M. P. Sov. — The Steps you have now taken are the

last that will be required of you ; they allude to the age
of the word, who for 33 years submitted to every privation
and indignity, and finally suffered the bitterness of death
upon the Cross. I will now explain the emblems on our
banner, and fully elucidate our Mysteries. You will
observe the letters I. H. S. are placed on the Standard,
these represent Jesus the Saviour of Men. The V. which
completed the mystic word is taken away and stands for

Verbum, signifying word, alluding to , which is the

true WordCpf MasonryT) These Words are never given
unless in a Senate of Sovereigns, nor even then (except to
a Candidate) until the Grip is exchanged. There is also
on our Banner a Double-headed Eagle; this denotes the
Union of the Eastern and Western Empires, which be-
came one under Constantino the Great. The Eagle was
adopted, not only as an emblem of this exalted Order
and as a symbol of Imperial dignity, but also to comme-
morate the following event: — Constantino having resolved
to transfer the seat of his Empire to the East had fixed
upon the site of ancient Tyre. The Architects and
Builders (who, it is traditionally asserted, were all mem-
bers of this Christian Order) were employed in laying out
the ground for the future city when an Eagle suddenly
swooped down, seized the measuring line, and carried it
away to Byzantium ; the Emperor having noticed the direc-
tion of the Eagle's flight, and considering it a special indi-
cation from Heaven, ordered his Architects to cease their
labours on the site he had previously selected and to

150 THE EED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE DEGREE.

proceed to Byzantium, where they laid the foundation
of Constantinople, which eventually became the Metro-
polis of the Eastern World. The A. and O. the mystic
Passwords which admitted you to this Senate. The Sign

is to . In this meek attitude did the Christian

martyrs of old await the consummation of their fearful
doom, and Constantine adopted it therefore as an emblem
of humility, and to remind us that however eminent our
station we are but dust in the sight of God. The Grip is

given by mutually placing so that , when one

exclaims *'In principio erat Verbum" and the other re-
plies ''Et erat Verbum apud deum," the first rejoins
**Et Deus erat Verbum." You can use either the Latin or
the English Version. You then, if in a Senate, pronounce
the true words -^- — ^, each letter alternately. There is
another Sign which may be used if you seek admission

into a Senate of Sovereigns. Cross and elevate

them above the head, this alludes to our Saviour being
lifted upon the Cross.

(The Sovereigns then form an Arch of Steel.)
I now invest you with the Scarlet Eobe, which is not
only a symbol of the Imperial dignity but points out the
zeal that should animate all Sovereigns of the Order.
I also place in your hands this Sceptre, which is an emblem
of power, and should enable you to preserve due order in
your Conclave. You are also entitled to wear this Badge,
on which the words which gained you admission to this
Senate are conspicuously placed. And now with the
Grip of an enthroned Sovereign I place you in the seat of
Constantine, and hope you may long live to be an honour
to the Order. Finally, I Crown you with the Crown of
Faith, and call you by a new name, that of a Perfect
Prince ^Mason; in the fervent hope that when the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords shall summon you into his im-

' On j^A'<J^ V O/VwVr-^

THE RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE DEGREE. 151

mediate presence, you may receive from His hand a crown
of glory that shall never fade away. I now call upon the
Princes present to salute our newly-installed Sovereign by
the sacred 8 — 1.

CLOSING OF SENATE.