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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 551
ritual, the Flag of the country and with it the sentiment of patriotism plays an
important role.
The Standard Bearer walks the Flag through the Chapter, and all pledge
allegiance to it, whereupon the opening ode is sung and the Chaplain leads the
brethren in prayer. Then, the Master Councilor declares the Chapter of DeMolay
open on the Initiatory Degree "on the step of greeting, the sign of welcome, the
token of brotherhood and the word of emulation, 'DeMolay'." During his
reference, all these signs are given by the members. The Sentinel is informed that
he has to guard the opened Chapter, the visitors are welcomed, and then the
Chapter can be opened in the next degree, that of DeMolay.
Closing Ceremony
Before we go into detail describing the ceremonies of the two degrees, we
will say a few words about the Closing Ceremony. As in Craft Masonry, the
Master Councilor asks the brethren if there is anything further to come before the
Chapter, and if this is not the case, he proceeds to close it. From here on, there is
a remarkable difference with regard to Masonry, because the DeMolays have to
tell what they have learned, which underlines their status of being youths on the
way to manhood and wisdom. Thus, the Master Councilor tells his brethren that,
sitting in the East as a symbol of the rising sun and the morn of life, he has
learned "that we are at the threshold of preparation, when we must lay the
foundation on which the future must be built" (p. 21). The Junior Councilor, in
turn, sitting in the South with his eyes on the meridian sun, has learned "that we
are approaching the noontime of life, when half our years lie behind us and half
before, with opportunities still remaining to do good and to be better" (p. 21).
Finally, the Senior Councilor in the West, with his eyes on the setting sun,
confirms to have learned "that the night of life is but the herald of the everlasting
day" (p. 21). Thus, the three stages of life, with the forecast of an eternal life
after death, are repeated here.
After the prayer offered by the Chaplain, the Bible is closed, the
schoolbooks are removed from the altar, and the Master Councilor closes the
Chapter in analogy to the opening, "on the step of greeting, the sign of welcome,
the token of brotherhood and the word of emulation, 'DeMolay'" (p. 22).
Initiatory Degree
Prior to the ceremonies of the Initiatory Degree, the candidates are prepared
and wait in the preparation room. Corresponding to Masonry, the Master
Councilor asks the Scribe whether there are any persons waiting to be initiated,
and the Scribe answers that there are "strangers" in waiting who desire to
become "friends and brothers in our work." (p. 25). Thus, as we can also observe
in several of the orders discussed in this paper, the neophytes are called strangers