Part 34 (1/2)
In countries where there are no Grand Lodges, they have power to confer the blue degrees. They are the supreme judges of all transactions in the lower degrees; and no appeal can be made to the Supreme Councils of the upper degrees, until an opinion has been given by the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and the result of their opinion has been made known.
A Prince of Jerusalem who visits an inferior Lodge or Council, ought to present himself in the dress and ornaments of this degree. When his approach is announced, the presiding officer must send a Prince of Jerusalem to examine him, and if he reports in his favor, the arch of steel is to be formed, and he is conducted beneath it to his seat on the left of the presiding officer. An entry of his name and rank is made on the records, that he may henceforward receive our honors without any examination.
Five Princes are necessary to form a Grand Council.
DUTIES OF PRINCES.--They are carefully to observe the rules of justice and good order, and to maintain irreproachable lives. If guilty of unmasonic conduct, they are to be punished at the discretion of the Grand Council. Expulsions are to be notified to the Grand Councils of the upper degrees, and to all inferior Masonic bodies within the district.
If a Prince solicits a vote at an election, he is to be punished with perpetual exclusion.
The annual election is to take place on the twenty third day of the Jewish month Adar. The meetings of the Councils are termed Conventions.
APARTMENTS USED IN THIS DEGREE.--There are two apartments, connected by a long, narrow pa.s.sage. The western represents the court of Zerubbabel, at Jerusalem. The hangings are yellow. Over the throne is a yellow canopy. On a triangular pedestal, before the throne, are placed a naked sword, an arrow of justice, a balance, and a s.h.i.+eld on which is an equilateral triangle, a sceptre, a chandelier of five branches, which are all lighted in the latter part of the ceremony of reception. The eastern apartment represents the cabinet of Darius. It is hung with red; the canopy is red. Before the throne is a small square pedestal, and in it a drawn sword, a sceptre, paper, pens, etc.
The chief Minister of State sits near Darius.
OFFICERS OF THE GRAND COUNCIL.--The first officer is styled ”Most Equitable Prince,” and is on the throne. The Senior Warden and Junior Warden are styled ”Most Enlightened;” seated in the West. The other officers and the members are styled ”Valiant Princes.”
DRESS.--The ”Most Equitable” wears a yellow robe and turban. The ap.r.o.n is red; on it are painted the temple, a square, a buckler, a triangle, and a hand; the flap is yellow; on it a balance, and the letters D. Z. [Darius and Zerubbabel.] Gloves are red. Sash is yellow, edged with gold, embroidered by a balance, a hand, a poniard, five stars, and two crowns, it is worn from right to left.
JEWEL.--A golden medal; on one side a hand holding a balance in equilibris; on the other a two-edged sword, with five stars around the point, and the letters D. Z.
ALARM.--The alarm is three and two (!!! !!).
OPENING.--The ”Most Equitable” strikes one, and says, ”Valiant Grand Master of Ceremonies, what is the first business of a Grand Council of the Princes of Jerusalem?” Grand Master of Ceremonies. ”To see that the guards are at their proper stations.” M. E. ”Attend to that duty, and inform,” etc. G. M. C.--”It is done, Most Equitable.” Most Equitable strikes two; the Junior Warden rises. M. E.--”Valiant Junior Warden, what is our next business?” J. W.--”To see that all present are Princes of Jerusalem.” M. E.--”Attend to that duty.” J. W.--”We are all Princes of Jerusalem.” Most Equitable (striking thrice).--”Valiant Senior Warden, what is the hour?” Senior Warden.--”The rising of the sun.” M. E.--”What duty remains to be done?” S. W.--”To arrange the Princes in two columns, for the proper discharge of their duties.” M. E.--”Attend to that duty.” S. W.--”Most Equitable, it is done.” M. E.--”Valiant Junior and Senior Wardens, inform your respective columns that I am about to open this Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, by three and two.” (That is done.) M.
E.--”Attention, Valiant Princes! (The signs are given; the Most Equitable strikes three and two; this is repeated by the Wardens.) I declare this Grand Council duly opened and in order for business.”
RECEPTION.--The candidate, being hoodwinked, is led by the Master of Ceremonies to the door--the alarm is given--the door is opened without any ceremony, and the candidate is led to the east, and thus addressed: Most Equitable.--”What is your desire?” Candidate.--”I come to prefer the complaints of the people of Israel against the Samaritans, who have refused to pay the tribute imposed on them for defraying the expense of the sacrifices offered to G.o.d in the temple.”
M. E. (who represents Zerubbabel).--”I have no power over the Samaritans; they are subject to King Darius, who is at Babylon; it is to him that such complaints must be preferred; but as we are all interested in this thing, I will arm you, and cause you to be accompanied by four Knights, that you may more easily surmount any difficulty which may present itself in your journey to the court of the King of Persia.” The bandage is now removed from the eyes of the candidate; he is armed with a sword and buckler, and decorated as a Knight of the East. The four Knights who accompany him are armed in a similar manner. They commence their journey, and are attacked by some armed ruffians, whom they repulse. They arrive at the door of the cabinet of Darius. The candidate enters with one of the Knights, and thus addresses the King:--”Mighty King! the Samaritans refuse to pay the tribute imposed on them by Cyrus, King of Persia, for defraying the expenses of the sacrifices which are offered in the temple which we have rebuilt; the people of Israel entreat that you will compel the Samaritans to perform their duty.” Darius.--”Your request is just and equitable; I order that the Samaritans shall immediately pay the tribute imposed on them. My Chief Minister shall deliver to you my decree for this purpose. Go in Peace!” The candidate retires; the Chief Minister follows, and delivers the decree to him. After surmounting various obstacles, candidate is met on his return by the Knights with lighted torches, and is thus conducted with triumph into the presence of Zerubbabel, and says:--”I deliver to you the decree of Darius, King of Persia, which we have obtained after defeating our enemies, and encountering many dangers in our journey.” Most Equitable reads the decree as follows:--”We, Darius, 'King of Kings!' willing to favor and protect our people at Jerusalem, after the example of our ill.u.s.trious predecessor, King Cyrus, do will and ordain that the Samaritans, against whom complaints have been made, shall punctually pay the tribute money which they owe for the sacrifices of the temple--otherwise they shall receive the punishment due to their disobedience. Given at Shushan, the palace, this fourth day of the second month, in the year 3534, and of our reign the third, under the seal of our faithful Darius. [L. S.]” M. E.--”The people of Jerusalem are under the greatest obligations to you for the zeal and courage displayed by you in surmounting the obstacles which you encountered in your journey; as a reward we shall confer on you the mysteries of the degree of Prince of Jerusalem. Are you willing to take an obligation, binding you to an exact observance of our laws, and a careful concealment of our mysteries?” Candidate.--”I am.” M. E.--”Kneel before the altar for that purpose.”
OBLIGATION.--I, A. B., do solemnly promise and swear, in the presence of Almighty G.o.d, the Great Architect of heaven and earth, and of these Valiant Princes of Jerusalem, that I will never reveal the mysteries of the degree of Prince of Jerusalem to any one of an inferior degree, or to any other person whatever. I promise and swear, as a Prince of Jerusalem, to do justice to my brethren, and not to rule them tyranically, but in love. I promise and swear that I will never, by word or deed, attack the honor of any Prince of Jerusalem; and that I will not a.s.sist in conferring this degree except in a lawful Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem. All this I promise and swear, under the penalty of being stripped naked, and having my heart pierced with a poniard. So help me G.o.d. Amen! Amen! Amen!
The Most Equitable raises the candidate, and gives him the following signs, tokens, and words:--FIRST SIGN--Extend the right arm horizontally at the height of the shoulder. This is termed the sign of command. FIRST TOKEN.--Each places his left hand on his left hip, and the right hand on his brother's left shoulder. SECOND TOKEN.--Join left hands, placing the thumb on the second joint of the little finger; with the thumb strike five times on that joint.
Pa.s.s-WORD.--”Tebeth.” The name of the Jewish month in which the Amba.s.sadors entered Jerusalem. SACRED WORD.--”Adar.” The name of the month in which thanks were given to G.o.d for the completion of the temple. In some Councils the following sign is given, viz.:--Present yourself before your brother with your sword advanced, and your left hand resting on your hip, as if to commence a combat. He will answer the sign by extending his arm at the height of the shoulder, the right foot forming a square with the toe of the left. THE MARCH.--Five steps on the diagonal of the square towards the throne. AGE.--The age of a Prince of Jerusalem, is 5 times 15.
Most Equitable.--”I now appoint and const.i.tute you, with your four companions, Princes and Governors of Jerusalem, that you may render justice to all the people. I decorate you with a yellow sash, to which is attached a gold medal. The 'balance' on it is to admonish you to make equity and justice your guides. The 'hand of justice' is a mark of your authority over the people. The 'emblems' of the 'ap.r.o.n' with which I now invest you, have reference to the works and virtues of Masons, and to your duty in the high office with which you are invested. As Princes of Jerusalem, you will a.s.semble in two chambers of the temple. Be just, merciful, and wise.”
LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Prince of Jerusalem? Answer--I know the road to Babylon.
Q. What were you formerly? A. A Knight of the East.
Q. How did you arrive at the dignity of a Prince of Jerusalem? A. By the favor of Zerubbabel, and the courage which I manifested in many conflicts.
Q. Where did the Prince of Jerusalem travel? A. From Jerusalem to Babylon.
Q. Why? A. The Samaritans having refused to pay the tribute imposed on them for defraying the expense of the sacrifices offered to G.o.d in the temple, an emba.s.sy was dispatched to Babylon, to obtain justice of King Darius.
Q. How many Knights const.i.tuted this emba.s.sy? A. Five.
Q. Did they encounter any difficulty in their journey? A. They did.
The Samaritans, against whom they were to prefer a complaint, armed themselves and attacked the amba.s.sadors, but were defeated.
Q. What did they obtain from Darius? A. A decree ordering the Samaritans to pay the tribute, or suffer punishment.