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

406 KNIGHTS OF THE EAST OR SWORD.which you acquired at the River Euphrates by the victoryyou obtained over those who opposed your passage.(Presents him with a green rosette.]Though we do not admit among our ceremonies anyof the decorations which were given to you by Cyrus,yet we are willing to preserve their remembrance by arosette of that color.[He affixes it to his coat and presents him with thecollar and jewel.]This collar and jewel is the badge of the Knights ofthe East or Sword. May justice and equity, representedby the sword, be your guide.(He next presents him with the gloves.]Knights and Princes, I hereby declare Zerubbabel tobe a chief and a ruler over the labors of masonry.Zerubbabel, ascend the throne of the Sovereigns of ourlodge, preserve the triangular stone of this edifice, andrule the workmen as Solomon, Hiram and Joabert havedone before you. [Seats him on his right hand.IThrice Excellent—Join me Sir Knights! [All clapthree times with their hands and at each time say witha loud voice, Zerubbabel.]Thrice Excellent—Illustrious Grand Orator, you havethe floor.ADDRESS BY GRAND ORATOR.My brother, after the destruction of the holy city andthe temple by Nebuzaradan, he took all the prisonerswhom he had captured and carried them away intocaptivity into Babylon, making his triumphal entranceinto Babylon with an immense number of these unfortunatesin chains, not excepting even the unhappyking Zedekish himself, who died three years after. HeINITIATION. 407ordered the links of their chains to be made of a triangu~iar”’shape in order more fully to insult the captiveJews, who he knew had a profound religious venerationand respect for the triangle or delta. Great was thesorrow of the masons when they witnessed the destructionof the temple, the grandest work of human hands,which had been directed by the Great Architect of theUniverse himself. Their tears never eeasd to flow, untilthe day of their liberation, when they were permittedto build it anew, after the model of the former one.This grace, after seventy years of captivity was accordedto them by Cyrus King of Persia, a prince faniousalike for his brilliant victories and great humanities.This great conqueror, master of the EasternwOrld had a singular and remarkable vision. He appearedto hear a voice from the Heavens directing himto give liberty to the captives. The Prophet Daniel,who had become one of the favorites of the monarchand arrived at honor and rank in his court, explained tohim the true interpretation of the vision.Zerubbabel, a Prince of the house of Judah, havinggained admission to the presence of King Cyrus dcmandedof him the freedom of his nation and permissionto return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.The King graciously granted the request and maderestitution to him of all the treasures which had beencarried away from the holy temple by his predecessorsand honored Zerubbabel with the title of Knight of theorder, and directed that every facility and assistanceshould be afforded him and his compatriots, and issueda royal edict to that effect. Then Zerubbabel assembledall the Israelites, the number of whom were forty-twothousand three hundred and sixty (42,360) exclusiveNet• 173.—”ChsIn. TrIangular. One of the legends of FreeinauonrlleNa us that when the Jewls~ Masons were carried ma capHvea fromlerusalem to Babylon by Nebuebadneasar. they were hound by trL&ngularebalom. which was Intended am an additional Insult because to themthe triangle, or delta. was a symbol of the Deity, to be uaed only onmewed ocesslona. The legend is of course apocryphal, and Ba worthg~ Ing except am a ~~~ndary symbol. —Ua*e,~m ~eyeiqma~Ia d