Illustrious Knights Elected
Opening.—Most Potent knocks ten. Grand Marshal rises. Most Potent says, “Are we all Illustrious Knights Elected?” A. We are, Most Potent. “Your place? etc. Your duty?” A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. “Please attend,” etc. Most Potent knocks eleven. Grand Inspector rises. “Companion Inspector, what is the hour?” A. It is twelve. Most Potent knocks twelve. Companions rise. “If it is twelve, it is time to labor by the greatest of lights.” Signs given. Most Potent knocks twelve, Inspector twelve, and Companion twelve, with their hands, etc.
Lecture.—Question—Are you an Illustrious Knight Elected? Answer. My name will inform you.
Q. What is that name? A. Payrawsh Bawheer, or Illustrious Knight elected.
Q. How were you admitted? A. I was hoodwinked and conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the door of the Chapter, where he gave twelve distinct knocks.
Q. To what did they allude? A. To the twelve tribes of Israel.
Q. How were they answered? A. By twelve from within.
Q. What was then said to you? A. “Who comes there?”
Q. Your answer? A. A Master Elected of Fifteen wishes to receive the degree of Illustrious Knight.
Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked by what further right, etc., and I was told to wait until the Most Potent was informed of my request, and his answer returned.
Q. What was that answer? A. Let him be introduced in due form.
Q. What then followed? A. I was conducted to the west, and the Most Potent inquired what I wanted.
Q. Your answer? A. To receive the degree of Illustrious Knight, as a reward for my zeal and labor.
Q. What did the Most Potent say to you then? A. My brother, you cannot receive this degree until you have given us satisfactory proof that you have not been an accomplice in the death of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff; to assure us of this, we require you to participate in a symbolic offering, of a portion of the heart of our Respectable Master, Hiram Abiff, which we have preserved since his assassination. You are to swallow the portion we present to you. Every faithful Mason may receive it without injury, but it cannot remain in the body of one who is perjured. Are you disposed to submit to this trial?
Q. What was your answer? A. I am.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Potent directed the Master of Ceremonies to cause me to advance to the altar, by twelve upright regular steps, where the Most Potent, with the trowel, presented to me the symbolic offering which I swallowed, and was thus addressed by the Most Potent: “This mystic oblation, which, like you, we have received forms a tie so strong that nothing can oppress it; woe to him who attempts to disunite us. I then received the obligation of this degree.
Q. Repeat that obligation. A. (Same as Perfect Master.) Under penalty of having my hands nailed to my breast. So help, etc.
Q. What was then communicated to you? A. The Most Potent removed the bandage, and gave me the sign. (Cross hands on breast) it alludes to penalty.
Q. Give me the token? A. (Token of Intimate Secretary, with left hand on brother’s heart.)
Q. Give me the pass-word? A. Emun.
Q. What does that word signify? A. Truth.
Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Joha (pronounced Yo-hay).
Q. What followed? A. I was invested with the apron, gloves and jewels of this degree, and was told the device on my sash and apron, and also the color of the latter, was an emblem of a heart inflamed with gratitude for the honors and rewards conferred on me, and the sword of that justice which overtook and punished the assassins, and was designed to admonish me that perjury and treason will never escape the sword of justice, and I was directed to go and salute the Inspector, and return to the east for further instruction.
Second Section.—Of what was the symbolic offering presented to you at your initiation composed? A. Of flour, milk, wine and oil.
Q. What did they represent? A. Flour represents goodness, the milk, gentleness, the wine, strength or fortitude, and the oil, light and wisdom, qualities which distinguished Hiram Abiff, and should distinguish every illustrious Knight.
Q. How were the Illustrious Knights employed at the erection of the temple? A. They had command over the twelve tribes, and by their strict attention, promoted peace and harmony, and animated the laborers with cheerfulness.
Q. What was the intention of Solomon in instituting this degree? A. To reward the zeal, etc., and also by their preferment to make more.
Closing.—Most Potent knocks ten (Grand Marshal rises). “The last as well as the first care of a Chapter of Illustrious Knights?” A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. “Attend to your duty, and inform the Sentinel,” etc. Most Potent knocks eleven (Senior Warden rises). “Brother Inspector, what is the hour?” A. Low six. Most Potent knocks twelve (brethren rise). “Brother Inspector, give notice,” etc. Signs. Most Potent knocks twelve, Inspector twelve, brethren twelve, with their hands, and Most Potent declares the Chapter duly closed.