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

ials of the words: Beauty, Divinity, Wisdom, Power, Honor, Glory, Force;
on their capitals, and the initials of the words: Friendship, Union,
Resignation, Discretion, Fidelity, Prudence, Temperance; on their bases.
In the East is an altar atop seven steps, with a vacant throne, the sun
and moon, and an hour-glass (clepsydra). On the altar is a silver basin
with perfumed water, a chafingdish with live coals, and a large book
sealed with sevel seals of green wax. All twenty-four members (called a
Preceptory) are clothed in white robes, with a red cross on the breast.
Battery: [6-1]. This degree is opened with prayers and hymns, and the
candidate is subjected to a strict examination of his knowledge of the
previous degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry. The candidate is purified
and sanctified, and is received under Luther's hymn "From East to West,"
and Ecclesiastes XII. The seven divine virtues and seven human virtues
(on the columns) are stressed, and the seven vices (Hatred, Discord,
Pride, Indiscretion, Perfidy, Rashness, and Calumny) are to be avoided.
The Seven Seals (from the Revelation of St. John) are broken and
explained, and the candidate is symbolically represented as coming from
Patmos, as a "very ancient" man. The apron is of yellow satin, with
crimson and gold, and with a sword and Tetractys (of the Tetragrammaton)
on it. The jewel is a heptagon of silver and gold, with crossed swords
on a balance on the obverse, and a lamb on the Book of Seven Seals on the
reverse. The jewel is hung from a double order -- one black (left-to-
right) and one white (right-to-left), representing good versus evil.
A gold coronet is also presented.
18. KNIGHT OF ROSE-CROIX, PERFECT PRINCE DE H-R-D-M, KNIGHT OF THE
EAGLE AND PELICAN
"The stars have disappeared, the light of the sun and moon is obscured,
and darkness has fallen upon the face of the earth."
With these words the candidate is received into the final philosophical
degree. The three virtues - faith, hope, and charity - guide him through
the "place of horror and gloom" to the Truth, and to the Lost Word.
This Truth is not that of any one religion, because the spirit of Masonry
is universal and inclusive. The "Ceremony of the Table" commemorates this
in a Feast of Bread and Wine, and the Chapter usually remains at refresh-
ment indefinitely, never closing.
The Lodge is divided into four apartments. The first is hung in black,
with white tears, and is lighted by the taper of the Most Wise and the
two lights on the throne. This apartment is in ruins, and the throne is
surmounted by three crosses, the center one with a white rose at its
center. The second apartment is labyrinthian (to the Norteast of the
first) and contains descending and ascending stairs curving around. The
third apartment (to the Southeast of the first) is the "Chamber of
Reflection," and contains images of death: skeletons and a skull with
wings. The fourth apartment is the first, rearranged, with 33 lights
(on three candelabra of 11 branches, and yellow wax candles), red hang-