CHAPTER X^

ObservatioTis on the Degree of Knights ofthm

Ninth Arch*

TO form a lodge of this degree, five persons at-
kast must be present.

1st, The most potent grand master, represent-
ing Solomon^ in the east,^ seated in a chair of state^
under a rich canopy, with a crown on his head,
and a sceptre in his hand. He is dressed in royat
rpbes of yellow, and an ermined vestment of blue
satin, reaching to the elbows ;- a broad purple rib*
bon from the right shoulder to the left hip, ta
which is hung a triangle of gold.

2d. The grand warden, representing the king^
of Tyre, on^ his left hand, seated as a stranger^
clothed in a purple robe and a yellow vestmelit.

3d. The grand inspector, representing G— ^10
Ibe west^ wifth » drawn sword in his haixk

f84 nCSMASON^d MONITOir.

4th. The grand ttcaaurcr, repwsenting- Joa^-
ffert, in the north, with a golden key to his fifth
huttonhdic,, and upon it the letters L V. I; L. Jtt*
vents verbum intre Leonis.
' 5* The grand' secretary^ representing Stocking
in the south;

The four last mentioned'officers tobe ornament-
ed with the same ribbon and jewel as the M. P.*
and to sit covered. The three last to have robes^
of blue without vestments.

No person can be admitted to this degree with-
out having previously taken, all the preceding de'-
grees.

History and Charge of this Degree.

^ My Worthy Brother,,

*'It is my intention at this time to give you a
clearer account than you have yet been acquaint^
ed with, of masonry; of which at present yo\i
barely know the elements.

In doing this it will be necessary- to explain to
you some circumstances of very renoote antiquity.

Enoch, the son of Jared, was the sixth son in
descent from Adam>^and lived in the fear and love
of his Maker.

Enoch, being inspired by the Most Hi^, and ia
«ommemoration of a wonderful vision, built a
temple \wdeF ground^ , and dedicated the same t€»

niSMASON'S MOKITOR* M

Crodr Methuselah^ the son of Enochs coastructed
the buildings without beiog acquainted with bis
father's motives.

This happened in that part of the world which
was afterwards called the land of Canaan^ and
tince known by the name of the Holy Land.

Enoch caused a triangular plate of gc^d to be
made^ each side of which was a cubit long ; he
enriched it with the most precious stones^ and en*
crusted the plate upon a stone of agate^ of the
same form. He then engraved upon it the ineffa-
ble characters^ and placed it on a triangular pe-
destal of white marble^i which he deposited in the
deepest arch.

When Enoch's temple was completed^he made
e door of stone^ and put a ring of iron therein^ by
which it might be occasionally raised ; and placed
it over the opening of the arch^ that the matters
enclosed therein might be preserved from the unU
versal destruction impending. And none but
Enoch knew of the treasure which the arches con*
tained.

And^ behold^ the wickedness of mankind in*
creased more^ and became grievous in the sight of
the Lord^ and God threatened to destroy the
whole world. Enochs perceiving that the know-*
(edge of the arts was likely to be lost in the gene-
ral destruction^ and being desirous of preserving

180 FREXMilSOK'S MONTTOK.

the principles of the sciences, for the posterity ct
those whom God should be pleased to ^pare, bnSf
two great pillars on the top of the highest moun-
tain, the one of brass, to withstand water, the other
of marble, to withstand fire ; and he engraved on
the marble pillar, hieroglyphics, signifying thai
there was a most precious treasure concealed in
the arches under ground, which he had dedicated
to God. And he engraved on the pillar of brass
the principles of the liberal arts, particularly- of
masonry.

Methuselah was the father of Lamecb^ who
was the father of Noah, who was a pious and
good man, and beloved by God. And the Lord
spake unto Noah, saying,, ^' Behold, I will punish
the sins of mankind with a general deluge; there*
fore build an ark, capable of containing thyself and
feimily, as also a pair of every living creature upon
tarth, and those only shall be saved from the ge*
Beral destruction which I am about to inflict for
the iniquities of the people."

And God gave unto Noah a plan by which tht
ark was to be coinstructed* Noah was one hun-
dred years in building the ark ;. he was six huuf
dred years old when it was finished, and his son
Seth was ninety-nine* His father Lamech had
died a short time before, aged 777 years. There
lyas not at thi^ time any of the ancient patriarch!

IftEEMASON'S MONITOX. 1t6f

Gvingy-Save Methuselah the grandfather of Noab^
who was about QtHQ years oldj and it is supposed
that he perished in the general ruin.

The ark being finished^ Noah^ agreeable to the
instructions he had received from the Most High^
went into it with his family^ and took with him
such things as he was commanded.

The flood took place in the year of the world
1656^ and destroyed most of the superb monu.
ments of antiquity. The marble pillar of Enoch
fell in the general destruction ; but, by divine per-
mission, the pillar of brass withstood the water
by which means the ancient state of the liberal
arts, and particularly masonry, has been handed
jdown to us.

We learn from holy writ, 4he history of succeed*
Ing times, till. the Israelites became slaves to the
Egyptians ; from which bondage they were freed
under the conduct of Moses. The same sacred