Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

176 PRINCE OF MERCY. INiTIATION. 177
Most Excellent—What is the first of the three covenants
of which we bear the mark?
Senior Warden—That which God made with Noah,
when. he said, I will not again curse the earth any more
for man’s sak~e, neither will [ smite any more everything
living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth,
seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, winter
and summer, and day and night shall not cease. I
will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed
after you, and with every living creature. All mankind
shall no more be cut off by the waters of a flood, nor
shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
This is the token of x~y covenant; I do set my bow in
the clouds and it shall be for a token of a covenant
between me and every living creature on the earth.
Most Excellent—What is the second of the three
covenants?
Senior Warden—That which God made with Abraham
when he said, I am the absolute, uncreated God. I will
make my covenant between me and thee, and thou shalt
be the father of many, natibns, and kings shall come
from thy loins. I wilV establish my covenant between
me and thee, and thy descendants after thee, to the
remotest generations for an everlasting covenant, and
I will be thy God and their God, and will give thee the
land of Canaan for an everlasting possession.
Moat Excellent—What is the third covenant?
Senior Warden—That which God made with all men
by his prophets, when he said, I will gather all nations
and tongues, and they shall come and see my glory. I
will create a new heavens and a new earth, and the former
shall not be remembered nor come into mind. The
sun shall no more shine b
3 day, nor the moon by night,
but the Lord shall be an everlasting light and splendor.
His spirit and his word shall remain with men forever.
Most Excellent—What is the symbol of the triple
covenant?’
Senior Warden—The triple triangk.
Most Excellent—What are the symbols of th~ purification
necessary to make us perfect masons?
Senior Warden—La ~‘ation, with pure water, because
to cleanse the body is emblematical of purifying the
soul. Unction, or anointing with oil, because thereby
~~~~ are set apart and dedicated to the service and priesthood
of the beautiful, the true and the good. And
robes of white, emblems of candor, purity and truth.
Aloat Excellent—My brethren and Princes, let us
purify this our newly adopted brother and devote him
to the service of God and virtue. (Most Excellent
knocks three, all rise and form a circle round the candidate
at the altar, and the Senior Deacon brings a cup
of pure water, ~~‘henthe Mont E~cehlent pours a small
quantity upon the head of the candidate.)
Most Excellent—I pour this water upon thy head as
a symbol of the purification of the soul by suffering and
sorrow, by which parting with the stains of sin and the
sordidness of vice it becomes fit to return to its eternal
home in the bosom of the Father who loveth all the
children he hath made. (Senior Deacon brings perfumed
oil in a cup, and the Most Excellent, dipping his
finger in it, makes with it a tau~cross upon the forehead
of the candidate.)
Moat Excellent—By this sign I do devote thee henceforward
to the cause of Truth. (Senior Deacon unveils