us in our endeavours to retrieve our loss and recover the Word, in which case only shall we be able to confer upon you that distinction you so earnestly desire.

CAND. We promise faithfully to aid you in your labours, and to obey whatever commands you may be pleased to impose upon us.

M. W. S.-Then, worthy Knights, I direct you to travel thirty-three eleven to the North, eleven to the South, eleven to the West, returning to me in the East with whatever information you may obtain during your travels; and I particularly commend to your meditation the beauties of the New and Better Covenant; and that you may more completely appreciate its excellence, let us invoke guidance and direction from above.

PRAYER.

H. P.-Oh! Almighty and Sovereign Architect of the Universe, who penetratest into the most secret re

C

cesses of the hearts of men, purify ours with the sacred fire of Thy Divine Love. Banish from this Holy Sanctuary the impious and profane, and grant that we, being solely occupied with the great work of our redemption, may be enabled to distinguish the precious metal from the dross, and may not be deceived in the choice of those we are about to perfect, and may the bond of our union be ever cemented by peace, benevolence, and good will. Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only wise God, be the kingdom, power, and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

M. W. S.-Depart in peace. Our Excellent and Perfect Grand Marshal will conduct you to the Pillar of Wisdom in the North, the Pillar of Beauty in the South, and the Pillar of Strength in the West.

(Music ...... The Candidates then proceed on their travels, conducted by the Grand Marshal. Each time on passing the Altar they bow, and on arriving at the Pillars in the North,

South, and West, they take up the respective letters F., H., and C., which have been previously placed there, and standing in the West, the Grand Marshal presents them to the M. W. S., saying:-)

G. M.-I beg to present to you A. B. and C. D., Knights of the East and West who have completed the thirty-three travel imposed on them.

M. W. S.-What have you obtained in your travels?

CAND. We have searched in and about the Pillars in the North, South, and West for the lost Word, but have only succeeded in finding the letters F., H., and C., which we beg to present.

(The Candidates give the letters to the Grand Marshal, by whom they are presented to the M. W. S.)

M. W. S.-I congratulate you on the success which has already rewarded your exertions. These letters are the Initials of those Virtues by whose assistance you will be led to the discovery of the mysterious Word.

But before I can further explain myself, I must call on you to take a solemn obligation to keep inviolate the secrets and mysteries of our Order. Are you ready to take this obligation?

CAND. We are.

M. W. S.-Then you will kneel before the Cross, place your right hands on the Volume of the New Testament, across your hands a Sword and Compasses. Repeat your several names, and each say after me :

OBLIGATION.

I, A. B., in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, and before the Holy Cross, in the presence of this Perfect and Princely Council, do hereby, and hereon, promise, that I will never reveal the secrets or mysteries of this Princely Order of the Rose Croix of H. R. D. M. to any one in the world not lawfully entitled thereto, or whom I believe not to have been duly qualified in a true and lawfully constituted Chapter. I furthermore pledge my

sacred word of honour, that I will at all times pay due allegiance to this Sovereign Chapter, and to the Supreme Council under whose authority this Chapter is held. All this I solemnly pledge myself to observe without evasion, or mental reservation of any kind. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in this my obligation.

M. W. S.-You will seal this seven times on the New Testament. (Done.) M. W. S.-Arise, newly perfected Companions.

(The Candidates retire to the West.) M. W. S.-It is now my duty to inform you, that the seven circles round which you have travelled represent the six periods of the world's existence, now about to close with the Second Advent of our Great Immanuel, when time will be swallowed up in eternity, of which the Seventh Circle is an emblem. I congratulated you before on your happy return from your travels, and on your having found the initials of the three fundamental principles of our Order. Faith. Hope