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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
to meet the Royal Matron, whom he escorts to the throne. Then he hands her the
gavel. The Royal Matron at first invites the members to pledge allegiance to the
U.S. Flag, a ceremony also performed in Craft Masonry. Hereafter, the Warder
informs the "Sir Knight Sentinel" that the Court is to be opened, and asks him to
use proper vigilance in protecting it from interruption.
The Associate Matron verifies that all present are entitled to the privileges of
the degree by taking up the password and grip. Now follows the presentation of
each of the officers, with an explanation of his/her duties, corresponding to the
male Masonic procedure. When this is done, the Associate Conductress attends
at the Altar and opens the Bible, on which she places the Amaranthine Wreath.
Then, the Royal Patron goes to the Altar, facing the East, and says an appropriate
prayer. The members repeat aloud the Lord's Prayer, and then the opening ode is
sung. The Royal Matron asks the Herald to make proclamation that the ceremony
of opening is complete, and the Warder informs the Sentinel that the Court is
open.
The order of business then consists of the roll call of officers, the reading of
the minutes of the previous meeting, information about sickness and distress,
petitions for membership, balloting for candidates and the conferring of the
degree, reports of committees, the reading of communications, unfinished and
new business, reading and approving of bills and of the minutes. Then, the
Closing Ceremony takes place, which also bears resemblance with the Masonic
procedure. The Herald proclaims that the Royal Matron is about to close the
Court, and the Warder makes known to the Sentinel that the Closing Ceremony
is in procession, and that nobody shall interrupt them. The Royal Patron calls up
the officers with two blows of the gavel and states in metaphorical language that
"[...] in the light of the King's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a
bright bow 1469 after the latter rain. May the dew of heaven 1470 fall lightly upon us,
until we meet again" (p. 66). Having thus invoked God's blessing, the words of
the Royal Patron are followed by a moral line from each of the officers, for
example: "To overlook the errors and faults of others, and practice acts of
charity, the crowning glory of our Order" (Charity; p. 68). Then, the Royal
Matron invites the members to sing the closing ode. The members respond to the
final prayer with "Amen" instead of the Craft expression "So mote it be". The
Royal Matron declares the Court closed and dismisses the members with a floral
metaphor: "[...] and may all the recollections of this meeting be fragrant in our
memories" (p. 69). The Warder informs the Sentinel that the Court is closed, and
the Royal Matron and the members bid each other "farewell."
Before describing the Conferring of the Degree, it is advisable to explain the
duties and badges (different symbols surrounded by a star) of the single officers.
1469 This symbolism is also used in the Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Several features of this youth
order seem to have been deducted from the Eastern Star and the Amaranth.
1470 Cf. Duncan, p. 19: "[...] as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the
mountains of Zion [...]." The dew is a symbol of heavenly blessing, used in several Masonic
degrees, thus here in the Craft ritual, and also in the Heroines of Jericho.