Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

110 CHIEF OF THE TABERNACLE.
peet to obtain so great a privilege?
Senior Deacon—Because the Lord has given him and
those numbered with him, as a gift lo Aaron aiid his
sons from among the children of Israel; and he and his
brethren have keen taken by the Lord instead o~ all the
first-born among the children of Israel.
Junior Deacon—Let him wait a time with patience
until the Most-Excellent High Priest is informed of his
request and his answer returned. (Junior Deacon closes
the door, goes to the East, knocks six and one, the High
Priest answers them and the same questions are asked,
and the like answers returned as before.)
High Priest—Since he comes endowed with these
necessary qualifications, let him be conducted to the
cell of probation and purification. (Junior Deacon goes
to the door, opens it and repeats this order and the Sc-nior
Deacon conducts him to the darkeliamlier and seats
him on the floor in front of the altar and skeleton.
Senior Deacon—My brother, I leave you for a while,
and after I retire remove the bandage from your eyes
and await with patience and fortitude whatever shall
befall you. (He then retires anti the candidate removes
the bandage. After a little while a loud crash of titunder
is heard near the door of the apartment followed by
a profound silence and’ then in the profound stillness,
one cries with a loud voice:)
First Voice—Korah, Dathan”
5 and Abiramn555 and
their company have put fires in their censers and laid
Note 265.—Dathtn.. A Reuhenite who, with i{orah awl Ahiram.
revolted agatast Moats and us-lawfully sought the priesthood in the
Srst chapter of the Book of Numbers. wis--re tire whole accuant is given.
it is said that as a punishment the earth opened arid awsiio~~r-d fbi-ru
‘ip The’ is-i ides-I is rs-is-rrr-d to is- the Order of High Priesthood, an
hirirorary d’gree of the American Rite, which is conferred ups-s the
instailid High Priests of Royri trrh Chapters ‘—Mackey’s Encysioptedia
at Frasmasonry. Article Dathan.
Nuts 256.—t&htram.. The names of iCorab. flathan said Ahiram are
introduced is-to High Priest Masonry. Ahiraxo s-as a it’urherritt-. ihc son
if Elish. who. o ith Dathan as-S On. mt-n of the same tribe and Korab.
ci trslte. “rg iriin-d a c’rnspirrrcy against Moses arid Aaron. terminating
in their swift ruin Numbers xv and xxvs.”—Morria’s Masonic Dictionary,
Astrcie Aharam.
INITIATION.
111
incense thereon and stood in the door of the Tabernacle,
before the Lord, and the Lord bath done a new thing,
for the earth hath opened her mouth and hathi bwallowed
them up, for their presumption, with all that appertained
to them and they have gone down alive into
the chasm and the earth has closed upon them and they
have perished froni among the e6ngregatioa. (Another
crash of thunder.)
Second Voice—Flee children of Israel, for there bath
come a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred
and fifty men who offered incense. (Another
crash of thunder.)
Third Voice—The children of Israel have murninryd
against the Lord, and against Moses and Aaron for the
death of Korali and his company, and lie hiath sent the
plague upon them and many thousands have died thereof;
and the whole people is abtiut to be destroyed.
(After a profound silence, a light is silenlly introduced
into the room, at the bottom of the door, and closed
again, and a gong is sounded loudly by the door, then
another crash of thunder, when chains are rattled together
and dashed on the floor, and groans and enes
are heard as of persons in great agony; then the wicket
is opened.)
First Voice—Hast thou repented of thy sins?
Candidate—I have.
Second Voice—Pray then to the God of Israel for
mercy and forgiveness, lest he consume thee with fire
as he hath consumed Nadab and Abihu, the sons of
Aaron the High Priest.
Third Voice—(After a few minutes.) Hast thou
bowed thee to the earth and prayed? (If not answered
in the affirmative, he is ordered to do so. Then the
Senior Deacon enters.)
Senior Deacon~—My brother, hast thou heard of the
awful punishment with which God has visited those
who not being duly qualified have presumptuously
intermeddled with holy things? Take heed that thou