CHAPTER XIX

THE CEREMONIES
In considering the Etiquette of the Cere- monies in detail, it may be necessary to touch upon questions which would appear to belong rather to Ritual than to Etiquette. The truth is, it is extremely difficult to define the limits and boundaries of each; they so intermix and overlap here and there that it is next to impossible to say where the domain of the one ends and that of the other begins. On the one hand, one is bound to point out errors and defects in practice and procedure; and on the other, to point out the correct way; thus words, and forms of words, must be included, as well as gesture, position, and demeanour.
It is true Etiquette to do the right thing in the right way, at the right time, and in the right place, as it is equally Etiquette to say the right thing in the right way, at the right time and place.
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This doctrine, as applied to our Ritual and ' Ceremonies, forbids us even to wish to add or to alter words or actions, to render the | meaning, in our opinion, ‘ more clear,’ or the ) diction ‘ more harmonious,’ ‘ more dignified,’ / or ‘more worthy’ of ‘our ancient and honourable Fraternity.’
The temptation to introduce our own indi-
} viduality is the source of all deviation, and ) is the origin of all the trouble which has , arisen with regard to the Ritual; and ac- + counts for the very regrettable lack of uni- | formity which unfortunately prevails. | Once admit the right of one person to } make one alteration, and how can the | right of any person to make any alteration: i be denied ? The true principle is to conform completely | and unflinchingly to the actual ceremonies | of the Ritual as settled by the Lodge of Re- | conciliation, and approved by Grand Lodge in 1816.
This principle has been. steadily kept in view in the preceding chapters; it will be the ) guiding principle in those which are to follow.
* % * *
The ‘superstructure’ of eventual excellence
in working, ‘ perfect in its parts, and-honour- 2I1
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able to the builder,’ can only be raised upon a sound foundation of knowledge; both theoretical and practical; and details, ap- parently small and trivial, but nevertheless subserving some useful end, should not be overlooked. These details, small or great, are more readily committed to memofy, and _ are better carried out in practice, if one knows the reason why, as regards time, place, and manner of performance. Experto crede. * * * *
Opinions differ as to the number of Candi- dates upon whom either of the Ceremonies should be performed at one time—that is, supposing there be more than one Candidate, shall they be taken together, or one at a time ?
There is no law upon the subject, for or against. Rule 192 in the Book of Constitu- tions states that ‘not more than five persons . shall be initiated on the same day ’—nothing more. It is therefore perfectly in accord- ance with the Constitutions to Initiate, Pass, or Raise more than one Candidate at one time.
Two are easily managed, but it is not de- sirable to go beyond two. In the case of three, four, or five Candidates presenting
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themsSeives, it is better to take them two and
“one, or two and two, up to and including the Obligation, and (in the Initiation) the restoration; and when the other detachment has reached the same stage, to take all to- gether to the end.
Of course, cases frequently do occur in which two or even three Candidates taken at one time are initiated, passed, and raised, as efficiently and with as much impressiveness as could have been the case if they had been taken seriatim; but this method is not to be commended except under pressing circum- stances, and is then only permissible when al] the Officers concerned are adepts in their several duties.
The advocates of the custom of performing each Ceremony separately, upon each Candi- date—e.g., up to and including the Obliga- tion, and (in the Initiation) the restoration
‘to L., and the explanation of the emblem- atical Ls.—maintain that the- Ceremony is more impressive with one only, than with two together; and that with more than one some confusion is certain to occur. There is solid foundation for these objections. So much depends upon the manner in which the Worshipful Master, the Wardens, and 213
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more especially the Deacons, are able to perform their several duties; the impressive- ness depends in a great measure upon the Master; the orderliness and the avoidance of confusion and muddle depend upon the other officers. | qi
The ‘ Golden Rule’ will apply here as else- where. The governing factor should be due consideration for the rights and interests of the Candidate. Heis about tc pass through one of the most solemn ordeals of his life— one which will leave its impress upon him for the remainder of his career. It can only, happen to him once. - Is it worth while to. risk the possibility of marring a beautiful spiritual exercise for some mundane con- sideration such as lack of time or spoiling dinner ?
It is a crime to ruin a Candidate’s first impressions.
* * * *
A preliminary word of caution may be given here. No Officer should ‘help’ another.- Much confusion is created by in- terference, however well meant.
The Officers should know their work and each should do his own. If a mistake should occur, give the W. Master time to
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put it right quietly. Confusion is made worse confounded if everyone tries his hand ‘at correction. Of course, no Visitor, how- -ever competent or however highly placed, would dream of saying or doing anything to direct the course of the ceremony. Attend- ance at the Lodge of Instruction will minim- ize all risk of error. * * * *
(A.) INITIATION.
The preparation of the Candidate for the Ceremony of Initiation is discussed in a later chapter (Chapter XXIII.), to which the reader is referred (p. 327), for a full explanation of the origin and the intention of every detail of that preparation. The theory and practice of the various and appro- priate Ks. are tully detailed and explained on pp. 330 to 332.
We will suppose the Candidate to have been properly prepared, the Ks.to have been given the Report made to the Worshipful Master, and the Candidate ordered to be admitted. The Organist should immediately com- mence to play impressive and suitable music —e.g., ‘Lead, kindly Light ’—and should continue until the Candidate reaches the
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K. S. On his way to the door, the Senior Deacon places K. S.; after which the
Inner Guard opens the door, and both the:
Deacons receive the Candidate at the door; but the Junior Deacon has him in his especial charge, and leads him to K. S. Here an important question is asked, as to the Candidate’s eligibility. The Junior Deacon should be from the commencement always on the alert to suggest the proper answers to this and other questions asked by the Worshipful Master from time to time. The two Deacons cross their wands over the Candidate during the Prayer, during which all stand with Sn. of R. At the words ‘S. M. I. B.,’ whether said by the Imme- diate Past Master alone or sung by all the Brethren together, the Sn. of R. is ‘dropped,’ not ‘drawn.’ When the Prayer is concluded, amid solemn silence that most important question is asked which, with its affirmative answer, constitutes ‘ the first and most important of the Antient Landmarks of the Order.’ The Candidate’s answer should come, unprompted, freely and voluntarily from his own heart; but in case of need the Junior Deacon will assist the Candidate. The response having been given and the Worship- 216
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ful Master having expressed his satisfaction therewith, the attention of the Brethren is called to the fact that the Candidate is about to pass in view before them. When the Worshipful. Master has finished speaking, the Senior Deacon replaces K. S., takes the P. to the Worshipful Master, and resumes his seat, unless there is more than one Can- didate; in that case the Senior Deacon, as a matter of course, takes charge of one of them; but the Junior Deacon leads throughout the Ceremony.
The Junior Deacon takes the Candidate’s right hand in his own left and they walk side by side (‘ squaring’ the L.) up the N., across the E., down the S.; the Candidate is halted on the Junior Warden’s right and interrogated. He is then conducted to the Senior Warden’s right; the questions are asked and answered as before and the Can- didate again receives permission to ‘ Enter free,’ etc. He is’ then presented to the Worshipful Master by the Senior Warden. ‘a Candidate properly prepared to be made a Mason.’
During the questions which follow the presentation, the Junior Deacon should be ready to suggest the proper reply to each. It
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is better to prompt the replies than to leave them to the Candidate, whose form of words in reply may perhaps be not well chosen.
‘The method of adv. to the P. in due form ’ is unfortunately often not well under- stood by the Junior Deacon himself. In the first place the Candidate should be taken ‘ diagonally ’ to the suitable spot. The t. ir. Ss. must not be wrongly dictated. They con- sist of right lines and angles, and morally teach upright lives and well squared actions. The position of the feet should therefore be carefully watched. (The Junior Deacon must remember that it is useless to attempt to use his Wand to point out the method ot adv.) This position must be carefully dis- tinguished in the minds of the Junior Deacon and Candidate from a later position, as to which the Candidate is informed, ‘ That is the first R. S. in Freemasonry,’ and in which the feet are placed quite differently, as directed by the W. M. The t. ir. Ss. in advancing from West to East, are, and should always be, separate and distinct from that first “R.S.’ The confusion of these Ss., the one form with the other, is inexcusably frequent; it cannot be too strongly reprobated.
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The Senior Deacon arrives at Ped. at the same moment as the Candidate.
The instruction given to the Candidate by the Worshipful Master.as to his posture during the Ob. contains these words, ‘... your... formed inaS.’ If he has been properly adv. to.the P. by the Junior Deacon, his... will be already in that position.
There will therefore be no need for any pulling or pushing, in order to get the posi- tion indicated. The Junior Deacon should see that the Candidate’s ... is well forward, do the best he can as.to the angle, study the balance of the body in an easy position, and accept that position as a suffi- cient fulfilment of the requirement of the case. Great discomfort—at times amount-
ing to physical pain—must frequently be the
result of the Deacon’s ill-dirécted energy.
Deacons cross Wds. during Ob., and all stand with P. S. of E. A.
When the words ‘ hereby and hereon ’ are spoken, the Worshipful Master should place his left hand lightly—for a moment—upon the hand of the Candidate, and then upon the V.S. L. The word ‘hele’ used in the Ob. is an Old English word which signifies ‘to hide, or to cover or conceal.’ It is de«
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cived from the ancient Saxon word ‘helan,* from which we derive, inter alia the word ‘hell. The word ‘hele’ is still used colloquially in Celtic districts (e.g., Cornwall) and is there pronounced ‘heel.’ In Masonry it is pronounced ‘hail.’
On conclusion of Ob. the P. S. is dis. and
the Worshipful Master removes Cs. ' Where musical services are in use, the sealing of the Ob. on V. S. L. should be marked by an appropriate instrumental Kyrie eleison ; this must on no account be sung.
The Rn. to L. requires very great care on the part of the Junior Deacon ; - he has to be ready to suggest the proper word in reply to the Master’s question, and at the same time to have all prepared for the denouement at the proper moment. It is well also for all the Brethren to look to the East, so that the salute may be given by all as by oneman. A volley, and not a dropping fire, should welcome the Candidate on his Rn. to L. The proper motions are P.