A BRIEF

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARYOF THE

'" AND TO* THi CONTINENT OP t»CBIC«.

SALUTATION OH ALL POINTS OF THE TRIANGLE.fUSTSCT TO TOE OKDf.lt.

History of the Ancient andPrimitive Rite of Memphis

INCLUDING EXCERPTS FROM THE

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS OF THE ORDER, ETC.

BY

J. ADELPHI GOTTLIEB, M.A., M.D., LL.D.Decorated with the Grand Star of Sirius ; Order of the Alidee ; Cross of

the Grand Cornt;tant?ers of the Three Lfgions of Knights of Masonry^Etc.; Sovereign Grand Censervntor~€cnerati A, P. ft. M* <^y°.\

Legate of the M. /. Grand Master-General and SovereignSanctuary of the Rite of Mtinfhis to Foreign Countries ;

Sovereign Grand Inspector-General JtT0.*. and LastT>egreti Ancient and Accepted Scottish RtUt Etc,

" HISTOP.V, is philosophy teaching by examples."

CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING ALLIANCE

NEW YORK :: MDCCCXC1X

MAOOV puBLisHwa * MAMNIC SUPPLY « JOHN n,, n, y.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1899, by

DR. J. ADELPHI GOTTLIEB

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C., U. S. A.

A U rights reserved

TROW DIRECTORY

PRINTING AMD BOOKBINDING COMPANY

NEW YORK

PREFACE.

It is to be deeply regretted that in this en-lightened period some narrow-minded peopleare to be found who cannot look at Masonryin a liberal light and appreciate the good thevarious rites do to mankind. Therefore thenecessity of compiling this work—to placethe Masonic Order of the Ancient and Primi-tive Rite of Memphis before the MasonicWorld in a proper and truthful light.

Strange, but true, most Masonic authors arepartial to some one or other special governingbody of the Rite of which they are members,whose doings they extol; forgetting the factthat they are historians and that what theyplace on record should only be the pure andauthentic history of the Rite, no matter towhat governing body they may owe alle-giance. But more deplorable still is thatmuch of the available masonic literature hasbeen written by individuals who were noteven members of the Rite whose historiesand origin they attempt to record.

Time is too valuable in the " push and hus-5

tie " of the Twentieth Century for individualmembers of the fraternity to make researchesinto the antiquity, history, and beauties ofMasonry. Fearing that this valuable collectiveinformation may become forever lost and for-gotten, the following summary is briefly re-corded for the information of the Craft,

"Errors like straws, upon the surface flow,He who would search for pearls, must dive below."

304 WEST ONE HUNDRED AND. FOURTH STREET,NEW YORK, March, 1899.

CONTENTS

M.I. Sov. GRAND MASTER GENERAL'S LETTERFrontispiece

PACK

PREFACE 5

INTRODUCTORY, OBJECT, QUALIFICATION ANDPURPOSE 9

GENERAL HISTORY—ORIGIN . . . . 1 1

PRESENT HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE RITE 35

INSTITUTION OF THE A. P. R. M. ON THECONTINENT OF AMERICA . . . 2 6

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS . . . - 3 °

MANIFESTO—WITHDRAWAL OF THE A. P. R.M. FROM THE ORIENT OF FRANCE . . . 34

INTERNATIONAL TREATY—ARTICLES OF CON-FEDERATION . -. 37

DEGREES OF THE. MASONIC RITE OF MEMPHIS 42

MASONIC CALENDAR 44

"A MASONIC DUTY." BY M. A. GOTTLIEB 47

INTRODUCTORY.i

The Masonic Rite of Memphis is a religionthat taught the men of the first ages to renderhomage to the Divinity. It has for its basisthe existence of a God, as well as the immor-tality of the Soul. And for its object it re-quires the exercise of benevolence; the immor-tal moral derived from the study of science andart; also the practice of all the virtues. It isthe bond that unites mankind; the symbol ofthe sweet illusions of hope, that teaches Faithin God who redeemeth, and of Charity chatblesseth.

The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Mem-phis is universal, and is open to every MasterMason who is in good standing under someconstitutional Grand Lodge and believes inthe Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhoodof man. The only other qualification which itrequires of its Neophyte is probity and honor,and it esteems Masonic worth, ability, andlearning above social and personal distinctions.Seeking by means of its comprehensive cere-monials to extend Masonic knowledge, Moral-

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ity and Justice, and to enforce all those greatprinciples which distinguish true Masons atall times.

The rituals are based upon those of the cr-aftuniversal; they explain its symbols, developits mystic philosophy, exemplify its morality,examine its legends, tracing them to theirprimitive source, and dealing fairly and truth-fully with the historical features of symbolicalMasonry; they contain nothing in their teach-ing but what Mahommedan, Christian, Jew,Buddhist, Brahmin, or Parsee may alike ac-knowledge. Strictly unsectarian, it offers anintellectual treat of the highest order to theMasonic inquirer, whether he be a literal stu-dent of Masonic history or a philosophicalseeker of abstruse truth. It forms a pyramidwhose base is that universal craft Masonry,which has covered the Globe, its time-wornascents are the Masonic virtues, its apex theseat of eternal truth.

GENERAL HISTORY.

The cradle of Masonry is placed by mostjudicious historians in that country which wasfirst inhabited, namely, the plateau of Tartary,and it is said that it was transmitted to us bythe sages of India, Persia, Ethiopia, andEgypt. To ancient Egypt we are indebtedfor Religion and Masonry.

It is known that at Memphis, Egypt, underthe guidance of the King, the high degrees ofMasonry were worked two thousand one hun-dred years before the Christian era! Previousto the seventeenth century A.D. all Masonicwork to be legally conducted had to be au-thorized by a King or Priest. Proof of itsantiquity has been handed down from age toage by the grand monuments, temples, etc.,on which are the records left to us by the an-cients; and to this day the museums of theworld treasure specimens of stone, metal,papyrus, and gems, as bold and living proof ofour knowledge of the early history of man and

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his surrounding's; even to this day ruins areunearthed in the Old World on which are pict-ured the figures and characters of ancientgods and dignitaries, etc., in peculiar attitudes,which bear convincing truths of their pur-pose.

The Priests of all religions were men of keeninsight and forethought—they preferred toride in safety on the topmost crest of popularfeeling rather than be overwhelmed and de-stroyed by it; they therefore taught the peoplesuch tenets as they knew would suit their vul-gar prejudices and love of the marvellous;invented legends, made sacrifices, reared idols,taught in parables, built splendid Temples, andmanufactured miracles by the hundred. Thiswas tangible and satisfactory to the masses,but in all this apparent mummery there was aninner meaning, known only to the initiated.To them these things were but allegories andsymbols, conveying lessons of morality andphilosophy too far advanced for the popularmind to grasp and understand, for it is fareasier to blindly believe than to reason anddigest.

Can anyone conceive it possible that thegreat intellects of Greece and Rome, the Sages,Statesmen, and Poets of these countries actu-ally credited the personal existence of its

deities in their mythology?. Impossible. Tothe common people they were indeed gods andgoddesses; but to the initiated they were onlytypes of various passions, qualities, and sea-sons.

Aided by this age of reason and understand-ing, we cannot but admire and respect thepure and primitive philosophy, the soundnessand accuracy of their instructions. They re-veal to us a religion consonant with the lawsof Nature, inculcating a doctrine simple intruthfulness, and beneficent through its uni-versality.

In immeasurable antiquity, according toIndian monuments, the sages sought for lighton the banks of the Ganges and in the beauti-ful countries of Hindostan. They, like we,gave worship to truth; they propagated thisworship without pomp. Their doctrines weresimple, and freed from every sort of supersti-tion. They adored the eternal God, creator ofall worlds, AA'ho guarded his A\ork, and causedreproduction to spring from destruction. Thissimple theology of the Brahmins, whom theGreeks called Gymnosophists, was changed bythe ridiculous fables and superstitious practicesof the wild sectarians of Wichnou, who, fromthe North, made a bloody invasion into thispeaceful country. It spread itself through

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Persia, taken up by Zoroaster, cultivated bythe Magi, it altered as everything in this worldalters; it was brought back to its primitivesimplicity by a second Zoroaster; having stillfaithful disciples in India; Ethiopia, whose in-habitants received the Brahmins and their doc-trines; they assembled on the island of Meroe,and made free and happy the countries theygoverned. Followed by a throng of his com-patriots, Osiris came down from the moun-tains of Ethiopia, and by a most gloriousconquest rendered barbarian Egypt subservi-ent to his laws, giving it the precious gifts ofcivilization. These benefactors of the humanrace thought that it was impossible to impartpure light to uncultivated nations; they there-fore disguised the Truth under emblems whichthe multitude took literally, and which had itsworshippers in the Temples of Sais, of Thebes,of Heliopolis, and' in magnificent Memphis.From this sprang two religions, as in China,in Greece, and in ancient Rome, as among allenlightened people of the modern world; areligion of the multitude, which oYily appliesto exterior visible objects, and a religion oflettered people, who contemn these objects oronly regard them as allegorical symbols underwhose veil are hidden moral truths or greateffects of nature.

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Immediately upon leaving this school, Or-pheus established the mysteries of Samothrace,consecrated to the " Cabires," and which werecarried abroad among many people. Tryptole-mus and Eumolope gave laws to Greece,spread abroad the benefits to be received fromagriculture, and laid the foundation of theTemple of Eleusis; Abaris carried the Lightinto the North. The Mysteries of Memphiswere instituted everywhere, even to the ice-bound plains of Scythia.

Every city in Egypt had its own peculiarsymbol. The eloquent Memphis adopted themagpie, the chattering bird, for its symbol.Thebes, which raised its thoughts up toheaven, decorated its banner with the eaglewith eyes of fire. Canapa chose a censer (anurn wherein incense burned), as if to renderhomage to the divinity. The Sphynx, seatedat the threshold of the Temples, was the em-blem of the sages who watched over Egypt.

The sages, prepared in Heliopolis for thesolemn mysteries of Memphis and Thebes,kept watch over the divine fire.

The sacred fire of Masonry burned there dur-ing a thousand years without any culpableattempt to lessen it or to extinguish it, andthe archives of this mystic Temple reckonamong the children of Memphis: Orpheus,

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Homer, Pythagoras, Thales, Virgil, Hippoc-rates, Socrates, Plato, and a vast number ofother philosophers of Greece, that intellectualdaughter of Egypt.

During the time when, on the banks of theNile, the august depositaries of these tradi-tions veiled them from the eyes of their con-temporaries, and only revealed them to thesmall number of those whom they consideredworthy of the initiation, other adepts, in theinterior of Africa, drew together colonies ofbarbarians, polished their manners, propagatedscience; in fact, founded our sacred mysteriesin the burning sands of Nubia and Ethiopia.

Meroe, for his part, instructed the Gymnoso-phists on the banks of the Ganges; Zoroasterfounded the school of the Magi in Persia andMedia. In fine, this sublime institution ex-tended from the plains of Memphis to thepalace of the wise David. This illustriousMason, when dying, commanded his son Solo-mon to raise a magnificent Temple as a tes-timonial of his thankfulness to the SublimeArchitect of all worlds.

Hiram, at this time, was enlightening Tyre—Boaz, Jerusalem. The young Solomon be-sought their co-operation, and, according totheir advice, went to Memphis, where he wasinitiated into the sublime mysteries. Here it

was that the Hierophant preserved in the sanc-tuary of the patriarchs the chff d'cewvre ofEnoch, that precious Delta which Menestransported from Ethiopia to the bank ofthe Nile.

After Solomon was initiated, the Hierophantbecoming acquainted with his vast project, andfilled with belief in the neophyte, handed overto him this sacred symbol of the patriarchEnoch; the prophetic books of Hermes madeit a duty to do so.

Soon more than a hundred thousand breth-ren assembled in Jerusalem and built work-shops, so as to work for the glory of the Sub-lime Architect of all worlds.

The work on the Temple was pushed withso much order and vigor that on the third dayof the fifth month of the seventh year the dedi-cation was celebrated with truly royal pomp.Solomon himself placed the Delta in the Sanc-tuary, and during seven times nine days athousand joyous shouts celebrated the inaugu-ration of this new monument, this most mag-nificent masterpiece of architecture that menhad ever built. The people were admitted tovisit the holy place where the majesty of theSublime Architect shone forth with all itsbrilliancy, and the sonorous arches resoundedwith thousands of acclamations, and with

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three-times-three blows struck by a thousandmallets.. Solompn went in peace to his grave, havingenjoyed through a long lapse of years a happi-ness without equal. From the day in whichSolomon, inspired, built that Temple to theglory of the Sublime Architect of the universe,from the Nile to the Jordan the science ofMasonry stretched out its beneficial rays; thepeople united, rejoiced in the sweetness of fra-ternity most cordial; the sacred fire shone forthin Chaldea, its pacific torch enlightened thewhole of Judea; in fact, peace ruled over thewhole Orient, when the infamous Cambyses,already bespotted with crime, carried swordand fire into Egypt, and made of it a theatre ofdeath and devastation.

In this frightful overturning, civilization allat once stopped, Freemasonry in its turn slept.The Saracens, after the first brutalities of con-quest were over, softened their manner, gavethemselves up to study, and rendered their ruleto the subdued countries less severe. Mason-ry, if not protected by them, was at least tol-erated. They allowed the patriarchs to hidethe depository of our doctrines on the banksof the Nile, or in the rocks of Palestine. Thisconcession on their part was so much thegreater from the fact that the essentially pro-

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gressive spirit of Freemasonry was totally op-posed to the Moslem fatalism.

During the-whole period of the MiddleAges, which embraces many centuries, ourvenerable institution gave no sign of vitality,but sprang to life after the Crusades, whichhad so marked an effect on the developmentof light and social well-being.

The introduction of our Rite into Europe isdue to the Crusades. Despite their poor suc-cess, the East to our heroic warriors remainedfor a long time the country of religion andglory; unceasingly they turned their eyes to-ward that beautiful Sun, toward those palms ofIdumea, those plains of Rama where the In-fidels reposed under the shade of the olive tree,toward the fields of Ascalon which still re-tained the marks of Godfrey Bouillon, of Tan-cred, of Philip Augustus, and of Courcey, etc.;toward that Jerusalem, delivered for a moment,then -relapsed into bondage, which showed it-self to them as to Jeremiah, seated in solitude,drowned in its own tears, shorn of its people,and its Temple destroyed.

Five times in the space of two centuries theWest precipitated itself on Moslem Asia, andthis gigantic struggle, which cost humanityrivers of blood, is rich in-its results, among themost precious of which is the introduction of

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Masonry into Europe. It was by these valiantwarriors who returned from the Holy Landthe banners of the Fraternity were brought; itwas from the celebrated river which saw on itsbanks the divine Osiris, the harmonious Or-pheus, and the great Sesostris; it was from thissacred point, from- this pure centre of thestarry vault; it was from the court of the Tem-ple of David that the brave men of the MiddleAges caught a glimpse of our mysteries,even up to the door of the Middle Temple;this door of brass led to the Sanctuary, butit was necessary to stop at the foot of thedouble column which borders on the Pro-naos; by aid of a word, a sign, then pene-trate further on, receive their reward, andat eventide return into the sombre nookthere to groan at the apparent death ofnature.

The Masonic Order of Memphis is, there-fore, the sole depository of high Masonic sci-ence, the true ancient and primitive rite, thatwhich has come down to us without any altera-tion, and consequently the rite that justifiesits origin with a constant exercise of its rightsby constitutions whose authenticity it is im-possible to call into question. In fact, the Riteof Memphis is the true Masonic tree, and allother systems, whatever they may be, are only

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detached branches of this institution, renderedrespectable by its vast antiquity.

The mysteries were divided into two classes,the smaller and the greater. The smaller hadfor'its object the instruction of the initiatedin the humane sciences; the sacred doctrinewas reserved for the last degree of the initia-tion—this was what they called the great mani-festation of Light.

Between the knowledge of humane scienceand that of divine doctrine there were symboli-cal degrees that had to be gone through. Allthe mysteries turned on three principal points,the Moral, the Exact Science, and the SacredDoctrine. From the first they passed to thesecond without intermediary; but once arrivedat the second degree long preparations werenecessary—this was the object to be attainedby three other degrees; the first ended andcompleted the smaller mysteries, the other twoopened the greater.

It was not till the first symbolic degree, thethird of the initiation, that the fables were ex-posed, and in the following, the two other de-grees, they strove to penetrate into the senseof these fables and become worthy of the greatmanifestation of Light.

The general division included the prepara-tions, the voyages and symbols, and Investiga-

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tions. The preparations were divided intotwo classes; the first had as symbolic title theword " Wisdom," and for its object morality.The initiated were called Thalmedimites ordisciples. The second had as symbolic titlethe word " Strength," and for its object thehumane sciences. The initiated were calledHeberamites or companions.

The voyages and symbols were divided intothree classes: the first called the Obsequies,the initiated bore the name of Mouzehemites;in the second, called Vengeance, they took thatof Bheremites; and in the third, called Eman-cipation, that of Nes«:herites. The Investiga-tion was the grand completion of the initiation,the crowning of the edifice, the Keystone ofthe arch.

The Patriarchs o'f Memphis qualified in theoccult science that they taught in this degreeby the name of regenerating fire. This science,that an illustrious philosopher called a particlebroken from a great palm tree—a ray ofAdamic power, destined to confound humanreason and to humble it before God—a phe-nomenon belonging to prophecy—this science(magnetism), principle of the life of all organicbeings, was part of the teachings of the seventhdegree.

The knowledge of this magnetic fluid is the

most precious good work of Providence; it isthe mysterious key which opens to the cloudedintelligence the world of truth and light, andjoins the finite to the infinite; it is the GoldenChain so often sung about by the poets; the?;a?is of the hidden philosophy that De-mocrates, Pythagoras, Plato and Appoloniuscame to seek from the Hierophants of Egypt,the Gymnosophists of India, invisible to theeyes of the senses; the sight of the Soul isnecessary for its study.

The initiation consisted of the dogma ofMonotheism, which was declared to the greatinitiated; that is to say, there was but one God.

The dogma of punishment and rewards inanother life was professed in the smaller mys-teries.

Pantheism was the.religion of antiquity; theword pantheism comes from two Greek wordsone of which signifies all and the other God—that is to say, All is God.

The mysteries of the Masonic Rite of Mem-phis, which, in its primitive time, began withseven degrees, has to-day ninety-seven; ninetydegrees of science and five degrees of Councils(official), together with the 96° of the GrandMaster, forming the governing body of theorder.

Bv the advancement of civilization and the

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present state of our social manners and cus-toms it is impossible for a Masonic Rite, whichin reality possesses the completion of the sci-ence of this sublime institution, to be consti-tuted in such manner that all its members,without exception, should have a completeknowledge of the Masonic secrets, yet in orderto meet with the demands of our times theRituals have been so rearranged that theactual working degrees have been reducedto one-third by combining the work of threedrees into one working ritual.

"Let every man be persuaded in his own mind."—Rom.xiv. 5.

• PRESENT HISTORY AND STATUS.

The Ancient and Primitive Masonic Rite ofMemphis was revived and introduced intoEurope by the Most Illustrious PatriarchOrmus, Seraphic Priest of Alexandria, andbrought into France by Brother Samuel Honis,a native of Cairo, Egypt, in the year 1814, andthe " Grand Body " met at Montauban, on the30th day of April, 1815, under charge of VeryIllustrious Brothers Honis, Marconis de Ne-gre, the Baron Dumas, Marquis de Laroque,Hypolite Labrunie, J. Pettitt, and others, andunder the distinctive title of Disciples of Mem-phis, May 23d of the same year. Suspendedlabor on the 7th day of May, 1816; the Ar-chives were confided to the care of IllustriousBrother Marconis de Negre, Grand Hiero-phant; work was recommenced at the GrandLodge of Osiris, Disciples of Memphis, inBrussels, in the year 1838, and at the Valleyof Paris; and on March 21, 1839, its threeSupreme Councils were proclaimed and theStatutes published. But in 1841 the Grand

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Master Hierophant, the Illustrious and En-lightened Brother Jacques Etienne Marconisde Negre, son and initiate of the first GrandHierophant, was forced by civil politics to putall the Lodges in France asleep. In 1848 workwas resumed at the Orient of Paris, and con-tinued to prosper, and in 1856 was firmly es-tablished in Egypt, America, Roumania, andother countries.

Illustrious Brother Marconis de Negre, inperson, established the first organization of theA. and P, Rite of Memphis in New York City,November 9, 1856, under the name and title of" A Supreme Council, Sublime Masters of theGreat Work 90°," and in 1860 it included overone hundred Past Masters of the Blue Lodgeunder the rule of Illustrious Brother DavidMacClellan.

In 1861, April the 27th, The Sov. GrandMaster, David MacClellan, being Major of theSeventy-ninth Regiment, National Guard Stateof New York, being ordered to the seat of war,resigned and appointed his successor in office,who on June 2^th received from the GrandHierophant a Charter, vise'd and sealed by theGrand Orient, for a Sovereign Sanctuary inand for the Continent of America, togetherwith all the prerogatives, rights, and dignitiesthereunto belonging and attached. November

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7, 1862, the Sovereign Sanctuary held its firstmeeting.

In 1862 the Illustrious Grand Master Hiero-phant united our rite with the Grand Orient ofFrance, and the High Grades continued to beconferred by the recognized Grand Council ofRites of the Grand Orient, and IllustriousGrand Hierophant J. E. Marconis, 33°. '.97°.'.which arranged the relative values of the de-grees of the A. P. Rite of Memphis with thoseof Mizraim, the Ancient and Accepted, andother rites recognized by said Grand Councilof Rites.

Upon this, in the year 1862, the IllustriousGrand Hierophant 330.'.97°.'- acting in con-junction with Marshal Magnan 33°.•. theGrand Master of the Grand Orient, formallyconstituted the Sovereign Sanctuary in Amer-ica. Shortly thereafter the degrees of the ritewere condensed to thirty ceremonies and threeofficial grades without abolishing or abrogat-ing any of the original ninety-five degrees.

The Grand Orient of France continued toexchange Representatives with the SovereignSanctuary in America, and lists thereof canbe found in the French Official Calendar, until1869, when, in consequence of the invasion ofAmerican territory by the recognition of aspurious Supreme Council of the A. and A.

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Scottish Rite, who worked the symbolic de-grees, the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Ancientand Primitive Rite of Memphis withdrew fromrepresentation.*

May 1,1865. an official communication fromthe Grand Orient of France was received by theSovereign Sanctuary A. P. Rite of Memphis,in and for the Continent of America, notifyingthat body of the appointment of his excellency,the Marshal Magnan, Grand Master of France,of M. -.W. -.Robert D. Holmes as Grand Rep-resentative of the Orient of France, near theSovereign Sanctuary of America.

From 1856 to 1899 the Ancient and Primi-tive Rite of Memphis has participated invarious stages of progress and prosperity, ad-mitting many of the M. -.W. '.Grand Mastersof the Grand Lodge of New York and manyof the most influential Masons of the day whowere the recognized and leading authorities inthe other Masonic Rites to its ranks, who be-came enthusiastic officers of the Chapters,Senates, Councils, Mystic Temples, and Sov-ereign Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis.

Alpha Grand Council, S. M. G. W. [43°-90°] No. i; Samothrace Senate, HermeticPhilosophers [i9°-42°]; Grarnercy Rose CroixChapter [i°-i8°], bear the proud distinction

* See page 34 for withdrawal edict.

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of continued activity from, the year 1865 todate, 1899.

In the year 1872 several Illustrious Breth-ren who had previously received the 95°. •. ob-tained a Charter for the establishment of aSovereign Sanctuary in and for Great .Britainand Ireland, with the Illustrious Brother, JohnYarker, 33.'.9$-'-> as Grand Master General;in the same year many brethren, members ofthe Royal Council of Ancient Rites, which metunder the H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex,Grand Master. In 1874 the Jerusalem Chapterof Antiquity formally amalgamated with Pala-tine Chapter No. 2 and Senate No. 2 of theA. and P. Rite of Memphis, thus giving therite the prestige of time immemorial associa-tion in the United Kingdom.

" We should believe only in works; words are sold fornothing everywhere."

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.

Excerpts from the Constitutions, Statutes, andOrdinances of the Rite of Memphis, etc.

" Whereas, the Ancient and Primitive Riteof Memphis on the Continent of America ac-knowledges the Blue Lodge as the foundationand fundamental basis of the beloved institu-tion to which the Masonic allegiance of all itsmembers is due, and from which there can beno deviation; therefore no Mason can be al-lowed to join the Ancient and Primitive Riteof Freemasonry unless he is a member of alodge in good standing, working under aGrand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons."

" Sec. 7.—Any member of the Ancient andPrimitive Rite of Memphis who shall be ex-pelled from the Master Masons' lodge towhich he is attached, shall be declared ex-pelled from all bodies, of which he may bea member, belonging to the A. and P. Riteof Memphis.

3°

" Sec. 8.—Any member of the A. and P. R.M., who shall be suspended in his lodge forun-Masonic conduct, shall in like manner hedeclared suspended in all our bodies until regu-larly reinstated by action of his lodge, or of theGrand Lodge having jurisdiction in his case."

" The Rite of Memphis orders its membersto fraternize with members of all other rites.' Tolerance' is written at the head of all itssacred laws.

" Its members can affiliate with any otherMasonic Rite without being excluded fromtheir own.

-" Masonic charity and devotion being theduty of brothers, whosoever shall be convictedof having had projects or acts tending to lowerthe rite, or attack a brother's honor, can, bythe very deed, be brought before the Commit-tee of Inquiry and expelled from the Order."

" My brothers, may all the blessings of ourrite be yours now and forever. Rememberthis—never condemn unheard. Examine, Re-flect, and Tolerate."

" In our intercourse with the world, let uscarefully guard ourselves against depreciating

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any brother of the Order, no matter what hisfaults may be. Let no words of ill-will fall fromour lips relating to the members of our rite.If, from motives of jealousy at our success andprogress, they choose to be antagonistic to us,let all the aggressive acts be on their side; forif Masons disagree among themselves, andmake their dissensions matters of public no-toriety^ what opinion of us can we expect fromthe outer world, and how can it believe in ourprofessions of Brotherly Love and Friend-ship? "

" It shall be permissible and allowable forthe officers of subordinate bodies, owing fealtyto the Sovereign Sanctuary, to receive as vis-itors to the bodies under their charge Masonsin good standing of other Rites, who shall bereceived in the degrees corresponding to thoseof their rite [special instructions and permis-sion, however, must first be obtained from theSovereign Sanctuary]."

" Most Illustrious Sovereign Grand MasterGeneral: Your office is the highest Masonicdignity in the world. I present you with theHoly Book of Laws, which is your guide inMasonry. The Gavel in your hands is a vast

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power, for with it in your grasp you will haveto decide questions in the Sovereign Sanctuarythat affect our Ancient and Primitive Rite, notonly in this, but in every State upon this vastcontinent. I give into your keeping the Char-ter; guard it as sacredly as your Life or Honor,for it is the only legitimate Charter emanatingfrom an authorized Masonic body to confer thehigher Masonic degrees ever granted. Byvirtue of this Charter and your high office youmust be regarded as the fountain of authoritygoverning the Ancient and Primitive Rite ofMemphis on the Continent of America."

Withdrawal from the Grand Orient of France.

. T. T. G. O. T. S. A. O. T. U.

From the Orient of the Sovereign Sanctuaryof Ancient and Primitive Freemasonry, Ac-cording to the Rite of Memphis in and forthe Continent of America. Valley of NewYork, this 2oth day of March, 1869. E. V.[Year of True Light 000,000,000].

To all Masons to whom these Presents shallCome, Greeting:The following resolutions having been

adopted, all Masons of the A. P. R. M.. arehereby ordered to abide by the same.

To the Illustrious Sovereign Grand Master,Officers, and Members of the Sovereign Sanc-tuary of the A. P. R. M. in and for the Con-tinent of America: The committee appointedto take into consideration the matter of griev-ance in relation to the jurisdiction of Louisianabeg to report that, after careful considerationof the subject matter, your committee unani-mously present the following preamble foradoption. That,

WHEREAS, A decree emanating from theGrand Orient of France, dated the fifth day of

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November, 1868, in which is recognized andacknowledged a body of spurious Masons, lo-cated in the State of Louisiana, styled the" Supreme Council of the A. and A. ScottishRite in and for the Sovereign State of Louisi-ana." That,

WHEREAS, Said spurious body has fromtime to time clandestinely granted charters forlodges in said jurisdiction of Louisiana, there-by invading the authority of the M. W. GrandLo'dge of that State. That,

WHEREAS, The Ancient and PrimitiveRite of Memphis has by its toleration extendedinto nearly every State and Territory on thisContinent, and in the said jurisdiction ofLouisiana there now exists four bodies of ourRite who claim protection of this SovereignBody. And,

WHEREAS, The Rite of Memphis has al-ways acknowledged the Supremacy of the StateGrand Lodges over the symbolic first threedegrees of a Blue Lodge, and engrafted thesame into its constitutions by the followingsection, viz.,

WHEREAS, The Rite of Memphis, on theContinent of America, considers the BlueLodge the foundation and fundamental basisof our beloved institution, to which the Ma-sonic allegiance of all its members is due, and

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from which there can be no deviation; there-fore, no Mason can be allowed to join theAncient and Primitive Rite of Memphis unlesshe is a member of a lodge in good standingworking under a Grand Lodge of Free and Ac-cepted Masons. And,

WHEREAS, The Officers and Brethren ofthe Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphisdeprecate the interference of any foreign bodywith the vested rights of Established MasonicGrand Bodies in America. Be it, therefore,

RESOLVED, That we, the SovereignSanctuary of the Ancient and Primitive Rite ofMemphis, in and for the Continent of America,in Council assembled, do hereby unanimouslyindorse the:action of the Grand Lodge ofLouisiana, as embodied in resolutions adopt-ed February 13th, 1869, Be it further

RESOLVED, That until such time as theGrand Orient of France shall have revokedits action as decreed November 5th, 1868, allfraternal intercourse with that Grand Body be,and the same is, hereby suspended.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

Treaty between the Ancient and PrimitiveRite of Masonry, or Oriental Order of Mem-phis, or of Egypt, in Great Britain and Ireland,in America, in Italy, Roumania, and ratified bytheir respective Sovereign Grand Masters.

To the Glory of the Sublime Architect of theUniverse, Salutation on all Points of the Tri-angle, Respect to the Order, Peace, Tolerance,Truth.

To all Illustrious and Enlightened Masonsthroughout the world, Union, Prosperity,Friendship, Fraternity: Know Ye, the MostIllustrious Sovereign Grand Masters andHierophants of the Ancient and Primitive Riteof Masonry in Great Britain and Ireland, inAmerica, in Italy, Roumania, having judgedit expedient in the interest of our beloved Ritethat such regulations should be made betweenthem, the High Contracting Parties, as maytend to unite more closely the Brethren oftheir several jurisdictions and to promote theinterchange of courtesy and hospitality, haveagreed to conclude a Treaty between the Sov-

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3*

ereign Powers over which they respectivelypreside, and to promote such union have de-creed the following Articles, viz.,

I.

The Treaty or Contracting Parties mutuallyagree to recognize one Supreme SovereignGrand Master, Grand Hierophant and Honor-ary Grand Patron, who shall be ad vitam,the Most Illustrious Brother, General GiuseppeGaribaldi, 33«'.970.'. of Italy, as successor tothe Illustrious and Enlightened Brother,Jacques Et. Marconis, 330.'.970.'., Paris,France.

II.

All Illustrious Brethren visiting or joiningChapters, Senates or Councils in the jurisdic-tion of any of the Contracting Parties shall bereceived according to their rank at home, on anequal footing with those among whom theymay respectively come, taking precedence ac-cording to their degree and amongst those ofequal rank, according to the dates of their re-spective patents of creation.

III.

The Contracting Parties agree that none ofthem will issue any Charter, Warrant or Patent

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authorizing the establishment of any Chapter,Senate or Council, or the reception oi anymember of the Rite within the jurisdiction oithe other.

IV.

The Contracting Parties agree to rendertheir Statutes, Ordinances, Forms, Rituals andother matters as homologous as the circum-stances and requirements of their several juris-dictions will admit.

V.

The Contracting Parties agree to fraternize,so far as relative circumstances will permit, withall friendly Rites, but to hold no intercourse•with or recognize any Masonic Body, Rite orPower within any foreign territory unless suchRite or Power maintains amicable relationswith our Ancient and Primitive Rite ofMasonry or Oriental Order of Memphis or ofEgypt.

VI.

All judgments, decrees or sentences pro-nounced by the competent Supreme Authorityin the Territory of the Contracting Parties shallbe valid and executory in the other without fur-ther process,.and no appeal, error or reviewshall lie against such judgment, decree or sen-

40

tences except in the Supreme Court of the.country from which they emanated, save byspecial license and authority or delegation un-der hand and seal of the Sovereign Grand Mas-ter of such country, and in such case any judg-ment pronounced thereon shall be final.

VII.

The Contracting Parties further agree thatall judicial acts done according to law by oneof them" shall be communicated to the otherand thereupon published throughout the juris-diction of the same, and any act of contumacypunished by the authority of such country shallbe regarded by the other as contumacy againstits own judicial act.

VIII.

The Contracting Parties shall be at libertyto send reciprocally a Representative or Legateto be accredited to each other respectively, whoshall receive all the honors due to his Repre-sentative position.

IX.

The Contracting Parties agree that all ad-vantages of this Treaty may hereafter be ex-tended to regular and legitimate SovereignPowers of our Ancient and Primitive Rite of

Masonry 95°. t. in all States, Kingdoms or Em-pires not included herein.

X.Any disputes or disagreements which may

arise on any of these articles shall be referredto the mediation and decision of the SupremeSovereign Grand Master under Article I.

In witness whereof the above-named GrandMasters have hereunto set their hands andseals, on the date undernoted.

We, the undersigned Grand Masters, ratifyand confirm the foregoing ten articles acceptedon the day and date undernoted.

Signed JOHN YARKER, 33°.-. 90°.-. 96°.•.Sov. Gr. Master of Great Britain and Ireland.

(SEAL.)WITHIXGTON, ENGLAND, Sept. 2, 1881.

Signed ALEX. B. MOTT, 33°.-. 90°.-. 96°.-.M. I. Sov. Gr. Master in and for the

Continent of America.(SEAL.)

NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A., Sept. 14, 1881.

Signed G. PESSINA, 33°.-. 90°.-. 96°.-.Sov. Gr. Master for Italy.

(SEAL.)NAPOLI, ITALY, Sept. 26, 1881.

Signed C. M. MOROIU, 33°-'. 96°.'.Gr. Master of Roumanian Masonry.

(SEAL.)

LA BUCUR.KSCI, ROUMAKIA, Nov. 22, 1881.

DECREES OF THE RITE OF MEMPHIS.

The Masonic Rite of Memphis is composedof ninety degrees of science, divided for instruc-tion into three series.

The First Series includes the first to theeighteenth degree—fourth to eleventh workingritual in the Chapter Rose Croix. It teachesmorality, gives the explanation of symbols, dis-poses the beginners to philosophical research,and makes them understand the first part ofhistory.

The Second Series comprises from the nine-teenth to the forty-second degree—twelfth totwentieth working ritual of the Senate of Her-metic Philosophers. Teaches the natural sci-ences, the philosophy of history; it explainsthe political myths of antiquity. Its objectis to stimulate to research of causes and

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origins, also to develop the humanitarian \d sympathetic senses.

The Third Series comprises the forty-third tothe ninetieth degree—twenty-first to thirtiethworking ritual of the Sublime Council, whichmakes known the completion of the historicalportion of the Rite. It occupies itself with highphilosophy; it studies the religious myths ofthe different ages of humanity and admits themost advanced theosophical labors.

From the 91° to 97° are the official degrees.The first and second officers of Chapters, Sen-ates and Councils receive the 92° to 94° andrepresent the several bodies in the Mystic Tem-ple during their term of office.

The third and fourth officers receive the 91°and are members of the Tribunal of Grand De-fenders of the Rite during their term of office,and the Grand Master of Light and Grand Ora-tor of the Mystic Temple receives the 95° torepresent their State in the Sovereign Sanctu-ary, which is composed of the Sovereign GrandConservators General of the Rite 95°. TheGrand Master alone is entitled to the 96°, andthe Grand Hierophant, who is the head of theRite all over the world, receives the 97°.

MASONIC CALENDAR.

Everything leads us to believe that the EastIndians and Chinese are the most ancient peo-ple of the world. The Indians make use ofvarious designations of epochs of origin of theworld. One is indicated by nine zeros—000,000,000—which is the most philosophicalmanner of expressing it, since it is unknown.

The following are some of the beliefs con-cerning the antiquity of the globe:

Indians date back 4,320,000 yearsJapanese date back 2,000,000 yearsChaldeans and the Magi of

ancient Persia date back.. 150,000 yearsPhoenicians date back 36.000 yearsEgyptians date back 24,000 years

The Era of Freemasons is dated in thefollowing manner, according to the variousRites in which they work:

Masons all over the world working in theYork and French Rite add 4,000 years to theChristian era, naming it the Anno Lucis (year

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of light), and begin the Masonic year on Janu-.ary ist, but the French begin March ist. Thusthe year 1899 would read A. -.L. •. 5899.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite usethe Jewish Calendar, which adds 3,760 years tothe vulgar era, and is termed Anno Mundi(year of the world), or Anno Hebraica (Hebrewyear), which begins on the first day of theHebrew month Tishri (September I7th), andreads A. -.M. •. 5659, corresponding to 1899.

The Rite of Mizraim adds four years to thecomputation used by the York Rite.

Royal Arch Masons date their official docu-ments, etc., from the time of the building of thesecond Temple, 530 years before Christ.

Knights Templar date from the organizationof the Order, 1118.

The calendar used by the Ancient and Primi-tive Rite of Memphis, date Year of True Light,000,000,000, andMarch 2ist answers to the

Egyptian month......... TOTH.April PAOPHI.May ATHIR.June. . . . CHOCAC.July TIBI.August MECHIR.September SHAMENOTH.

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October PHARMATHI.November PACHON.December PAGNI.January. EPOPHI.February MESORI.

"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in thatfaith let us to the end dare to do out duty as we understan.ilit."—Abraham Lincoln.

A MASONIC DUTY.

BY

MAURICE ARTHUR GOTTLIEB, 33'.-. 95'.-.Detorated witk th( Lfg.'cnarjr Orders a/ tht Kite of Mtmfhit.

Sovereign Grand Conservator-General, A. /'. A'. M Qj°.'. : DeputyGrand Representative fif the M. I, Grand Master-General

and Sovereign Sanctuary of the Kite of Mewphix toForeign Countries: Sovereign Grand lnspector-Gen~

eral,33d and Last Degree, Ancient and AcceptedScottiik Kite, Etc.

To the student of political and practicaleconomy the past is regarded as a storehouseof knowledge; the experiences of others are asbeacon lights guiding to prosperity or warn-ing of disaster. We should, therefore, profitby the great works of our Forefathers and everbear in mind our duty to the world, our Brotherand ourselves. Though our Brother should sinseven times or seventy times seven, still it re-mains our duty not only to forgive, but to laborearnestly for his reformation, to pray for his re-demption, to closely shut within our breast theknowledge of his weakness, to assiduously sup-port his efforts towards perfection, to warn himagainst temptation and encourage him in his

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48journey for the attainment of Light and Truth.Our promise and bond as men and Masons is amutual one, for eacli must agree with the otheror there can be no bond; and each being" boundto the oilier and in the same, become equal inall. For on I)1 so the Master's Work shall pros-per, the Craft dwell in peace and harmony andthe welfare of our Brother be consideredequally with our own. How much more, then,when the only question between Brethren is adifference of opinion only, should otir Masonicteaching's be remembered and practiced.

The motto inscribed on the banner of ourbeloved Rite is "Peace, Tolerance, Truth," andit is hoped that such ideal teachings and pre-cepts will prove a means to attract the zealousMason to -strengthen the bonds of Union andFraternity among the great Brotherhood; andthat the foregoing history of the Ancient andPrimitive Rite of Memphis, so forcibly nar-rated, will incite every truth-loving Mason toadvancement in the mysteries, encourage thefaint-hearted and weary, make steadfast thewavering, guide and direct the earnest seekerfor light and truth to that golden haven, thedepository of complete Masonic secrets—theAncient and Primitive Rite of Memphis.