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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 489
announcing a prayer to the "Infinite Benefactor, the source of Light and Life"
(III., p. 43). After the prayer, several officers continue with phrases of adoration,
and then the Most Venerable Master takes the crimson rose from the candidate's
head and casts it into the flames, as a sacrifice on the altar of Masonry, and the
candidate has to repeat after him that this is in token of her willingness to
sacrifice her pleasures, amusements, and inclinations to duty, and her jewels,
ornaments, and superfluities to charity (III., p. 45). In lieu of the rose, the
candidate receives from the Most Admirable Mistress a wreath of evergreen
leaves and flowers 1431 , which was a symbol of completion and perfection among
the Hebrews, called Kalailah, wherefore a bride, crowned with the garland, was
called Kalah, and the bridal state, Kaluloth (III., p. 45). For the candidate, it is a
symbol of her proficiency and perfection as a Mistress of the Light.
After this ceremony, the candidate is made to kneel on one knee in front of
the Cross of Light, and the Master, taking both her hands between his, elevates
her to be a "Mistress Mason, a Mistress of the SACRED LIGHT, symbolized by
the perennial fire of the Goddess VESTA, and a Member of this Lodge,
dedicated to Saint MARY of BETHANY" (III., p. 46). The Most Admirable
Mistress assists the candidate to rise, gives her the kiss of peace, and gives the
candidate her apron back, which she now is allowed to embroider with symbols
of the degrees. Then, she receives the secret work of the order.
The Sign of Order is made by crossing the arms on the breast, the right over
the left, with the hands open, each thumb forming a square with the hand ("The
'Arcana'," p. 10). The Sign of Recognition is to put the little finger of the right
hand on the right eyebrow, the other fingers closed, and the thumbs shut upon
them ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10). The response to this sign is to place the right hand
on the front of the left shoulder, bringing it down across the body, to the right
hip, and let if fall on the thigh ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10). The password is the
Hebrew word for "Mistress of the Light," Baloth-aur ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10).
Then, there is a Sign of Appeal, which reminds us of the Grand Hailing Sign
or Sign of Distress of the Craft, to which it looks similar. It is to interlace the
fingers of the two hands, and place the so interlaced fingers in front of the
forehead, the palms outward ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10). As in Craft Masonry, this
Sign of Appeal is connected with a Cry of Appeal, which is the Hebrew word for
"alas," namely AVAI! AVAI! AVAI!, and it is three times repeated. If there is
extreme danger, there is an additional cry of "HELP, CHILDREN OF ISIS!"
("The 'Arcana'," p. 10), which corresponds to the Craft's cry "O Lord my God! is
there no help for the widow's son?" 1432
The sacred word is Avoth Aur, which means in Hebrew sign, token, or
pledge of the light ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10), and the token is to place the index and
middle fingers of the right hand of one, on those of the right hand of the other, at
the same time putting the thumb between the joints or phalanges of those fingers,
on the back of the two, near the nails ("The 'Arcana'," p. 10). Hereby, the sacred
word is given, being spelled again. The battery of the third degree is four, by
1431 In the Order of the Amaranth, the candidate is likewise crowned with an evergreen wreath.
1432 Duncan, p. 18.