Ritual , Secrecy , and Civil Society
have their Masonic credentials with them according to the minute book , let alone any ritual texts . This text was used because it was a printed book and therefore readily available , containing a complete French Masonic system .
In the second section , we see the Ancients craft rituals . This section contains the only known eighteenth century French language translation of the full Ancients rituals and is also the oldest known example of an Ancients rituals specifically attributed to an American lodge . La Candeur , therefore , has the distinct privilege to hold these dual honours .
A close examination of this ritual , however , reveals something very exciting . This text is actually a modified French translation of the popular Masonic exposure Three Distinct Knocks . 19 There are notes on the header of the Fellow Craft and Master ’ s degrees that indicate that this ritual was translated into French on August 6 , 1797 . The minute book makes it clear that this was done as the lodge had its constitution accepted by the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons of South Carolina on January 4 , 1797 . This highly suggests therefore that the ritual worked by the Ancient York Masons of South Carolina was in fact based on if not identical to the ritual contained in Three Distinct Knocks , and by extension the Ancient Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania as well . Interestingly when these rituals were translated into French , the parts for the Junior and Senior Deacons were rendered to the Senior and Junior Wardens , as those positions were exclusive to Ancients Masonry and unknown in the Moderns ritual .
There is yet another interesting section of this ritual text , containing the funeral rites of the lodge . This portion is not present in Three Distinct Knocks , and it is tempting to think that they are the funeral rites conducted by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina Ancient York Masons . The note at the end of the inscription , however , reveals that it is , in fact , a copy of a funeral rite created by Alexandre Guy Pingré , Cantor of Sainte-Genevieve in Paris and the Worshipful Master of the Parisian lodge Etoile Polaire on May 3 , 1783 . 20 There are blank lines intended for the many musical portions , however , the notes were never recorded . A note at the end indicates that it was performed by La Candeur for the funeral of the very dear brother Pierre Crouze Magnan on May 19 , 1797 . Magnan was one of eight French brethren made Deputy Inspector Generals by Hyman Isaac Long on November 12 , 1796 . 21 The minute book shows that lodge celebrated the funeral
19 The Three Distinct Knocks , or the Door of the Most Antient Free-Masonry Opening to All Men , Neither Naked nor Cloath ’ d , Bare-Foot nor Shod , & c . ... Dublin : T . Wilkinson , 1777 . Many thanks to Illustrious Arturo de Hoyos 33 ° for identifying the source text for the French translations as Three Distinct Knocks .
21 Livre D ’ Or Du Comte De Grasse-Tilly . Premier Souverain Grand Commandeur Du Suprême Conseil De France . Paris : Suprême Conseil de France , 2003 . 88 .
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