The Book of the Ancient1

7/29/2019 The Book of the Ancient1

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The Book of the Ancient & AcceptedScottish Rite


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of Freemasonry(1884)

By: Charles T. McClenechan

32nd Degree: Sublime Prince oftheRoyalSecret


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TIDRTY-SECOND DEGREE.


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ARGUMENT.

Tms is thc third and last of the Kadoshdegrees, and 11>0D summates the Templarism ofMasonry. The degree was origin ally a Christiandegrec of knighthood; ita object was, for a long

time, to reconqucr the Holy Land and plant theBanner ofthe Cross once more on the ruined wa.lls ofJerusalem. Many of the Knights of the Crusadeswere Masons,aD(l thus became acquaint ed with thelegend which Masonry had preservad.

The Knights Kadosh are the legitimatesuccessors of the

'femplars.

None but eamest and sincere men, unselfish, andwhose philan thropy is not a mere name, but a

practica} reality, should enterhere-such as will doMasonry good service in the war which she iswaging against the ancient enemies of the humanruec-a lover of wisdom and an apostle of Liberty,Equality, and Fmtemity.

"No virtue is aequired in an instant, but stepby step."

BARROw.


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SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET.

fUE THIRTYSECOND GRADE OF THE

ANCIENT AND AOo CEPTED SCOTTISH

RITE, AND THE THIRD DEGREE Oll'

THE CHIVALRIC SERIES.

DECORA.TIO

NS.

Bodies of this degree are styled Consistories.The hangings are black, strewed with tears of silver,skele t.ons, human skulls, and cross-bones.

In the East is a throne,to which you ascend byseven

steps, draped with black satn, like the hangings, butstrewed with flames without tears. Before thethrone is an altar covered with black satn, strewed

with tears; on it are painted or embroidere


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470BOOK OF THE A. AND A. RITE.

470

BOOK OF THE A. AND A. RITE.

the Book of ()nstitutions and Statutes oftheOrder,anaked sword, a sceptre, and a balance. In the Westare the two Wardens. In front of each is a table,covered with crimson cloth, lined and edged with black,and strewed with tears. On each cover, in front, arethe four letters N-K..M-K.. On each table are twonaked swords crossed.

The Hall is divided into two parts by abalustrade.In the West is the camp of the Princes.

OFFIOERS ANDTITLES.

The Master is styled Illustrious Commander-in-Chief;the two Wardens, Lieutenant Commanders; and theOrator, Minister ofState. Beside these officers, thereare a Grand Chancellor, Grand Secretary and Keeperof the Seals and Archives, Grand Treasurer, Grand Engineer and Architect, Grand Hospitaller, Grand Master

of Ceremonies, Grand Captain of the Guard, GrandStandard-Bearer, and Grand Sentinel.

There are also in the Hall, west of the officers, on theright and left, fourteen members, clothed in red, without aprons, and each having on his breast, suspendedfrom a black ribbon worn as a collar, the jewel ofoneof the degrees-viz.:numbering these members fromone to fourteen, they wear respectively the jewels ofthe 30th, 28th, 25th, 21st, 19th, 18th, 16th, 14th, 13th,10th, 8th, '7th, 5th, and 3d degrees.

The first five are the Standard-Bearers of the Corps

that encamp around the pentagon, and the last nine areCommanders of the Corps that encamp around thenonagon ; the camp is as shown in the following illustration:


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SUBLTIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET. 471

The names ofthe first five are as follows :

1st.Bezaleel. .......forthe Standard ......T2d. Aholiab......... " " ......E

3d. Mah-Shim.. .... " " ......N4th.Garimont.......

5th. Amariah.......

" ".....G

"" ......u

The names of the others are :

lst. Malachi. .........forthe Tent ........S2d. Zerubbabel....... " " .......3d. Nehemia.h........4th.Joabert..........

"

"

"

"

......

.L

6th. Paleg.......... " " ....


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472DOOK OF THE A. AND A. RITE.


6th. Jehoiada........forthe Tent. ....N

'ith. Aholiab.......... " " .....O8th. Joshua ........."

9th. Ezra.........."

" ........N "........1

THECAMP

ls a nonagon, enclosing a hept.agon, whichencloses a pentagon, and that an equilateraltriangle, and that again a circle. On the sidesof the nonagon are nine tents with a flag,pennon, and letter to each. Each tent representaan entire camp, and the several sides of thenonagon are thus assigned by the ritual!! to the.Masons of the severa!degrees from the 1st to the18th, as follows:

S., Flag and pennon white, sprinkled lightlywith

crimson. That tent indicates the camp of theKnights Rose-Croix and Knights of the East andWest, 18th and 17th degrees. The Commander,Malachi.A,, Flag apennon light green. That tent

ind1 cates the camp of the Knights of the EastorSword and Princes of Jerusalem, 15th and 16thdegrees. TheCommander,Zerubbabel.

L., Flag and pennon red. That tent indicatestbe camp of the Grand, Elect, Perfect and Sublime

Masons,14th degree. The Commander,Nehemiah.

I,, Flag and pennon black and red. That tentindi

cates the camp of the Knights of the Royal Archn.nd Grand Master Architects, 13th and 12thdegrees. The Commander, Joabert.

X., Flag and pennon black. That tent indicatesthe e:unp of the Sublime Knights Elected, Electof Fifteen nnd Knights Elect ofNine, 11th, 10th,and 9th degreea'l'h.- Commander,


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Paleg.


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SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET. 473

N., Flag and pennon red and black, indiamonds. That tent indicates the camp of theIntendants of the Building, 8th degrce. TheCommander, Jehoiada.

O., Flag andpennon red aud green. That tent indicates the camp of thc Provost and Judges andIntimate Secretaries, 7th and 6th dcgrees. TheCommander, Aholiab.

N,, Flag and pennon green. That tent indicatesthe

camp of Perfect :Masters and Sccret :Masters, 5thand

4th degrees. The CommanderJoshua.

l.'. Flag and pennou blue. That tent indicatesthe camp of the Mastcrs, thc Fel!ow-Crafts andApprentices ofSymbolic Masonry and Volunteers,Sd, 2d, and 1stdegrees. ')'he Commander,Ezr.a.

On each ofthc externa!sidcs of the pentagon isn standard, each designated by a fetter, and eachsupposed to indicate the camp of a corps ofMasons,occu..pying a side ofthepentagon, viz.:

T.. Field purple; on it the Arkofthe Covenant ingold, between two green palm-trees, or two lightedcandlesticks of gold. Motto at the base, "Laus.Deo." Around this standard are stationed theKnights Ka dosh and the Grand Scottish Knights ofSaint Andrew,30th and 29th dcgrees. Standard Bcarcr, Bczaleel.

E., Field blue; on it is a goldcn lion, holding inhis

mouth a key ofgold, and a gold collar around his neck,with the figures 525 on thc collar. Motto at the base," Ou tos Arcani," and in sorne rituals, "AdMajorem.Dei Gloriam"-the latter is the motto of theJesuits. Around this Rtandard are stationed theKnights oftlwSun, the Commanders of the Temple, and the Princesof Merey, 28th, 27th, and 26th degrees. StandardBearer, Aholiab.

N,, Field white; on it is a flaming heart, withblack


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474 BOOK OF THE A. AND A.RITE.

wlngs,crowned with a grcen laurel wreath. Motto atthe base, "Ardens Gloria Surgit." Around this standard are stationed the Knights of the Brazen Serpent,the Princes of the Tabernacle, and the Chiefs of theTabernacle, 25th, 24th, and 23d degrees. StandardBearer, Mah-Shim.

G..Field green; on it is a black eagle, with twoheads, with an imperial crown of gold resting onbothheads; holding in his dexter claw a sword, point inbase; and in bis sinister claw a bloody heart. Motto

at the base, " Oorde Gladio Potens." Around thisstandard are stationed the Princes of Libanus and theKnights Noachite or Prussian l{nights, 22d and21st degrees. Standard Be rer, Garimont.

U., Field gold;on it is a black ox. Motto at thebase, " Omnia Tempus Alit." Around this standardare stationed the Masters Ad Vitam and the GrandPontiffs, 20th and 19th degrees. Standard Bearer,Amariah.

At the angles of and inside the triangle are supposedto be encamped the Princes of the Royal Secret and the

Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commanders, with suchKnights of Malta as, having proved themselves trueand faithfnl, may have been received among us.

CLOTHIN

G.

The Illustrious Commander in Chief is clothed in themodern costume of royalty, of crimson ; he is armedwith a sword and shield. On tbe table, in front ofhim,lie his .A.bacus and balance. The Lieutenant Com

manders are also armed with a sword and shield, withheads covered.

Neitherthe officers nor members when in costume


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SUBLIME PRINOE OF THE ROYAL SEORET. 475

weatany apron, but only tbe collar, to ivhich is

suspended the jewel of theOrder.

The collar is black, edged with silver; on tbcpoint is embroidered, in red, a Teutonic cross,and in the centre ofthe cross a double headedsilver eagle. The collar is lined with scarlet, andon the lining is em broidered a Teutonic cross, inblack.

The girale is black, with silver fringe,and onthe

front is embroidered a red Teutoniccross.

The jewelis a double-headed white and black eagle,

resting on a Teutonic cross, ofgold.

The apron is white, satn orvelvet, lined, andedged

withblack; on he flap is embroidered a donble-headed

agle and flags of three colors on either sidethereot: In the middle of the apron is embroideredtheplan oftbe camp ofthe Pnnces.

Kaaosh hat-feathers white and crimson.Battery-o-

REOEPTION.

* * *

* *G:. M:. of0:. Mybrother, the 32d degree ofthe

Ancient and Accepted Rite, which we are now con


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476 BOOK OFTHE A. AND A. RITE.

ferring on you is the military organization, as bhe

31st degres is the judicial organization of the Order. Thecamp which you are entering, and its severru parts, areall symbols, the meaning of which we will hereafterendeavor to explain to you. As youpassaround and through this camp, we will give you thenecessary explanation as to its extemal features, andrecall briefly to your mind the characteristics ofthesevera!degrees whose standards float overthe camp, toaid you in hereaftcr understanding the esotericmeaning of the whole. The externa! es ofthe

camp form a nonagon, or a figure ofgeometry with nineequal sides. You perceive that on each side ofthenonagon is a tent with a flag andpennon; that each flagand its pennon are of a different colorfrom the others,and that each tent is designated by a letter. Eachrepresenta a camp, and the several sides of thenonagon are assignedby our rituals to the Masona ofthe different degrees from the 1st to the 18th.

* * * **

At the 9th tent were encamped the Apprentices,Fellow-Crafts and Masters of the Blue or SymbolioDegrees, and the volunteers. The commanding offi cerrepresenta Ezra.

The 1st degree shows you man, sueh as nature hasmade him, with no other resources than his physicalstrength.

The 2d degree teaches the necessity and holinessof labor, and consequently ofknowledge.


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The 3d degree teaches us that our unavoidable

destiny is death ; but at the same time, in the cere monyand in the very name of Hiram, it shadows forth thegreat doctrine of another life, and the im mortality ofthe soul.

**

**

*

At the 8th tent were encamped the Secret Mastersand Perfect Masters, orthe Masons ofthe 4th and5th degrees. The commanding officerrepresentaJoshua.

* * * *

*

At the 7th tent were encamped the IntimateSecretarias and Provosts and Judges, or the Masons ofthe 6th and 7th degrees. The commanding officerrepresents Aholiab.

** * *

At the 6th tent re encamped the Intendants of theBuildings, or the Masona of the 8th degree. Thecommanding officerrepresents Jehoiada.

* * * **

At the 5th tent were encamped the Knights Electof Nine, the lliustrious Elect ofFifteen, and theSublime Knights Elected, or the Masons ofthe 9th,10th, and 11th degrees. The commanding officerrepresents Paleg.

* * **

At tho 4th te1t were encamped the Grand Mn.st.er


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478 BOOK OF THE A. ANDA. RITE.

Architects and the Knights of the Royal Arch, orihe Masons of the 12th and 13th degrees. Thecommanding officerrepresenta Joabert.

* ** * *At the 3d tent were encamped the Grand, Elect,

Perfect and Sublime Masons of the 14th degree.The commanding officerrepresentaNehemiah.

** *

**

At the 2d tent were encamped the Knights oftheEast or Sword and Princes of Jerusalem, or the

Masons of the 15th and 16th degrees. The commanding officerrepresenta Zerubbabel.

* * * * *At the 1st tent were encamped the Knights ofthe

East and West and the Knights Ros-Croix ofH-r-d-m, or the Masons of the 17th and 18th degrees. The commanding officerrepresentaMalachi.

* *

*

*G:. M.. of0:. Sir Knight, you have nowpassed

round the nonagon, and a full explanation hasbeengiven you of each tent by its commander. Withinthis nonagon you perceive is tl.aced a heptagon, orafigure of geometry with seven equal sides ; andwithin that a pentagon, or one with five equ


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* "'

"'

* *

At the 5th standard were encamped the Grand

Poutiffs and Masters Ad-vitam, or the Masons ofhe 19th and 20th degrees. The commanding officerl'epresents Amariah.

**

** *

At the 4th standard were encamped theNoachitesor Prussian Knights, and the Knights of the RoyalAxe or Princes ofLibanus, or the Masons of the 21stand 22d degt.ees. The commanding officer repre

senta Garimont.

* * * *At the 3d standard were encamped the Chiefs ofthe Tabernacle, the Princes of the Tabernacle, andthe Knights of the Brazen Serpent, or the Masonsof the 23d, 24th, and 25th degrees. Thecommanu ing o:fficerrepresenta Mah-Shim.

* ** * *At the 2d standard were encamped the Princes of

Merey or Scottish Tlinitarians, the Grand Com

manders of the Temple, and the Princes Adept orthe Knights of the Sun, or the Masons of the 26th,27th, and 28th degrees. The commanding o:fficerrepresenta Aholiab.

* * **

*

At the 1st standa1d were encamped the GrandScottish Knights of St. Andrew orPatriarch oftheCrusades, and the Knights Kadosh, or the Masons


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ADJIIISSION OF A NO'\'ICE '1'0 THE VOWS OF THE ORDEnOF THE TEMPJ,l!:


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of the 29th and 30th degrees. The commandingofficerrepresents Bezaleel.

* * * * *G..M..qf O..SirKnight,enclosedin thispentagon

you observe a.n equilateral triangle ; at its angles aresaid to be encamped the Princes ofthe Royal Secret, theGra.nd InspectorInquisitorCommanders, and s chKnights ofMalta as, having proved them selves trua andfaithful, havebeen accepted and received among us.

Within the triangle is a circle, inwhich are said to be the quarters ofthe Sovereign GrandInspectora General ofthe 33d degree, who serve asLieutenant Commanders under the Most PuissantSovereign Grand Commander. In most ofthe engraved tracing-boards of this degree, within thecircle is a cross with five arms ofequal length, whichwere to be the quarters of the five Princes who, asLieutenant Commanders, were in turn tobe second incommand, and whose standards float at the five anglesofthe pentagon.

* * * *0:.in 0:. Sir Knight, if you have in good faithassumed the obligations of the preceding degrees, thegeneral features of which have now been sum marilyrecited to you, and ifyou have studied and understoodthe doctrines which they teach and the principies whichthey inculcate, you are entitled to our regard and esteem,and are fitted todo the duties of a good Mason; for youhf.l.vebound yourselftodo

21


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482DOOK OF THE A. AND A. IUTE.

all tho.t virtue, honor, and manhood can req .u.te,and you have learned all that ancient and mode111philosophy can teach in regard to the great mysteries ofGod and the universe.

* * * **

PRAYE

R.

Kind and indulgent Father of the great family ofmen! Supreme Intelligence, author of Life andLight ! aid us in our efforts to make this worldmore worthy of thee, and bless with thy favor ourbrother who marches to restore to light thosewho have forgotten thee and thy truth ! For theinfinita love thou bearest to thy suffering children,aid him and us in our warfare against ignorance,and against those who mislead, impose upon, anddeceive thy people ; and make the light of thyknowledge sbine in all tbe cornera of the earth.

Amen!


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SUllLIME PRINCE OF TIJE UOYAL SECRET. 483

1Vhile the armor isbeing buckled on the novice, thofollowing will be heard in an adjoining a1)artment :

HYMN. SPANIBH CIL\NT,

# - == ===i _J I.....-.-. - -==

a

=i=

-

=

.

-

-

.

:

1-,

-

--

:

-

-

1. Un - to thec, great God, belong Mys- tic ritesand

so. - cred song; Low -lybend- ing at thy shrine,

11--=-=

====.-=-1-

===1==::::: rr

':1

.

..

-.

"'_1!_ =

..il

.

l. -...-

fF

Hail, thou Ma -jes - ty Di - vine.

Glorious Architect aboveSource of light and source oflove

1

Here thy light anclloveprevail :Hail! Almighty Master, haill


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BOOK OF THE A. ANDA. BITE.

The Knightly Armor of.the Templarshould becom plete in every rcspect, and should be fullyexplaincd to the novitiate as it is piece by pieccbucklcd upon him.

* * * * *SirKnight,thou art now in forro and semblance,

and by declaration ofprincipie, and, we trust, inspirit, a true Knight Templar : as such, it is yoursworn duty to aid us in endeavoring to make thisworld a Temple fi.t for the abiding-place of the

G:.A:.of the U..

* * * * *0:. in 0:. Receive this. sash its color is an

emblem of sorrow and mourning for the miseriesand sufferings of humanity. Receive, also, andwear this Teutonic cross of gold, the jewel of theOrder ; deserve itby the servics you shall hereafterrender to the good cause inwhich you now claim tobe a chiefand leader.

* * *

. *

*


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SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECHE'l'. 485

INVOCATIO

N.

Thisbeautifulnayer should be intonated withorgan accompaniment.

aom:. in a.. O thou Immutabb, thou Immacu"

late and Immortal.ahoir ahant. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of

Sabaoth, we implore thee.a.. in a:. By whose will we are born and by

whose will we die, thou neYer-encling, thou great

eterna!,by whosebeneficencewe call thee F!l.ther.Olwi? 0/tant. Holy, etc.a:.in C:. Thou infinite Spirit of Light and Life,

be with us. Let thine outstretching wings, xpansive as the eagle's, give us shelter

. Olwirahant. Holy, etc.a:.in a:. Be thou to us like the night-dew'scooling balm upon earth's fevered brow. Teach usto know and dreacl thy wmth. Fill our hearts withlove, and, when the end of lifc draws near, waft uswith gentle winds to thy blest abode, where thy

myriads chant.

ahoirahant. Holy, etc.0:.in a:. Aid us, O Lord! to make this world a

remple ofPeace ancl Love, fit for thy grea.t abocle.Olwi? ahant. Holy, etc.

Olw. Amen ! Amen! Amen !a:.in a:. (naturalvoice) ancl Amen!


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