M. E.— -I now consecrate you Sir Knight A. B. ss a

Shepherd in our Fold (anoints Candidate on Forehead),
a Chief in our College (under right Eye). A Pillar in our
Tabernacle (under left Eye). A Priest in our Temple for
evermore (on Chin), and further confirm you in the emin-
ent office of Viceroy of the Conclave (over the Heart),
charging you to perform with Zeal the Sacred duties
confided to your care. I shall now proceed to explain the
Mysteries restricted to the High Priesthood. The first
Sign is to raise both hands above the head in this manner

■ •. This form was adopted by the sacrificing

Priests of old when they awoked a blessing on the people,
as prescribed and recorded in the 6th chap, of Number,
22nd and the following verses. "And the Lord spake
unto Moses, saying, Speak now unto Aaron and unto his
sons, saying, ' On this wise ye shall bless the children of
Israel, saying unto them. The Lord bless thee and keep
thee, the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and give
thee peace.'" You will now bring your hands together

in the front of the Forehead in the form of a thus, at

the same time saying, "To the Triune God I look for sup-
port." In this Sign we find in the first part Freemasonry
under the Jewish laws of types and ceremonies ; and in the
second part under the Christian laws of grace and truth.
The second Sign is made by the forefinger of the ri^^ht
hand touching first — , secondly and thirdly — , fourthly

, and lastly , in memory of the five wounds of our

Saviour. It also alludes to the Ceremony of Consecration.

The Grip is given by grasping , and then the words

are pronounced , signifying "Holiness to the Lord,"

142 THE EED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE DEGREE.

wliicli should impress upon your mind a sense of your
dependence upon God, and teach you that perfect HoH-
ness belongeth only to the Most High. You will now
take twenty-four steps on the road to perfection — six from
Column to Column — twelve being in memory of the
twelve Apostles, and twelve in commemoration of the
twelve grand points connected with the Cross of our
Divine Master, the zeal of our Grand and Royal Founder,
and of his Mother, St. Helena. On arriving at each
Column you will show the Signs, and mentally repeat
the word of this Priestly Order ; but I will first call upon
the High Prelate to explain the twelve Grand Points.

H. P. — First — The humility of Christ upon the Cross.

Second, — St. Helen's journey from Rome to Jerusalem.

Third, — Her pious and dihgent inquiry concerning the
Sacred spot, Golgotha.

Fourth, — St. Helena's discoveries of three Crosses, and
her perplexity to know which was Christ's.

Fifth, — Macarius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, directs St.
Helena how to distinguish the true Cross from those of
tlie two thieves.

Sixth, — The building of the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre by Constantine, after the Cross had been found.

Seventh, — The two festivals of the Christian Church.

Eighth, — The Cross taken a^^ay by one of the heathen
monarchs.

Ninth, — The restoration of the Cross.

Tenth, — The Emperor Heraclius having recovered the
Cross of Christ, carries it himself in his imperial robes and
pomp.

Eleventh, — Heraclius divests himself of his robes of
royalty, and in humble garb carries the Cross into the
Church or Mount Calvary,

THE RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE DEGREE. 143

Twelfth, — The reign of the Son of God in the day of
Judgement.

(The Candidate then proceeds as he was directed, start-
ing from and returning to the West.)