from the candidate, and places the poniard at the foot, and the head at the top of the altar. The candidate is still on his knees, and all the brethren standing round, as if to strike; he takes the obligation. 1st, I do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will revenge the assassination of our worthy master, Hiram Abiff, not only on the murderers, but also on all who may betray the secrets of this degree; and furthermore, that I will keep and protect this order with all my might, and the brethren, in general, with all my power; and furthermore, that I will obey the decrees of the grand council of princes, of Jerusalem; and, if I violate this, my obligation, I consent to be struck with the dreadful poniard of vengeance, now presented to me, and to have my head cut off, and stuck on the highest pole, or pinnacle, in the eastern part of the world, as a monument of my villany! Amen! amen! amen! amen!' The master raises candidate, and says: 'In the reign of Solomon, several of the workmen had been guilty of some crime of an enormous nature, and made their escape from Jerusalem. A great assembly of masters had sat in consultation on the best means of discovering and apprehending them. Their deliberations were interrupted by the entrance of a stranger, who demanded to speak to the king in private. Upon being admitted, he acquainted Solomon that he had discovered where Akirop, one of the traitors, lay concealed; and offered to conduct those whom the king should please to appoint, to go with him. This being communicated to the brethren, one and all requested to be partakers in the vengeance due to the villain. Solomon checked their ardor, declaring that only nine should undertake the task; and to avoid giving any offence, ordered all their names to be put into an urn, and that the first nine that should be drawn, should be the persons to accompany the stranger. 'At break of day, Joabert, Stokin, and seven others, conducted by the stranger, travelled onwards, through a dreary country. On the way, Joabert found means to learn from the stranger, that the villain they were in quest of, had hidden himself in a cavern not far from the place where they then were; he soon found the cavern, and entered it alone, where, by the light of the lamp, he discovered the villain asleep, with a poniard at his feet. Inflamed at the sight, and actuated by an impatient zeal, he immediately seized the poniard, and stabbed him, first in the head, and then in the heart: he had only time to cry, Vengeance is taken, and expired. When the other eight arrived, and had refreshed themselves at the spring, Joabert severed the head from the body, and, taking it in one hand, and his poniard in the other, he, with his brethren, returned to Jerusalem. Solomon was at first very much offended, that Joabert had put it out of his power to take vengeance himself, in presence of, and as a warning to the rest of the workmen to be faithful to their trust; but, by proper intercession, was again reconciled. 'Joabert became highly favored of Solomon, who conferred upon him, and his eight companions, the title of elected knights.' Signs, words, &c.-The sign given by two, is as follows, viz: One raises his poniard, and makes the motion of striking the other, first in the head, and then in the heart. The second claps his right hand first to his heart, and then to his head, as if wounded. [See plate 27, fig. 6.] The following method of giving the sign, is considered by well instructed Masons, as more correct than the above. Strike at the forehead with the poniard-the brother will answer by carrying his hands to his forehead, as if to examine the supposed wound, plunge the poniard at the breast, crying 'Nekum,' (i. e. vengeance)-the brother replies by carrying his hand to his heart, saying, 'Necar.' Token. The first clenches the fingers of his right hand, at the same time elevating and extending his thumb; the second seizes that thumb with his right hand, and extends the thumb of his own hand; the eight fingers which are thus closed, represent the eight companions of Joabert, and the thumb which is extended, represents Joabert himself. Pass-word. In some lodges, the pass-word is, 'Bagulhal ;' in others, the words' Nekum' and Joabert' are used, and often Abiram,' and 'Akirop.' Sacred words. In some lodges, ‘Nekum' and 'Necar;' in others, Bagulhal.' 6 The chapter is closed by eight and one. ELECTED GRAND MASTER. Signs, words. &c.-Sign.-Place the point of the poniard under your chin, and draw it downwards to the waist, as if in the act of ripping open the body. The brother will answer by giving the sign of the entered apprentice, with the fingers clenched, and thumb extended. The following mode of giving the sign has been used in some lodges, viz: Clench the fingers of the right hand, extend the thumb, place it on the abdomen, move the hand upward to the chin; the motion of the thumb, as it glides upward, is designed to represent that of the knife with which the penalty of this degree is to be executed. The answer is the sign of the entered appren. tice, the fist being clenched during the motion. [See plate 28, fig. 1.] Token.-Give the sign. One says 'Zerbul,' the other replies, 'Eleham.' Pass-word. In some lodges, 'Eliham,' or others, Zerbal.' 6 Eleham,' in Sacred words. In some lodges, 'Zerbal,' in some, ‘Beniah,' in some, Benhakar,' or Bendaka,' and in others, ham.' Ele SUBLIME KNIGHTS ELECTED. Signs, words, &c.-Signs.-Cross the arms on the stomach, the fingers clenched, and thumbs elevated. In addition to this, in some chapters of this degree, the eyes are raised to heaven, in giving the sign. [See plate 28, fig. 2.] Token. That of the intimate secretary. In some chapters, there is a second or responsive token, viz: take the right hand of the brother, and with the thumb strike thrice on the last joint of the middle finger. Pass-word. Stolkin or Stokin. Some chapters use ' Emerh,' or more correctly, Emeth.' Others, 'Amuriah.' 6 Sacred word.-'Adonai.' GRAND MASTER ARCHITECT. Sign.-Slide the right hand into the palm of the left, pause a moment, clench the fingers of the right hand, extend the thumb, and with it make the motion of tracing a plan in the palm of the left, directing your eyes to the brother, as if drawing from his dictation. This sign is varied in some chapters, by using the fore-finger in place of the thumb. Token.-Join right hand to the brother's left, interlacing the ingers, place the left hand on your hip; the brother will do the same with his right hand. [See plate 28, fig. 3.] Some give the following token, viz: join right hands, interlacing the three last fingers, and fixing them so as to form a square; place the left hand on your brother's shoulder. Pass-word. Rabacim,' or correctly, ‘Rab-banain.' |