Part 12 (2/2)
It teaches us to cultivate and improve that spirit of harmony between the brethren of the symbolic degrees and the companions of the sublime degrees, which should ever distinguish the members of a society founded upon the principles of everlasting truth and universal philanthropy. Of the first, blue, the peculiar color of the three ancient or symbolical degrees. It is an emblem of universal friends.h.i.+p and benevolence, and instructs us that in the mind of a Mason those virtues should be as expansive as the blue arch of heaven itself.
Q. The Treasurer's station and duty? A. At the right hand of the Captain of the Host; his duty to keep a just and regular account of all the property and funds of the Chapter placed in his hands, and exhibit them to the Chapter when called upon for that purpose.
Q. The Secretary's place in the Chapter? A. At the left of the Princ.i.p.al Sojourner; his duty to issue the orders and notifications of his superior officers, record the proceedings of the Chapter proper to be written, to receive all moneys due to the Chapter, and pay them over to the Treasurer.
Q. Tyler's place and duty? A. His station is at the outer avenue of the Chapter, his duty to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pa.s.s or repa.s.s but such as are duly qualified.
The second section describes the method of exaltation to this sublime degree as follows: ”Companion, you informed me, at the commencement of this Lecture, that you was made a Royal Arch Mason in a just and legally const.i.tuted Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.”
Q. Where was you prepared to be a Royal Arch Mason? A. In a room adjacent to the Chapter.
Q. How was you prepared? A. In a company of three I was hoodwinked, with a cable-tow seven times around our bodies; in which condition we were conducted to the door of the Chapter and caused to give seven distinct knocks, which were answered by a like number from within, and we were asked ”Who comes there?”
Q. Your answer? A. Three brethren, who have been regularly initiated as Entered Apprentices; pa.s.sed to the degree of Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason; advanced to the more honorable degree of Mark Master; presided as Masters in the chair; accepted and received as Most Excellent Masters, and now wish for further light in Masonry by being exalted to the more sublime degree of Royal Arch Masons.
Q. What was then said to you? A. We were asked if we were duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified; had made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees, and were properly avouched for.
All of which being answered in the affirmative, we were asked by what further right or benefit we expected to obtain this favor.
Q. Your answer? A. By the benefit of a pa.s.s-word.
Q. Had you that pa.s.s-word? A. We had not, but our conductor gave it to us.
Q. What was then said to you? A. We were directed to wait with patience till the Grand Council could be informed of our request and their pleasure known.
Q. What answer was returned? A. Let them enter under a living arch, and remember to stoop low, for he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Q. Did you pa.s.s under a living arch? A. We did.
Q. How were you then disposed of? A. We were conducted to the altar, caused to kneel, and take upon ourselves the solemn oath or obligation of a Royal Arch Mason.
Q. Have you that obligation? A. I have.
Q. Will you give it me?
A. ”I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty G.o.d, and this Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, erected to G.o.d, and dedicated to the Holy Order of St. John, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition to my former obligations, that I will not give the degree of Royal Arch Mason to to anyone of an inferior degree, nor to any other being in the known world, except it be to a true and lawful companion Royal Arch Mason, or within the body of a just and legally const.i.tuted Chapter of such; and not unto him or unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him or them only whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial, due examination, or legal information received. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not give the Grand Omnific Royal Arch word, which I shall hereafter receive, neither in the Chapter nor out of it, except there be present two companions, Royal Arch Masons, who, with myself, make three, and then by three times three, under a living arch, not above my breath. Furthermore, that I will not reveal the ineffable characters belonging to this degree, or retain the key to them in my possession, but destroy it whenever it comes to my sight. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this Chapter, nor a companion of this degree, to the value of anything, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not be at the exaltation of a candidate to this degree, at a clandestine Chapter, I knowing it to be such.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not a.s.sist, or be present at the exaltation of a candidate to this degree, who has not regularly received the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, to the best of my knowledge and belief. Furthermore, that I will not a.s.sist or see more or less than three candidates exalted at one and the same time. Furthermore, that I will not a.s.sist, or be present at the forming or opening of a Royal Arch Chapter, unless there be present nine regular Royal Arch Masons.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not speak evil of a companion Royal Arch Mason, neither behind his back nor before his face, but will apprise him of approaching danger, if in my power. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not strike a companion Royal Arch Mason in anger, so as to draw his blood.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will support the const.i.tution of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States of America, also the const.i.tution of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State under which this Chapter is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules and regulations of this or any other Chapter of which I may hereafter become a member. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs, summons, or tokens given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from the hand of a companion Royal Arch Mason, or from the body of a just and lawfully const.i.tuted Chapter of such, provided it be within the length of my cable-tow. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will aid and a.s.sist a companion Royal Arch Mason when engaged in any difficulty; and espouse his cause, so far as to extricate him from the same, if in my power, whether he be right or wrong. Also that I will promote a companion Royal Arch Mason's political preferment in preference to another of equal qualifications.[13]
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that a companion Royal Arch Mason's secrets, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as in his own, MURDER AND TREASON NOT EXCEPTED.[14] Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will be aiding and a.s.sisting all poor and indigent Royal Arch Masons, their widows and orphans, wherever dispersed around the globe, so far as in my power, without material injury to myself or family. All which, I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any equivocation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind in me whatever; binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my skull smote off, and my brains exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, should I ever knowingly or wilfully violate or transgress any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a Royal Arch Mason. So help me G.o.d, and keep me steadfast in the performance of the same.”
Q. After receiving the obligation, what was said to you? A. We were told that we were now obligated and received as Royal Arch Masons, but as this degree was infinitely more important than any of the preceding, it was necessary for us to pa.s.s through many trials, and to travel in rough and rugged ways to prove our fidelity, before we could be entrusted with the more important secrets of this degree. We were further told that, though we could not discover the path we were to travel, we were under the direction of a faithful guide, who would ”bring the blind by a way they knew not, and lead them in paths they had not known; who would make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight; who would do these things, and not forsake them.”
(See Isa. xlii. 16.)
Q. What followed? A. We were caused to travel three times around the room, when we were again conducted to the altar, caused to kneel, and attend to the following prayer:
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