CHAPTER VI.

Observations on the Degree of Elected KnigHtr,

or Knights of the Ninth Arch ; cctlled a

Chapter*

THIS chapter represents the audience chambe^
of Solomon, and is to be decorated with white
and red hangings— the red with white flamet«.

niESMASOK'S MONITOR* 27$

There are nine lights in the east^ and ^ight in
Ihe west* The master represents Solomon, seat*
cd in the east, with a table before him, covered
m^ith Uack, and is styled. Most Potent.
. There is only one warden, in the west, who
represents Stockin, with seven brethern round him*
All the brethren must be dressed in black, and their
hats flapped, with a broad black ribbon from the
left shoulder to the .light hip, on the lower part of
which are nine red roses, four on each side, and one
at the. bottom, to which is suspended a poinard*
The aprons are white, lined with black, speckled
with blood ; on theilapa bloody arm with a poi-
aard, and on the area a bloody arm holding by the
Jutir a bloody head.

J^ear to the lodge is a small dark place, re*
presenting a cavern, in which is placed a lamp^
H place representing a spring, with a bason
to hold water, and a table, on which are laid a
poinard, and a representation of a bloody head, as
just severed from the body. Near the table a
large stone to sit on, and below the lamp, in capi«
tal.tetters, VENGEANCE.

History of this Degree*

la the reign of Solomon, several of the work-
acien had been guilty of some crime of an enor-
4MOU8 nature, and made their escape from Jerusa«

27tf VREfiMASON'S MONTTOK. ^

lem. A great asteilibly of matters had aat in coih
aultation on the best means of discovering and apu
prehending them. Their deliberations were inter*
rupted by the entrance of a stranger^ who de«>
manded to speak to the kiAg in private. Upon be*
ing admitted, he acquainted Solomon that he bad
discovered where Akirop, one of the traitors, lay
concealed; and offered to conduct those whom
the king should please to appoint, to go ^th him.
This being communicated to the brethren, cme and
all requested to be partakers in the vengeance due
to the villain. Solomon checked their ardour, de*
daring that only nine should undertake the task ;
and to avoid giving any offence, ordered all their
names to be put into an urn, and that the first
sine that should be drawn, should be the persons
to accompany the stranger.

At break of day, Joabert, Stockin, and seven
others, conducted by the stranger, travelled on«
wards, through a dreaiy country. On the wayj
Joabert found means to learn from the strangeri
that the villain they were in quest of had hidden
himself in a cavern not far from the place wiieri
they then were ; he soon found the cavern, and
entered it alone, where, by the light of the lamp,
h€ didcoverad the villain asleep, with a poinard at
hii Jeet inflamed at the sight, and ftctoated 1^

yUKEMASON^S MONITOR* 2ff

kn impatient zeal^ he immediately seized th6
poina;4j And stabbed bim^ first in the head^ and
then in the heart : he had on^ time to cry^: f^etht
geance is taken, and expired. When the ot^er
eight arrived and had refreshed themselves at the
spring, Joaberl severed the head fro^i the body^
and, taking it in one hand and his poinard in.ttm
^ther, he, with his brethren, returned to Jcrusatem»
Solomon wras at first very much ofiended, that Jo^
abert had put it out of his powder to take vengeance
himself, in presence of, and as a warning to, the
rest of the workmen to be faithful to their trust ;
"but, by proper intercession, was again* reoonciled*:

Joabert became highly favoured oriSoLomod^
who conferred upon him, and his eigbt compot
«ions, the title of Elected. Knights* .r r

The chapter is closed by eight and one». : . i