IV. You will present them, and wait a time until the

most eminent grand commander be informed of your re- quest and his answer returned.
The warder returns to his post.*
M.E.G.C. Sir knight warder, what is the cause of that alarm? Who comes there?
it. A worthy companion, who, having taken all the necessary preceding degrees, now solicits the honour of being dubbed and created in this encampment, a knight of the valiant and magnanimous order of knight templars, and knights of Malta, or order of St. Johns of Jerusalem.
M.E.G.C. Has he given answers to the questions pro- posed ?
IT. He has, in writing, and in token of his sincerity has performed the necessary ablution.
M.E.G.C. Present the questions. [Reads them.] The questions are answered satisfactorily ; but as a trial of his patience and perseverance, I enjoin upon him seven years' pilgrimage, which he will perform under the direction of the junior warden dressed in pilgrim's weeds.
The warder returns the same answer to the junior war- den, and he to the candidate in the chamber of reflection. The junior warden also informs the candidate that in addi- tion to his sandals, staff and scrip, he must take some bread and a bottle of water to sustain him on his journey. The candidate is prepared as in plate 22, fig. 1, and the junior warden directs him to follow him.
The encampments are generally so constructed that they have to pass through several rooms before they arrive to the assilnm t the first room they enter, a guard, who is stationed there for that purpose, inquires, " Who comes there?"
The warder's post or station in this part of the ceremony is at the riirht. in front of the most eminent grand commander.
t That part of the hall or encampment where the most eminent erard commander sits is called the assilum ; the other side of the veil fs the council chamber.
192 KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.
J.W. A weary pilgrim, travelling from afar, to join with those who oft have gone before him to offer his devo- tions at the holy shrine.
Guard. Pilgrim, I greet thee; walk into my tent; sit down ; silver and gold have I none ; but such as I have give I thee; here is some good bread and pure water, just such as pilgrims need ; help yourself. (Pilgrim eats.) I will examine your scrip, and see how your bread holds out; (feeling in his scrip) your bread is almost gone, I will put in some; your water is also almost spent, I will replenish your bottle. Help yourself, brother pilgrim, to what you like best.
The candidate having sufficiently refreshed himself, the guard says, "Pilgrim, hearken now to a lesson to cheer thee on thy way, and assure thee of success."
" And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar (put- ting it on her shoulder), and the child, and sent her away, and she departed and wandered in the wilderness ; and the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs ; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven ; saying, arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand ; for I will make him a great nation : and God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children, rejoicing in the Lord alway ; and again I say, rejoice." Farewell, Pilgrim. God speed thee.
The junior warden, followed by the pilgrim, passes into another room, where the second guard accosts them, and where the same ceremonies take place as before ; after which the guard reads the following lesson or exhortation :
" If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, and ye give them not of those things which are needful for the body, what doth it profit? To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men ; after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ :
KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. 193
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Farewell, Pilgrim. God speed thee."
They pass in unto the third room, where the third guard treats them with bread and water as before, and reads the following lesson :
11 He that receiveth you, receiveth me, and he that re- ceiveth me receiveth him that sent me : Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls ; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Whosoever shall give* to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water, only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward. Farewell, Pilgrim. God speed thee."
They then pass on and make an alarm at the entrance of the asylum.
M.E.G.C. Sir knight warder, attend to that alarm, and see who comes there.
U~. (to the veil). }Vho comes there?
J.IT . A weary pilgrim, travelling from afar, who hav- ing passed full three long years of pilgrimage, is most de- sirous, if it please the grand commander, forthwith to dedicate the four remaining years to deeds of more exalted usefulness : and if found worthy, his strong desire is to be now admitted among those valiant knights, whose well- earned fame has spread both far and wide for acts of charity and pure beneficence.
IF. What surety does he offer that he is impostor?
J.TT . The commendation of a valiant and magnanimous knight, our junior warden, who recommends to the grand commander a remission of the four remaining years of pilgrimage.
W. Let him wait a time with patience and perseverance, and soon an answer will be returned to his request.
The warder returns to his post, and the most eminent grand commander inquires, " Who comes there?"
The warder replies as before.
M.E.G.C. This being true, sir knight, our prelate, you will take this weary pilgrim to the holy altar, where, hav- ing sworn him for ever to be faithful, forthwith invest him with the sword and buckler, that as a pilgrim warrior he may perform seven years of warfare.
14
194 KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.
S.W. Attention, sir knights; you will form an avenue, to escort our most excellent prelate to the holy altar.
The veil is drawn aside, and the avenue is formed by the sir knights, standing in two lines, and forming an arch with their swords ; the prelate takes the candidate by the arm, leading him down the avenue to the lower end of the council chamber. The candidate kneels at the altar, upon two cross swords, places his hands upon the holy bible, on which is placed two cross swords ; the senior warden stands on the right and the junior warden on the left of the can- didate, with drawn swords. The prelate takes his place in front of the candidate, on a sort of throne, and addresses him as follows :
" Companion, you are kneeling at the altar for the pur- pose of taking a solemn oath and obligation appertaining to the degree of knight templar, which is not to interfere with the duty you owe to your country or Maker ; if you are willing to proceed, you may repeat your Christian and sur- name, and say after me.
"I, A.B., of my own free will and accord, in the pres- ence of Almighty God, and this encampment of knights templars, do hereby, and hereon most solemnly promise and swear that I will always hail, for ever conceal, and never reveal, any of the secret arts, parts or points apper- taining to the mysteries of this order of knights templars, unless it be to a true and lawful companion sir knights, or within the body of a just and lawful encampment of such; and not unto him, or them, until by due trial, strict exam- ination, or lawful information, I find him or them lawfully entitled to receive the same.
" Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will answer, and obey all due signs, and regular summons which shall be given or sent to me from a regular encamp- ment of knights templars, if within the distance of forty miles, natural infirmities, and unavoidable accidents only excusing me.
" Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will help, aid and assist with my counsel, my purse, and my sword, all poor and indigent knights templars, their widows and orphans, they making application to me as such, and I find- ing them worthy, so far as I can do it without material injury to myself, and so far as truth, honour and justice may warrant.
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" Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not assist or be present at the forming and opening of an en- campment of knights templars, unless there be present seven knights of the order, or the representatives of three different encampments, acting under the sanction of a legal warrant.
" Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will go the distance of forty miles, even barefoot and on frosty ground, to save the life, and relieve the necessities of a worthy knight, should I know that his necessities required it, and my abilities permit.
" Furthermore do I promise and swear that 7 will wield my sword in the defence of innocent maidens, destitute widows, helpless orphans, and the Christian religion. ( !!)
" Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will sup- port and maintain the bye-laws of the encampment of which I may hereafter become a member, the edicts and reonlations of the grand encampment of the United States of America, so far as the same shall come to my knowledge ; to all this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steady resolution to perform and keep the same, without any hesitation, equivocation, men- tal reservation or self-evasion of mind in me whatever ; binding myself under no less penalty than to have my head struck off and placed on the highest spire in Christendom, should I knowingly or willingly violate any part of this my solemn obligation of a knight templar. So help me God, and keep me steadfast to perform and keep the same." [He kisses the book.]
The prelate then directs the candidate to arise, and thus addresses him: "Pilgrim, thou hast craved permission to pass through our solemn ceremonies and enter the asylum of our encampment; by thy sandals, staff and script, I judge thee to be a child of humility : charity and hospi- tality are the grand characteristics of this magnanimous order.
" In the character of knights templars, we are bound to give alms to poor and weary pilgrims travelling from afar, to succour the needy, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bind up the wounds of the afflicted.
''We here wage war against the enemies of innocent maidens, destitute widows, helpless orphans, and the Chris- tian religion. If you are desirous of enlisting in this noble
196 KNIGHTS TEMPLAE8.
and glorious warfare, lay aside thy staff, and take up the sword, fighting manfully thy way, and with valour run- ning thy course : and may the Almighty, who is a strong tower and defence to all those who put their trust in him, be thy support and thy salvation.
" Pilgrim, having laid aside the staff, and taken up the sword, we expect you will make public declaration of the cause in which you will wield it. You will therefore re- peat after me and do as I do.
11 ' I will wield my sword in defence of innocent maidens, destitute widows, helpless orphans, and the Christian re- ligion.' "
The candidate repeats the same, sentence by sentence, after the prelate, and at each sentence, giving his sword a nourish above his head.
P. With confidence in this, your profession, our senior warden will invest you with the pilgrim warrior's pass ; and under his direction, we assign you seven years' war- fare, which you will perform, as a token of your constancy and courage. May success and victory attend you.
The senior warden then invests the candidate with the pilgrim warrior's pass, which is Maher-shalal-hashbaz. It is given by four cuts of the sword, and under an arch of steel. [See plate 20, fig. 2.]
S.W. Pilgrim, you will follow me, and repeat after me. They then start on their tour of warfare, both wielding their swords, and saying, "I will wield my sword in de- fence of innocent maidens, destitute widows, helpless or- phans, and the Christian religion." [See plate 22, fig. 3.]
They then meet a guard, who demands, "Who comes there?"
S.W. A pilgrim warrior.
G. Advance, and communicate the pilgrim warrior's pass.
It is given as before.
The candidate is accosted in the same way, and gives the word or pass, and passes on. They then wield their swords, and repeat as before, until they pass three guards, who also demand the pass, as before.
The three arrive at the asylum, and make an alarm of three times four.
M.E.G.C. Sir knight warder, attend to the cause of that alarm, and see who comes there.
KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.
197
The warder at the veil demands, "Who comes there?"
>'.IV. A pilgrim warrior, travelling from afar, who, having passed full three long years of warfare, is most desirous, if it please the grand commander, to be now ad- mitted to the honours and rewards that await the valiant templar.