Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

I
180 COMMANDER OF THE TEMPLE.
inwards, and repeat after the Grand Commander:)
All—As these swords point to one common centre, so
we here, renewing our vows, do devote our swords to
the cause of God and the cross; our hearts to the glory
of God and the welfare of man and our hands toKassist
the sick, the suffering and the destitute. So help us God.
Grand Commander—Let us pray. (All recover and
return swords, and kneel on the left knee and the Grand
Commander repeats the following prayer:)
OPENING 1’EAYER COMMANDER OF THE TEMPLE.
Father and creator of the Universe, we implore thy
beneficenee, deign to receive our prayers, and diffuse on
the members of this order thy precious gifts. We who
do not cease in our prayers to ask of thee that celestial
mark that thou didst bestow upon thy people, and which
thou dost still eontinue to diffuse daily on those who
follow thy precepts. We are assembled here in thy
name to offer thee our hearts and our vows, and thank
thee for thy favors, praying for a continuation of the
same goodness until the last generation. Amen. (All
rise and take their stations.)
Junior Warden—(Three knocks; 000.)
Senior Warde’n—(Twelve knocks; 000000000000.)
Grand Commander— (Twelve knocks; 000000000000.)
Sovereign Conunanders, I declare this Covirt of Commanders
of the Temple duly opened.
CHAPTER L
TWENTY-SEvENTH DEGREE, OR
TEMPLE. 0’
COMMANDER OF THE
INITIATION.
Senior Deaeon, prepares the candidate in a white
mantle with a large black ‘reutonie cross upon the left
breast, he then hoodwinks him and conducts him to a
small room, seats him on a chair in front of a table on
wInch are a light, and a skull and cross-bones, bible
square and compasses; lie then says:
Senior Deacon—My brother, you desire to receive the
degree of Commander of the Temple. Before you ean do
50, you are required to answer certain questions which
you will find in writing on the table before you. I shall
leave you alone, and ~~lienyou hear three distinct knocks,
you will remove the bandage from your eyes and annex
your answers to those questions in writing, and sign
your name at the bottom. Consider the questions well;
Note 301.— Sovereign Commander of the Temple. (Sovereign Corn.
mandeur du Temple.) ~tyied to the mote recent rituals of tbe Southern
Supreme Council •Kttight tommot,der of the Temple This I. the twentyseventh
degree of the Ancient and Accepted 5cottiah Rite The presiding
oacer is styled ~Most iltootrious and Moot ~~aiiant. the warden., are
called ‘bloat Sovereign Comtnandero. and the Knights Sovereign Coin.
mandera The piaoe of mectiitg is called a Court The apron is flesh.
colored, lined and edeed with ht~i~ k. with n Teutonic cro,ao encircled hv
a wreath of laurel and a key beneath, cii inscribed in black upon the
Sap. The scarf is red hordcred with black. boncing from the right
shoulder to the left hip, and auspending a Teutonic cr00, In enameled
gold The Jewel is a triangle of gold. on wht*u Is engraved the mettable
Name In iiehrew Ii is soapeoded from a white collar, bound with
red and emhrohlered with tour Tutitunic rovses —Mackey~s Encyclopedia
of freemasonry, Article Sovereign Commander of the Temple.