(Continued)

Although the Rite had been attributed to Swedenborg based upon Beswick's statement that he had received the craft degrees while attending the University of Lund in 1706 and generally accepted as late as 1924 (Weller), this theory has been disproved subsequently. Further research indicated that Freemasonry had not been introduced into Sweden until 1736.

Voorhis (1933-35?-1966) was of the opinion that the Rite originated in New York through Samuel Beswick due to its similarity to American Craft ritual. Yarker was of the same opinion. Waite in his Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry described the six degree system as having first originated in Canada circa 1860. It was felt to be a version of the craft degrees revised on an astronomical basis. He stated it was more likely the work of Dupuis or Volney as it contained elements of the Swedenborgian system. It had been attributed also to Chastonier's "Rite of illuminated Theosophists." Waite expressed still a further opin ion in his "Secret Tradition in Freemasonry" in which he felt the Rite could have been the invention of Kenneth Mackenzie.

The Supreme Council of the Rite was composed initially of members of the Swedenborgian Church and met in the old Kane Lodge No. 454 room on Broadway, New York City, in February 1859 as Menei Temple No. 1. It moved subsequently to the Egyptian room in the Odd Fellows Hall from May 1861-1862 and later to Montauk Lodge No. 286 in Brooklyn.

Beswick stated that the genuine Swedenborgian Rite was known as the "Primitive and Original Rite of Symbolic Masonry". It consisted of six degrees:

I. Temple Masonry or York Rite:

a. Entered Apprentice

b. Fellow Craft

c. Master Mason

2. Primitive and Original Rite of Symbolic Masonry:

d. Enlightened Freemason, or Green Brother

e. Sublime Freemason, or Blue Brother

f. Perfect Freemason, or Red Brother

All the officers of high rank were members of the Swedenborgian Church, but all masons were welcome to join regardless of their reli gious background.

Beswick spelled Freemason "Phremason" referring to a poor blind candidate, or one in darkness, who is feeling his way in search of light, derived as follows: "P:-The, Re-light; Mason-blind man feeling". Therefore, Phremason means a blind man searching for the light. This word is explained also in considerable detail to the candidate in the fifth degree of Sublime Phremason.

Beswick emphasized that the principal objective of the Swedenborgian Rite is the symbolic teaching of our ancestors. He stated, "To our ancient brethren, the science of symbols was the science of sciences". Quoting a definition given in an English lecture:

"Freemasonry is a science of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". Beswick indicated the same was true in his rite "the science of holy truth veiled in allegory and illustrated with symbols". Waite has given his interpretation of the three appended degrees of the Rite in his "The Secret Tradition of Freemasonry" to which the interested reader is referred.

Voorhis (1934-35?,-1966) has related all that is known of the personal life of Beswick. In a letter written to George C. Longley on August 22, 1876 from Shathroy, Ontario, Beswick stated that he had received the craft degrees in a Swedish Lodge in England and subsequently affiliated with Beaver's Lodge (possibly Beaver Lodge No. 234 in Thombury). He had been a civil engineer in the English Coast Survey on the northern Irish coast, a Reverend Swedenborgian Minister in New York City and subsequently a Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Science in Patterson, N. J. He was living at the latter location when a charter had been issued for a Supreme Council in the Swedenborgian Rite in Canada in 1873. He had served also in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Voorhis, in his 1966 article, also indicated that additional correspondence had been reviewed without further details induding letters from Beswick to Shadwell H. Clerke, London, England and George C. Longley in Ontario from Harington, Ontario 8-24 and 8-28-1876 respectively, with additional correspondence from Shathroy through June 4, 1877 indicating he had moved to Canada. There was also an undated memorandum from Beswick briefly summarized: "Our present Grand Secretary of Blue Masonry, of N. Y. State, took the degrees by dispensation. So did Robert Macoy, Dan Sickles and John Sheville, all 33 degree Men, and within a few weeks of each other. These high Masons care little for the whole ceremony, so I initiated them by putting the three degrees of our Order into the form of a Lecture, and giving them the signs, words, grips, etc. at successive stages of the ceremony."

"We started a Lodge or Temple with a Master, S.W. and J.W. calling it Menci Temple No. 1, and we worked it as a common Lodge our selves, then left it in the hands of others, and from others made our Grand Lodge of the State of New York."

I have corresponded with the libraries of the Grand Lodge of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Iowa and the Supreme Council 33 degree, A.A.S.R., SMJ, and A&ASR, SMJ and have received photo copies of many helpful articles regarding the Rite. Unfortunately, no additional information could be found on Beswick or the American Lodges and Temples beyond that given already by Voorhis. Ms. Kathleen M. Haley, Librarian of the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, Grand Lodge Library and Museum of the Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., State of New York was particularly helpful in the latter respect in attempting to find further material. She did forward a copy of the Fundamental Constitution of the Primitive and Original Rite of Freemasonry or Swedenborgian Rite for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland published under the authority of the Supreme Grand Council by Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie as Supreme Grand Secretary, London, 1877. This included the constitution and Articles relating to the Supreme Grand Council, its officers, the Grand Lodge and Temple as well as subordinate Lodges and Temples, the electoral College, data regarding petitions for warrants, jewels, clothing, fees and the Grand Seal.

Voorhis had willed his year books and remaining Masonic library to his Craft Lodge at Red Bank, New Jersey. I called and wrote Lewis J. Birt, a member of the Lodge and familiar with the library. He, too, was unable to provide any additional information on Beswick or the Rite in the United States other than that given in Collectanea (1934-35?-1966). I will make a further effort in the future to see if I can obtain a copy of the notebook with the ritual and letters mentioned by Voorhis (1966) now in the archives of the Supreme Council 33 degree, Canada.

Beswick issued a charter to introduce the Swedenborgian Rite into Canada on May 1, 1872, but this was not activated in that there were only ten of the necessary twelve petitioners. The warrant was delayed therefore until 1873 with the headquarters of the Supreme Council being at Maitland, Ontario. Voorhis included a complete list of the petitioners both in 1872 and 1873. The officers included William J.B. McLeod, M.W. Supreme Grand Master; Thurman D. Harington, R.W. Supreme Grand Senior Warden and George C. Longley, R.W. Supreme Grand Junior Warden. The charter was issued in New York and signed by: Samuel Beswick, S.G.M.; C.S. Wescott, S.G.S.W. and O. N. C. Shach, S.GJ.W.

The system was introduced subsequently into England from Canada when a petition was forwarded to the Supreme Council of Canada on October 1, 1876 to establish a similar body in England signed by John Yarker as Supreme Grand Master, Francis G. Irwin, Supreme Grand Senior Warden, Charles Scott, Supreme Grand Junior Warden, Kenneth Mackenzie and Thomas L Shore. A charter was issued subsequently with the original Emanuel Lodge and Temple No. 3 on the register of Canada becoming No. 1 at Bristol on the English registry which divided its membership into two additional bodies: Egyptian No. 2 at Manchester and St. John's No. 3 at Baildon.

The Rite grew slowly but steadily during the succeeding years, per haps reaching its zenith as reflected by the No. 19 issue of its official publication "The Balustre" for May 1902.

---

No. 19 THE BALUSTRE FOR MAY, 1902.

THE SWEDENBORGIAN RITE OF FREEMASONRY

 

This Rite consists of Three Degrees, to which Craft Master Masons, in lawful and regular possession of Symbolical Masonry, can alone be admitted.

It makes no pretense to supersede any other Rite, but is independent and self-contained, offering philosophical explanations of Masonic Science of deep significance. The doctrines contained in certain sections of the ARCANA COELESTIA of Emanuel Swedenborg — after who the Rite is named, and by whose immediate and Masonic friends it was accepted and restored a century ago — receiving ample illustration, and to all Brethren interested in the more recondite spaces of its Great Temple, this Rite will be welcome.

SUPREME GRAND LODGE AND TEMPLE

Grand Officers

M. W. Bro. John Yarker, P.M. 1 and 2, Supreme Grand Master.
R. W. Bro. W. Wynn Westcott, M.B., P.M. 1 and 8, Supreme Grand Senior Warden.
R. W. Bro. Robert Smith Brown, P.M. 3, Supreme Grand Junior Warden.

(Who form the Supreme Council)

V.W. Bro. Henry Hawley, P.M. 2, Supreme Grand Treasurer.
V.W. Bro. Richard Higam, P.M. 2, Supreme Grand Registrar.
V.W. Bro. W. Wynn Westcott, M.B., P.M. 1, Supreme Grand Secretary
V.W. Bro. W. H. Quilliam, P.M. 6, Supreme Grand Chaplain
V.W. Bro. Gerard Encausse, Supreme Grand Marshal.
V.W. Bro. H. Kennedy Melville, S. W. 5, Supreme Senior Grand Deacon.
V.W. Bro. W. S. Hunter, J. W. 5, SupremeJunior Grand Deacon.
V.W. Bro. A. W. Peeples, Sec 5, Supreme Grand Standard Bearer.
V.W. Bro. Theodore Reuss, Supreme Grand Sword Bearer.
V.W. Bro. Sholto Henry Hare, P.M. 2, Supreme Steward.
V.W. Bro. L. P. Hespiradoux, S.W. 2, Supreme Steward.
V.W. Bro. S. C. Bingham, J.W. 1 and 3, Supreme Pursuivant.
V.W. Bro. Alfred Molony, J.W. 13, Supreme Asst. Purst.

Grand Masters of Provinces

Bro. W. Wynn Westcott, P.M. I and 2, London.
Bro. W. M. Quilliam, P.M. 6, Lancashre.

Foreign and Colonial Representatives

Bro. Capt. Constantine Moriou, to G.L. and .T. of Roumania.
Bro. Col. Henry S. Olcott, to G.L. and T. of Bombay.
Bro. Charles Sotheran, to G.L and T. of New York.
Bro. George F. Fort, to G.L and T. of New Jersey, U. S. A.
Bro. Alexander Duncan, to G.L and T. of Cape Town, S. Africa.
Bro. M. V. Portman, to G.L and T. of The Andamans.
Bro. Theodore Reuss, to G.L and T. of Germany.
Bro. Sydney C. Bingham to G.L and T. of New Zealand.
Bro. Gerard Encausse, to G.L and T. of Paris

LODGES AND TEMPLES, 1902 A.O.S. 7775.

1 . Emanuel. Warrant, at Bristol, dated 13th January, 1877. Removed to Weston-super-Mare, 30th May 1877. Wm. Wynn Westcott, P.M. Amalgamated, 1895 with No. 2.
2. Egyptian, Manchester. Warrant dated 13th January 1877. J. S. Taylor, W.M.; Henry Hawley, P.M.; S. H. Hare, I.P.M.; Richard Higham, P.M.; John Yarker, P.M., etc.; L P. Hespiradoux, S.W.; John P. Osbome,J.W.
3. St. John's Baildon, Shipley, Yorkshire. Warrant dated 6th February, 1877. Thomas Wynn Holmes, P.M. and W.M.; Thomas Michael Holmes, S.W.; Louis Holmes, J.W.
4. Swedenborg, Havant, Hants. Warrant dated 6th January, 1877. Josiah Clay, W.M. Thos. Frances, P.M.
5. Edina, Edinburgh. Warrant dated 5th ofJune, 1877. Robert Smith Brown, P.M.; A. K. Melville, M.D., P.M.; W. S. Hunter, P.M.; J. MacNaught Campbell, W.M.; A. W. Peeples, Sec.
6. and 9. Royal Oscar, Liverpool. Warrant dated 15th ofJune and 13th August, 1877. Henry B. Brown, P.M.; W. H. Quilliam, W.M.; Henry Hawley, P.M.
7. Cagliostro, Keynsham, Somerset. Warrant dated 16th June, 1877. John Thomas Hallam, W.M.; Alfred G. Williams, S. W.
8. Hermes, London. Warrant dated 13th August 1877. W. Wynn Westcott, P.M.; A. Howell, P.M.; Rev. Dr. T. W. Lemon, W.M.; Fredrick Leigh Gardner, S.W.;Sholto H. Hare, P.M.
9. Liverpool. Meets at a L and T. of Instruction, at 128 A. Mount Pleasant
10. Brittania, Sheffild. Warrant dated 17th April, 1879. Thomas Blair, W.M.; John Eadon Reaney, S.W.; S. B. Ellis, I.P.M.
11. Pythagorean (lodge of Instruction), London. Warrant dated 1st November, 1879. W. Wynn Westcott, W.M.; F. Leigh Gardner, Sec.
12. St. Hilda, Lofthouse in Cleveland. Warrant dated 9th December, 1879. Thomas Allen, W.M.; R. D. Nutt, S.W.; John Oates, J.W.
13. Eri, Limerick. Warrant dated 18th December, 1886. Alfred Moloney, W.M.
14. Inn at Paris. Gerard Encausse, W.M.; Pierre Deullin, S.W.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND SWEDENBORG LODGE OF GERMANY

Prov. Grand Master, Theodore Reuss.
Prov. Grand Dep. Master, Leopold Engel.
Prov. Grand Asst. Dep. Master, August Weinholz.
Prov. Grand S. Warden, Arthur Boerner
Prov. Grand J. Warden, Herrnann Fuegner.
Prov. Grand Chancellor, Sigmund Miller.
Prov. Grand Treasurer, Max Heilbronner.
Prey. Grand M. of C., Erich Walter.
Prov. Grand Librarian, Christoph Marstens
Prov. Grand Secretary, Max Suppas.
Prov. Grand Steward, Robert Gross, M.D.
Prov. Grand Steward, Reinhold Augsburg.
Prov. Grand Marshal, Franz Held.
Prov. Grand Guardian, Max Leichnitz.

THE MOTHER LODGE OF GERMANY;

"ZUM HEILIGEN GRALL" AT BERUN, No. 15.

W. Master, Theodore Reuss.
S. Warden, Arthur Boerner.
J. Warden, Hermann Fuegner.

ADAM ZUR WEISHEIT, DRESDEN, No. 16.

W. Master, Leopold Engel.
S. Warden, Sigmund Miller.
J. Warden, George Gierloff.

PHOENIX ZUR WAHRHEIT. HAMBURG, No. 17.

W. Master, Franz Held.
S. Warden, Otto Hermes.
J. Warden, August Engel.
Treasurer, Albert Paash.

Swedenborg lodges are also to be found in Kattowitz, Zittau, Rudolstadt and Prague.
All communications should be addressed to—
Bro. Arthur Boemer, Grand Provincial Senior Warden at Plan Ufer 38, Berlin, S.W.
Webmaster Note: These addresses from a 1902 publication. All named are now deceased!  Do NOT write to these addresses.

The present Grand Officers were formally appointed at London by the Supreme Grand Council in 1901. The Accounts of the Supreme Grand Treasurer's last Audit show a balance of £6 11s. 6d.

Jewels of the Order may be had at Kenning and Son.

Warrants on Parchment, and under Seal, £3.

Annual Registration Fee, One Shilling per Member.
Private Lodge fix their own subscriptions, with a minimum Initiation Fee of £1 (including Certificate of Registration, for which 7s. 6d. charged by the Supreme Council).
Declaration Books for each Lodge, containing fifty declaration forms, price 2s. &L, may be had of the Supreme Grand Secretary as also the Fundamental Constitution of the Rite, price One shilling.

By order of the Supreme Grand Council,
W. Wynn Westcott, Past Grand Deacon, England. 30°, S.G.SW. Swedenborg Rite.
Acting Supreme Grand Sectetary,
396 Camden Road, London N.
Webmaster Note: These addresses from a 1902 publication. All named are now deceased!  Do NOT write to these addresses.

---

The Rite declined thereafter and became extinct as in the United States and Canada. Its history and ritual have taken their place in the Archives of the Grand Coilege of Rites organized in 1934 for the dis tinct purpose as serving as a repository and publisher of extinct masonic rites in its periodical "Collectanea."

I have obtained considerable additional material through the years on numerous visits to London from the library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England through the courtesy of its librarian, John Hamill. This included much correspondence between Yarker, his offi cers and members and numerous copies of the Balustre. An extensive summary of these data is beyond the scope of this article.

 

[ Home ] [ Papers ] [ Membership ] [ Contacts ] [ Links ]