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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
At the beginning of the conferral of the degree, the Royal Matron asks the
Associate Conductress to retire to the anteroom to ascertain whether there are
candidates in waiting. Then, she hands over her gavel to the Royal Patron. This
is a sign of transferring the power, since the Master Mason is in charge of the
initiations. The Associate Conductress returns and reports to the Royal Patron
that there is a "waiting Sister" who has received the degree of the Eastern Star,
and who has been elected to receive the one of the Amaranth. The Royal Patron
sends the Associate Conductress and the Herald into the anteroom to prepare the
sister and to ask her the usual questions (whether she came of her own free will,
whether she has carefully considered this step, and whether she desires to unite
with them in their good work upon the condition of being earnest, benevolent,
and of untiring zeal). The candidate has to remove her hat, gloves, and coat, and
is then led by the Associate Conductress to the inner door, on which the Herald
gives three raps. The Conductress informs the Associate Matron that there is an
alarm, and the Associate Conductress tells her that she has a well-prepared
candidate whom she and the Herald vouch for. After the Conductress has made
this known to the officers inside, they are admitted.
The Herald enters at the head of the march, with the standard in her right
hand, after her the Conductress, offering her right arm to the first candidate,
followed by the Associate Conductress, who lends her left arm to the second
candidate, if there is one. In case that there are more than two candidates, they
march in twos and take each other's arms. The Herald leads the group to the
Font, where they form a circle. The Conductress tells the sister that in the
Ancient Mysteries, the candidate was required to perform the Ceremony of
Ablution prior to initiation. The washing of hands in pure water was a symbol of
the purification of the heart, and was also considered a solemn pledge of future
rectitude. While the sister performs this ceremony, the Conductress exclaims: "I
will wash my hands in innocency [sic!], and thus shall I accomplish Thy Courts,
Oh, Lord" (p. 77), and offers the candidate a towel. In a footnote, the ritual gives
an annotation concerning this ceremony, underlining that
[t]he use of water as a symbol of purification and consecration to duty
has descended to us from the remotest ages, and was of universal
practice among the nations of antiquity, and is not, therefore, the
exclusive property of any religion. In using it we do not pretend to
imitate or interfere with any rite or any organization. The ceremonial we
perform is not of a showy character, by which the Order seeks to intrude
itself upon the world. It teaches neither hatred, intolerance, nor revenge.
In this ceremony the Lustration is a symbol of the purity of the soul and
correctness of life. [...] (p. 77)
After the Ablution, the line forms into marching formation again, led by the
Herald, followed by the Conductress with the first candidate, etc. They proceed
to the center of the room between the altar and the station of the Associate
Matron, facing East. In conformity with the Craft ritual, the candidate has to