The candidates rise and again pass under the Living Arch and over the rugged road. They then kneel again.
Principal Sojourner–Let us pray. (Reads from text-book Psalm cxlii.)
“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication,” &c.
They then pass round the third time as before, when the candidates again kneel.
Principal Sojourner reads Psalm cxliii. from the text-book:
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness,” &c.
Principal Sojourner–We have now arrived in sight of the ruins of the old Temple, near the outer veil of the Tabernacle.
The veils are now pushed apart to admit the candidates, but as soon as they enter, the veils are closed again, and the officers (except the Principal Sojourner) take their seats.
Principal Sojourner makes an alarm by stamping nine times on the floor, which brings out the Master from the First Veil. (See Note O, Appendix.)
Master of First Veil–Who comes there? Who dares approach this outer Veil of our sacred Tabernacle? Who are you?
Principal Sojourner–Three weary travellers from Babylon.
Master of First Veil–What are your intentions?
Principal Sojourner–We have come to assist in the noble and glorious work of rebuilding the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward. (See Note M, Appendix.)
Master of First Veil–How do you expect to enter here?
Principal Sojourner–By a pass-word that .we received in Babylon.
Master of First Veil–Give it to me.
Principal Sojourner–I AM THAT I AM.
Master of First .Veil–The pass is right. You have my per. mission to enter.
The candidates now enter the First Veil, when the bandages are removed from their eyes.
Master of First Veil–You surely could not have come thus far unless you were three Most Excellent Masters; but farther You cannot go without my words, sign, and word of exhortation. My words are Shem, Ham, and Japhet; my sign is this (holding out a cane), in imitation of one given by God to Moses, when he commanded him to cast his rod upon the ground thus (casting down the cane), and it became a serpent; but putting forth
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his hand and taking it up by the tail, it became a rod in his hand as before. My word of exhortation is explanatory of this sign, and is to be found in the writings of Moses, viz.: the first verses of the fourth chapter of Exodus. (See Note N, Appendix.)
“And the Lord said unto Moses, What is that in thy hand? And he said, A rod. And the Lord said, Cast it on the ground; and he cast it, and it became a serpent, and Moses fled from before it,” &c.
FIG. 33. SIGN OF THE MASTER OF THE FIRST VEIL. Principal Sojourner–Companions, we have passed the first guard, and will make an alarm at the Second Veil. (Stamps on the floor, as before.)
Master of Second Veil–Who comes there? Who dares approach this Second Veil of our sacred Tabernacle?
Principal Sojourner–Three weary sojourners from Babylon, who have come to assist in rebuilding the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward.
Master of Second Veil–How do you expect to enter the second Veil?
Principal Sojourner–By the words, sign, and word of exhortation of the Master of the First Veil.
p. 237 Master of Second Veil–Give them.
Principal Sojourner–Shem, Ham, and Japhet. (Gives the sign of casting down a cane and taking it up by the end, as before explained.)
Master of Second Veil–They are right. You have my permission to enter the Second Veil.
The candidates, led by the Principal Sojourner, pass in.
FIG. 34. SIGN OF THE MASTER OF THE SECOND VEIL.
FIG. 35. SIGN OF THE MASTER OF THE THIRD VEIL.
Master of Second Veil–Three Most Excellent Masters you Must have been, or thus far you could not have come; but farther you cannot go without my words, sign, and word of exhortation. My words are Shem, Japhet, and Adoniram; my sign is this: (thrusting his hand in his bosom); it is in imitation of one given by God to Moses, when He commanded him to thrust his hand into his bosom, and, taking it out, it became as leprous as snow. My word of exhortation is explanatory of this sign, and is found in the writings of Moses, viz., fourth chapter of Exodus:
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
