IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 laiM ■2.5 ■so "^^ MHI ■u Wk 12.2 ■u |4£ 12.0 U 116 PhotDgrapbic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN ITMIT WIMTIR, N.Y. MSIO (716)I73-4S03 m '\ A V \ o v^^ '^A ^J^ U.. \ \ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. H Canadian Institute for Historical Mi'^roraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas Tachnical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquaa at bibliographiquas Tha Instituta has attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Fabturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha Jmagas in tha raproduction. or which may significantly chan^a tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. □ Colourad covars/ Couvartura da coulaur I I Covars damagad/ D D D D D D D Couvartura andommagia Covars rastorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura rastaurte at/ou palliculAa I — I Covar titia missing/ La titra da couvartura manqua Colourad maps/ Cartas gAographiquas tn coulaur Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) |~n Colourad platas and/or illustrations/ Planchas at/ou Illustrations ^n coulaur Bound with othar matarial/ Rali* avac d'autras documants Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along intarior margin/ Lc r9 liura sarrta paut causar da I'ombra ou da la distorsion la long da la marga intAriaura Blank laavas addad during rastoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar possibia, thasa hava baan omittad from filming/ II sa paut qua cartai^as pagas blanchas ajoutiaa lors d'una rastauration apparaissant dans la taxta, mala, lorsqua cala Atait possibia, cas pagas n'ont pas «t« fiimtes. Additional commants:/ Commantairas supplimantairas: L'Institut a microfilmi la maillaur axamplaire qu'il lui a iti possibia da sa procurar. Las details da cat axamplaira qui sont paut-Atra uniquas du point da vua bibliographiqua, qui pauvent modifier una imaga raproduita, ou qui pauvant axiger una modification dans la mAthoda normala da filmaga aont indiqu6s ci-dassous. n~1 Colourad pagas/ D Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagas andommagAas Pagas rastorad and/oi Pagas rastaurtes at/ou palliculAas I — I Pagaa damagad/ r~~| Pagas rastorad and/or laminatad/ y\ Pagaa discolourad, stainad or foxad/ ^ ' Pagas dAcolorias, tachatias ou piquies □ Pagas datachad/ Pagas ditachias 0Showthrough/ Tr I ransparanca I I Quslity of print varias/ Qualit* inigala da I'impression Inciudas supplamantary matarial/ Comprand du material supplimantaira Only adition availabia/ Sauia idition disponibia Th to Th po of fill Or ba thi sic oti fir sic or Th shi Til w» Ml dif am bai rig rac m« Pagas wholly or partially obscurad by errata slips, tissues, etc.. hava been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Lea pagas totalement ou partiallement obscurcies par un fauillet d'errata. una pelure, etc., ont Ati filmtes i nouveau da fapon k obtanir la maillaura image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ca document est film4 au taux da reduction indiquA oi-dessous. 10X t4X 18X 22X 28X 30X / 12X lex 20X MX MX 32X ^=»t»i»!P7r aire I details ues du t modifier ger une > filmaga Th« copy filmad har* has b««n raproduead thank* to tha ganaroaity of: D. B. Weldon Library University of Western Ontario (Regional History Room) Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poaaibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in Icaaping with tha filming contract spacificationa. L'axamplaire filmA fut raproduit grica i la gAniroaiti da: D. B. Weldon Library University of Western Ontario (Regional History Room) l.aa imagaa auivantaa ont 4ti raproduitoa avac la plua grand aoin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattati da I'axamplaira film*, at •!% conformiti avac laa conditiona du contrat da filmaga. liea ira Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraa- sion. or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa w filmad baginning on tha firat paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraa- aion, and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or iliuatratad impraaaion. Tha laat racordad frama on aach microficha •hall contain tha symbol — ^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol y (moaning "END"), whichavar appliaa. Mapa, plataa, charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraly includad in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha mathod: Laa axamplairaa originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat ImprimAa sont film4s an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illuatration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la caa. Tous laa autraa axamplairaa originaux aont filmia an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'illuatration at an tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un daa aymboias suivanta apparattra sur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la caa: la symbola -^ signifia "A SUIVRE". la aymbola y signifia "FIN". Laa cartaa, planchaa, tablaaux, ate, pauvant Atra fiimAa * daa taux da rMuction diffirants. Lorsqua la documant aat trop grand pour Atra raproduit an un saul ciichA, 11 ast filmi k partir da I'angla sup4riaur gaucha, da gaucha i droita, at da haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nAcaaaaira. Laa diagrammaa suivanta iliuatrant la mAthoda. ly errata >d to nt ne pelure, iqon A 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 DEGREE BOOK OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF @tt§ jwmwtkm UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE % mi iranb fobgc of |tort& |mtria. ADOPTED MDCCCLIII. AUBURN, N. T. PRINTED BY W. J. MOSES. 1855. CONFERRmO THE DEGREES. These Degrees are designed to be conferred by the Officers designated by the initials appended to the several Degrees. Or if the Right Worthy Grand Chief Templar or the Worthy Grand Counsellor, the Worthy Vice Grand Templar, or a Dis- trict Deputy Grand Templar, or one appointed as special Dep- uty, or in case the Lodge has a Degree Master : such highest Officer should take charge of the Lodge, and direct in confer- ring Degrees. The design is that the Degrees should be conferred by the one holding the highest Office in the Order, who may be present ; but such Officers can take charge of the Lodge only by request of the C. T., except in conferring the Degrees, and should the highest Officer decline, then the duty would devolve on the next highest. Presiding Officers should bear in mind that the Lodge should always be called up when an obligation is to be administered, whether it is so laid down in the work or not. £ J, dli O Si m OR DEGREE OF §Mm SBAEffi Jiegmuf % lieari [The Marshal meets the Candidate in the ante-room— takes him by the arm, and announces his presence by two distinct raps at the inner gate^ I. Q. — [ With a voice loud and distinct — ] Who gives the alarm ? M. — The Marshal, attended by a friend^ who wishes to be inducted into the solemn Degree of the Heart. [/. Q. — Repeats the words of the Mi\ W. V. 2T— Admit them. [Inside Guard opens the gate, when they enter^ and proceed to the Chair of the W. C T.'\ M. — •W. Chief, our /new(? has been duly elec- ted, and now wishes to receive the instruction and honors of the Degree of the Heart. W. G. T. — My friend^ you have lived long enough in this world to learn that man often deceives, and that man is often deceived. Those we trusted yesterday, disappoint us to-day. It 8 DEGREE OF THE HEART. is through such instability of purposes and changes of plan, that valuable interests, and truly noble enterprises, suffer. Did mankind feel the solemnity of a promise — did all feel that, after a promise, the obliga- tion to execute was imperative, and that these obligations could not be laid on and off at pleas- ure, but must run parallel with the circumstan- ces which called for their being made, things would be different. Promises should claim the whole heart ; and especially this should be so, when great and good ends are to be attained. This is the object of this Degree. By it we wish to reach your hearty and fix upon you a sense of your obligation to the cause of human- ity, which shall attend you while you live. Are you prepared to take an obligation, and enter into covenant with us on this subject, with your whole heart f Candidate answers — I am. W. C. T. — You will then proceed with the Marshal to the chair of the Worthy Chaplain, and receive the obligation. M. — Worthy Chaplain, by the direction of the DEGREE OF THE HEART. 9 W. C. T., I present our friend for the obligation of the Degree of the Heart. Chaplain — You will place yourself in the at- titude in which you were initiated into this Order, and repeat after me the OBLIGATION. n. I, (name,) in the presence of these members of the Degree of the Heart, and in view of my obligations to this Order, and the love I bear my race, do most solemnly promise, that I will never divulge any thing pertaining to this De- gree to any one, except in a lawful manner. And I further promise, that I will discharge all the duties enjoined in this Degree, to the utmost of my ability, they containing nothing inconsistent with the allegiance which I owe my country, or the duties which my religion may claim ; to the true and faithful performance of which, I pledge my sacred honor. W. C. — You will now repair with the Mar- 10 DEGREE OF THE HEART. shal to the Chair of the W. V. T., where you will listen to the lecture which recounts the du- ties pertaining to the Degree of the Heart. M. — Worthy Vice Templar, by direction of our worthy Chaplain, I present owe friend for the lecture and further obligation pertaininr to the Degree of the Heart. W. V. T. — Persons can advance in this Order only as they advance in knowledge and virtue. Accordingly, this Degree relates to yourself- — to your own heart — from which, as fiom a fountain, all your actions rise. Hence its name — the De- gree of the Heart. The heart should be culti- vated. That which does not do this is valueless. This is the object of all religion — this is the ob- ject of Revelation — and this is the object of Di- vine government in our world. Should we fail in this here, we should prove ourselves unwor- thy of your respect or confidence. Fidelity is a great virtue. Where the heart is right, this is easy ; and where this is poL^sessed, we can trust confidently and are happy, because we are se- cure. One great, I may say, the principal, ob- ject of this Order is, to promote the cause of DEGllEE OF THE UEART. 11 Temperance in our world. To do this, we must be temperate ourselves, constantly and devoted- ly temperate. Many have lost sight of this; they have felt that they might put on, or lay off, their allegiance to this cause at pleasure. Hence its great instability in times past. The object of this Degree is, to secure your unwavering allegiance to this work. I have now explained the object we have in view in confer- ring this Degree. Before we proceed further, it will be necessary for you to take another ob- ligation, in which you will be required to bind yourself in the most solemn manner, to adhere to this cause, WHILE YOU LIVE, and never, under any circumstances, while life shall last, voluntarily to use intoxicating liquors as a bev- erage. Are you prepared to take such an obli- gation ? Candidate. — I am. [But^ should the Candidate refuse thus to answer, he or she may be returned to the antc-rooni ; such cannot proceed ; not bting sujfficicnlhj imbued with the spirit of our cause. But the Candidate answering satisfactorily , the V. T. will proceed with the Obligation.] 12 DEGREE OF THE HEART. OBLIGATION. • o I, (name,) in the presence of the members of the Degree of the Heart, — and in memory of all the evils which have fallen upon my race — through the use of intoxicating liquors, — do now, of my own free will and accord, — and with a deliberate purpose to perform, — most solemn- ly promise, that, — be I where I may — and un- der whatever circumstances, — or in whatever country, — on the Ocean or on the Land, — among civilized or uncivilized men, — I will not use or sell, knowingly, as a beverage, — anything that can intoxicate, — under the penalty of being held — as one unworthy of confidence, from any person whatever, — and as a liar among all men, — and that I will steadily observe this, my promise, — to my life's end. — To all of which — I pledge my saciod honor. ,> ! Remember Ananias and Sapphira. They thought they were only promising to men, but the result proved that the Infinite and Holy #' i d: OF THE HEART. 13 Dne heard their pledge, and He punished their faleshood. He has heard your solemn covenant, and he will hold you responsible for its fulfill- ment to the end of your mortal career. Be faithful — be not forgetful i be diligent — be persevering ; and so a good conscience and large success shall attend you. M. — Worthy Chief Templar, our friend hav- ing complied with all our laws demand, now comes to you for the closing services of the De- gree of the Heart. W. C. T. — This Degree has a Sign, Password and a Grip. The Sign is made thus and answered thus The Password is * * * * * The Marshal will now instruct you in the Grip. C. T. — You will now listen to what is said in Revelation, of the offence against which we wish to guard you. This will show the strength of your obligation in a still more impressive man- ner. Listen to the words which came to Jere- miah, from the Lord, in the days of Josiah, King of Judah. Go unto the house of tho Uechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the .» - •"•* 14 DEGREE OF THE HEART. S'-'^ house of the Lord, into one of the chambers of the sons of Hanan. And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites, pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, drink ye wine. But they said, we will drink no wine, for Jona- iab, the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us saying. Ye shall DRINK NO WINE, neither you nor your so7i8, forever! Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab, the son of Rechab our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters ; but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jon- adab, our father, commanded us. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel : Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jeru- salem, that the sons of Jonadab, the sons of Re- chab, have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this peo- ple hath not hearkened unto me. But unto the Rechabites, thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, Because ye have obeyed the com- mandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all Lis precepts, and done according unto all that DEGREE OF THE HEART 15 he hath commanded you : therefore, thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel : Jonadab, the son of Rechab, shall not want a man to stand before me forever. I will now, in a few words, give you the his- tory of this remarkable people, who, for their fidelity, are so greatly distinguished by that Universal King : The Rechabites, though they dwelt among the Israelites, did not belong to any of their tribes. They were a separate people, and were the descendants of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. Jonadab, the son of Rechab, was a man eminent for his zeal for that which was right, and assisted King Jehu in arresting and driving a great evil from the land. He gave to his children the rule on Temperance, which has al- ready been rehearsed in your hearing ; and their fidelity to that pledge seems to be to them the promise of perpetual existence. Since they en- tered into that covenant, nearly three thousand years have rolled away ; the glory of Egypt, of Babylon, Tyre and of Jerusalem, has faded. Great and mighty nations have been swept from 16 DEGREE OF THE HEAET. the face of the earth, and still this simple people, dwelling in tents and without city or national- ity, exist, and to this day observe their ancient covenant. You will see in this an example of fidelity which is worthy of your imitation ; and you will also learn, that heaven visits integrity to this cause with peculiar honors. We close this Degree, by urging upon your attention the example of these wandering sons of the desert. Where they have been faithful thousands of ages, be ye faithful until death. The emblematic color of this Degree is blub. Its language is the same as that of the azure heavens, which throw their broad arch above and around us. As the eye never wearies in looking upon their mild and beautiful expanse, so the heart never tires in contemplating the re- sults of true virtue. As, wherever we are, this beautiful arch is ever abote us, the fairest em- blem of strength, so we should be taught by it the firmness which should characterize true principle in whatever situation, or whatever country or society we may be placed. Wherev- er and in whatever you may see this color, be I DEGREE OF THE HEART. 17 reminded of the obligations imposed upon you by this Degree. Those present will form the circle, while the Chaplain offers a PRAYER. Almighty King and Ruler, smile upon and bless our friend and our mutual covenant. Grant that each — that aZ?, may be faithful and diligent, and that we and this cause may enjoy thy blessing forever. Amen. SECOND, OR DEGREE OF iiiStSI i^ IJil ^9 qxn flf C|antg. [27^0 Candidate being in the ante-room^ the Marshal meett hiniy and announces hie readiness to proceed, by thru loud and distinct raps upon the gate. The Ouard opens the wicketJ] V, T. — with a loudf distinct voice — Come ! \Thegate is thrown open, and, as the Marshal and Candidate enter, the Vice and Chief Templars repeat the following, the Marshal meanwhile conducting the Candidate slowly around the room^ Y. T. — Thus are obstructions removed* and the way opened, to all who are intent on benev- olent designs — those who look for the good of our race. C. T. — "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- Belf." y. T, — Who is my neighbor ? 22 DEGREE OF CHARITY. G. T. — A certain man went down from Jeru- salem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And, by chance, there came down a certain priest that way ; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Leyite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was ; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said to him, take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. Which, now, of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor to bim that fell among thieves? Y. T: — He that showed mercy on him. C. T, — Then Ic!. us 70 and do likewise. / DEGREE OP CHARITY. 23 las V. T. — May we receive goods or service of our neighbor without a fair equivalent ? C. T. — Wo unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong ; that useth his neighbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work. V. T. — May we give our neighbor that which is an injury to him, either as food or drink ? C. T. — Wo unto him that giveth his neighbor drink ; that putteth the bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on his shame. v. T, — May we speak evil of our neighbor ? C, T. — " Whoso privily slandereth his neigh- bor, him will I cut off," saith the Lord. V. T. — Ought we to respect our neighbor ? G. T. — Yes, always, for, a "hypocrite, with his mouth, destroyeth his neighbor," and, "he that is void of wisdom, despiseth his neighbor." V. it proper to reveal the private mat- 24 DEGREE OP CHARITY. » ters of our Order ? and have these anything to do with our neighbor? (7. T. — Most certainly, they have very much to do with our neighbor, and may not be reveal- ed ; for secrecy is the cement which binds to- gether. The wise man says, that "a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." V. T. — ^Are there any further directions to be given to Good Templars respecting their duties to their neighbor ? G. T. — Yes. "Thou shalt not raise a false report ; put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness." " Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil ; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment. Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause un- justly. Nor 'shalt thou wrest the judgment of the poor.'" " If thou meet thine enemy's ox, or his ass, going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again." And "if thou see the as*? of J J DEGREE OF CHARITY. 25 him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldst forbear to help him ; thou shalt surely help him." [Duririff this dialogue between the C. T. and V. T., the Mar- shal and Candidate are m'^ving around the room slowly^ and listening to the conversation. But here they will stand be/ore the Vice TemplarJ] V. T. — Such is a general view of tlie duties of this Degree. Are you willing to bind your- self by a solemn obligation to observe and prac- tice them, so far as it may be in your power to do so, and to aid others in the same ? Candidate. — I am. ass, ack of [^Should the Candidate refuse to consent to these ditties, he may he permitted to retire ; hut in case he wishes to nd' vancf, the V. T. vull administer the obligation.] 26 DEGREE OF CHARITY. V. T. — You will then assume the Good Temp- lar's attitude for taking the OBLIGATION I, [wa^ne,] most solemnly promise, declare and say, — that I will not reveal any of the mat- ter pertaining to this Degree, — I will not write, indite, — or cause to be written or indited, — any part of its lectures, signs, passwords, tokens or grips, — so that any part may be unlawfully or improperly obtained. I will only use and com- municate what pertains to this Degree — as di- rected by the work of this Order, — and in no other way, nor for any other purpose. I fur- ther promise, — that I will remain faithful to my pledge, — WHILE life shall last, — and that I will, by all lawful means, — try to loud all with whom I may associate — to be temperate, and DEGREE OP CHARITY. 27 the friends of temperance. And I solemnly promise — to observe all the duties enjoined by this Degree, to the extent of my ability. To the true and faithful performance of all which, — I, in the most solemn manner, pledge my hono \ All present^ in unison. — We witness your cov- enant. V. T. — You are now entitled to all the ad- vantages which this Degree can confer. This is a privilege which you will esteem highly; but what you should prize beyond this, is, the privilege which it gives you of doing good to others. We cannot live to ourselves; we are des- tined to influence others ; we attract them in- voluntarily to the good or to the bad which wo may choose. How much more powerful, then, will be our influence, when we exert ourselves, and with the effort use the appliances for pro- ducing a beneficial influence which the Creator 28 DEGREE OP CHARITY. has furnished to our hand. The Good Templar is to do good every where, and to all men. You are to have no enemies. Men may wrong you, they may traduce you, but you must not be their enemy. You must treat them, not confidently, but kindly. Do them favors, as enjoined in the lecture. " If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink." You are to min- ister to affliction, to want, and wretchedness, wherever you find it, and can, whether in pur- ple or in rags,' in 31. cottage or in si^palace. Your heart should ever be like the rock at Horeb, when touched by the magic rod of Moses — it should ever gush out with streams of refresh- ment to the weary, the thirsty, and the dying. Kind tvords and sympathetic tears cost us nothing. They are a common bounty. The poor have them as well as the rich^ the illit- erate as well as the learned, and their price is often above rubies. They often make the des- ert and solitary place glad ; and they teach the lips of the dumb to sing. You will not be an DEGREE OF CHARITY. 29 enemy even to the maker and vender of deadly beverages. You cannot wish or do anything to injure him, but you will do all you can to save him from ^he curse which is impending above him. If you cannot do this, you will toil to save his victims ; you will labor to dry up the stream, or purify the fountain of strife. [*Are you a voter ? In view of your obli- gation, with some sense of the tremendous re- sponsibility resting upon you as a citizen and a moral being, sit down and weigh well the influence of your elective franchise, before you cast it, and fully satisfy your own conscience, as relates to party and principle, as to interest and morals, as to time and eternity, before you perform that tremendous act.] us the * The paragraph in brackets ig only to bo used when the candidate ia a mule ; and if there should be both male and fe- male, this part should be addressed, by look and gesture, to the males only. 30 DEGREE OF CHARITY. Mothers, Daughters, Sons, and Fathers, have an interest here that is of incalculable impor- tance, and each should employ all their influ- ence to secure those interests. The world is now before you. It is your field. Every intelligent being you meet has a claim upon you ; each has an interest equal to your own. You are a steward. You must soon give an account. There is a time when the maker, the vender, the victim of intoxi- cating drinks, the widow, the orphan, the mur- derer and the murdered, the hosts of the ruined, with those who have wrought the ruin by this means, and those who have influence, and they who wield the elective franchise, officers and constituents, will all stand before the Judge of men ! You and I shall be there ! — and by these DEGREE OF CHARITY. 31 solemn truths — by the responsibilities growing out of our moral relations, and by the inter- minable destiny that there awaits us, I charge you to be faithful to your obligation and these great principles. The Marshal will now conduct you to our Chief Templar, who will instruct you in the Password, Sign and Grip peculiar to this De- gree. C. T, — This Degree has a Password, Sign, and Grip, by which you may know a Good Templar when you are appealed to for aid or sympathy, as a member of this Order. The Password jg ******** * The Sign is given in this form , and is an- 32 swered DEGREE C? CHARITY. The Marshal will now instruct you in the Grip. The emblematic color of this Degree, which you are now entitled to wear, is red, or scar- let. As, in light, the red rays are most intense and ardent, so, the selection of this color for this Degree is designed to teach, that our char- ities should never degenerate to vhqvq formal acts^ but that they ought ever to be free and earnest, that the spirit which prompts them should be ever equally intense and ardent, that their object may feel, from our happiness in ministering to his wants, that we are rather re- ceiving than conferring a favor. As red is con- spicuous among all other colors, and is, also, primary among the original colors given by the prism, so, the virtue of true charity will ever form a conspicuous element in our character — an element which, when possessed by us, will be seen and admired ; but its abuse will surely DEGREE OF CHARITY. 33 be detected and lamented. When, therefore, you put it on, or see this color, remember your duty and your obligation. {The whole Lodge rise^ and all exclaim^ in concert — '\ Welcome ! — Thrice Welcome ! \The Marshal conducts the candidate to a seat^l w JiX Jt dill jj f OR DEGREE OF THE I f ill I f I f t i^gree nf il^t |[0gal Wixiut [The Candidate being admitted to the ante-room, is there join- ed by the Marshal, who will examine him in the initiatory Word and the former Degrees, and announce his presence to the V. Templar by four heavy raps upon the inner gate of the Temple.] I. G. — [In a hud voice.'] — There is an alarm at the inner gate of our Temple. V. T. — You will attend to it with caution. [Z &.'— Lifts thi wicket ; and with a fall voice^ inquiretjl Who comes there ? M. — The Marshal, attended by Sifriend^ who, having passed the outer and inner wards of our 38 DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE Temple, now wishes to advance to a knowledge of our highest principles. I. G.—Hda he the words and signs which will secure him safety and protection on the journey ? M. — He httSy and has entrusted them to me, that he may advance. [/. Q, throws open the gate suddenly — 1 Then let him come. ' I The Lodge rise and exclaim together — Welcome, Stranger ! C. T. — Yes, Welcome ; and remember, that the door of truth always opens thus to those who knock in faith. i liiii DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE. 39 . G. T. — ^Have you passed the initiatory ceremo- ny, and taken the lower Degrees? Candidate. — I have. C. T. — ^Do you wish to advance ? Candidate. — I do. C, T. — Can you give the initiatory word ? [Candi^te gives it as directed at initiation.'] C. ^— Give me the word of the first De- gree. [Candidate gives that."] C T. — Give me the word and sign in the second Degree. [Candidate gives ihem^ C. T. — Do you believe in the one Supreme and Almighty Ruler of the Universe ; and do you fear him? Candidate. — I do. C. T. — Do you believe that all our acts are 40 DEGREE OF THE ROTAL VIRTUE done in his presence, and that he holds us responsible for all we do? Candidate. — I so believe. G. T. — Do you believe that the Almighty is displeased with the awful crime of drunkenness and of drunkard-making, and that he would be pleased if they were banished from the earth ? /, ! Candidate. — I thus believe. C. T. — Do you believe that it is a duty which you owe to your Heavenly Father, as well as to men, to labor to drive this scourge away ? Candidate, — I so believe. C. T. — Will you enter into solemn covenant witii us to do all you lawfully can in this enter- prize, as a duty which you owe to your Creator ? Candidate. — I will. C. T. — Then place yourself in the attitude in i us V DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE. 41 which you were initiated into this Order, and repeat after me our solemn COVENANT. i m I, [name, J — most solemnly and sincerely cov- enant — with these Good Templars, — and before Him who has pronounced a solemn and awful curse, upon the drunkard and the drunkard- maker — that, as a solemn duty to Him, to my race, and myself, — I will never use as a bev- erage — anything which can intoxicate, — be it what it may, — and I will use all lawful and moral means — to banish the evil from the worl;^ — as a duty which I owe to my Maker. I also promise, — that the words, — signs, — grips, — and all pertaining to this Degree — or either of the Degrees connected with this Order, — or any part of its work — shall be by me kept as a 42 DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE. sacred trust, — and shall never be revealed or divulged by me, — only in a lawful manner, — and as prescribed by the work of the Order. To all of which, I pledge my sacred honor. C. T. — In the first Degree you were instructed in your duty to yourself; in the second you were informed of what was due from you to your neighbor; and it now becomes my duty to impress upon your mind your solemn ob- ligation to your Creator. This I am satisfied cannot be done more appropriately than in his own language. "A.nd God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any grave., image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them ; ^or I am a DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE. 43 jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the Sab- bath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy arates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. *' Thou shalt love the I ord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all 11 sy strength." Such are the duties which are taught and en- joined by this Degree. Respect and love to u 44 DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUK that Infinite Being, the evidence of whose pow- er and glory and goodness we see everywhere. The seasons, the flowers, the fruits and colors of the world around and above us, all tell his praise from their countless tongues, and urge us to ri- val them with our superior powers. From his greatness and goodness arises our obligation to him, and to each other ; for if we have no re- spect or love for our brother whom we have seen, how can we respect our Creator whom we have not seen ? I will now instruct you in the words and signs peculiar to this Degree, which has a Working Sign and Word ; also a Distress Sign and Word. The Working Sign is made thus, , and is answered thus, . The Word is * * * * * The Distress Sign is given thus, — . The Word is t n XX X^tXX' The answer XXX XX' These signs are not to be used common ; you are to employ them only in proving a member, and in case of real distress or necessity. The tvords of the Distress Sign are only to be used in the dark. DEGREE OP THE ROYAL VIRTUE. 45 you iber, The ised You have now passed through all the grades of our Order. The object in all these ceremo- nies has been to impress you with a due sense of the three great relations of this life, and the duties which are incident to them. I wish briefly to remind you of these. First, they respect yourself. If we are not faithful to ourselves, how can we be expected to be faithful to others ? A corrupt fountain cannot send forth pure streams. Unless we have the principle existing within, unless the duties we owe to others havpi in r ^me form an existence in ourselves, they will never appear. Such is the relation of a correct moral character to a right moral influence. Our own minds must bear fruit, before it can be imparted to others. r • Secondly, we owe a duty to our neighbor. No one lives without some influence. A man may enclose himself in strong walls ; he may shut himself away from the light of Heaven ; and if it is known that he exists, he will have an influence ; he cannot avoid it ; it is some- 46 DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUE. I' thing as inseparable from existence as breath is from life. The mere child, the tender babe, has its influence, even upon the heart that has been moulded, and set, and hardened by the tread of many years ; why, then, should not our more active powers be influential ? They are — it is unavoidable ; and that influence will be broad and good, almost in proportion as we will to make it. Hence the connection of the two Degrees arises from the natural relation which they bear to each other. You cannot fail to see their fit- ness, and we hope that they may form a rich theme for your meditation and thought during all your life. The third and last Degree relates to our Cre- ator. Without the most implicit reliance upon him, we must fail in many, in all our worthy efforts: "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that buiid it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain." "For in him we live, and move, and have our being." We accordingly owe him re- spect, reverence, obedience, service, and tho DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUK 47 fullest affection of our hearts. It ought to be the chief study of our lives, and our choicest pleasure to pay to him these our solemn obliga- tions ; and in doing this, we shall be enabled to redeem all the pledges we have made here, and shall find the path of duty — which, though it tends upwards, and often winds over many a wea^ 7 ascent, — one of charming prospects, of flagrant flowers, and cheered by the shout of joyous ones, and made gladsome by the songs of the happy, whose company we shall join. The emblematic color of this Degree is pur- ple. Its language is that of royalty. The se- lection of this color as appropriate to this De- gree, was to indicate to you, that the virtue of which it is designed to remind you, is the chief of all virtues. Love is the fulfilling of the law, and that love must first reach towards, and cen- tre in, the Creator ; then it will extend to the creature. Purple has always been regarded as the ap- propriate color for those who were chief in place and in power ; but how much more ap- 48 DEGREE OF THE ROYAL VIRTUR Hi 11 propriate for those who keep the "Royal Law." This color will remind you of the high place which has been given you by this Order, — of the confidence of those around you, in your in- tegrity and virtue, — and above all, of the solemn obligation you are under, to cultivate and main- tain the high moral character which it teaches and enjoins. May it ever be your highest am- bition to illustrate in your life, the royal virtue — Love to God. You Are now fully entitled to all the privi- lege s of our noble Order, and while we welcome you to its highest seat, may we be allowed to express the wish that your virtues may ever be a bright illustration of our principles, and the best commendation of our institution. '4 ^al Law." gh place rder, — of I your in- he solemn md main- it teaches ghest am- yal virtue the privi- B welcome llowed to ly ever be 3, and the V--,