International Order of Twelve
Daughters of the Tabernacle
Ritual of the Degree of Advance
1923
The Tabernacle having been opened, the C.P. announces the business.
C.P.: Daughters, we have opened the Tabernacle to advance … to
the mount.
The B.E. will retire and prepare her for the journey.
B.E. prepares the Daughter by spreading a handkerchief over her eyes and
tying hands behind. She is led to the door, when the Conductor gives two loud
raps; the raps are answered by the I.St. by the same. She then opens the door
and says:
I.St.: Who art thou that disturbs the bounds of the Mount? Take
heed to yourselves.
Conductor to I.St.: A Daughter (or Daughters) of thy people, by
adoption, desires to advance to the Mount and be ready against the third day.
I.St.: I cannot let you pass today, nor tomorrow, until I know by
what name you came thus far on your journey.
Conductor to I.St.: We have no word except the one we received
when we passed the dry shod. That I will give you.
The Conductor whispers: M. A. R. I. A. M.
I.St.: The word is the same, and I believe thee forever. Come thou
with us, and we will do thee good.
The Conductor and candidate enter, and as they go slowly around the hall the
following is read by the Chief Priestess: And Moses came and called
for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces and all these words
which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together and said All
that the Lord has spoken we will do And Moses returned the word of the people
unto Him And the Lord said unto Moses: Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud,
that the people may hear when I speak to thee, and believe thee forever. And
Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Moses Go unto the people and sanctify them today and
tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
And be ready against the third day, for the third day the Lord will come down
in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.
And thou shalt set bounds upon the people round about, saying: Take heed to
yourselves, that you go not up into the Mount, or touch the border of it;
Whosoever toucheth the Mount shall surely be put to death.
The reading is finished when they arrive in front of the Vice-Preceptress.
V.P. to Candidate: Are you a Daughter of the Tabernacle?
Candidate (prompted): I am the youngest of the tribe.
V.P.: What word do you bring from the Plain of Zin? What are your
greetings?
Candidate: My greetings are the word that I received from our
sisters of the plain; we call them M-R-M.
V. P.: The word is right; the same forever.
Will you, my Daughter, as you advance, continue in the chain of friendship?
Candidate (prompted): I will with gratitude keep my obligation
that binds me as a Daughter.
V.P.: This is a true Daughter. Unbind her, and let us see if she
can give the pass of our kindred.
She is unbound and gives the grip.
V.P.: Now we know that you came through the wilderness, and were
received at the right door of the Tabernacle, and I present you with the girdle.
You will please carry it to the Chief Preceptress.
As they journey around, the following hymn is sung:
Thy works proclaim Thy glory, Lord,
The blooming field, the singing bird,
The tempest and the sunny hour :
Show forth Thy goodnes and Thy power.
And when the setting sun declines,
I see Thee in its brilliant lines;
Those tints, so beautiful and bright
Reveal the Author of all Light
At the closing words of the hymn they stop in front of the C.P. and present
the girdle. The C.P. examines the girdle, and gives three raps. The members
stand She says:
C.P.: This is the girdle of a Daughter of the Tent from the
offerings first made to the Tabernacle. Let us read Exodus, 25th chapter.
The C.P. reads: Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord,
whatsoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it an offering of the Lord,
gold, silver and brass.
And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen and goats’ hair.
Andrams’ skins, dyed red, and badger’s skins, and shittim wood
And oil for the light and spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense
And onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod, and for the breast
plate.
And every wise-hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord has
commanded
The Tabernacle, his Tent and his covering, his tashes, and his board, his
bars, his pillars, and his sockets
The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the
covering.
The table and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shew bread.
The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with
the oil for the light
And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands and
brought which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of
fine linen
And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun goat’s hair
C.P.: You now represent a Daughter of old at the building of the
Great Temple near Sinai. Their offerings were made willingly, earnestly; and
continually, until the great work was finished. May you continue a true Daughter
until life’s journey is finished on earth
Then may you put on the holy garment of light, and dwell eternally in the
Heavenly Tabernacle.
The C.P. gives one rap and all the members are seated.
C.P.: Daughter Conductor, you will please conduct our Daughter to
the Tabernacle and remove her veil.
As they move around, the following is read by the V.P.: And Moses
took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp,
and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And it came to pass, that
every one which sought the Lord went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation,
which was without the camp.
And he made the candlestick of pure gold, of beaten work he made the
candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers
were of the same.
On the first day of the first month shalt thou set tip in the Tabernacle of
the Tent of the Congregation And thou shalt put therein the ark of the
testimony, and cover the ark with the veil.
And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be
set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick and light the
lamps thereof.
And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of
testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the Tabernacle.
And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the
Tabernacle of of the Tent of the Congregation.
The C P. gives three raps and says:
C.P.: Daughters, you will please assemble around the Tabernacle
and assist to advance this Daughter.
All join hands and form a perfect circle, with the candidate and C P in
center.
Obligation
C.P.: You are now before the Ark of the Tabernacle the second time
and standing, uncovered, within the chain. You will please extend your right
hand and lay it upon the Holy Bible, and repeat after me this solemn obligation:
I, ..., in the presence of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and these
Daughters of the Tabernacle, do hereby promise and swear, that I will keep, and
not divulge, the doing and secrets of the Tabernacle to any person or persons in
the world who is not a Daughter or Sir Knight.
I moreover promise that I will not give the secrets of this degree to a
Daughter that has not received the Advance Degree, unless it is to assist in
giving her this degree.
I moreover promise that I will answer and obey the Sign of Advance whenever
and wherever given.
I moreover promise that I will receive and remember the instructions of the
Daughter’s girdle without mental reservation.
To conform to this, my solemn obligation, I pledge my word, as a Daughter, to
keep sacred the trust confided to me. May God help me to perform all parts of
this obligation.
C.P.: As a token of your truthfulness, and to bind you to remember
your sacred and solemn obligation, you will take the Book and press it to your
heart, and return it to its place.
The C.P. gives one rap and all are seated, except he candidate, the C P. and
Chief Priestess.
The Girdle
C.P. to Chief Priestess: Our Daughter is now prepared to receive
the girdle. You will please invest her with full instructions.
The C.Pr. receives the girdle and the C.P. takes her seat. The C.Pr. reads: And
the curious girdle of this ephod, that was upon it, was the same, according to
the work thereof, of gold, blue and purple, and scarlet and twined linen.
And they did, bind the breast-plate by its rings unto the rings of the ephod
with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and
that the breast-plate might not be loosed from the ephod
C.Pr.: Daughter, it is with pleasure that I present you this
curious girdle.
The Conductor takes and places it around the Daughters neck and across the
breast, and crosses it at the waist behind, tying it in front.
C.P.: This emblem tells of the venerable age of the Tabernacle,
and of the wonderful works wrought by the Daughters at the building of the first
Tabernacle; likewise of the memorable event that transpired around the base of
Sinai; also of the earnest and continual offerings of the Daughters to sustain
and support the great Tabernacle in the wilderness.
The colors that are woven together in this curious girdle represent the
offerings that are made to the Tabernacle; they also teach a moral lesson and
instruct the mind, and are a sure guide to Peace, Harmony, and Friendship.
The Gold
Is an emblem of friendship. Gold melted in the most fervent fire is purified
from all dross and earthly matter. A true friend will cling to you in adversity
and poverty closer than when you are in prosperity In every sorrow, in every
trial and difficulty, a true friend, like gold, will become purer. You are
instructed to cultivate the pure gold of friendship for every Daughter of the
Tabernacle.
The Blue
Is an emblem of pure love and true charity. It is love that brings happiness,
peace and joy to all human beings: it is Godlike: as bright as the heavens,
broad as creation, and of eternal
duration, it teaches you to love God supremely, and a worthy Daughter of the
Tabernacle as thyself. If a worthy Daughter is in distress, help her if she has
done wrong, aid her to do right; if she is weak, be her strength; is you would
that she should do unto you, do on so unto her Let the blue remind you, wherever
you see it, that you are a Daughter of the Tabernacle and have learned the
lesson of love.
The Purple
Is an emblem of royalty, and whenever and wherever you see this color it will
teach you the great lesson of true usefulness and that the queenly honor that is
conferred on you in the Tabernacle admits you into the royal line. We admonish
you to be a pattern of decorum and prudence in your intercourse with all people,
and let your bearing be dignified and pleasant. Let candor and truthfulness
shine forth in every act and word. Remember that each and every Daughter of the
Tabernacle is your peer and is invested with the same royal purple.
The Scarlet
Is an emblem of earnest zeal. The color is one of great antiquity, and its
place in the work of the Tabernacle could not be omitted. It teaches the great
lesson of success. If you would be successful in any good undertaking, you must
exercise earnest zeal. The color tells you to be earnest and zealous in
performing every duty as a Daughter of the Tabernacle.
The White
Is an emblem of purity. A pure life will give you continual happiness; a pure
heart will win the affectionate consideration of every Daughter of the
Tabernacle; a pure mind will make you welcome among all people, more especially
a welcome Daughter in every Tabernacle.
May the white always remind you of the dignified honor we have invested with
you.
The Breast-Plate
Bind these colors to the breast-plate of your heart. Wear them as gems of the
greatest value, and forget not their deep meaning and good lessons.
C.Pr.: Daughter Conductor, you will now guide the candidate to the
C.P. for further instructions.
They march around the Tabernacle three times and they go around, the
following is sung:
Come to the land of peace,
From shadows come away;
Where all the sounds of weeping cease,
And storms no more have sway.
Come to the bright and blest,
Gathered from every land;
For here thy soul shall find its rest,
Amid the shining band.
The singing is so timed that at the end of the last verse they arrive in
front of the C.P.
The Conductor gives one rap and says:
Conductor: Daughter Chief, the Chief Priestess has invested this
new Daughter with the colors, and sends her to you for instructions.
C.P.: Thank you.
Gives three raps and all stand.
C P: She shall be taught to make herself known as an Advanced
Daughter. Daughter, you will now attend and be instructed in the language of
this degree, by which you will be recognized for all time as a Daughter of the
Tent.
Secret Signs
The Test of Advance Sign
Raise your right hand in this manner and let it drop quickly, three times. We
are taught, when we see this sign given in any place, to go to the person that
gives it, and on her proving that she is a Daughter of the Tabernacle, receive
her in harmony and love.
The Test Grip
Is given in this manner, and means that I will support you firmly.
The Word
Is given in this way: A. N. I. S. I.
C.P.: A.
Cond.: N.
C.P.: I.
Cond.: S.
C.P.: I.
It is given in this manner when you wish to test the person giving it. This
is the word given when you enter a Tabernacle opened in the advanced degree.
C.P.: Daughter, I now congratulate and welcome you to the full
privileges of an Advanced Daughter. The Conductor will please seat you.
One rap and all are seated. The Chief Tribune then reads the following
lesson:
C.T: And Moses said unto Habab, the son of Reguel, the Midianite,
Moses’ father-in-
law, who are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it
to you; come thou with us and we will do thee good; for the Lord hath spoken,
good concerning Israel.
And he said unto him, I will not go, but I will depart into my own land, and
to my kindred.
And he said, leave us not, I pray thee for as much as thou knowest how we are
to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
And it shall be if thou goest with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness
the Lord shall do unto us, the same will He do unto thee.
This closes the work in this degree.
Lecture
1st Daughter: Are you a Daughter of the Mount?
2d Daughter: I have advanced to the Mount, and was ready against the third
day.
1st: What invitation did you receive?
2d : Come with us, and we will do thee good
1st: What answer did you give?
2d: All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and be ready against the third
day.
1st: What message did you bring from the plains?
2d: The words of greeting from our sisters of the plains; their name, we call
it M-R-M.
1st: The word is right forever. Will you continue in the chain of Friendship?
2d: I have received the girdle of the Tent.
lst: What are the colors of the girdle?
2d: They are blue, purple, scarlet, gold and fine white-twined linen.
1st: What moral lessons do they teach?
2d: The gold, True Friendship; the blue, Pure Love, the purple, Royalty; the
scarlet, Earnest Zeal; the white, Purity.
1st: What was further done with you?
2d: I was invested with the test of Advance.
1st: Will you give me the test?
2d: I will, with your assistance. The grip is given.
1st: : Is this A N?
2d: It is full with I S I
1st: True Daughter, A N. I S. I., leave us not, I pray thee.