property for ever hereafter to his holy name, and the purposes of our mark, and to the best interest of all those who thus with me become knights of the cross: I swear for ever to give myself to this holy and illustrious order, confiding fully and unre servedly in the purity of their morals and the ardor of their pious enthusiasm, for the recovery of the land of their fathers, and the blessed clime of our Lord's sufferings, and never to renounce the mark of the order, nor the claims and welfare of my brethren.

And that the holy and pious enthusiasm of my brethren may not have slander or disgrace at my hands, or the order be injured by my unworthiness, I swear for ever to renounce tyranny and oppression in my own person and place, whatever it may be, and to stand forth against it in others, whether public or private; to become the champion of the cross; to observe the common good; be the protector of the poor and unfortu nate; and ever to observe the common rights of human nature, without encroachment, or permitting encroachment thereon, if in my power to prevent or lessen it. I will, moreover, act in subordination to the laws of my country, and never countenance any change in the government under which I live, without good and answerable reasons for so doing, that ancient usages and immemorial customs be not overturned.

'I swear to venerate the mark as the wisdom and decree of Heaven, to unite our hands and hearts in the work of the holy crusade, and as an encouragement to act with zeal an l efficacy; and I swear to consider its testimonies as the true and only proper test of an illustrious brother of the cross.

I swear to wear the mark of this order, without the least addition, except what I shall be legally entitled to by induction, for ever, if not without the physical means of doing so, or it being contrary to propriety; and even then, if possible, to wear the holy cross; and I swear to put a chief dependence for the said worthy and pious objects therein.

"I swear to put confidence unlimited in every illustrious brother of the cross, as a true and worthy follower of the blessed Jesus, who has sought this land, not for private good, but piety, and the glory of the religion of the most high and holy God.

'I swear never to permit my political principles nor personal interest to come counter to his, if forbearance and brotherly kindness can operate to prevent it; and never to meet him, if I know it, in war or in peace, under such circumstances that I may not, in justice to myself, my cross, and my country, wish him unqualified success; and if perchance it should happen without my knowledge, on being informed thereof, that I will

use my best endeavors to satisfy him, even to the relinquisting my arms and purpose. I will never shed a brother's blood nor thwart his good fortune, knowing him to be such, nor see it done by others, if in my power to prevent it.

'I swear to advance my brother's best interest, by always supporting his military fame and political preferment in opposi tion to another; and by employing his arms or his aid in his vocation, under all circumstances where I shall not suffer more by so doing, than he, by my neglecting to do so; but this never to the sacrifice of any vital interest in our holy religion, or in the welfare of my country.

'I swear to look on his enemies as my enemies, his friends as my friends, and stand forth to mete out tender kindness or vengeance accordingly; but never to intrude on his social or domestic relations to his hurt or dishonor, by claiming his privileges, or by debauching or defaming his female relations or friends.

'I swear never to see calmly nor without earnest desires and decided measures to prevent the ill treatment, slander, or defamation, of any brother knight, nor ever to view danger or the least shadow of injury about to fall on his head, without well and truly informing him thereof; and, if in my power to prevent it, never to fail, by my sword or counsel, to defend his welfare and good name.

'I do swear never to prosecute a brother before those who know not our order, till the remonstrances of a council shall be inadequate to do me justice.

'I swear to keep sacred my brother's secrets, both when delivered to me as such, and when the nature of the information is such as to require secrecy for his welfare.

'I swear to hold myself bound to him, especially in affliction and adversity, to contribute to his necessities, my prayers, my influence, and my purse.

'I swear to be under the control of my council, or, if belonging to none, to that which is nearest to me, and never to demur to, or complain at, any decree concerning me, which my brethren, as a council, shall conceive me to deserve, and enforce on my head, to my hurt and dishonor.

I swear to obey all summons sent from any council to me, or from any most illustrious knight, whether illustrious counsellor for the time being, or by induction; and to be governed by the constitution, usages, and customs of the order, without variation or change.

'I swear never to see nor permit more than two candidates, who, with the senior inductor, will make three, to be advanced,

at the same time, in any council where I shall be; nor shall any candidate, by suffrage, be inducted without a unanimous vote of the illustrious brethren in council; nor shall any council advance any member, there not being three illustrious knights, or one most illustrious and four illustrious knights of the cross present, which latter may be substituted by most illustrious induction; nor yet where there shall not be a full and proper mark of the order, such as usage has adapted to our altar, of metal, or other durable and worthy material, contained within the apartment of council, as also the holy bible; nor will I ever see a council opened for business, without the cere mony of testing the mark, exercised on the character of every brother, prayers, and the reading of the 35th psalm of David; nor will I ever see, consent to, or countenance, more than two persons of the same business or calling in life, to belong to, or be inducted and advanced in any one council of which I am a member, at the same time; nothing therein going to exclude members from other parts of the country, or from foreign parts, from joining us, if they consent formally and truly to stand in deference and defence, first, of their special bar-brethren in the council, nor to prevent advancements to fill vacancies, occasioned by death or removal. To all this, and every part thereof, I do now, as before, by the honor and power of the mark, as by an honorable and awful oath, which confirmeth all things, in the dread presence of the most holy and Almighty God, solemnly and in truth, bind and obligate my soul; and in the earthly penalties, to wit, that, for the violation of the least matter or particle of any of the here taken obligations, I become the silent and mute subject of the displeasure of the illustrious order, and have their power and wrath turned on my head, to my destruction and dishonor, which, like the nail of Jael, may be the sure end of an unworthy wretch, by piercing my temples with a true sense of my ingratitude-and for a breach of silence in case of such an unhappy event, that I shall die the infamous death of a traitor, by having a spear, or other sharp weapon, like as my Lord, thrust into my left side-bearing testimony, even in death, of the power of the mark, of the holy and illustrious cross, before I. H. S. our thrice illustrious counsellor in heaven, the grand council of the good-To this I swear.'

ELEVEN INEFFABLE DEGREES.

SECRET MASTER.

The lodge of secret masters is spread with black. The master represents Solomon coming to the temple to elect seven experts. He is styled, most powerful.

There is only one warden, who is called Adoniram, after him who had the inspection of the workmanship done at Mount Libanus. He was the first made secret master.

Solomon holds a sceptre in his hand, standing in the east, before a triangular altar, upon which is a crown, and some olive and laurel leaves. Adoniram, the inspector, stands in the

west.

The first officer is decorated with a blue ribbon, from the right shoulder to the left hip, to which hangs a triangle. The second officer is decorated with a white ribbon, bordered with black, in a triangular form, and an ivory key suspended therefrom, with a figure of Z upon it.

All the other brethren are decorated in the same manner, with white aprons and gloves, the strings of the aprons black the flap of the apron is blue, with a golden eye upon it. This lodge should be enlightened by eighty-one candles, distributed by nine times nine.

Reception. The candidate is led to the door of the lodge, where the master of ceremonies knocks seven times. Adoniram comes and repeats the alarm on the inside, and opens the door, and says, 'Who is there?' Ans. A brother who is well qualified, wishes to receive the degree of a secret master.' Adoniram reports to the master, and requests that he may be introduced. Master consents, on condition he vouches for his integrity, zeal, and good conduct. He is led in, and advances to the altar; his right knee on the floor; head bound, and a square fastened on his forehead by the bandage; a great light in the right hand.

Obligation. 1st point, secrecy. 2d. Obey orders and decrees of council of princes of Jerusalem, under penalty of all the former degrees.'

The words in this degree, are Shaddai,' 'Adonai,' and 'Juha.' The pass-word is Zizon.'

The sign is given by placing the two fore-fingers of the right

;

nand on the lips. This is answered by placing the two forefingers of the left hand on the lips. [See plate 27, fig. 1.]

The token, is to join hands as in the master's grip, then move hands to the elbows and give a grip, at the same time cross the legs.

The candidate is thus addressed by the most powerful.

'Brother: you have hitherto only seen the thick veil that covers the sanctum sanctorum of God's temple; your fidelity, zeal and constancy have gained you this favor I now grant you, of showing you our treasure, and introducing you into the secret place.'

He is then invested with the ribbon, the crown of laurels and olives, by the most powerful, who thus addresses him:

My brother: I receive you as secret master, and give you rank among the Levites. This laurel, the emblem of victory, is to remind you of the conquest you are to gain over your passions. The olive is the symbol of that peace and union, which ought to reign among us. It belongeth to you to deserve the favor, that you may be enabled, one day, to arrive in the secret place, to contemplate the pillar of beauty. I decorate you with the ivory key, hung to a white and black ribbon, as a symbol of your fidelity, innocence and discretion.

'The apron and gloves are to be marks of the candor of all secret masters in the number of which you have deserved to be introduced. In this quality, my brother, you are to become the faithful guardian of the sanctum sanctorum, and I put you in the number of seven, to be one of the conductors of the works which are raising to the divinity. The eye upon your apron is to remind you to have a careful watch over the conduct of the craft in general.'

Close.-Q. Brother Inspector, what's the o'clock?' A. 'The end of the day.' Q. What doth remain to do?' A. To practise virtue, to fly vice, and to remain in silence.' Q. 'Since nothing remains to do but to practise virtue and fly vice, let us enter into silence, that the will of God may be accomplished: it is time to rest. Brother Inspector, give notice that I am about to close this lodge by the mysterious number.' Inspector says, 'The most powerful is about to close this lodge by the mysterious number. All clap seven, as in opening, and the lodge is closed.

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