M'Cosh's "Documents Upon Sublime Freemasonry."

M'COSH'S " DOCUMENTS UPON SUBLIME FREEMASONRY . "

Br ERO . JACOB NORTON .

THE peculiar characteristic of Sublime Masons is ambition , thus a 32 nd wants to bo a . " " 3 rd , and a 33 rd wants to be Grand Commander , and when a Sublime Mason is disappointed , he may either re-hash the degrees , and open business under another name , such ns Primitive Rite , Misraim Rite , & c , or ho will open business under the old name , and will denounce tho older concern ns spurious , illegitimate , & c . There is not a country wherein the high ernclos

wero introduced that has not got pither two or more Scotch Rite Grand Concerns , or somo other sublime rites at the side of the Scotch Rite , or two or three concerns of each kind at the same time . As tho Memphis Ititers claim superiority over the Scotch Riters , because they give more than three degrees to one of the others , * so Scotch Piters fight not only with its rival faction , but with the

Memphis riters too . When the high grades wero first introduced into Charleston , South Carolina , their number was confin"d to a few , so that each member could be some kind of a Grancl ; but in the early part of this century , a number of high grade emissaries swarmed in New York , who manufactured high graders by wholesale , and pocketed the fees . The New York sublimes would not be ruled by

the Charlestonians ; they , therefore , picked up Mons . Cerneau , a Frenchman , a jeweller by trade , and made him Sovereign over the U . S . and its territories in 1807 . In 1812 , Charleston sent to New York a Sublime Grand to investigate , who was sure , said he , that Cerneau was not a 33 rcl ; but the New Yorkers swore he was a 33 rd . Eventually Charleston set up

Gourgas , another Frenchman , as S . G . C . over theNorthcrn jurisdiction . Bnt Gourgas could get no followers , and he continued for many years solely G . O . of himself . At last , some enterprising Bnstonians brought out Bro . Gonrgas ' s concern , removed the " Zenith " of the Northern jurisdiction to Boston , and appointed a Bostonian G . O . Unfortunately , in 1860 , the " Secretary of tho Holy Empire "

quarrelled with his Sovereign , deposed him , ancl made a New Yorker G . O . ; but as the old Sovereign had friends who rallied round his banner , we had two Zeniths in Boston . Each faction was however anxious to have a preponderance in the G . L ., and in order to secnre it , they not only vilified each other in print , but each party went to work , and for little or nothing gave

away their secrets to every Mason who was willing to receive them . Nor was this confusion confined to Boston ; the same policy was pursued throughout all the Northern States . Had the ^ e Sublime gentry been real Sovereigns , blood would have flowed like water ; but fortunately , their Sovereignty , Chivalry , & c , was after all mere moonshine . So , with the exception of tho hatred engendered , and

the disgrace it brought on the Craft , no further harm ensued . After seven years' war , the Cerneanites and the two factions of the Boston Gourgasites united ( in 1867 ) . It was then naturally supposed that the fight was ended . But a few years ago an old Cerneauite in Now York revived the Cerneau concern for the whole U . S ., ana fighting continues , nofc only in tho North , bufc also in the

South , for they actually invaded Sovereign Albert Pike's dominions , by establishing a high grade concern in Florida . Poor Sovereign Pike ' s dominions are torn to pieces , for , in addition to the Cerneauite invasion already mentioned , a French faction in New Orleans set up some years ago a high grade concern of their own , and who knows how many moro such concerns may vet spring up ?

These high grade Sublimes have a notion that they are endowed with right and power to rnle the Grand Lodges of Craft Masonry too . When these notions became known to the G . L . of Sonth Carolina , the G . L . summoned the Sublime dignitaries , to enquire " from whence thoy held their powers . " The Sublimes then went into a long rigmarole about Stephen Morin , Frederick tho Great , & c , about

whom the reader will learn more hereafter . " Tho G . L . at once took exception to their proceedings , ancl disputed their authority . A pretty warm contest ensued , but it appeared in the gpqnel that some of the Ofdcers of this Supreme Council were also Officers or Members of the G . L . " So at last the Sublimes condescended to waive their rights over Craft Masonry . But in 1830 , Bro . Attwood . by

virtue of being Sovereign Grand Commander of the 33 rd , the last and highest degree in Masonry of the Cerneau faction in New York , actually created a Grancl Lodge in New York , and granted Charters for Lodges , Chapters , Commauderies , and what not ! Bro . M'Cosh of South Carolina was doubtless a oious and sincere man , but like many of his stripe was stupidly credulous . The Cerneau

faction in New York made him feel very sad ; be therefore selected a number of documents from the Charleston archives , and published them , in 1823 , for the purpose of convincing the Masonic world of the sinfulness of the New Yorkers . The first document contains the history of Masonry and the high grades from the Creation . Omitting

the said history , and the latin heading , I shall proceed with some extracts which will convey an idea of the pretensions of the Sublimes . " From the east of the Grand Supreme Council of the Most Puissant Sovereians , Grand Inspectors General , ancl under the Celestial Canopy of the Zenith , which answers to the 32 nd degree , < I 5 minutes N . L .

" To onr illustrious , Mosfc Valiant and Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret , Knights of the K . TI ., Illustrious Princes and Knights , Grand , Ineffable , and Sublime , Free and Accepted Masons of all degrees , ancient and modern , over the two hemispheres . " It is well known that about 27 , 000 Masons accompanied the Christian Princes in the Crusades to recover the Holy Land from the Infidels . While in Palestine they discovered several important

M'Cosh's "Documents Upon Sublime Freemasonry."

Masonic manuscripts among the descendants of the ancient Jews which enriched onr archives with authentic written records , aud on which some of onr degrees are founded . " In the years 5301 and 5311 , some very extraordinary discoveries wero made , ancl occurrences took place , which renders the Masonic history of that period of the highest importance . A period dear to

tho Mason's heart who is zealous in the cause of his Order , hia Country , and his God . [ Buncombe ] . "Another very important discovery was made in the year 5553 , of a record in Syrian characters , relating to the most remote antiquity , and from which it would appear that the world is many thousand vears older than given by tho Mosaic account , an opinion entertained

by manv of tho learned . Few of these characters were translated nntil the reign of onr illustrious ancl most enlightened Brother Frederick II . King of Prussia , whose well-known zeal for the Craft was the can ? e of much improvement iu the Scciety over which he condescended to preside . '" VAs society improved , ancl as discoveries of old records were made ,

the number of our degrees was increased , until , in progress of time , the svstem became complete . " From such of our records as aro authentic we are informed of the Sublime and Ineffable degrees of Masonry in Scotland , Franco , and Prussia immediately after the Crusades . Bnt from some circumstances which to us aro unknown , after the year 4658 they fell into neglect

, until the year 5744 , when a nobleman from Scotland visited France , and re-established a Lodge of Perfection in Bordeaux . " In 5761 the Lodges nnd Councils of the superior degrees being extended throughout the Continent of Europe , His Majesty the King of Prussia , as Grancl Commander of the Order of Princes of the Royal Secret , was acknowledged by all the Craft as the head of tho sublime

and ineffable degrees in Masonry throughout the two hemispheres . His Royal Highness Charles , Hereditary Prince of the Swedes , Goths , and Yandals , Duke of Sudermania , Heir of Norway , & c , & c , & c , was , and still continues tho Grand Commander and Protector of the Sublime Masons of Sweden ; and His Royal Highness Louis of Bourbon , Prince of tho Blood , Duke de Chartres , & c , & c , & c , and

tho Cardinal Prince and Bishop of Rouen , were at the head of those degrees in France . " On the 25 th of October 5762 , the Grand Masonic Constitutions were finally ratified in Berlin , and proclaimed for the government of all the Loclges of Sublime and Perfect Masons , Chapters , Councils , Colleges , and ConsiTories of the Royal and Military art of Free .

masonry , over the surface of the two hemispheres . They are secret Constitutions , which have existed from time immemorial , and are alluded to in these instruments . " In the same year the Constitutions were transmitted to our illns . trious Brother Stephen Morin , who had been appointed , on the 27 th of August 5761 , Inspector General over all Lodges , & c , & c , & c , iu

the new world by the Grand Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret convened in Paris , at which presided the King of Prussia ' s Deputy , Chaillian de Johnville , Substitute-General of the Order , Right Worshipfnl Master of tho first Lodgo in France , called St . Anthony ' s , Chief of the Eminent degrees , Commander and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret , & c , & c , & c .

" When Brother Morin arrived in St . Domingo , he , agreeably to his patent , appointed a Deputy Inspector General for North America . This high honour was conferred on Brother M . M . Hayes , with the power of appointing others where necessary . Brother Morin also ap . pointed Brother Franken Deputy Inspector General for Jamaica and the British Leeward Islands , and Brother Colonel Provost for the

Windward Islands and the British Army . " Brother Hayes appointed Brother Isaac Da Costa Deputy Inspector General for the State of South Carolina , who , in the year 5783 , established the Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection in Charleston . After Brother Da Costa's death , Brother Joseph Myers was appointed Deputy Inspector General for this State by Brother

Hayes , who also had previously appointed Brother Colonel Solomon Bush Deputy Inspector General for tho State of Pennsylvania , and Brother Barnard M . Spitzer to the same rank for Georgia , which was confirmed by a convention of Inspectors , when convened at Philadelphia , on the 15 th of June 5781 . " On the first day of Mav 5786 , the Grand Constitntion of the

Thirty-third Degree , called the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General , was finally ratified by His Majesty the King of Prussia , who , as Grancl Commander of the Order of the Princes of the Royal Secret , possessed the Sovereign Masonic power over all the Craft . In the new Constitntion this high power was conferred on a Supreme Council of nine brethren in each nation , who possess all

tbo Masonic prerogatives in their own district that His Majesty individually possessed ; CMICZ are Sovereigns in Masonry " —[ The italicising is not mine ] . After giving the doings of five meetings , held between 5788 and 5802 , and also the names of the thirty-three degrees , the report goes on to say" Besides these degrees , which are in regular succession , most of

tho Inspectors are in possession of a nnmber of detached degrees , given in different parts of the world , and which they generally communicate , free of expense , to those brethren who are high enough to understand them , such as Select Masons of the 27 th and Royal Arch , as given under the Constitution of Dublin , Six degrees of Maconnerio D'Adopfcion , Compagnon Ecnssais , Le Maiter Ecossais , and Le Grand Maiter Ecossais , & c , making in aggregate 52

degrees . = s # & # , "They respectfully salute your Grand Council , by tho Sacred Numbers . " Charleston , Sonth Carolina , the 10 th day of tho 8 th Mouth , called Chislen 5553 , A . L . 5802 , and of the Christian era , this 4 th day of December , 1802 . ; j " FREDRICK DALCHO . '