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

390 KNIGHTS OF TIlE r.A~T OR SWORD. INITIATION. 391his request. (Captain of the Guard enters, approachesthe throne, knocks 3, ~? 7 and 9.)Thrtcc Excellent—What is the cause of this alarm?Captain of Guard—Thrice Excellent Grand Mast*I,there ts without 1 a Grand Elect, Perfect and Su~b1iIlIeMason who solicits the honor of being created a Knightof the East of Sword.Thrice Excellent—Is this an act of his own frcc willand accord?Captain of Guard—It is.Thrice Excellent—Wllo is . this brother, venerablt’Captain of the Guard, and wllence comes he?Captain of Guard—his name is Zcrubbabel’~Prince of thc house of Judah, who comes from Bab~lonto view the ruins of the temple and the holy city.Thrice Excellent—What does lIe dcsire?Captain of Guard—To offer his scrviccs to his breti’.ren who have rcturned from captivit~.Thrice Excellent—You will retire and let this Princeof the house of Judah be admitted.Captain of Guard—(Havmlig opened the door) it istile order oI~ the Thrice Excellent Gland Master, thatthis Prince of the house of Jimdali bc admitted.Thrice Excellent—(Knoeks three; 000. All rise.)(Master of Ceremonies and candidate enter, approachthe altar and salute.)Note 157.—”Tliici traditional history relotes that 2erohbabel. forthe protfiction of hit people, armed 7 000 Masons, and placed them Inthe ‘.an to repel such as should oppose theIr march to Judes. Theirmureb cuss unimpeded as far en iii.’ bank, of the Euphrates. whereth”y found an armed force opposed to their paaaage. A conflielensued, and the enemy was cot to pieces •‘r drowned at the i)aa~sg..of the bridge. The emblenotie color of the degree is In itll~nloti ii’this circumstance The journey ceenpird four months. ned in aeveutdays from thrir arrival the work of restoring the temple wan cootmenced.Tue workmen were dIvided Into clascies. over each of whicha ,hlcf. with two aqeletants, cicina t,iaoe,l F’.very degree of etch classwas paid according to Its rank find ci, h cItes lied Its diStineilve modesof recognition ‘—Macoy’s Encyclopaedia and Dmotiosary of Freemasonry.Articlo Knight of the East or Sword.T/srice Excellent—My brother, tllis lodge has beenselected to rule and govern the remnant of the childrenof Israel, who have returned from captivity where theyhad been carried after the destruction of Jerusalem andKing Solomon’s temple by Nebuchadnezzar”’ King ofthe Chaldeans. We cannot receive you as befits yourrank, for we are poor and discouraged, as our once noblecity still remains in ruins. But we welcome you, andrejoice that you have not forgotten your brethren, andthank you also for your kind offer.Master of C~rsmonies—(For Candidate) Thrice ExcellentGrand Master, this is the first year of the reignof Cyri~slsa King of Persia, and he hath made a proclamationthroughout all his kingdom, and put it also inwriting, saying, “thus saith Cyrus King of Persia. TheLord God of Heaven hath given me all the kingdomsof the earth, and he hath charged me to build him anIlouse at Jerusalem.” I have come hither at the requestof my brethren to offer up our prayers unto theGod of Israel, that lie will cause Cyrus the King to rememberhis proclamation and set free all the childrenof Israel now in bondage, and let them go up to Jerusalemwhich is in Judah and rebuild the house of theMote 168.—’ ‘Nebuchadnessttr was engagcd during his whole reIgnIn wars of conquest. Among ntb,’r nations who fell beneath hisvictorious arms was Judes. whose king, Jeholakim. was slain byitehuchadneaaar. and his son. Jehotachin. ascended the Jewish throne.After a reign of three years. he was deposed hy Nehochadnessar. andhIs kingdom given to his uncle, Zedeklah. a monarch distinguished forhis vIces. Having repeatedly rehelled against the Babylonian king,Nebuchadnemar repaired to Jerusalem. and after a sIege of eighteenmonths, reduced it. The cite was leveled with the ground, the Templepillaged and burned, and the inhabItant., carried captive to Babylon.”—Mackey’s Enegolopeodia of Freemasonry, hztlole Nsbuehada.asar.lots 1U.—”The Jews. who bad been carried away by Nehuehadesmaron the destruction of the Temple, were then remaining sacaptIves in Babylon. These Cyrus released A. M. 8466. or 3. 0. 586.and soot them back to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of God, underthe care of Joshua. Zermibbahel. and Haggal. Hence, from this con.nectlon of Cyrus with the history of Masonry, lie plays an buportantpert In the ritualS of many ‘of the high degrees.“—Mackay’s Emepolo-9eeiia of Freemasonry. Article Cyrus.