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

78 PEIlrEcT M.IbTER’S DEGREE. INITIATION.79the almond tree shall flourish and tile grass-hopper shallbe a burden, aiid desire shall fail: because man goeth tohis long home and the mourners go about the streets: orever the silver cord be loosed; or the golden bowl bebroken, or the pitdier be broken at the fourtain, or thewheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust returnto the earth as it was: and the Spirit shall return untoGod who gave it.”On the last round candidate is conducted to the tomb,‘md while he and Zerbal are viewing it, the following I.sung by the brcthl~cn:SONO.Come, ye sighing Boos of sorrow.view with me your brothers tomb:Learn from It your fate; to-morrowDeath. i,erhsve, may seal yourdoom.5ad itod solemn Sow oar numbers.While ,llsoonsolate we mournThe loss of him who sweetly slum~hers.?.loulleriisg neath the silent urn.May we all. bIn hopes pomseasing.Trli,niplnstnt lesre the lodge below;Crnus’.,l nlih every earthly blessinglor reutoved from pain and woe.Osie’. when full of life. he ne,i’rP eyed us,faithfol to her laws.!il.iv ue. like him-, be sealons ever.To promote the gl~tIoua coustTo the Er~alted power Almighty.~4.•ttlybreathe en ardent prayerus, ls~’ sacred mound tread lightlyWhile we wipe the felling t,’urA donira,n—Th~other Zerbal, you will now conduct thecandidate to tile altar where he will kneel and take theobligation.OBLIGATION PERFECT MASTER’S DEGREE.I—do promise and swear in tile presence of the(‘~rand Architect of the Universe and this respectable~ I hod gelneverto colflmunicate the secrets of this de-pee to any below the same, unless properly authorizedbymy superiors.That I will defend my rights and respect the riglltsof others.That I will strive to regenerate and improve myphysical ‘organization so it may become the fit instrumentof a pure soul and elevated mind and be adornedby all the vigor, grace, llealth and beauty it can possiblyattain.I further promise to respeet the dead, and finally onearth and in my body to build a suitable monument untoTruth and Jehovah.So may God keep me in righteousness and equity.Amen.Adonirarn—’Tis well my brother. (He then takes theend of the cord and draws it from his neck.) I divestyou of the last ligature which betokens servitude andgreet you with the sign of Recognition of a PerfectMaster on condition you will faithfully observe everything prescribed by onf laws.SIGN OF RECOGNITION.Advance each the toes of theright foot until they meet,bring the right knees together,place one hand on the ether’sheart, then bring the ha~ d towardsthe right side ana torma square.