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

y our ancient brethren in the early ages!" The mystery of life, death,
and rebirth is presented using the metaphor of seeds and plants. The
apron is scarlet, bordered in white, with a green triangle (point-down)
in the center. In the triangle are the initials of Force, Wisdom, and
Harmony, and a flaming heart of gold with the initials I.H.S. (Jesus
Hominum Salvator; or Imperium, Harmonia, Sapientia). The jewel is gold,
and is the same triangle, suspended by a purple ribbon. A "tessera," or
mark, is given to the candidate, and is a small fish of ivory or mother-
of-pearl, with the Tetragrammaton on one side, and mystic symbols (right
angles, parallel lines, etc.) on the other.
27. KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE TEMPLE, or TEUTONIC KNIGHT OF THE
HOUSE OF
ST. MARY OF JERUSALEM
This degree, the first strictly chivalric degree, commemorates the siege
of St. Jean d'Acre, the ancient Ptolemais, by Christian forces. The
Crusaders, afflicted with harsh famine and intense heat, had to fight
the infidel Saladin by day, and nurse their wounded and sick at night,
under a makeshift tent made from the sails of their ships. In 1192, Pope
Celestin III approved a new Hospitaller and Military Order comprised of
the primarily German "Teutonic Knights," combining the statutes of the
Augustinians, the Hospitallers of St. John, and the Templars. They dis-
tinguished themselves by the wearing of black crosses and white mantles,
but gave up the latter to avoid conflict with the Templars. They re-
located to Prussia in 1226.
The Lodge, styled a Chapter, is hung in scarlet, sprinkled with black tears.
Black columns surround the Chapter in a circle, and three circles of lights
above each other (comprised of six, nine, and twelve, from top to bottom)
are in the East. In the center is a round table, with five olive-oil lamps
in a cross, and the Commanders of the Order sit at this table. In the
West are the sentences: "In many words thou shalt not avoid sin," and
"Life and death are dispensed by the tongue."
Battery: [4-3-2]. A dirge is sung in the Reception, and five trophies are
presented to the initiate: (1) a garland of laurel, (2) the apron, gloves,
collar, sash, and jewel of the Order - the colors of which are white, red,
and black, (3) the sword of a Knight, (4) the spurs of a Knight, and (5)
the pallium or mantle of the Order, with the black cross. These five tro-
phies, and the five lamps, correspond to the five excellent qualities:
Humility, Temperance, Chastity, Generosity, and Honor. The apron is of
scarlet lambskin, lined in black, with a Teutonic Cross (cross potent sa-
ble, charged with a smaller cross double potent or, surcharged with the
escutcheon of the Empire - the two-headed black eagle) and a black key
surrounded by a laurel wreath. The jewel is a gold triangle, on which
the word I.R.N.I. is enamelled.
28. KNIGHT OF THE SUN, or PRINCE ADEPT (MAGUS)