True Kinsman
1976.
To open the Court on the degree of True Kinsman, the ceremonies used in the Master Mason’s Daughter degree will be observed, making the necessary changes, by substituting signs and words of the True Kinsman. The Bible, on the Ark, is opened on the 1st chapter of the Book of Ruth (12 to 17 verses). The sheaf of wheat, slipper, and an ear of corn are displayed upon the Bible.
The Court being opened on the degree of the True Kinsman, and all things being in order, the M.A.M. raps once and says: Sister Inner Gate Keeper.
I.G.K.: Most Ancient Matron.
M.A.M.: You will inquire of the Outer Gate Keeper if there are any candidates in waiting; if so their names and for what degree, and report to the Most Worthy Joshua.
I.G.K. gives two raps and one at the gate; opens.
I.G.K.: Sister Outer Gate Keeper, by order of the Most Ancient Matron, you will ascertain and report if there are any candidates in waiting; if so, their names and for what degree.
O.G.K. makes the necessary observations as to candidates at the Outer Gate: Sister Inner Gate Keeper, there are at our gates waiting, ..., a worthy Master Mason’s Daughter, who craves further honors by being advanced to the degree of a True Kinsman.
I.G.K. tiles the gate.
I.G.K.: Most Worthy Joshua, there is without ..., a worthy Master Mason’s Daughter, who craves further honors by being advanced to the degree of True Kinsman.
M.W.J.: Sisters and Brethren, I am informed there is without Sister ..., a worthy Master Mason’s Daughter, who has been received and adopted as such and she now craves for further honors by being advanced to the degree of True Kinsman. If there are no objections I shall proceed to advance her in our solemn mysteries; hearing none I shall proceed. Sister Junior Attendant, you will proceed to the outer gates where you will find waiting ..., a worthy Master Mason’s Daughter. You will conduct her to the preparation room and prepare her for the ceremonies of this degree, and when so prepared, apply for admission in due form.
Music.
J.A. with her rod in her left hand goes before the Ark, salutes and retires.
Music stops.
J.A. passes out the preparation room door to the outer gate, receives the candidate and conducts her to the preparation room and prepares her, 1st by removing her hat, coat and gloves; 2nd, Then she ties a thin blue veil over her head, letting it hang down her back; 3rd, Places in her right hand a small bundle of wheat straw; 4th, She then leads her to the preparation room door and raps ** *.
S.A. rises : Most Worthy Joshua, while we are at work in love and union, there is a strange call at the Gates.
M.W.J.: Sister Senior Attendant, you will attend the call and see who comes.
S.A. goes to the preparation room door and raps ** * on the inside, opens the door a little.
S.A.: Why this call? Who are you?
J.A.: The Junior Attendant with Ruth, a daughter of Moab.
S.A.: Ruth, my daughter, what do you desire?
Candidate, prompted, says: To make thy people my people and thy God my God.
S.A.: How do you expect to accomplish this?
Candidate: In Love.
S.A.: What do you promise if you are permitted to enter?
Candidate: That naught but death shall part you and me.
S.A.: It is well. You will wait with patience until the Most Worthy Joshua is informed of your request and his answer given.
S.A. closes the door and goes before the Ark and raps ** * with her rod.
S.A.: Most Worthy Joshua, the call was made by our Sister Junior Attendant, with Ruth, a daughter of Moab. She says her desire is to make our people her people and our God her God, and this she hopes to accomplish in love.
M.W.J.: Sister Senior Attendant, what promise does she make if permission to enter is granted?
S.A.: That naught but death shall part us and her.
M.W.J.: Sister Senior Attendant, since this daughter from Moab comes with such pure motives let her enter and be received in love and union.
S.A. salutes, returns to the door, opens it without knocking.
S.A.: Sister Ruth, it is the order of our Most Worthy Joshua, since you come to us with such pure motives, you have permission to enter; but before you go further let me say to you.
Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people; and thy God my God.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
S.A. takes the candidate by the right arm and conducts her once around the room to the Vice Ancient’s station in the West, during which the following Ode is sung:
1. Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noon-tide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Cho.: Bringing in the sheaves! Bringing in the sheaves!
We shall come, rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
The S.A. with the candidate before the Vice Ancient raps ** * with her rod.
V.A.: Sister Senior Attendant, Why this call? Who is this?
S.A.: Worthy Vice, it is Ruth, a daughter of Moab.
V.A.: Ruth, my daughter, I greet thee. It hath been fully shown me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother; and the land of thy nativity, and are come unto a people thou knowest not; therefore, the Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Sister Senior Attendant, you will now conduct this daughter to the Most Ancient Matron for further instructions.
S.A. conducts the candidate to the M.A.M. during which the following is sung:
2. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither cloud nor winter’s chilly breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come, rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Cho.: Bringing in the sheaves! bringing in the sheaves!
We shall come, rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
S.A. at the station of the M.A.M. raps ** *.
M.A.M.: Sister Senior Attendant, why this call? Who is this?
S.A.: Most Ancient Matron, it is Ruth a daughter of Moab.
M.A.M.: Ruth my daughter I greet thee.
And Naomi said unto Ruth, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou?
Ruth replied: The man’s name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.
And Naomi said unto Ruth, her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
And Naomi said unto Ruth: It is good my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens that they meet thee not in any other field.
All these things I command unto you. Now, my daughter, since thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knowest not, what symbol bringest thou?
S.A.: This sheaf of wheat, Most Ancient Matron, a symbol of the ripened grain in the field of Boaz.
The candidate presents the sheaf; the M.A.M. receives it, and hands the candidate a slipper.
M.A.M.: I receive from you this emblem, the sheaf, receiving it and present you with the slipper, presents slipper. You will now be reconducted to our Most Worthy Joshua and present the slipper to him, and he will further advance you in the secrets and mysteries of this degree.
S.A. reconducts the candidate to the foot of the throne in front of the M. W. J., during which the following is sung:
3. Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained, our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come, rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Cho.: Bringing in the sheaves! bringing in the sheaves!
We shall come, rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
S.A. with the candidate before the M.W.J. raps ** *.
M.W.J.: Why this call? Who is this?
S.A.: Ruth, a daughter of Moab.
M. W. J.: Sister Senior Attendant, what do you further desire for this daughter of Moab?
S.A.: Most Worthy Joshua, by your gracious permission this daughter has advanced this far in the ceremonies of a True Kinsman, and now stands here to present to you this token, a slipper.
M.W.J. receives the slipper.
M.W.J.: My Daughter, by this emblem we have the assurance that you are willing to renounce your own will and become obedient to our laws and regulations. Having advanced this far in the ceremonies of this degree, you are worthy of our esteem and confidence, but before you can proceed further it will be necessary for you to take a solemn and binding obligation, such as all True Kinsmen have taken that have gone this way before you. Are you willing to take that obligation?
Candidate: I am.
M.W.J.: Then, Sister Senior Attendant, you will conduct this daughter to our sacred altar and place her in proper position.
Music on the organ, slow and solemn; the S.A. conducts the candidate to the Ark and causes her to stand facing the M.W.J., with the back of the left hand resting on the Ark, hand open and holding the Holy Bible in the palm and the right hand raised up on a line with the right shoulder, hand open and palm to the front.
Music stops.
S.A.: Most Worthy Joshua, this daughter of Moab is in proper position, and awaits your further pleasure.
M.W.J. ***: Sisters and Brethren, you will assemble at our holy altar and receive the obligation of this daughter of Moab.
All form a circle around the candidate.
M.W.J.: ..., if you are still willing to take the obligation, repeat after me:
I, ..., of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God and these True Kinsmen here assembled, do most solemnly promise and swear that in addition to my former obligation that I will not communicate the secrets of this degree or those of a True Kinsman to any person in the world except it be to a worthy brother or sister of this degree; I furthermore promise and swear that I will not confer this degree nor assist in conferring the degree upon any person, except one duly and lawfully qualified to receive it, and I having power and authority to confer it. I furthermore promise and swear that I will aid and assist by my counsel, advice or otherwise, all poor and penniless True Kinsmen, they applying to me, and I finding them worthy and can do it without injury to myself or family. I furthermore promise that I will obey all tokens or hails sent or given me by a member of this Degree, if in my power to do so. To all of which I do most solemnly promise and swear, with a full determination to keep and perform the same, binding myself under no less penalty than to have my right arm palsied, that I may not be able to give the sign or token of a True Kinsman, and may God help me to keep this vow. Amen, amen, amen.
The members form the T. Kinsman’s Support, and drop the hands. The S.A. instructs the candidate to drop her hands, and the following Ode is sung:
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns,
Let men their songs employ;
While fields, and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
After the Ode the Court is called down; all are seated except the M.W.J., S.A., and candidate, who are at the Ark.
M.W.J.: My Sister, now that you are obligated as a True Kinsman, I shall proceed to invest you with the signs, tokens and words, that you may be able to make yourself known as a True Kinsman. This degree has three signs: a Pass word, a True word, a True grip, and Test. They are given in the following manner:
The Presenting Sign or Sign of Salutation:
This sign is made by three motions. 1 Raise the open right hand to the height of the right eye, palm to the front, about six inches to the right of the eye. 2 Carry the open right hand to the left breast and bow. 3 Drop the hand to the right side.
This sign alludes to the act of presenting the slipper and is given as the sign of salutation to the presiding officers when entering or retiring, when the Court is open and at work on the degree of True Kinsman.
Sowing Sign:
This sign is made by three motions. 1 Raise the open left hand to the left side, holding the hand as if it were full of seed. 2 With the right hand take the seed from the left hand and scatter them as if sowing seed. 3 Drop the hands to the sides.
The Sign of the Slipper or of Distress:
This sign is made by four motions. 1 Place yourself in the position as if in the act of pulling off your slipper 2 Hold up your open right hand palm out, hand on a line with the right ear. 3 Carry the right hand to the left breast and bow. 4 Drop the hand to the side.
A person giving this sign at any time except for the instructions of a worthy member, you may rest assured is in need of your assistance, and you are instructed to go at once to the relief of the person giving it, and try her on the Test, Grip, and word, and if found to be a True Kinsman, to relieve her if in your power to do so.
Pass Word : Naomi.
True Word : Ruth.
True Grip.: The usual manner of shaking hands.
The test is given in the following manner:
1st Person: O! that my True Kinsman were here.
2nd Person: Perhaps they are.
1st Person: Are you my True Kinsman?
2nd Person: Perhaps I am.
1st Person: Have you the token?
2nd Person: I have that which was given me.
1st Person: Will you give it to me?
2nd Person: I will in this way. The two approach each other and join hands.
1st Person: My name is Boaz.
2nd Person: My name is Ruth. They let go hands and pass each other.
1st Person: Fare well, Ruth.
2nd Person: Fare well, Boaz May the Lord give you a plentiful harvest.
This is the true grip, word, and test of a true Kinsman.
M.W.J.: Sister Senior Attendant, you will now conduct our newly obligated Sister to the Most Ancient Matron for further instructions
Music on the Organ.
S.A. conducts the newly obligated sister to the M.A.M., and music stops.
S.A.: Most Ancient Matron, by command of our Most Worthy Joshua, again I present to you Sister Ruth. You will further enlighten her in the ceremonies of this degree.
M.W.J., ***; the members all form the True Kinsman’s Support. The M.W.J., M.A.M. and the candidate inside the circle.
M.A.M.: My Sister, having come thus far by command of our Most Worthy Joshua, you will now be invested with the colors and emblems of a True Kinsman.
M.A.M. takes the blue cord in her hand: My Sister, blue is an emblem of universal Friendship, and the proper color of a True Kinsman. By this emblem, you are constantly reminded and instructed to love the whole human family, and a True Kinsman as yourself; and as I now bind this blue cord around you, M.A.M. ties the cord around the new sister’s waist, so are you forever bound in fraternal love and friendship to all True Kinsmen the world over.
M.W.J. holds up the slipper: My Sister, by this slipper, the most important symbol of a True Kinsman, we are reminded that in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing: that to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor; and this was a testimony in Israel, therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz:
Buy it for thee, so he drew off his shoe. And Boaz said unto the elders and unto all the people: ye are all witnesses this day that I have brought all that was Elimech’s; and all that was Chilon’s, and Mahlon’s, of the land of Naomi, moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, have I purchased this day.
All answer: We are witnesses, may the Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel.
M.W.J. presents the newly made sister the slipper and
says: With this emblem we do now advance you to the degree of a True Kinsman, and we do further endow thee with all of its rights and privileges, now and forever here-after. You will now be received in our True Kinsman’s Support.
M.A.M. extends her right hand to the newly advanced
sister, placing her in the circle on her right; all sing the following ode:
1. Shall we gather at the river
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Cho.: Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river:
Gather with the saints at the river,
That flows by the throne of God.
2. On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever
All the happy, golden day.
After the Ode the True Kinsman’s Support is broken; M.W.J. seats the Court; the newly advanced sister is seated on the right hand and in front of the throne. M.W.J. gives a short sketch of the history of the degree of a True Kinsman, and with the assistance of the M.A.M., gives the lecture; after which the Court is closed by the M.A.M.
J: Are you a True Kinsman?
M: I am, and adopted as one.
J: From whence came you?
M: From the land of Moab.
J: To where did you travel?
M: To the land of promise.
J: How gained you admittance?
M: As a daughter, I came to the right gate, with my sheaves of grain.
J: What did you receive?
M: A part and lot in the inheritance of Our Kinsman.
J: Have they a name?
M: They have a name of blessed memory.
J: Will you give them to me?
M: If you will assist me, I will divide them with you.
J: I will assist you.
M: My name is R U T H.
J: My name is B O A Z.
M: Brother Boaz, may the Lord bless you.
J: Sister Ruth, I greet you.
To close the Court on the degree of True Kinsman, the ceremonies used in the Master Mason’s Daughter degree will be observed, making the necessary changes by substituting signs, words.