The Mysteries of Free Masonry Part 12

The members now balance six times as before; in opening, rise and balance six times more, disengage themselves from each other and take their seats; the Most Excellent Master then delivers the following charge to the candidate:

"Brother, your admittance to this degree of Masonry, is a proof of the good opinion the brethren of this Lodge entertain of your Masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be careful of forfeiting by misconduct and inattention to our rules, that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.

"It is one of your great duties, as a Most Excellent Master, to dispense light and truth to the uninformed Mason; and I need not remind you of the impossibility of complying with this obligation without possessing an accurate acquaintance with the Lectures of each degree.

"If you are not already completely conversant in all the degrees heretofore conferred on you, remember, that an indulgence, prompted by a belief that you will apply yourself with double diligence to make yourself so, has induced the brethren to accept you.

"Let it, therefore, be your unremitting study to acquire such a degree of knowledge and information as shall enable you to discharge with propriety the various duties inc.u.mbent on you, and to preserve unsullied the t.i.tle now conferred upon you of a Most Excellent Master."

After this a motion is made by some of the members to close the Lodge.

This motion being accepted and received, the Most Excellent says, "Brother Junior Warden, you will please a.s.semble the brethren around the altar for the purpose of closing this Lodge of Most Excellent Masters." The brethren immediately a.s.semble around the altar in a circle, and kneel on the right knee, put their left arms over and join hands, as before; while kneeling in this position, the Most Excellent reads the following Psalm: Psalm cx.x.xiv. "Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." The Most Excellent then closes the circle as in opening, when they balance six times, rise and balance six times more, disengaging their hands, and give all the signs downwards, and declares the Lodge closed.

ROYAL ARCH DEGREE.

All legally const.i.tuted bodies of Royal Arch Masons are called Chapters, as regular bodies of Masons of the preceding degrees are called Lodges. All the degrees from Mark Master to Royal Arch are given under the sanction of Royal Arch Chapters. A person making application to a Chapter for admission, is understood as applying for all the degrees, unless he states in his application the particular degree or degrees he wishes to receive. If you ask a Mark Master if he belongs to a Chapter, he will answer yes, but has only been marked. If a person make application for all the degrees, and wishes to receive them all at one time, he is frequently balloted for only on the Mark degree, it being understood that if accepted on that, he is to receive the whole. The members of Chapters who have received all the degrees, style each other companions; if they have not received the Royal Arch degree, brothers. It is a point of the Royal Arch degree "not to a.s.sist, or be present at the conferring of this degree upon more or less than three candidates at one time." If there are not three candidates present, one or two companions, as the case may be, volunteer to represent candidates, so as to make the requisite number, or a TEAM, as it is technically styled, and accompany the candidate or candidates through all the stages of exaltation. Every Chapter must consist of a High Priest, King, Scribe, Captain of the Host, Princ.i.p.al Sojourner, Royal Arch Captain, three Grand Masters of the Veils, Treasurer, Secretary, and as many members as may be found convenient for working to advantage. In the Lodges for conferring the preparatory degrees, the High Priest presides as Master, the King as Senior Warden, the Scribe as Junior Warden, the Captain of the Host as Marshal, or Master of Ceremonies, the Princ.i.p.al Sojourner as Senior Deacon, the Royal Arch Captain as Junior Deacon, the Master of the First, Second, and Third Veils as Junior, Senior, and Master Overseers; the Treasurer, Secretary and Tyler as officers of corresponding rank. The Chapter is authorized to confer the degrees by a charter, or warrant from some Grand Chapter.

The members being a.s.sembled, the High Priest calls to order, and demands of the Royal Arch Captain if all present are Royal Arch Masons. The Royal Arch Captain ascertains and answers in the affirmative. The High Priest then directs him to cause the Tyler to be stationed, which, being done, the High Priest says, "Companions, Royal Arch Masons, you will please to clothe, and arrange yourselves for the purpose of opening the Chapter." The furniture of the Chapter is then arranged, the companions clothed with scarlet sashes and ap.r.o.ns, and the officers invested with the proper insignia of their respective offices, and repair to their proper stations. The High Priest then demands whether the Chapter is tyled, and is answered the same as in the Lodge. The stations and duties of the officers are then recited (see Lecture, First Section). After the duties of the officers are recited, the High Priest directs the Captain of the Host to a.s.semble the companions of the altar. The companions form a circle about the altar, all kneeling on the right knee, with their arms crossed, right arm uppermost and hands joined, leaving a s.p.a.ce for the High Priest, who reads the following pa.s.sage of Scripture:

2 Thess. iii. 6-18. "Now, we command you, brethren, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition that ye have received of us, for yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you, neither did we eat any man's bread for nought, but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any man would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some, which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such, we command and exhort, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace Himself, give you peace always. The salutation of Paul, with mine own hand, which is the token, so I write."

[The reader is requested to compare this with Scripture--he will observe that the name of the Savior is intentionally left out.] The High Priest then takes his place in the circle. The whole circle then balance with their arms three times three, that is, they raise their arms and let them fall upon their knees three times in concert, after a short pause three times more, and after another pause three times more. Then all break into squads of three and raise the living arch.

This is done by each companion taking his left wrist in his right hand, and with their left hands the three grasp each other's right wrists, and raise them above their heads. This const.i.tutes the living arch, under which the Grand Omnific Royal Arch word must be given, but it must also be given by three times three. In opening the Chapter, this is done in the following manner: After the three have joined hands they repeat these lines in concert, and at the close of each line raise them above their heads and say, "As we three did agree, the sacred word to keep, and as we three did agree, the sacred word to search, so we three do agree to raise this Royal Arch." At the close of the last line they keep their hands raised, while they incline their heads under them, and the first whispers in the ear of the second the syllable, J A H; the second to the third, B U H, and the third to the first, L U N. The second then commences, and it goes around again in the same manner, then the third, so that each companion p.r.o.nounces each syllable of the word.[12] They then separate, each repairing to his station, and the High Priest declares the Chapter opened.

The Lecture of the Royal Arch degree is divided into two sections. The first section designates the appellation, number and station of the several officers, and points out the purpose and duties of their respective stations.

Question--Are you a Royal Arch Mason? Answer--I AM THAT, I AM.

Q. How shall I know you to be a Royal Arch Mason? A. By three times three.

Q. Where was you made a Royal Arch Mason? A. In a just and lawfully const.i.tuted Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, consisting of Most Excellent, High Priest, King and Scribe, Captain of the Host, Princ.i.p.al Sojourner, Royal Arch Captain, and the three Grand Masters of the Veils, a.s.sembled in a room or place representing the tabernacle erected by our ancient brethren near the ruins of King Solomon's Temple.

Q. Where is the High Priest stationed, and what are his duties? A. He is stationed in the sanctum sanctorum. His duty, with the King and Scribe, to sit in the Grand Council, to form plans and give directions to the workmen.

Q. The King's station and duty? A. At the right hand of the High Priest, to aid him by his advice and council, and in his absence to preside.

Q. The Scribe's station and duty? A. At the left hand of the High Priest, to a.s.sist him and the King in the discharge of their duties, and to preside in their absence.

Q. The Captain of the Host's station and duty? A. At the right hand of the Grand Council, and to receive their orders and see them duly executed.

Q. The Princ.i.p.al Sojourner's station and duty? A. At the left hand of the Grand Council, to bring the blind by a way that they know not, to lead them in paths they have not known, to make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.

Q. The Royal Arch Captain's station and duty? A. At the inner veil, or entrance of the sanctum sanctorium, to guard the same, and see that none pa.s.s but such as are duly qualified, and have the proper pa.s.s-words and signets of truth.

Q. What is the color of his banner? A. White, and is emblematical of that purity of heart and rect.i.tude of conduct, which is essential to obtain admission into the divine sanctum sanctorum above.

Q. The stations and duties of the three Grand Masters of the Veils? A.

At the entrance of their respective Veils: to guard the same, and see that none pa.s.s but such as are duly qualified and in possession of the proper pa.s.s-words and tokens.

Q. What are the colors of their banners? A. That of the third, scarlet, which is emblematical of fervency and zeal, and the appropriate color of the Royal Arch degree. It admonishes us to be fervent in the exercise of our devotions to G.o.d, and zealous in our endeavors to promote the happiness of men. Of the second, purple, which being produced by a due mixture of blue and scarlet, the former of which is the characteristic color of the symbolic, or three first degrees, and the latter, that of the Royal Arch degree, is an emblem of union, and is the characteristic color of the intermediate degrees.

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: