro.
Ward's favourite Vishnu; over there is Bro. Churchward's
Anup, and so on. So long as the essayist does not
dogmatically state that his particular identification of the JW.
sits on the branch which bears the twig of modern Craft
Freemasonry who is to say him nay ? Observe that the
discovery (or creation ?) of another branch to the tree does
not subvert all or any of the previous identifications; they are
all forms of the original J.W. which have developed under
the influence of different cults at different periods or in
different parts of the world.