IV. Let him wait a time with constancy and courage;

and soon an answer will be returned to his request.
The warder returns, and reports to the grand com- mander, where the same questions are asked and answers returned ; who orders the candidate to enter. The veil is then drawn aside and the candidate advances near to the base of the triangle.
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, having gained admission to the asylum, what profession have you to make in testimony of your fitness to become a knight among our number?
The senior warden directs the candidate to repeat after him as follows : Most eminent, I now declare in truth and soberness, that I entertain no enmity or ill will to a soul on earth, that I would not freely reconcile, in case I found in him a corresponding disposition.
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, the sentiments you utter are truly commendable, and are worthy of imitation ; but yet we require some stronger proof of your fidelity to us. The proofs we demand are, that you participate with us in five libations : which being performed, we will receive you a knight among our number. The elements of these* liba- tions are for the four first, wine and water; the fifth is pure wine. Have you any repugnance to participate?
The candidate prompted by senior warden, says, " Most eminent, I am willing to conform to the rules of the order."
The most eminent t^kes a wine glass of wine and water
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from the triangle, and directs the candidate to do the same, and repeat after him, as follows :
''To the memory of Solomon, king of Israel, our ancient grand master/3
Second Libation. To the memory of Hiram, king of Tyre, our ancient grand master.
Third Libation. To the memory of Hiram Abiff, the widow's son, who lost his life in defence of his integrity.
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, the order to which you wish to unite yourself, is founded upon the Christian religion. We will therefore attend to a lesson from the holy evangelist. Sir knight, our prelate, you will read.
The prelate reads from Matt. xxvi. 14 — 26.
" Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they cov- enanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
" Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand ; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them ; and they made ready the passover. Now, when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, That one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said. He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth, as it is written of him : but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed ! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said."
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, the twelve burning tapers you here see upon the triangle, correspond in number with the twelve disciples of our Saviour while on earth ; one of whom fell by transgression, and betrayed his Lord and Master. And as a constant admonition to you, always to persevere in the paths of honour, integrity, and truth, and
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as a perpetual memorial of the apostacy of Judas Iscaript, you are required by the rules of our order, to extinguish one of those burning tapers.
The candidate extinguishes one of the tapers, and the most eminent proceeds: "Thus may perish the enemies of our order, and may you ever bear it in mind, that he who basely violates his vow, is worthy of no better fate."
The relics are now uncovered, which exhibits to the candidate a black coffin (in the centre of the triangle), supporting the holy bible, on which rests a human skull,* and '' cross bones."
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, you here see mortality resting on divinity, a human skull resting on the holy bible, which is to teach you that a faithful reliance in the truth herein revealed will afford you consolation in the gloomy hour of death, and will assure you inevitable happiness in the world that is to come ; sir knight, our prelate, you will read another lesson from the holy evangelist.
Matthew xxvi. 36 — 50. " Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the dis- ciples. Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death ; tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me : never- theless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter. What ! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again : for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time,
* This skull is technically called " old Simon." " Mai/ Simon haunt all fools, Who vary from our rules ; May the heads of all such tools
Rest high on spires. Knigt
ight Templars' song.
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saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest : behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is be- trayed into the hand of sinners. Rise, let us be- going : behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
" And while he yet spake, lo, Judas one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whom- soever I shall kiss> that same is he ; hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master ; and kissed him."
M.E.G.C. rises and takes the skull in his hand, and ad- dresses the candidate as follows: " Pilgrim, how striking is this emblem of mortality ! once it was animated like our- selves, but now it ceases to act or think ; its vital energies are extinct, and all the powers of life have ceased their operations. To such a state, sir knights, we all are has- tening ; therefore let us gratefully improve this present opportunity, that when our weak and frail bodies, like this memento, shall become cold and inanimate, our dis- embodied spirits may soar aloft to the blessed regions of light and life eternal. Sir knight, our prelate, we will attend to another lesson from the holy evangelist."
Matthew xxvii. 24—38. " When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person ; see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
11 Then released he Barabbas unto them : and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe.
"And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand : and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying. Hail, king of the Jews ! And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man
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of Gyrene, Simon by name ; him they compelled to bear his
" And when they were come unto a place called Gol- gotha, that is to say, A place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall : and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down, they watched him there : And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, we will now participate in the fourth libation.* "To the memory of Simon, of Cyrene, the friend of our Saviour, who bore his cross, and fell a martyr to his faith."
M.E.G.C. Pilgrim, before you will be permitted to par- ticipate in the fifth libation, I shall enjoin upon you one year's penance, which you will perform as a token of your faith and humility, under the direction of the senior and junior wardens, with this emblem of humility [a skull] in one hand, and this emblem of faith [a lighted taper] in the other ; you will take them and travel to the sepulchre of our Saviour.
The candidate commences his journey, accompanied by the two wardens, and after travelling around the hall awhile, they are accosted by a guard, stationed at the entrance of a dark room, representing the sepulchre of our Saviour, who demands, "Who comes there?"
S.W. A pilgrim penitent, travelling from afar, craves your permission here awhile to wait, and at the shrine of our departed Lord to offer up his prayers and meditations.
G. How does he expect to obtain this favour?
S.W, By the benefit of the pilgrim penitent's pass.
G. Has he that pass?
S.W. He has it not; I have it for him.
G. Advance and give it.
This word or pass, is Golgotha, and is given by five cuts under an arch of steel. [See plate 20. fig. 2.]
* In drinking these four first libations, the candidate holds the glass of wine and water in his hand, and after repeating the toast after the most eminent, they both give the drinking sign by drawing the glass across the throat.
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The pass being given, the guard says, " Right; you have my permission to enter the sepulchre of our Saviour."
The candidate steps along, and is directed to kneel at the entrance of the sepulchre, and the senior warden reads as follows :
" Although it is appointed unto all men once to die, yet as the scriptures inform, the Saviour of the world arose from the dead, and ascended up into heaven, there for ever seated on the throne of the majesty on high, so they also assure us, that all who have received him for their righteousness, and put their trust in him, shall rise to life everlasting.
" In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake : for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like light- ning, and his raiment white as snow : and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye : for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not there ; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay : and go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead ; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee ; there shall ye see him : lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
" And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
" And he led them out as far as Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and car- ried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and re- turned to Jerusalem with great joy."
As soon as the reading is ended, the room or hall is dark- ened, and the candidate rises, and beholds in another part of the encampment, a transparency, brilliantly lighted, representing the resurrection and ascension of the Saviour, and at the same time, the following words are sung:
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" The rising God forsakes the tomb I Up to his Father's court he flies, Cherubic legions guard him home, And shout him welcome to the skies.
Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell
How high our great deliv'rer reigns, Sing how he spoil'd the hosts of hell.
And led the monster, death, in chains.
Say ' Live for ever, wondrous king,
Born to redeem, and strong to save!' Then ask the tyrant, ' Where's thy sting?
And where's thy vict'ry, boasting grave?" "
The singing being ended, the prelate takes the candi- date by the arm, and walks near the transparency, and addresses him as follows :
•'Pilgrim, the scene before you represents the splendid conclusion of the hallowed sacrifice offered by the Redeemer of the world, to propitiate the anger of an offended Deity. This sacred volume informs us [showing him the bible] that our Saviour, after having suffered the pains of death, descended into the place of departed spirits, and that on the third day, he burst the bands of death, triumphed over the grave, and in due time, ascended with transcendant majesty to heaven, where he now sits on the right hand of our heavenly Father, a mediator and intercessor, for all those who have faith in him. I now invest you with an emblem of that faith : [at the same time suspends from his neck a black cross] it is also an emblem of our order, which you will wear as a constant memorial, for you to imitate the virtues of the immaculate Jesus, who died that you might live. Pilgrim, the ceremonies in which you are now engaged, are calculated deeply to impress your mind : and I trust will have a happy and lasting effect upon your future character. You were first, as a trial of your faith and humility, enjoined to perform seven years' pilgrimage : it represents the great pilgrimage of life through which we are all passing : we are all weary pil- grims, anxiously looking forward to that asylum, where we shall rest from our labours, and be at rest for ever. You were then directed, as a trial of your courage and constancy, to perform seven years' warfare : it represents to you the constant warfare with the lying vanities and deceits of this world, in which it is necessary for us always
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to be engaged. You are now performing penance as a trial of your humility. Of this, our Lord and Saviour has left us a bright example. For though he was the eternal Son of God, he humbled himself to be born of a woman, to endure the pains and afflictions incident to human na- ture, and finally to suffer a cruel and ignominious death upon the cross : it is also a trial of that faith which will conduct you safely over the dark gulf of everlasting death, and land your enfranchised spirit in the peaceful abodes of the blessed. Pilgrim, keep ever in your memory this awful truth. You know not how soon you may be called upon to render an account to that Supreme Judge, from whom not even the most minute act of your life is hidden : for although you now stand erect in all the strength of manhood and pride of beauty, in a few short moments, you may become a pale and lifeless corpse. This moment, even while I am yet speaking, the angel of death may re- ceive the fatal mandate to strike you from the roll of human existence: and the friends who now surround you may be called upon to perform the last sad office of laying you in the earth, a banquet for worms, and this fair body become as the miserable relic you now hold in your hand. Man that is born of a woman, is of few days and full of sorrow : he eometh up and is cut down as a flower ; he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not. In the midst of life we are in death ; of whom may we seek succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins are justly displeased. Yet 0 God, most holy, thou God most mighty, 0 holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us from the pains of eternal death. I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write from henceforth, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord ; even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours. Be ye also ready, and rest assured, that a firm faith in the truths here revealed, will afford you con- solation in the gloomy hour of dissolution, and insure you ineffable and eternal happiness in the world to come. Amen and amen."
The hall is again lighted up, and the candidate makes another alarm at the asylum.
M.E.G.C. Sir knight warder, attend to that alarm, and see who comes there.
W. Who comes there? who dares approach this sacred
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asylum of our encampment, to disturb our holy medita- tions?' Who are you?
S. W. A pilgrim penitent, travelling from afar, who having performed his term of penance, seeks now to par- ticipate in the fifth libation, thereby to seal his faith.
W. What surety does he offer, that he is no impostor?
S.W. The commendation of two valiant and magnanim- ous knights, our senior and junior wardens.