Thadeu

VII .5
111: . l1 Arise, my Brother! By tho power Tested in me, as successor of Azarias the son of Nathan,
first Chief Provost and Judge under Solomon the King. I appoint and accept you a Provost and Judge, in the
Ancient and accepted Kite of Masonry. Receive now the signs, words and token of this degree .
Slav :. Place the p ^•• II C d and 93 p nut( fingers of the t hand, on the t side of the C .
Axswas : . . . Place the 9 =a Q d finger of the +* hand on the ?£ ~ C ; the M & S -ttL under
the . & thus forming a square.
Toesx : Interlace the t Q M M t Q. 1119 "`" SL ( #s of the # &Q -II, and tap each other mutually,
£ times [ by with the M & S 2B nt, in the $ Q t na of the & Q „. u.
PASSWORD : . : . M Q 'Y' ;f . •
SACRED WORD : . . . zek & C 1 9 Q & .•. or, in French, b Q I & . 2 M O 2
Orusa WORDS : . . . Z 4 * Q . . ~( Zi o~ . • . 4 M t I Y
& . • .
2 nX t Q I & 9 O& . •.
I now invest you with the apron, collar and jewel of this degree. The latter represents the key of the
Chief Provost and Judge, wherewith he unlocked the box of Ebony that contained the Records of the
Tribunal. It teaches you to lock carefully up in your heart the secrets of Masonry, and to keep the key ever
in your own possession : and it is especially emblematical of that justice and uprightness that alone can
unlock to you the mysteries contained in the higher degrees, and enable you to advance towards perfection .
The triangle that hangs above your head is emblematical, here, as elsewhere in Masonry, of the Deity ; of
$is Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience ; and bath His Holy Name in the centre : and it is also
emblematical of the three great requisites of a judge, possessed by Him in their perfection and infinitude ;
and with which, though in an infinitely less degree, every human judge should be invested ;-Jusrrca, Equzrr,
And IMPAarrscirr. Let that emblem and the balance be ever before your eyes, and remind you of the
obligation which you have taken in this Degree ; of the duties which devolve upon you ; of the responsibilities
which. rest upon you ; and which, with God's eye ever fixed on you, you cannot evade or avoid .
Listen now to the Lecture of this degree .
LEL ruRE.
It is said that King Solomon, after the death of Hiram Abi, in order that justice might be administered
among the workmen upon the Temple, their disputes be decided and their complaints heard, appointed seven
Provosts and Judges, to adjust their demands, listen to their complaints, and settle any disputes and differences
that might arise among them . lie appointed Azarias the Son of Nathan to be the Chief Provost and Judge,
Elihoreph and Ahia, the Sons of Sisa, to be Masters of the Records, with the title of Inspectors, and four
others, learned in the laws of Moses, to complete the number, and constitute the Tribunal . They held their
sittings in the Middle Chamber of the Temple, where the records of the Tribunal were kept, in a box of Ebony,
the Key of which wae .committed to the Chief Provost and Judge ; and there they considered and adjusted the
demands and differences of the workmen, and determined all appeals from the judgment of a single Provost
and Judge ; administering the same laws to the Phoenician as to the Hebrew ; and endeavouring-to do entire
justice, according to the law of Moses, between man and man .
Such is the brief account which has come down to us, of the establishment of this degree. The lesson
which it inculcates is justice in decision and judgment, and in our intercourse and .dealing with other men .
In a country where trial by jury is known, every intelligent man is liable to be called on to act as a