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

398 XWICTTrS or TIlE EAST OR SWORD. INITIATION. 399that equality was its foundation. Equality does notreign here. Your rank, your superiority, your titles andyour court are not admissible in the place where instructionsare given in our mysteries. Solomon also taughtus that Truth w~s a divine attrib~’tp and the foundationof every virtue. To be good and true was the first lessonwe were taught in masonry. Myengagements are sacredand inviolable, I ani unable to revcal our secrets, and ifliberty is to be obtained at such a price, I would preferan honorable exile or a glorious death.Sovereign Master—Sir Knights, I admire the discretionand virtue of Zerubbabel. He deserves liberty as areward for his firmness. Zerubbabel, you are free.Guards free Zerubbabel from those chains and that garbof slavery. (The brcthrcn take off his chains) and maythose badges of scrvitude never again disgrace thehands of a mason and more especially those of a Princeof the house of Judah. Sir Knight, Master of Ceremoniesconduct Zerubbabel to the seat of honor.Master of Ceremonies—Sovereign Mdster, permitZerubbabel to thau,k thee for thy great clemency andfavor, and at the same time to again urge the prayersand entreaties of his brethren in bondage. In the firstyear of thy reign, thou didst issue thy Jioval Proclamationand promised to give them their liberty and permitthcm to return to the land of their fathers and aid andassist their own kindred and brethren in rebuilding thehouse of the Lord. Wilt thou not harken unto theirvoice that thou mayest reign in peace and prosperity onthy throne that God hath given thee?Sovcreign Mastv’r—Princes, Generals and Knights, Ihave for a long time meditated to give the captive masonstheir liberty. It troubles me to see those people inshams. Their God, whom they call their mighty God,has appeared to me in a vision, and methought this Godthreatened me like a roaring lion ready to fall upon anddevour me, methought I heard th~sc words from hismouth wl~ich signifies in our language, render my peopletheir liberty, or thou shalt die. Alarmed at the sight,I endeavored to escape by flight but my feet refused toobey. Then I saw Nebuchadnazzar and Belshazzar,Kings of Babylon, lying prostrate and loaded withchains, and above them in a bright glory the ineffablename. Amazed and terrified, I awoke. From you thercfore,beloved Princes, [ expect counsel in this matteras regards what I must do to the people of IsraeL (Allobserve a profound silence for awhile.)Master of Palace—Sovereign Master, the voice whichyou heard in your dream was that of thc Great ‘~rc1iitectof the Universe, who long since through his prophetsforetold your coming, and gave you dominion overthe East. The captives are the children who have beenin bondage seventy years. The God of their fatherswhom they call their mighty God, commands you to freethem from bondage, and permit them to return to thcirown country, that they may assist their brethren in rebuildingthe house of the Lord. The chains upon theprostrate Kings, warn you of your fate should you refuse.The roaring lion represents his anger that willovertake and destroy you if you disobey his commands.Thus, Sovereign Master do I interpret your drcam andwould counsel you to render the people of Israel theirliberty and live.Sovereign Master—Grand Master of Palace, I willharken unto thy voice. Zerubbabel,I consent that Israelbe sent at liberty, even that they are permitted to