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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 579
Hereafter, the Senior Princess explains the sign of the Second Epoch and the
response to it, and states that the mystic number of this Epoch is three, alluding
to the three daughters and the three friends of Job. The emblem is the Urn of
Incense, a common symbol of prayer and emblematical of the name of one of
Job's three daughters (cf. p. 76). The Honored Queen extends her hand toward
the emblem of the urn, which is extended forward by the Senior Custodian.
Third Epoch
After the Guide has made the candidates "travel" through the Bethel, the
Guide conducts them to the Honored Queen for the third and last lesson. The
Honored Queen appreciates that the Pilgrims have been indeed steadfast in their
"search for knowledge," which reminds us of the search for light and knowledge
in Masonry. She now orders the Guide to escort the candidates to the Fifth
Messenger. The latter completes the story of Job, which is "a lesson of life":
The members of this Order are just beginning the warfare of life - the
trials of human existence. We are going forth on our pilgrimage filled
with ambitions and hope. [...] There may come a time when through
adversity we may be tried for our faith in the Great Creator of Heaven
and earth. (p.78/80)
We see that the Job's Daughters conceive their existence as a pilgrimage, and
thus name their candidates pilgrims. Corresponding to the "Great Architect of the
Universe" of the Masons, they have the equally tolerant conception of a "Great
Creator of Heaven and earth." The Fifth Messenger further admonishes the
candidates to live so that the members of the order will be known throughout the
land as true daughters of Job.
Then, the candidates are led to the Honored Queen for the closing lessons.
She explains to them the significance of the three principal officers, who are
placed side by side in the East to represent the three daughters of Job (cf. p. 82).
This is a parallel to Masonry insofar that the Worshipful Master represents King
Solomon. The mystic number of the Third Epoch is five, alluding to the
messengers who informed Job of his misfortune 1524 , and to the five Messengers
relating this story to the Pilgrims in Job's Daughters. The emblem is the Horn of
Plenty, symbolizing the triumph of Job over the temptations of the Adversary
and the reward for his faith. It is also symbolic of the name of one of Job's
1524 According to Job, chapter 1, verses 14 - 19, the first messenger relates how the Sa-be'-ans fell
upon the oxen and asses of Job and took them away, and killed his servants; the second messenger
says that the fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned the sheep and the servants; the third
messenger tells Job that the Chal-de-'ans fell upon the camels, carried them away and murdered the
servants; and the fourth messenger informs him that a great wind smote the house in which his sons
and daughters were celebrating, and killed them. We can find no fifth "messenger." However, a
fifth person to relate to Job the wisdom and power of God is E-li'-hu, the son of Ba-ra'-chel the
Bu'-zite, of the kindred of Ram (cf. Job, Chapter 32, verse 1 ff).