International Order of Twelve
Daughters of the Tabernacle
Ritual of the Sealed Daughter’s Degree

 
1923

It is supposed that over seven hundred years have passed over the world between the incidents that give rise to the foundation of the second degree and those upon which the third are founded. The many varied scenes that have been witnessed by the Daughters of the Tabernacle occurred during the time intervening between the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the reign of King Uzzia. The King of Judah was celebrated for his wisdom and goodness; so much did the people love him, and so prosperous was his reign, that he was called Lemuel (God with them) His mother, the good Jecoliah, was wise in her generation; she was his preceptress. and to her teachings more than anything else, he owed his greatness. She was his adviser and, during her’ life, his kingdom was prosperous and great He was successful in all his wars and made Judah the feared and admired of all nations.
But, after her death, he lost the respect and admiration of the nation and died in disgrace. The incidents, upon which this degree is founded, show the power of a truly good woman, not only in the family circles and societies, but her influence is also felt in all national matters, for their good and prosperity.
The Tabernacle is opened in the degree
C.P.: Daughters, we are assembled to celebrate the full age of your youngest Daughter and to seal her to the Tabernacle. The B. of E. will please retire and prepare the candidate.
The candidate is blindfolded and seated in an armchair and secured to it. The O.St. then gives notice to the Tabernacle that the candidate is ready.
The C.T.’s carry her into and around the hall three times, slowly. Then they seat her in front of the Ark of the Tabernacle This is done during the most profound silence.
C.P. reads: Who can find a good woman for her price is far above rubies
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that she shall have no need of spoil
She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life
She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands
She is like the merchant’s ships, she bringeth her food from afar
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms
She percerveth that her merchandise is good, her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff
She stretcheth forth her hand to the poor; and, yea, she reacheth forth her hand to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant
Strength and honor are her clothing, and shall rejoice in time to come
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness
She looketh well to the way of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness
Her children rise up and calleth her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleth them all
Praise is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her at the gates.
C.P.: Daughter, you have the lessons that were taught by Jecoliah to the Daughters when the world was yet in mortal darkness. It is upon this solid foundation that our Tabernacle has stood for ages.
C.P. to Candidate: What are your intentions when you are received and sealed in full?
Candidate (prompted): It is my earnest desire and determination to fulfill every duty of a Daughter of the Tabernacle.
C.P.: Thou hast said well. Release the Daughter and let her commence her pilgrimage.
She is loosed from the chair and the Conductor guides her three times around the hall, while all the members repeat these lines slowly after the C.Pr.
With grateful hearts the past we own,
The future to its all unknown;
We to thy guardian care commit,
And Peaceful leave before thy feet
When death shall interrupt these songs,
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
Our Helper, God, in whom we trust,
In better words our soul shall boast
At the repeating of the last line, they arrive at the first obstruction: a door guarded by a Chief Tribune


The Pilgrim Daughter

Conductor: Here we are at the guarded door of the Sealed Daughter. Let us knock, for we have a right to enter.
She gives three loud raps.
C.T., speaking from behind the door: Who are you that seek admission to the secret assembly of the Sealed Daughters of the Tabernacle?
Conductor: We are of the family, and have learned the lesson taught by our mother, Jecoliah.
Her words praise her, her children call her blessed.
The C.T. opens the door, lays his right hand on the candidate’s right shoulder and says:
C.T.: Thou hast clone well in coming thus far on your pilgrimage, but you can not pass this entrance until you take a solemn obligation If you are willing to take it, lay your right hand on my right shoulder and repeat after me:
I, …, do most solemnly promise and swear that I will keep the secrets of a Sealed Daughter of the Tabernacle and those of an individual, when imparted to me I further promise and swear that I will defend and maintain the good name, character, honor and virtue of a worthy Sealed Daughter whenever or wherever assailed.
Should I forfeit or not keep any and every part of this vow, may I be cast nut in disgrace.
Amen!
C.T.: You are now prepared to continue on your journey. Remember and keep the vow you have taken, and that you may be permitted to pass the valley to the next entrance, take this staff with you and present it at the door.
They walk slowly forward.
Conductor: This road 1 have often traveled, and have always found it rough The valley is dark and stormy.
They hear an imitation of thunder, small sticks of wood are strewn around and the candidate must go over them.
Conductor: Though the road is dark, we must cross this narrow bridge. To the other side we must go. Before we start, let us kneel and pray:
O, Thou God who hearest prayer
Every hour and everywhere!
For His sake Whose blood I plead,
Hear me in my hour of need;
Only hide not now Thy face,
God of All sufficient grace!
Hear and save me, gracious Lord,
For my Trust is in Thy word
Leave me not, my Strength my Trust?
Oh, remember I’m but dust
Leave me not again to stray
Leave me nut the tempter’s prey;
Fix my heart on things above,
Make me happy in Thy love Amen!
They cross the narrow bridge The bridge is made of a board, raised about six inches. Conductor: Let us go up these steps and knock at this door. Ah, there is a notice on the door. I will read it "They that enter here must not be faint-hearted, if you would be wise, hear and obey the Oracle of the Sealed Daughter"
Conductor: Shall we enter? You have heard what the outer notice said. Yes.
The Conductor gives three loud taps. Chains are rattled and the trumpet sounded for a minute, then the door is opened
C.P.: Who is it that seeks to enter the second door of the Sealed Daughter’s Tabernacle?
Conductor: We are of the true family and the name of Jecoliah, which led us to the first door; we there received the staff of promise; we have passed the valley over the narrow way we have read the notice, and are here to hear the Oracle.
The candidate presents the stall.
C.T.: This is the staff of promise. Buy the truth and sell it not; get wisdom and instruction.
Hear the Oracle.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving Favor than silver and gold.
The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself; bit the simple pass on and are punished.
By humanity and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.
A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit,
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, but he that regardeth reproof is prudent
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wielded is trouble.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee; love her and she will keep thee
Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and, with all thy getting, get understanding.
Exalt her and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honor when thou dost embrace her
She shall hive to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee
C.T.: Remember the instructions you have just heard, and your path through life shall be happy.
You are permitted to enter and prepare for a time. Travel to the Sealed Door. You have had the attendance of a kind friend to help you in your long pilgrimage. But now you must mount the chariot alone; the horses will safely take you through the winding way, if your heart fail not.
The candidate is seated in a wagon, a Tribune draws it and makes three journeys around the hall.
C T.: You will meet three Sentinels at their posts. Take these three tokens (cards), and when you are stopped, give a token. Now, farewell. Hold the lines hard and sit upright.
Go!
Away they go around the hall and as they approach the first Sentinel, he cries out:
1st Sentinel: Halt! What chariot is this that travels in midnight darkness?
The candidate gives a token.
Sentinel: Ah! This is a Pilgrim of the staff.
Go on; I must not stop you. Go!
They are stopped by the second Sentinel, he repeats the same.
The third Sentinel receives the token and says:
3d Sentinel: Pilgrim Daughter, thy journey is almost ended. You are at the Sealed Door.
You have represented in this journey the travels of a Daughter through this world. The Sealed Daughters will accompany you through the journey of life and will comfort you in distress, defend you when in danger and minister to you in sickness. But when death’s door opens for you they can go no farther with you; you must travel that way alone. May you, when you come to the Sealed Door of the Heavenly Tabernacle, be in full possession of the tokens: Faith, Hope and the Seal of Love.


The Sealed Door

Sentinel gives three raps.
The door opens.
C.T.: Who comes here to our Sealed Door?
Sentinel: The horse and chariot of Time have borne another Daughter to full age and we have come to celebrate.
C.T.: They who enter the Sealed Door must promise to fulfill their obligations and to obey the laws, rules and regulations of this Tabernacle, or of any other that they may become a member. Do you promise?
Candidate (prompted): I solemnly promise to fulfill all my duty as a Sealed Daughter of the Tabernacle.
C.T.: Enter, Daughter. May the Lord help you to do all your duty.
The chariot passes through the door, and the candidate is stood in front of the Tabernacle Ark, which has every light burning.
Conductor: Daughter Chief, a pilgrim, who has traveled the winding way and was borne into our Tabernacle by the horse and chariot of Time, now desires to be received as a Sealed Daughter She has come to full age.
C.P. gives three raps and says:
C.P.: Daughters, you will please form a circle and assist me to celebrate the full age our Daughter. You will reach forth your hands and help us make darkness light. Our Daughter is worthy let her receive the light.
The shock is given and the hoodwink falls off.
The candidate is seated in front of the Ark and the members are seated in a circle around her, and the C.P. in her seat.
C.P.: We now present you with the living representatives of the three virtues that should be found in every Sealed Daughter, Valor; Honor; Truth. Look and listen.
Valor enters and stands before the candidate and repeats as follows:
Valor: When Valor, fearless maid, was born,
She wandered friendless and forlorn;
Till once in Greece, when first it rose,
Superior to its neighb’ring foes,
She saw in every eye a fire,
Which none but Valor could inspire,
And, pleased to find it all her own,
In Sparta first she raised her throne.
She then passes slowly out.
Then comes Honor:
Honor: Honor, nurse of every art,
Warm inspirer of the heart;
Thee, for all men own thy sway,
"Tributary kings obey;"
Thee, the warrior claims his dues,
Honor all he holds in view,
"‘Twas for thee," he cried, "I rode
Fiercely through the fields of blood;
Woke discord with trumpet’s breath,
And dipped my sword in blood and purpled it with death."
Then comes Truth:
Truth: Truth, fairest virgin of the sky;
With robes of light and beaming eye
And temples crowned with day;
O, thou of all the cherub choir,
That boasts to wake the sweetest lyre
And chant the softest lay;
Thee, chaste, religion’s virgin breast,
And hope, with fair, unruffled vest,
Their lovely sister hail;
Simplicity, with hued crown,
And, innocence untaught to frown,
And peace, that loves the vale.
C.Pr.: Courage, Honor and Truth: remember!
You should have courage to always give justice to every human being; Valor to defend a worthy Daughter of the Tabernacle against all foes. You should have Honor sufficient to deter you from any mean or low act. Your every word and act should be Truth.
 

Instruction

C.P. to Candidate: Daughter, you see before you five great lights. They represent the base of our Order, the foundation upon which our Tabernacle is built. We name them: Friendship, Union, Peace, Harmony and Love.
1st. This order was established in Friendship’s bonds.
2d. Let Love rule all your actions toward a member of the Tabernacle. Be good and true.
3d. By a union of Love, Harmony and Friendship we expect to perpetuate out Order.
4th. Be always ready to advocate Peace between the members.
5th. Teaches us that to be a benefit our Tabernacle must have continued Harmony.
Presentation
C.P.: I now present you with the Golden Shoes. They teach us to run to the aid of a worthy Daughter when she is in distress. I also present you with the Tabernacle Cups, filled with the Food of Life. They teach you to always remember a poor and needy Daughter, when you have plenty. I also present you with this roll of Flax. It is an emblem that earth does its part to clothe human beings. It teaches us to use what the Creator has provided for us to the best advantage. I also present to you this ball of Wool. It is an emblem of industry, and reminds you that the only truly happy persons are those who live by their own industry.
I now present to you this precious Book. This is the Holy Bible. With it we seal you a Daughter of the Tabernacle. Open and read it when you desire wisdom or knowledge. It is a comfort in sorrow; a balm to the wounded mind. It is a food for the hungry soul: it is a spring of the living waters of eternal life.
The Chief Priestess stands by the Tabernacle and hands the article to the candidate After the C.P. recites the presentation, the candidate hands the article to the Daughter nearest to her, and the article is passed around the entire circle back to the candidate, and placed on the Ark. C.P. gives one rap and the members take seats.


Signs and Hails

C.P.: Conductor, you will please place the Daughter in proper position to receive and learn the language of a Sealed Daughter.
The Candidate is placed in front of the C.P.
The C.P. impresses the candidate with the necessity of remembering all she has heard, and that she must not forget the secret language of the Order.
Hailing Sign: Hands crossed in front of the breast. This sign is given anywhere or any place, should you wish to inquire if there are any sealed Daughters present or make yourself known.
Answering Hail: Right front finger to the lips, which means, I am a Sealed Daughter.
Sign of Distress: Binding the handkerchief between the thumbs. This sign is given only when life is in danger, or for the benefit of the Tabernacle when at work. When it is dark, use the grand hailing figures, 333.
The Pass Grip: Right hand holding the right elbow.
The Word: E. L. I. M. N. O. R. B. E. H.
The C.P. gives three raps, and the Tribunes form the procession and march around the Tabernacle three times. The candidate is seated in front of the Tabernacle.
The Following hymn is then sung:
Love is the theme of saints above,
Love is the theme of saints below;
Love is of God, for God is love,
With love let every blossom glow
Love to the spirit of all grace,
Love to the Scriptures of all truth,
Love to the whole apostate race,
Love to the aged, love to youth
Love to each other: soul and mind
And heart and hand with full accord;
In one sweet covenant combined,
To live and die unto the Lord.
As the hymn closes, the members form a ring around the Tabernacle and sing the last verse, and at the end of each line clap their hands The C.P. announces that … is now a Daughter with the full vesture. The members are seated.
There being no other business, the Tabernacle is closed by the sign, and the C.P. gives one rap and declares the Tabernacle closed. 3. 3. 3.

Home