Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

170 PRINCE OF MERCY.
ful at once. Seated in the middle chamber,
5” between
light and darkness he presides over initiates, crowned
with the sun of truth and justice, and bearing the gavel
of gold, eternal, living, victoriot~s and intelligent.
Sixth Round—The fields shall produce bountifully
without labor; calamity be unknown and a vast golden
palace more brilliant than the sun receive and be tho
home of the just forever. Then the Supreme Being
shall come from his dwelling on high, administer divine
justice, pronounce his decrees and establish his immortal
laws.
Seventh Round—The actions of each shall be weighed
in the unerring scales and final sentence pronounced on
each, according to his deserts. The irreclaimable depart
to the lower hemisphere of darkness, remorse and pain.
The just return to the bosom of the Deity to enjoy
eternal happiness in the realm of light and love.
Eighth Round—Thus was it promised unto Judah:
“The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law
giver from between his feet until Shiloh come, and unto
him shall the gatheringgof tl~ie people be.
“Unto us a child is born, unlo us a son is given, and
the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his
name shall be Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Ninth Round—”In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All
Note UOS.—’The door for the middle ohamber was in the right aid.
of the house, and they went up with winding stain into the middle
chamber, and out of the middle into the third,
Those chambers, after the Temple was completed. seeved fnr the
accommodation of the priests when upon duty, in them they deposited
their vestments and the sacred vessels. Sut the knowledge of the
purpose to which the middle chamber was appropriated whuile the Temple
was in the course of construction, is only preserved in Masonic traditIon.
This tradition is. howeser. altogether mythical and symbolical in
its character. and belongs to the symbolism of the Winding Stairs,’—
Maeka~’s Ens~’olopudia of Frsemaaonz7, &rtieio Middle Chamber.
INITIATION. 171
things were made by him. In him was life, and that
life was the light of mankind; the true light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world. And
the Word became incarnate and dttelt among men, and
they beheld his glory; and the glory of the first born
of the father, full of benevolence and truth” (After
this round he halts in front of the Junior \Varden)
Junior Warden—Brother Senior Deacon, whom have
you here?
Senior Deacon—A brother, who, having passed
through the necessary terms of probation and undergone
the tests and trials, now anxiously desires to see the
great light and to be received amang the Princes of
Mercy.
Junior Warden—Brother Senior Deacon, dost thou
vouch for him, that he will devote himself to the teachings
of this degree?
Senior Deacon—I do.
Junior Warden—Since thou art his security, let him
see to it that he bring no shame upon thee by making
false thy pledge in his behalf. You will now conduct
him to our brother Senior Warden. (Ordur is obeyed
and same questions are asked by Senior Warden, who,
after same answers had been given, orders him conducted
to Most Excellent, who asks the same questions
and receives the same answers when he continues:)
Afost Excellent—Brother Senior Deacon, you will now
conduct the candidate to our Senior Warden, who will
place him near the great light by the proper steps.
(He conducts him to the Senior Warden, who causes
him to advance to the altar by three steps, commencing
with the left foot, where he kneels and contracts the
following obligation:)