Thadeu

VIL . .3
[The door is opened, and the al.- . of Ceremonies leads in the candidate, and places him in front of the two
Wardens] . •
Ill .-. flf.• . Let him who desires to advance in Masonry, first kneel, bonding his knee and bowing his head
to the God that made and that preserves him .
(The Candidate kneels and inclines his head, and the Sen .-. W .•. presses upon his neck the sharp edge of
a naked sword, saying]
&n.-. Insp.- . In this degree you are received upon the edge of the sword of justice . You desire, as a
Provost and Judge, to grasp its hilt . Sea that you do not, by violating the moral law, expose yourself to be
smitten with its edge .
M.• . M. • . Arise.
(Ile rises, and is led 7 times around the Lodge . At the end of each of the first six circuits, he halts in
front of the Ill .•. Master, and gives the signs of the preceding degrees, one at each circuit, commencing with
that of E .. A. •. . During the circuits, the Ill .• . Master reads as follows]
1st Circuit : . . . . Thou shalt provide out of all the People able men, such as fear .God, men of
Truth, and Haters of Injustice, and set them to judge the People at all Seasons . Hear the causes between
your brethren, and judge righteously between man and man, and between the citizen and the stranger . Yo
shall not respect persons in judgment ; but shall listen to the humble as well as to the great. Ye shall not
fear the face of man ; for the judgment is God's .
2d Circuit : . . Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil ; neither shalt thou, floating on the
popular current, speak in a cause in order to pervert judgment . Nor shalt thou as a judge lean towards the
side of a poor man, because he is poor ; nor strain any point to give judgment in his favour .
3d Circuit : . . . . • See that ye judge . not falsely, nor slay the innocent and the righteous : and
take no gift : for a gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous .
4th circuit : . . . . Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment : ye shall not lean to the side of
the poor, nor honour the person of the great ; but shall impartially judge your neighbour . Yo shall do po
Injustice in judgment, in mete-yard, in weight or in measure . Just balances, just weights and just measures
bhall ye have ; and no one shall cheat or over-reach another .
6th Circuit : . . . . Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger as for one of-your own
country:' : One ordinance shall be for you and the stranger who sojourneth with yoq ; the same ordinance forever
In your generations : as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord : one law and one custom shall
be for you, and for the stranger that eojourneth with you .
6th. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth : for he that speaketh unjust things cannot. be
hid ; neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by . Justice is perpetual and immortal . Oppress not the
poor just man ; but spare the widow, and honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged . Let not your strength
be the law of justice ; nor hold that which is feeble to be nothing worth .
7th Circuit : . . . . The just that is dead condemneth the wicked that are living . They shall live
for evermore ; and their reward is with God, and the care of them with the Most High, to whom justice is as
a breastplate,and true judgment as a helmet, and equity as an invincible shield ; and He will sternly judge
those,' who' being ministers of His Kingdom, do not judge rightly, nor keep the law of justice, nor walk
according to his will .
(The Candidate is then halted in front of the Ill .• . M .•. who says]
111. •. JL . Whom bring you hither, Bro . •. M .• . of Ceremonies?
,M . . Cer. •. Bro.. A . . . . B a Perfect Master and Confidential Secretary, who desires to attain the
Degree bf .Provoet and Judge, and so become a Blaster in Israel .
' III. •. M. • . He desires to assume a heavy burthen . IIath he a sufficient sense of the important duties and
heavy responsibilities of the office i
M. •. Cer.. Ill. • . Master, he will answer for himself.
111•• . M.- . My Brother, are you aware that he who would assume the character of Provost and Judge, and
in that character judge and decide between his Brethren, must be himself .'& just and upright man, impartial,
cautious, merciful ; of pure morals and blameless life and conversation ; for that what judgment he measures
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