THE HOLY AND THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF

THE CROSS, CALLED A COUNCIL.

The officers and council all in their places. The most illustrious prefect addresses the most worthy provost thus: 'Most worshipful provost, what is the clock? Most worshipful provost says, rising and facing the east, at the same time raising his mark in his right hand, 'Most illustrious prefect, it is now the first hour of the day, the time when our Lord suffered, and the veil of the temple was rent asunder, when darkness and consternation was spread over the earth, when the confusion of the old covenant was made light in the new, in the temple of the cross. It is, most illustrious prefect, the third watch, when the implements of Masonry were broken; when the flame, which led the wise men of the east, re-appeared; when the cubic stone was broken, and the word was given.' Most illustrious prefect says to worthy herald, 'It is my will that this house of God be closed, and the remembrance of those solemn and sacred events, be here commemorated: make this, worthy herald, known to the most worshipful provost, in due and ancient form.' The worthy herald bows and approaches the most worshipful provost, where he bows thrice, faces about and gives a blast with his horn; and after the knights have filed out by threes without the door, except the worthy senior inductor, he does his errand, viz: Most worshipful provost, it is the sovereign will of Count Albertus, of Pergamus, that this house of God be closed, and that those solemn and sacred events in the new covenant be here commemorated: you will observe this.' The worthy herald bows, and the most worshipful provost rises and addresses the worthy senior conductor thus: It is the will of the most illustrious prefect that here now be opened a council of knights of the cross: what therein becomes your duty?" Worthy senior inductor says, 'To receive the commands of superiors in the order, and pay obedience thereto to conduct and instruct my ignorant pass-brethren; and to revere and inculcate reverence in others, for the most holy and Almighty God.' The most worshipful provost rises fiercely, and says, 'By what right do you claim this duty? Worthy S. inductor says, 'By the right of a sign, and the mark of a sign.' Most worshipful provost says, ' Will you give me a sign?' Worthy sen. I could if I should.' The most worshipful provost then partly extends both arms, pointing

downwards to an angle of 39 deg. with the palm open and upwards, to show they are not sullied with iniquity and oppression, and says, ' Worthy sen. inductor, you may give it.' The worthy sen. inductor then looks him full in the face, and with his fore-finger touches his right temple, and lets fall his hand, and says, This is a sign. Most worshipful provost says, 'A sign of what?' Worthy sen. inductor says, 'Ay, a sign of what?' Wor. pro. says, 'A penal sign.' Wor. senior inductor says, 'Your sign is Most worthy pro. says, 'The last sign of my induction.' Most worthy pro. says, 'But you have the mark of a sign.' Worthy sen. inductor says, 'The sign whereof my mark is a mark, I hope is in the council above.' Most worthy pro. says, ' But the mark

- Worthy

sen. inductor says, 'Is in my bosom.' Thereupon he produces his mark in his left hand, and with the fore-finger of his right on the letter S, on the cross, asks, 'What's that?' Most wor.

pro. says, 'Lisha.” Wor. pro. puts his finger on the letter H, and asks, What is this?' Worthy sen. inductor says 'Sha.' Worthy sen. inductor then puts his finger on the letter I, and asks, What is this?' Most wor. pro. says, 'Baal.' What, then, is your mark?' Worthy senior inductor says, 'Baal, Sha-Lisha; I am the Lord.' The most worshipful provost then says, 'You are my brother, and the duty is yours of ancient right; please announce the council open.' The worthy senior inductor steps to the door and gives three raps, and is answered by some knight from without, who is then admitted, and the worthy sen. inductor gives the conditional sign, (which is by partly extending both arms, as before described;) the knight answering by putting his finger to his right temple, as before. The worthy senior inductor then addresses the chair thus:'Most illustrious prefect, a professing brother is within the council by virtue of a sign.' Most illustrious prefect says to worthy herald, Go to this professing brother, and see him marked before the chair of the most worshipful provost; conduct him thither, worthy herald.' The worthy herald says to the knight, Worthy sir, know you the sacred cross of our council?' Knight says, 'I am a Christian.' The worthy herald then says, 'Follow me.' When arrived before the most wor. pro. the worthy herald says, 'Most worthy provost, by order of the most illustrious prefect, I here bring you to be marked a professing brother of the cross.' The most wor. pro. says, 'Worthy sir, know you the cross of our council?' Knight says, 'I am a Christian.' The most wor. pro. says, No more.'

6

' Mr.—————, before you can be admitted to the light and bene

fit of this thrice illustrious order, it becomes my duty, by ancient usage, to propose to you certain questions, not a thing vainly ceremonial; but the companions will expect true answers: they will concern your past life, and resolutions for the future. Have you given me without evasion or addition, your baptismal and family names, and those of your parents, your true age as far as within your knowledge; where you were educated, where you were born, and also where was your last place of residence? or have you not? I have.' It is well.

Were your parents free and not slaves? had they right and title in the soil of the earth? were they devoted to the religion of the cross, and did they so educate their family? have you searched the spiritual claims of that religion on your gratitude and your affections? and have you continued stedfast in that faith from choice and a conviction of your duty to heaven, or from education? From duty and choice.' This also is right.

Have you ever up to this time lived according to the principles of that religion, by acting upon the square of virtue with all men, nor defrauding any, nor defamed the good name of any, nor indulged sensual appetites unreasonably, but more especially to the dishonor of the matrimonial tie, nor extorted on, or oppressed the poor? I have not been guilty of these things?" You have then entitled yourself to our highest confidence, by obeying the injunctions of our thrice illustrious prefect in heaven, of doing to all men even as you would that they should do unto you.' Mr. can you so continue to act, that yearly on the anniversary of St. Albert, you can solemnly swear for the past season you have not been guilty of the crimes enumerated in these questions? By the help of God I can.' Be it so, then, that annually, on the anniversary of St. Albert, you swear to these great questions; and the confidence of the knights companions of the order in you, rests on your being able so to do.

For the future, then, you promise to be a good man, and to be governed by the moral laws of God and the rules of the order, in always dealing openly, honorably, and above deceit, especially with the knights companions of the order. 'I do.'

You promise so to act with all mankind, but especially with the fraternity, as that you shall never be justly called a bad paymaster, ungrateful, a liar, a rake, or a libertine, a man careless in the business of your vocation, a drunkard, or a tyrant. I do.'

You promise to lead a life as upright and just in relation to all mankind as you are capable of, but in matters of difference,

to preserve the interest of a companion of the order; of a companion's friend for whom he pleads, to any mere man of the world. I do.'

You promise never to engage in mean party strife, nor conspiracies against the government or religion of your country, whereby your reputation may suffer, nor ever to associate with dishonorable men even for a moment, except it be to secure the interest of such person, his family or friends, to a companion, whose necessities require this degradation at your hands. 'I do.'

You promise to act honorably in all matters of office or vocation, even to the value of the one third part of a Roman penny, and never to take any advantage therein unworthy the best countenance of your companions, and this, that they shall not, by your unworthiness, be brought into disrepute. 'I do.'

The candidate then takes the following oath :

'You, Mr. —, do now, by your honor, and in view of the power and union of the thrice illustrious order of the cross, now first made known to you, and in the dread presence of the most holy and Almighty God, solemnly and sincerely swear and declare, that, to the end of your life, you will not, either in consideration of gain, interest, or honor, nor with good or bad design, ever take any, the least, step or measure, or be instrumental in any such object, to betray or communicate to any person, or being, or number of the same, in the known world, not thereto of cross and craft entitled, any secret or secrets, or ceremony or ceremonies, or any part thereof appertaining to the order and degree known among Masons, as the thrice illustrious order of the cross. That you will not, at any time or times, whatever, either now or hereafter, directly or indirectly, by letter, figure, or character, however or by whoever made, ever communicate any of the information and secret mysteries heretofore alluded to. That you will never speak on or upon, or breathe high or low, any ceremony or secret appertaining thereto, out of council, where there shall not be two or more knights companions of the order present, besides yourself, and that in a safe and sure place, whereby any opinion, even of the nature and general principles of the institution, can be formed by any other person, be he Mason or otherwise, than a true knight companion of the cross; nothing herein going to interfere with the prudent practice of the duties enjoined by the order, or arrangement for their enforcement.

'You further swear, that, should you know another to violate any essential part of this obligation, you will use your most decided endeavors, by the blessing of God, to bring such person

to the strictest and most condign punishment, agreeably to the rules and usages of our ancient fraternity; and this by pointing him out to the world as an unworthy vagabond; by opposing his interest, by deranging his business, by transferring his character after him wherever he may go, and by exposing him to the contempt of the whole fraternity and the world, but of our illustrious order more especially, during his whole natural life: nothing herein going to prevent yourself, or any other, when elected to the dignity of thrice illustrious, from retaining the ritual of the order, if prudence and caution appear to be the governing principle in so retaining it, such dignity authorizing the elected to be governed by no rule but the dictates of his own judgment, in regard to what will best conduce to the interest of the order; but that he be responsible for the character of those whom he may induct, and for the concealment of the said ritual.

Should any thrice illustrious knight or acting officer of any council which may have them in hand, ever require your aid in any emergency in defence of the recovery of his said charge, you swear cheerfully to exercise all assistance in his favor, which the nature of the time and place will admit, even to the sacrifice of life, liberty, and property. To all, and every part thereof, we then bind you, and by ancient usage you bind yourself, under the no less infamous penalty than dying the death of a traitor, by having a spear, or other sharp instrument, like as our Divine Master, thrust in your left side, bearing testimony, even in death, of the power and justice of the mark of the holy

cross.

'I do now, by the honor and power of the mark of the holy and illustrious order of the cross, which I do now hold to heaven in my right hand as the earnest of my faith, and in the dread presence of the most holy and Almighty God, solemnly swear and declare, that I do hereby accept of, and for ever will consider the cross and mark of this order as my only hope : that I will make it the test of faith and fellowship; and that I will effect its objects and defend its mysteries to the end of my days, with my life and with my property-and first, that in the state of collision and misunderstanding impiously existing among the princes and pilgrims, defenders and champions of the holy cross of Jesus our Lord, now assembled in the land and city of their peace, and considering that the glory of the Most High requires the greatest and strictest unanimity of measures and arms, the most sacred union of sentiment and brotherly love in the soldiers who there thus devote themselves to his cause and banner, I swear strictly to dedicate myself, my life, and my