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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
Members of the Masonic Fraternity and members of the Order of the
Eastern Star, we are delighted to have you with us in our deliberations.
It is because of the organization which you represent and because of the
interest in the girlhood of our country that we have this Assembly. You
are an inspiration and a help. (p. 28/29)
If a member who is known to be a member in good standing, who can be
vouched for, fails to give the password, Sister of Hope or Charity reports this to
the Worthy Advisor and conducts the member to the Worthy Associate Advisor,
where she obtains the password.
After the "Word" has been taken from all the members (officers are not
required to give the password, p. 27), Sister of Charity reports this to the Worthy
Advisor, who asks Sisters Hope and Charity, "since the Secret Word has safely
arrived in the East" (p. 28), to give the sign of the Rainbow and retire to their
stations.
The Worthy Advisor declares the Assembly to be about to be opened, and the
Worthy Associate Advisor asks Sister of Faith to explain the meaning of her
station. Sister of Faith faces South, looking at the Worthy Associate Advisor, and
states that her station symbolizes an "inward acceptance of the Word of God" (p.
30). It is located near the altar, because the "Altar is the most sacred place in our
Assembly Room. Upon it rests the Holy Bible, symbol of white light, from
which we derive strength to sustain us through life." (p. 20). After these words,
Faith faces East.
Now, the Worthy Associate Advisor asks Sister of Hope as to the
representation of her station, and here we can observe an interesting Masonic
symbolism referring to the time, i.e. the hour of the day. Sister of Hope replies
that her station represents the sun, and is asked what the hour is. She answers:
"The noon day, when the sun's rays are the brightest." (p. 30). She explains the
meaning of this symbolism with "The light, the Bright Light, should always
shine on our pathway." (p. 30). This symbolism is already known to us as the
Masonic "high twelve," the time of the vigor of life.
Then, Sister of Charity is asked by the Worthy Associate Advisor as to the
meaning of her station, which represents "in olden times, a place of darkness."
(p. 30). Here, we have the antithesis to the before-mentioned station of the sun.
The Worthy Associate Advisor asks Sister of Charity: "What does your station
represent at this hour?" (p. 30). The answer is "The Rainbow on the fringe of the
clouds" (p. 30), and this means that "even while the sun is shining brightest, the
storms of life will come; but through the storms will come the White Light of
Promise, and after the storm, the Victory." (p. 31). This symbolism reminds us of
the Masonic "low twelve," the time of death.
The Worthy Associate Advisor asks Sister of Charity to advise the members
that the Assembly is about to be opened, and Sister of Charity invites the
members to face the Worthy Advisor and then bow their heads in prayer, which
is offered by the Chaplain. Then, the Worthy Advisor asks the Worthy Associate
Advisor to explain the symbol of the Assembly, to which she answers: "The