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

394 KNIGHTS OF TIlE EAST OIl SWORD.Captain of Guard—Who knocks, and “dIaL do youdesire?Master of Ceremonies—I beg if possible, that ~ouwould procure me the honor of speaking to the king.Captain of quard—Who are you?Master of Ceremonies—A Jew by nation, a Princeby blood, descendant from the race of David and thetribe of Judah, but a captive and slave by misfortune.Captain of Guard—What is your name?Master of Ceremonies—Zerubbabel.”’Captain of Guard—Whatis your age FMaster of Ceremonies—Seventy years.Captain of Guard—From whence came you?Master of Ceremonies—From Jerusalem.Captain of Guard—What motives bring you here?Master of Ceremonies—The tears and distresses ofmy brethren.Captain of Guard—Wait a while and I will go andintercede with the king for you. (Captain of the Guardshuts the door and approaches the altar.)Captain of Guard—Sovereign Master, there is withoutone who desires the honor of being admitted intoyour presence.Soverci~qn Master—Who is he?Captain of Guard—A Jew by nation, a Prince byKate lV3.—”Zen,bbabel (sown In Babylon), a Prince of Zudab, nonof shealtiel. of the royal housc of David. was the leader of the firstcolony of Jews that returned from captivity to their native land undcrthe permission of Cyrus. carrying with them the precious vesselsbelonging to the temple for the service of God. With the aid ofJoshua and his body of priesta Zerul’hahel proceeded, on his arrivalin Jerusalem. to rebuild the fallen city, beginning with the altar ofburnt-offerings, in order that tbe dolly services michi be restored. ‘rhosamaritana. however, having been offended at beIng expresaly excludedfrom a share in the land, threw ohatarles in the way to hlndhr thework, and even procured from the Persian court an order that It shouldbe stopped. Accordingly. everythIng remained auspended until the seeondyear of Darius Ityataspla in. C. 521 ~. when the restoi’stion wasreaumed and carried to completion, through the Influence of Zerubbabelwith the Persian monarch This sublect Is heantifullv exemplified inthe degrees of the Rast end Sword and the Knight of the Red Cross.”Maooy’s Encyolopsedie and DIctionary of rreemnaaonry. katie!. ZerubbebeLINITIATION. 295blood, descendant from the race of David, and tribe ofJudah, but a captive and slave by misfortune.Sovereign Master—What is his name?Captain of Guard—Zerubbabel.Soverei~’n Master—What is his age?Captain of Guard—Seventy years,Sovereign Master—What motives bring him hither?Captain of Guard—The tears and distresses of hisbrethren.Sovereign Master—Let him be admitted. (Captain ofthe Guard opens the door, they enter and the Master ofCeremonies conducts him seven times round the roomwhile the following is read:Sovereign Master—By the rivers of Babylon, therewe sat down, yea, we wcpt when we remembered Zion,we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midstthereof, for there they who carried us away captives requiredof us a song, and they who wasted us, requiredof us mirth, saying sing to us one cf the songs of Zion.How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?if I forget thee 0, Jerusalem, let my right hand forgether cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tonguecleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalemabove my chief joy.Remember, 0 Lord the children of Edom in the dayof Jerusalem, who said, raze it, raze it, even to thefoundation thereof. 0 daughter of Babylon, who art tobe destroyed, happy shall he he who rewardeth thee asthou hast served us. Happy shall be he that taketh anddasheth thy little ones against the stones. (When thisis ended they halt in front of the Master of Cavalry.)Master of Cavalry—What motives bring you hither?Master of Ceremonies—I am come to implore the