XLV. It is commanded that a new brother can only be

received into the Order in one of the churches built at our expense, and in the presence of six brethren. It is neces- sary to instruct him for three months, and to provide him with all things needful Afterwards he must receive the sign of Peace, a palm-branch, and three kisses, with the words — "Dear brother, we command you to be silent." After this, he must kneel before the imperator in a special
ROSICRUCIAN APOLOGISTS : MICHAEL MAIER. 281
dress, with an assistant on either side, the one being his magister, and the other a brother. He shall then say : — "I, N. N., swear by the eternal and living God not to make known the secret which has been communicated to me (here he uplifts two fingers l) to any human being, but to preserve it in concealment under the natural seal all the days of my life ; likewise to keep secret all things connected therewith as far as they may be made known to me ; likewise to discover nothing concerning the position of our brother- hood, neither the abode, name, or surname of our imperator, nor to shew the Stone to anyone ; all which I promise to preserve eternally in silence, by peril of my life, as God and His Word may help me."
Afterwards his magister cuts seven tufts of hair from his head and seals them up in seven papers, writing on each the name and surname of the new brother, and giving them to the imperator to keep. The next day the brethren pro- ceed to the residence of the new brother, and eat therein without speaking or saluting one another. When they go away, however, they must say, "Prater Aurece (vel Rosece) Crucis Dens sit tecum cum perpetuo silentio Deo promisso et nostrce sanctcv congregation^' This is done three days- in succession.