Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

188 COMMANDER OF TIlE TEMPLE. INITIATION. 189
let what you will see upon thc table before you, remind
you that you will answer them in the hearing of the
Deity who knows your thoughts. When you shall have
answered the questions you will give three distinct
knoeks upon the ttable and I will return. (lie then retires
and closes the door and gives three knocks. The
candidate removes the bandage and reads the following
questions which he answers in writing:)
First—have you ever violated any masonic obligation
without atoning for it by repentance and reformation?
Second—Are you willing to aid, assist and comfort
the sick, the needy and the destitute, to watch with
them and minister to their wants, and to help to feed,
to clothe and to protect the widow and the orphan?
Third—Have you any enmity toward any one that
you would not readily abandon if you found him sincerely
willing to be reeonciled to you?
Fourth—Would you, if called upon, draw your sword
in defence of truth, of human freedom and the rights of
con~-cience; against falsehood, tyranny and usurped
power and can you rather choose to die than desert your
[)o~tof duty? (Candidate writes answers as he thinks
proper, signs his name and gives three knocks on the
tal)le. Senior Deacon enters, takes the paper, conducts
him to the door and kno~ks twelve.)
Junior Deacon—(From within knocks twelve; 00000
0000000.)
Senior Deacon.—(From without knocks three; 000.)
Junior Deacon—(Opening the door.) What do you
wish my brother?
Senior Deacon—To participate in your deliberations.
Junior Deacon—Are your words agreeable to your
thoug1it~?
Sr’nior Deacon—The request of an Elect Mason is
nio~t sincere.
Junior JThacon—Brcttlier Scni’tr Deacon, has he subscribed
to thc necessary questions?
Senior Deacon—He has. (Presenting him the paper.)
Junior Deacon—You will wait a time with patience
until the pleasure of thc Most Potent Grand Commander
be made known. (Junior Deacon then shuts the
door, goes to the Most Potent Grand Commander and
hands him the paper which he reads.)
Grand Commander—Let this brother be admitted.
(Junior Deaeon goes to the door and opens it, when the
Senior Deacon enters with candidate and advanees to
the East, in front of, and facing the Grand Commander.)
Grand Commander—My brother, are these your answers?
Candidate—They are.
Grand Commander—Are you an Elu”~ and Grand
Elect Perfect and Sublime Mason?
Candidate—I am.
Grand Commander—Dost thou desire to obtain the
degree of Knight Commander of the Temple?
Candidate—I do.
Grand Commander—Knowest thou that thou wouldst
thus embrace a life of toil and hardship, of self-denial
and of danger?
Candidate—I do.
Grand Commander—And dost thou not hesitate i,,~id
falter at the prospect?
Fete S5S.—~E1ua. The French word ole means elected; ant the
degrees. whose object Is to detail the detection and punishment .,f the
actors in the crim, tradItIonally related in the third degree, are called
Ems, or the degrees of the Elected, because they referred to those of
the Craft who were chosen or elected to make the discovery and to InSict
the punishment. The, form a particular system of Msaonry. and ate to
be found in every Rite. if not in name, at least in principle. in the
york and American Rites, the Em Is incorporated in the Maater~s degree;
in the French Rite It constitutes an independent degrei.: and In
the Scottish Rite It consists of three degrees, the ninth, tenth and eleventh.
Ragon counts the five preceding degrees among the Elus. hut they
more properly belong to the Order of Masters. The symbolism of these
Em degrees has been greatly mistaken and perverted by antI-MasoniC
v. ritera. who have thus attributed to Masonry a spirit of vengeance, which
is net Its characterIstic They must be looked upon as conveying only
a arubolie meanIng.’ —Xaokey’a Enoyciepadia of freemasonry. Artisle
Ems.