THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

deliberation and attention everything which the All Puissant is going to show
you." After a short pause, he, the S.W., says, "Is there mortal here worthy to open
the book with the seven seals?" All the brethren cast their eyes down and sigh.
The Senior Warden hearing their sighs, says to them, "Venerable and respectable
brethren, be not afflicted; here is a victim (pointing to the candidate) whose
courage will give you content."
S.W. to the candidate, "Do you know the reason why the ancients have a long
beard?"
CAN. "I do not, but I presume you do."
S.W. "They are those who came here after passing through great tribulation, and
having washed their robes in their own blood: will you purchase your robes at so
great a price?"
CAN. "Yes; I am willing."
The Wardens then conduct him to the basin, and bare both his arms; they place a
ligature on each, the same as in performing the operation of blood-letting. Each
Warden being armed with a lancet, makes an incision in each of his arms just
deep enough to draw a drop of blood, which is wiped on a napkin, and then shown
to the brethren. The Senior Warden then says, "See, my brethren, a man who has
spilled his blood to acquire a knowledge of your mysteries, and shrunk not from
the trial."
Then the All Puissant opens the FIRST SEAL of the great book, and takes from
thence a bone quiver filled with arrows, and a crown, and gives them to one of the
Ancients, and says to him, "Depart and continue the conquest." He opens the
SECOND SEAL, and takes out a sword, and gives it to the next aged, and says,
"Go and destroy peace among the profane and wicked brethren, that they may
never appear in our Council." He opens the THIRD SEAL, and takes a balance,
and gives it to the next aged, and says, "Dispense rigid justice to the profane and
wicked brethren." He opens the FOURTH SEAL, and takes out a skull, and gives
it to the next aged, and says, "Go and endeavor to convince the wicked that death
is the reward of their guilt." He opens the FIFTH SEAL, and takes out a cloth
stained with blood, and gives it to the next aged, and says, "When is the time (or
the time will arrive) that we shall revenge and punish the profane and wicked,
who have destroyed so many of their brethren by false accusations." He opens the
SIXTH SEAL, and that moment the sun is darkened and the moon stained with
blood! He opens the SEVENTH SEAL, and takes out incense, which he gives to a
brother, and also a vase, with seven trumpets, and gives one to each of the seven
aged brethren. After this the four old man in the four corners show their inflated
bladders (beeves bladders filled with wind, under their arms), representing the
four winds, when the All Puissant says: "Here is seen the fulfillment of a
prophecy (Rev. vii. 3); strike not nor punish the profane and wicked of our order
until I have selected the true and worthy Masons." Then the four winds raise their
bladders, and one of the trumpets sounds, when the two Wardens cover the
candidate's arms, and take from him his apron and jewels of the last degree. The
second trumpet sounds, when the Junior Warden gives the candidate the apron