Q. Whence came you? A. From Patmos. End of the lecture.
TO CLOSE.--Q. What is the o'clock? Ans. There is no more time. The
Most Puissant strikes seven, and says, "Venerable Knights Princes, the
Council is closed." The two Wardens repeat the same, and the Council
is closed.
* * * * *
SOVEREIGN PRINCES, MASTERS ADVITIAM, OR VENERABLE GRAND MASTERS OF ALL
SYMBOLIC LODGES.
DECORATIONS, ETC.--This Lodge must be decorated with blue and yellow.
The Grand Master sits on a throne elevated by nine steps, under a
canopy before it is an altar, on which is a sword, bible, compass,
square, mallet, etc., as in the Symbolic Lodges. Between the altar and
the south is a candlestick with nine branches, which is always lighted
in this Lodge. There are two Wardens in the west. The Grand Master
represents Cyrus Artaxerxes (the Masonic name of Cambyses), wearing
his royal ornaments, and a large blue and yellow ribbon crossing each
other.
TO OPEN.--Grand Master: "I desire to open the Lodge." He then descends
to the lowest step of the throne, and when he is assured that the
Lodge is tyled, he knocks one and two with his mallet. Each Warden
repeats the same, which makes nine. G. M.--"Where is your Master
placed?" Warden: "In the East." G. M.--"Why in the East?" W. "Because
the glorious sun rises in the East to illumine the world." G. M. "As I
sit in the East, I open this Lodge," which is repeated by the Wardens.
Then all the brethren clap their hands one and two.
RECEPTION.--The candidate represents Zerubbabel, who enters the Lodge
by himself, without being introduced, decorated with the jewels and
badges of the highest degrees he has taken. The Wardens take him by
the hand, and place him in a blue elbow chair, opposite to the Grand
Master, who demands from him all the words, from an Entered Apprentice
upwards; and after he has satisfied the Grand Master, and is found
worthy to hold a sceptre, they make him travel nine times 'round the
Lodge, beginning in the South, and then by nine square steps he
advances to the throne, and walks over two drawn swords, laid across.
There must be a pot with burning charcoal close by the throne, that
the candidate may feel the heat of the fire while taking the
obligation; in doing which, he lays his right hand on the Bible, which
is covered by the Grand Master's right hand, and then takes the
following obligation:
OBLIGATION.--I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely swear and promise,
under the penalties of all my former obligations, to protect the craft
and my brethren with all my might, and not to acknowledge any one for
a true Mason who was not made in a regularly constituted and lawful
Lodge. I furthermore do swear, that I will strictly observe and obey
all the statutes and regulations of the Lodge; and that I never will
disclose or discover the secrets of this degree, either directly or
indirectly, except by virtue of a full power in writing, given me for
that purpose by the Grand Inspector or his deputy, and then to such
only as have been Masters of a regular Lodge. All this I swear under
the penalties of being forever despised and dishonored by the Craft in
general. He then kisses the Bible.
Here follow the signs, token, and word, viz.:--FIRST SIGN.--Form four
squares, thus: with the fingers joined, and the thumb elevated, place
your right hand on your heart (this forms two squares). Place the left
hand on the lips, the thumb elevated so as to form a third square;
place the heels so as to form a square with the feet. SECOND
SIGN.--Place yourself on your knees, elbows on the ground, the head
inclined towards the left. THIRD SIGN.--Cross the hands on the breast,
the right over the left, fingers extended, thumbs elevated, and the
feet forming a square. TOKEN.--Take reciprocally the right elbow with
the right hand, the thumb on the outside, the fingers joined, and on
the inside; press the elbow thus four times, slip the hands down to
the wrists, raising the three last fingers, and press the index on the
wrist. SACRED WORD.--"Razabassi," or "Razahaz Betzi-Yah."
PASS-WORDS.--"Jechson," "Jubellum," "Zanabosan." Some, however, give
Jehovah as the sacred word, and "Belshazzar" as the pass-word.
LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges?
Answer.--They know me at Jerusalem to be such.
Q. How shall I know that you are a Grand Master of all Symbolic
Lodges? A. By observing my zeal in rebuilding the temple.
Q. Which way did you travel? A. From the South to the East.
Q. How often? A. Nine.
Q. Why so many? A. In memory of the Grand Masters who traveled to
Jerusalem.
Q. Can you give me their names? A. Their names are Esdras, Zerubbabel,
Phachi, Joshua, Elial, Toyada, Homen, Nehemias, and Malchias.