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LThi~Ijt~ ~emptar~
 FORM OF OPENING
At the hour for the opening, the Chief Coun-
selor will say: “Lady Honesty, see that our coun-
oil chamber is in order to receive our guests.”
Honesty performs these duties by having all
officers fill their station using proxies in place of
absent officers. She then places the cross in
front of the altar and addresses the Chief
Counselor, saying: “The council chamber now
awaits the guests.”
The Chief Counselor says: “Lady Justice, as-
certain that all persons present are members of
the Ladies of Knights”
Justice looks over and says. “Chief Counselor
all present are members of the Ladies of Knights”
The Chief Counselor says: “Lady Honesty the
hour has arrived that we must begin our day’s
labor, instruct the inner and outer doorkeepers
that no one be allowed to disturb our worship.”
Honesty reports to the doorkeeper that no one
be allowed to disturb or be admitted until the
opening ceremony is over; she then returns and
reports to the Chief Counselor: “Your sentinels
are on duty”
The Chief Counselor says: “Since our council
chamber is now in order and Lady Honesty has
assured us that we are duly guarded we may
begin our labors.” She then turns and says to
the Second Counselor. “What are your duties
and where is your station?”
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 Second Counselor says: “My duties, Chief
Counselor, are to ‘assist you in opening and cbs-
ing the council, receiving and sending messages
to ‘and from the La’dy Counselors, making and
playing the part of Deceit and making candidates.
My station is in the west of ‘the Lodge”
The Chief Counselor says to the Third As-
s~istant Counselor: “What are your duties and
where is your station?
Third Assistant Counselor says: “My station
is in the south, and my duties are to receive the
signs and s~gna1s from the Assistant Counselor,
to communicate them to the Fourth Assistant
Counselor and to play the part of Nobody in the
making of candlidates, which causes the thinking
and serious reflection on the part of the roving
mind”
Chief Counselor says: “Fourth Assistant Coun.
selor, what ‘are your duties, and where is your
station?”
Fourth Assistant Counselor ‘says. “My station
is in the north and my duties are to receive
orders from the Third Counselor anA others in
the council, to keep peace, and keep the Four
Bright Lights burning during the initiation of
candidates, to play the part of Everybody in the
making of candidates.”
The Chief Counselor says to Justice: “Where
is y’our station ‘and what are your duties?”

Justice says: “My ‘station is on the right of

the Chief Counselor and my duties are to ad-
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minister the oath of obligation to all candidates,
to ‘act as Chaplain should she be absent, to install
and elect o’fficers, to see that the laws are obeyed,
and that house is in order.”
The Chief Counselor says to Honesty: “Where
is your station and what are your duties?”
Honesty says: “My station ‘is on the right of
the cross, between the altar and the Chief Coun-
selo , on the left of Mercy, to ‘plead the cause of
all Ladies of this council ‘and recommend them to
the Chief Justice, ‘and to take active part in the
initiation of candidates”
The Chief Counselor says ~to Mercy “Where
is your station and what are your duties?”
“Mercy says “My station is at the left of
Honesty at the cross between the altar an’d the
Chief Counselor, my duties are to assist and re-
lieve the wayworn traveler.”
The Chief Counselor says ‘to the Ambassador:
“What are your duties, and Where is your sta-
tion?”
Sir Knight Ambassador says: “My station is in
the west and in front of the Assistant Counselor,
my duties are to represent this council at the
Chief Counselor’s request and to prepare refresh-
ments, to assist in helping and aiding those whom
we deem worthy. Keep the Four Bright Lights
burning.”
The Chief Counselor says: “Assistant Ambas-
sador, where is your station and what is your
duty?”
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 Assistant Ambassador says: “My station is in
the east ‘and in front ‘of the Chief Counselor, and
my duties are to ‘aid and support the Chief Coun-
selor, to carry messages from her station, and
see that her orders are obeyed, and that the ban-
ner of our council is in its proper place, that the
Four Great Lights are burning and ready when
she makes her ‘address to candidates.”

The Chief Counselor says: “Lady Secretary,

what is your duty and where is your station?”

Secretary says: “My station is on the left of

the Chief Counselor, my duties are to faithfully
record all proceedings of the meeting, to collect
all monies that are due this council. Alter mak-
ing an accurate ‘account of the same turn it over
to the Treasurer. To send out all notices, make
out all orders for disbursements, when ordered
to do so by the Chief Counselor.”

The’ Chief Counsalor says. “Lady Treasurer,

where is your station and what is your duty?”

Treasurer says: “My ‘station is at the right

of the Chief Counselor My duty is to receive all
monies from the Secretary, taking her receipt for
the same, to pay out at the consent of the Chief
Counselor and the vote ‘of the council, to render
a report when asked to do so by the Chief
Counselor and the vote of the council.”
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 Now the Chief Counselor says to Justice:
“Take up the Pass.”
The Chief Counselor raps the gavel four
times and all gather around the altar with the
right hand joined to the left hand of a Lady—
the Chaplain sli~gs and prays~the password
is whispered from one to the other around the
‘altar. Each makes due guard, rises and returns
{o her seat.

The Chief Counselor says “I

C C., now pronounce

Council No. opened for the trans-

action of any bu!slne.ss that may come before it.”

Roll Call of officers.

Minutes of previous meeting.
Reports of committees.
Reading of bifls and communications.
Applications for membcrship.
Collection of dues, fines and taxes
Unfinished busi
1ness.
New business.
In4tiaticn of candidates
Closing cerenionies.
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 INITIATION
Chief Counselor says: “Lady Honesty you may
take with you ‘another Lady and prepare the
candidate for the initiation.
Honesty takes with her a Lady who reipre-
sents Deceit. They retire to the anteroom and
hoodwink the candidate Honesty raps on the
door The Inner ‘Sentinel then says: “Chief
Counselor, a stranger approaches our sacred
Shrine.”
Chief Counselor says: “What c’an a stranger
want here?
Honesty says: “She prays admittance.”
Chief Counselor says: “If the stranger is will-
ing to tread the rugged way, that is sometimes
set with sadness, she may s’ome day walk with
us in the paths of peace, then you may admit
her.”
(With Hones’ty ‘and Deceit escorting her, the
candidate is led in.)

Conscience says, standing at the door: “Hello,

Deceit.” Deceit says: “Hello, Conscience, who is
your friend, Where ‘are you going with your
victim? The young may die, the old must die,
the wise know not how soon.”
Everybody says: “Hello, Deceit.” And Deceit
replies: “Hello, Everybody”

Everybo’dy says to Deceit. “Let me have her,

and I will take her to Justice.”
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 Nobody slips up and says to Everybody: “No,
let me have her, I love her”
The character that represents Nobo’dy then
leads the candidate away; as ‘she goes Everybody
says: “You leave Everybody to go with Nobody.”
The time will come when Nobody will want you,
‘and you will be left all alone.” The candidate is
led by the character called Nobody to the cross
and bade kneel. Nobod’y places her hands upon
the cross and ‘leaves her Conscience says: “Plead
for Mercy to come and release you from the
cross.’ (She then tell’s the candidate ‘to pray)

After praying, she is then released from the

cross by a character named Mercy, who takes
the hoodwink from her eyes. Deceit returns
and takes the candidate’s ‘arms and leads her to
the altar where two cups are filled, one with
water ‘and the other with vinegar Dec~it takes
the cup of wat’er and gives the candidate the
cup of vinegar, and says: “Let’s drink.” Both
drink ‘and Conscilence pushes the candidate away
and takes the cup from her ‘and puts the hood-
wink back on her, and says: “Follow me.” She
leads the candidate before the oross where
Mercy introduces her to the Chief Justice

“‘Such is th’e case before you, Chief Justice,

such is the evidence to support ridiculous, to con-
vict on such trifling offense.
“We ai’e tricked by th’ose whom we learned to
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trust; we are in a dark gloom of despair, disap~
p’ointment about us everywhere.
“What are we to do? ‘Friends’ that used
to walk with her and talk with her have left
her; they are like the vapors of ‘the night that
fade and due in the morning of reality”
Chief Justice replies: “My dear friend, you
should have been very careful how and whom
you - entertain; I feel, Mercy, that you are de-
fending a worthy character, yet that road she
traveled here before was ‘a broad one—we teach
the narrow path—it ‘carries no traveler astray;
the gift o’f God is eternal Life and Live, and the
wages of sin is death. Now could I, with all
my gold, blot out this guilty stain? Could you,
with the wealth of the world, send the worthy
creature back to its childhood days?”
Mercy answers: “No. Then it ‘is just ‘as easy
for me. She must look to the Great lAght of
reason, and to that Great Being above, the Great
God, the ruler df the human destiny, and when
the pendulum ‘of the Eternal Clock shall tick
away to its last dying hour, The will ~o before a
greater tribunal, greater than any on earth

Hones’ty presents the candidate to the chie

Counselor, saying: “Despair h’as made its last
bet and death h’as won as usual.”

The Chief Counselor says. “Honesty, take her

to the outer court to be hung.” They all lead
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her to the roughest part of the road to be hanged,
Dead! Dead! Dead, by the neck!
Mercy is heard by the candidate as she pleads
with the following words, crying out loud: ‘1
care not how far from the path of virtue she
might have strolled. I care not in what roads of
dishonor she might have led, she still remains
somebody’s girl
She is then led to the altar by Justice and
given the obligation with both hands resting
on the cross.
6—Due Guard
7.—Sign of this degree.
8.—Words.
9. Grand Honon
The obligation to be given by the Chief Justice
Chief Justice says to the candidate “Place your
hands over your heart and repeat after me: I, on
my honor, and of my own accord, came before this
assembly for the sole purpose of cheering the sad.
S.’
and aiding the needy, and to give assistance to, as
far as I am able: I promise and vow that I will
support the vows, rules, laws and edicts of the
Ladie
5 of Knights and the Grand Encampment of
the Grand Comm’andery of the Knights Templar
to the uttermost of my ability. I further promise
and vow that I will never divulge ‘to any person
the secrets of this council, unlees he or she be a
member of the Knights I further promise that
I will visit the sick and needy and administer to
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 their wants, with all my counsel nd prayers, giv-
ing to all applying to me ~or aid arid I deem them
worthy. Willingly and knowingly, and of my
ox~ri free wIll, I solemnly swcar to keep and per-
form these vows binding myself under ~he
penalty of being hung to the cross until dead,
dead, dead, so help me God. Keep me steadfast.”
The hoodwink ~s again removed by Mercy, and
the Bright Lights are shown.

Chief Counselor says. “Stranger, you have

passed through trying and complex scenes, which
~ If carefully obs~ved, will not only help you to
be a true member of t’h~s council, but will serve
as a guidia~g star in your daily life. You were
introduced into this coi~mcil by six chai~acters,
which represent the six characters in the human
life. (Conscience, Deceit, Honesty, Mercy, Every-
body and Nobody.) Deceit hoodwinked you at the
door, Conscience tried to release you, but allowed
Deceit to interfere, even though she prophesied
your death. Then Conscience seeing you left alone
with Deceit offered to take you before Justice,
who would give you no more nor less than you
were due. But Nobody interfered and you fol-
lowed her, and just as Everybody predicted,
Nobody bound you to the cross and left you
there But Conscience returned ‘and bade you
pray for Mercy to come and release you from
the cross. After being released, had you re-
mained with Mercy and Conscience, you would
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never have drunk of that sour cup, but again
you allowed Deceit to deceive you; she drank
water and gave you gall. Mercy comes again
to the rescue in time to save you from destruc-
tion. So beware of Deceit; it ‘is false, and causes
those who kee’p her company to practice things
that will bring them woe, but if you follow Con-
science s’he will always cause you to walk hand
in hand with Mercy, which will give you peace
ar~d good will for Everybody.”
An alarm ‘at the door is given by three long and
three short raps The doorkeeper will receive
the guest by the word “NEBO.” The due guard
inside is given by both hands stretched in an
oblong position.
Answer ‘from the Chief Counselor in the same
manner, and reply to the member. “WE ARE
SAFE”

KEY:
SYLLABUS
I. The sign of the night of Christ is made in
three motions. First kneel at the altar, head
lifted upward, hands extended upward.
1. Raise them three times, face still raised
upward
2. Drop hands and raise ‘them again as be-
fore.
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 3. Drop hands and raise them again as be-
fore, then drop head downward,

The Pass to this degree is Messiaht

II. The sign for the Swoird is made by three

motion’s: Place the thumb of right hand in the
palm of the ha’nd. Raise and stick the center
of the forehead as if separating ‘the skull three
~ times. The answer is given in the s’ame manner.
The pass: Joshua.

III Night of the Holy Cross.

The sign of this degree is made in three mo-

tions. The arms are extended outward, head
dropped forward, right leg crossed over the left.
Raise and drop arms three timcs, then drop
left hand to side, palm outward, as though pierc-
ing si’de. The pass: It Is Finished.
GRIP: Grasp the hand with an ordinary hand
~ shake with the ‘forefinger extending toward the
wrist; same pass as in first degree (Messiah.)

SIGN: Grasp the lower ‘lip with the right

hand The answer is given in the same manner
with the left hand. (Grand word of distress—
Hasha.)

If in the dark you cannot see, you may say.

“My Lord the night ‘is dark.” Answer: “The
temple is secure and we are all safe.”
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 GRAND HAILING SIGN: Place sword in
right hand, raise to right shoulder, drop to the
floor, raise agaln, ‘point forward, drop to floor,
make graceful bow.

CLOSING
Chief Counselor says: “Assistant Counselor,
9”
have you anything to present before we close
The answer, yes or no. “Third Assistant Couri-
selor, have you anything to say?” The answer,
yes or no. “Chief Justice, have you anything to
say?” The answer, yes or no. Then we will
close our council if there remain noting around
my station “Lady Chaplain, you will perform
your ‘duty.”
The word i’s passed around until it reaches
the outer side sentinel. The Chaplain then of-
fers a song and prays.
This should be practiced and, rehearsed in all
meetings by the following officers.
CHIEF COUNSELOR:
“And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of council and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of ‘the fear of the Lord.
“And shall make him of quick understanding
in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge
after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after
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 the heahng of his ears. But with righteousness
shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity
for the meek of ‘the earth; and he shall smite the
earth with the rod of his mouth and with the
breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”

SECOND ASSISTANT COUNSELOR:

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain, for the earth shall be full of the
~ knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
sea.”

THIRD ASSISTANT COUNSELOR:

“Ye are the salt ot the earth, but if the sail
has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?
It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast
out, and to be trodden under foot of men Ye are
the light of the world, a city that is set on the
hill cannot be hid”

FOURTH ASSISTANT COUNSELOR:

a “Neither do men light a candle and put it
under a bushel, but on ‘a candlestick, and it
giveth light to all that are ‘in the house. Let
your light so shine before men that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.~~

JUSTICE:
Think not that I am come to. destroy the law,
or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but
15
to fulfill. For, verily I say unto you, till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one little shall ~
no wise pass ‘from the law, fill all be fulfilled.’
I
MERCY:
“Enter ye ‘in Fat the straight gate, for wide is
the gate and broad is ‘the way that leadeth to de-
struction, and many there be which go therein.
“Because straight is the gate, and narrow is
the way which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it. Beware of false ‘prophets that
come to you in sheep clothing, but inward they
are ravenous wolves. Ye shall know them by
their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns,
or figs of thistles?
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit; but a corrupt ‘tree bringeth forth evil fruit,
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
“Every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit
is hewn down and cast into the dirt.”
It is the duty of each officer to have a Ritual
It is the duty of every officer to be properly
regaled in their full uniform at every meeting,
and the Bright Lights placed on the Triangle In
the East and West prepared for lighting during
initiation.

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