knight of the sword parker-morris.pdf

7/25/2019 knight of the sword parker-morris.pdf

1/22

The Degree of Knight of the Sword

and of Rose CroixWilliam E. Parker, &

S. Brent Morris,, Fellow & Mackey Scholar

Les Plus Secrets Mystres des Hauts Grades de la Maonnerie Dvoils

(The Most Secret Mysteries of the High Degrees of Masonry Unveiled),edited by M. de Brage, was an expos published in and was thefirst printed book to give the rituals of the hauts grades or high

degrees of Masonry. It may be one of the most important books for under-standing the origins of the degrees of the Scottish Rite from the many rival

hauts grades in France in the eighteenth century. Brages degrees were not nec-essarily the most popular or the most important of those being worked, butthey were the first to be published.

We present here, with little comment, the Sixth Degree of Masonry, Knightof the Sword and of Rose Croix.The translation of the First Degree of Masonry,Perfect Elect Mason was published in volume of Heredom, the SecondDegree, Elect of Prignan, in volume , the Third Degree, Elect of the Fifteen,in volume , the Fourth Degree, Junior Architect (Petit Architecte) in volume

, and the Fifth Degree, Senior Architect, in volume . Note that the Knight ofthe Sword is somewhat less primitive than the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth

Volume ,


2/22

Degrees, but not as sophisticated as the Perfect Elect Mason. The Knight of theSword has elaborate scenery but misses the opportunity for ritual drama, for

example, at the passage over the bridge. There is no lecture, only a catechism.However, the theme of the degree, Zerubbabel returning from captivity torebuild the Temple of Solomon, is found in nearly all rites. An analysis of thesedegrees is helpful in appreciating the origins of themes, characters, and wordsthat ultimately found their way into the Scottish Rite degrees we know today.

It should be emphasized that these ceremonies are not those of the presentday Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. They are the alleged practices of somehauts grades Masons in France in . We have taken no account of the enor-

mous changes, both organizational and ceremonial, that occurred as the hautsgrades eventually coalesced into their modern form in in Charleston, S.C.Les Plus Secrets Mystres has the rituals for seven very early Masonic degrees

which match very roughly with more developed ceremonies in the ScottishRite: Perfect Elect Mason, Elect of Prignan, and Elect of the Fifteen, corre-sponding to the ,, and ; Junior Architect and Senior Architect, corre-sponding to the ; Knight of the Sword and of Rose Croix, corresponding tothe and ; and Noachite or Prussian Knight corresponding to the .

There is indeed little honor among thieves (or exposers or anti-Masons),as Brages text has been plagiarized in many different rituals and exposs.Two examples demonstrate its pervasiveness. In Louis Guillemain deSaint-Victor published Recueil Prcieux de la Maonnerie Adonhiramite (Pre-cious Compendium of Adonhiramite Masonry), which was a copy ofLes PlusSecrets Mystres with just a few additions. Light on Masonry was an expospublished by David Bernard in New York in following the Morgan Affair.In addition to the degrees of the York and Scottish Rites, Bernard includedseven French Degrees which he explained are conferred in France and in

this country as honorary degrees. Bernards degree of Knight of the East isvery close to that of Brage.

Our translation ofLes Plus Secrets Mystres is based on the reprint of the edition by Gutenberg Reprints of Paris and is not verbatim, as the originalFrench is convoluted and often difficult to understand. Our goal has been read-ability while being faithful, but not slavish, to the original. The clauses in somesentences have been rearranged, lengthy sentences have been split into two ormore shorter ones, and long paragraphs have been broken up, especially when

speakers change. We have tried to note those places where the original text isunclear or ambiguous to us.

Heredom

The Degree of Knight of the Sword and of Rose Croix


3/22

S i xt h D e g re e o f M a s on ry

K N I G H T O F T H E S W O R D

A N D O F R O S E C R O I X

This degree is called Knight of the Sword, sometimes Knight of the East orKnight Mason of Rose Croix since the reception is a fully military one. It isfounded on sacred history in that once the Jews were led to Babylon in captiv-ity and the temple destroyed, their prince Zerubbabel later obtained permis-sion from Cyrus to rebuild it.But,since they were surrounded by enemies whilethey worked on rebuilding the temple and the walls of Jerusalem, they held asword in one hand and a trowel in the other. This is the reason this degree wasnamed Knight of the Sword or Knight Free Mason and applied to the peoplechosen to protect the subordinate workers, but who were also attending theworks made in common in order to maintain equality with their brethren.

It is also called Knight of the Eastfor its creation happened in that part of theworld. They are called free masons, first, because those upon whom the degreeis conferred are bare-faced, and second, because among the captives there wasa class of masons descended from the race of King Hiram, from Moabon, andfrom the senior architects that Solomon had rendered free from all taxes, andwho were chosen first by Zerubbabel.

He is called Zerubbabel because he represents the prince who receivedCyrus orders to rebuild the temple.

The lodge must have two apartments,with a painting and a decoration in each.

F I R S T A PA R T M E N T

It represents the room where Cyrus, king of the Assyrians, ruler of Babylon,

holds court. It is draped in green and lit by seventy lights to indicate the seventyyears of captivity. There is a throne in the east for the Master, seats for the

Volume ,

William E. Parker and S. Brent Morris


4/22

brethren in the south and another in the west for the Warden.The square in thecenter of the lodge must be enclosed by a small cardboard or wooden wall one-

and-one-half feet high and painted in white, green, and red squares to indicatethe walls of Babylon. Brethren must be standing when inside the wall and sit-ting when outside. This wall will have seven towers, three in the south, three inthe north, and one in the west. Six towers will be one-and-one-half feet abovethe walls,but the middle one,in the west,must be seven feet in height with a cir-cumference sufficient to contain a man. It must have two doors, one inside thesquare and one outside, and be lightproof. The drapes in the west must exactlyfit the exterior [of the tower] so that one can enter or exit without observing

anything. This door will be guarded by two brethren with swords at their sidesand lances in their hands. The room is adorned with a throne along the eastwall, thus inside the square. Behind the throne is a transparency representingCyrus dream, namely an angry, roaring lion ready to pounce on him; above, theglory of the Grand Architect on a shining cloud. Underneath will be Nebuchad-nezzar and Balthazar, the predecessors of Cyrus, burdened with chains. In thecenter of the glory is an eagle holding these words in his beak: Let the captivesbe free. Behind the west tower there must be some water, which when stirred,will represent the Starburzana River. On the river is a sturdy wooden bridgethat leads to the second apartment.

S E C O N D A P A R T M E N T

It represents the premises or the piece of ground where the second temple wasbuilt. The temple must be shown in all its splendor, and the drapes will be red.The decoration will be like that of the Senior Architect.

Title[s] in the first apartment. The Master represents Cyrus and is calledSovereign Master. The Senior Warden represents Nebuzaradan, his seniorgeneral; the Junior Warden,General Mithredath; the Secretary,the chancellor;the Master of Ceremonies, the grand master; the brethren, Knight Masons.Title[s] in the Second Apartment. The Master is called Most Excellent Master orExcellent of the Order; the Wardens, most potent; the brethren, most worship-ful; and the candidate, Zerubbabel.

Heredom



5/22

C L O T H I N G O F T H E B R E T H R E N

I N T H E F I R S T A P A R T M E N T

The Master and officers wear around their necks a large green moir collar,without a jewel, coming to a point at the stomach. The Master has a scepter andthe brethren have swords in their hands. The Wardens and members wear alarge green moir ribbon without a jewel worn bandolier style over the shoul-der, from left to right. In addition, they wear an apron lined in green taffeta witha small ribbon of the same color bordering the apron, with no other sign and

the flap lowered. The apron and ribbon will be worn only while performing theduties within the first apartment since they are profane marks that Cyruswished to give to the members of Solomon, thinking it sufficient to make themmasons. They are worn however, to remind us that the prince and his courtaccorded Zerubbabel permission to rebuild the temple.

In passing to the second apartment, the brethren take off the green and puton the red, which is the true Scottish color. The degrees can be distinguishedone from the other, however, by the rosettes at the bottom of the ribbon wornone above another: a blue one for an Architect, a red one for a Senior Architect,a green one for a Knight of the East, and a black one for a Knight of the Eagle.The brethren wear a silk sash, the color of water, with a gold fringe, strewed withskulls, crossbones, golden triangular chains, and a band of gold running in themiddle representing a bridge on which are the three letters L.D.P. This sash isworn around the body like a belt in such a manner that the ends, fringed withgold, hang upon the tails of the coat. The sash can be worn everywhere exceptin the first apartment of this lodge.

The Master and the officers wear their jewels around their necks, and brother

officers at the bottom of their collars as a sash. The Master has three triangles, oneinside the other.The Senior Warden wears a square and two levels; all the officerswear their usual jewels but enclosed in a triple triangle. The form of the jewel islike that of the Architects, but upon the jewel must be two swords in saltire,their handles on the level. Everything must be in gold or decorated with gold.

Preparation

The candidate must be clothed in red with a large [Senior Architect] ribbon,

Scottish apron, his hands bound with triangular chains. This chain must belong enough so that his hands are free. He is told he will be called Zerubbabel,

Volume ,



6/22

that he must have a sad, plaintive countenance, and must consider himself acaptive. He may have no weapon, ornament or jewel. His hands are placed on

his face until he reaches the tower door where the guards search him just priorto being presented.

O P E N I N G O F T H E L O D G E

Sovereign: My brethren, help me to open a lodge of Knights of the Sword.

The generals repeat his words. The Sovereign raps seven times, with a pause

between five and six, and the generals do likewise.

Sovereign General: What is the first care of a mason?

Sr. General: Sovereign Master, to see the lodge duly tiled!

He then performs that duty. After having checked both outside and inside, andhaving checked the brethren, the Jr. General says

Jr. General: Sovereign Master, the lodge is duly tiled and all brethren present

are Knights of the Sword.Q. Sovereign Sr. General: What times are we in?A. Sr. General: The day [when] the seventy years of captivity are finished.

Sovereign: Generals,princes, knights, a long time ago I resolved to set free thecaptive Jews. I am tired of seeing them moan in chains, but I cannotrelease them without consulting you about a dream I had last night andwhich requires an explanation.

I thought I saw a roaring lion ready to pounce and devour me. Hisaspect frightened me and caused me to flee and seek safety from hisanger, but at that instant, in a dazzling light bursting from the openedheavens, I saw my predecessors repressented as the last step of the alar tothe glory that masons designate under the name of Grand Architect OfThe Universe. Two words were heard; they came out from the center ofthe shining star. I understood they meant to set the captives free or mycrown would pass into foreign hands. I remained dumbfounded andconfused; the dream disappeared.

Heredom



7/22

Since that moment, my tranquility is gone. It is your task, princes, todeliberate and give me your opinion on what I must do.

During that speech, all the brethren have lowered their heads, but finally theylook at the Senior General, doing as he does.

The Senior General places his right hand on his sword, draws it, and holdsthe point high, his arm held in front of him, then he points the sword downwardto signify agreement with the kings will, then points the sword upward again tosignify freedom, and remains in this position.

Sovereign: Let the captivity be ended. Generals, princes, knights, the Lodge

of Knights of the Sword is open.The generals repeat the phrase, each on his own side. The Sovereign and all thebrethren make the usual acclamations, but without applauding.

Reception

When the candidate has been properly prepared, the Master of Ceremoniesleads him to the door of the tower, near the guards, as noted above. The guardsquestion the candidate, who repeats what the Master of Ceremonies tells him.

Q. Guard: What are you asking for?A. I ask if it is possible to speak with your Sovereign.Q. Guard: Who are you?A. The first among my equals, a mason by rank, a captive by disgrace.Q. What is your name?A. Zerubbabel.Q. What is your age?A. Seventy.

Q. What brings you here?A. The tears and misery of my brethren.

Guard: Wait. We shall try to bring your complaints to the Sovereign.

One of the guards raps seven times at the tower door as a Knight of the Sword.TheJunior General raps seven times on the mallet of the Senior, then the Sovereign.

Jr. General: A guard knocks at the tower door as a Knight of the Sword.

Sr. General: Sovereign Master, a guard knocks at the tower door as a Knightof the Sword.

Volume ,



8/22

Sovereign General: Senior Warden, let him be introduced. Protect me withextraordinary precautions in the trouble I find myself; minor details

should not be neglected.

The Junior Warden goes to the tower door, knocks, opens it,brings back the guardto the west, who discards his lance, crosses his arms, bows, and says, The firstamong equals of the masons, seventy years of age, asks to appear before you.

Sovereign: Bring him into the palace tower, and we shall question him.

The guard bows again,withdraws, brings the candidate into the tower, and closeshim in. The Sovereign then questions the candidate through the closed door.

Q: What brings you here?A: I come to ask justice and kindness of the Sovereign.Q: About what?A: To ask pardon for my brethren who have been in captivity for seventy

years.Q: What is your name?A: Zerubbabel, the first among my equals, a mason by rank, and a captive

by disgrace.Q: What favor will you ask from me?A: That by the grace of the Grand Architect Of The Universe, the kings jus-

tice grants us freedom, and that we be permitted to rebuild the temple ofour God.

Sovereign: Since such just motives bring him here, he is permitted to appearbefore us bare-faced.

The guards open the tower door at once, lead him to the west, and make him

bow very low.

Sovereign: Zerubbabel, I felt the weight of your captivity as much as you did.I am ready to release you and set you free this instant if you will agree toimpart the secrets of Masonry to me, for which I always had the utmostveneration.

A. Sovereign Master, when Solomon acquainted us with its first principles,he taught us that equality must be the first motive. It does not reign here.

Your rank, your titles, your superiority and your court are not compati-ble with the place where one is instructed in the secrets of our Order.

Heredom



9/22

Besides, our ostensible tokens are unknown to you. My obligations areinviolable, and I cannot reveal our secrets to you. Should this be the price

of my freedom, then I prefer captivity.

Sovereign: I admire the discretion and virtue of Zerubbabel. He deservesfreedom for his firmness in his convictions.

All the brethren show agreement by lowering and then raising the points oftheir swords.

Sovereign: General Junior Warden, let Zerubbabel undergo the seventy tests,which I reduce to three; that is, the test of the body, of the spirit, and of

the soul, which are the pectoral, the memory, and the iron, in order thathe may thus merit the favor he asks, and which his discretion induces meto grant him.

The Junior Warden leads him three times around the lodge. On the first timearound,a shot is fired. On the second he is asked if he persists in asking for free-dom. On the third, his hands are placed on his forehead. On returning theJunior Warden raps seven times and the Senior [Warden] says to him:

Sr. Warden: What do you want?Jr. Warden: The candidate has undergone the tests with resolve and con-

stancy.

Sovereign: Zerubbabel, I grant you the favor you have asked of me. I consentthat you be set free.

The Sovereign raps seven times, signaling the generals to free Zerubbabel fromhis chains, which they do immediately.

Sovereign: Go to your country. I permit you to rebuild the temple destroyedby my ancestors. Your treasures shall be restored before sundown. Beacknowledged as chief above your equals. I shall order that you beobeyed everywhere you go, that you be given aid and assistance as if itwere me. I merely require from you a tribute of three lambs, five sheep,and seven rams, which I shall let be received under the porch of the newtemple. I ask this, rather in remembrance of the friendship I promise youthan of our gratitude. Approach, my friend.

The generals lead him to the foot of the throne.

Volume ,



10/22

Sovereign: I give you this sword as a mark of distinction among your equals.I am convinced you shall use it only in their defense. Therefore, I invest

you a Knight of the Sword.

In saying these words, he raps with his sword on Zerubbabels shoulders andembraces him. He then gives him the apron and the green ribbon, worn fromleft to right, and says:

Sovereign: As a token of my esteem, I present you with an apron and ribbon,adopted in imitation of the workers on your temple. Although thesemarks are not accompanied by any secrets, I bestow them only on

princes of my court as an honor. Henceforth, you shal enjoy the samehonors as they do. I now place you in the hands of Nebuzardan, who willappoint guides to lead you safely to your brethren, to the place where youshall rebuild the new temple. I do so order.

The Senior Warden takes hold of the candidate, lets him enter the tower, andleaves him there while the brethren pass silently into the second apartment. Assoon as they are all in place,a servant indicates to the Master of Ceremonies thateverything is ready. He leads the candidate behind the drapes, to the place

where the bridge leads to the second apartment, at the entrance of which hefinds guards who stop him, take off his apron and green ribbon and attempt toblock his passage. But he breaks through, chases them off, and arrives at thedoor of the second apartment.

The Master of Ceremonies knocks seven times as a Knight of the Sword. Thebrethren, now in the second apartment, no longer represent Cyrus court, andwhen they hear the knocks each take from their apron belts the trowel that shouldhang there, holding the sword in their right hand and the trowel in their left.

The tracing board of the lodge is covered by a red drape. The Junior War-den knocks seven times first, then the Senior Warden.

Jr. Warden: I heard someone knock at the door as a Knight of the Sword.

Sr. Warden: Most excellent Master, someone knocks at the door of the lodgeas a Knight of the Sword.

Master: Most powerful brother Junior Warden, see who knocks.

The Jr. Warden goes to the door, knocks, opens it and asks what is wanted.

Heredom



11/22

A. I ask to see my brethren again in order to give them the news of my deliv-erance from Babylon and of the other unfortunates of the fraternity who

have escaped captivity.

The Jr.Warden gives his report to the Sr.Warden, who then reports to the Master.

Master: The news that this captive brings may be well-founded. Seventy yearshave passed, the day of the temples rebuilding has come. Ask for hisname,his age and which country he comes from,to preclude any surprise.

The Junior Warden knocks, his knock is answered, he opens the door and says,

Q: What is your name?A: ZerubbabelQ: Where is your country?A: This side of the Starburzana River, west of Assyria.Q: What is your age?A: Seventy years old.

The Junior Warden closes the door, knocks and repeats the exchange to theSenior Warden. The Senior Warden then repeats it to the Master.

Master: Zerubbabel by name, from a country this side of the StarburzanaRiver, and seventy years old; yes, my brethren, captivity is over and dor-mancy comes to an end. This captive is truly the prince of the sovereigntribe that will rebuild our temple. Let him enter among us and be recog-nized to guide and support our work.

The Junior Warden knocks, opens the door, receives the captive, and leads himto the West.

Sr. Warden: Most Excellent Master, here is Zerubbabel, who desires to beadmitted into the bosom of our fraternity.

Master: Zerubbabel, give us an exact account of your deliverance.

Zerubbabel: Cyrus permitted me to appear at the foot of his throne andwas moved by the miseries of the fraternity. He armed me with thissword for the defense and aid of my brethren and honored me with thetitle of brother of his company. He then freed me, placed me in the

hands of zealous subjects who led me and helped me triumph over ourenemies during the crossing of the Starburzana River, where, in spite of

Volume ,



12/22

our victory, we lost the distinctive marks that had been given to us bythe king, our liberator.

Q: My brethren, the loss that you experienced tells us that the justice of ourown fraternity will not allow the triumph of pomp and grandeur. WhenCyrus gave you these honors, he was not guided by the spirit of equalitythat invariably accompanies us. You see by this loss that it was only themarks of the prince which disappeared, and you kept those of trueMasonry. But, before I impart to you the secrets, kept since our captivityin the remnants of our fraternity, we must demand your assurances thatthe length of your disgrace has not weakened in you the sentiments and

the perfect understanding of the mysteries of Masonry.A: Question me; I am ready to answer.Q: What degree do you have in Masonry?A: That of Senior Architect.Q: Give me the signs.A: He gives them.Q: Give me the grip.A: He gives it.

Master: My brother knights, I believe that Zerubbabel is worthy to enter intoour new mysteries.

The brethren agree by raising and lifting up the points of their swords.

Master: Most Powerful Senior Warden, have the candidate advance by threesteps of a Master Mason, so that the last puts him at the foot of the tri-bunal of the Grand and Sovereign Architect and that he may contract theobligation we request.

He is postured in the same manner as when he takes the other obligations.

O B L I G A T I O N

Yes, I promise,under the same obligations I contracted in the various degrees ofMasonry, to never reveal the secret of the Knights of the Sword or free masonsto any member of an inferior degree or to a profane, under the penalty of

remaining in such harsh captivity that my chains never break, that my body beexposed to the mercy of ferocious beasts, that my senses be deprived of smell

Heredom



13/22

and hearing, that thunderbolts reduce me to powder to serve as an example toall indiscreet ones. So be it.

The Master rises, he and all the brethren replace their swords in their sheaths,and says:

Master: My brother, the destruction of the temple subjected masons to suchharsh disgraces that we feared their captivity or dispersion may havehelped corrupt their fidelity to their obligations. That constrained us,while awaiting the rebuilding, to stay away in a secret and private placewhere we faithfully preserved some remnants of the ancient building

and where we only introduce those we know to be true and legitimatemasons, not only by signs, words, and tokens, but also by their actionsand behavior. We then communicate to them our new secrets with pleas-ure, but we insist they bring with them as a pledge some relic of the oldtemple. Those that Cyrus gave you are sufficient for us.

During these last words, the tracing-board is uncovered.

Master: Very Powerful Brother Senior Warden, let the candidate take threemaster steps backward, to teach him that we hold for certain that perfectresignation is the virtue of masons.

The candidate remains in the West.

[Master]: My brethren,the aim of our work is the rebuilding of the temple ofthe Grand Architect Of The Universe. This sublime task was reserved forZerubbabel. The obligations that you took with us, under that title,resulted in its execution. The brilliance and grandeur in which it appearsbefore our eyes, proves to you that it is in no way diminished, and that it

only remains for us to preserve it with the sword that Cyrus gave us forits defense. Henceforth you will contribute to it protection. Come par-ticipate in our secrets.

The sign of the Knight of the Sword, my brother, is to place the righthand on the left shoulder and to bring it down diagonally to the rightside as if cutting the body in half.

The sign of response is to place the right hand on the left hip whilegoing across the body to the right hip.

The grip is to place the right hand on the sword as if to draw it for afight, then move by drawing your body back on the right foot and rais-

Volume ,



14/22

ing the left hand as if pushing away an enemy. In this position, the lefthands of both brothers meet and interlace, and they embrace each other.

The words are Judas and Benjamin. The password is libertas fromwhich is derived the name free mason. Go and give the signs, grips,and words to the brethren of the lodge. Afterwards, you will give themback to me.

He does this in the North, returns by the South.

[Master]: My brother, after this deliverance,King Cyrus created you a KnightMason, as for me, I give you this trowel which will serve as a perpetual

symbol of your new dignity; that is to say, henceforth if ever the templewere to be desroyed, you will work only with a trowel in one hand and asword in the other; for that is thus that we have established this one.

Putting the Sash on Him

[Master]: This sash must be worn in all lodges, and will be for you a mark oftrue knighthood that you acquired at the River Starburzana by the vic-tory over those who opposed your passage.

Giving Him the Green Rosette

[Master]:While we do not permit in our ceremonies any of the insignia Cyrusdecorated you with,we want, however, to preserve the memory of some bya rosette of the color he chose, which we set under the rosette of the otherdegrees at the bottom of the Scottish ribbon to which the jewel is attached.

Giving Him the Jewel

[Master]: This jewel, with the addition of swords in saltire, indicates the

symbol of our Masonry. You must never use your sword except for it,that is to say, equity.

Giving Him the Gloves

[Master]: We shall proceed to our proclamation. My brother KnightMasons, do you consent that Zerubbabel shall henceforth rule over theworks of Masonry?

They all show agreement by lowering and raising the points of their swords.

The candidate is then placed in the chair designated for him.

Heredom



15/22

Master: Pass, my brother, to the tribunal of the sovereigns of our lodges.Youwill serve as the triangular stone of the edifice. You will rule over the

workers as Solomon, Hiram, and Moabon ruled by commanding them.

As soon as he is seated, the brethren sheath their swords, clap their hands threetimes, and shout three times Zerubbabel. The catechism then begins.

C A T E C H I S M

Q. Brother Senior Warden, how did you attain the eminent Degree of

Knight of the Sword?A. I achieved it with humility, patience, and frequent solicitations.Q. To whom did you speak?A. To the great king.Q. What is your name?A. Zerubbabel.Q. Your country?A. Judea. I was born of noble parents of the tribe of Judah.Q. Which art do you practice?A. Masonry.Q. Which edifice do you build?A. Temples and tabernacles.Q. Where do you construct them?A. For lack of land, we build them in our hearts.Q. What is the name of a Knight Mason?A. That of a most free mason.Q. Why most free?

A. Because the masons chosen by Solomon to work at the temple weredeclared free and exempt from all taxes, both they and their descendants.They were also entitled to bear arms. During the temples destruction byNebuchadnezzar, they were placed in captivity with the Jewish people.But the goodness of Cyrus gave them permission to rebuild a secondtemple under Zerubbabel, and they were set free. It is since that time thatwe are called free masons.

Q. Was the old temple beautiful?

A. It was the first wonder of the world in riches and grandeur for its fore-court could hold two hundred thousand people.

Volume ,



16/22

Q. Who was the principal architect who constructed this grand edifice?A. God was the first, Solomon the second, and Hiram the third.

Q. Who laid the first stone?A. Solomon.Q. At what time was it laid?A. Before sunrise.Q. Why?A. To make known the vigilance we must have in serving the Architect Of

The Universe.Q. What cement was used?

A. A mystical cement, composed of flour, milk, oil, and wine.Q. Explain to me the mystical sense.A. To make the first man, the Supreme Being used sweetness, wisdom,

strength, and kindness.Q. Where was the first stone laid?A. In the middle of the room destined to be the sanctuary.Q. How many parts did the old temple have?A. Three, one in the West, one in the South and one in the North.Q. How long did the temple stand?A. Four hundred seventy years, six months, and ten days.Q. Under which King of Israel was it destroyed?A. During the reign of Zedekiah, last of the race of David.Q. What is meant by the broken column Boaz and the missing candlestick

with seven branches?A. The confusion and evil committed when someone who is not worthy is

received, this removes a member of the order.Q. Why is the number eighty-one so venerated among masons?

A. Because this number explains the triple essence of divinity representedby the triple triangle, the square of nine, and the number three.

Q. Why are the captives chains triangular?A. Having learned that the triangle represented the Name of the Eternal

among the Jews, the Assyrians made the chains in that manner to inflictmore pain on the captives.

Q. Why were masons forbidden to work on profane buildings?A. To teach us not to attend irregular lodges.

Q. What was the plan that Cyrus gave for the new temple?A. One hundred twenty cubits in depth,sixty in height, and the same in width.

Heredom



17/22

Q. Why did Cyrus order trees cut from the forests of Lebanon and stonesdrawn from the quarries of Tyre for the construction of the new temple?

A. Because it was necessary that the second temple should in all pointsresemble the first.

Q. Give me the name of the principal architect who directed the construc-tion of the second temple.

A. His name is Bibot.Q. Why do the workers carry a sword while working?A. As they were subject to incursions by their enemies, while working with

one hand to carry materials and to rebuild the temple, they held their

swords ready to defend their work and their brethren.Q. Why the seventy lights in the lodge?A. In memory of the seventy years of Babylonian captivity.Q. Are you a Knight of the Sword?A. Look at me! He takes his sword in his hand.Q. Give me the sign.A. He makes it.Q. Give me the word[s] and the password.A. Judas, Benjamin, Libertas.Q. Give the grip to the Brother Senior Warden.A. He gives it to him.Q. Where did you work?A. At the rebuilding of the second temple.Q. What is the time?A. The instant of rebuilding.

Master: My brethren, since we are happy enough to have rebuilt the temple

of the Lord in its splendor, let us preserve its memory and marks by oursilence. It is time to rest. Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens, announceto the South as well to the North that I shall close the lodge of the Knightsof the Sword.

The two Wardens announce, each to his own side, that the Master will close thelodge, then the most excellent knocks seven times, the two Wardens likewise.Then the Master says,The lodge is closed; each is permitted to leave. The War-dens say likewise. The brethren then make the usual claps and acclamations.

End of the Sixth Degree

Volume ,



18/22

N O T E S

. A. C.F. Jackson, Rose Croix, rev. ed. (London: A. Lewis, ),p. ..Jackson,pp. . Compare the Knight of the Swordwith Knight of the Sword alsocalled Knight of the East or of the Eagle, John Black Vrooman, trans., An Exact Ritualof Adonhiramite Masonry, Collectanea, vol. , part (), pp. . The latterdegrees are Dedicated to all instructed masons by a Knight of all Masonic orders.(signed) F. Louis Guillemain, .which leds us to conclude they are from ReceuilPrcieux de la Maonnerie Adonhiramite. Allowing for natural differences between anytwo translations, the texts are almost identical, which confirms that Guillemain plagia-rized Brage. There is a good case to the conrary. An argument which might refute the

charge of Plagiaism brought against the authors of genuine exposures could be this: iftheir exposures are accepted as genuine, how can they be charged with plagiarismbecause their descriptions of authentic ceremonies resemble each other? Would not thecharge be well-taken only if the ceremonies they describe were invented ones? In whichcase historians are left with no material at all to study the evolution of masonic rituals.Henri Amblaine (Alain Bernheim),Masonic Catechisms and Exposures,Ars QuatuorCoronati, vol. (),p. .

. David Bernard, Light on Masonry, rd ed. (Utica, N.Y.: William Williams, ),p. .The Degree of Knight of the East or Chevalier de lOrient is found on pp. .

. Les Plus Secrets Mystres usesJrobabel, which is equivalent toZerubbabel(orZoroba-bel) which we use in our translation.

Jrobabel. For Zorobabel, cf. this name. This form was rather common in the thcentury. (Daniel Ligou, Dictionnaire de la Franc-Maonnerie [Paris: Presses Universi-taires de France, ], s.v. Jrobabel).

Zerubavel (lbBvrz) Foreign to, or scion of, Babylon; seed of confusion. One of hetwelve leaders of the people upon he return from Babylon ( bce); he has supervisedthe building of the second Temple ( to bce). (Sam Eched,Authentic or distortedHebraism in the AASR and the R::, M::M:: & R: :A::M:: [Belgium: The Author,],p. )

. This seems to be based on Nehemiah and a passage from Flavius Josephus,Jewish Antiq-uities, book . They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with thosethat laded, every one with one of hands wrought in the work,and with the other handhelda weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.(Nehemiah :, .) He [Nehemiah] therefore ordered that for the future the buildersshould be equipped with arms when they worked,and so the masons had swords, as alsothose that carried the materials; and he ordered shields to be placed very near them,and sta-tioned trumpeters at intervals of five hundred feet with the command to give the signal tothe people if the enemy appeared, in order that they might be armed when they fought and

not let the enemy fall on them unprepared. (Josephus, Flavius,Jewish Antiquities, vols.,ed and trans. Ralph Marcus et al. [Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press, ],xi..)

Heredom



19/22

. chevalier maon libre, the more common French term isfranc maon.

. Moabon (or Mohabon, sometimes Mohaben, Mahabin). From Gen.:, the

name of the son and grandson of Lot, born from his incest with his eldest daughter andancestor of the Moabites, Mohabon means Root of Moab. This biblical name is found inseveral degrees of perfection, notably in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.Among extinct degrees, Mohabon was the sacred word of the degree of Elect of Prig-nan, the name of the candidate, and the sacred word of the degree of Senior Architect.(Daniel Ligou, Dictionnaire de la Franc-Maonnerie [Paris: Presses Universitaires deFrance, ], s.v. Moabon).

Mohabon (Obavm): a diminutive of Moab (bavm).Mohabon was the son born of theincest of the eldest daughter of Lot with her father (Gen.:). In its use as a sacredword, maybe, but it is more probably a distortion of Ma-Haboneh (hnbh-hm), the wordgiven by the Tuiller au Convent de Laussaune.A widespread interpretation (but unrelatedto its real meaning) is the flesh slips from the bone. In the tradition of certain degrees, it isthe name of the most zealous of the Masters of his time, a friend of Hiram Abiff. (Saint-Gall, Dictionnaire du Rite cossais Ancien et Accept[Paris: ditions Tlets, ],p. ).

. Unclear whether anotherrefers to a throne or a seatfor the Warden.

. Le carr de la loge, literally the square of the lodge, referring to the central checkeredfloor found in most lodges.

. afin quainsi lon soit dan lintriur du carr. The description of the lodge room and

its furnishings is unclear.

. Starburzana (Starbuzzannai, Stabuzanay, Stharbuzana, Harbasanay, etc.): A com-posite word from Shtar (rtw), authenticated deed, conract, promise of payment, andfrom Biza/Bizana (yanzB/hzB), spoils of war, pillage, rapine, contempt, a man livingfrom them. (Eched., p. )

STARBUNZZAI, in fact Shetharboznai. River that had to be crossed by theIsraelites to go from Jerusalem to Babylon (th Degree of the Ancient and AcceptedScottish Rite and different degrees of Knight of the East). In fact, there was no riverbetween the two cities, and Shetharboznai is the name of an officer of the king of Persia.

(Ligou, s.v. Starbunazai).At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-

boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you tobuild this house, and to make up this wall? (Ezra :.)

.In the Bible there is a person with this name,but he is mentioned as a general of Nebuchad-nezzar at the time of the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans.(Ligou,s.v. Nabuzardin)

And in the fifth month,on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth yearof king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, aservant of the king of Babylon,unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the Lord,and

the kings house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great mans house burnt hewith fire. (II Kings :, )

Volume ,



20/22

. Mithredath. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord,which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the

house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithre-dath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. (Ezra :)

. trophe, literally trophy

. rcipiendaire, literally recipient

. A tablier Ecossois or Scottish apron is borderred in red, which is the true Scottishcolor..

. The officers titles are inconsistent here. The Master is referred to as souveraingnral and souverain matre; the Senior Warden as premier surveillant and premier

gnral. The titles premier gnraland second gnralare translated as Senior GeneralandJunior General.

.trac

. Presumably the Master of Ceremonies speaks for Zerubbabel.

. en levant & haussant la point de leurs pes. This may be an error, as a little later, whengiving the gloves, the brethren show their agreement by raising and loweringthe pointsof their swords, en baissant & relevant la pointe de leurs pes.

. trois pas de matre

. maons libres

. sous ce titre, that is, as Zerubbabel

. vous y conriburez dornavant

. This seems to refer to that jewel of a preceding degree, but the earlier jewels dontseem elaborate enough to fit the description here.The jewel [of a Senior Architect] isthat of a Junior Architect, except that the circle must be golden, and over the star whichserves as the head of the compasses will be a golden sun whose lower rays will be on the

head of the level.There is no elaborate jewel in the fourth degree; members wear a sim-ple triangle. The jewel [of a Junior Architect] is a triangle, and the officers will have heemblem of thei office enclosed within. (S. Brent Morris and Eric Serejski, The Degreeof Senior Architect, Heredom, vol. (), pp. , n.)

. en baissant & relevant la pointe de leurs pes.Just before the obligation the brothersshowed agreement by raising and lifting up their swords, en levant & haussant la point deleurs pes.

. Vous servirez de pierre triangulaaire ldifice. It is not clear what it means to serveas the triangular stone in the edifice

.parvis

Heredom



21/22

. This mystical cement was used in Les Plus Secret MystresDegree of Junior Architectas the symbolic offering of the heart of this respectable master [Hiram Abif] which we

have preserved in the form of a mystic substance ever since the assassination. The can-didate is asked,Do you have the strength to swallow the morsel of his heart which willbe presented to you, which all faithful masons have received,but which cannot remain inthe body of liars? After the candidate takes the obligation,The Puissant Master takesthe trowel in the urn, covers I with mystical paste, and presents it to the mouth of thecandidate to swallow. He says to him, This mystical portion which we share with you,forever forms an indissoluble bond, that nothing will be able to break. (S. Brent Morrisand Eric Serejski,The Degree of Junior Architect, Heredom, vol. (), pp. , .)

Editors Note:Ill

Alain Bernheim, , provided invaluable assistance inreviewing this translation.

Volume ,



22/22

Heredom

knight of the sword parker-morris.pdf

Documents