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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 573
march into the Bethel first, followed by the choir. When the Guardians have
assumed their stations on the East dais, the Associate Guardian presents the
gavel to the Bethel Guardian, who declares that the Bethel is about to convene,
and proves that all present are entitled to remain. Then, the choir sings "Open the
Gates of the Bethel," an adaptation of the church song "Open the Gates of the
Temple" by a Mrs. Knapp, and the other officers enter. Again, symbolic
formations are executed; for example, the Marshal turns a square corner to the
South and makes a complete circle around the outside of the Messengers'
stations. The Guide and the Marshal form an aisle through which the Honored
Queen and the Princesses march towards their places in the East, which reminds
us a little of the Masonic "Arch of Steel."
The Guardian presents the Honored Queen with the gavel, which symbolizes
the transmission of power from him to her. The officers take their stations, and
the Honored Queen greets the members who have assembled "as messengers of
truth" (p. 22). We recognize "truth" as one of the Masonic key words. In the
Jobs' Daughters, the other key word is "messenger." Thus, the "truth" is brought
by messengers, and it is also the messengers who confront Job with the trials,
and the lectures of the degree are handed down to the candidates by five
messengers.
The Honored Queen asks the assembly to be attentive while the officers
explain their duties, and the formula with which the members answer is "Behold,
We are the Daughters of Job," which is a different construction from the
Masonic "so mote it be." At first, the adult visitors have to give a pledge of
secrecy, during which they symbolically place their right hand over their heart,
which is a common symbol of pledging. Then follows the ceremony of
"purging" the Bethel (cf. p. 24 - 26), accompanied by symbolical marches
through the room, which corresponds to the Masonic procedure of taking up the
grip and the password from the members. "Purging" is merely a more radical
expression for assuring that only persons entitled to be there are present.
Hereafter, the roll call of the officers commences. In contrast to any other
order analyzed in this paper, the Jobs' Daughters not only explain the function of
the officers, but also add the symbolical meaning. Thus, the Inner Guard relieves
the Outer Guard, who enters and states that her duty is to guard the outer door, in
order to prevent interruptions, which "signifies that we must ever guard against
outward sins and with hearts protected from the follies of the world, continue
righteous to the end of our earthly journey" (p. 29). Having exchanged her place
with the Outer Guard again, the Inner Guard explains that her duties consist in
guarding the inner door, to respond to warnings from without, and to convey
orders to the Outer Guard, which "signifies that we must be alert and watchful
concerning the follies of the world which are ever pressing for admission to pure
hearts and minds" (p. 30).
The Junior Custodian, who is stationed at the left and in front of the Junior
Princess, has the duty to assist the latter during initiation ceremonies: "It signifies
that the humblest task carefully performed is sometimes the stepping-stone to
advancement and more important duties." (p. 30). The Senior Custodian, who is