PROEM.

The Volume now presented to the Masonic pubilc assumes to itself no special originality; but theappa rent want of a complete and systematic hand-book for the assistance and the instructions of those essaying the higher walks of Masonry, in the Ancient an Accepted Scottish Rite, would seem to justify the humble ambition which the Collator of this volume has attempted. His personal experience, extending through a period of years, has taught him the necessity of some complete Monitor whereby the beauty and sublimity of the Rite could be more thoroughly and justly rendered.
Deferring, as he does, with all respect to those who have preceded him in sirnilar efforts, he humbly trusts that if he has not added anything of value, interest, or importance to the beautiful ritual of the Rite, that he may not be accused of detracting from any portion of that solemnity anti solid worth which necessarily form the basis of its several Degrees.
If incessant study and a practical familiarity with the exemplification of the work can claim for him any merit, he trusts that this volume may receive favor for the intention which the writers‘ ambition prompts, and that those who follow in similar paths may rectify such errors as may have been inadvertently committed.
The Collator, in presenting the result of his labors to the public, by no means would claim an approach to perfection; it will doubtless be conceded that in this country, so far as the various degrees have been fully worked, that while replete with beauty, moral and instructive teachings, their rendering is still susceptible of elaboration and improvement.
The effort of the Collator has been, in this work, to maintain all the original Landmarks of the Rite in their pristine purity, and at the same time to embellish, so far as might be proper, with kindred surroundings, many portions of the work where the original ritual might mem defective.
In performing he self-imposed and pleasing task, which is thus completed, lt would be improper to forget the aid that has been attained from the writings ofthe Jurisdiction Past Grand Commanders of the Northern .Jurisdiction of the United States, and in such portions of this work where the Rituals and Monitors of the Northern and Southern Supreme Councils are the same, all credit is due to the present Grand Commander of the Southern Supreme Council, Albert Pike; and it must appear to the Student, that the Sacred writings have been necessarily drawn upon in this connection, as also the Al-Koran, Talmud, Josephus, Herodotus, the Persian Magi, and contemporaneous writings, as also Findel, Addison, and others.