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

402 KNiGHTS 01 THU RAST OR swoRD. INITIATION. 408aeterized you. By this loss all the marks of distinctionreceived by you from that Prince have disappeared, butyou have preserved that of Freemasonry. But before Icommunicate to you those secrets, wi~eh since our captivityhave been~ preserved among the remnant of ourfraternity, we must require of you assurances that youhave not lost the sentiments or knowledge of masonryduring your servitude. How far have you advanced inmasonry?Master of Ceremonies—(For candidate) To that ofPerfection.Thrice Excellent—Oive me the sign.Master of Ceremonies—(Gives it) or more generallythe candidate.Thrice Excellent—Give to the Master of Ceremoniesthe grip and words.Cand:date—(Gives them.)Thrice Excellent—Sir Knights, I believe Zerubbabelis worthy to participate in our new mysteries. What sayyou? (All answer by holding up their swords.)Thrice Excellent—Venerable Master of Ceremonies,you will conduct Zerubbabel by three steps to the altarand there let him kneel and contract his obligation.(Master of Ceremonies causes him to advance by threesteps and kneel at the altar, when the Thrice Excellentleaves the throne, goes to the altar and administers thefollowing obligation:OBLIGATION KNIGHT OF TilE EAST OR SWORD.I—promise and swear in the presence of the GreatArchitect of the Universe, and before all the brethren,Knights of the East here present and assembled, on thefaith of an honest man and freemason, to be faithful inmy religion and laws of the state, and as far as in mypower never to reveal the mysteries of the degree ofKnights of the East, and never receive into this degreeany brother but conformable to the ancient statutes andconstitutions of the order, under the penalty of beingdishonored and losing the title of a freemason, and ofbeing deprived of the advantages of the Council. SoGod maintain me in uprightness and justice. Amen.Thrice Excellent—Venerable Master of Ceremonies,you will now conduct our brother to our Excellent SeniorGrand ‘Warden who will invest him with the signs,grip and words of this degree. (Thrice Excellent returnsto the throne, seats the brethren and the Master ofCeremonies conducts the candidate to the Senior Warden.)Excellent Senior Grand Warden—My dear brother, Irejoice at the favors yob have received from our SovereignCyrus, for by his bounty you and the nation havebecome free. He has armed you with a sword to. defendyourself against your enemies. I will now decorate youwith this sash, worn from the right shoulder to the lefthip, and now put you in possession of the signs, gripand words of this degree, which are as follows:SIG~l, KNIGHTS OF THE EAST ORSWO~.Raise the right hand to the left shoulderand move it downward to the righthip, with a serpentine motion as if torepresent the motion of the waters of ariver; then draw the sword and bring it tothe guard as if to fight.