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

246 GRAND MASTER ARCHITECT.BATTERY :—Three stroke, by one and two; 0 00.MARCH—Make three step so as to form a square, thefirst step slow, the two others somewhat quicker.HOURS OF wORK—Open on the day when Solomoncommenced thet building of the temple. Close ‘on theday the temple was completed.MORAL—That virtue is as necessary as talent to everyGrand Master Architect.Senior Warden—Brother Joaberi, you will now takethree square steps to the altar and face the Moat Powerful.(He does so.Moat Povierful—Brother Joabert, Solomon determinedto form a school of Architects for the instruction ofthose who conducted the work of the temple, to encourageand improve such as were worthy, and to promotefrom thence those whose zeal and discretion should makethem deserving the highest degree of perfection, inducedhim to create the degree of Grand Master Architect..Solomon, full of justice, and foieseeing the eventswhich were likely to take place, willing to recompensethe zeal and virtue of the Sublime Knights, that theymight approach nearer the Celestial Throne of the GreatArchitect of the Universe, induced him to cast his eyeson those who were last made Illustrious Knights in orderto effect the promise which God made to Enoch,Noah, Moses and David, that if through ardour theypenetrated into’ the bowels of the earth, it would notavail unless divine providence permitted it.The impravements you will now make, Brother Joabert,iu the study of geometry will no doubt procure youthe means of unfolding the most sublime knowledge.Upon the altar now before you, behol4 a case of mathematicalinstruments for that purpose, containing first,INITIATION. 947the parallel ruler, second, the tracing dividers, third,the scale of parts, fourth, sector, fifth, the protractor;and behold a Lao the Polar Star. Brother Joabert, by thehelp of these we are enabled to measure all distancesand guide ourselves through darkness and unknownplaces.First—The Parallel Rulerenablcs us to draw two linesequi-distant from each other atThe ~ 3ul~. every point; so that they nevercan meet, which signifies that the agreement of theworks of the Grand Architect is determined by meansof equalizing opposition of forces; and hence, that inhuman government the division and balancing of powersis essential.The Tracing Dividers.Second—The Tracing Dividers enable us to drawdistinct and perfect circles and to mark the points theygive us. This signifies that we must have a distinct douignbefore we act.The Scaleof Parts.Third—The Scale of Parts enables us to make all ourdesigns proportionate, so that all the parts and incidentswill agree together in fulfilling the object we seek toaccomplish. This signifies that truth is self consistent andevery distinct truth agrees with all other truth, henceso that one deed may not ultimately clash with another.