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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
vouch for the visitors. In the following, the Deacons collect the word of the day
from the brethren. This word is selected by the Advisor and communicated to the
Sentinel before the Chapter is opened. A brother who wants to enter has to show
his membership card to the Sentinel, who communicates to him the word of the
day. This procedure differs from taking up the password in Craft Masonry.
The aims of the order are clearly exposed in the next step, when the Senior
Councilor has to answer why he had sought admission to the order: "To join with
those who are dedicated to the clean and manly youth which is the best
preparation for the duties of after life." (p. 16). Then follows the roll call. Similar
to Craft Masonry, the stations and functions of the officers are explained. Here,
we can observe that the Master Councilor sits in the East "[a]s a symbol of the
rising sun and the morn of Life," the Junior Councilor in the South "[a]s a
symbol of the Meridian Sun or the noon of Life emblematic of manhood's
approaching years," and the Senior Councilor in the West as a symbol of the
Setting Sun and the eve of Life, emblematic of the night that ushers in the
everlasting day" (p. 17). Thus, here the three capital officers symbolize the three
stages of human life, as also illustrated in Craft Masonry.
As to the lower officers, the station of the Senior Deacon is at the right of the
Master Councilor, and his duty is to assist the Councilors in opening and closing
the Chapter and conducting the candidates. As the Outer Guard in Masonry, the
Sentinel guards the outer door, and as the Masonic Inner Guard, the Junior
Deacon guards the inner door. An interesting symbolism can be observed
referring to the securing of the entrance by two raps, to which the answer equally
consists of two raps. The meaning of these is "[t]o teach those without a two-fold
deliberation before they seek admission and to teach those within to use double
caution before granting it." (p. 17). This explanation is not to be found in any of
the other orders analyzed.
The first action consists of the Senior Deacon lighting the seven candles
placed around the altar, while the Master Councilor explains the paraphernalia
used in the Chapter:
Our forefathers were well aware that religious liberty, represented by
the Holy Bible, civil liberty, represented by the flag of our country and
intellectual liberty, represented by the school books must go hand in
hand in order to be effective. Around these bulwarks the Order of
DeMolay places seven candles, symbolic of the seven cardinal virtues
of a DeMolay - filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy,
comradeship, fidelity, cleanness and patriotism. (p. 17)
Next, the Senior Steward opens the Holy Bible as a symbol of religious
liberty, and the Junior Steward places the schoolbooks on the altar, as "a symbol
of intellectual liberty and to remind us that the public schools are the foundation
of our country's greatness" (p. 18). Finally, the Standard Bearer presents the Flag
at the altar. Similar to the girls' rituals, most of the female rituals, and the Craft