Part 20 (1/2)
Hush, hush, the heavenly choir, They cleave the air in bright attire; See, see, the lute each angel brings, And hark divinely thus they sing.
To the power divine, All glory be given, By man upon earth, And angels in heaven.
The priest steps before the altar and says, ”Kyrie Elieson; Christe Elieson; Kyrie Elieson; [that is, O Lord, have mercy; O Christ, have mercy; O Lord, have mercy.] Amen. Gloria Sibi Domino! [i.e., Glory to the Lord himself.] I declare this Grand Council opened and ready to proceed to business.” The Priests and Ministers take their several stations and observe order. The candidates being prepared, he alarms at the door by seven raps, and the Prelate says to Verger, ”See the cause of that alarm and report.” Verger goes to the door and reports, ”Right Reverend Prelate, there are seven brethren who solicit admission to this Grand Council.” Prelate says, ”On what is their desire founded?” Verger--”On a true Christian principle, to serve the church and its members by performing the seven corporeal works of mercy, and to protect and guard the Holy Sepulchre from the destroying hands of our enemies.” Prelate--”Admit them, that we may know them, if you please.” They are then admitted. Prelate says to them, ”Are you followers of the Captain of our salvation?” Verger says, ”We are, Right Reverend Prelate.” P.--”Attend, then, to the sayings of our Master, Jesus Christ.” Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
This is the first great commandment, and the second is like unto it; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The Verger and Beadle hold the Bible, on which the candidates place their right hands.
VOW.--”I, A. B., in the name of the high and undivided Trinity, do promise and vow to keep and conceal the high mysteries of this n.o.ble and Invincible Order of Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, from all but such as are ready and willing to serve the church of Christ by acts of valor and charity, and its members by performing all the corporeal works of mercy, and that, as far as in me lies, I will defend the church of the Holy Sepulchre from pillage and violence, and guard and protect pilgrims on their way to and from the Holy Land; and if I perform not this, my vow, to the best of my abilities, let me become INANIMATUS [dead].
Interlace your fingers with the candidate, cross your arms, and say, ”De mortuis, nil nisi bonum; [i.e., concerning the dead, say nothing but good.] Prelate says, ”Take the sword and travel onward--guard the Holy Sepulchre--defeat our enemies--unfurl the banner of our cross--protect the Roman Eagle--return to us with victory and safety.”
The candidates depart, go to the south, where they meet a band of Turks--a desperate conflict ensues--the Knights are victorious; they seize the crescent, and return to the cathedral in triumph, and place the banner, eagle, and crescent before the altar, and take their seats. (22d chapter St. John read by Prelate.) Then the choir sing:
”Creator of the radiant light, Dividing day from sable night; Who with the light bright origin, The world's creation didst begin.”
Prelate then says, ”Let our prayer come before Thee, and let our exercise be acceptable in thy sight.” The seven candidates kneel at the foot of the altar. The Prelate takes the bread, and says, ”Brethren, eat ye all of this bread in love, that ye may learn to support each other.” He then takes the cup, and says, ”Drink ye all of this cup to ratify the vow that ye have made, and learn to sustain one another.” The Prelate then raises them up by the grip (interlace the fingers), and says, ”1st, Sir, I greet thee a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre; go feed the hungry; 2d, Give drink to the thirsty; 3d, Clothe the naked with a garment; 4th, Visit and ransom the captives; 5th, Harbor the harborless, give the orphan and widow where to lay their heads; 6th, Visit and relieve the sick; 7th, Go and bury the dead.” All make crosses and say, ”In nomini patria filio et spiritus sancto. Amen.” Prelate says, ”Brethren, let us recommend to each other the practice of the four cardinal virtues--prudence, justice, temperance, fort.i.tude.”
CLOSING.--The Knights all rise, stand in circle, interlace their fingers, and say, ”Sepulchrum.” Prelate then says, ”Gloria patri, et filio, et spiritus sancto;” [i.e., Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.] Brethren answer, ”Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper et in secula seculorum; [i.e., As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be, world without end.] Amen.”
BENEDICTION.--”Blessed be thou, O Lord, our G.o.d! Great first cause and Governor of all things; thou createst the world with thy bountiful hand, and sustained it by thy wisdom, by thy goodness, and by thy mercy! It cometh to pa.s.s that seed time and harvest never fall! It is Thou that givest every good and perfect gift!
Blessed be thy name forever and ever!”
To examine a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre; he holds up the first finger of the right hand, Knight holds up the second; you then hold up the third, and he shuts up his first; this signifies three persons in one G.o.d.
THE HOLY AND THRICE ILl.u.s.tRIOUS ORDER OF THE CROSS, CALLED A COUNCIL.
C F M C S C A O P
St. Albert, to every Knight Companion of the Holy and Thrice Ill.u.s.trious Order of the Cross: Be it known unto you, that with regard to unquestionable vouchers, we have confirmed the Induction of the Knight Templar Mason into the Councils of the said Order of Knighthood, and herein do warrant him as a worthy and Ill.u.s.trious Companion, thereof; and hoping and confiding that he will ever so demean himself as to conduct to the glory of I. H. S., the Most Holy and Almighty G.o.d, and to the honor of his Mark, we do recommend and submit him to the confidence of all those throughout the world, who can truly and deservedly say, ”I am a Christian;” and that no unwarrantable benefits shall arise from this Diploma, and we charge all concerned cautiously and prudently to mark the bearer on the mystic letters therein contained, and to regard only the result, in its application and privileges.
Done out of Council, at ----, in the county of ----, and State of ----, on this ---- day of ----.
Sir -------- Sovereign Prefect.
Sir -------- Acting Pref.
Commendations, Sir Knights Comp'ns.
The officers and council all in their places. The Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect addresses the Most Worthy Provost thus: ”Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost, what is the o'clock?” Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost says, rising and facing the east, at the same time raising his mark in his right hand, ”Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect, it is now the first hour of the day, the time when our Lord suffered and the veil of the temple was rent asunder, when darkness and consternation was spread over the earth, when the confusion of the old covenant was made light in the new in the temple of the cross. It is, Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect, the third watch, when the implements of Masonry were broken--when the flame, which led the wise men of the east, reappeared--when the cubic stone was broken, and the word was given.” Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect says to Worthy Herald, ”It is my will that this house of G.o.d be closed, and the remembrance of those solemn and sacred events, be here commemorated: make this; Worthy Herald, known to the Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost, in due and ancient form.” The Worthy Herald bows and approaches the Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost, where he bows thrice, faces about and gives a blast with his horn, and after the Knights have filed out by threes without the door, except the worthy Senior Inductor, he does his errand, viz.:--”Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost, it is the sovereign will of Count Albertus, of Pergamus, that this house of G.o.d be closed, and that those solemn and sacred events in the new covenant be here commemorated: you will observe this.” The Worthy Herald bows, and the Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost rises and addresses the Worthy Senior Inductor thus: ”It is the will of the Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect that here now be opened a Council of Knights of the Cross: what therein becomes your duty?” Worthy Senior Inductor says, ”To receive the commands of my superiors in the order, and pay obedience thereto--to conduct and instruct my ignorant pa.s.s-brethren; and to revere, and inculcate reverence in others, for the Most Holy and Almighty G.o.d.” The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost rises fiercely and says, ”By what right do you claim this duty?” Worthy S. Inductor says, ”By the right of a sign, and the mark of a sign.” Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost says, ”Will you give me a sign?” Worthy Sen. ”I could if I should.”
The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost then partly extends both arms, pointing downwards to an angle of 39, with the palms open, and upwards, to show they are not sullied with iniquity and oppression, and says, ”Worthy Sen. Inductor, you may give it.” The Worthy Sen. Inductor then looks him full in the face, and with his forefinger touches his right temple, and lets fall his hand, and says, ”This is a sign.” Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost says, ”A sign of what?” Worthy Senior Inductor says, ”Aye, a sign of what?” Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost says, ”A penal sign.” Worthy Senior Inductor says, ”Your sign is ----.” Most Wors.h.i.+pf. Pro. says, ”The last sign of my induction. But you have the mark of a sign.” Worthy S. Inductor says, ”The sign whereof my mark is a mark, I hope is in the Council above.” Most Wors.h.i.+pf. Pro. says, ”But the mark ----.” Worthy S. Inductor says, ”Is in my bosom.”
Thereupon he produces his mark in his left hand, and with the forefinger of his right on the letter S, on the cross, asks, ”What's that?” Most Wor. Pro. says, ”Lisha.” Wor. Pro. puts his finger on the letter H, and asks, ”What is this?” Worthy S. Inductor says, ”Sha.”
Worthy S. Inductor then puts his finger on the letter I, and asks, ”What is this?” Most Wors.h.i.+pf. Pro. says, ”Baal.” ”What, then, is your mark?” Worthy S. Inductor says, ”Baal, Sha-Lisha; ['Lord of the three'] I am the Lord.” The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost then says, ”You are my brother, and the duty is yours of ancient right; please announce the Council open.” The Worthy Senior Inductor steps to the door and gives three raps, and is answered by some Knight from without, who is then admitted, and the Worthy S. Inductor gives the CONDITIONAL sign (which is by partly extending both arms, as before described), the Knight answering by putting his finger to his right temple, as before. The Worthy S. Inductor then addresses the chair, thus:--”Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect, a professing brother is within the Council by virtue of a sign.” Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect says to Worthy Herald, ”Go to this professing brother, and see him marked before the chair of the Most Wors.h.i.+pful Provost; conduct him thither, Worthy Herald.” The Worthy Herald says to the Knight, ”Worthy Sir, know you the sacred cross of our Council?” Knight says, ”I am a Christian.” The Worthy Herald then says, ”Follow me.” When arrived before the Most Wor. Pro. the Worthy Herald says, ”Most Worthy Provost, by order of the Most Ill.u.s.trious Prefect, I here bring you to be marked a professing brother of the cross.” The Most Worthy Provost says, ”Worthy Sir, know you the cross of our Council; and can you, without fear or favor, support and bear that cross?” Knight says, ”I am a Christian.” The Most Worthy Provost says. ”Worthy Sir, know you the cross of our Council; and can you, without fear or favor, support and bear that cross?” Knight says, ”I am a Christian.” The Most Worthy Provost says, ”No more.”
THE OBLIGATIONS OF THRICE ILl.u.s.tRIOUS KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS.