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

OPENING CEREMONIESINTENDANT OF THE BUILDING.Thru Puissant—(Holding a scepter in his hand)Jllustrio is Brother Tito, are we tyled?Tilo.— We are safe and secure here.Thric. Puiaaant—What is the hour?Tite-—The break of day.Thrice Pui.aaani—(Strikes five, 00000; all rise.)Tito— (With a mallet five raps, 00000.)Adoiaittzm—( With a mallet five raps, 00000.)Thrice Puiaaant—As it is break of day, ‘tis time tobegin our work; my brethren, this lodge is opened. (Allclap five with their hands, and make the sign of surpriseand admiration.)Thric~ Puiasant—(Strikes one and the lodge is seatad.)CHAPTER XIIEIGHTH Duonzu on INTENDANT OF T~E BUILDING.INITIATION.(The candidate must be barefooted when introducedin this degree.)Solomon—Illustrious Brother Tito, how shall werepair the immense loss we have sustained in the melancholyand treacherous murder of our never to be forgottenMaster Hiram Abiff? You know he alone wasentrusted with the decoration of the secret chamberwhere every thing the dearest and most respectable ofthe Israelites was deposited; there the ark was to be put.and thereby was the presence and protection of theAlmighty insured. Scarcely had this great man setabout this important work when he was snatched fromus by the most horrid and infamous plot. We musttherefore endeavor to repair the loss of our worthy Hi.ram Abiff. The fine works of the inner chamber are unfinished,and all is in confusion in the sanctuary. MostIllustrious Brother Tito, give me your advice what todo on this occasion.Tito—Thrice Puissant, I am fully convinced of theloss we have sustained, and of the difficulty to repair it,In my opinion the only resource we have left is to appointa chief for each of the five orders of architecture,and that we should all unite in giving every assistancein our power toward completing this third secret chamber.