The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
The signs, addresses, and salutes for the officers are as follows:
title address salutes sign
Knight-Companion Worthy Knight 3 times 1 & 3
Eusebius Venerable Knight
Viceroy Eminent Knight
Sovereign Most Puissant Knight 3 times 1 & 3
Past Sovereign Puissant Knight
G. Herald to Dep. G. Marshal Illustrious Knight 3 times 1 & 3
G. Marshal to Int.-General Very Illustrious Knight 5 times 1 & 3
Knight-Commander Very Illustrious Knight 5 times 1 & 3
Knight Grand Cross Very Illustrious Knight 5 times 1 & 3
Grand Viceroy Right Illustrious Knight 7 times 1 & 3
Grand Sovereign Most Illustrious Knight 9 times 1 & 3
When the candles on the altar in the East are lighted and the Standard C lies,
with its front uppermost and the top to the East, upon the closed Bible on the
central altar, the Opening of the Conclave can begin.
Right at the beginning, we can observe the typical Masonic use of the time of
the day, when the Most Puissant Sovereign asks "Eminent Viceroy, what is the
hour?," to which the latter replies "The hour of a Perfect Knight-Mason" (p. 18).
This is defined as the dawn of day, when the sun is rising and the sign of the
cross is visible, the symbol of their faith, bearing the initials of the Mystic Words
(cf. p. 18). Since this is the time to resume their labors, the Most Puissant
Sovereign gives one rap with the gavel, which is repeated by the Eminent
Viceroy, and asks the latter to assist him to resume the duties of this "Christian
Conclave" (p. 19). The Eminent Viceroy calls the Knights to order, and all rise.
Now, we see a procedure similar to the one of a Masonic Blue Lodge; the Most
Puissant Sovereign asks the Eminent Viceroy what the first duty of the Knight-
Companion of the Order is. He answers, "To see that the Conclave is properly
cemented," (p. 19) whereas a Blue Lodge Mason would have answered "To see
that the Lodge is properly tiled." The High Prelate, standing before the altar in
the East and facing East, prays to the "Omnipotent and Sovereign Ruler of All,"
(p. 20) that he may grant them in unity of spirit the faith to rebuild the Holy
Temple and the zeal to animate their labors (cf. p. 20). In contrast to Blue Lodge
Masonry, where the Temple of Humanity is built, the image evoked here is the
one of a destroyed Temple which has to be reconstructed. After the short prayer,
the Most Puissant Sovereign declares the Conclave duly opened in the name of