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

284 TrnuTUZNTN oi aoi’.aL ARCH DUGURN.Solomon—By virtue of the power vested in me, Idecorate you with the jewel of the order of this Royal”’Degree. It is arepresentation of the Delta found by ourAncient Masters, which you are to wear from a purpleribbon round your neck. Its color expresses the love andfriendship we ever ought to have for the order and ourbrethren in general. Brother Expert, you will now conductthe brethren to seats in the college.Rots 188.—it can never he too often repeated that the WORD Is. InMasonry, the symbol of TRUTH. This truth I. the great object of pillsuItIn Udmonry—the scope and tendency of all Its tovesttpatlons—thspromIsed reward of all MasonIc labor. Sought for dIlIgefitlY In everydegree, and constantly approached hut never thoroughly and Intimatelyembraced, at length, In the Royal Arch the veils which concealed theobject of search from our view are withdrawn, and the inestImable prIzeIs revealed.‘This truth, which Masonry makes the great object of Its inveatliations.I. not the mere tenth of science, or the truth of hIstory. but Isthe more Important truth wb’ch Is synonymous wIth the knowledge of thenature of God.—that truth whIch is embraced In the sacred Tetragrammaton.or omnlfic name. Including in its sIgnIficatIon hIs eternal, present.past, and future existence, and to w~ich he hImself alluded when hadeclared to hoses. I appeared unto Abraham. unto Isaac. and untoJacob by the name of God AlmIghty; but by my ogme Jehovah wasI not known unto them.’“The dIscovery of thIs truth Is then, the essentIal symbolIsm of theRoyal Arch degree. Wherever It Is practlced.—and under some peculIarname the degree Is found In every Rite of Maaonry.—this symbolism ispreserved. However, the legend. may vary, however the ceremonies ofreceptIon and the prelImInary steps of InItIatIon may dIffer, the consum’~ 5~Ion Is always the same—-the great dIscovery whIch represents theattainment of 1’ruth.”—Kacksy5 lnoycloiiasdl& of Fesemasonry. Article3q51 Arab ~tgree.CLOSING CEREMONIESROYAL’” ARCH Duom.Selomon—Brother Inspector, what are you?ln.pector—I am that I am; I have seen the resplendentDelta bearing the Ineffable name, and the CubeStone upon which it was placed by Enoch.Solomon—Did the Cube Stone bear any inscription?Inspector—Yes, J. .V. ‘.1. ‘.0. .L.’. one letter on eachface of the Pedestal; Juveni Verbum in ore Leonia,which reads; I have found the word in the mouth of aLion and that we will defend the name of the GrandArchitect of the Universe with the courage of LAons.Solomon—Have you anything else to desire?Inspector—Yes, to read the Ineffable name accordingto its true pronunciation.Solomon—God will permit one day that your wishesmay be accomplished. What is the clock?Note 188.—”Among the many precious thIngs whIch were carefullyreserved In a ucred vault of KinK Soiomon’s Tem pIs was a portraIt oflbs monarch. paInted by Adonlram. the son of 3lkauah. priest of the secondcourt. ThIs vault remaIned undIscovered tIll the tIme of Herod. althoughthe secret of Its existence and a descrIptIon of its localIty were retaIned bythe descendants of Rlkanab. ~ TIme sped on: the Itomans invadedDeltaln; sod, previous to the crucifixion, certaIn membere of the oid townguard of EdInburgh. among Whom were several of the Royal Order, proeeededto Rome to enter into negofiationa with the soverci a. From thencethey proceeded to Jerueslen’. a~.d Were present at the Ireadfoi scene ofthe crucifixion. They succeeded in obtaining the portraIt, and aim theblue veIl of the Tenipln rent upon the terrible occasion. I may dIsmIssthese two venerable relIcs In a few words. Wilson, in hIs Memorials ofUiinbergh (2 you., publIshed by Hugh Patton). In a note to the MasonicLodges, writes that thIs portrait was then In the possessIon of the brethteaof the Lodge St. Dsvld. This is an error, and arose from the fact ofthe Royal Order then meeting in the Lodge St. David’s mom in Rindfoa’d’aClose The blue veil was converted Into a standard for the trades ofUdinburgh, and became celebcated on many a battle-field. notc.~ly in thePleat Crusade as ‘The Blue Blanket. • 7mm the presence of certain oftheIr number in Jerusalem on the occasion in question, the EdInburgh CityOnard were often called Pontins Pilate’s Prgptorlans. Now, these arefacts well known to many X.llnbnrxbers stIll eiive. ‘—Maokq’s Isoyde.lingua of Fraamaaoaiy. Article Royal Ordar of leotlsad.,