FIRST OBLIGATION.--You, Mr. ----, do now, by your honor, and in
view of the power and union of the Thrice Illustrious Order of the
Cross, now first made known to you, and in the dread presence of
the Most Holy and Almighty God, solemnly and sincerely swear and
declare, that, to the end of your life, you will not, either in
consideration of gain, interest, or honor, nor with good or bad
design, ever take any, the least, step or measure, or be
instrumental in any such object, to betray or communicate to any
person, or being, or number of the same, in the known world, not
thereto of cross and craft entitled, any secret or secrets, or
ceremony or ceremonies, or any part thereof appertaining to the
order and degree known among Masons as the Thrice Illustrious
Order of the Cross. That you will not, at any time or times
whatever, either now or hereafter, directly or indirectly, by
letter, figure, or character, however or by whoever made, ever
communicate any of the information and secret mysteries heretofore
alluded to. That you will never speak on or upon, or breathe high
or low, any ceremony or secret appertaining thereto, out of
Council, where there shall not be two or more Knights companions
of the order present, besides yourself, and that in a safe and
sure place, whereby any opinion, even of the nature and general
principles of the institution, can be formed by any other person,
be he Mason or otherwise, than a true Knight companion of the
cross; nothing herein going to interfere with the prudent practice
of the duties enjoined by the order, or arrangement for their
enforcement.
2.--You further swear, that, should you know another to violate
any essential part of this obligation, you will use your most
decided endeavors, by the blessing of God, to bring such person to
the strictest and most condign punishment, agreeably to the rules
and usages of our ancient fraternity; and this by pointing him out
to the world as an unworthy vagabond; by opposing his interest, by
deranging his business, by transferring his character after him
wherever he may go, and by exposing him to the contempt of the
whole fraternity and the world, but of our illustrious order more
especially, during his whole natural life: nothing herein going to
prevent yourself, or any other, when elected to the dignity of
Thrice Illustrious, from retaining the ritual of the order, if
prudence and caution appear to be the governing principle in so
retaining it, such dignity authorizing the elected to be governed
by no rule but the dictates of his own judgment, in regard to what
will best conduce to the interest of the order; but that he be
responsible for the character of those whom he may induct, and for
the concealment of the said ritual.
3.--Should any Thrice Illustrious Knight or acting officer of any
council which may have them in hand, ever require your aid in any
emergency in defence of the recovery of his said charge, you swear
cheerfully to exercise all assistance in his favor, which the
nature of the time and place will admit, even to the sacrifice of
life, liberty, and property. To all, and every part thereof, we
then bind you, and by ancient usage you bind yourself, under the
no less infamous penalty than dying the death of a traitor, by
having a spear, or other sharp instrument, like as our divine
Master, thrust in your left side, bearing testimony, even in
death, of the power and justice of the mark of the holy cross.
SECOND OBLIGATION.--Mr. ----, before you can be admitted to the
light and benefit of this Thrice Illustrious order, it becomes my
duty, by ancient usage, to propose to you certain questions, not a
thing vainly ceremonial; but the companions will expect true
answers: they will concern your past life, and resolutions for the
future. Have you given me without evasion or addition, your
baptismal and family names, and those of your parents, your true
age as far as within your knowledge; where you were educated;
where you were born, and also where was your last place of
residence? or have you not? "I have." It is well.
2d.--Were your parents free and not slaves? had they right and
title in the soil of the earth? were they devoted to the religion
of the cross, and did they so educate their family? have you
searched the spiritual claims of that religion on your gratitude
and your affections? and have you continued steadfast in that
faith from choice and a conviction of your duty to heaven, or from
education? "From duty and choice." This also is right.
3d.--Have you ever up to this time lived according to the
principles of that religion, by acting upon the square of virtue
with all men, nor defrauding any, nor defamed the good name of
any, nor indulged sensual appetites unreasonably, but more
especially to the dishonor of the matrimonial tie, nor extorted
on, or oppressed the poor. "I have not been guilty of these
things." You have then entitled yourself to our highest
confidence, by obeying the injunctions of our Thrice Illustrious
Prefect in Heaven, "of doing to all men even as you would that
they should do unto you." Mr. ----, can you so continue to act,
that yearly on the anniversary of St. Albert, you can solemnly
swear for the past season you have not been guilty of the crimes
enumerated in these questions? "By the help of God I can." Be it
so, then, that annually, on the anniversary of St. Albert you
swear to these great questions; and the confidence of the Knights
Companions of the order in you, rests on your being able so to do.
4th.--For the future, then, you promise to be a good man, and to
be governed by the moral laws of God and the rules of the order,
in always dealing openly, honorably, and above deceit, especially
with the Knights companions of the order? "I do."
5th.--You promise so to act with all mankind, but especially with
the fraternity, as that you shall never be justly called a bad
paymaster, ungrateful, a liar, a rake, or a libertine, a man
careless in the business of your vocation, a drunkard, or a
tyrant? "I do."
6th.--You promise to lead a life so upright and just in relation
to all mankind as you are capable of, but in matters of difference
to preserve the interest of a companion of the order; of a
companion's friend for whom he pleads, to any mere man of the
word? "I do."
7th.--You promise never to engage in mean party strife, nor
conspiracies against the government or religion of your country,
whereby your reputation may suffer, nor ever to associate with
dishonorable men even for a moment, except it be to secure the
interest of such person, his family or friends, to a companion,
whose necessities require this degradation at your hands? "I do."
8th.--You promise to act honorably in all matters of office or
vocation, even to the value of the one-third part of a Roman
penny, and never to take any advantage therein unworthy the best
countenance of your companions, and this, that they shall not, by
your unworthiness, be brought into disrepute? "I do."
THIRD OBLIGATION.--I do now, by the hopes and power of the mark of
the Holy and Illustrious Order of the Cross, which I do now hold
to Heaven in my right hand as the earnest of my faith, and in the
dread presence of the most holy and Almighty God, solemnly swear
and declare that I do hereby accept of, and forever will consider
the cross and mark of this order as my only hope: that I will make
it the test of faith and fellowship; and that I will effect its
objects and defend its mysteries to the end of my days, with my
life and with my property--and first, that in the state of
collision and misunderstanding impiously existing among the
princes and pilgrims, defenders and champions of the Holy Cross of
Jesus our Lord, now assembled in the land and city of their peace,
and considering that the glory of the Most High requires the
greatest and strictest unanimity of measures and arms, the most
sacred union of sentiment and brotherly love in the soldiers who
there thus devote themselves to his cause and banner, I swear
strictly to dedicate myself, my life, and my property forever
hereafter to his holy name and the purposes of our mark, and to
the best interest of all those who thus with me become Knights of
the Cross: I swear forever to give myself to this holy and
illustrious order, confiding fully and unreservedly in the purity
of their morals and the ardor of their pious enthusiasm, for the
recovery of the land of their fathers, and the blessed clime of
our Lord's sufferings, and never to renounce the mark of the order
nor the claims and welfare of my brethren.
2d.--And that the holy and pious enthusiasm of my brethren may not
have slander or disgrace at my hands, or the order be injured by
my unworthiness, I swear forever to renounce tyranny and
oppression in my own person and place, whatever it may be, and to
stand forth against it in others, whether public or private; to
become the champion of the cross, to observe the common good; be
the protector of the poor and unfortunate; and ever to observe the
common rights of human nature without encroachment, or permitting
encroachment thereon, if in my power to prevent or lessen it. I
will, moreover, act in subordination to the laws of my country,
and never countenance any change in the government under which I
live, without good and answerable reasons for so doing, that
ancient usages and immemorial customs be not overturned.
3d.--I swear to venerate the mark as the wisdom and decree of
Heaven, to unite our hands and hearts in the work of the holy
crusade, and as an encouragement to act with zeal and efficacy;
and I swear to consider its testimonies as the true and only
proper test of an illustrious brother of the cross.
4th.--I swear to wear the mark of this order, without any the
least addition, except what I shall be legally entitled to by
INDUCTION, forever, if not without the physical means of doing so,
or it being contrary to propriety; and even then, if possible, to
wear the holy cross; and I swear to put a chief dependence for the
said worthy and pious objects therein.
5th.--I swear to put confidence unlimited in every illustrious
brother of the cross, as a true and worthy follower of the blessed
Jesus, who has sought this land, not for private good, but pity,
and the glory of the religion of the Most High and Holy God.
6th.--I swear never to permit my political principles nor personal
interest to come counter to his, if forbearance and brotherly
kindness can operate to prevent it; and never to meet him if I
know it, in war or in peace, under such circumstances that I may
not, in justice to myself, my cross, and my country wish him
unqualified success; and if perchance it should happen without my
knowledge, on being informed thereof, that I will use my best
endeavors to satisfy him, even to the relinquishing my arms and
purpose. I will never shed a brother's blood nor thwart his good
fortune, knowing him to be such, nor see it done by others if in
my power to prevent it.
7th.--I swear to advance my brother's best interest, by always
supporting his military fame and political preferment in
opposition to another; and by employing his arms or his aid in his
vocation, under all circumstances where I shall not suffer more by
so doing, than he, by my neglecting to do so, but this never to
the sacrifice of any vital interest in our holy religion, or in
the welfare of my country.
8th.--I swear to look on his enemies as my enemies, his friends as
my friends, and stand forth to mete out tender kindness or
vengeance accordingly; but never to intrude on his social or
domestic relations to his hurt or dishonor, by claiming his
privileges, or by debauching or defaming his female relations or
friends.
9th.--I swear never to see calmly nor without earnest desires and
decided measures to prevent the ill-treatment, slander, or
defamation, of any brother knight, nor ever to view danger or the
least shadow of injury about to fall on his head, without well and
truly informing him thereof; and, if in my power to prevent it,
never to fail, by my sword or counsel, to defend his welfare and
good name.
10th.--I do swear never to prosecute a brother before those who
know not our order, till the remonstrance of a council shall be
inadequate to do me justice.
11th.--I swear to keep sacred my brother's secrets, both when
delivered to me as such, and when the nature of the information is
such as to require secrecy for his welfare.
12th.--I swear to hold myself bound to him, especially in
affliction and adversity, to contribute to his necessities my
prayers, my influence, and my purse.
13th.--I swear to be under the control of my council, or, if
belonging to none, to that which is nearest to me, and never to
demur to, or complain at, any decree concerning me, which my
brethren, as a council, shall conceive me to deserve, and enforce
on my head, to my hurt and dishonor.
14th.--I swear to obey all summons sent from any council to me, or
from any Most Illustrious Knight, whether Illustrious Counsellor
for the time being, or by INDUCTION, and to be governed by the
constitution, usages, and customs of the order without variation
or change.
15th.--I swear never to see nor permit more than two candidates,
who, with the Senior Inductor, will make three, to be advanced, at
the same time, in any council where I shall be; nor shall any
candidate, by suffrage, be inducted without a unanimous vote of
the illustrious brethren in council; nor shall any council advance
any member, there not being three illustrious Knights, or one Most
Illustrious and four Illustrious Knights of the Cross present,
which latter may be substituted by Most Illustrious Induction; nor
yet where there shall not be a full and proper mark of the order,
such as usage has adopted to our altar, of metal, or other durable
and worthy material, contained within the apartment of council, as
also the Holy Bible; nor will I ever see a council opened for
business, without the ceremony of testing the mark, exercised on
the character of every brother, prayers, and the reading of the
35th Psalm of David; nor will I ever see, consent to, or
countenance, more than two persons of the same business or calling
in life, to belong to, or be inducted and advanced in any one
council of which I am a member, at the same time; nothing therein
going to exclude members from other parts of the country, or from
foreign parts, from joining us, if they consent formally and truly
to stand in deference and defence, first, of their special
BAR-BRETHREN in the council, nor to prevent advancements to fill
vacancies, occasioned by death or removal. To all this, and every
part thereof, I do now, as before, by the honor and power of the
mark, as by an honorable and awful oath, which confirmeth all
things in the dread presence of the Most Holy and Almighty God,
solemnly and in truth, bind and obligate my soul; and in the
earthly penalties, to wit, that, for the violation of the least
matter or particle of any of the here taken obligations, I become
the silent and mute subject of the displeasure of the Illustrious
Order, and have their power and wrath turned on my head, to my
destruction and dishonor, which, like the NAIL OF JAEL, may be the
sure end of an unworthy wretch, by piercing my temples with a true
sense of my ingratitude--and for a breach of silence in case of
such an unhappy event, that I shall die the infamous death of a
traitor, by having a spear, or other sharp weapon, like as my
Lord, thrust in my left side--bearing testimony, even in death, of
the power of the mark of the Holy and Illustrious Cross, before I.
H. S., our thrice Illustrious Counsellor in Heaven, the Grand
Council of the good. To this I swear.
* * * * *
THE LODGE OF PERFECTION: COMPRISING THE ELEVEN INEFFABLE DEGREES OF
MASONRY.
In these several degrees some name of God is used, as the
distinguishing word. Each name, however, is only a mode of
pronouncing the Hebrew word Jehovah. The later Jews have a
superstitious fear of pronouncing that name. Whenever it occurs in
the Hebrew Text, they substitute the word Adonai in its place. To
those who read the original language of the Old Testament, it is
known, that while the consonants of the Hebrew word remain, the
vowel points may be so changed as to afford several different
pronunciations. In the different degrees of Ineffable Masonry, the
four consonants (Jod, He, Vau, He) of the name Jehovah are
differently pointed, so as to furnish a word for each degree. In
the degree of Perfection, the candidate is sworn not to pronounce
the word but once during his life, hence it is termed INEFFABLE,
or unutterable. The ordinary mode of giving it in that degree
consists in simply repeating the names of its letters, "Jod, He,
Vau, He." On receiving that degree, the candidate is told that he
is to become acquainted with the true pronunciation of the
ineffable name of God, as it was revealed to Enoch. He is then
taught to pronounce the word "Ya-ho"--sounding the _a_ like _a_ in
wall. When written in Masonic manuscripts, this word is spelled
"Ja-hoh."
* * * * *