Part 37 (2/2)
COLLAR OF THE ORDER.--The collar is black, and edged with silver. On its point is embroidered in red a Teutonic cross. On the middle of the cross is a double headed eagle in silver. The collar is lined with scarlet, on which is embroidered a black Teutonic cross. Around the waist is girded a black sash, embroidered with silver. The cross is embroidered on that part of the girdle which is in front.
JEWEL.--The jewel is a golden Teutonic cross.
QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATE.--The candidate who receives this degree must be faithfully examined in the previous degree prior to admission.
The Master of Ceremonies will acquaint him with the pa.s.s-word, which he is to give to the Lieutenant Commander. The Master of Ceremonies will then lead him to the Sovereign of Sovereigns.
OPENING AND CLOSING.--The Sovereign of Sovereigns says, ”Sal ix.” The Lieutenants reply, ”Noni.” They then together say, ”Tengu.” All give the sign. The Sovereign of Sovereigns says: Let us imitate our Grand Master Jacques De Molay, Hiram Abiff, who to the last placed all his hopes in the Great Architect of the Universe; and p.r.o.nounced the following words just as he pa.s.sed from this transient life into eternal bliss:--”Spes mea in Deo est” (My hope is in G.o.d).
DESCRIPTION OF THE CARPET REPRESENTING THE CAMP.--On the carpet is drawn an ”enneagen,” in which is inscribed a pentagon; within this is an equilateral triangle, and in the triangle a circle. Between the heptagon and pentagon, upon the sides of the latter, are placed the standards of the five Standard Bearers, and the pavilions inscribed by the letters T. E. N. G. U. The emblems on the standard T. are the ”ark of the covenant,” an ”olive tree,” and a ”lighted candlestick,” on each side. The ground color of this standard is purple. On the ark is written the motto ”Laus Deo.” The standard E. bears a golden lion, holding in his mouth a ”golden key;” wearing around his neck a golden collar, on which is engraved ”515.” The ground is azure; the motto ”Admajorem Dei glorium.” On the standard N. is an ”inflamed heart,” in red, with two wings, surrounded by a laurel crown. The ground is white. The flag G. bears a double-headed eagle, crowned, holding a sword in his right claw, and in his left a b.l.o.o.d.y heart. Ground is sea green. The flag U. has an ox, sable (black), on a golden ground. On the sides of the enneagen are nine tents, and on its angles nine pendants, each belonging to its appropriate tent. The pendants are distinguished by numerals, and the tents by the letters I. N. O. N. X.
I. L. A. S. disposed from right to left. These tents signify the different grades of Masonry. Thus:
TENT S. is Malachi--pendant, white, spotted with red; represents Knights of the East and West, and Princes of Jerusalem. TENT A. is Zerubbabel--pendant, light green; represents Knights of the East. TENT L. is Neamiah--pendant, red; represents Grand Elect, Perfect, and Sublime Masons. TENT I. is Hobben or Johaben--pendant, black and red; represents Sublime Elect, and Elect of Fifteen. TENT X. is Peleg--pendant, black; represents Elect of Nine, or Grand Master Architect. TENT N. is Joiada--pendant, red and black in lozenges; represents Provost and Judges. TENT O. is Aholiab--pendant, red and green; represents Intendant of the Buildings and Intimate Secretary.
TENT N. is Joshua--pendant, green; represents Perfect Master. TENT I.
is Ezra--pendant, blue; represents Master, Fellow Craft, and Entered Apprentice.
The equilateral triangle in the middle represents the centre of the army, and shows where the Knights of Malta are to be placed who have been admitted to our mysteries, and have proved themselves faithful guardians. They are to be joined with the Knights of Kadosh. The corps in the centre is to be commanded by five princes, who command jointly, or in rotation, according to their degrees, and receive their orders immediately from the Sovereign of Sovereigns. These five Princes must place their standards in the five angles of the pentagon, as above described. These Princes, who are Standard Bearers, have the following name, viz.:--
{ T. ... Bezaleel } { E. ... Aholiab } STANDARD. { N. ... Mahuzen } NAMES.
{ G. ... Garimont } { U. ... Amariah }
The heptagon points out the Encampment destined for the Princes of Liba.n.u.s, Jerusalem, etc.; and these are to receive their orders from the five Princes. The enneagen shows the general order of Masons of all degrees.
Instructions for the reunion of the brethren, Knights, Princes, and Commanders of the Royal Secret or Kadosh, which really signifies HOLY BRETHREN OF ALL DEGREES SEPARATED.
Frederick III., King of Prussia, Grand Master and Commander in Chief, Sovereign of Sovereigns, with an army composed of the Knights, Princes of the White and Black Eagle, including Prussian, English, and French; likewise joined by the Knights Adepts of the Sun, Princes of Liba.n.u.s or the Royal Axe, the Knights of the Rose Croix or St. Andrew, Knights of the East and West, the Princes of Jerusalem, Knights of the East or Sword, the Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Masons, the Knights of the Royal Arch (ninth Arch), Sublime Knights Elected, etc.
The hour for the departure or march of the army is the fifth after the setting of the sun; and is to be made known by the firing of five great guns in the following order (0)--(0 0 0 0)--that is, with an interval between the first and second. The first rendezvous is to be the port of Naples--from Naples to the port of Rhodes--from Rhodes to Cyprus and Malta, whence the whole naval force of all nations is to a.s.semble. The second rendezvous is to be at Cyprus, etc. The third rendezvous is to be at Jerusalem, where they will be joined by our faithful guardians. The watchwords of every day of the week are as follows and they are not to be changed but by express order from the King of Prussia:
PROTECTORS OF MASONRY. PROPHETS.
Sunday, Cyrus, } { Ezekiel, Monday, Darius, } { Daniel, Tuesday, Xerxes, } { Habakkuk, Wednes., Alexander, } Answer. { Zephaniah, Thurs., Philadelphus, } { Haggai, Friday, Herod, }{ Zechariah, Sat.u.r.day, Hezekiah, } { Malachi.
SIGN.--Place the right hand on the heart; extend it forward, the palm downward; let it fall by the right side. SACRED WORDS.--Those of the Carpet, which are to be read backward 'round the circle from right to left, thus:--One says ”Salix,” to which the other replies ”Noni;” both then repeat (by letters) the word ”Tengu.” Pa.s.s WORDS.--”Phual Kol,”
which signifies ”separated;” ”Pharas Kol,” which signifies ”reunited;” ”Nekam Makah,” which signifies ”to avenge;” each then letters the word ”Shaddai,” which signifies ”Omnipotent.”
CHARGE ADDRESSED TO THE CANDIDATE.--My dear brother:--The Saracens having taken possession of the Holy Land, those who were engaged in the Crusades not being able to expel them, agreed with G.o.dfrey de Bouillon, the conductor and chief of the Crusaders, to veil the mysteries of religion under emblems, by which they would be able to maintain the devotion of the soldier, and protect themselves from the incursion of those who were their enemies, after the example of the Scriptures, the style of which is figurative. Those zealous brethren chose Solomon's temple for their model. This building has strong allusions to the Christian church. Since that period they (Masons) have been known by the name of Master Architect; and they have employed themselves in improving the law of that admirable Master.
From hence it appears that the mysteries of the craft are the mysteries of religion. Those brethren were careful not to entrust this important secret to any whose discretion they had not proved. For this reason they invented different degrees to try those who entered among them; and only gave them symbolical secrets, without explanation, to prevent treachery, and to make themselves known only to each other.
For this purpose it was resolved to use different signs, words, and tokens, in every degree, by which they would be secured against cowans and Saracens. The different degrees were fixed first to the number of seven by the example of the Grand Architect of the Universe, who built all things in six days and rested on the seventh. This is distinguished by seven points of reception in the Master's degrees.
Enoch employed six days to construct the arches, and on the seventh, having deposited the secret treasure in the lowest arch, was translated to the abodes of the blessed. Solomon employed six years in constructing his temple; and celebrated its dedication on the seventh, with all the solemnity worthy of the divinity himself. This sacred edifice we choose to make the basis of figurative Masonry. In the first degree are three symbols to be applied. First, the first of the creation, which was only chaos, is figured by the candidate's coming out of the black chamber, neither naked nor clothed, deprived, etc.; and his suffering the painful trial at his reception, etc. The candidate sees nothing before he is brought to light; and his powers of imagination relative to what he has to go through are suspended, which alludes to the figure of the creation of that vast luminous body confused among the other parts of creation before it was extracted from darkness and fixed by the Almighty fiat. Secondly, the candidate approaches the footstool of the Master, and there renounces all cowans; he promises to subdue his pa.s.sions, by which means he is united to virtue, and by his regularity of life, demonstrates what he proposes. This is figured to him by the steps that he takes in approaching the altar; the symbolic meaning of which is the separation of the firmament from the earth and water on the second day of creation. (The charge proceeds by giving a figurative interpretation of the ceremonies, etc., of the first and second part of the third degree, which I pa.s.s over as uninteresting to my readers, and commence with an interpretation which will be as novel to the Craft of the lower grades as to the cowans, or non-initiated.)
In the Master's degree is represented the a.s.sa.s.sination of Hiram by false brethren. This ought to put us in mind of the fate of Adam, occasioned by perverseness in his disobeying his great and awful Creator. The symbolic mystery of the death of Hiram Abiff represents to us that of the Messiah; for the three blows which were given to Hiram Abiff, at the three gates of the temple, allude to the three points of condemnation against Christ, at the High Priest's Caiphas, Herod, and Pilate. It was from the last that he was led to that most violent and excruciating death. The said three blows with the square, gauge, and gavel are symbols of the blow on the cheek, the flagellation, and the crown of thorns. The brethren a.s.sembled around the tomb of Hiram, is a representation of the disciples lamenting the death of Christ on the cross. The Master's word, which is said to be lost, since the death of Hiram Abiff, is the same that Christ p.r.o.nounced on the cross, and which the Jews did not comprehend, ”Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani,” ”my G.o.d, my G.o.d, why hast thou forsaken me!
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