dear brother, received a
member of our society; you will recollect to live up to the precepts of
it, and also remember that those parts of your body which have the
greatest power of assisting you in good or evil, have this day been
made holy!" The Master of Ceremonies then places the candidate between
the two Wardens, with the craft before him. The Senior Warden says to
him, "Examine with deliberation and attention everything which the Most
Puissant is going to show you." After a short pause, he, the Senior
Warden, says--"Is there mortal here worthy to open the book with the
seven seals?" All the brethren cast their eyes down and sigh. The
Senior Warden, hearing their sighs, says to them, "Venerable and
respectable brethren, be not afflicted; here is a victim (pointing to
the candidate), whose courage will give you content." Senior Warden to
the candidate, "Do you know the reason why the ancients have a long
white beard?" Candidate. "I do not, but I presume you do." S. W. "They
are those who came here, after passing through great tribulation, and
having washed their robes in their own blood; will you purchase such
robes at so great a price?" Candidate. "Yes; I am willing." The Wardens
then conduct him to the basin, and bare both his arms--they place a
ligature on each, the same as in performing the operation of
blood-letting. Each Warden being armed with a lancet, makes an incision
in each of his arms, just deep enough to draw a drop of blood, which is
wiped on a napkin, and shown to the brethren. The Senior Warden then
says, "See, my brethren, a man who has spilled his blood to acquire a
knowledge of our mysteries, and shrunk not from the trial!" Then the
Most Puissant opens the first Seal of the great book, and takes from
thence a bone quiver, filled with arrows, and a crown, and gives them
to one of the Ancients, and says to him, "Depart and continue the
conquest." He opens the second Seal, and takes out a sword, and gives
it to the next aged, and says, "Go, and destroy peace among the profane
and wicked brethren, that they may never appear in our Council." He
opens the third Seal, and takes a balance, and gives it to the next
aged, and says, "Dispense rigid justice to the profane and wicked
brethren." He opens the fourth Seal, and takes out a scull, and gives
it to the next aged, and says, "Go, and endeavor to convince the wicked
that death is the reward of their guilt." He opens the fifth Seal, and
takes out a clot