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 |
KNIGHT OF THE ROYAL AXEorPRINCE OF LIBANUSTHE TWENTY-SECOND GRADE OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE, AND THE FOURTH DEGREE OF THE HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SERIES.
ARGUMENTThe object held in view in the degree of Knight of the Royal Axe, is to teach all men that labour is honourable, and that we should strive to improve the condition of the tolling millions. We are all workmen in our several vocations, whether in actual labour, preparing plans for the labourers, or studying the calculations of Philosophy, the advancement of civilisation and knowledge, or the destruction of ignorance and barbarism. LODGES, OFFICERS, DECORATIONS, ETCBodies of this degree are styled Colleges. There are two apartments. The first is a plain room, of moderate dimensions, without any fixed number of lights, and prepared to represent a workshop on Mount Lebanon. The second is hung with red, and lighted by 36 lights, arranged by sixes, and each six by twos. It represents the Council-room of the Round Table. In the centre of the room is such a table, around which the brethren sit. The altar. is in the East, and upon it are an open Bible, the square and Compasses, and an Axe. The officers are a Chief Prince, who is styled" Thrice Puissant," a Senior and a Junior Grand Warden, a Master of Ceremonies, and Captain of the Guard. The order is a broad, rainbow-coloured ribbon, worn as a collar. It may be worn as a sash, from right to left, and is lined with purple. The jewel, suspended to the collar, is an axe and handle of gold. On the top or end of the handle are letters The letters on the top are the initials of the names of Noah and Solomon; those on the handle, of Libanus and Tsidun; those on one side of the blade, of Adoniram, Cyrus, Darius, Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra; and those on the other side, of Shem, Kham, Yapheth, Moses, Ahaliab, and Betselal. The apron is white, lined and bordered with purple. On the middle a round table is embroidered, on which are mathematical instruments, and plans unrolled. On the flap is a serpent with three heads. The tracing-board is a view of the mountains and forests of Lebanon, the summit of the mountain -covered with snow; and of the Temple erected of its cedars and pines. It is in the form of an axe. In the workshop the Senior Warden presides, and is styled ' Master Carpenter." He and all the brethren wear frocks or blouses and aprons. There is no particular alarm or battery in the workshop. OPENING PRAYERThou who dids't create the universe, and hast builded it in infinite magnificence, as thou art infinite in skill and wisdom, bless us in our daily labours, and prosper the work of our hands! Teach us and all men that labour is honourable! Improve the condition of the toiling millions! Teach the rich and the haughty compassion for those over whom they have control; and hasten the coming of the day when all men shall acknowledge the great truth, that to work well in our appointed sphere is the most acceptable prayer that man can offer up to thee. Amen ! HISTORYThe Tsidunians or Phoenicians were ever ready to aid the Israelites in their holy enterprises. The tie between them was the mysteries, into which the principal persons of both nations were initiated; Moses having necessarily received them in Egypt, before he could marry the daughter of a priest of On. These mysteries, modified by Solomon, or perhaps at an earlier day by Joshua, or even Moses, to suit the genius and manners of the Jewish people, became Masonry, such as it was practised at the building of the Temple, and such as it has in part come down to us. Khurum, King of Tsur, in Phoenicia, and Khurum Abai, also a Phoenician and not a Jew, were likewise initiates; and hence the intimate connection between them and Solomon, as Masons. The people of Tsidun, a city of Phoenicia, were employed by Noah to cut cedars on Mount Libanus, of which to build the ark, under the superintendence of Japhet. His descendants repeopled Tsidun and Phoenicia, and procured and furnished the cedar from Lebanon to build the Ark of the Covenant; and at a later day his posterity, under Adon Khurum, cut in the same forests cedars for King Solomon; and at a time, still later, they felled timber on the same mountains to construct the second temple. Upon the same mountain they established Colleges of Artificers, like those in Etruria, and afterward at Rome; from which latter many deduce Masonry. But the Etrurians, who emigrated from Assyria to Egypt and afterward to Etruria -better known as the Hyksos, from Rosen on the Tigris, or as the Shepherd Kings-carried with them the same mysteries, which went also with them into Phoenicia; and the Etrurian and Roman Colleges were in all respects like those of Mount Libanus. These artificers everywhere adored the Grand Architect of the Universe, and had their signs and words by which to recognise each other. Solomon himself, whose wisdom necessarily gave him a true idea of the dignity of labour, built a palace on the mountain, to which he often repaired to inspect the progress of the work. The names of the Patriarchs who were the inspectors and conductors of the workmen on the mountain at different periods, are preserved in our passwords. The institution of Colleges upon Mount Libanus was perpetuated by the Druses, from whom the Crusaders obtained a knowledge of this degree. CLOSING ADDRESSWhen God in His eternal council conceived the thought of Man's creation, He called to Him the three ministers that continually waited upon the throne - Justice, Truth, and Mercy - and thus addressed them: 'Shall we make Man?' Justice answered: 'O God, make him not, he will trample on Thy laws;' and Truth also answered: 'O God, make him not, for he will pollute Thy sanctuaries.' But Mercy, dropping on her knees and looking up through her tears, exclaimed: 'O my God, make him and I will watch over him with my care through the dark and dreary paths he will have to tread.' And God made Man, and said to him: "O Man, thou art the child of Mercy - go and deal with thy brother." |
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