by N. W. J. HAYDON (Toronto)
1871 - 1950
The connection between "Ancient Craft Masonry", as modern American
Freemasons understand it, and the Capitular Degrees has always been more than ordinarily
interesting to the inquiring member of the Craft. In this review of the origin
of the separate ceremonies, which seem to have been more closely linked
together in earlier days, our Associate on the Board of Editors, Companion
N.W.J. Haydon of Canada, treats very interestingly the known links in the chain
of history. There is still much more to be learned, though whether all the
historic facts will ever become clear is somewhat doubtful.
After a man has been received into a Masonic lodge, he is apt to become bewildered by
several claims on his attention, not the least of which are those of the
so-called "higher degrees". Finding himself almost at the bottom of
the degree ladder, instead of the top as he had rather expected to be, he will
--if he has the money to spare, and no one is good enough to advise him to
digest first what he has already experienced --inquire as to what comes next
and proceed with his travels. So, the purpose of this paper is to help him
discover what "next" is most natural, masonically, and where to stop
if he would profit by his experience.