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.
