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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
The Opening Ceremony, in conformity with the Masonic ritual, begins with
the Chancellor Commander calling the members to order in the rank of Knight,
and asking the Inner Guard to order the Outer Guard to clear the anteroom, close
the door and allow no one to enter. The Master at Arms, just like the Senior
Warden in Masonry, has the task to examine all present whether they are in the
possession of the semi-annual password (which also exists in parts of Masonry)
and the password of the rank of Knight. Then, like in Freemasonry, each officer's
lieu of station and functions are explained. However, the four points of the
compass are not crucial to Pythian Knights; the officers merely state that their
place is left or right of somebody, not in the South or West. Contrary to
Masonry, when all stations and duties have been explained, the Chancellor
Commander asks, "What is the duty of every member of this order?", to which
all reply: "To avoid anger and dissension; to work together in the spirit of
fraternity; to exemplify the friendship of Damon and Pythias" (p. 14/15). Thus,
the objectives of the order are outlined in the beginning. As the Chaplain now
holds a prayer in Masonry 1597 , the Prelate "invokes divine assistance" (p. 15).
Hereafter, the Opening Ode is sung ("God bless our knightly band! [...] God save
the knights!", p. 15). Then follows a new ceremony: the Master at Arms is
ordered to display the shield and arrange the altar. Since the lodge is open in the
rank of Knight, he places upon the inner door a shield of the emblematic color of
the rank. Then he opens the book of law about the middle and places the sword
of defence in proper position. The arrangement is different in each rank:
Rank of Page Rank of Esquire Rank of Knight
In the Rank of Page, a blue shield is hung on the outer side of the inner door,
and the book of law rests on the two swords crossed, with the hilts toward the
station of the Chancellor Commander. In the Rank of Esquire, it is a yellow
shield, and this time the two swords crossed rest on the book, the hilts again
toward the station of the Chancellor Commander. In the Rank of Knight, the
shield is red, and one sword is lying diagonally across the book, the hilt now
toward the station of the Vice Chancellor. This bears resemblance to the Masonic
custom to place the compass under the square in the First Degree (matter over
spirit), to interlace square and compass in the Second Degree (balance), and to
1597 Cf. Nizzardini (publ.), p. 11.