Volume 2, Issue 12 Summer, 2014 T H E C R Y P T I C F R E E M A S O N PRESERVING THE TREASURES BY DAVID C. WITTE, PMIGM (MO) Studying the history and ritual of the Cryptic Rite will reminder that as God fed his people in their hour of need reveal how the Cryptic Rite is the crossroads of so should we act toward our fellow humans in their hour of Freemasonry. Just as a city built on a trade route or a need. The bread in this case is our time, talent and crossroad develops a unique or blended culture based on treasure needed to advance the cause of medical traditions from many sources, just as the Cryptic Rite is research through the Cryptic Mason Medical Research the blending of various Masonic traditions. This blending Foundation, as well as the countless other Masonic gives Cryptic Masons the unique ability and knowledge charities, or through our individual acts of Masonic needed to preserve the treasures of Freemasonry. philanthropy. Three treasures were placed in the Ark of the Covenant: The symbolism of the Pot of Manna extends further. The the Rod of Aaron, a Pot of Manna and the original Book of world must know we are Masons by our actions, not our the Law. These items are the treasures Cryptic Masons jewelry. It is our responsibility as Masons to help the symbolically promise to preserve. What follows is one stranger just as quickly as we would help a brother. explanation or one possible interpretation of how these items are still relevant today. The Book of Law or Volume of Sacred Text contains in its pages the basis of our Masonic legends and teachings. Aaron’s rod had the ability to bud and bear fruit in a We are taught early in our Masonic life the Book of the single night. Masonic ritual is very similar. A man knocks Law is the rule and the light that should govern our daily on the door as a poor blind candidate. If the candidate is life. The Volume of Sacred Law is a treasure, though the properly prepared, the ritual is heartfelt and performed symbolism may go farther to include our Ancient well; the work will bear the fruit of an enlightened and Landmarks. Proverbs 22:28 states “Remove not the enthused brother. The ultimate by-products of the fruits of ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set.” Our ritual our labor are tiny seeds of Masonic light, some falling in tells us to “hold the ancient landmarks in due veneration.” rich fertile soil, others on rocky ground or among the The correlation between these two passages is not a thorns and thistles, much like the seeds in Jesus’s parable coincidence as the entire Masonic fraternity is based on of the sower. If the seeds of light germinate, they are the lessons derived from the Volume of Sacred Law. The sending forth shoots or tiny roots. Nurturing these sprouts ancient landmarks are part of our tradition and part of the with simple acts of kindness, mentoring and ritual treasure of the Book of the Law. education will develop a strong, faithful brother and companion. It is important to remember that it not one Some companions are unsure what is meant by ancient single companion’s duty to nurture the young Mason, but landmark. When first hearing the term ancient landmark, all of our duty. Not one single person has all the ability to it may bring about images of Stonehenge or the Acropolis mentor another in all aspects of life; we all have countless since those are literal ancient landmarks. In Masonry, an mentors throughout our life and so it should be in our ancient landmark refers to the boundary that must be Masonic life. Think of the number of brothers and crossed before a candidate is allowed to enter the Circle companions it takes to perform the ritual to produce the of Perfection. Ancient landmarks are not uniform from seeds of light. Is it wise for any brother to ignore their one Masonic jurisdiction to another; there are debates on investment of time? the validity of various landmarks. For example, [in 1856] Albert Mackey put forth a list of twenty-five landmarks that The pot of manna was filled with the life sustaining was reduced to seven by Roscoe Pound [in about 1950], bread the children of Israel needed to survive the direst of and reduced further to three by the Conference of Grand 40 years in the wilderness. This bread was an act of Masters in 1953. The Constitution of the Grand Lodge of generosity by God to a people that had on more than one Missouri does not recognize a specific set of landmarks. occasion turned their back on his loving kindness. For Cryptic Masons, this pot of manna should act as a (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Volume 2, Issue 12 Following is the list developed by Roscoe Pound as an toward the end goal of a having a Cryptic Grand Council in example of the ancient landmarks. Mexico has been a long process, but we are hopeful for the future. Pound’s Landmarks 1. Belief in God The General Grand Chapter has led the way into Africa 2. Belief in the persistence of personality -- the immor- by forming Chapters and Grand Chapters there. This has sparked interest in the Cryptic Rite in Gabon and tality of the soul Madagascar. A Council under Dispensation in Gabon was 3. A "book of the law" as an indispensable part of the instituted in December 2013. lodge 4. Legend of the 3rd degree With the reinstating of the Grand Chapter of Austria by 5. Secrecy (modes of recognitions) the General Grand Chapter, the Austrian Companions have been interested in establishing a Grand Council. The 6. Symbolism of the operative art first steps toward this goal were accomplished in March of 7. A Mason must be a man, free born and lawful age this year when Danubius Council was constituted as a Chartered Subordinate Council of General Grand Council, The Book of the Law is found among the Ancient Land- and three other Councils were instituted under marks and the essence of the Ancient Landmarks is found Dispensation. They are very enthusiastic and are looking in the pages of the Book of the Law. Look at Pound’s list forward to having their own Grand Council in the near and reflect on how each landmark listed impacts Masonry future. in general and your life in particular. In March 2014, discussions were held with the Grand When contemplating the treasures of Freemasonry, it is Master of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus, and a process of important to start with a self-evaluation and then evaluate establishing a Grand Council there was started. The your Masonic associations to determine if you are doing Grand Chapter and Grand Council of Greece had decided to allow the Chapters and Councils in Cyprus to be independent, thus allowing the Cypriot Companions to form their own Grand Chapter and Grand Council. In May FOREIGN DEVELOPMENTS IN CRYPTIC MASONRY 2014, three Councils were constituted under Charter and BY DAVID A. GRINDLE a Grand Council was instituted under Dispensation on the GENERAL GRAND RECORDER island of Cyprus. After overcoming some internal issues, two Grand Councils have reconstituted themselves, including the Grand Council of France. Originally three Since the 2011 Triennial Assembly in Raleigh, North Councils, they are now six with more to come. The Grand Carolina, we have seen an increased interest in the Cryptic Council of Togo has also seen some problems and is Degrees in countries outside of the United States. reforming itself with five Councils. It all began with the chartering of a Subordinate Council There have been inquiries from Costa Rica, Ecuador, in El Salvador in 2011. This El Salvadoran Council has Venezuela, and Argentina to have the Cryptic Rite spearheaded a movement in Central America to resurrect established or reestablished in these areas. Councils that were started by Companion Johannes Van Beusekom in the 1980s. As a result, we instituted a Council in Honduras under dispensation at the First Latin We have not been without our challenges in the American York Rite Conference in Guatemala City, International arena. We have arrested the Charter of the Guatemala, in November 2013. At that same conference, Grand Council of Germany because of some irregularities a second Council in Peru was also instituted under that have occurred over several years. The Councils of dispensation. Inquiries were also received from Germany are now subordinate to the General Grand Companions in Paraguay about forming Councils of Cryptic Council until such time as they can reform a Grand Masons to be able to establish a Grand Council there. Council and request a new Charter. This work is still going on. As you can see, General Grand Council has been very Over the last three years, we have made progress in busy internationally and looks forward to the future. establishing new Councils under Dispensation in Mexico. Getting a consensus among these Companions to work T H E C R Y P T I C F R E E M A S O N Page 3 SOME DEFINITIONS the court of King Solomon, as well as his successor; he is referred to as a son of Abda. The last we hear of him FROM “AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CRYPTIC MASONRY” is in I Kings, where he was stoned to death, the people BY RAY V. DENSLOW having become incensed against him because of his oppression as a tax collector.