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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
among them, needles and thread, knitting needles, and a spindle with yarn upon
it." (III., p. 8). Then there has to be a small room serving as "encampment," in
which is a tent; in the tent are a cot, one or two stools, and a table on which are
bread, mild, and some fruit (III., p. 8). Inside the door leading from the
preparation room is a white curtain. Another difference is that in this degree, the
Venerable Master is addressed with "Most Venerable," the Admirable Mistress
with "Most Admirable," and the Inspectress and Preceptress with "Admirable."
Initiation Ceremony of the Third Degree
Every Sister who has received the degree of Companion is, after the
expiration of two calendar months, eligible for the third degree by the ballot. The
Hall is profusely decorated with flowers and green leaves, and the Brethren and
Sisters are in full dress and wearing their decorations and jewels. The Deaconess
and the Junior Master of Ceremonies prepare the candidate, who is dressed in
white, without jewels or ornaments, and with slippers on her feet, without
stockings. This reminds us of the Craft's custom of the candidate being
"slipshod," however, here the lady wears two slippers, which she even has to
take off at a certain instance to walk barefoot. In her hair, the lady has to wear a
white and a red rose. Her apron and jewel are laid upon the altar in the Lodge
room. Her arms are both bare to above the elbows, and around her neck hangs a
black ribbon, suspended from which is a black passion cross. The candidate
further wears white kid gloves, which are edged at the wrists with blue ribbon,
and a white flower upon her bosom (camellia, jasmine, or tea-rose). A white veil
is thrown over her head (III., p. 15). It is a common practice to cover candidates
on the brink of a "new life" with a white veil, like brides or nuns.
The Deaconess and the Junior Master of Ceremonies lead the thus prepared
candidate to the door of the Lodge. In the meantime, the portion of the Hall in
the rear, where the veils are, has been separated from the rest by white curtains.
A Brother in a black domino with a black silk mask and a drawn sword sits on
the side of each of the four veils. Beside each of these Brethren is a small table.
On the table of the first lies a gavel of steel, on that of the second a mallet and a
chisel, on that of the third a trowel, and on that of the fourth, a square and a
compass, with a tape-line, parallel rule, and other instruments. They also have
each a Bible on their table. In none of the other androgynous orders dealt with in
the following chapters is an accumulation of as many operative stonemasons'
tools.
There are no lights burning in the Lodge room, except for two lights on the
table of each of the four guards of the veils. The Junior Master of Ceremonies
raps thus at the door: ·...··...···...····. This time, the candidate is admitted "by the
Sacred numbers of Pythagoras and the Kabala," as a Sister of Faith who want to
"draw nearer to the True Light" (III., p. 16). She is led inside the door and halted
at the white curtain, where her guides leave her, while a loud and harsh music
plays, and imitations of lightning and thunder are in the further end of the Hall