Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar
Priests
Degree of the Royal Prussian Blue
1997/2015
The Degree of Knight of the Royal Prussian Blue as worked in the
North East
appears to be an amalgam of the older Irish Degree of Noachite
and the degree of
the same name which had been worked in the South West of
England. Unlike the
French / German degree which eventually became part of the Rite
of Perfection
and subsequently, the 21st. Degree of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite,
there is no Password "Frederick". This was also true of the West
Country and Irish rituals of the degree.
The degree appears to be similar to the ritual printed by
Carlisle in his
Manual of Freemasonry (1820 Ed.) with the addition of the
Tracing Board used in
Ireland. It is therefore likely that the main text is of English
origin white
the Tracing Board reflects Irish, via Scotland influence.
The earliest rituals of the degree held that the ceremony be
performed in the
open air by the light of the full moon hut as will be seen, this
version has
modified that requirement while continuing to recognise that
aspect.
Officers, Paraphernalia and Chamber
The Officers of the Degree of Knight of the Royal Prussian Blue
are:-
KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER (Presiding Officer)
KNIGHT OF INTRODUCTION (Conductor)
KNIGHT OF ELOQUENCE (Lecturer)
KNIGHT OF FINANCE (Treasurer)
KNIGHT OF THE CHANCERY (Secretary)
KNIGHT OF DEFENCE (Inner Guard)
KNJGHT OF THE AVENUES. (Outer Guard)
The Chamber in which the ceremony is conferred is should have a
representation of the Moon in the East, from which light shines.
The KGC sits in the West facing East as if on the apex of a
triangle with the
other members seated in avenues forming the sides of the
triangle. The regalia
of the degree consists of a white apron trimmed with yellow and
a yellow cordon
in which a sword is placed. Yellow gloves are also worn. The
jewel of the degree
is an arrow pointing downwards surmounted on an equilateral
triangle.
KGC: Knights of the
Royal Prussian
Blue, Jets us convene together. The KGC
strikes the
table three times with the pommel of his sword. then returns it
to the scabbard.
All raise the hands toward the emblem of the Moon.
KGC: Brethren this
Chapter of Knights
of the Royal Prussian Blue is now open and we may labour under the
Light of the
Moon.
The Knight of Eloquence then uncovers the Board & Drawing.
There is no
altar and no VSL to be opened, and after this all take their
places. When all is
ready the KA gives *.
KD: Most Venerable
Grand Commander
someone approaches through the Avenues.
KCG: Knight of
Introduction you will
retire and see who approaches and report.
Does so. KI ensures that the Cand. wears a plain white apron and
gloves and
gives *** on the door. The KI enquires what this is about and
reports same to
the KGC.
KD: M.Ven. Grand
Commander, at the
door stands a worthy mason, well skilled in the Masonry of the Red
and the
Black, who now wishes to be admitted as a Kt. of the Prussian Blue.
KGC: Does he possess
the Word?
KD: He does not but the
Knight of
Introduction has given it for him.
KGC: That worthy Knight
is at liberty
to enter if he is alone but if he wishes to introduce his companion
it is his
responsibility to determine the motives of that person in seeking
admission to
this Order.
KD: M.Ven. G.Com that
is already
answered for he is a Master, who has attained the Blue and Red and
now seeks
admission as a Prussian Blue Kt.
KGC: Then let him be
admitted and
duly examined.
Three Kts. take up station before the KGC in the West and draw
their swords.
The KE enters with the Cand. who places him before these Kts.
and who present
the points of their swords to his breast.
KGC: I declare, brave
Kts., that this
man is worthy of your countenance. Do you give your assent? The
three Kts. lower and raise their swords in assent.
Brother Noachite, will you renounce pride all the days of
your life?
Cand., prompted by KJ:
I
promise so to do. The three Knights resume
their seats.
KGC: Example is a far
greater proof
than its precept, commence your career among us with an act of
humility.
The KJ advises Cand. to advance towards the KGC with three short
steps with
the right foot and after each step to kneel on his left knee and
bow his head.
After the third bow is given the Cand. kneels on both knees and
as the KGC
reverses his sword and presents it, the Cand. kisses the pommel
once with his
lips. Remaining upon his knees the KI says:
KI: Brother, the
obeisance which you
have now given is to rid you of any trace of Pride or Vanity which
may linger
within you. Pride causes conceit and vanity will be your downfall as
was the
case with Peleg and Solomon the architects of the Tower of Babel and
The Temple.
These great edifices, which should have been dedicated to the
Almighty became
instead, monuments to the builders. In similar fashion, although we
no longer
meet as Kts. of this Order in open ground under the Light of the
full moon,
neither do we use any wondrous coverings or fanciful apparatus
within our
Chapter. Nor do we dress ourselves in radiant garb nor befeathered
chapeau but
merely clothe ourselves in the apron of the simple mason and arm
ourselves with
the sword of the pious soldier.
KGC, lays his right hand upon the head of the Cand.:
Do you
promise upon the faith of a Mason, to keep the secrets which I shall
commit to
your trust : First, that you will never reveal any of the mysteries
of our Order
to any of the Children of Adam; Second, that you will continue to
associate with
us at all times except when illness or personal calling does not
permit; Third,
that you will never allow any person to wear the apron of this Order
unless he
has made himself known to you in the prescribed manner of a Prussian
Mason.
Cand., prompted by the KJ: I
engage
myself to ever fulfil these conditions.
KGC: Then you may be
upstanding.
Knight of Eloquence, you are now at liberty to make known to this
Brother, the
History of this Order.
KE: To every Knight of
the Royal
Prussian Blue, be it known that, notwithstanding the recent
vengeance which the
Deity had taken upon mankind for all its iniquities and sins, by
causing the
Universal Deluge, notwithstanding that the Deity had given the
rainbow as a sign
of reconciliation, vouchsafing that favour declared that the world
should not be
again destroyed by a great flood of the water, the descendants of
Noah, from
their want of faith in the divine prediction, being apprehensive of
a second
deluge, said, Let us build a city whose top may reach the heavens,
and let us
make a name lest we be scattered over the face of the earth. To
accomplish their
designs they began to build a great tower on the Plain of Shinar,
but this
enterprise being displeasing to the eyes of their Maker, as tending
to obviate
or delay the final execution of His great design, that Mankind
should not always
be together, He instructed them to cease with the erection of the
Tower, when
they would not be ensured that they could not continue by causing a
confusion in
their language so that one could not understand the other and
thereby no work
could be undertaken.
From this circumstance the city took its name of Babel which
signifies
confusion and a dispersion of the peoples and a founding of various
nations
occurred. This work of the Lord occurred on a night of a full moon
for which
reason Lodges of Noachites did hold their meetings under similar
circumstances.
The architect at the Tower was named Peleg, at least it was he who
gave the
idea of the building, and its erection became a source of much pride
to him. As
a result of this contumacy and presumption and the misdirection of
his Brethren,
he was deprived off all speech and to avoid the remonstrations of
his
companions, who now considered him to be the cause of the Almighty's
wrath, he
travelled into countries remote from Shinar, and then only by
moonlight, as he
feared for the safety of his person should he be recognized. His
place of
retirement was in Prussia, where having erected a simple triangular
dwelling,
he, by humility and contrition, for the part he had taken in
opposing the will
of the Lord God on the Plain of Shinar, obtained remission of his
sins and his
power of speech was restored unto him.
The dwelling place of Peleg was discovered fifteen cubits under the
surface
of the earth in the Year 553. In that place was found a marble slab
of the
purest white on which was in scribed the following epitaph - Here
lies the ashes
of the Grand Architect of the Tower of Babel. The Lord bad pity on
because he
became humble.
Thus we communicate our Grand Secret to you, which remains unknown
to those
but ourselves. We entrust it to you with pleasure but misfortune
will fall upon
you should you ever be weak enough to transcribe it. Be always
circumspect, and
for that purpose practice humility, after the example of our Grand
Architect.
KGC: Listen now and
forever hold what
is said.
KGC: Who are you?
KE: Tell me who you are
and I will
tell you who I am.
KGC: Do you know the
children of
Noah?
KE: I know three of
them.
KGC: Who are they?
KE: I identify them by
the initials
of their names, S, H and J.
KGC: Give me these
words.
KE: You begin and I
will reply.
KGC: Shem, Ham.
KE: Japhet.
KGC: What does the
letter S signify?
KE: The first letter of
our Sacred
Word.
KGC: Demonstrate the
Signs.
KE: The first is given
by raising and
extending the arms toward the moon with face toward the East.
KGC: Why is the face
toward the East?
KE: Because it is the
point at which
the moon rises.
KGC: And the second
sign?
KE: This given by
raising the right
arm above the head and pointing to the heavens with the forefinger,
thus, with
the face downwards, thus.
KGC: What is the
signification?
KE: The first
acknowledges the
Kingdom of our Maker and the second our humility in His presence.
KGC: What is our Grip?
KE: The other's hand is
taken and
then clenched three times.
KGC: With what words?
KE: S.H. & J given
at each
clenching.
KGC: Make known to me
the Pass Word.
KE: Peleg.
KGC: How do you know of
the Architect
of the Tower of Babel?
KE: I have heard mention of him.
KGC: Who acquainted you
with him and
bis history?
KE: The Knight of
Eloquence.
KGC: In what Lodge?
KE: In a Lodge where
the Moon
illuminates the proceedings.
KGC: Was the building
of the Tower
praiseworthy?
KE: It was not, as it
never saw
completion.
KGC: Why so?
KE: For the foundation
was laid in
Pride.
KGC: Is it to imitate
the children of
Noah that you retain it in your memory?
KE: No. It is to avoid
the danger
that they experienced.
KGC: Where are the
remains of Peleg
deposited?
KE: In an underground
tomb.
KGC: Was he not
considered to be a
reprobate?
KE: No, for the stone
that marks bis
remains informs us that bis Maker laid mercy upon him on account of
his
subsequent humility.
KGC: In what manner
were you received
as a Prussian Knight?
KE: After making three
obeisance's
and then kissing the pommel of the sword of the Knight Grand
Commander, once
with my lips.
KGC: Why did you so
submit yourself?
KE: As proof of my
obedience to the
dictates of this degree and to remove all vestiges of Pride and
Vanity.
KGC: Why do Knights of
the Prussian
Blue wear the triangle?
KE: In remembrance of
the Temple of
Peleg.
KGC: Why is an arrow
placed in the
centre of the triangle?
KE: As a reminder of
the remission
that followed the contrition of Peleg when the wrath of the Almighty
was turned
away from him.
KGC, raises hand with second sign: And
so may it be turned aside from all bis successors, we Noachites of
the Prussian
Blue.
KGC: Knight of
Chancery, you will now
enlighten our Brother Knight of the Prussian Blue, the meaning
behind the
symbols on our Tracing Board.
KCh. rises and takes a position before the TB so that the Cand.
may clearly
see what is indicated.
KCh.: Brother Knight,
not all
Chapters or Lodges of this degree employ a Tracing Board but we,
using it as a
guide to our History, display it to convey certain particulars to
those who have
been admitted to the Order.
The depiction of our Lodge represents the Sanctuary it provides from
the
outer World. The Sun and the Moon denote the Almighty God and
represent his
Powers. The column is emblematic of those found in Egypt long after
the Flood
receded; The Ark denotes the beginning when the Deity was first held
sacred by
Mankind. The Tower of Babel where construction was begun against the
wishes of
our Maker, is an emblem of Pride and Conceit. The Ark of the
Covenant, wherein
were the Tablets of the True Law, is an emblem of the Alliance of
the Israelites
with God. The Temple, constructed Square is both an emblem of
Strength and
Architecture and of Geometry, which were the foundation of it. The
three round
stones are symbols of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes and the
Sphere as
well as that Supreme Letter with neither beginning nor end. The
three cubic
stones are such as those that were found in the Ruins of the Temple
and
represent to us not only all the points of Architecture and
Geometry, but also
of Mathematics. The mound on which is implanted a sprig of Acacia
represents the
grave of Hiram and the three clubs, the means employed by the
ruffians who
caused him to be interred there. The four ends of the brass columns
support a
locked golden box in which is held the Word of a Master Mason. The
Menorah and
the vessel of Bronze are representations of the furniture of the
Temple and the
four broken stairs, a reminder of its destruction. You will also
note that the
Tracing Board is mounted over a Drawing which is divided into two
equal parts,
that on the left shows the Moon and Stars on a blue background. The
Moon and
Stars represent the Omnipotent Power of the Almighty which He made
to cause the
Deluge which is itself denoted by the colour Blue. On the right is
the symbol of
the Degree of which you have already heard, illustrated upon a field
of Black
which represents the darkness of Pride and Vanity.
KCh. resumes his place and the KGC moves before the Cand.
KGC: Brother Knight, I
will now
confirm to you the Secrets of a Knight of the Prussian Blue although
doubtless
you have discerned them for yourself if you have given close
attention to what
you have previously heard.
KGC: The Pass Word of
the Degree is
PELEG. The Sacred Word is SHINAR.
The Grip is given by taking the hand of the other loosely and then
clenching
it tightly three times. Your companion at the first and second
clenches will
give the words SHEM and HAM and at the third you must say JAPHET.
The Sign of the Degree is given by raising both arms and extending
them
towards the East with your face toward the Moon. The Pass Sign is
given by
raising your Right Arm and pointing upwards with your forefinger.
I now invest you with the apron of this degree and present you with
these
gloves which are of the colour of this degree. If and when you
become an Officer
in the Ranks of the Prussian Blue Knights, you will be entitled to
wear the
cordon and bear the sword.
This now concludes the Ceremony of your Admission and you may take a
seat
among us.
KJ escorts the Cand. to a vacant seat and then resumes his own
station.
KGC: Bother Knights of
the Prussian
Blue Order, demonstrate the Sign. All do
so.
I declare this Chapter Closed and may the shining rays of the full
Moon guide
you safely to your destination. Gives ***
with sword.
Home