Collectanea, volume 16, part 1

A volume of a periodical of the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America published in 1996, containing an English transcription of the 1816 work, "Sarsena," and "The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners," edited by Art DeHoyos.| | | | . "SARSENA" IV° Scots Apprentice and Fellow, V° Scots Master, VI° Scots Past Master and Kt. of St. Andrew, | VII° Grand Cross of the Knights of St. John. and | | THE ANCIENT ORDER OF FREE GARDENERS Edited and Prepared by Art deHoyos | . VOLUME 16, PART1 Published by the Grand College of Rites Nes of the United States of America 1996 ee et etl eet ceili Al "Sarsena" and The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners. Collectanea. Volume 16, Part1. Copyright © 1996 by Art deHoyos for The Grand College of Rites of the United States of America. All rights reserved. Nopart of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. Collectaneais a private publication limited in distribution to members of the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION might be said that a "cousin" of the Swedish Rite is active in the United States. ll serious students of Masonicritual have learned to Aen caution prior to accepting the claims of renouncing Masons, or accepting their ritual exposés as accurate. However, in the absence of explicit official documents the ritual historian is sometimes forced to consider the exposé as a source which may reveal someof the inner workingsor evolutionoflittle-knownrites. This is the situation with thelittle-known Swedish Rite, a rite which (in its modern form) is exclusively Christian, and recognized as a regular system and branchofthe Fraternity. Although primarily a Scandinavianrite it is also practiced by the Grand National Lodge of Freemasons of Germany (Grofe Landesloge der Freimauerei von Deutschland). The German rituals are not identical with their Scandinavian counterparts, however, just as there are minorvariations within the Webb- form rituals used throughout the United States. ! Little authentic information is available on this rite to the English-language reader, but on the basis of the current rituals and a recent Norwegian exposé based on authentic documents," there is little doubt that the Swedish Rite is closely related to the Rectified Scottish Rite, or Rite Ecossais Rectifié, and its ancestor, the Strict Observance.3 It might be observed, in passing, that the higher degrees ofthe Rite Ecossais Rectifié are worked in the United States under the name Knights Beneficent of the Holy City, or Chevalier Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte (C.B.C.S.)4 Sarsena In this issue of Collectanea | provide a translation of an exposé of high degree rituals which allegedly comprised part of the early Grofe Landesloge system. This exposé was first published in 1816, under the merciless title Sarsena, or the Perfect Architect. Containing the History and Origin of the Freemasonic Order and Varied Opinions Regarding What it Could be in Our Time; What a Lodge is, the Manner of Reception, Opening and Closing the Samein the First, and the Advancement in the Second and Third St. John's Degrees; likewise the Higher Scots Degrees and Knights of Andrew. Faithfully and Truly Transcribed by a True and Perfect Brother Freemason. Extracted from Papers He Left Behind, and Delivered Unalteredfor Publication.5 Johann Christian Gadicke wrote in his Freimauer-Lexicon (1818) that the identity of Sarsena, ‘the great Architect' (ostensibly the name of a Scots Master)is aslittle revealed in the bookitself, as the name is known. Similarity to Other Rituals Sarsena does, however, provide some very interesting material for study. The First Section of the Perfect Master or the Scot, for example, is not only quite similar to the Perfect Master degree in the Recueil Precieux de la Maconnerie Adonhiramite (1787), but it also has something in common As such, i Otto Schwartz, Das X° Logenbuch des schwedischen Freimaurerordens (St. Michaelsdonn: Giinter Stramm, 1978). Sverre Dag Mogstad, Frimureri Mysterier Fellesskap Personlighetsdannelse (Oslo: Universitets Forlaget, 1994). {See J. Webb,"The Scottish Rectified Rite," AQC101 (1987), pp. 1-5. Arthur Edward Waite, trans., The Liturgyofthe Rite ofStrict reseed Reformed and Rectified (Warrenton, NC: J. EdwardAllen, 5 Sarsena, oder der vollkommene Baumeister. Enthaltend die Geschichte und Entstehung des Freimauerorderns und die verschiedene Meinungen dariiber, was er in unseren Zeiten seyn kénnte; was eine Logeist, die Art der Aufnahme, Offnung and Schliessung derselben;in demersten, und die Beférderung in den zweiten und dritten der St. Johannisgrade; sowie auch der héhern Schottengrade und Andresritter. treu und wahr niedergescrieben von einem wahren und vollkommenen Bruder Freimaurer. Aus dessen hinterlassenen papieren gezogen und unverdndert zum Druck iibergeben. Im Jahre 5816 A. (Bamberg: F. Kunz, 1816). 2 COLLECTANEA with an old German-language ritual INTRODUCTION discovered in the archives of Pilgrim Lodge No. 238 (London). The ritual was described by Bro. Eric Ward in his article, "Early Masters' Lodges and the Relation to Degree."® Because of its importance to the development of high grade Masonry, his description of this ritual is reproduced below: "In the archives of the Pilgrim Lodge there is a ritual in German, undated but apparently printed in the late eighteenth century, which seems to have been derived as the result of factors much the same as those discussed before. It was almost certainly translated or based upon a French version of an adapted English craft ritual, but the whole is so simple and free from elaboration as to suggest an origin not pointing their swords towards him. (This suggests the old arrangement of the Wardens' pedestals in the W. and the circle of swords, shown in early French prints and still practised in some workings.) The candidate is then informed that he has been called to account for his actions and, having been tried and proved guilty, must expect the reward for his misdeeds. The J.W.is instructed to seize the candidate, turn him round, make him sit reversed on a stool, bind his hands together behind his back and place a rope about his neck. The W.M. then announces that this is the ruffian who has Slain our Master (i.e., Hiram) and ought to be punished, but because of his knowledge the Order will show mercy. He is therefore released, and the W.M. reads the Oath, of which the following is approximately the English equivalent:- then "I, N.N., Swear in the presenceof the living God, and in this worthy assembly of Scots Masters, that | will preserve inviolably the secrets of Scots Masonry, and that neither intentionally nor through carelessnesswill | betray them to a living soul. That | am willing to fulfil to the best of my ability all duties which are demanded of me as a Scots Master, and that | will render the high Scottish Lodge all due obedience. Should | at any time act otherwise, then | shall Submit myself to the same penalty to which | was pledged on admission to this high order. So help me God." immediately follows the question to the S.W.: "Whattimeis it? and the answer: "It is high noon." The J.W. is asked the duty of the S.W. and replies that he has to "see the door closed, the Profane excluded andall is in order". The S.W., in reply to the question, "What is your name?" replies: "NOTUMA", i.€., The candidate is then asked by the W.M. whether he is willing to take the oath, and on replying in the affirmative his left hand is placed upon the Bible and the M. makes him give the "handclasp " with the right hand as a pledge of fidelity. Then far removed from 1740. It has none of the embroidery of late eighteenth century chivalric rituals, as it required only a W.M., S.W. and J.W.for its working. There is no mention of a trowel. A short preamble states that the L. is marked out in green and that the aprons are lined with green taffeta. There is a floor cloth having a diagram of a coffin, an eight-pointed star and the word JEHOVA superimposed. In the four corners are representations of animals, and palms surround the place from which Hiram wasraised. The Lodge is opened first an anagram of "AUMONT". by calling The W.M., to order, after being asked whetherit is the correct hour, declares the Scots Lodge open, lying his sword upon the book. At the admission the candidate is prepared by a brother sent out for the purpose, who brings him to the door to knock as a Master. The W.M. enquires of the S.W.: "Who is there? to which the latter replies: "A Master who desires to be numbered amongst the Scots Masters." The door is opened, and after his Sword and Hat have been taken from the candidate the latter kneels on a stool between the two Wardens' pedestals, with the brethren standing around ©AQC 75 (1962), pp. 162-63. 7ACFJackson, Rose Croix 2d ed. (London: A Lewis, 1987), pp. 1719, 3 he gives him the Sign " as if he were about to grasp him", makes him stand on his right and gives him the grip, thus:- "The right hand is placed under the elbow of the other, foot to foot and knee to knee; the left hand is put on the right shoulder of the other, saying the word JEHOVAand adding, This is the eternal fighting word and the name of the Lord under whose bannerwefight." Then he is given the touch, the leather apron, the hat and the sword, with the following words:- "| here return your sword to you; use it to defend your honour, our Brethren and the Orderif you are asked to do so." COLLECTANEA ny of admission continues INTRODUCTION by retrospectic r of oly the W.M. stressing the importance of all previous symbols, but pointing out that here there are New ones, yet" they are the last, the Order has no others'. They are (he says) nevertheless closely related to the prec ting ones, for "As a Master you left the slain Hiram in the grave", but "Here you find him dead no_ longer, his grave is surrounded by palms, he has awakened". Later the candidate is told:- "As a Master you had very important duties to perform, the fulfilment of which is not easy. They are as difficult as they are different. The Five points of Mastership contain great and important lessons, but they are insufficient to instruct our Brethren for the real purpose of the Order.' The W.M. then goes on to explain the qualities demanded of a Scots Master, which are symbolised by the four animals- the Lion (intrepidity, etc.), the Fox (shrewdness), the Ape (emulation) and the Sparrowhawk (alertness), but all have had qualities which must be guarded against. (Note: The use of symbolic animals and birds is possibly a parallel to, of forerunnerof, the Lion, Ox, Man and Eagle of the "Antients Armorial bearings depicted in Ahiman Rezon, 1704.) After the somewhat wordy explanation there follows a catechism evidently used for "lectures", commencing with "Are you a Scots Master?" in which the catechised says he was initiated" in the Scottish Islands". Asked how many form a Scots Lodge, the answer was" a Master and three Scots Brethren", the number of the Scots Lodge was four and its colour that of "hope", whilst the colour of a Scots Master was that of "fire". Asked why the W.M. wears a triangle onhis breast, the reply given was: "Because it is a sign of unity. Asked where he had previously worked, the answer given was: "At the rebuilding of the Temple under Ezra." . The closing was quite simple, the W.M. asking of the S.W.: "Which hour is it? " and the answer: "It is high midnight." After asking whether any brother had anything to propose, and it being the just hour, the Lodge was closed in the name of the Most High and through "the holy number ", etc." Both Bro. Ward's ritual and the First Section of our Perfect Master mention that the Lodge is decorated with Green, and each Lodge hasthe representations of animals 1n each comer. Bro. Ward's ritual has a Lion, Fox, Ape and 5 Sparrowhawk, while the Perfect Master has a Lion, Fox, Ape and a Pelican. It might also be noted that similar animals were encountered in the "Architects or Ecossais Masons" degree in Les Franc-Macons Ecrases (1747), where we find a Lion, Fox, Ape, Pelican and a Dove.® In Bro. Ward's ritual the word NOTUMA(an anagram of Aumont, mythical successor to Jacques de Molay) appears as the "name" of the Candidate; likewise in our Perfect Masterritual. In Bro. Ward's ritual the "colour" of a Scots Lodge is "hope." In our Scots Master degree the Green Collar, worn aboutthe neck, "bears the color of Hope." In Bro. Ward's ritual the "colour" of a Scots Master is said to be "fire." In our ritual of Scots Past Master the color of Scots Masonry is likewise said to be "fire." similarities will also be noted bythe reader. Other There are many differences however. Referring to Hiram, Bro. Ward's ritual states "Here you find him deadnolonger, his grave is surrounded by palms, he has awakened." This depiction is not found in Sarsena, thoughit is similar to that depicted on the emblematic Carpet of the old Scots Degree (Schottengrad) of the German National Motherlodge of the Three World Globes (Grofe National-Mutterloge "Zu den drei Weltkugeln"),9 and a somewhat similar scene appears on the diagram of the C.B.C.S. Perfect Master of St. Andrew degree ("here you behold Hiram rising from the dead").!° It appears that the Three World Globes and the C.B.C.S. have retained a "Scots" tradition which developed in a different form from Sarsena and the Swedish Rite.!! 8Harry Carr, Early French Exposures 1737-1751 (London: Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076, 1971), esp. pp. 307-314. °The Carpetis depicted in Altschottisches Heft (Dec. 1992), p. 363. 10Waite, trans., The Liturgy of the Rite of Strict Observance, p. R-25-. ‘lin fact, the C.B.C.S. and the Three World Globesshare several other similarities as well, perhaps the moststriking of whichis the "device of a Scottish Master": "A lion under a tempestuous sky, sheltered beneath a rock andplaying tranquilly with mathematical instruments, the device being these two words: MELIORA PRAESUMO." Waite, trans., The Liturgy of the Rite ofStrict Observance, p. R-34-. 6 INTRODUCTION COLLECTANEA It is worth noting that the Three World Globes' Scots Degree also used the word NOTUMA, as the initials « f the phrase Nazarenus Optimus Tanos Uniusque Moralitas Adninciator. Sarsena and the Swedish Rite As might be expected the most interesting comparisons are to be made with the Swedish Rite. It would be inappropnate to describe the current Swedish Rite rituals in any detail, as they are used by legitimate Grand Lodges. However, a light comparison would not be out of order. Sarsena's Scots Apprentice and Fellow degrees (conferred at the same time) correspond with the IV/V° Swedish Rite degree(s) of St. Andrew's Apprentice-Fellow (also conferred together), while the Scots Master or Knight of St. Andrew degree corresponds with the Swedish Rite VI° Scots Master of St. Andrew. The ritual content of these degrees share, at times, strong similarities to each other, while at other times there is a striking difference. This may be because Sarsena relied on inaccurate information, or because the rituals were rev ised. They both have similar-though not identical-Signs, Tokens and Words (e.g., the "Crown-Grip"), share similar regalia, and have similar legends regarding Adoniram (rather than Hiram). Sarsena's description of the Carpet of a Scots Apprentice and Fellow accounts for all but one of the emblems on the Swedish Rite IV/V° "Work Table" (Tracing Board). Inthe Scots Master degree, Sarsena likewise provides a description of most of the emblems on the Swedish Rite VI° Work Table. Sarsena's ritual also includes the Derrick and Golden Cord, two unusual emblems which also occur in the Swedish Rite VI°.13 The numbers 13, 14 and 27also play significantly into both rituals. --- the device being these two words: MELIORA PRAESUMO." Waite, trans., The Liturgy of the Rite of Strict Observance, p. R-34-. | 3Mogstad, Frimureri, p. 129-134, 300-305. 7 Sarsena and the C.B.C.S. Other interesting comparisons may be made by studying the rituals of the C.B.C.S. Again, it would not be prudent to discusstherituals ofthis active system, but those familiar with them may see not onlya similarity of Signs, Tokens and Words, butnote likewise that the C.B.C.S. ritual of the Scottish Master of St. Andrew's "Discovery of the Golden Plate and the Sacred Word" is paralleled in the discovery of the Word on the Cornerstone in Sarsena's degree of Scots Master or Knight of St. Andrew. The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners Anilluminating introduction to the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners precedesthe text of the ritual. This article was originally published in Transactionsof the Somerset Masters Lodge No. 3746 (1948), and was send to me by Bro. Matthew Marfield, of Costa Mesa, California, to whom fraternal appreciation is extended. Art deHoyos, member Publications Committee GRAND COLLEGE OF RITES, USA SARSENA COLLECTANEA Fourth Degree | PERFECT MASTER OR THE SCOT FIRST SECTION The old English system contained onlythese four Deer es. The roomis hung in green; on the Tapis (or Carpet) are the figures of a fox, an ape, a lion andapelican. - No one can be made a Perfect Masterunless he has a good education, the proper Knowledge of Masonry and a strong sincere desire of increasing this Knowledge; also no Master is permitted to applyfor this Degree in his own behalf, but his name is proposed by a member of this Lodge and if elected he is to appear at a given timeforinitiation, if he chooses to avail himself of his election. The Worshipful Master occupies the seat in the East, raps four times, which raps are repeated by the two Wardens. - The Candidate is prepared in the preparation room, which is hung in black, a Cable Towput around his neck and so conducted to the door of the Lodge room, where he raps 3x3. The door is opened and he asked, whether he is in favor of Liberty and Equality and willing to be obedient, courageous and constant; his answerbeing in the affirmative he is thereupon admitted. He is conducted aroundthe room beginning at the figure of the fox, so the pelican, the dove and the ape andhalted at the first namedfigure(the fox). The Worshipful Master examines him in the three preceding Degrees, orders him to advanceto the East bythe steps of an Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason and the Candidate then takes the following obligation. "I renew herewith the obligations, which I have already entered into in the preceding Degrees and promise to keep the same under the penalties, which are threatenedtoall false and forsworn Brethren; and I furthermore promise, t0 prove the strength and the sincerity of mydesire to reach perfection, before the eye of the Great Architect of the Universe and in the presence ofall illustrious Masons: 9 who hear me, that I will ever and at all times humbly practice all these virtues, which the laws of Masonry require and by which the members of this order are distinguished-bynoless a penaltythen that of being cast out by all good men and treated like a felon, whois unworthy of the name andthe privileges of a Mason. So help me God; Amen! After the obligation is taken the Worshipful Master embraces him and gives him the Sign, Word and Grip (see Catechism). The GRIP, outside of the Lodge and in public, thatis in the ordinary walksoflife, is given in the following manner: take each other by the hand and press the middle finger several timesagainst the palm ofthe others hand. The SIGN is to place the right hand upon the heart and hold the left, reversed, before the eyes, the thumb downward. The WORDis ADONAI.!3 It is lettered as the words in the preceding Degrees. The Scot or Perfect Master then receives a green apron and the Cross of St. Andrew on a green ribbon. Then follows:- SECOND SECTION THE CATECHISM OF A PERFECT MASTER Q. Whoare you? A. Worshipful! A Master and I know the great Jehova. Q. Whatis the meaning of that word? A. Itis the namethat signifies vastness (immeasurability): JE meansthe past; HO, the present; and VA, the future; ‘That Was, That Is and That Will Be'-inshort, it is the Masters Word, which wasneverlost. Q. What do you wish? !3ADONAI wasalso the Word in the previously-cited "Architects or Ecossais Masons" degree of Les Franc-MaconsEcrases. 10 COLLECTANEA SARSENA to receive instructions, how to arrive at perfection. ; Q. A. Q. A. | By what means will you become worthy ofthis favor? By showing, that I know the Square and Compasses. Howdid youreach this Degree of Perfection? Through the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. Q. How were youintroduced in the Lodge? A. With a Cable Tow around myneck. Q. Why so? A. To teach me, not to feel ashamed or ridiculed by the trials, which I had to undergo, to make me more perfect. The Cable Tow also reminds us, that the ruffians placed a Cable Tow around the neck of our Grand Master Adoniram and dragged the corpse through the Westgate of the Temple. Q. What did yousee in the Center of the Lodge? A. A large square stone and upon it four Squares and four )) Compasses. ' Q. Whatis the meaning of the four Compasses? A. The Existence, the Boundlessness, the Power and the Unity of the Grand Architect of the Universe. Q. Whatis the meaning of the four Squares? A. The four parts of the globe, governed by the GreatI AM Q. By which gate did you enter the Temple? A. Bythe Southgate. Q. Whythere? A. To teach me, that perfection can only be reached by leaving the ordinary track. Q. What did yousee there? A. The grave of our beloved Master Adoniram. Q. How will you convince me, that you are a Perfect Master? - By Word, Sign and Grip, by which we know each other. Q. Which is the word? A. ADONAI. Q. What