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

50 SECRET MASTER’S DECREE.Solomon—Here brother in the midst of the Emblemsof our Deuwe for Society, of the Light of Knowledge,of the Sense of Beauty, and of the Adaptation of Manto God, let us deposit the sacred heart of our deceasedvenerable Master, to remind us forever, that though theassassins have destroyed his body; yet the natur~zl law,which is also the word of God, is written upon the heartof every man who cometh into the world.The candidate places the Urn.Solomon—Let us pray.PRAYER.Oh, God we pray thee, thou Grand Architect of theUniverse to cast thy all seeing eye upon this Sanctuary,which symbolizes the Conscience of Man, and help us touse the Key of Intelligence within the Balustrade ofReason, so that we may know ourselves, link ourselvesunto thee, and become fit for the immortality thou haspromised.Adoniram—Amen.Solomon—And now my brethren, before we separate,b~fore I crown this Urn, with the Laurel and the Olivebranch in token of the ~Gloi~jand the Peace which iscrowned unto him ~ho fulfils his duty and loves truth.(Crowns the Urn.)Solomon—Glory and Peace unto Hiram.All—Glory and Peace unto Hiram.Solomon—(To the candidate) and now my brother, anew obligation and task unites us, and it becomes mypleasant duty to confer upon you, as a reward for theservice you have just performed the title of Secret Masterand member of this Secret Chamber 0. L. No. —Solomon—(Installs him by investing him with theRibbon, Key and Apron, places on his head a Crown orIiJITIATION. 51Wreath of Laurels’1 and Olivel’ leaves.) My dear brother,I receive you a Secret Master, and give you rankamong the Levites; this laurel which I have investedyou ~vith,alludes to the victory you are to gain overyour passions, the olive is a symbol of that peace andunion which should reign among us; it rests with you todesire the favor, that God may one day enable you toarrive at the secret place, and there to contemplate thepillar beauty. The Ivory Key” suspended by a white andblack ribbon is a symbol of your fidelity, innocence anddiscretion, the apron and gloves are emblematk1d of thecandor of all the Secret Masters, among whom you arenow introduced in quality of Secret Master. I give yourank among the Levites, to be a faithful guardian of theSanctum Sanctorum, and have placed you among thenumber seven to supply the place of our dear MasterHiram AbiN; and have also appointed you one of theconductors of the work, which i~ to be raised to thedivinity. The Eye on your apron is there to remind youto be ever watchful over the workmen.Note l1—”A decoration used In some of the hIgher degrees of theAncIent and Accepted ScottIsh RIte. The laniel Is an emblem of Tic.tory; and the corona triumphalla of the Roman,, whIch was given togenerals who bad Seined a triumph by their conquests. wee made oflaurel leavea. The lanrel crown In Maaonry Is gIven to hIm who hasmade a conqneat over his passions.“—Macksp.’, Eneynlopudla of Ire..maaonry. Artiele Lintel Orown.Note N.—”’in a secondary acne., the olive plant Is a symbol of peaceand VIctory; but In Its primary sense, like aU the other sacred plantaof antiquIty, It was a symbol of resurrectIon and Immortality. HenceIn the AncIent Mysteries It was the analogue of the Acacla of Free.masonry.” Mackey’s Eneyclopadia of lreemaaonq, Article Olive.Note 18.—”Tls. key, howeyer, is sIll! preserved as a symbol of Se.crecy In the Royal Arch degree; and It Is also presented to us In thesame gense In the Ivory key of the Secret M~ater, or fourth degree ofthe 5cottleb Rite. in many of the German Lodges en Ivory key Is madea part of the MasonIc clothIng of each brother. te remInd hIm that jeshould lock up or conceal the secrets of Freemaaonry In hIs heart,”...Machey’s Eneyclopudla ef rreeme.ao~,, Article Key.