venerdì 12 novembre 2010

SOVEREIGN SANCTUARY

FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE 95th AND LAST DEGREE
Of Rito Antico e Primitivo di Memphis Italia
Supreme Council Sovereign Sanctuary of Italy of the Ancient and Primitive Rite
Regular Body of the Ancient and Primitive Rite Memphis of ItalyAncient and Honourable Fraternity of and Accepted Masons
BY KIND PERMISSION OF HIS GRACE THE
MW Bro Roberto Polastro
Sovereign Grand Conservator General of the Rite

To the Glory of the Sublime Architect of the Universe
In the name and under the auspices of the Sovereign Sanctuary of Ancient and Primitive Freemasonry, according to the Rite.


Salutation on all Points of the Triangle Respect to the Order Peace, Tolerance, Truth



To all Masons on the face of the Globe to whom these presents shall come Greeting ;


INTRODUCTORY

The Masonic Rite of Memphis taught men to render homage to the Divinity. It has for its basis the existence of a God, as well as the immortality of the Soul. And for its object it requires the exercise of benevolence; the immortal moral derived from the study of science and art; also the practice of all the virtues. It is the bond that unites mankind; the symbol of the sweet illusions of hope, that teaches Faith in God who redeemeth, and of Charity that blesseth.

The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis is universal, and is open to every Master Mason who is in good standing under some constitutional Grand Lodge and believes in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. The only other qualification which it requires of its Neophyte is probity and honor, and it esteems Masonic worth, ability, and learning above social and personal distinctions.
Seeking by means of its comprehensive ceremonials to extend Masonic knowledge, Morality and justice, and to enforce all those great principles which distinguish true Masons at all times.

And Whereas, The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis, does not countenance, confer degrees upon, or retain within its bosom any person not in good standing in a Blue or Symbolic Lodge of F. and A. M.;

And Whereas, The Rite of Memphis, considers the Blue Lodge the foundation and fundamental basis of the beloved institution, to which the Masonic allegiance of all its members are due, and from which there can be no deviation;

Whereas, The Rite of Memphis has always acknowledged the Supremacy of the State Grand Lodges over the symbolic or first three degrees of a Blue Lodge, and engrafted the same into its constitution by the following section, viz:

" Whereas, The Rite of Memphis, considers the Blue Lodge the foundation and fundamental basis of the beloved institution, to which the Masonic allegiance of all its members are due, and from which there can be no deviation ; therefore, no Mason can be allowed to join the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis unless he is a member of a lodge in good standing, working under a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons." And

Whereas, The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis has, by its toleration, extended into nearly every State and Territory in the world.



Seal of the 91 Degree of the Rite of Memphis
PRIVILEGES, PRINCIPLES, AND PREROGATIVES


The Memphis Ancient and Primitive Rite of Masonry, works 95 degrees, divided into three sections, embracing Modern, Chivalric, and Egyptian Masonry, as the latter was worked on the Continent last century's. The first section teaches morality, symbols, and philosophical research; and contains the degrees to Rose Croix 18. The second section teaches science, philosophy, and political myth, and develops the sympathetic senses; it contains the degrees of a Senate of Knight Hermetic Philosophers 43. The third section contains the so-called Egyptian Degrees and occupies itself with high philosophy and religious myth.

The Order recognizes the degrees of all other rites, when legitimately obtained, so that a brother who has the Rose Croix, Kadosh, or Grand Inspector, or any other degree analogous to this Rite under any other authority, may visit and participate in the same Degrees of the Memphis Ancient and Primitive Masonry.

Rite breathing only pure Masonry - charity, love, and mutual tolerance whilst adoring the sublime Architect of the Universe, inculcating the immortality of the soul, and endless happiness for the good brother.

It embraces a far more extensive Ritual of workable Degrees than any other rite, every one of its 95 degrees having its appropriate and elaborate ceremonial, easily arranged for conferment, an its titles purged of ridiculous pretensions.

The Order relies more fully upon Masonic worth, ability and learning than social standing and mere monetary qualifications, and seeks to extend Masonic knowledge, justice and morality. It levies only a small capitation fee upon each member admitted, to be hereafter devoted to charity and good works.

It admits Master Masons only in good standing under some constitutional Grand Lodge, and prohibits all interference with Craft Masonry, upon which its own 92 ceremonies form, and are intended to constitute, the most valuable and learned system of lectures extant, cultivating charity, tolerance and brotherly love in the Masonic Order, and entering into no entangling alliances which too often prove their destruction.

Its watchword " Defense, not defiance " , maintaining the right of every individual brother to join all or any outside Masonic organizations which may agree with his conscience, and protesting against the interference of the sectarian rites and bodies so numerous beyond symbolical Masonry.

The Ancient and Primitive Masonic Rite of Memphis was revived and introduced into Europe by the Most Illustrious Patriarch Ormus, Seraphic Priest of Alexandria, and brought into France by Brother Samuel Honis, a native of Cairo, Egypt, in the year 1814, and the " Grand Body " met at Montauban, on the 30th day of April, 1815, tinder charge of Very Illustrious Brothers Honis, Marconis de Negre, the Baron Dumas, Marquis de Laroque, Hypolite Labrunie, J. Pettitt, and others, and tinder the distinctive title of Disciples of Memphis, May 23d of the same year. Suspended labor on the 7th day of May, 1816; the Archives were confided to the care of Illustrious Brother Marconis de Negre, Grand Hierophant work was recommenced at the Grand Lodge of Osiris, Disciples of Memphis, in Brussels, in the year 1838, and at the Valley of Paris; and on March 21, 1839, its three Supreme Councils were proclaimed and the Statutes published. But in 1841 the Grand Master Hierophant, the Illustrious and Enlightened Brother Jacques Etienne 'Marconis de Negre, son and initiate of the first Grand Hierophant, was forced by civil politics to put all the Lodges in France asleep. In 1848 work was resumed at the Orient of Paris, and continued to prosper, and in 1856 was firmly established in Egypt, America, Roumania, and other countries.

Illustrious Brother Marconis de Negre, in person, established the first organization of the A. and P. Rite of Memphis in New York City, November 9, 1856, under the name and title of " A Supreme Council, Sublime Masters of the Great Work 90' " and in 1860 it included over one hundred Past Masters of the Blue Lodge under the rule of Illustrious Brother David MacClellan.


HISTORICAL LANDMARKS


Excerpts from the Constitutions, Statutes, and Ordinances of the Rite, etc.

Whereas, the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis acknowledges the Blue Lodge as the foundation and fundamental basis of the beloved institution to which the Masonic allegiance of all its members is due, and from which there can be no deviation; therefore no Mason can be allowed to join the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Freemasonry unless he is a member of a lodge in good standing, working tinder a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons."

" Any member of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis who shall be expelled from the Master Masons' lodge to which he is attached, shall be declared expelled from all bodies, of which he may be A member, belonging to the A. and P. Rite of Memphis."

" Any member of the A. and P. R. M., who shall be suspended in his lodge for tin Masonic conduct, shall in like manner be declared suspended in all our bodies until regularly reinstated by action of his lodge, or of the Grand Lodge having jurisdiction in his case."

The Rite of Memphis invites its members to fraternize with members of all other rites. ' Tolerance ' is written at the head of all its sacred laws.

Its members can affiliate with any other Masonic Rite without being excluded from their own.

" Masonic charity and devotion being the duty of brothers, whosoever shall be convicted of having had projects or acts tending to lower the rite, or attack a brother's honor, can, by the very deed, be brought before the Committee of Inquiry and expelled from the Order."

" My brothers, may all the blessings of our rite be yours now and forever. Remember this never condemn unheard. Examine, Reflect, and Tolerate."

In our intercourse with the world, let us carefully guard ourselves against depreciating any brother of the Order, no matter what his faults may be, Let no words of ill will fall from our lips relating to the members of our rite. If, from motives of jealousy at our success and progress, they choose to be antagonistic to us, let all the aggressive acts be on their side; for if Masons disagree among themselves, and make their dissension's matters of public notoriety, what opinion of us can we expect from the outer world, and how can it believe in our professions of Brotherly Love and Friendship "

" It shall be permissible and allowable for the officers of subordinate bodies, owing fealty to the Sovereign Sanctuary, to receive as visitors to the bodies tinder their charge Masons in good standing of other Rites, who shall be received in the, degrees corresponding to those of their rite (special instructions and permission, however, must first be obtained from the Sovereign Sanctuary)."

You know who you are, and so does God....
Done in our Sanctuary where Reigns Peace, Knowledge, and the Fullness of all that is Good

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