Elected Knights of Nine
Opening.—The brethren sit cross-legged, and lean their heads on their right hands. Most Potent knocks seven (Grand Marshal rises), “Brother Grand Marshal, are we all Elected Knights of Nine?” Ans. We are.
Q. Your place? A. In the north, Most Potent.
Q. Your business there? A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded.—“Please attend to your duty, and inform the Sentinel that we are about to open this Chapter of E. K. and charge him,” etc. Marshal obeys. Most Potent knocks eight, and Warden rises, and Master says, “Brother Stokin, are you an E. K.?” A. One cavern received me, one lamp gave me light, and one fountain refreshed me. Q. What is the hour? A. Break of day. Most Potent knocks eight quick and one slow strokes, and companies all arise. Most Potent says, “If it is break of day, it is time to open a Chapter of E. K’s. Inform the companies,” etc. Warden obeys. Signs given. Most Potent knocks eight and one, and Warden eight and one, and companies eight and one, with their hands; and Most Potent declares the Chapter open.
Lecture.—Question—Are you an E. K.? A. One cavern received me, one lamp gave me light, and one fountain refreshed me.
Q. Where were you received? A. In the audience chamber of Solomon.
Q. How were you received? A. I was hoodwinked and conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the door of the Chapter, where he gave eight and one distinct knocks.
Q. To what do those knocks allude? A. To the number of the nine elect.
Q. How were those knocks answered? A. By eight and one from within.
Q. What followed? A. I was asked, “Who comes there?”
Q. Your answer? A. A companion, to whose lot it has fallen to accompany the stranger in search of the assassins of Hiram Abiff.
Q. What followed? A. I was conducted by the hand to the west, and asked by the Most Potent, what I wanted.
Q. Your answer? A. To be made an Elected Knight.
Q. What then followed? A. I was asked if I had courage to go in pursuit of the assassins of Hiram Abiff, which question I answered in the affirmative, and was addressed by the Most Potent in the following manner:—“If you have, you shall be shown the place where one of his murderers lies concealed; a stranger has discovered it to me, and if you have resolution, follow this stranger.”
Q. What was then done to you? A. The Master of Ceremonies led me out of the Chapter, by intricate roads, and at last seated me on a stone, and thus addressed me:—“I am going to leave you, but be of good cheer, I shall not be long absent; when I am gone, you must take the bandage off your eyes, and drink some water from the fountain beside you, that you may be refreshed after so fatiguing a journey.”
Q. What followed? A. I removed the bandage and found myself alone in a cavern, in which was a lamp, a fountain, and a head just severed from the body. In a short time the Master of Ceremonies returned, and directed me to take a poniard in my right hand, and the head in my left, and then conducted me to the door of the Chapter, where I knocked eight and one with my foot, which was answered from within, and I was asked, “What do you want?”
Q. Your answer? A. To enter this Chapter of Elected Knights.
Q. What followed? A. I was asked by what right I claimed this privilege.
Q. Your answer? A. I Have performed a feat for the honor of the craft, which I hope will entitle me to this degree.
Q. What followed? A. I was admitted, and directed to approach the altar by eight quick and one slow steps, still holding the head in my left hand, and the poniard in my right, as if in the act of striking; the ninth step brought me to the altar, where the Most Potent addressed me in an angry tone: “Wretch, what have you done, do you not know that by this rash act you have deprived me of an opportunity of inflicting condign punishment on the assassin?”
Q. What followed? A. The companies made earnest intercession for me, observing that my offence had doubtless arisen from the wrath of my zeal, and not from any bad intention. Upon this the Most Potent was reconciled, and he administered to me the obligation of this degree, the companies all standing ’round me with their poniards as if going to stab me.
Q. Repeat that obligation? A. (Same as in Perfect Master.) Under penalty of being stabbed in my head and in my heart. So help, etc.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Potent gave me the sign, token and words of this degree.
Q. Give me the sign? A. (Clap your right hand first to your head and then to your heart.)
Q. Give me the token? A. (Grasp the thumb of your brother’s right hand, both clenching the fingers and extending the thumb of the hand that is uppermost.)
Q. To what does that token allude? A. The eight fingers and extended thumb allude to the eight and one elect; the one to Joabert, who left his eight companions, and went alone in search of, etc.
Q. Give me the pass-words? A. Rawkam and Akirop.
Q. What is the word? A. Bugelkal, who was chief of the tabernacle.
Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Jeva (pronounced Je-vau).
Q. What was then done to you? A. I was invested with the apron, gloves and jewels of this degree, and ordered to salute the Warden, and to return to the east for further instructions.
Second Section.—Question—Give me the history of this degree? Ans. After the death of Hiram Abiff, the three ruffians who had been apprehended having made their escape, a great assembly of Masters had sat, etc., he had only time to pronounce Naukam, which signifies, “vengeance is taken,” and expired. Joabert being extremely fatigued, refreshed himself at the spring which he found in the cavern, and then slept until he was awakened by the other eight, who arrived shortly after. On beholding what Joabert had done, they all exclaimed Naukam. Joabert then severed the head from the body, divided the body into 4 quarters, which were burnt to ashes, and the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven. Joabert then taking the head, etc., again reconciled. Solomon then ordered the head to be placed on the east pinnacle of the temple.
Q. What was the name of the assassin? A. Jubelum Akirop.
Q. From what number were the nine elect chosen? A. Ninety-nine.
Q. Where was the assassin found? A. In a cavern, near the coast of Joppa.
Q. How did the nine elect travel? A. By dark and intricate roads, which often obliged them to cross their legs, and this is the reason why the nine elect sit in this manner in the Chapter.
Q. What is meant by the dog you saw on the carpet, in the Lodge? A. The dog of the stranger, through whose sagacity Akirop was discovered.
Q. What does the color, black, denote in this degree? A. Grief.
Q. What is your age? A. Eight and one, accomplished.
Closing.—Most Potent knocks seven (Grand Marshal rises) and says, “The last as well as the first care of a Chapter of E. K.?” Ans. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded.—Please attend to your duty and inform the Sentinel, etc. Most Potent knocks eight, and Warden rises. Q. What is the hour? A. Evening. Most Potent knocks eight and one. Companies all rise. Companion Stokin gives notice, etc. Most Potent knocks eight and one, Warden eight and one, Companions eight and one, and the Chapter is declared duly closed.