Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

154 KNIGHT OF TilE BRAZEN SERPENT. flIITIATTON. 155
make proclamation that those who look upon it, confessing
their sins and having faith in the Most High God,
though they have been bitten by the venomous serpents,
shall not die, but live, for Adonai is the God of mercy.
(Eleazar takes the serpent and retires, and after: a time
returns and says:)
Orator—(As Eleazar.) Most Powerful Grand Master,
great is Adonai, the God of mercy, for he hath had
mercy on his people, Israel and every one that. hath beheld
the serpent, owning his sin and doing homage to
the Most High is healed and liveth, and the plague of
the serpent is stayed.
Grand Master—Praise ye the Lord, Adonai, my cliiidren,
the supporter of the heavens and the earth, for
he is great and his mercy endureth forever, and he hath
forgiven his people Israel.
Lieutenant Commander—Most Powerful Grand Master,
what shall be done with the brazen image of the
serpent and the cross which thou didst cause to be set
up before the people?
Grand Master—I give it you, my brother, that it may
be evermore a symbol of faith, repentance and mercy,
which are the great mysteries of man’s destiny, and lest
the knowledge of its tr~e symbolic meaning should be
lost, let us kneel and swear, in the presence of the Most
High God, faithfully to keep the secrets of this degree.
(All kneel, including the candidate, and take the fohlowing
obligation:)
OBLIGATION KNIGHTS OF THE BRAZEN SERPENT.
I do solemnly promise and swear, before the
Most High God, that I wihl never reveal the secrets of
this degree of Knights of the Brazen Serpent to any
person or persons, unless he shall have taken all the
preceding degrees in a regular and constitutional manner.
To all of which I do most solemnly swear, binding
myself under no less a penalty than that of having my
heart eaten by the most venomous of serpents and left
thus to perish most miserably, from which may the
Almighty Greator of thie Universe guide and defend me.
Amen. (All rise and are seated.)
Grand Master—My brother, approach and receive the
signs, tokens and words of this degree.
SIGN OF ORDER.
Incline the head downwards, and point
ground with the forefinger of right
StON 0! RECOGNITION.
Form a cross upon yourself.