Origin of the Ecce Orienti

[jclogan53]

Greetings Brethren:

I am crafting an article on the development of the Ritual here in Washington (Prince Hall). I have traced it back to the Ecce Orienti. Many propose that it was Anthony Nizzardini who authored the Ecce Orienti, but he only revised and became the exclusive vendor for PH Grand Lodge Jurisdictions. The authorship, as far back as we can go, belongs to Moses Wolcott Redding.
I have a ciphered Ecce Orienti, and can read it, but I need to be pointed in the right direction to find why and who authorized Redding to author the Ecce Orienti? Was it his creation, or the revision of an older ritual?

Thank You in advance for you assistance...

Brother John L. Hairston
J. C. Logan Lodge #53, F. & A.M.
MWPHGL of WA

[Tamrin]

Bro. John

My understanding is that Ecce Orienti is not in itself a rite but is booklet used among P.H.A. Brethren as an aide-mémoire for our Craft rituals, before their authorised publication, and with the title being a red herring (perhaps the subtitle is an inspired choice, connecting our craft with the secrets of the early, apostolic church — but that's another story).

Given the cryptic and clandestine nature of the booklet, I would place no credence on its alleged authorship. Indeed it would be bizarre if it was correct.

[jclogan53]

May 6, 2013 20:16:43 GMT 10 Tamrin said:

Bro. John

My understanding is that Ecce Orienti is not in itself a rite but is booklet used among P.H.A. Brethren as an aide-mémoire for our Craft rituals, before their authorised publication, and with the title being a red herring (perhaps the subtitle is an inspired choice, connecting our craft with the secrets of the early, apostolic church — but that's another story).

Given the cryptic and clandestine nature of the booklet, I would place no credence on its alleged authorship. Indeed it would be bizarre if it was correct.

Are you implying that the Ecce Orienti originates with Redding? I asked to see if there is somewhere further to trace it back to.

And, why do you call it clandestine?

[Tamrin]

May 7, 2013 9:02:21 GMT 10 jclogan53 said:

Are you implying that the Ecce Orienti originates with Redding? I asked to see if there is somewhere further to trace it back to.

And, why do you call it clandestine?

Bro. John,

I was trying to be helpful rather than argumentative. I do not know much about Ecce Orienti and would be interested in what your understanding of it is.

I was certainly not implying that Ecce Orienti originated with Redding, as my understanding of it as an unauthorised (and thus clandestine) aide-mémoire for our Craft rituals (please click on this link — read second paragraph), would suggest that no-one would be likely to put their real name to it.