Masonic Dictionary

York Rite Vs. English Rite

By Bro. Wm. F. Kuhn It has been stated that “A Rite in Freemasonry is a collection of grades or degrees always founded on the First three degrees.” This definition is wholly misleading, and constitutes […]

Masonic Dictionary

The York Legend

The City of York, in the North of England, is celebrated for its traditional connection with Freemasonry in that kingdom. No topic in the history of Freemasonry has so much engaged the attention of modern […]

Masonic Dictionary

Xicrophagists

On the 24th of April, 1738, Pope Clement XII issued his Bull [In Emnenti] forbidding the practice of Freemasonry by the members of the Roman Catholic Church. Many of the Freemasons of Italy continued, however, […]

Masonic Dictionary

Grand Orient of the United States

The Grand Orient of the United States (formerly known as The United Grand Lodge of America) is a self-styled Grand Lodge, considered clandestine by mainstream Grand Lodges in North America. The organization appears to have […]

Masonic Dictionary

Tomb of Hiram of Tyre

Five miles to the East of the City of Tyre is an ancient monument, called by the natives Kabr Hairan, or the Comb of Hiram. The tradition that the King of Tyre was there interred […]

Masonic Dictionary

Templar Origin of Freemasonry

Editor’s Note: Ramsay’s Oration did not mention the Templars by name, therefore Mackey is incorrect in his comments on the matter. The theory that Freemasonry originated in the Holy Land during the Crusades, and was […]

Masonic Dictionary

Order of the Temple

Order of the Temple When the Knights Templar had, on account of their power and wealth, excited the fears and the cupidity of Pope Clement V, and King Philip the Fair, of France, the Order […]

Masonic Dictionary

Tall Cedars of Lebanon

In Scriptural symbology, the cedar-tree, says Wemyss (Symbolic Language of Scripture), was the symbol of eternity, because its substance never decays nor rots. Hence, the Ark of the Covenant was made of cedar; and those […]

Masonic Dictionary

Stuart Masonry

This title is given by Masonic historians to that system of Freemasonry Which is supposed to have been invented by the adherents of the exiled House of Stuart for the purpose of being used as […]