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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
Joshua (silver Bible within a gold hoop), the Court Secretary (silver crossed pens
within a gold hoop), the Court Treasurer (silver crossed keys within a gold
hoop), the Senior Attendant (silver cross within gold hoop), the Junior Attendant
(also silver cross within gold hoop), the Outer Gate Keeper (silver crossed
swords within a gold hoop), and the three Court Directors (silver sheaves of
wheat within gold hoop). In the center of the Court Room, instead of an altar,
there is an ark, on which are laid several pieces of equipment.
The ark (cf. p. 13), which, if moved, is carried by the Worshipful Joshua and
the three Court Directors, should be two feet long, twelve inches wide, and three
stories high. Its roof is flat and has horns on the four corners. The first story has
to be painted white, the second sky blue, and the third scarlet. The top is bronze,
while the horns are gilded. At each corner of the first story there is a ring,
through which can be passed two rods, painted in blue, for carrying the ark. On
one side of the first story are written the letters F.N.D.O.Z.B.T.K.C. 1482 in a half
circle. The second story has the name and number of the Court written on both
sides, and the top has the inscription A.M. 2553 on the end of the date of the
organization. On the ark there are the Holy Bible, three candle sticks, three silver
cups, two ram's horns, one slipper, one ear of corn, a small bundle of wheat
straw, a bunch of evergreen, a vial of olive oil, and three candles (p. 13).
On her initiation into the second degree, that of True Kinsman, the candidate
is told the symbolic significance of the ark, which is to remind her of the "Ark of
Hope," that is to guide her to the "haven of rest and promise" (p. 39), a
circumscription for heaven. The white represents the first degree, being an
emblem of innocence and purity. The blue stands for the second degree and the
fidelity of a True Kinsman, being an emblem of love and union, whereas the
scarlet represents the third degree, as an emblem of zeal and steadfastness (p.
39):
The three colors, white, blue and scarlet, teach us a most beautiful
lesson: Love to God as a Master Mason's Daughter; Charity to all
mankind as a True Kinsman (sic) and be steadfast and zealous to keep a
promise and defend a good name as a Heroine of Jericho. The three
burning tapers teach also a beautiful moral lesson as they burst forth in
brilliant white rays of light. So ought you to be brilliant in faith to God,
true in your dealings to a Heroine and love to all mankind, wheresoever
found scattered around the globe. By practicing these you will have no
obstruction in gaining a passport to the Grand Court above, which is
Heaven. (p. 39)
As to the dresses and regalia, the Most Ancient Matron or the Most Ancient
Grand Matron, when she presides, should wear a golden crown with twelve
points, ornamented with brilliant red, white, and blue. There are twelve small
silver stars set on a scarlet band and placed around the base of the crown. In the
1482
According to CME, p. 12: initials of "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, thy King cometh"
(John, 12:15).