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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 529
front, there should be a silver trumpet, bugle, or
sceptre. Further, she wears a long purple robe or
cape, trimmed with silver or gold lace, and
spangled with small golden or silver stars (p. 12).
She holds a sceptre or gavel in her hand.
The Deputy Grand Matron wears a crown with
ten points, the Senior Matron one with nine
points, the Junior Matron with seven points, the
Attendants with five, and the Heroines with three
points.
The Worshipful Joshua wears a scarlet collar
made of velvet, silk, or satin, which fits over the
shoulders and comes to a point in the front of the
waist. It has golden fringe all around, and bears
twelve silver stars, trimmed with gold lace cords
of blue, white, or scarlet (p. 12). The three Court
Directors wear almost the same attire, only with
silver instead of gold fringes, and with seven
golden stars.
The regular attire of a Heroine is a white
dress, white shoes, white gloves, a crown, and a
scarlet cord tied in three loops (p. 12). Her
emblem is a cross within a crown with the
lettering "F.N.D.O.Z.B.T.K.C." on the cross, and
the letters "H. of J." on the crown.
The content of the ritual mirrors its original
purpose, namely to enable the female relatives of
Royal Arch Masons to make themselves known
by signs in case of danger to be protected, just as the central character of the
ceremony, the Biblical figure of Rahab, by a sign spared her house and family
from destruction. Albert Mackey thus comments on the order and its legend in
his Encyclopedia:
It is intended to instruct its female recipients in the claims which they
have upon the protection of their husbands' and fathers' companions, and
to communicate to them an effectual method of proving those claims. An
instance of friendship extended to the whole family of a benefactress by
those whom she had benefited, and of the influence of a solemn contract
in averting danger, is referred to in the case of Rahab, the woman of
Jericho, from whom the degree derives its name; and for this purpose the
second chapter of the Book of Joshua is read to the candidate. 1483
There are an Opening and a Closing Ceremony. In contrast to the other orders
examined, it seems strange that the officers dress right in the Court Room, and
1483 EOF, p. 323.