Q. What was then said to you? A. Wait with faith and humility, and
soon an answer shall be returned to your request.
Q. What was the answer of the Grand Commander? A. That I should be
admitted.
Q. What did the Grand Commander then demand? A. Who have you there in
charge, Sir Knight?
Q. What answer was returned? A. A pilgrim penitent, traveling from
afar, who, having passed his term of penance, seeks now to participate
in the fifth libation, thereby to seal his fate.
Q. What did the Grand Commander then observe? A. Pilgrim, in granting
your request and receiving you a Knight among our number, I can only
offer you a rough habit, coarse diet, and severe duties; if, on these
conditions, you are still desirous of enlisting under our banners, you
will advance and kneel at the base of the triangle.
Q. What did the Grand Commander then observe? A. Pilgrim, the fifth
libation is taken in the most solemn and impressive manner; we cannot
be too often reminded that we are born to die; and the fifth libation
is an emblem of that bitter cup of death, of which we must all sooner
or later partake, and from which even the Saviour of the world,
notwithstanding his ardent prayers and solicitations, was not exempt.
Q. What was then said to you? A. The Grand Commander asked me if I had
any repugnance to participate in the fifth libation.
Q. Your answer? A. I am willing to conform to the requirements of the
Order.
Q. What followed? A. I then took the cup (the upper part of the human
skull) in my hand, and repeated after the Grand Commander the
following obligation:
"This pure wine I now take in testimony of my belief in the
mortality of the body and the immortality of the soul, and may
this libation appear as a witness against me, both here and
hereafter, and as the sins of the world were laid upon the head of
the Saviour, so may all the sins committed by the person whose
scull this was be heaped upon my head, in addition to my own,
should I ever knowingly or wilfully violate or transgress any
obligation that I have heretofore taken, take at this time, or
shall at any future period take, in relation to any degree of
Masonry, or Order of Knighthood. So help me God."
Q. What was this obligation called? A. The sealed obligation.
Q. Why so? A. Because any obligation entered into, or promise made in
reference to this obligation, is considered by Knight Templars as more
binding and serious than any other special obligation could be.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Excellent Prelate then read the sixth
lesson, relative to the election of Matthias. (See Chart.)
Q. What followed? A. The Generalissimo thus addressed the Grand
Commander: "Most Eminent, by the extinguished taper on the triangle, I
perceive there is a vacancy in our Encampment, which I propose should
be filled by a choice from among those valiant Knights who have
sustained the trials and performed the ceremonies required by our
Order."[18]
Q. What followed? A. The Grand Commander then ordered the lots to be
given forth, which being done, I was elected, and the Grand Commander
thus addressed me: "In testimony of your election as a companion among
us, and of your acceptance of that honor, you will relight that
extinguished taper; and may the Almighty lift upon you the light of
His countenance, and preserve you from falling."
Q. What followed? A. The Grand Commander then directed me to kneel,
and said by virtue of the high power in me vested, as the successor
and representative of Hugh De Paganis, and Geoffrey, of St. Omers, I
now dub and create you Knight Templar, Knight of Malta, of the Holy
Order of St. John of Jerusalem. [This is repeated three times, at the
same time laying the blade of the sword first upon the right
shoulder, then upon the head, and then upon the left shoulder of the
candidate.]
Q. What followed? A. The Grand Commander then presented me a sword,
and thus addressed me: "This sword in your hand, as a true and
courteous Knight, will be endowed with three most excellent qualities;
its hilt be justice impartial, its blade be fortitude undaunted, and
its point be mercy; and let it teach us this important lesson, that we
should ever be assured of the justice of the cause in which we draw
our swords, and being thus assured, we should persevere with the most
undaunted fortitude, and finally, having subdued our enemies, we
should consider them no longer such, but extend to them the most
glorious attribute of God's mercy."
Q. What followed? A. The Grand Commander then communicated to me the
due-guard, the penitent's pass, and the grand sign, grip and word of
Knight Templars.
Q. Give the due-guard? [The sign is given by placing the end of the
right thumb under the chin.]
Q. To what does it allude? A. To the penalty of my obligation; to have
my head struck off and placed upon the highest spire in Christendom.
Q. Give the penitent's pass? A. It is given as before described; the
word is Golgotha.
Q. Give the grand sign. [This sign is given by placing yourself in a
situation representing the crucifixion of Christ.]
Q. To what does this sign allude? A. To the manner in which the
Saviour expired upon the cross, and expiated the sins of the world.
Q. Give the grip and word. [This grip is given by interlacing the
fingers of the right and left hands of the candidate, which forms a
cross.]
Q. What is the word? A. Immanuel. [The word is given at the time of
giving the grip, and is the name of the grip.]
Q. What does the grip teach us? A. That as our fingers are thus
strongly interlaced, so should the hearts of Knight Templars be firmly
interlaced in friendship and brotherly love.
Q. What is the motto of our Order? A. Rex regum, et Dominus dominorum.
Q. How do you translate it? A. King of kings, and Lord of Lords.
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