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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 531
from the ladies' statement that they, too, see their lodge as a symbol of King
Solomon's Temple, thus making the same claim as male Masonic orders. Thus,
the HOJ ritual states proudly in a preface to the third degree that "[a] Heroine's
Court is styled by 'Masons' as the 'Ladies' Palace of King Solomon's Temple' "
(p. 34).
The Craft ritual at this point defines how many Masons it needs to constitute
a lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, which are seven; the Most Ancient
Matron likewise asks the Senior Matron to enlist the officers of a Standard
Court.
Next follows the determination of the officers' stations and duties. Thus, the
Junior Attendant's place is in the West, at the right of the Senior Matron. Her
duty is to carry messages from the Senior Matron in the West to the Junior
Matron in the South and elsewhere around the Court room, and to see that the
Court is guarded (p. 15). The Senior Attendant's station is at the right of the Most
Ancient Matron's throne in the East, and she has to carry messages from the
latter to the Senior Matron in the West and elsewhere around the Court room, to
introduce visiting Sisters and Brethren, and to receive and conduct the candidates
(p. 15). The Secretary is stationed at the left of the Most Ancient Matron, and she
has to note the latter's will and wishes, to record the proceedings and to send a
copy thereof of the Grand Court, and to receive all moneys and pay them to the
Treasurer (p. 15). The Treasurer is stationed at the right of the Most Ancient
Matron, and has to receive all moneys from the Secretary, to keep a "square" and
just account of the same, and pay it out by order (p. 16). The Junior Matron's
station is in the South, and her duties are described thus, parallel to Craft
symbolism:
As the sun in the South at high noon is the beauty and glory of the day,
so sits the Junior Matron in the South to better notice the time, call the
Heroines from work to refreshments, watch over them during the hours
thereof and see that the hours of refreshment be not turned into riotise or
anything degrading; and call them to work again [...]. (p. 16)
This is almost word for word the same expression as in the Craft ritual, where
the Junior Warden describes his station thus: "As the sun in the south, at high
meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the
south, the better to observe the time [...] 1486 " etc. Then follows the explanation of
the Most Ancient Matron's station, which likewise is a repetition of the Craft's
text, with regard to the station of the Worshipful Master 1487 ; she sits in the East,
for "[a]s the sun rises in the East to commence and govern the day, so rises the
Most Ancient Matron in the East to commence and govern the Court, put the
Heroines to labor and give them correct and wholesome information" (p. 16).
The stations and duties being defined, the Worshipful Joshua offers a prayer,
after which the Most Ancient Matron declares her wish to open the Court in the
1486 Duncan, p. 14.
1487 Cf. ibid, p. 15.