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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 601
Shall we proceed with these, our mystic rites, or shall we mercy show?" (p. 50).
The brethren mumble slowly and in a low tone "Mercy - mercy - show!" (p. 50).
All this is intended to frighten the candidate, but the whole situation and
especially the inversion of words create a rather ridiculous atmosphere when the
Conductor answers: "Then mercy I will show, but will first a solemn warning
give" (p. 50). The Conductor addresses the candidate with "Man in darkness and
in chains!" (p. 50), and tells him of a lesson that will be imparted to him "of great
moment and deep solemnity; a faithful exhibition of the vanity of worldly things
- of the instability of wealth and power - of the certain decay of all earthly
greatness" (p. 50/51). This lesson consists in the exhibition of the corpse.
Meanwhile, the two Scene Supporters have lightened their torches and placed
themselves one at each end of the coffin. The blindfold of the candidate is taken
off, and the Conductor and the Supporters hold a long speech on death and the
vanity of life.
Hereafter, the candidate is again blindfolded and led to the Warden, who is
disguised as an old man. Here, the blinds are removed again, and the Warden,
with much ado about his old age (trembling limbs, wrinkled brow, etc.),
admonishes the candidate to listen to the voice of wisdom and to practice
friendship, love, and truth. The candidate is blindfolded once more and led to the
Vice Grand, who orders him restored to light and liberty, which has a parallel in
Freemasonry. Thus, the blinds are taken off again, and the candidate is finally
obligated. The obligation, similar to the Masonic one, concerns mostly the
secrecy of the lodge proceedings.
The obligated "friend" is now led to the Noble Grand, while the initiation ode
is sung, which contains again the tenets of the order and stress the brotherly
bond. Even after his obligation, the candidate is still referred to as a "stranger,"
and thus is presented to the highest officer. For this procedure, the curtain that
hides the Noble Grand is thrown back, after the Right Supporter has passed
behind it to hold a conversation with his superior on the admittance of the
candidate. The Noble Grand now delivers his charge and explains the symbols
and secret grips to the candidate.
The symbolic meaning of the blindfold is explained thus: "The eyes blinded
by the darkness of a dungeon are nought to the blindness of the moral sense
obscured by indulgence in selfishness and sensuality," 1556 thus showing how
vices can blind man. This symbol is clearly taken over from Freemasonry, as is
the chain:
You were blindfolded to represent to you the darkness and doubt
through which man gropes his way to a knowledge of himself, his duty,
and his destiny; a darkness not only of reason, but of the moral nature.
And you were bound with chains, to illustrate that slavery of soul to
sense - that subjection to things outward and perishable, into which man
is brought by his own passions. (p. 60)
1556 Quoted from Grosh's Manual in Revised Oddfellowship Illustrated, p. 56.