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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 553
from the East emblematic of the morning of life. Ere you reach the
symbolic South, emblematic of the noon of the day and the manhood
years of life, you will be instructed in the seven cardinal virtues of our
Order. I commend you to the Preceptors in charge of the seven symbolic
jewels in the Crown of Youth and may God speed and guard you on
your way. (p. 29)
The image of a crown as the crown of life is also used in the female degrees,
such as the Order of the Amaranth, where it is a wreath of amaranthine leaves. In
the following, the candidates are led from one of the seven Preceptors to the
next, making a complete circuit around the room before passing to the next
Preceptor. Each of those places a jewel in the Crown of Youth. The First
Preceptor thus offers the "jewel of Filial Love," holding a speech on how
important it is to honor father and mother. The Second Preceptor places in the
crown the "jewel of Reverence for Sacred Things." This is a very tolerant
circumscription, in the true sense of Masonry, as it does not mention any specific
kind of religion. The Second Preceptor only refers to a "Universal Father" (p.
33). The Third Preceptor gives to the crown the "jewel of Courtesy," the Fourth
Preceptor the "jewel of Comradeship," the Fifth the "jewel of Fidelity," the Sixth
the "jewel of Cleanness," and the Seventh Preceptor completes the Crown of
Youth with the "jewel of Patriotism" (cf. p. 33-35). 1511 Patriotism is the keyword
for the choir to sing the national anthem.
Hereafter, the candidates are led to the Junior Councilor in the South, while
the choir sings "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," and the Junior Councilor thus
explains the symbolical meaning of this journey:
My Brothers, you are at the symbolic South, emblematic of the midhour
of rest, refreshment and meditation, when you pause and contemplate
the labors of the half completed day. But in a more vital sense the south
is emblematic of the noon of life, when you approach the years of
manhood, when half your years lie behind you and half before.
Theoretically you have toiled zealously in the practice of the virtues
enjoined upon you by the custodians of the seven symbolic jewels in the
Crown of Youth. As the meridian hour of the day reminds the toiler that
the labor of the afternoon must still be performed, so at the South you
are to pause and reflect upon the solemn tasks of the manhood that
awaits you. (p. 35)
Next, the candidates are conducted to the West, again accompanied by a
symbolic choir song, "Perfect Day." It is the turn of the Senior Councilor to
explain the function of these travels: