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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 535
The Opening Ceremony of the second degree is the same as in the first
degree, with the exception that the Bible is now opened at the first chapter of
Ruth. Prior to the conferring of the second degree, the Most Ancient Matron asks
the Senior Attendant to retire with one or two attendants to the anteroom, in
order to prepare the candidate. The Senior Attendant advises the candidate to put
on a blue robe, and to hold in her hands a small bundle of wheat or straw (p. 28).
Then, she blindfolds the candidate, takes her by the arm and leads her to the
Court door, on which she gives two raps. The Junior Attendant reports to the
Most Ancient Matron that while the Court is "at work in Love and Union" (p.
28/29), there is a strange call at the door. When it has been made clear that the
candidate was regular adopted into the first degree and was Masonically
recommended to receive the second, the Senior Attendant dispatches the
password for her. In order to be admitted to enter, the candidate has to promise
that "naught but death shall part you and me" 1492 (p. 29), and hereafter she is
"received in Love and Union" (p. 30).
Then begin the Masonic travels; the candidate is conducted twice around the
Court room by the Senior Attendant, each time stopping at one of the Matron's
stations, where she hears some verses of the chapter of Ruth. When the candidate
has thus traveled from the Junior via the Senior to the Most Ancient Matron, the
latter takes the bundle of wheat from the candidate and gives her a slipper, which
she is to carry to the Most Worshipful Joshua. However, before the candidate can
receive further instructions from the Most Worshipful Joshua, she has to take the
solemn oath of obligation. Thus, all assemble around the ark, and after the
candidate has repeated the obligation, she is asked what she most desires, to
which she answers "to make thy people my people; thy God my God." (p. 32).
These are the words of Ruth (chapter 2, verse 16) who accompanied her motherin-law
Naomi into her land, to serve her God. Then, the shock of enlightenment
is given, and the Senior Attendant goes through all the signs and grips with the
candidate. The latter proves herself an obligated True Kinsman by giving these
signs to the Junior and Senior Matron, who allow her to pass to the Most Ancient
Matron in the East, who invests her with the proper clothing. Thus, the candidate
receives a blue apron and collar, and a blue cord is tied around her waist. She
likewise is told the significance of the slipper: "[...] with this emblem, a
Slipper 1493 , I now endow thee with all the rights and privileges of a True
Kinsman" (p. 33).
Hereafter, the candidate is conducted by the Senior Attendant into the
anteroom to take off the robe, and on her return to the Court room, the
Worshipful Joshua tells her the history of the second degree: It was founded on
the friendship between Ruth and Naomi, the mother of Mahlon, the Israelite,
"who was an eminent Master Mason" (p. 33) about B.C. 1312.
1492 This is taken from Ruth, chapter 1, verse 17: "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be
buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
1493 In conformity with Craft Masonry, the slipper is conceived as a testimony that a covenant has
been made, as it was a custom among the Israelites; thus, Boaz drew off his shoe when her
purchased the land from Naomi and married Ruth (Ruth, chapter 3, verse 7-8).