Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

20 GRAND PO~TI~P. INITIATION. 21
the cloth off when he chooses. They make him sit on the
floor in the middle, and then retire. This room should
he black, with no furniture. Apertures must be made
so that without admitting any one, the voice of one
speaking outside may be heard. It must also be ax.~
ranged so that flashes of lighting may be produced. The
candidate is left there for about five minutes, when a
brother says in his hearing:]
First Brother—All who will not worship the Beast
with seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten
crowns, and the mysterious name upon his forehead
shall be slain, all men, the high and low, the rich and
poor, freeman and slave shall receive upon their right
hand or on their forehead, his mark, his name, and the
number’
0’ of his name which is 666, or they shall neither
buy nor sell; for his is power, dominion and authority
of the Great Dragon. Man, helpless and in darkness,
wilt thou receive his mark that thou mayest emerge to
light.
Second Brother—Fear God, and give glory to him,
for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him
that made Heaven and Earth, and the sea, and the
springs of water, for he alone has the true sign. If any
man worship the Beast and his image, and receive his
Mote 204.—’ Kumbers. The symboii.m which i. deri,ed from numbers
r.ns common to the Pythagoreans, the Kabbalists. the Ganstice. and all
mystical associations. Of all auperstitions. It is the oldeat and the
moat generally dirused Ailnslon~ are to he found to It In all systemS
of religion; the Jewish Scriptures, for instance, abound in It. and the
Christian show a ahare of Its Influence. it is not, therefore, surprising
that the mast predominant of all symboliam in Freemasonry is that at
jiumbers.
The doctrine of numbers as. aymbola Is moat familiar to as because It
formed the tandamental idea of the philosophy of Pythagoras. Yet It
was not original with bun, since he brought his theories from Egypt
and ibe East, where thia numerical symbolism had ilways prewoifed
Jsmbitchus tells us (Vit P7th., C. 28). that Pythagoras himself admitled
that he had received the doctalne of numbers from Orpheus. who taught
that numbers were the most provident beginning of all things In heoven,
earth. and the ieternedlste apace. and the root of the perijetalty of
dl~ine beings, of the gods and of demons.’ —Mackeys Eneyclopsadia of
Freemasonry. Article Miambera.
mask on his forehead or in his hand, he shall drink the
wine of God’s indignation and be banished from the
presence ofT the Holy Angels and of the World, that is
the Redeemer. Remorse shall torture them, and they
shall have no rest, who worship the beast and his image
and receive‘the marks of his name.
Third B,other—Have patience, Oh! thou, who though
in darkness art still our brother; keep the commandments
of God, and this faith in his justice and infinite
goodness. [There is sihence for a little while.]
First Brother—The first Angel bath poured his vial
on the earth and a foul and horrid plague bath falhen
on all who wear the mark of the Beast and have worshipped
his image. [Light flashes in the room.]
Second Brother—The second Angel hath poured his
vial on the Sea, and it bath become like the blood of a
dead man, and everything therein hath died. [Another
flash.]
Third Brother—The third Angel bath poured his vial
upon the rivers and Ihe living springs, and they have
become blood. [Another flash.]
Thou art just and righteous Oh God; the infinite and
eternal in ahl thy judgments. For thou ha~t given them
blood to drink, who have persecuted their brethren for
their faith and usurped the power and prerogative of
judgment, and shed the blood of the virtuous and good.
First Brother—The fourth Angel hath poured his vial
upon the Sun, and the wicked are scorched with great
heat and yet will not repent. [Another flash ]
Second Brother—The fifth Angel bath poured his vial
upon those who worship the Beast, his kingdom is
shrouded in darkness and his followers howl from pain
and terror and blaspheme, and still do not repent.
[Another flash.]
Third Brother.—The sixth Angel bath poured out his
vial upon the great rivers of the Orient, and they are
dried up and the spirits of falsehood, fraud and evil
marshall their armies for the great battle to be fought on