FORM OF THE GRAND COUNCIL.--The Grand Council of Knights of the East
and West, must be hung with red and sprinkled with gold stars. In the
east of the Council Chamber must be a canopy, elevated by seven steps,
supported by four lions and four eagles, and between them an angel, or
seraphim, with six wings. On one side of the throne there must be a
transparent painting of the sun, and, on the other side, one of the
moon; below them is stretched a rainbow. In the east there must be a
basin with perfume, and a basin of water, and a human skull. On the
south side there must be six small canopies, and on the north side
five, elevated by three steps, for the Venerable Ancients, and
opposite the throne, in the west, are two canopies, elevated by five
steps, for the two Venerable Wardens, who act in this Council as Grand
Officers, or Wardens. A full Grand Council must be composed of
twenty-four Knights. On the pedestal there must be a large Bible, with
seven seals suspended therefrom.
The Venerable Master is called "Most Puissant;" the Wardens, and the
twenty-one other brethren, are called "Respectable Ancients." If there
are more brethren present, they are styled "Respectable Knights," and
are placed north and south, behind the small canopies.
The first canopy, at the right side of the Puissant, is always vacant
for the candidate. All the brethren are clothed in white, with a zone
of gold 'round the waist, long white beards and golden crowns on their
heads. The Knights, in their ordinary habits, wear a broad, white
ribbon from the right shoulder to the left hip, with the jewel
suspended thereto. They also wear a cross of the order, suspended by a
black ribbon, 'round their necks. The Most Puissant has his right hand
on the large Bible on the pedestal with seven seals. The draft (or
carpet) of the Council, is an heptagon in a circle--over the angles
are these letters, B. D. S. P. H. F. In the centre, a man clothed in a
white robe, with a girdle of gold 'round his waist--his right hand
extended and surrounded with seven stars--he has a long white beard,
his head surrounded with a glory, and a two-edged sword in his
mouth--with seven candlesticks 'round him, and over them the following
letters: H. D. P. I. P. R. C.
The jewel is an heptagon of silver--at each angle, a star of gold and
one of these letters B. D. S. P. H. G. S. in the centre. A lamb on a
book with seven seals--on the reverse, the same letters in the angles,
and in the centre, a two-edged sword between a balance.
The apron is white, lined with red, bordered with yellow, or gold; on
the flap is painted a two-edged sword, surrounded with the seven holy
letters--or the apron may have the plan of the draft painted on it.
TO OPEN THE COUNCIL.--The Most Puissant, with his right hand on the
Bible sealed with seven seals, demands, "Venerable Knights Princes,
what is your duty?" A. "To know if we are secure." Most Puissant. "See
that we are so." A. "Most Puissant, we are in perfect security." The
Most Puissant strikes seven times, and says, "Respectable Knights
Princes, the Grand Council of Knights of the East and West is open; I
claim your attention to the business thereof." A. "We promise
obedience to the Most Puissant's commands." They rise and salute him,
when he returns the compliment, and requests them to be seated.
RECEPTION.--The candidate must be in an antechamber, which must be
hung with red, and lighted with seven lights, where he is clothed with
a white robe, as an emblem of the purity of his life and manners. The
Master of Ceremonies brings him barefooted to the Council Chamber
door, on which he knocks seven times, which is answered by the Most
Puissant, who desires the youngest Knight to go to the door, and
demand who knocks. The master of Ceremonies answers, "It is a valiant
brother and Most Excellent Prince of Jerusalem, who requests to be
admitted to the Venerable and Most Puissant." The Knight reports the
same answer to the Most Puissant, who desires the candidate to be
introduced. The Most Ancient Respectable Senior Grand Warden then goes
to the door, and takes the candidate by the hand, and says, "Come, my
dear brother, I will show you mysteries worthy the contemplation of a
sensible man. Give me the sign, token, and word of a prince of
Jerusalem;" after which the candidate kneels on both knees, about six
feet from the throne, when the Most Ancient Respectable Senior Grand
Warden says to him, "Brother, you, no doubt, have always borne in
memory the obligations of your former degrees, and that you have, as
far as in the power of human nature, lived agreeably to them?"
Candidate. "I have ever made it my study, and, I trust, my actions and
life will prove it." Q. "Have you particularly regarded your
obligations as a 'Sublime Knight of Perfection,' 'Knight of the East
and Prince of Jerusalem?' Do you recollect having injured a brother in
any respect whatsoever? or have you seen or known of his being injured
by others, without giving him timely notice, as far as was in your
power? I pray you answer me with candor." Candidate. "I have in all
respects done my duty, and acted with integrity to the best of my
abilities." The Most Puissant says, "You will be pleased to recollect,
my brother, that the questions which have now been put to you, are
absolutely necessary for us to demand, in order that the purity of our
Most Respectable Council may not be sullied; and it behooves you to be
particular in your recollection, as the indispensable ties which we
are going to lay you under, will, in case of your default, only
increase your sins, and serve to hurl you sooner to destruction,
should you have deviated from your duty: answer me, my dear brother."
Candidate. "I never have." The Most Puissant says, "We are happy, my
brother, that your declaration coincides with our opinion, and are
rejoiced to have it into our power to introduce you into our society.
Increase our joy by complying with our rules, and declare if you are
willing to be united to us by taking a most solemn obligation."
Candidate. "I ardently wish to receive it, and to have the honor of
being united to so respectable and virtuous a society." The Most
Puissant orders one of the Knights to bring an ewer containing some
perfume, a basin of water, and a clean white napkin to the candidate,
who washes his hands. The Most Puissant repeats the six first verses
of the 24th Psalm. Then the candidate is brought close to the foot of
the throne, where he kneels on both knees, and placing his right hand
on the Bible, his left hand between the hands of the Most Puissant, in
which position he takes the following
OBLIGATION.--I, ----, do promise and solemnly swear, and declare,
in the awful presence of the only One Most Holy Puissant Almighty
and Most Merciful Grand Architect of heaven and earth, who created
the universe and myself through his infinite goodness, and
conducts it with wisdom and justice--and in the presence of the
Most Excellent and upright Princes and Knights of the East and
West, here present in convocation and Grand Council, on my sacred
word of honor and under every tie, both moral and religious, that
I never will reveal to any person whomsoever below me, or to whom
the same may not belong, by being legally and lawfully initiated,
the secrets of this degree which is now about to be communicated
to me, under the penalty of not only being dishonored, but to
consider my life as the immediate forfeiture, and that to be taken
from me with all the tortures and pains to be inflicted in manner
as I have consented to in my preceding degrees. I further promise
and solemnly swear, that I never will fight or combat with my
brother Knights, but will, at all times, when he has justice on
his side, be ready to draw my sword in his defence, or against
such of his enemies who seek the destruction of his person, his
honor, peace, or prosperity; that I never will revile a brother,
or suffer others to reflect on his character in his absence,
without informing him thereof, or noticing it myself, at my
option; that I will remember, on all occasions, to observe my
former obligations, and be just, upright, and benevolent to all my
fellow creatures, as far as in my power. I further solemnly
promise and swear, that I will pay due obedience and submission to
all the degrees of Masonry; and that I will do all in my power to
support them in all justifiable measures for the good of the
craft, and advantage thereof, agreeably to the Grand
Constitutions.--All this I solemnly swear and sincerely promise,
upon my sacred word of honor, under the penalty of the severe
wrath of the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, and may He have
mercy on my soul, on the great and awful day of judgment,
agreeably to my conformity thereto. Amen. Amen. Amen.
The Most Puissant then takes the ewer filled with perfumed ointment,
and anoints his head, eyes, mouth, heart, the tip of his right ear,
hand, and foot, and says, "You are now, my dear brother, received a
member of our society; you will recollect to live up to the precepts of
it, and also remember that those parts of your body which have the
greatest power of assisting you in good or evil, have this day been
made holy!" The Master of Ceremonies then places the candidate between
the two Wardens, with the craft before him. The Senior Warden says to
him, "Examine with deliberation and attention everything which the Most
Puissant is going to show you." After a short pause, he, the Senior
Warden, says--"Is there mortal here worthy to open the book with the
seven seals?" All the brethren cast their eyes down and sigh. The
Senior Warden, hearing their sighs, says to them, "Venerable and
respectable brethren, be not afflicted; here is a victim (pointing to
the candidate), whose courage will give you content." Senior Warden to
the candidate, "Do you know the reason why the ancients have a long
white beard?" Candidate. "I do not, but I presume you do." S. W. "They
are those who came here, after passing through great tribulation, and
having washed their robes in their own blood; will you purchase such
robes at so great a price?" Candidate. "Yes; I am willing." The Wardens
then conduct him to the basin, and bare both his arms--they place a
ligature on each, the same as in performing the operation of
blood-letting. Each Warden being armed with a lancet, makes an incision
in each of his arms, just deep enough to draw a drop of blood, which is
wiped on a napkin, and shown to the brethren. The Senior Warden then
says, "See, my brethren, a man who has spilled his blood to acquire a
knowledge of our mysteries, and shrunk not from the trial!" Then the
Most Puissant opens the first Seal of the great book, and takes from
thence a bone quiver, filled with arrows, and a crown, and gives them
to one of the Ancients, and says to him, "Depart and continue the
conquest." He opens the second Seal, and takes out a sword, and gives
it to the next aged, and says, "Go, and destroy peace among the profane
and wicked brethren, that they may never appear in our Council." He
opens the third Seal, and takes a balance, and gives it to the next
aged, and says, "Dispense rigid justice to the profane and wicked
brethren." He opens the fourth Seal, and takes out a scull, and gives
it to the next aged, and says, "Go, and endeavor to convince the wicked
that death is the reward of their guilt." He opens the fifth Seal, and
takes out a cloth, stained with blood, and gives it to the next aged,
and says, "When is the time (or, the time will arrive,) that we shall
revenge and punish the profane and wicked, who have destroyed so many
of their brethren by false accusations." He opens the sixth Seal, and
that moment the sun is darkened and the moon stained with blood! He
opens the seventh Seal, and takes out incense, which he gives to a
brother; and also a vase, with seven trumpets, and gives one to each of
the seven aged brethren. After this, the four old men, in the four
corners, show their inflated bladders (beeves' bladders, filled with
wind under their arms), representing the four winds: when the Most
Puissant says "Here is seen the fulfilment of a prophecy;" (Rev. vii.
3). Strike not, nor punish the profane and wicked of our order, until I
have selected the true and worthy Masons! Then the four winds raise
their bladders, and one of the trumpets sound, when the two Wardens
cover the candidate's arms, and take from him his apron and jewel of
the last degree. The second trumpet sounds, when the Junior Warden
gives the candidate the apron and jewel of this degree. The third
trumpet sounds, when the Senior Warden gives him a long white beard.
The fourth trumpet sounds, and the Junior Warden gives him a crown of
gold. The fifth trumpet sounds, and the Senior Warden gives him a
girdle of gold. The sixth trumpet sounds, and the Junior Warden gives
him the sign, token and words, as follows:--SIGN.--Look at your right
shoulder, it will be answered by looking at the left shoulder. One
says, "Abaddon," the other "Jubulum." FIRST TOKEN.--Place your left
hand in the right hand of your brother, who will cover it with his
left; both at the same time look over their right shoulder. SECOND
TOKEN.--Touch your brother's left shoulder with your left hand; he
replies by touching your right shoulder with his right hand. SIGN FOR
ENTERING THE LODGE.--Place your right hand on the brother's forehead
(i.e., the Tyler's), he will do the same. PASS-WORD.--"Jubulum," or,
according to some, "Perignan" and "Gadaon." SACRED WORD.--"Abaddon."
This name will be found in Rev. ix. 11. The seventh trumpet sounds, on
which they all sound together, when the Senior Warden conducts the
candidate to the vacant canopy.
ORIGIN OF THIS DEGREE.--When the Knights and Princes were embodied to
conquer the Holy Land, they took a cross to distinguish them, as a
mark of being under its banners; they also took an oath to spend the
last drop of their blood to establish the true religion of the Most
High God. Peace being made, they could not fulfil their vows, and,
therefore, returning home to their respective countries, they resolved
to do in theory what they could not do by practice, and determined
never to admit, or initiate, any into their mystic ceremonies, but
those who had given proofs of friendship, zeal, and discretion. They
took the name of Knights of the East and West, in memory of their
homes and the place where the order began; and they have ever since
strictly adhered to their ancient customs and forms. In the year 1118,
the first Knights, to the number of eleven, took their vows between
the hands of Garimont, Patriarch and Prince of Jerusalem, from whence
the custom is derived of taking the obligation in the same position.
LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Knight of the East and West? A. I am.
Q. What did you see when you were received? A. Things that were
marvellous.
Q. How were you received? A. By water and the effusion of blood.
Q. Explain this to me? A. A Mason should not hesitate to spill his
blood for the support of Masonry.
Q. What are the ornaments of the Grand Council? A. Superb thrones,
sun, more perfumed ointment, and a basin of water.
Q. What is the figure of the draft? A. An heptagon within a circle.
Q. What is the representation of it? A. A man vested in a white robe,
with a golden girdle 'round his waist--'round his right hand seven
stars--his head surrounded with a glory, a long, white beard--a
two-edged sword across his mouth, surrounded by seven candlesticks,
with these letters: H. D. P. I. P. R.
Q. What signifies the circle? A. As the circle is finished by a point,
so should a Lodge be united by brotherly love and affection.
Q. What signifies the heptagon? A. Our mystic number which is enclosed
in seven letters.
Q. What are the seven letters? A. B. D. W. P. H. G. S.; which
signifies Beauty, Divinity, Wisdom, Power, Honor, Glory, and Strength.
Q. Give me the explanation of these words? A. Beauty to adorn;
Divinity, that Masonry is of divine origin; Wisdom, a quality to
invent; Power, to destroy the profane and unworthy brethren; Honor, is
an indispensable quality in a Mason, that he may support himself in
his engagements with respectability; Glory, that a good Mason is on an
equality with the greatest prince; and Strength, is necessary to
sustain us.
Q. What signifies the seven stars? A. The seven qualities which Masons
should be possessed of: Friendship, Union, Submission, Discretion,
Fidelity, Prudence and Temperance.
Q. Why should a Mason be possessed of these qualities? A. Friendship,
is a virtue that should reign among brothers; Union, is the foundation
of society; Submission, to the laws, regulations, and decrees of the
Lodge, without murmuring; Discretion, that a Mason should always be on
his guard, and never suffer himself to be surprised; Fidelity, in
observing strictly our obligations; Prudence, to conduct ourselves in
such a manner that the profane, though jealous, may never be able to
censure our conduct; and Temperance, to avoid all excesses that may
injure either body or soul.
Q. What signifies the seven candlesticks, with their seven letters? A.
seven crimes, which Masons should always avoid, viz.: Hatred, Discord,
Pride, Indiscretion, Perfidy, Rashness, and Calumny.
Q. What are the reasons that Masons should particularly avoid these
crimes? A. Because they are incompatible with the principles and
qualities of a good Mason, who should avoid doing an injury to a
brother, even should he be ill-treated by him, and to unite in himself
all the qualities of a good and upright man. Discord, is contrary to
the very principles of society; Pride, prevents the exercise of
humanity; Indiscretion, is fatal to Masonry; Perfidy, should be
execrated by every honest man; Rashness, may lead us into unpleasant
and disagreeable dilemmas; and Calumny, the worst of all, should be
shunned as a vice which saps the very foundation of friendship and
society.
Q. What signifies the two-edged sword? A. It expresses the superiority
of this degree over all others that precede it.
Q. Are there any higher degrees than this? A. Yes; there are several.
Q. What signifies the book with seven seals, which none but one can
open? A. A Lodge, or Council, of Masons, which the Most Puissant alone
has a right to convene and open.
Q. What is enclosed in the first seal? A. One bow, one arrow, and one
crown.
Q. What in the second? A. A two-edged sword.
Q. What in the third? A. A balance.
Q. What in the fourth? A. Death's head.
Q. What in the fifth? A. A cloth stained with blood.
Q. What in the sixth? A. The power to darken the sun, and tinge the
moon with blood.
Q. What in the seventh? A. Seven trumpets and perfumes.
Q. Explain these things to me? A. The bow, arrow, and crown, signifies
that the orders of this respectable council should be executed with as
much quickness as the arrow flies from the bow, and be received with
as much submission as if it came from a crowned head, or the chief of
a nation. The sword, that the Council is always armed to punish the
guilty. The balance is a symbol of justice. The skull is the image of
a brother who is excluded from a Lodge or Council. This idea must make
all tremble when they recollect the penalties they have imposed on
themselves under the most solemn obligations! The cloth stained with
blood, that we should not hesitate to spill ours for the good of
Masonry. The power of obscuring the sun and tinging the moon with
blood, is the representation of the power of the Superior Councils--in
interdicting their works, if they are irregular, until they have
acknowledged their error, and submitted to the rules and regulations
of the craft established by the Grand Constitutions. The seven
trumpets, signify that Masonry is extended over the surface of the
earth, on the wings of fame, and supports itself with honor. The
perfumes denote that the life of a good Mason should be, and is free
from all reproach, and is perfumed by means of good report.
Q. What age are you? A. Very ancient.