Inspectors of the Royal Secret : Their Origins and Activities
appropriate authority , though obviously few followed through . 13 Unfettered by Grand Lodge regulations , the Inspectors were free to peddle their wares wherever they found willing candidates . Their customers , either lured by sales pitches for exclusive degrees or drawn by the promise of further light in Masonry , eagerly paid for the information . The degrees were conferred as well as possible by the Inspector with perhaps a few brothers assisting . The new candidates were then permitted to transcribe the rituals for their later study and use , perhaps in organizing a high-degree body with a warrant .
A subtle but important distinction between operations of the York Rite and the Order of the Royal Secret may be that the Ineffable and Sublime degrees had an intellectual appeal , while the York Rite degrees — especially the Chapter degrees — had popular elements of boisterous fun . This difference can be seen by the willingness of initiates of the Order of the Royal Secret to pay for the privilege of just transcribing rituals — certainly a scholarly approach to Masonry of greatest appeal to the literate . Few of the men elevated by Inspectors participated in meetings because there were hardly any bodies for them to attend , but they seemed to be satisfied to read and study the rituals .
If Bernard ’ s and Allyn ’ s exposures can be believed , the degrees of a Royal Arch Chapter offered participants rowdy , mischievous initiation pranks . These degrees , especially the Royal Arch , provided a logical conclusion to the Master Mason Degree , while seemingly providing some innocent fun during the ceremonies — a popular combination much more successful than merely transcribing and studying rituals . Their descriptions of the Royal Arch Chapter Degrees , the most widely worked of the high degrees , tell of several opportunities to embarrass and surprise the candidates . 14 Allyn even provided comical drawings of the ceremonies , highlighting the discomfiture of the candidate . 15
In contrast with the Chapter degrees , their descriptions of “ Eleven Ineffable Degrees ,” are austere and solemn , almost like historical plays . 16 They had little firsthand evidence of what went
13 “ July 3d , [ 1792 ].… On condition that [ Brothers Milton , McCall , Urquhart , Gardner , and Zimmerman ] would apply to the Council [ of Princes of Jerusalem ] in Charleston for instructions requisite , that was not in my power to give them I advanced the above named brethren to the degree of Princes of Jerusalem .…” Jacobs , Register , Folger reprint , p . 88 .
14 During the reception of a Mark Master Mason , the candidate was supposedly made to believe that he will be “ marked ” on his chest with a blow from a chisel and mallet . “ This is supposed to be the most interesting part of the degree ; and is made so , by the pains taken to frighten the candidate . If the floor , bowl , chisel , and mallet are bespattered with blood , or something which resembles it , and the ‘ executioner ’ acts his part well , the candidate must necessarily feel very uneasy during the ceremony :— This generally gives great satisfaction to the brotherhood , and is often the subject of their secret discourse for weeks afterwards .” David Bernard , Light on Masonry , 1st ed ., 3rd state ( Utica , N . Y .: William Williams , 1829 ), p . 98 .
15 Avery Allyn , A Ritual of Freemasonry ( Boston : John Marsh , 1831 ), plates 5 ( Master Mason ), 7 ( Mark Master ), 9 ( Past Master ), 11 ( Most Excellent Master ), and 15 ( Royal Arch ).
16 Bernard , Light on Masonry , pp . 87 – 144 , 183 – 211 . Avery Allyn , A Ritual of Freemasonry , pp . 87 – 164 , 278 – 95 . Descriptions of other lesser-known degrees are also simple and austere .
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