The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's LodgeMorgan, William
Religion
The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge
Morgan, William
Freemasonry -- United States -- Rituals
The second section of the Lecture on this degree states minutely the
ceremonies and forms of exaltation (as the conferring of this degree
is styled), but there seems to be some parts which require
explanation. The Principal Sojourner conducts the candidate, and is
considered as representing Moses conducting the children of Israel
through the wilderness. He is usually dressed to represent an old man,
bowed with age, with a mask on his face, and long beard hanging down
upon his breast; is introduced to the candidate in the preparation
room by the name of Moses. On entering the Chapter, the candidates are
received under a "living arch;" that is, the companions arrange
themselves in a line on each side of the door, and each joins hands
with the one opposite to himself. The candidates entering, the
conductor says, "Stoop low, brothers! we are about to enter the
arches; remember that he that humbleth himself shall be exalted; stoop
low, brothers, stoop low!" The candidates seldom pass the first pair
of hands, or, in other words, the first arch, without being so far
humbled as to be very glad to support themselves on all fours. Their
progress may be imagined to be very slow; for, in addition to their
humble posture, they are obliged to support on their backs the whole
weight of the living arches above. The conductor, to encourage them,
calls out occasionally, "Stoop low, brothers, stoop low!" If they go
too slow to suit the companions, it is not unusual for some one to
apply a sharp point to their bodies to urge them on; the points of the
pasteboard crown answer quite well for this purpose. After they have
endured this humiliating exercise as long as suits the convenience of
the companions, they pass from under the living arches. The candidates
next receive the obligation, travel the room, attend the prayer,
travel again, and are shown a representation of the Lord appearing to
Moses from the burning bush. This last is done in various ways.
Sometimes an earthen pot is filled with earth, and green bushes set
around the edge of it, and a candle in the centre; and sometimes a
stool is provided with holes about the edge, in which bushes are
placed, and a bundle of rags or tow, saturated with oil of turpentine,
placed in the centre, to which fire is communicated. Sometimes a
large bush is suspended from the ceiling, around the stem of which tow
is wound wet with oil of turpentine. In whatever way the bush is
prepared, when the words are read, "He looked, and behold, the bush
burned with fire," etc., the bandage is removed from the eyes of the
candidates, and they see the fire in the bush,[15] and, at the words,
"Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes," etc., the shoes of the
candidates are taken off, and they remain in the same situation while
the rest of the passage is read to the words, "And Moses hid his face;
for he was afraid to look upon God." The bandage is then replaced, and
the candidates again travel about the room, while the next passage of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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