"Worthy Sir, know you the cross of our Council; and can you, without
fear or favor, support and bear that cross?" Knight says, "I am a
Christian." The Most Worthy Provost says. "Worthy Sir, know you the
cross of our Council; and can you, without fear or favor, support and
bear that cross?" Knight says, "I am a Christian." The Most Worthy
Provost says, "No more."

* * * * *

THE OBLIGATIONS OF THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS.

FIRST OBLIGATION.--You, Mr. ----, do now, by your honor, and in
view of the power and union of the Thrice Illustrious Order of the
Cross, now first made known to you, and in the dread presence of
the Most Holy and Almighty God, solemnly and sincerely swear and
declare, that, to the end of your life, you will not, either in
consideration of gain, interest, or honor, nor with good or bad
design, ever take any, the least, step or measure, or be
instrumental in any such object, to betray or communicate to any
person, or being, or number of the same, in the known world, not
thereto of cross and craft entitled, any secret or secrets, or
ceremony or ceremonies, or any part thereof appertaining to the
order and degree known among Masons as the Thrice Illustrious
Order of the Cross. That you will not, at any time or times
whatever, either now or hereafter, directly or indirectly, by
letter, figure, or character, however or by whoever made, ever
communicate any of the information and secret mysteries heretofore
alluded to. That you will never speak on or upon, or breathe high
or low, any ceremony or secret appertaining thereto, out of
Council, where there shall not be two or more Knights companions
of the order present, besides yourself, and that in a safe and
sure place, whereby any opinion, even of the nature and general
principles of the institution, can be formed by any other person,
be he Mason or otherwise, than a true Knight companion of the
cross; nothing herein going to interfere with the prudent practice
of the duties enjoined by the order, or arrangement for their
enforcement.

2.--You further swear, that, should you know another to violate
any essential part of this obligation, you will use your most
decided endeavors, by the blessing of God, to bring such person to
the strictest and most condign punishment, agreeably to the rules
and usages of our ancient fraternity; and this by pointing