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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 615
Rule Degree, and "Exalted" to the Royal Purple Degree (cf. p. 157). The last
term, "exalted," is used as a verb of admission in Royal Arch Masonry.
Opening Ceremonies
With one rap of the gavel, the Chief Patriarch calls the members to order and
asks the Junior Warden to examine whether all present are Patriarchs, and if the
Sentinels are at their stations. After having taken the passwords, the Junior
Warden reports to the Chief Patriarch, and affirms that the High Priest has
assumed his station. Giving two raps of the gavel, the Chief Patriarch makes the
members rise and the Junior Warden declares the Encampment open in the Royal
Purple Degree.
Then follows the usual recapitulation of the duties of the single officers.
Thus, the Senior Warden has to support the Chief Patriarch and the High Priest,
the Junior Warden has the same duties and plus the task to examine the
Patriarchs, and the Scribe fulfills the ordinary function of a secretary. The duties
of the Outside and Inside Sentinels are self-explanatory. The "Most Excellent
High Priest" has the duty to counsel the members to improve themselves in the
lectures and charges, to conform to the General Regulations and preserve the
uniform mode of working, and to instruct the initiates. The Chief Patriarch, being
in charge of the Encampment, has to see that the brethren perform their duties in
a proper manner. Hereafter, the High Priest offers a prayer, and the brethren are
seated with one rap, whereupon the common order of business follows.
Patriarchal, or First Encampment Degree
In the First Degree, the candidate is made a Patriarch by playing Isaac who is
almost sacrificed by Abraham. The following ceremony may seem to the reader
a mixture of a comedy, an adventure trip, and a Biblical play, totally lacking the
solemnity of a Masonic ritual. Sometimes, it seems as if the members are rather
in the mood of fighting Indians and proving themselves in the American
wilderness, instead of the Biblical or moral one, which makes this ritual from
1881 an interesting witness of its times. The initiate is dressed in a brown gown,
a rope tied around his waist, a brown turban on his head and a staff in his hand.
He is blindfolded and has a sack on his back and sandals upon his feet. The light
in the Encampment room is but dim, and a curtain conceals the altar. The
Watches act as "wilderness sentinels" and "torch bearers." However, the ritual
strictly forbids all rough usage (cf. p. 162).
The Junior Warden, dressed likewise, enters the Encampment with the
candidate and shouts "Halloo! Halloo!," whereupon the Inside Sentinel cries,
"The camp is assailed" (p. 162). The blindfold of the candidate is temporarily
removed, long enough for him to see the First and Second Sentinels of the
Wilderness pointing to him with their spears. However, the Junior Warden calms