Thadeu

obligation imposed on me, to every duty required to be performed, to God, my country, the Lodge, my family,
my brother and my friend ; nor ever fail country, Lodge, family, brother or friend in time of need, distress,
danger or persecution .
All of which I do most sincerely covenant and solemnly promise and vow ; and may God aid me to keep
and perform the same
[The cord is then taken from the candidate's neck, and the light from his left hand, and the two first fingers
of his right hand replaced upon his lips. Then the Th:. P.• . takes off the bandage from his eyes, and says to him] :
Th. •. P.• . My Brother, late in darkness, I restore you to Light, and set your feet in the path of Duty, which
leads to that True Light of which this is but an emblem . Arise, my Brother! Let this Square, which lay
upon your forehead, ever remind you to walk uprightly, and turn not aside into the inviting paths of error .
Let it also remind you that you have now passed from the Square to the Compasses, as the Geometrician passes
from the straight lines and angles by which ho measures the surface of the earth, to the great curves and
circles by which he calculates the movements of the Stars . Begin now to rise above the earth, and climb the
Skies of Spiritual Knowledge ; for there, and not upon the Earth, are Truth and the Lost Word to be found .
You see our Lodge clad in mourning, my Brother, and the Brethren wearing the emblems of grief, for the
death of our Gr . •. Itlastcr Iliram Abi, and for the eclipse of Light and Truth, by the dark, frowning and
baleful clouds of Darkness and Error . Grief for the loss of those we love is natural and proper . But we
lament not only the death of a friend and a benefactor, of him who had elevated labour and set it by the side
of Kings, and made worth and virtue equal to patents of nobility and hereditary rank ; but also the loss of the
True Word, of which we are deprived by his death, and which we have henceforth to seek for until it is
recovered.
'
This Lodge represents that of the Princes of Israel, held immediately after the death of H iram, and before
his murderers were discovered ; when Adonhiram, who had been over the levy and tribute, was made Warden
and chief of the work in his place, and Azariah the Son of Nathan, [whoo bad been over the seven officers,
Azariah the Son of Zadok, Elihoreph, Ahiah, Jehoshaphat, Benaiah, Zadok, and Abinthar], was set over the
Tribute in the place of Adonhiram ; and in his place Jehoshaphat was act over the Seven Princes, and Jeroboam
was made a Prince and Master to fill the vacancy so created .
And as Jeroboam was then made a Prince is Israel, and a Superintendent of the labours upon the Temple,
so do I now receive and accept you, my Brother, as one of the Seven Secret Masters of this Lodge, that yon
may at once engage in the performance of the more exalted duties which your higher rank imposes upon you .
Remember that the Princes of Masonry are those who best work and best agree ; that no valuable result is to be
attained in this world without exertion, and that you have yet many steps to ascend, before you reach the
heights on which Truth sits enthroned, and discover Tax LOST WORD, known to the ancient Patriarchs .
Remember that, as the Seven Princes of Israel were under their Chief, so you are subordinate to your
Chiefs in Masonry ; and still more to your Country ; and most of all and above all, to God ; and therefore
.prepare yourself to command, by learning to obey. Remember that life is short, and in it there is much to do,
and Death approaches, and is nearer and nearer to us at every breath we draw ; and therefore loiter not by
the way-eido, but press onward, up the slopes of the mountain, lest Death overtake you and his cold hand clutch
you, before you reach its summit . • •
I crown you with this garland of laurel and olive ; of laurel, emblem of victory and triumph, and sacred to
Apollo, God of Light . Those who went to consult the Delphic Oracle wore garlands of it, as did the Roman
Priests, on festivals . You march towards an Oracle greater than that at Delphi ; that of Masonic Truth, which
gives no equivocal answers, to mislead and deceive . You now commence the upward course that is to fit you
to be Truth's Minister and Priest ; and I crown you with the laurel, and with the olive, emblem of fruition,
in hopeful expectation of your ultimate success and victory .
'
I also invest you with the apron, collar and gloves of this degree . Their colour, white, edged with black,
is emblematical of the grief of our ancient brethren, on account of the Death of our Gr . •. U. • . II.• . A.•% and