Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

CHAPTER LII
TwENTY-EIGHTH DEGREE, OF KNIGHTS OP THE
INITIATION.
(Brother Truth retires and prepares the
candidate as follows. A bandage over his
eyes, a sword in his right hand; invests
him with a ragged and bloody robe, puts
a mask on his face, fetters binding his
arms, a crown on his head, a purse in his
left hand, etc. He then knocks six: 000-
000, is admitted and stands at the door
of the lodge.)
Father AdvJen~..BrOther Truth, whom do you conduct?
Brother Truth.—~A Commander of the Temple, who
desires to go out of darkness and to see the true light.,
and to know the true light in all its purity, and to ask
tidings of the times that are promised to man.
Nets SU. Knightef the Sun. [UootohMaaonx7z]Tbe tenth degree
• 0~ferred in the Cousistory of prj0cesofthettoysl Secret. scotcb
~so~ry, and the ~wenty.eighth upon the caisiolue of that system. It
is otherwise hnown as Prince Adrpt. Prince of the Sun. and Key of
Masonry, or Chaoe Dlsentengled. TM historIcal instruCtions embrace the
hetures emS emhlems of alt the preceding dv rae.; Its grand morel is the
InculcatIOn of truth. The assembly Is terme~ a CounciL Its officers are
Thrice Ferfect Father Adam and Brother Truth; the inferior officers are
mamed after the seven chief angels. The brethren are termed 5ylphs.
thrungh a globe of water. The jewel Is
~• ~
en Uoux3~OjSO~ mid’
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209
- Father A dam—What more dost thou desire?
Brother Truth—(For candidate.) To divest myself
of original sin and renounce the juvenile prejudices of
error which all men are liable to; namely the desire of
all worldly attachments and pride.
Father Adam—Are you prepared to receive instructions
with humility?
Brother Truth—(For candidate.) I am.
Father Adam—My son, you now desire to be instructed
in the knowledge of pure and holy truth” and to be
brought from darkness to light, and to know the pure
light in all its purity, but before we comply with your
wishes consult your own heart and mind, and see if you
feel satisfied to obey her (holy truth) in all things which
she commands. If you, in your heart, feel disposed to
do so, I am sure she is ready to comply with your wishes
and impart those instructions to you. Mankind are so
full of error and falsehood that though they search for
happiness, few have knocked at the door of true light,
which conducts us to felicity.
The Knights of the Sun are instructed to go among
men and to use their best efforts to inspire them with a
knowledge of truth, which is the pure source of all
perfection. Again, do you feel satisfied to obey her in
all things which she commands?
Note 815.—”I’ruth. The real object of Freemasonry. in a philosophical
and religious sense. is the search for truth. This troth is. therefore.
symboilsed by the word. l’rom the first entrance of the Apprentice
into the Lodge. until his reception of the highest degree ibis search is
continued. It is not always found, and a substitute must sometimes be
provided. Yet whatever be the labors he may perform. whalever the
ceremonies through which he may pass, whatever the symbols in which
he may be instructed, whatever the reward he may obtain, the true end
of all is the attainment of truth. This Ides of truth is not the same
as that expressed in the lecture of the first degree, where Brotherly Love.
Relief, and Truth are there mid t. be the ‘three great tenets of a
Masons profession. • In that connection, truth, which is called a
‘divine attribute, the frn:ndntion of every vtrti,e. is synonymous with
sincerity, honesty of expression, and plain dealing. The higher Idea of
truth, whIch pervades the whole Masonic system. and which Is symboileed
by the Weed, is that which is properly expressed to a knowledge et
God. “—Meokey’s Enoyolopadla of Fr.smesoms~, Article Truth.