Part 27 (1/2)

CLOSING.--Most Potent knocks five. Grand Marshal rises. Most Potent says, ”Brother Grand Marshal, the last as well as the first care of a Lodge of Masters Elected of Fifteen?” A. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled.--”Please attend,” etc. Most Potent knocks twice five.--Senior Warden rises. Signs reversed. Most Potent knocks three times five, which is repeated by Wardens, and then by brothers with their hands, etc.

ILl.u.s.tRIOUS KNIGHTS ELECTED.

OPENING.--Most Potent knocks ten. Grand Marshal rises. Most Potent says, ”Are we all Ill.u.s.trious Knights Elected?” A. We are, Most Potent. ”Your place? etc. Your duty?” A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. ”Please attend,” etc. Most Potent knocks eleven. Grand Inspector rises. ”Companion Inspector, what is the hour?” A. It is twelve. Most Potent knocks twelve. Companions rise. ”If it is twelve, it is time to labor by the greatest of lights.” Signs given. Most Potent knocks twelve, Inspector twelve, and Companion twelve, with their hands, etc.

LECTURE.--Question--Are you an Ill.u.s.trious Knight Elected? Answer. My name will inform you.

Q. What is that name? A. Payrawsh Bawheer, or Ill.u.s.trious Knight elected.

Q. How were you admitted? A. I was hoodwinked and conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the door of the Chapter, where he gave twelve distinct knocks.

Q. To what did they allude? A. To the twelve tribes of Israel.

Q. How were they answered? A. By twelve from within.

Q. What was then said to you? A. ”Who comes there?”

Q. Your answer? A. A Master Elected of Fifteen wishes to receive the degree of Ill.u.s.trious Knight.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked by what further right, etc., and I was told to wait until the Most Potent was informed of my request, and his answer returned.

Q. What was that answer? A. Let him be introduced in due form.

Q. What then followed? A. I was conducted to the west, and the Most Potent inquired what I wanted.

Q. Your answer? A. To receive the degree of Ill.u.s.trious Knight, as a reward for my zeal and labor.

Q. What did the Most Potent say to you then? A. My brother, you cannot receive this degree until you have given us satisfactory proof that you have not been an accomplice in the death of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff; to a.s.sure us of this, we require you to partic.i.p.ate in a symbolic offering, of a portion of the heart of our Respectable Master, Hiram Abiff, which we have preserved since his a.s.sa.s.sination.

You are to swallow the portion we present to you. Every faithful Mason may receive it without injury, but it cannot remain in the body of one who is perjured. Are you disposed to submit to this trial?

Q. What was your answer? A. I am.

Q. What followed? A. The Most Potent directed the Master of Ceremonies to cause me to advance to the altar, by twelve upright regular steps, where the Most Potent, with the trowel, presented to me the symbolic offering which I swallowed, and was thus addressed by the Most Potent: ”This mystic oblation, which, like you, we have received forms a tie so strong that nothing can oppress it; woe to him who attempts to disunite us. I then received the obligation of this degree.

Q. Repeat that obligation. A. (Same as Perfect Master.) Under penalty of having my hands nailed to my breast. So help, etc.

Q. What was then communicated to you? A. The Most Potent removed the bandage, and gave me the sign. (Cross hands on breast) it alludes to penalty.

Q. Give me the token? A. (Token of Intimate Secretary, with left hand on brother's heart.)

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-word? A. Emun.

Q. What does that word signify? A. Truth.

Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Joha (p.r.o.nounced Yo-hay).

Q. What followed? A. I was invested with the ap.r.o.n, gloves and jewels of this degree, and was told the device on my sash and ap.r.o.n, and also the color of the latter, was an emblem of a heart inflamed with grat.i.tude for the honors and rewards conferred on me, and the sword of that justice which overtook and punished the a.s.sa.s.sins, and was designed to admonish me that perjury and treason will never escape the sword of justice, and I was directed to go and salute the Inspector, and return to the east for further instruction.