Blanchard J (anti-masonic) - Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated Part I

316 5UBLIMZ KNIGHTS ELECTED. INITIATION. 21Tduet been without reproach and are the IllustriousKnights satiaded with his conduct?Master of Ceremonies—All here present are satisfiedwith his conduct.Expert—Thrice Puissant, all here present are satisffedwith his conduct.Thrice Ptsissant—Then let him be introduced in aproper manner.Expert—Let Brother Joabert be introduced in aproper manner.Master of Ceremonies puts a naked sword in his righthand with the blade across his body, a compass in hisleft hand with the points to his heart. Thus arrangedhe conducts him into the Chapter and seats him in theWest iu front of the Inspector.Thrice Puissant-Brother Master of Ceremonies, whyhave you led Joabert into our presence?Master of Ceremonies—To beseech the Thrice Puissantto confer this Sublime degree upon him, for by hisvalor, veracity and vigilance he has won the hearts ofhis brethren, and.they have chosen him to representthem in this assembly of Sublime Elected Knights andto join you in studyingthe laws the Grand Architect haswritten- upon the hearts of all men, so that legislationmay be a unit and a blessing instead of being a curse.Thrice Puissant—The right of the masonic people torepresentation, is consecrated from time immemorial;and on this occasion it is with joy 1 learn the choice ofyour fellows has fallen on Joabert. It is the just rewardof your merit, brother Joabert, and we greet you in thisassembly where you now may see the scales of justiceadorned by the symbols of the affections, to expressthat justice should be tempered with mercy, that thelaw must be conceived in a spirit of love, and that thehappiness of the people does not exclusively dependupon rigid expressions of wrong, but also upon a generousdisplay of sentiment.7’hrice Puisiant—Brother Expert, you will nowteach brother Joabert to travel.Expert divests him of his sword and compasses whichhe hands to the Master of Ceremonies, makes the candidatecross his hands on his breast, and conducts himhrst to the West; causes him to kneel and say Civi.Thrice Puissant—Ky. (Candidate rises.)Expert conducts him to the South where he kneels,from thence to the North where he kneels, and fromthence to the East, in front of the Thrice Puissant, wherehe kneels also.Thrice Puissant—Brother Joabert, you have beencaused to kneel at the four points of the compass inallusIon to the four gates of the temple, and the respectwe should have to enter a place consecrated. You willnow contract the solemn obligation of a Sublime KnightElected.OBLIGATION 5UBLIME KNIGHT ELECTED.I—promise and swear on the same obligatiQns Ihave already taken and contracted to keep secret the degreeof the Sublime Knights Elected, with which I amgoing to be entrusted, as well in regard to masons underthis degree as to the profane. I furthermore promise toadore my God, to be faithful to my country, to be charitable-to my neighbors and brothers, submitting myselfin case of any infraction of this my obligation, to havemy body severed in two, my memory, lost and lookedupon as infamous and foreaworn. So God andhis Holyevangelists be my help. Amen.Thrice Ptsissant—( Puts his sword three times on thecandidate’s head.) Brother Joabert, I greet you as aSublime Knight Elected, and pledge you in a cup ofwine as generous as that poured out by GanymeJe tothe Olympian gods, for it denotes our sincere feelingstowards you as a member of this Council, towards thosEyou represent, as well as towards all mankind.(Wine is then poured out in three glasses, then the