Independent Order of the Daughters of Osiris and Isis
Ritual

n.d.

Opening Ceremonies

The Presiding Officer will say: The Officers will take their respective stations.
Queen Isis, Presiding officer: Inner Guard, you will inform the Outer Guard that we shall proceed to open the Temple of Isis. Direct her to guard accordingly.
The Inside Guard closes the door and raps ** *** ****, which must be answered by the Outer Guard.
I.S.G.: Queen Isis, the O.S.G. received your orders, and we are safely guarded.
Q.I.: Seeing that we are safely guarded we will proceed to open this Temple. High Priest, lead us in Devotion.
Response: Hymn and Prayer by the Temple.
Q.I. to First and Second Ceremonial Officers: You will kindly take up our Mystic Password and convey it to the East.
Done.
Q.I.: Senior Princess, inform the Daughters in the West that I am about to open a Temple of Isis for the transaction of any business that may come regularly before the Temple.
S.P.: Daughters in the West, it is the Queen’s orders that this Temple be opened for the transaction of any business that may come regularly before the Temple. Junior Princess, you will kindly inform the Daughters of the South.
J.P.: Daughters in the South, I have been informed by Senior Princess that it is the Queen’s order that this Temple be opened for the transaction of business that may come regularly before it.
Q.I.: **.
S.P.: ***.
J.P., ****: Attend to giving the Signs.
Done.
Q.I.: Now by the Power in Me Vested I declare this Temple in session for the transaction of any business that may come regularly before it.
Oriental Guide, attend the Altar.


Order of Business

1. Reading of unapproved record
2. Report of Sanitary Committee
3. Report of Special Committee
4. Report of Investigating Committee
5. Reading of petitions
6. Balloting of petitions
7. New business
8. Miscellaneous business
9. Calling of roll and collecting dues
10. Conferring of Degree

Conferring of the Degree

Q.I.: I.S.G., will you please ascertain if there is any novice in waiting to be admitted to our Mystic Circle.
The I,.S.G. retires and if there are any persons in waiting to receive the Degree she returns and will address in the East: Queen Isis, there is/are … in waiting who seek protection under the dome of our Temple.
Q.I.: You will escort the First and Second Ceremonial Officers to the Outer Temple and prepare them to be admitted into our mysteries and after they are prepared let them give the alarm.
Candidates are prepared by placing a heavy veil over their heads to cover up the face so they will not be able to see anything. The Ceremonial Officers will conduct them to the door and give an alarm, one loud rap.
I.S.G.: There is a Strange Rap at the outer door.
Q.I.: You will kindly see what is the cause of this Strange Rap at the outer door.
After ascertaining the cause, the I.S.G. will report: The alarm is by a Stranger, who desires to be admitted and receive protection under the dome of our Temple.
Q.I.: Oriental Guide, you will take charge of those strangers and conduct them om their journey. O. Guide will lead them seven times around the Temple, accompanied by the First and Second Ceremonial Officers, and conducted by the Junior Princess and Senior Princess and Queen Isis and at the last round kneeling at the Altar.
O.G.: ****.
J.P., **** and says: O.G., who have you in charge?
O.G.: A Stranger, who wandering about in the desert, now seeks to have our mysteries made known to her, that she might be able to assist us in our noble work among the nations as Osiris did.
J.P.: You will escort her to the S.P. in the West and inform her of your desire.
O.G.: ****.
S.P., ****: Who have you in charge, O.G.?
O.G.: One who desires to be admitted into our mysteries so that she will be able to travel among the nations and assist in our noble work as Osiris did.
S.P.: Her intentions are good. You will conduct her to Queen Isis in the East.
O.G.: ****.
Q.I., ****: O.G., who have you here in charge?
O.G.: One who has been granted permission to enter and has passed the several Guards.
Q.I.: Had she the Pass?
O.G.: No. Her sentiments were so commendable that she was granted permission to have an audience with the Queen.
Q.I.: What is her desire?
O.G.: She desires to be admitted into our Temple and be given the Passports as well as words and signs that will enable her to travel among all nations as Osiris did en be of service to my people.
Q.I.: Your sentiments are truly commendable, and I shall comply with your request if you are willing to bind yourself to us with an Oath that is stronger than any Human Tie. Are you willing to proceed?
Candidate answers: Yes, I am willing to comply with the rules of your Order.
The Oath administered to the Candidate―Following: I do hereby solemnly promise and swear that I will ever conceal and never reveal any of the Secrets or Mysteries of This Degree, except it to be to a lawful member of the Daughters of Isis or Temple that I may hereafter become a member of. I furthermore promise and swear that I will obey all Signs and Summons sent or handed to me as well as the By-Laws and Constitutions of the same.
I further promise and vow that if ever I violate this my Sacred Obligation that I will suffer the penalty of being served as Osiris was by being placed in a Box and thrown in some river or have my body severed into Seven Parts, or both, if I violate any part of this my Solemn Obligation.
Q.I.: Detach your hands and Kiss the Holy Bible, the Koran, and the Black and White Stone.
Oriental Guide, remove the veil and raise this Daughter with The Grip and instruct her in the Signs and Passwords.
Done.
Prayer by the Priest.


Address

Q.I.: This Degree is only given to Female Relatives connected to members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. While it is beautiful and very instructive, it is not in any way particular like the Shrine Degree, this being Egyptian and not the Shriner, an Arabic Degree. In taking this Obligation you are simply becoming a member of the Daughters of Isis, and any member of the Courts of Heroines of Jericho or Order of the Eastern Star may take This Degree, as when it was first instituted, there were objections, but they have been removed.


Test for the Candidate

Q.I.: How do I to know you as a Daughter of Isis?
Response: By Signs and Passwords.
Q.I.: What other proof have you?
S.P.: Those Daughters who are witnesses that I have seen and kissed the Koran and the White and Black stone.
I have also been presented with the Key of Mysteries.
Q.I.: What is the Key of Mysteries?
S.P.: The key of the chest Osiris was locked in by Typhon.
Q.I.: What else?
S.P.: My Oath and Obligation.
Q.I.: What makes you a member of this Temple and Order?
S.P.: My Sacred Obligation.
Q.I.: What were you required to seal your Obligation?
S.P.: I was required to kiss the Black Stone and kiss the White Stone.
Q.I.: Why was this required of you?
S.P.: Because it was the custom in those days, to Bind any contract or Obligation, to kiss the White or Black Stone―sometimes required to kiss both.
Q.I.: Why was this done?
S.P.: The Black Stone was a bad omen to all who violated their trust and the evil spirit would follow them. The White Stone means purity of purpose and to all that were true the Good Spirit would always guide and protect all that were true and Pure in Heart.
Q.I.: High Priest. You will lead us in our Devotional Exercises.
Hymn, Prayer, Hymn. Temple led by High Priest.
Q.I.: **
S.P.: ***.
All rise and stand due guard.
The Candidate is conducted around the hall with music and singing.
The Candidate is seated in the South, near the Junior Princess.
Q.I.: I will now retire and the High Priest will preside and proceed with the Order of Business.
The High Priest is about to proceed with closing the Session when the O.S.G. gives a loud alarm at the door and the A.O.S.G. will rush in and will say, hurriedly: I desire to inform the Queen that Osiris has been slain.
H.P.: Have you heard the sad news? Summons the Queen to return at once to the Temple.
Here the High Priest will send a messenger after the Queen.
I.S.G.: High Priest, there is an alarm at the door.
H.P.: Attend the door and see the cause of the alarm.
I.S.G. goes to the door and returns to the altar and reports to the H.P.: You have heard the announcement. We will prepare to receive the Queen.
When the Queen’s name is announced, the H.P. will order all work and all business suspended until the Queen is received with Honors.
H.P. to O.G.: You will prepare to receive the Queen.
Here the line of march is formed and the S.P. and J.P. headed by the Ceremonial Officers, will retire and meet the Queen, who is in waiting in the reception room. She will take her position, right in front of the S.P. and J.P. The Ceremonial Officers in front. The O.G. will escort them up to the East, and the H.P. gives ** and says after calling up the members: Welcome, thrice welcome, Queen Isis.
Singing or music should be played as she enters and continued until she is seated in the East.
H.P.: All hail the coming of the Queen.
All are seated and the business and work is resumed again.
Q.I.: Osiris the God of Light is slain, the Spirit of Evil has conquered and Darkness prevails over the earth.
S.P.: Typhon has cast the body in a chest upon the waters and there is mourning over the earth.
J.P.: Cama is slain by Iswara, and committed to the waves, the wintery constellations laugh for joy and the earth is wrinkled with cold and shudders at darkness.
Q.I.: We, like our ancestor, mourn Osiris, the type to us of the Sun of Light, of Life. The Scorpion and the Serpent rule the Winter Waves on which the body rides. Weep, my dear friends, for Osiris, weep for light lost and life departed and the good and beautiful appease by Evil. Man has fallen from his first estate and is lost, as the Sun has sunken into the icy arms of winter. Weep for Osiris, type of the Good, the True, the Beautiful. How shall this body be recovered from the embrace of the hungry sea, and again be gladdened by his presence?
S.P.: Queen Isis, all the nations on the earth do fast and pray. Our ancient task masters on the banks of the Nile mourn for Osiris. The Chaldeans lament for Bel and the Phoenicians for Thammuz.
The Phrygian women clash their cymbals and weep for Atys. On the Syrian hills and over the Etruscan plains the Virgins lament for Dionnsas; while far in India, the Brahmans pray for the return of Cama; and in Persia the Magi predict the resurrection of Matmas. The dead will rise again as the wheat grows from the grain; and all the world will then rejoice.
Q.I.: We, like our ancient masters, mourn Isis; the type to us of the Sun of Light, of Life. The Scorpion and the Serpent rule the winter waves on which the frail ark tosses that contains his body. Weep my friends and Daughters for Osiris. Weep for light lost and life departed and the good, and beautiful, oppressed by evil. Man hath fallen from his estate, and is lost as the sun has sunken into the icy arms of winter. Weep for Osiris, type of the Good, the True, the Beautiful. How shall this body be recovered from the embrace of the hungry sea, and again be gladdened by his presence?
J.P.: Queen Isis, twelve officers of the Queen’s Guard offer to go forth and search for the body of Osiris.
Q.I.: By dividing themselves by threes to the East, the West, the South and the North and make a diligent search while we continue in fasting and prayer.
The Officers retire and in about ten minutes return.
First Officer: Queen Isis, in searching by the sea shore, we found the body at Byblas.
Q.I.: Summon all in about the Temple and repair to Byblas for it is promised that the dead shall rise again.
S.P.: Princess of Temple of Isis, the body of the Great king Osiris is found at Byblas. The Ceremonial Officers are about to repair thither to give it burial, and summon you to assist them.
J.P.: Daughters of the Temple of Isis, the body of the Great king Osiris is found at Byblas. The Ceremonial Officers are about to repair thither to give it burial, and summon you to assist them.
The Oriental Guide forms in procession and marches around the room three times, stopping at the casket and forming a circle and in the meantime the altar of incense must be prepared to be lighted on the altar of perfumes. The bread and wine with oil on the table of Shewbread and wine and a seven branched Candelabra prepared to be quickly lighted. The High Priest stands in this circle at the foot of the casket. The Senior Princess stands at the head on the south side of the Junior Princess, opposite the S.P. on the north side. The High Priest will sing an appropriate hymn and pray, after which he will say: No human being hath power over the Spirit. Neither power in the Day of Death,. One comes in the world with vanity and departeth in darkness, and their name is covered with darkness.
S.P.: Can the body be raised to new life by any human hand?
J.P.: It cannot, from experience of facts made known to us by the testimony of the senses it is not possible for any human hand to raise the dead.
H.P.: Thus, everywhere the principle of good prevails and all of our people rejoice. My Berthren and Sisters, the Fast is over and the Feast commences. It is time to close this Temple. Queen Isis, will you assist in singing oud closing ode, hymn and prayer?
Here all give signs. Q.I. gives the battery of the Degree, the S.P. and J.P. do likewise in succession.
Q.I.: Let us break bread and drink wine together before we part from this Sacred Place.
I now declare this Temple closed until the next regular meeting and may the Prince of Peace guide and protect you all.
All: Amen―Amen―Amen.
Q.I.: Oriental Guide, you will take charge of the Altar.

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