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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
removed, so that the candidate is able to see "a lodge of Brotherly Love" (p.
109).
Now, the arcana is imparted to the candidate. He is instructed in how to give
the alarm and the password (which is lettered, as in Masonry), and receives the
sign and token of the degree. The Noble Grand holds the lecture of the degree,
which somehow resembles rather the aims of a mutual benefit association than
moral perfection: "All Odd-fellows are now your comrades, your advisers and
your friends. [...] The central link in the chain of Odd-fellowship is 'mutual
assistance.' Fraternity, unless embodied in acts of humanity, is but an empty
name." (p. 111). Having finished his speech, the Noble Grand declares the
candidate "a brother of the Royal Blue," or Degree of Brotherly Love (this is a
parallel to the "Blue Degrees" of Masonry).
Third, or Degree of Truth
The Third Degree is an unexpected break of the parallel structure of the
former degrees, since it does not enact any Biblical account at all, but consists
instead of a lecture on the symbols of the two previous degrees and the present
one. The candidate is seated while he has to listen to these explanations, which to
the ritual-accustomed reader seems rather disappointing, for he has anticipated a
climactic story. Blanchard, in his analysis of the Third Degree added to the
ritual, strongly criticizes its content: "This is a 'Degree of Truth' in which no
particular truth is taught [...]. It is decidedly insipid, even beyond the others, and
bears the marks of exhausted invention like poetry written without inspiration."
(p. 142).
However, the Third Degree astonishes through its symbolical vocabulary,
since the Third Degree is also known as the "Priestly Order" (p. 136): the
members represent the "Brethren of the Priestly Order" (p. 124), the Noble
Grand is the "High Priest Aaron" (p. 125), the Left Supporter of the Vice Grand
the "Priest of the Initiatory Degree" (p. 125), the Right Supporter of the Vice
Grand the "Priest of the First Degree" (p. 126), the Left Supporter of the Noble
Grand the "Priest of the Second Degree" (p. 130), and the Right Supporter of the
Noble Grand the "Priest of the Third Degree" (p. 134).
The candidate is not blindfolded, as he has no symbolic travels to undergo.
He does not assume a certain role, like the one of David or the traveler saved by
the good Samaritan, and he has no destination of a special place, like Jericho.
The Conductor announces him at the inside door as a brother "ready to receive
the mysteries of this degree" (p. 123), which is the "Scarlet Degree" (cf. p. 124;
this is a parallel to the "Red Degree" of Royal Arch Masonry). The color is
explained in a footnote added to the ritual, being a quotation from Grosh's
Manual: "Scarlet vestments, as allusive to the glory, dignity, and excellence of
the sacerdotal office, are given to the Fifth, or Degree of the Priestly Order. God
said to Moses, 'Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron, thy brother for glory
and for beauty.' [...]" (p. 124).