gined to be very slow; for, in addition to their
humble posture, they are obliged to support on their backs the whole
weight of the living arches above. The conductor, to encourage them,
calls out occasionally, "Stoop low, brothers, stoop low!" If they go
too slow to suit the companions, it is not unusual for some one to
apply a sharp point to their bodies to urge them on; the points of the
pasteboard crown answer quite well for this purpose. After they have
endured this humiliating exercise as long as suits the convenience of
the companions, they pass from under the living arches. The candidates
next receive the obligation, travel the room, attend the prayer,
travel again, and are shown a representation of the Lord appearing to
Moses from the burning bush. This last is done in various ways.
Sometimes an earthen pot is filled with earth, and green bushes set
around the edge of it, and a candle in the centre; and sometimes a
stool is provided with holes about the edge, in which bushes are
placed, and a bundle of rags or tow, saturated with oil of turpentine,
placed in the centre, to which fire is communicated. Sometimes a
large bush is suspended from the ceiling, around the stem of which tow
is wound wet with oil of turpentine. In whatever way the bush is
prepared, when the words are read, "He looked, and behold, the bush
burned with fire," etc., the bandage is removed from the eyes of the
candidates, and they see the fire in the bush,[15] and, at the words,
"Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes," etc., the shoes of the
candidates are taken off, and they remain in the same situation while
the rest of the passage is read to the words, "And Moses hid his face;
for he was afraid to look upon God." The bandage is then replaced, and
the candidates again travel about the room, while the next passage of
Scripture is read. [See Lecture.] At the words, "And break down the
walls of Jerusalem," the companions make a tremendous crashing and
noise, by firing pistols, overturning chairs, benches, and whatever is
at hand; rolling cannon balls across the floor, stamping, etc., etc.,
and in the midst of the uproar the candidates are seized, a chain
thrown about them, and they are hurried away to the preparation room.
This is the representation of the destruction of Jerusalem, and
carrying captive the children of Israel to Babylon. After a short time
the proclamation of Cyrus is read, the candidates are unbound, and
start to go to Jerus