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

166 MASTER ELECT OP NINE.I say, for if you neglect it, it may cost you your life.What do you say?Candidate—I will.Captain of Guard—And now brother Joabert, as soonas I leave you, when you hear any one knock as a mason,take off the baAdage from your eyes and closely examineevery object around you. When you hear a second knockingin a masonic manner, drink of the cup near your lefthand. And at the third knocking, do as you shall beprescribed by a voice which will direct you.Though I leave you alone brother Joabert, believe methat the eyes of the whole ~ [lodge] are upon you,therefore I beg that you will not fail, punctually tocomply with these instructions. Farewell brother Joabert,I now leave you.Captain of the Guard then leaves him and shuts thedoor briskly, waits for a minute or two and then knocksthe first three.Candidate—(Takes the bandage from his eyes.)Captain of Guard—( Knocks the second three.)Candidate—(Drinks out of the cup.)Captain of Guard—( Knocks the last three and returnsto the Chapter.)Master of Ceremonies—Take that poniard and strikethe villain first on the head and then on the heart. Cutoff his head and take it in your left hand, the poniard inyour right and follow me.Candidate—(Obeys the order.)Master of Ceremonies—(Conducts him to the door ofthe Chapter, knocks eight and one, 00000000 0.)Captain of Guard—Most Sovereign, there is an alarmat the door.Most Sovereign—You will see who knocks at the doorof our Chapter to interrupt our deliberations%INITIATION. 107Captain of Guard— (Knocks eight and one, 000000000; and opens the door) Who knocks at the door of ourChapter to interrupt our deliberations?Master of Ceremonies—Brother Joabert who has discoveredthe place where the traitor Akirop” hos beenconcealed, and has revenged the death of our respectableMaster Hiram Abiff, and comes to lay the villain’s headat the feet of King Solomon.Captain of Guard— (Shuts the door.) Most Sovereignit is Joabert who has discovered the place where thetraitor Akirop has been concealed and has revenged thedeath of our respectable Master Hiram Abiff, and comesto lay the villain’s head at the feet of his Sovereign.Most Sovereign-Let him be admitted.Captain of Guard— (Opens the door and says: Lethim be admitted.Master of Ceremonies and candidate enter and proceeddirectly to the foot of the throne, candidate at thesame time striking the head with his dagger, and cr~ ingrevenge.Most Sovengn—(Looking with indignation says:)Oh wretch, what have you been doing? My orden to youwere, that the traitor should be brought to me, not thatyou should put him to death. Your disobedience of myorders shall cost you your life. Stolkin, put him to death.Brethren all kneel on one knee, and at the same timebrother Stolkin lays hold of candidate’s head and withhis sword stands in the attitude of killing him.Captain of Guard—Thrice Most Sovereign, pardonhim! pardon him! It must have been an excess of zeal,and love for the memory of our respectable Master Hi-Note The name given, in the ritual of the Ancient andAccepted Rite, to one of the ruffians celebrated in the legend of the thirddegree. The word is said in the ritnal to signify an auaaean.—Maokey’sInnyolopeadla of iveemasonry, hitiola Akirop.