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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 485
(III., p. 17). When the music has ceased, the Senior Master of Ceremonies,
masked and with a naked sword in his left hand, and a pair of tongs with a live
coal, or one made to appear so with the help of phosphorus, in his right hand,
approaches her. He warns her that she has entered a hallowed and sanctified
place, which is dedicated to St. Mary of Bethany, who anointed the Lord with
ointment, wiping his feet with her hair (cf. III., p. 17), subjects her to a test of
purity:
None but the pure in heart ought to enter here. As the Seraph laid up on
the mouth of the Prophet ISAIAH a live coal taken with the tongs from
off the altar, saying, 'Lo! This hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is
taken away, and thy sin purged:' even so do I lay upon thy lips this live
coal, taken from the altar of Masonry. [He places the coal against, or
approaches it close to, her lips.] Be thou henceforth a Mistress in Israel,
without guile! (III., p. 18)
As he retires, the music plays some soft notes, and the white curtain is drawn
aside, so that the candidate sees the black veil and the guard, with the naked
sword and a gavel on his table, sitting in front of it. A grave voice from the
extreme east of the Lodge says: "Through the dark gates of Death lies the only
way to eternal life. Advance, Mortal! And pass through them, into the unknown
realm beyond!" (III., p. 18). However, as the candidate approaches the black veil,
the guard rises and seizes the gavel. He tells her that he represents the Archangel
Michael, who guards the black gate of Saturn, and he informs her that she can
only enter after having obtained the password where others have obtained it
before her. Now, the Most Venerable Master in the extreme east recites Biblical
verses about virtuous women, who work with wool and flax, lay their hands to
the spindle, clothe their household with scarlet, etc. (III., p. 19). The Introducer
and the Introductress escort the candidate into the workshop, in order to labor
with the four or five Sisters who are sitting there, occupied with sewing, knitting,
etc. After the candidate has chosen a work and labored at it for some minutes, the
Deaconess reveals the password for the veil of Saturn to her, which is the
Hebrew word that means "industry": SO-CAI-DAH (cf. "The 'Arcana'," p. 9).
The candidate gives the password to the Brother, the black veil is drawn each
way, and she can pass through to approach the crimson veil.
In front of the crimson veil sits the Brother beside whom lie a mallet and a
chisel. He represents the Archangel Gabriel, who guards the crimson gate of
Jupiter, and also refuses to let her pass without the password, and sends her to
acquire it as others did it before. From the north of the Lodge we hear the Most
Admirable Mistress reciting the Biblical tales of Abraham, who has fed three
men in whose appearance the Lord visited him, and the story of Lot who invited
two angels to eat in his house - in short, lectures of hospitality. The Introducer
and the Introductress lead the candidate into the tent, at whose entrance they seat
her. After some time there comes a weary, old, feeble Brother, poorly dressed,
and the candidate has to invite him spontaneously to take from the food and