FIRST REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP

FRATER R. PALMER-THOMAS, 7°, President. J ANUARY 7, 1902.

Metropolitan College Transactions for January 7th 1902 page 21.

A short time since, a small band of M.Ms, who, in their wish for more Masonic knowledge, had
gravitated into the ranks of the Soc. Ros. in Anglia, wished to meet together more often than at the
quarterly convocations of the Met. College. They accordingly obtained the consent of the M.W.S.M.
[Frater W.W. Westcott] to their so doing. Their object in the first instance was to exchange views,
discuss questions, and study those liberal arts and sciences that are so frequently referred to in the Craft
rituals. These studies too often end with the committing to memory, by the Aspirant to the Master's Chair,
of the injunctions to study, as contained in the Rituals.

The important exhortations to examine the more hidden mysteries of nature and science contained in the
Ritual of the Zelator degree, as also in the second degree of Craft Masonry, formed also an incentive for
the periodic meeting and exchange of views on those subjects with which each of the students might be
supposed to be acquainted; and this seemed to them to be specially desirable as it appeared that our
M.W.S.M. and several others of the senior Fratres, possessed knowledge that could not be
communicated at our busy quarterly convocations, devoted mostly to ceremonials.

The result of these meetings has been satisfactory in every way to those who have thus met. The periodic
interchange of views and opinions has shown that each member, pursuing his own path more or less
unaided, has been seeking in his own way a solution of the-great problem. "The search after Truth," to
which both Masonry and the Soc. Ros. in Anglia should be guides, and the approach to the field of
universal knowledge by separate individual paths as explained in discussion, or desultory conversation,
has been both interesting and instructive.

The great success attending the formation of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge [Founded in 1886 ] as a
Literary and Archaeological Association, confined to Master Masons, is evident to all those who have
entered its ranks, and have had the advantage of perusing its Transactions. The Quatuor Coronati,
however, does not meet our needs.

Its own particular work is ample for its scope and objects; although occasionally (as during the
Mastership of Bro. Klein) it soared into the regions of physical science.
Occult science at the present day is a factor that cannot be neglected. The Astronomer, especially the
commercial Astronomer, may sneer at the Astrologer who seeks to trace an extension of the admitted
influence of Sun and Moon upon the tides and seasons, to the actions of the planets and other bodies in
more recondite effects.

The Chemist may kick down the ladder by which he has climbed to know-edge, by depreciating the
work of the Ancient Alchemist; but the fact remains that still standing monuments testify to the skill
and learning of the Ancient Astrologers; whilst the recent address of the President of the British
Association, himself a distinguished English Chemist, again shows the dependence of modern Chemistry
upon the theories of the old Alchemical Philosophers.

In these days when deep learning amongst the few is so intermingled with showy veneer amongst the
many, so that the uninstructed seeker may be duped by the arrogant and pretentious charlatan, it is of
course necessary to discriminate between the pretenders and the workers. Especially is this so in the
study of those more abstruse subjects, of which the old Masters' knowledge has been absolutely lost, or
lies hid beneath the allegorical jargon of a somewhat unattractive though extensive literature. Whilst in
Biology and Psychology we have the development of comparatively new sections of modern scientific
thought built upon purely scientific principles.

Yet the pretender, and the Charlatan, and the money grubbing medium, stands ever ready at the portal,
to arrest the unwary and throw discredit on the earnest though wary seeker after knowledge and truth in
the psychical, ethical, theosophical and spiritual realms.

Among the Fratres of the Soc. Ros. in Anglia, one should find each member an earnest student of one
particular branch, of the many branches into which the enlargement of human knowledge and the
necessary distribution of human attainments, have made it necessary to divide an ever increasing
specialization. To attain this object (and as the regulations of the order already require that every
aspirant for the grade of Zelator shall be a Master Mason) may we not look to the more earnest members
of the craft, whose desire for knowledge we have predicated, for assistance. Probably the formation of a
special lodge, if permission could be obtained, whose special object should be the study of the Liberal Arts
and Sciences: meeting frequently when matter was fit for discussion, and with only optional attendance
at the dinners, as in the case of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, might succeed not only in leavening the
various mother lodges to which its members belonged, with a love of those deeper underlying principles
that animated the founders of the Craft, but might also at the same time form a valuable adjunct as a
recruiting ground to the ranks of the Soc. Ros. in Anglia, where the result of the previous studies might be
communicated and considered. Some we know would make all knowledge free. But so-called free trade
has proved to be one-sided and fettered, and the danger of the indiscriminate use of the results of
knowledge, without a proper preparation by the apprentices and craftsmen, is to be seen in the ever
increasingly large roll of so-called "accidents" many of which would be preventable by fuller and
sounder training in practical and technical occupations.

So also in the mental and psychical realm, into which the disciples of the Soc. Ros. pledge themselves
to penetrate, the knowledge that is sought for cannot be obtained by any royal road, and when
obtained should not be blazoned broadcast, to be used, and more than probably abused, by every sharp
wilted charlatan on the lookout for plunder.

Such a lodge might occasionally meet and open, and having no other Masonic work, adjourn for an
unostentatious monthly supper, and thereafter substitute a paper and discussion, in place of the usual
stock of wearying speeches. The subscription should be small, and the funds devoted wholly to its
objects, and to charity.

Religiens esse oportet - Religiosum nefas. OR “religentem esse oportet, religiosum nefas:” a man
should be religious, not superstitious (quoted by Aulus Gellius)

Post Scriptum.—In the course of our Masonic discussions we have been led to touch upon subjects
which are most clearly elucidated in Royal Arch Masonry and upon this our tongues were
consequently tied, and discretion became necessary. Possibly our Supreme Magus might favourably
receive a proposal that all candidates for the higher grades (beyond the 4°) in the Soc. Ros. should
be Royal Arch Masons: and that those already possessing those higher grades, who are not already
qualified, should be recommended to take into their consideration the wisdom of thus increasing their
Masonic knowledge.

SECOND REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP

DECEMBER 4, 1902.
Metropolitan College Transactions for January 7th 1902 page 23.

The Study Group, sanctioned by the M.W. Supreme Magus, meets once in every three weeks for the
purpose of discussing matters connected with the “Hidden Mysteries of Nature and Science."

For some months past the origin of Craft Masonry and the correct interpretation of its Rituals have been
under consideration. In this condensed Report it is impossible to refer at length to the mass of literature
examined and the amount of MS. compiled upon this subject; but it is hoped that at no distant date it
will be possible to place before the M.W.S.M. a full Report of the researches made and the results
arrived at. Briefly, however, it may be stated that an Initiation Ceremony some 3,500 years old has
been recovered, and search is being made for still earlier records and later connecting links. Much time
has also been spent in the consideration of Spiritual Alchemy, while other branches of occult science have
also claimed attention.

In pursuance of the objects in view inexpensive excursions have been made to ancient buildings in and
around London, special permission having been granted by the authorities to visit places not open to the
general public.

The Group has power to add to its number, and will be pleased to receive the names of Fratres who
may be interested in the special subjects here indicated and who wish to join.
FRATER A. CADBURY JONES, 7° Hon. Sec.