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

576
Chapter 7 - Rituals
The Inner Guard informs the Outer Guard that the Bethel is in session, and
the Marshal is ordered to display the national emblem, while "America the
Beautiful" is sung (cf. p. 37). Parallel to the ceremonies of the DeMolays, the
Rainbow Girls, most of the androgynous orders, and Craft Masonry, the Jobs'
Daughters also pledge allegiance to the Flag of the country, which is carried
through the Bethel and placed in the East, right of the Senior Princess. Then
follows the usual order of business.
Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony is introduced by the Honored Queen who states that
the labors are at an end. The term "labor" is also used in Masonry. The Honored
Queen asks the Chaplain to lead the members in prayer, and the Chaplain talks
about a reward to be received after practicing in daily life the trustful faith of
Job, similar to the "wages" of Craft
Masonry: "Teach us to be loyal to our
companions and guard our words and
actions that we may receive the honored
reward" (p. 47). Then, the closing hymn
is sung, the Inner Guard informs the
Outer Guard that the Bethel is closed, and
the officers and the choir prepare for a
complicated retiring march, which is
depicted in the ritual in five plates. For
illustration we have chosen one stage of
the retiring formation, because it
resembles one of the symbols of the Job's
Daughters, the "Open Book." It might be
over-interpreted, and the stage directions
do not verify this hypothesis, but the
drawing strongly suggests that the
officers assume the positions resembling
an open Bible when they leave the Latin
cross.
Finally, the Guardian sounds his gavel and declares the Bethel closed, the
officers bow to the East and exit.
Ceremony of Initiation
Prior to initiation, the candidates are told to remove their outer wraps, hats,
and gloves. In the preparation room, a member of the committee reads the Lord's
Prayer, the Golden Rule, and the Ten Commandments to the candidates (cf. p.
58). Then, the Honored Queen asks the Inner Guard whether there are candidates