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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
"[w]e do not seek to terrify, but only to impress you. But we cannot wholly
dispense with the ancient tests." (II., p. 18).
After this "dangerous" journey, the candidate has to affirm that she is ready
to shed her blood for those she loves, and a trick test is applied to her:
The Aspirant is seated in a chair; the Mistress of Ceremonies turns up
the sleeve and bares her left arm, to above the elbow. A ligature is then
tied on it, as if preparatory to bleeding, and the Senior Master of
Ceremonies pricks her slightly with a lancet or penknife, near the vein.
Tepid water is made to run down the arm and drop from it, so that she
may believe that she is really bleeding. (II., p. 18)
Suddenly, the Venerable Master interrupts this procedure, stating that it is
sufficient that the candidate was willing to shed her blood. Then, she is led on
her second journey twice around the Lodge, on which she encounters no
obstacles. The Venerable Master accompanies her travels with Biblical verses,
and when they have ended, he explains to the candidate that this journey was
also symbolical of life, namely of the peace and contentment that comes from the
faithful performance of duties.
After the journeys, the candidate's bonds are removed, and she is escorted
into the Garden of Delight. The Mistress of Ceremonies and the Deaconess lead
the aspirant in front of the altar, and the Deaconess whispers in her ear that
before her is the fruit of her toils, she only has to reach out her hand, gather it,
and eat it. She guides the blindfolded candidate's hand to the tree, makes her take
an apple and bite it, whereupon the bandage drops from her eyes, and she
perceives the surroundings by the light of the six candles. At this instant, there is
"an imitation of thunder in an adjoining room," the music makes "a few loud,
harsh, discordant chords, dying away in a plaintive minor cadence" (II., p. 22),
and suddenly the armed Brother stands in front of her, lifting his sword over her
head. Then follows the staging of the paradise scene; the Brother asks the
candidate who tempted her to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and
Evil, and the Deaconess answers in her stead that it was the serpent. Meanwhile,
the Inspector approaches unseen and asks the "Avenger of Wrong" to stay his
arm, for forgiving is nobler than punishing. The "erring daughter of Khevah" is
led into the Chamber of Repentance to hear the lesson of someone who has
sinned and repented. The candidate is again blindfolded and escorted into the
dark chamber, where the masked Brother sits, with his head bowed upon his
hands upon the table. A single light is burning. He tells the candidate the story of
his "sad and mournful life," e.g. that he has been a respectable and moral citizen,
a pillar of his church, reading the Scriptures, not working on Sabbath, blessed
with health and strength, but not taking heed of the welfare of others. He was so
self-reliant that he did not care to make friends, and his selfishness grew. Then,
all his children died, and he had no sympathies and love of other human beings,
because he had never cared for them. He concludes his story with the statement