Egyptian Masonic History RITE OF MEMPHIS

352 Pages·2007·15.5 MB·English

Egyptian Masonic History
OF THE ORIGINAL AND UNABRIDGED
Ancient and Ninety-six Degree
(960)
RITE OF MEMPHIS
The Masonic order of Memphis isthe sole depository of
highmasonicscience,thetrueprimitiverite, thesupreme
rite,thatwhich hascomedowntouswithoutanyalteration
and is the true masonic tree, and all other systems,
whatevertheymaybe,areonly detachedbranchesofthis
institution, rendered respectable by its vast antiquity.
Calvin C. Burt,
960
ISBN1-56459-341-X
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Documents Relating to the Reorganization 1
History ofthe Egyptian Masonic Rite of
Memphis in the USA 83
Abridged Legendary History with Extracts
from Ritualistic Lectures 118
Description ofDegrees withRitualistic Extracts 231
Ritual ofAdept Installator 268
430
Ritual ofGrand Consecrator 289
440
Ritual ofGrandEulogist 302
450
Quarrel Between the Northernand
Southern Jurisdictions 313
Rose-Croix Chapter Odes 318
Forms ofPetitions, &C 324
To the Reader 345
Publisher’s Introduction
The history ofFreemasonry is one of schism and
faction. Calvin C.Burt, 960, the author of this work
became Grand Master General of a newly organized
Egyptian Masonic Rite of Memphis after Harry J.
Seymour, theprevious Grand Master, reducedthenum-
berofdegrees intheRite fromninety-six to thirty-three.
Seymour’s intention was apparently to allowhis thirty-
threedegreesystemtocompetedirectlywiththeAncient
andAccepted Scottish Ritefrom which he had recently
been expelled for“unmasonic conduct.”
The predictable result was the organization ofan-
other Rite ofMemphis which intended on propagating
theninety-six degreessystem. Thisbook waspublished
withintentofexplaining thebackgroundoftheorderand
whyitwas necessarytoreorganizeandtopreserve some
ofthe original forms and ceremonies ofthe Rite.
entered accoidingtoActot Congress, in theyear1879,by Cixsn~C BURT,
n tbe Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, and tbis Copy-
rightclaimsand covers the Title and the rollowing, viz:
The MasonicHistory of the Original and UnabridgedAncient ~inety-sin
Degree, (96~) Rite ot Memphis; forthe instruction and government of the
craft forthe entire civUized Cosmos, whereverthe refulgentandbeneficent
raysof Masonic intelligence and benevglence is dispersed and the mystic
art is tolerated Together with a history of this Ancient Order from its
origin, throt:~b the darkages of the world, to Its recognition In France and
promulgation inEurope,andits final translation,establishment andenuncia-
tion in America. history of the formation of bodies, and record of the
present Grand Body (or Sovereign ~anctuary) in 1867, with copies of
charters andothercorrespondence of this Ancientand Primitive Rite, viz:
the EgyptianJfasonicRite ofMemphis: togetherwithits Masonic Calendar
andtranslation of the non-esotericwork.
With the refnsal of the Craft to accept of any reduction of degrees to
thirty-three andtheconsequent abrogationof the higher degrees above
(330,)
the bythe geymour body, and the continuation of the old work, and
330
formation of anew andoriginal contribution of this Ancient and Egyptian
MasonIc Rite or Memphis, of Ninety-six degrees, and no less num6er,with
full history of thematteranddocnmentary correspondence on this enbiect.
Issned and promulgated by this Sovereign Sanctnary, and only Grand II
BodyIntAisRite of the original96degrees inthe world, from the 1stto the
960, with ahistory of itspresent statne and em~nenl memberskip,being the
only trueandoriginalsourceof allmystic ceremoniesand Mssomcdegrees,
from which all other Rites, Societies and Associations have copied to a
greater or less extent, and from which ali other Masonic work are mere
scintillations of the truelight.
MASONIC RITE OF MEMPHIS.
EGYPTIAN
CITY OF CHICAGO, STATE OF ILLINOIS.
June 17, A. D. 1867.
By reason of a notice toi’ a Conveution of Masons
belonging to the Rite of Memphis, issued May 4th,
1867, the brethren of the Order, representing one
Grand Council, two Senates, 4.5~; ten Rose
9Q0;
Croix Chapters, 18~, and about fifty ninety degree
(unafBliated) membersasseuabled together this day iQ
the Masonic Temple, in Apollo Corumandery Hall
1
or K. T. Room, to organize a Grand Body, and form
a Constitution.
On motion, Ill. Bro. B. F. Patrick was called to
the Chair, and Bro. Samuel H. Underhill was chosen
Secretary.
Bro. Patrick stated the object of the meeting.
The following preamble and resolution were
offered by Bro. Blake.
950:
Whereas, when we received the degrees of the
Memphis Rite, we were taught that the Rite con-
tamed 96 degrees, and as such, received our degrees,
and the several bodies in this Rite were formed in
this State, and represented here this day, as well as
each, all and every member of this Rite heretofore,
was so instructed and obligated; all of whom have
been made and the bodies formed by H. i. Seymour,
960, Grand Master, and Calvin C. Burt, Jepu&y
960,
Grand Master and Grand Representative General at
large, as a Rite of ninety-six degrees and no less;
And whereas, we have now been notified by the
aforesaid Grand iMiaster, that the Grand Orient of
4
France has reduced the degrees to 33, and changed
the names of some of them, and as we believe unlaw-
fully interfered with the original and ancient work,
thereof; greatly in our opinion injuring its beauty
usefulness, and antiquity;
And whereas,we are informed that our worthy and
andTlllustrious Brother and Deputy Grand Master,
Calvin C. Burt, 96~, has not accepted of the change,
and does not believe that such power exists in the
Rite, and thaL the adoption of such a reduction will
be attended with bad results;
And whereas, our former Grand Master, H. J.
Seymour, 960, has abjured, renounced and abro-
gated the Rite of Memphis, containing 96 degrees,
for, and adopted the 3:Y Rite, and that there is not
now, either in this ~ountry or in. France, any persons
working the Rite,
960
An~d whereas, we are members of the Rite,
960
and have, by an authority of Rite, issued by the
960
Grand Heirophant, of France, countersigned, ac-
970,
knowledged, vised, and recognized by all the great
and grand jurisdictions of Europe, and all other
nations of the world where the work is known;
And whereas, we, as Masons, of our own free will
and accord, became so, so we intend to remain, and
we do as the entire representatives and representa-
tion of the Rite of Memphis in America, in conven-
tion assembled, solemnly and firmly
Resolve, That we will not acknowledge or sub-
scribe to any such reduction of degrees, believing as
we do, that the Orient of France, nor any other
Masonic body in this Rite, canlawfully require us to
do so; t.herefore we conscientiously refuse, and do
henceforth, and forever declare ourselves a sovereign
grand body for this continent of the Rite of
Memphis, of 96 degrees, and do hereby absolve and
withdraw from all other bodies of Memphis Masons
of less than 96 degrees, and hereby offer this as a
proper beginning of a new body in the old Rite.
On motion of Bro. Leonard, the resolution was
unanimously adopted.
5
Whereupon, Bro. Allen offered the following, viz:
That we do declare Bro. Calvin C. Burt, our
960,
Sovereign Grand Master, and that we proceed to
place him in the Orient, with a request that he ap-
point temporary officers, in order that we may pro-
ceed to the business of a permanent organization of
a grand body.
Which was unanimously adopted, and a committee
consistingof Bros. Allen, Patrick, Brierlee, appointed
to escort the M. W. Grand Master to the Chair, where
he was so placed and declared Grand Master ad
Vitem, and so saluted by the whole body.
Whereupon he took the gavel, appointed the offi.-
cers of the Sovereign Sanctury, a~id opened the body
in due form, which was announced and declared the
ut
Sovereign Sanctuary for America, sitting the val-
ley of Chicago, duly organized bythe representatives
of one Council, two Senates, and ten Rose Croix
Chapters, and the whole repi~eseutatives
960 iii
America, in convention assembled.
A record was opened and the foregoing and follow-
ing record made and entered in due Masonic form,
when the following entry on motion was ordered
entered, viz: on motion of Bro. Starrett, a committee
of three brothers were appointed to submit the names
of proper persons to fill the several offices in this
grand body, viz, Brothers Gurney, Storey, and
Dyche, who retired to consult and report. The cona-
mitt’ee on nomination and permanent organization
reported as follows, viz:
Calvin C. Burt, A. M., Grand Master, Coun-
960,
selor at Law, Knight Teinpiar, and Scotch Rite;
320
i. Adams AUen, A. B., M. D., A. M., LL.D.,
960,
Deputy Grand Master, Professor in Rush Medical
College, Chicago, Past Grand Commander, and Past
Grand Master of Michigan; Benjamin F. Patrick,
Grand Representative, Gen. Pass. Agent C. & N.
950,
6
W. R. W., Past Master, Past E. Coin. Apollo Coin-
mandery, and Scotch Rite; H. N. Hurlburt, lvl.
330
1)., Grand Orator, Past High Priest. Master of Home
Lodge, &hicago, and 320 Scotch Rite; T. T. Gurney,
Grand Prelate, Member of Apollo Commandery,
950,
Master of Cleveland Lodge, Chicago, and 3.20 Scotch
Rite; H. W. Bigelow, Grand Senior Warden,
950,
Member of Apollo Coinmandery, and 320 Scotch
Rite; George McElwain, Grand Junior Warden,
950,
Member of 320 Scotch Rite, Apollo Coinmandery;
Samuel E. Underhill, Grand Secretary, Recorder
950
of Apollo Cominandery, and 320 Scotch Rite; D. R.
Dyche, M. D., Grand Treasurer, Member of
9•30
Apollo Commandery; Robert E. Storey, Grand
950,
Conductor, Member of Apollo Comnmanclery; Ira S.
Younglove, Grand Senior Master of Ceremonies,
950
Master of Win. B. Warren Lodge, Chicago, Member
of Apollo Commandery, and 320 Scotch Rite; J. H.
Blake, Grand Organist; Charles E. Leonard,
950 950,
Grand Junior Master of Ceremonies, Member of
Apollo Commadery, and 320 Scotch Rite; Charles H.
Brower, Grand Captain of the Guard, M&mber of
9.50,
Apollo Cominandery, and 320 Scotch Rite; Francis H.
Nichols, 950, Grand Guard of the Tower, Member of
Apollo Commandery, and 320 Scotch Rite; L. K.
Osborn, Grand Sentinel, Member of Apollo Corn-
950,
mandery, and 320 Scotch Rite.
The report of this committee was on motion re-
ceived and entered on the minutes, and the commit-
tee discharged. The ballot was then spread andeach
of the aforesaid brothers reported by the Committee
on Permanent Organization was elected, and by the
Grand Master duly installed, and took their places in
the body.
On motion, a committee was appointed to draft a
constitntion and lws for the government of the
grand body and the craft throughout the civilized
Cosmos. Whereupon, they retired to consult,and the
grand body called from labor to meet again at ~
o’clock p~
7
6 O’cLocK p~ M., JUNE 17th, A. D. 1867.
The grand body was 0
1)ened in ample form by
NI W. Bro. Calvin C. Burt, Grand Master, the
960,
Deputy Grand Master and other officers and brethren
being present.
The Committee on Constitutions, Resolutions and
Laws reported a Constitution, Resolution and Laws,
which was taken up by sections and adopted as fol-
lows, viz:
ARTfCLE I.
SEC. 1. Therefore, be it by this convention duly
assembl.ed, enacted, ordained and written, that this,
our first constitution for the formation of this our
Grand Jurisdiction, embracing the continent of
America, shall commence as follo~vs:
In consideration whereof, we in solemn conclave
assembled and duly open on the as the Supreme
950,
Body of the E.~. M.•. R.~. of Memphis, for America,
with a constitutional representation of members, and
representing one Grand Council, two Senates and ten
Rose-Croix Chapters, duly working within the State
of Illinois, and other non-a~1iated 900 Masons,declare
that the Rite of Memphis, to wit: The Egyptian Ma-
sonic Rite of Memphis, which grand body we do now
here constitute and so name,is theSovereignSanctuary
of the Egyptian Masonic Rite ofMemphisforA.merica,
containing ninety-six degrees, ninety of labor, and
six official degrees; which it is not in the power of
any body of men or Masons to alter, abridge, con-
dense or interpolate to any less number of degrees.
And that no law, constitution, edict or by-law,
having such reduction in view, shall ever be made,
passed or enacted in this grand jurisdiction. And
~he Grand Master of this Rite shall declare any and
8
all such enactments, resolutions or motions tending
to reduce said degrees or adopt any such measure or
law, out of order. And we do hereby and forever
absolve ourselves and separate our Masonic Brother-
hood from each,all and every, and all bodies or mem-
bers claiming to be of the Rite of Memphis, of less
number than 960, and refuse to hold Masonic inter-
course with any such abridged Memphis Masons in
the Rite.
And from this day henceforth and forever consider
all~such reduction as clandestine Masonry, and no
law or constitution shall ever be made or enacted,nor
shall this constitution be everso construed o.I amended
a~ to reduce the Memphis Rite to less than 96 degrees
from the first to the 96th, and not otherwise or dif-
ferent.
ARTICLE II.
SEC. 1. The present proclaimed Grand Master of
this Rite, Bro. Calvin C. Burt, 960, shall hold the
office of Grand Master General by virtue of this
constitution in this grand body, in addition to his
other appointments and this grand jurisdict.ion, fbr
andduring his natural life, and no law or amendment
to this constitution shall be offered,passed or enacted,
contravening the same or in any way curtailing or
abridging his term of office, or his power as Grand
Master, without his written consent; and that he
shall always possess the right and have the power to
make Masons at sight and name his successor, and
preside at all meetings during his natural life.
SEC. 2. This grand body shall be called the Sov-
ereign Sanctuary and Grand Body and Jurisdiction
of the Egyptian Masonic Rite 3f Memphis, for the
Continent ofAmerica, it being the only grand body