The Web of Hiram |
Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite14. Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Master Mason 15. Knight of the East or Sword 17. Knights of the East and West 18. Knight of the Rose-Croix de Heredom 20. Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges 21. Noachite or Prussian Knight 25. Knight of the Brazen Serpent 29. Knight of St Andrew, or Patriarch of the Crusades |
SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRETThe Thirty-Second Grade of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the Third Degree of the Chivalric Series
ARGUMENTThis is the third and last of the Kadosh degrees, and consummates the Templarism of Masonry. The degree was originally a Christian degree of knighthood; its object was, for a long time, to reconquer the Holy Land and plant the Banner of the Cross once more on the ruined walls of Jerusalem. Many of the Knights of the Crusades were Masons, and thus became acquainted with the legend which Masonry had preserved. The Knights Kadosh are the legitimate successors of the Templars. None but earnest and sincere men, unselfish, and whose philanthropy is not a mere name, but a practical reality, should enter here - such as will do Masonry good service in the war which she is waging against the ancient enemies of the human race - a lover of wisdom and an apostle of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
DECORATIONSBodies of this degree are styled Consistories. The hangings are black, strewed with tears of silver, skeletons, human skulls, and cross-bones. In the East is a throne, to which you ascend by seven steps, draped with black satin, like the hangings, but strewed with flames without tears. Before the throne is an altar covered with black satin, strewed with tears; on it are painted or embroidered a death's-head and two cross-bones; over the death's-head is the letter J, and under the cross-bones the letter M. On this altar are the Book of Constitutions and Statutes of the Order, a naked sword, a sceptre, and a balance. In the West are the two Wardens. In front of each is a table, covered with crimson cloth, lined and edged with black, and strewed with tears. On each cover, in front, are the four letters N-K... M-K... On each table are two naked swords crossed. The Hall is divided into two parts by a balustrade. In the West is the camp of the Princes. OFFICERS AND TITLESThe Master is styled Illustrious Commander-in-Chief; the two Wardens, Lieutenant Commanders; and the Orator, Minister of State. Beside these officers, there are a Grand Chancellor, Grand Secretary and Keeper of' the Seals and Archives, Grand Treasurer, Grand Engineer and Architect, Grand Hospitaller, Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Captain of the Guard, Grand Standard-Bearer, and Grand Sentinel. There are also in the Hall, west of the officers, on the right and left, fourteen members, clothed in red, without aprons, and each having on his breast, suspended from a black ribbon worn as a collar, the jewel of one of the degrees-viz.: numbering these members from one to fourteen, they wear respectively the jewels of the 30th, 28th, 25th, 21st, 19th, i8th, 16th, 14th, 13th, 10th, 8th, 7th, 5th, and 3d degrees. The first five are the Standard-Bearers of the Corps that encamp around the pentagon, and the last nine are Commanders of the Corps that encamp around the nonagon; the camp is as shown in the following illustration:
The names of the first five are as follows: 1st. Bezaleel for the Standard ...T 2d. Aholiab for the Standard... E 3d. Mah-Shim for the Standard ...N 4th. Garimont for the Standard ... G 5th. Amariah for the Standard ...U The names of the others are: 1st. Malachi for the Tent ...S 2d. Zerubbabel for the Tent ...A 3d. Nehemiah for the Tent ...L 4th. Joabert for the Tent ...I 5th. Paleg for the Tent ...X 6th. Jehoiada for the Tent...N 7th. Aholiab for the Tent...O 8th. Joshua for the Tent...N 9th. Ezra for the Tent...I THE CAMPIs a nonagon, enclosing a heptagon, which encloses a pentagon, and that an equilateral triangle, and that again a circle. On the sides of the nonagon are nine tents with a flag, pennon, and letter to each. Each tent represents an entire camp, and the several sides of the nonagon are thus assigned by the rituals to the Masons of the several degrees from the 1st to the 18th, as follows: S.: Flag and pennon white, sprinkled lightly with crimson. That tent indicates the camp of the Knights Rose-Croix and Knights of the East and West, 18th and 17th degrees. The Commander, Malachi. A.: Flag and pennon light green. That tent indicates the camp of the Knights of the East or Sword and Princes of Jerusalem, 16th and 16th degrees. The Commander, Zerubbabel. W.: Flag and pennon red. That tent indicates the camp of the Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Masons, 14th degree. The Commander, Nehemiah. L.: Flag and pennon black and red. That tent indicates the camp of the Knights of the Royal Arch and Grand Master Architects, 13th and 12th degrees. The Commander, Joabert. I.: Flag and pennon black. That tent indicates the camp of the Sublime Knights Elected, Elect of Fifteen and Knights Elect of Nine, l ith, 10th, and 9th degrees. The Commander, Paleg. X.: Flag and pennon red and black, in diamonds. That tent indicates the camp of the Intendants of the Building, 8th degree. The Commander, Jehoiada. O.:. Flag and pennon red and green. That tent indicates the camp of the Provost and Judges and Intimate Secretaries, 7th and 10th degrees. The Commander, Aholiab. N.: Flag and pennon green. That tent indicates the camp of Perfect Masters and Secret Masters, 5th and 4th degrees. The Commander Joshua. I.: Flag and pennon blue. That tent indicates the camp of the Masters, the Fellow-Crafts and Apprentices of Symbolic Masonry and Volunteers, 3d, 2d, and 1st degrees. The Commander, Ezra. On each of the external sides of the pentagon is a standard, each designated by a letter, and each supposed to indicate the camp of a corps of Masons, occupying a side of the pentagon, viz. T.: Field purple; on it the Ark of the Covenant in gold, between two green palm-trees, or two lighted candlesticks of gold. Motto at the base, "Laus Deo." Around this standard are stationed the Knights Kadosh and the Grand Scottish Knights of Saint Andrew, 30th and 29th degrees. Standard Bearer, Bezaleel. E.: Field blue; on it is a golden lion, holding in his mouth a key of gold, and a gold collar around his neck, with the figures 525 on the collar. Motto at the base, "Custos Areani," and in some rituals, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" - the latter is the motto of the Jesuits. Around this standard are stationed the Knights of the Sun, the Commanders of the Temple, and the Princes of Mercy, 28th, 27th, and 26th degrees. Standard Bearer, Aholiab. N.: Field white; on it is a flaming heart, with black wings, crowned with a green laurel wreath. Motto, at the base, "Ardem Gloria Surgit." Around this standard are stationed the Knights of the Brazen Serpent, the Princes of the Tabernacle, and the Chiefs of the Tabernacle, 25th, 24th, and 23d degrees. Standard Bearer, Mah-Shim. W.: Field green; on it is a black eagle, with two heads, with an imperial crown of gold resting on both heads; holding in his dexter claw a sword, point in base; and in his sinister claw a bloody heart. Motto at the base, "Corde Gladio Potens." Around this standard are stationed the Princes of Libanus and the Knights Noachite or Prussian Knights, 22d and 21st degrees. Standard Bearer, Garimont. U.: Field gold; on it is a black ox. Motto at the base, '"Omnia Tempus Alit." Around this standard are stationed the Masters Ad Vitam. and the Grand Pontills, 20th and 19th degrees. Standard Bearer, Amariah. At the angles of and inside the triangle are supposed to be encamped the Princes of the Royal Secret and the Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commanders, with such Knights of Malta as, having proved themselves true and faithful, may have been received among us. CLOTHINGThe Illustrious Commander in Chief is clothed in the modern costume of royalty, of crimson; he is armed with a sword and shield. On the table, in front of him, lie his Abacus and balance. The Lieutenant Commanders are also armed with a sword and shield, with beads covered. Neither the officers nor members when in costume wear any apron, but only the collar, to which is suspended the jewel of the Order. The collar is black, edged with silver; on the point is embroidered, in red, a Teutonic cross, and in the centre of the cross a double-headed silver eagle. The collar is lined with scarlet, and on the lining is embroidered a Teutonic cross, in black. The girdle is black, with silver fringe, and on the front is embroidered a red Teutonic cross. The Jewel is a double-headed white and black eagle, resting on a Teutonic cross, of gold. The apron is white, satin or velvet, lined, and edged with black; on the flap is embroidered a double-headed eagle and flags of three colors on either side thereof. In the middle of the apron is embroidered the plan of the camp of the Princes. Kadosh hat - feathers white and crimson. Battery -*-**** RECEPTIONG.: M.: of C.: My brother, the 32d degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite, which we are now conferring on you is the military organization, as the 31st degree is the judicial organization of the Order. The camp which you are entering, and its several parts, are all symbols, the meaning of which we will hereafter endeavour to explain to you. As you pass around and through this camp, we will give you the necessary explanation as to its external features, and recall briefly to your mind the characteristics of the several degrees whose standards float over the camp, to aid you in hereafter understanding the esoteric meaning of the whole. The external lines of the camp form a nonagon, or a figure of geometry with nine equal sides. You perceive that on each side of the nonagon is a tent with a flag and pennon; that each flag and its pennon are of a different color from the others, and that each tent is designated by a letter. Each represents a camp, and the several sides of the nonagon are assigned by our rituals to the Masons of the different degrees from the 1st to the 18th. At the 9th tent were encamped the Apprentices, Fellow-Crafts and Masters of the Blue or Symbolic Degrees, and the volunteers. The commanding officer represents Ezra. The 1st degree shows you man, such as nature has made him, with no other resources than his physical strength. The 2d degree teaches the necessity and holiness of labour, and consequently of knowledge. The 3d degree teaches us that our unavoidable destiny is death; but at the same time, in the ceremony and in the very name of Hiram, it shadows forth the great doctrine of another life, and the immortality of the soul. At the 8th tent were encamped the Secret Masters and Perfect Masters, or the Masons of the 4th and 5th degrees. The commanding officer represents Joshua. At the 7th tent were encamped the Intimate Secretaries and Provosts and Judges, or the Masons of the 6th and 7th degrees. The commanding officer represents Aholiab. At the 6th tent were encamped the Intendants of the Buildings, or the Masons of the 8th degree. The commanding officer represents Jelioiada. At the 5th tent were encamped the Knights Elect of Nine, the Illustrious Elect of Fifteen, and the Sublime Knights Elected, or the Masons of the 9th 10th, and 11lth degrees. The commanding officer represents Paleg. At the 4th tent were encamped the Grand Master Architects and the Knights of the Royal Arch, or the Masons of the 12th and 13th degrees. The commanding officer represents Joabert. At the 3d tent were encamped the Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime Masons of the 14th degree. The commanding officer represents Nehemiah. At the 2d tent were encamped the Knights of the East or Sword, and Princes of Jerusalem, or the Masons of the 15th and 16th degrees. The commanding officer represents Zerubbabel. At the 1st tent were encamped the Knights of the East and West and the Knights Rose Croix of Heredom, or the Masons of the 17th and 18th degrees. The commanding officer represents Malachi. G.: M.: od C.: Sir Knight, you have now passed round the nonagon, and a full explanation has been given you of each tent by its commander. Within this nonagon you perceive is traced a heptagon, or a figure of geometry with seven equal sides; and within that a pentagon, or one with five equal sides. On each of the external angles of the pentagon you perceive a standard, designated by a letter, which indicates the camp of a corps of Masons occupying externally a side of the pentagon. At the 5th standard were encamped the Grand Pontiffs and Masters Ad-vitam, or the Masons of the 19th and 20th degrees. The commanding officer represents Amariah. At the 4th standard were encamped the Noachites or Prussian Knights, and the Knights of the Royal Axe or Princes of Libanus, or the Masons of the 21st and 22d degrees. The commanding officer represents Garimont. At the 3d standard were encamped the Chiefs of the Tabernacle, the Princes of the Tabernacle, and the Knights of the Brazen Serpent, or the Masons of the 23d, 24th, and 25th degrees. The commanding officer represents Mah-Shim. At the 2d standard were encamped the Princes of Mercy or Scotiish Trinitarians, the Grand Commanders of the Temple, and the Princes Adept or the Knights of the Sun, or the Masons of the 26th, 27th, and 28th degrees. The commanding officer represents Aholiab. At the 1st standard were encamped the Grand Scottish Knights of St. Andrew or Patriarch of the Crusades and the Knights Kadosh, or the Masons of the 29th and 30th degrees. The commanding officer represents Bezaleel. G.: M.: of C.: Sir Knight, enclosed in this pentagon you observe an equilateral triangle; at its angles are said to be encamped the Princes of the Royal Secret, the Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commanders, and such Knights of Malta as, having proved themselves true and faithful, have been accepted and received among us. Within the triangle is a circle, in which are said to be the quarters of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33d degree, who serve as Lieutenant Commanders under the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander. In most of the engraved tracing-boards of this degree, within the circle is a cross with five arms of equal length, which were to be the quarters of the five Princes who, as Lieutenant Commanders, were in turn to be second in command, and whose standards float at the five angles of the pentagon. C.: in C.: Sir Knight, if you have in good faith assumed the obligations of the preceding degrees, the general features of which have now been summarily recited to you, and if you have studied and understood the doctrines which they teach and the principles which they inculcate, you are entitled to our regard and esteem, and are fitted to do the duties of a good Mason; for you have bound yourself to do all that virtue, honour, and manhood can require and you have learned all that ancient and modern philosophy can teach in regard to the great mysteries of God and the universe. PRAYER
Kind and indulgent Father of the great family of men! Supreme Intelligence, author of Life and Light! aid us in our'elforts to make this world more worthy of thee, and bless with thy favour our brother who marches to restore to light those who have forgotten thee and thy truth ! For the infinite love thou bearest to thy suffering children, aid him and us in our warfare against ignorance, and against those who mislead, impose upon, and deceive thy people; and make the light of thy knowledge shine in all the corners of the earth. Amen! While the armour is being buckled on the novice, the following will be heard in an adjoining apartment:
HYMN to the tune Spanish Chant.Unto thee, great God, belong mystic rites and sacred song; Lowly bending at thy shrine. Hail, thou Majesty Divine. Glorious Architect above source of light and source of love, Here thy light and love prevail: Hail! Almighty Master, haill The Knightly Armour of the Templar should be complete in every respect, and should be fully explained to the novitiate as it is piece by piece buckled upon him. Sir Knight, thou art now in form and semblance, and by declaration of principle, and, we trust, in spirit, a true Knight Templar: as such, it is your sworn duty to aid us in endeavouring to make this world a Temple fit for the abiding-place of the Great Archtect of the Universe. C.: in C.: Receive this sash; its colour is an emblem of sorrow and mourning for the miseries and sufferings of humanity. Receive, also, and wear this Teutonic cross of gold, the jewel of the Order; deserve it by the services you shall hereafter render to the good cause in which you now claim to be a chief and leader. INVOCATIONThis beautiful prayer should be intonated with organ accompaniment.
C.: in C.: O thou Immutable, thou Immaculate and Immortal. Choir Chant: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, we implore thee. C.: in C.: By whose will we are born and by whose will we die, thou never-ending, thou great eternal, by whose beneficence we call thee Father. Choir Chant. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, we implore thee. C.:. in C.: Thou infinite Spirit of Light and Life, be with us. Let thine outstretching wings, expansive as the eagle's, give us shelter Choir Chant. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, we implore thee. C.: in C.: Be thou to us like the night-dew's cooling balm upon earth's fevered brow. Teach us to know and dread thy wrath. Fill our hearts with love, and, when the end of life draws near, waft us with gentle winds to thy blest abode, where thy myriads chant Choir Chant. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, we implore thee. C.: in C.: Aid us, O Lord! to make this world a t emple of Peace and Love, fit for thy great abode. Choir Chant. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, we implore thee. Choir. Amen! Amen! Amen! C.: in C.: (natural voice) and Amen! |
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