a trunk of curious form, overlaid with gold, having on its top and sides certain mysterious characters; availing myself of this I gave the signal, and ascended; on arriving at the top of the arch I found my hands involuntarily placed in this position to guard my eyes from the intense light and heat that arose therefrom above; with the trunk we repaired to the Grand Council.
Q. What was their opinion of the trunk?
A. That it was the Ark of the Covenant.
Q. What were its contents?
A. A pot, a rod, and a book.
Q. What was their opinion of the pot?
A. That it was the pot of manna, which Moses by divine command, laid up in the side of the ark as a memorial of the miraculous manner in which the children of Israel were supplied with that article of food for forty years in the wilderness.
Q. What was their opinion of the rod?
A. That it was Aaron’s rod„ that budded and blossomed, and bore fruit in a day, which Moses also, by divine command, laid in the side of the ark as a testimony, to be kept for a token.
Q. What was their opinion of the book?
A. That it was the book of the law in which it is written, I am the Lord, I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my great and sacred name was I not known unto them.
Q. What does it contain?
A. A key to the mysterious characters upon its top and sides, by which they found those upon its sides to be the initials of our three ancient Grand Masters, S. K. of I., H. K of T., and H. Abiff. Those upon its top, the Grand Omnific or Royal Arch word, which we as Royal Arch Masons should never give except in the presence of three Royal Arch Masons, we first agreeing by three times three, and under a living arch.
Q. How were your merits rewarded?
A. The Grand Council descended and invested us with the secrets of the Degree
Q. How were they communicated?
A. The Grand Omnific Royal Arch word in the presence of three regular Arch Masons, we first agreeing by three times three, and under a living arch.
Q Have you a sign in this Degree?
A. I have several.
Q. Show me a sign? (Hand to forehead. See sign.)
Q What is that called?
A. The duegard.
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Q. To what does it allude?
A. To the way and manner in which my hands were involuntarily placed on arriving at the arch, to guard my eyes from the intense light and heat that arose therefrom above.
Q. Show me another sign? (Give sign.)
Q. What is that called?
A. The sign
Q. To what does it allude?
A. To the penalty of my obligation, that I would sooner have my skull struck off than divulge any of the secrets of this Degree unlawfully,
Q. Give me another sign? (Give sign.)
Q. What is that called?
A. The grand hailing sign, or sign of distress of a Royal Arch Mason.
Q. To what does it allude?
A. To the additional portion of the penalty of my obligation, that I would sooner have my skull clove off, and have my brain exposed to the scorchings rays of a noonday sun, than divulge any of the secrets of this Degree unlawfully.
Q. What are the working tools of a Royal Arch Mason?
A. The pick, spade, and crow.
Q. What does the spade teach us as Royal Arch Masons? (Monitorial. )
Q. What is the use of the crow?
A. It is used by operative masons to describe circles–every part of the circumference of which is equally near and equally distant from its centre; so is every creature whom God hath made equally near and equally dear.
Q. What is the equilateral or perfect triangle upon which the word is formed emblematical of?
A. The three certain attributes of Deity–namely, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence, for as the three equal legs or angles form but one triangle, so the three attributes constitute but one God.
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.
