I.U.O.M. – Blue Degree
Dit rituaal dateert uit de jaren zestig en wordt gebruikt door de I.U.O.M. in de Verenigde Staten.
W.M.:
Officers be upstanding and assist me to open the Lodge in the Blue Degree.
Brothers all, brother deputy, what is the first and chief care In a Lodge of the
Blue Degree?
D.M.:
To see the Lodge is duly tiled.
W.M.:
Order that duty to be done, and report the case to me.
D.M.:
Brother Junior Deacon, see the Lodge is duly tiled.
J.D.:
Brother Deputy, the lodge is duly tiled.
D.M.:
Worshipful Master, the Lodge is duly tiled.
W.M.:
Brother Senior Deacon, what is the next care in a Lodge of the Blue Degree?
S.D.:
To see that every person present prove himself a brother of the Blue Degree by
the sign and word of that degree.
W.M.:
Direct that duty to be done; and should you, or any brother. present, have any
doubt, look with an eye of scrutiny.
S.D.:
Brothers, you are requested to prove yourselves of the Blue Degree by the sign
and word of that degree.
S.D.:
Worshipful Master, as the brethren present have proved themselves of the Blue
Degree by the sign and word of that degree: I, in conformity with their example,
demonstrate the same to you.
The S.D. here
advances towards the W.M. and gives the word.
W.M.:
Brother Deputy, Officers and Brothers all, our Lodge being duly proved by the
sign and word of the Blue Degree, let us, before I declare it open, invoke a
blessing from the Supreme Grand of the Universe.
Chap.:
May the blessing of Thee, O God who delivered the Israelites from the wrath of
Pharaoh, be upon this Lodge.
All:
Amen.
W.M.:
Brother Deputy, Officers and Brothers all, I declare this Lodge duly opened for
the purpose of the Blue Degree.
Seat the Lodge.
During the opening
of the Lodge, the Candidate is taken to the ante-room and prepared by the Senior
Deacon in the following manner, viz. his coat taken off, his left arm and right
knee made bare and left heel slipshod. The Senior Deacon will advance to and
announce at the door by three distinct raps. The J.D. or Inner Guard will report
in the following manner: Worshipful Master, there
is an alarm at the door of the Lodge.
W.M.:
See to the cause, Brother Junior Deacon.
J.D.:
Who is there! who is there! who is there?
Immediately
opening the wicket: he is informed by the S.D.:
Brother ..., who has passed the first, second and third degrees of Mechanism,
now comes prepared to take the Blue Degree or fourth degree.
J.D.:
Wait until I report.
Closing the
wicket, the J.D. reports, addressing the W.M.:
Most Worshipful, the cause of the alarm is Brother ..., who is at
the door seeking admittance; he has, from good reports, passed the first, second
and third degrees, has made such progress as we hope will recommend him for this
degree.
W.M.:
How does he hope to obtain privileges of this degree?
J.D.:
By the help of God, the united aid of the square and compasses, and the benefit
of a password.
W.M.:
We acknowledge the powerful aid by which he seeks it: Do you, brother Junior
Deacon, vouch that he is legally in possession of that password and that he is
duly and properly prepared?
J.D.:
I do, Most Worshipful.
W.M.:
Then let him be admitted in due form.
The door is here
opened end the lodge celled up and the Candidate conducted around the lodge
three times, when some suitable Ode may be sung and at the third round he is
brought at the right of the W.M. and is presented by the S.D. or Conductor:
Worshipful Master, I present to you Brother ..., who has passed in the first,
second and third degrees and is now wishful of taking up the Blue Order or
fourth degree.
W.M.:
Brother Senior Deacon, kindly conduct the Brother to our Worthy Chaplain for his
instruction.
The Candidate will
be instructed to kneel on both knees at the foot of the altar, while the Chaplain
invokes the blessing of this degree.
O God, Most Holy Creator of all things,
by whose Almighty Power we live and move and have our being; we reverently
approach Thee, and ask Thy blessing on the means we adopt to Instruct one
another and look from Nature up to Nature’s God.
All:
Amen.
The Candidate is
now raised and conducted once more three times around that he should be seen
properly prepared, during which time an appropriate Ode may be sung, and at the
third round again presented to the W.M. by S.D.:
Worshipful Master, I present to you Brother ..., for further instruction.
W.M.:
Your representation I acknowledge, brother Senior Deacon
Addressing the candidate, he says: Brother
..., are you wishful to take up the Fourth Degree or Blue Order of Mechanism?
Can.:
I am.
W.M.:
It is necessary, before you are initiated in the Fourth Degree, that you prove
yourself a brother of the Green Degree, which you cannot better demonstrate than
by dividing or lettering the password of the third degree.
Have you the password of the Third
Degree?
Can.:
I have.
W.M.:
Will you give it to me?
Can.:
No, I will divide or letter it with you.
W.M.:
Proceed, brother.
Can.:
No, you proceed.
W.M.: J.
Can.:
O.
W.M.:
R.
Can.:
D.
W.M.:
A.
Can.:
N.
W.M.:
Jordan. Will you give me the sign of the Green Degree?
Can.:
I was taught to be cautious in giving that, but as I have proved you to be a
brother, I will show it to you.: The sign is then
shown.
W.M.:
Of what is it a token?
Can.:
Of those who brought a good report of the Promised Land and they only out of the
twelve who went ever to possess it, viz. Joshua and Caleb.
W.M.:
Have you a test grip to this degree?
Can.:
I have. Here given.
The grip is given
by two distinct pressures of the thumb of the
right hand,
between the joints of the first and middle fingers.
W.M.:
Is there not a test-word given when the test grip is received?
Can.:
Yes, Right Worshipful: Aaron.
W.M.:
Why is Aaron used as a test-word?
Can.:
Because he was the first Master who presided over a Lodge of this Order, also
the first Priest that presided over a Sacred Lodge held in the Tabernacle in
the wilderness of Arabia and the Grand Degree of Super-Excellent Mechanics was
dedicated to him as a memorial.
W.M.:
Brother ..., in all cases of difficulty and danger in whom do you put your
trust?
Can.:
In God.
W.M.:
Glad am I to find your faith so well founded. Do you pledge your honour as a
man, and your fidelity as a Mechanic, that you are not actuated by any improper
motive in taking up the fourth degree?
Can.:
I do.
W.M.:
Brother Senior Deacon, you will present our brother to the worthy Chaplain.
Chap.: Less.:
I will read from Judges xii. v. 1-8.
After which the S.D. is directed to
present the Can. to the W.M.
S.D.:
Worshipful Master, I present to you Brother ... for further instruction.
W.M.:
Brother, before you can be entrusted with the secrets of this degree, you will
have to enter with us into another obligation: Are you willing to take it?
Can.:
I am.
W.M.:
Then you will kneel on your right knee with your left foot in the form of a
square, your body erect, and place your right hand upon the Volume of the Sacred
Law, calling your name in full, and say after me:
I, ..., in the presence of the Most High
and of this Worshipful and Warranted Lodge of Fellow Mechanics, duly
constituted, regularly assembled and properly dedicated, of my own free will and
accord, do hereby and hereon must solemnly promise and swear, that I will always
hail, conceal and never reveal any or either of the secrets or mysteries of or
belonging to the fourth degree of Mechanism known by the name of Fellow
Mechanics any more than I would to any other person who is not initiated.
I further solemnly pledge myself to act
as a true and faithful Mechanic, obey signs and maintain the principles
inculcated in the first degree: All these points I most solemnly swear to obey,
under no less a penalty, than to have my left breast cut open, my heart torn
therefrom and given to the ravenous birds of the air, or the devouring beast of
the field as prey. So help me, Almighty God and keep me steadfast in the due
performance of this my solemn obligation of a Fellow Mechanic.
W.M.:
As a pledge of your fidelity and to render this a solemn obligation, which would
otherwise be but a serious promise, I will thank you to seal it with your lips
twice on the Volume of the Sacred Law.
W.M.:
Rise, newly obligated Fellow Mechanic.
Brother Senior Deacon, you will now
proceed with the Brother to the ante-room and be prepared to return at the
appointed time to complete the degree.
The S.D. retires
with the brother and prepares in the usual way, returning as instructed by the
W.M.: Formalities after which he is taken up and conducted to the W.M. and
presented as before.
W.M.:
I will, now entrust you with the sign and password, test-word and test grip of
the fourth degree:
The sign is: by taking hold of the left
arm above the elbow, which forms a square, at the same time standing erect with
your body, your feet forming a square.
In this position, your body is
Considered an emblem of your mind and your feet the rectitude of your action.
The password is Solomon. The test-word
as Shibboleth. The test-grip is given by three distinct pressures of the thumb
of the right hand between the first and middle fingers of the right hand of
brother, the meaning of which you will learn from the Lecture.
Q.:
Who are you?
A.:
A brother who has attained the fourth or Blue Degree in the Order of Mechanism.
Q.:
What is Mechanism?
A.:
A peculiar system of morality, calculated to promulgate charity and illustrated
emblematically; for every emblem depicted in a Mechanic’s Lodge has a moral
tendency, and tends to inculcate virtue.
Q.:
What supports a Mechanic’s Lodge?
A.:
Three grand pillars: Wisdom, Strength and Beauty; wisdom to contrive, strength
to support and beauty to adorn; wisdom to conduct us in all our undertaking,
strength to support us in all difficulties, and beauty to adorn the inward man.
Q.:
As there are no orders in architecture known by the names of wisdom, strength
rind beauty, to what orders are we told to refer?
A.:
To the three most celebrated, namely: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.
Q.:
Of what is the interior of a Mechanic’s Lodge composed?
A.:
Of ornaments, furniture and jewels.
Q.:
What are the ornaments?
A.:
The Mosaic pavement, the blazing star, and the tessellated border.
Q.:
What does the Mosaic pavement point out to our view?
A.:
It being variegated and chequered, points out the diversity of objects that
adorn the creation: The animate as well as the inanimate.
Q.:
To what does the blazing star in the centre of the canopy refers us?
A.:
To that grand luminary, the sun, which enlightens the earth and, by its kind
influence, dispenses general blessing to mankind.
Q.:
To what does the tessellated border refers us?
A.:
To the various planets which, In their revolution, form a beautiful skirt-work
round the grand luminary the sun. as the tessellated border does round that of a
Mechanic’s Lodge.
Q.:
What is the furniture of the Lodge?
A.:
The Volume of the Sacred Law, and the Compasses and square. The sacred workings
are to govern our faith, the compasses and square, when united, to regulate our
lives and actions.
Q.:
What are the jewels of the Lodge?
A.:
There are three: the square, the level and the plumb-rule.
Q.:
For what purpose is the square?
A.:
To lay and adjust all irregular corners and to assist in bringing crude matter
into due form.
Q.:
For what is the level?
A.:
To lay levels and prove horizontals.
Q.:
For what is the plumb-rule?
A.:
To lay and adjust all uprights, while fixed on their proper basis.
Q.:
Brother, we being speculative rather than operative Mechanics, what are these
jewels to teach us?
A.:
The square morality, the level equality and the plumb-rule justness of life and
uprightness of actions.
Q.:
Why are the square, level and plumb-rule called jewels?
A.:
Because of the virtues which they represent being so valuable, and being worn
only by the Worshipful Master, the Deputy Master and the Senior Deacon, and
being transferable to their successors on the night of installation.
W.M.:
Have you received the password of the Blue Order?
Can.:
I have.
W.M.:
Will you give it to me?
Can.:
I was told to be cautious in giving it to anyone; but I will divide or letter it
with you, if you will begin.
Q.:
S.
A.:
O.
Q.:
L.
A.:
O.
Q.:
M.
A.:
O.
Q.:
N.
A.:
Solomon.
W.M.:
Have you the sign of this degree?
Can.:
I have.
W.M.:
Advance it. Done.
W.M.:
Of what is it a token?
Can.:
My body in this position is considered an emblem of my mind and my feet the
rectitude of my actions.
W.M.:
Have you a test grip to this degree?
Can.:
I have. Is given.
W.M.:
Is there not a test-word given when the test grip is received?
Can.:
Yes Right Worshipful: Shibboleth.
W.M.:
Why is Shibboleth a test-word?
Can.:
Because the word Shibboleth dates its origin from the time that an army of
Ephramites crossed the River Jordan and the test-word was put to them. The
Ephramites, through a defect in aspiration peculiar to their dialect, could not
pronounce it properly, but called it Sibboleth, which discovered their country
and cost them their lives, and as Shibboleth was used as a test-word to
distinguish a friend from a foe, King Solomon afterwards caused it to be adopted
as a test-word in a Fellow Mechanic’s Lodge of the fourth degree in memory of
Jephtha, a Master of the Order of Mechanics.
Charge of the 4th Degree
The universe is the temple of the Deity
whom we serve; wisdom, strength and beauty are about his throne as pillars of
His works, for His wisdom is infinite, His strength is omnipotent, and His
beauty shines through the whole creation. In symmetry and order, the Heavens
have stretched forth as a canopy, the earth He has planted as His footstool, He
crowns His temple with stars as a diadem and His hands extend His power and
glory.
The sun and the moon are messengers of
His will, and His Jaw concord.
The three great pillars supporting a
Mechanic’s Lodge are emblematical of those divine attributes, and further
represent King Solomon of Israel; Hiram, King of Tyre and Hiram Abiff. Solomon,
King of Israel, for his wisdom in building, completing and dedicating the temple
at Jerusalem to God’s service; Hiram, King of Tyre for his strength In
supporting him with men. and materials; and Hiram Abiff, for his curious and
masterly workmanship In beautifying and adorning the same.
As there are no noble orders In
architecture known by the name of wisdom, strength and beauty, I will refer you
to the three most celebrated: the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, which I will now
explain to you.
The Doric is the best proportioned of
all the orders; the several parts of which it is composed are founded on the
natural position of solid bodies. In its first invention it was more simple than
its present state. In after times, when it began to be adorned, it gained the
name of Doric. Its columns are 8 diameters high. The Ionic columns are 9
diameters high; there are both delicacy and Ingenuity displayed in this pillar;
it is said to have been formed after the model of an agreeable young woman of
elegant shape.
The Corinthian is the richest of the
three and is deemed a master-piece of art, its column is ten diameters high.
This order is used in stately and superb structures.
The Mosaic pavement may justly be deemed
the beautiful flooring of the lodge, by reason of its being variegated and
chequered. This points out the diversity of objects which decorate and adorn the
creation, the animate as well as the inanimate part thereof. The blazing star,
like glory in the centre, refers us to the grand luminary the sun, which
enlightens the earth, and by its benign influence dispenses its blessing to
mankind in general.
The indeuted or tessellated border refers
us to the planets, which, in their various revolutions, form a beautiful border
of skirt-work round the grand luminary the sun, as the other does around a
Mechanic’s Lodge. The furniture of the lodge are the Volume of the Sacred Law,
the compasses and square. The sacred writings are to govern our faith, on them
we obligate candidates for mechanism. So are the compasses and square, when
united to regulate our lives an actions. The jewels of the lodge are the square,
level and plumb-rule; the square teaches morality, the level equality and the
plumb-rule justness and uprightness of life and actions.
The Worshipful Master is distinguished
by the square, the Deputy Master by the level, the Senior Deacon by the
plumb-rule.
The word shibboleth dates its origin
from the time that the army of Ephramites crossed the River Jordan, in a hostile
manner, against Jephtha, the renowned Gileaditish General. The reason assigned
for this unfriendly visit was, that they had not been called out to partake of
the honours of the Ammonitish wars; but their true aim was to partake of the
spoils with which, in consequence of the war, Jephtha and his army were then
laden.
The Ephramites were clamorous and
turbulent people, who broke out in open violence, and after many severe taunts
to the Gileadites in general, threatened, In particular, to destroy their
victorious commander and his house with fire. Jephtha, on his part, tried all
possible means to appease them, but finding these ineffectual had recourse to
rigorous ones. He therefore drew out his army, gave the Ephramites battle,
defeated and put them to flight, and, to render his victory decisive and secure
himself from the like molestation in future, he sent detachments of the army to
secure the passage of the River Jordan, over which he knew the insurgents must
of necessity attempt to go in order to regain their country, giving strict
orders to his guards that if a fugitive came that way owning himself an Ephramite, he should immediately be slain; but if he said nay, or prevaricated,
a test-word was to be put to him, which was to pronounce the word “Shibboleth.”
The Ephramites, through a defect in aspiration peculiar to their dialect, could
not pronounce it properly, but called it “Sibboleth,” which discovered their
country and cost them their live; and Scripture informs us that there they tell
that day in the field of battle and on the banks of Jordan 42,000 Ephramites;
and as Shibboleth was then a test-word, to distinguish a friend from a foe, King
Solomon afterwards caused it to be adopted as a test-word in a Fellow Mechanic’s
Lodge of the Blue Degree to prevent any unqualified person from entering a Lodge
of the Blue Degree?
This is all the instructions I am
authorised to give you.
Please retire with the sign of the
fourth or Blue Degree.
W.M.:
Officers be upstanding and assist me to close the Lodge in the Blue Degree?
Brother Deputy, of what form is every
well regulated and duly constructed Lodge of the Independent United Order of
Mechanics?
D.M.:
Of an oblong square situated east and west.
W.M.:
For what reason are they so situated?
D.M.:
Because the tabernacle was formed due east and west, and also the temple of
Solomon, and so in every place of divine worship, or at least ought to be.
W.M.:
Can you assign any other reason?
D.M.:
Yes, three others. First, the Sun, the glory of creation, riseth in the east and
setteth in the west; second, learning originated in the east and spread its
gracious influence to the west and the third, grand and last reason is, that the
gospel was first promulgated in the east and extended itself to the west.
W.M.:
Brother Deputy, officers and brothers all, our Lodge being of due form, let us,
before I declare it closed, express our gratitude to the Supreme Grand above.
Chap.:
Almighty God, Maker of the Universe, we return Thee sincere thanks for all
favours received at Thine hands, and mayest Thou impress upon every brother’s
heart that, wherever we are and whatever we do, Thine all-seeing eye beholds us.
All Officers
respond: Amen.
W.M.:
I declare this Lodge duly closed, strictly forbidding all cursing, swearing, or
any profane language, so long as we are assembled together.