High Priest (to the King.)–Companions, have you any further business for the Grand Council?
King–I have nothing, Most Excellent.
High Priest (to Scribe.)–Have you any thing, worthy companion?
Scribe–Nothing, Most Excellent.
High Priest–I know of nothing, unless the workmen from the ruins have something for our inspection.
Principal Sojourner–We have examined the secret vault, Most Excellent, and here is what we have found in it. (Presenting the three trying squares.)
High Priest (drawing one of the squares across his forehead.)
The jewels of our ancient Grand Masters, King Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff! Holiness to the Lord.
The King and the Scribe each take one and imitate the High Priest.
High Priest (to candidates.)–Are you willing to continue your labors, and still further penetrate this secret vault?
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Principal Sojourner–We are, even to the risk of our lives.
High Priest–Go; and may the God of your fathers be with you; and remember that your labors shall not go unrewarded.
The Principal Sojourner leads the candidates back as before, and winds the rope round one of them, who is let down the trap, still further down than before, where he finds the Ark, when he gives the signal and is drawn up
The party immediately return to the Grand Council, two of them carrying the Ark, where they present themselves in the same manner as before, and the High Priest directs them to come forward and give an account of their labors.
Principal Sojourner–Most Excellent, in pursuance of your orders, we repaired to the secret vault, and let down one of our companions. The sun at this time was at its meridian height, the rays of which enabled him to discover a small box, or chest, standing on a pedestal, curiously wrought, and overlaid with gold. On discovering it, he involuntarily found his hand raised in this position (giving the sign as shown in Fig. 36), to guard his eyes from the intense light and heat reflected from it. The air becoming offensive, he gave the signal for ascending, and was immediately drawn out. We have brought this chest up for the examination of the Grand Council.
High Priest (looking with surprise at the Ark)–Companion King, this is the Ark of the Covenant of God.
King (looking at it)–It is undoubtedly the true Ark of the Covenant, Most Excellent.
Scribe (looking at the Ark)–That is also my opinion.
High Priest (taking the Ark)–Let us open it, and see what valuable treasure it may contain. (Opens the Ark, and takes out a book.)
High Priest (to King)–Companion, here is a very ancient-looking book; what can it be? Let us read in it. (Reads first three verses of first chapter of Genesis:)
“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” &c.
After reading these verses, the High Priest turns over to Deuteronomy xxxi., and reads from the 24th to the 26th verses, as follows:
“And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
The High Priest then turns back to Exodus xxv., and reads the 21st verse, as follows:
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EMBLEMS OF THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE. 1. The Keystone 2. The Three Jewels of the Ancient Grand Masters. 3. The Ark. 4. The Book of the Law. 5. Pot of Manna. 6. Aaron’s Rod. 7. The Key. 8. Grand Omnific Word.
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“And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the Ark; and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.”
High Priest–This is a book of the law–long lost, but now found. Holiness to the Lord. (He repeats this again, twice.)
King–A book of the law–long lost, but now found. Holiness to the Lord!
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.
