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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 577
in waiting. The Inner Guard demands the same question of the Outer Guard and
is told that there are candidates waiting "to be instructed in our lessons" (not to
"search for light" as in Craft Masonry). When the Recorder has affirmed that the
candidates have complied with all rules and laws of the order, the Marshal is sent
out to prepare them for the First Epoch.
The Honored Queen informs the Junior Princess that the lessons of the First
Epoch are to be taught under her direction, and so the Junior Princess takes over
the command. The Inner Guard gives four raps upon the door of the Preparation
Room and reports to the Junior Princess that the candidates are ready for the
First Epoch. The Guide informs the candidates that there is nothing in the
ceremonies that will embarrass them, an assurance also given to the candidates
of Craft Masonry. The candidates for the Job's Daughters also have to answer the
usual questions, such as whether they believe in the "Almighty Power of the One
Living God" (p. 61), the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and whether
they agree with the rules of the order and promise to keep the secrets. The
candidates have previously been instructed to answer to all questions with "I do."
Then, the Guide defines their role: "You are about to become Pilgrims traveling
through our ceremonies. Be watchful and attentive to our lessons that they may
be deeply engraved on your hearts and minds." (p. 61). Here, we see again that
the purpose of the ritual is to intensify the moral lessons that are taught, and to
"engrave" them upon the minds of the neophytes. The Guide presents the
candidates to the Junior Princess, and the latter directs them towards the Honored
Queen, who requires from them a solemn pledge.
Hereafter, the essential ritualistic ceremony begins, which is subdivided into
the Three Epochs, with the five Messengers taking it in turn to tell the story of
Job.
First Epoch
The First Messenger relates how Job, who loves and fears God, is blessed
with riches, seven sons, and three beautiful daughters, and how the Adversary 1522
declares that if God should take away the prosperity from Job, his piety would
cease. God permits the Adversary to try Job's faith. The Second Messenger
narrates how Job's flocks are destroyed, his servants and family killed, and how
Job himself is stricken with disease and banished from the habitations of men,
but how he still remains steadfast and worships God. After the candidates have
thus passed through the ceremonies of the First Epoch, the Guide conducts the
Pilgrims to the Junior Princess for "further instruction" (the exact Masonic term),
who summarizes what the candidates are to learn from this lesson:
We learn from this Epoch always to remain faithful to God in our every
thought, word and act, no matter what earthly trials we may be called
1522
In the Bible (e.g. Job, chapter 1, verse 6), the "adversary" is called Satan; however, this name is
never mentioned in the ritual.