Royal Tribe of Joseph
Ritual

1897

Opening

Worthy Patriarch: Escort, … Lodge, No. …, of the Royal Tribe of Joseph will now be open. You will see that the Inner and Outer Guards are at their stations and that the outer portal is securely closed.
After complying Escort salutes Worthy Patriarch.
Escort: Your orders have been obeyed.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, you will ascertain if all present are members of the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
* *.
Each member places his right hand flat upon his left breast. Escort salutes, whispers the Passwords to the Worthy Patriarch, receives them in a whisper from each one present, reporting to the Worthy Patriarch any who may be without either Password. If proper the Worthy Patriarch will communicate the Passwords, the brother advancing to his station. Otherwise he must at once retire.
Worthy Patriarch: Brothers, as the Patriarch Joseph gathered his brethren about him for fraternal greetings and spiritual refreshment, so we are gathered for like purposes about this altar. Give heed while our Venerable Priest invokes the Divine Blessing.
Priest: Let us pray. O Lord, God of our Fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the true and everlasting God, the Giver in years of plenty of every good and perfect gift, and who in years of famine chastens in love, grant that we do not provoke Thy wrath and become the subjects of sore trial, but mercifully help us to know Thy will and walk blameless in Thy commandments. We confess our unworthiness and shortcomings and seek Thy forgiveness. We praise Thee for Thy care in preserving our lives and providing for us food and raiment and all needed blessings. Let the light of Thy countenance ever rest upon us and give us peace. May we daily glorify Thee, and when gathered to our fathers may we have everlasting life. Amen
All: Amen.


Ode

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Worthy Patriarch: Brothers, unite with me in giving the sign of courtesy.
All give it in unison.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, you will place the Bible and Emblem upon our altar and inform our Guards that the Lodge is now open for duty and to admit qualified brethren. *.
 

Initiation

Slow music.
Candidate hoodwinked in the ante-room and conducted by Escort to the center of hall and there challenged by the Captain of the Guard.
Captain of the Guard: Halt! What means this bold entry into our mystic chamber with this stranger who has no right within our sacred precincts?
Escort: Captain of the Guard, I have here a friend of good repute, who desires to receive the rites of our noble order and become a brother in the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
Captain of the Guard advances toward the station of Worthy Patriarch.
Captain of the Guard: Most Worthy Patriarch, the Escort approaches with a stranger, whom he recommends as worthy of admission to our Tribe.
Worthy Patriarch: Let him advance.
Captain of the Guard: Advance and present the stranger to our Worthy Patriarch.
Escort marches with Candidate twice around the hall and halts in front of station of Worthy Patriarch.
Escort: Most Worthy Patriarch, I present to you a stranger, … give name, who prays for admission into our Royal Tribe.
Worthy Patriarch: Stranger, is this your desire?
Candidate: It is.
Worthy Patriarch: Are you willing to take upon yourself a solemn obligation―one which will not conflict with your duty to your God, your country of your family?
Candidate: I am.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, give the stranger safe conduct to our Venerable Priest, who will administer him our obligation.
Marches around the hall once to station of Priest.
Escort: Most Venerable Priest, by order of our Worthy Patriarch I present this stranger to be obligated as a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
Priest: Place the stranger before our altar, cause him to kneel upon both knees, place his left hand on the Holy Bible and raise his right toward heaven.
Candidate kneels.
Worthy Patriarch: * *. Lodge stands till obligation is given.
Priest: Stranger, you will say I, pronounce your name in full and repeat after me:
I, …, in the presence of God and this assembled brotherhood, do solemnly promise that I will forever guard the secret work of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, and never impart it to any person whatsoever, except it be when acting officially, or to the proper officers within a Lodge. I will strictly comply with all the laws, rules and usages now or hereafter established and decreed by the Supreme Lodge of the Royal Tribe of Joseph. I will abide by and support the by-laws, rules and regulations of this or any Subordinate Lodge of which I may hereafter become a member. I promise to aid a brother or a brother’s family when in need, as far as I am able. I promise to defend the peace and purity of a brother’s family, and never to do or permit anything that will cast a shadow within the sacred precincts of his home.
I promise to conduct myself in honor, purity and sobriety; to protect the good name of the order and the honor of my brethren, and to strive for the welfare and elevation of humanity. I promise not to propose the name of any person known to me to be unworthy of membership, of unsound bodily health or addicted to excesses, and will not suffer such to become a member if in my power to prevent. I further promise for the good of the Order and with fraternal interest in the brotherhood, to impart to a properly authorized officer in this Tribe any information which would promote its welfare, especially when the conduct of any member tends to the impairment of health.
To all of which I unreservedly pledge myself, and may God enable me to keep the same faithfully and sacredly. Amen.
All: Amen.
Priest: Escort, remove the hoodwink.
Worthy Patriarch: *.
Priest: Brother, you will arise. You have taken a solemn and sacred obligation, one taken by all the Royal Tribe. To us you are bound for life. Man was born to trial and hardship. From the cradle to the grave, life is round of temptation; to yield is death, to resist is honor and long life. Our prototype passed through the severest trials and was sorely tempted, yet by heeding the inner whisperings of a pure conscience he was enabled to resist all temptations, surmount all difficulties and arise above its surroundings, attaining the highest honors of a noble life. In your daily intercourse with the outside world, in your daily communication with your secret thoughts, you will constantly hear a still, small voice whispering to you some clause of this solemn obligation. Despise not this voice of conscience, but act upon its good counsel, and so live that you ever may be a worthy member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
Escort, conduct the brother to our Worthy Patriarch for further advice and instruction.
Escort conducts candidate once around hall and then presents him before the station of Worthy Patriarch.
Escort: Worthy Patriarch, by order of our Venerable Priest, I present this brother for further advice and instruction.
Worthy Patriarch: Friend, Joseph was Israel’s favorite son, the son of his old age. When old enough to assist in guarding his father’s flocks, he was presented by him with a shepherd’s staff, like unto this presents staff, and ever after as a dutiful son assisted his brothers in watching the flocks.
In further token of his affection for his son, Israel invested him with a rich and costly coat of many colors. In token of which I present to you this coat presents coat. Take it, in memory of him whose noble life and character we would perpetuate.
Friend, you have before your God and these brothers taken a sacred obligation, and we believe you are sincere, yet no man can claim full membership here until he has proven himself worthy. You may be compelled to undergo trials and hardships ad Joseph did. That is a matter for the members of this Lodge to determine, and I hope it may be decreed that you will be spared these tribulations. What say you, brothers, may our friend be permitted to proceed or do you demand the ordeal?
Members: The ordeal! The ordeal!
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, the ordeal has been demanded. Conduct the candidate to the ante-room and prepare him for further proof of his worthiness to stand amon us as a brother.
Escort retires with candidate.
Brothers’ Scene
Dim light in hall. Seven brothers present in costume near pit. Candidate representing Joseph enters and is slowly conducted by Escort toward brothers and pit opposite end of hall, so timing march as to arrive near pit as Sixth Brother speaks.
First Brother: Behold, this dreamer cometh.
Second Brother: Come now, therefore, and let us slay him and cast him into some pit and we will tell his father an evil beast hath devoured him. We shall then see what will become of his dreams.
Third Brother (Reuben): My brothers, shed no blood, but cast him into this pit if you will. Aside, leaving. When they have departed hence I will return and deliver him out of the pit and take him to his father. Exit.
Escort approaches nearer the brothers with candidate representing Joseph.
Fourth Brother: Here is the great ruler to whom we, his brethren, must all bow down.
Fourth Brother bows obsequiously.
Fifth Brother: Here is now he to whom his whole family must make obeisance.
Fifth Brother bows mockingly.
Sixth Brother advances and seizes candidate.
Sixth Brother: Dreamer, thine hour hath come! Brothers, seize him, bind him hand and foot, and throw him into yonder deep, dark pit.
They seize him, strip off his coat, pinion and bind his arms behind him, two brothers seize him, and when in the act of throwing him into the pit, the Seventh Brother stays them.
Seventh Brother (Judah): Hold, brothers! See yon caravan of Midianites approaching? What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.
Approach two or more Midianites, who are greeted by the brothers with a profound bow.
Seventh Brother to traders: O mighty sons of Gilead, if thou wouldst increase thy shekels, draw night and treat with us.
Midianites stop.
First Midianite: What means all this ado? What wouldst thou offer worthy our honorable consideration?
Seventh Brother: O, most noble father, we have here a valuable slave whom we would sell to thee if thou wouldst deal justly. He is worth of silver an hundred peaces.
First Midianite: Lead him forth that we may see him.
Candidate, free of shackles, is led forth.
First Midianite: A likely youth, but you value him too high. We will give you of silver ten pieces.
Several Brothers murmur at the offer.
Seventh Brother: Noble father, a most insignificant price. In yonder pit will we let him rot before we deliver him to thee for such a paltry sum.
First Midianite: Men of Gilead, move on. These men value their slave too high. I cannot trade with them.
Midianites move off.
Seventh Brother: Stay, O noble father! Give us―thirty pieces and take the lad.
First Midianite: Never! It is too much, I say, twenty pieces I will give and no more. What say you?
Seventh Brother: He is thine, most noble father, and better slave thou hast never bought for twice the sum.
First Midianite: Pay the shepherd twenty pieces of silver.
Second Midianite pays the money.
Seventh Brother tosses money to his brothers and all pass out gleefully clinking the money.
Midianites move towards the ante-room with candidate.
First Midianite: In Egypt he will bring us an hundred pieces of silver.
Second Midianite: But, noble captain, should the slave be taken across the desert on foot, he will not be worth even the price we paid for him. ‘Twere better to place him on the spare camel.
First Midianite: Thou sayest well. Bind him securely upon the spare camel and blindfold him so that should he escape he findeth not his way back to his tribe.
Where Lodge is provided with a "came" the candidate is taken "across the desert" (write to Supreme Instructor for particulars). Otherwise Midianites proceed with candidate to ante-room.
When Midianites and brothers have retired Reuben re-enters and approaches the pit first looking around to make sure they have departed.
Reuben: They have departed. I will now deliver him and take him to his father.
Reuben goes to pit.
Reuben: Joseph! Joseph! Fear not, ‘tis I, thy brother Reuben. I have dome to rescue thee. Listens. He answers not. More earnestly: Joseph! Art thou wounded? Listens again. All is still. Not a sound. Not even a groans. Ah! Sees Joseph’s cloak which in their haste the brothers have cast aside. Too surely they have slain him. And I, whither shall I go? What shall I say unto his father?
Reuben retires in great dejection with cloak in hand.
End of Brother’s Scene.


Egyptian Scene

Potiphar’s headquartes.
Enter Potiphar with two or four guards and retinue. Escort here takes the part of Steward or Chamberlain. Potiphar seats himself at Vice-Patriarch’s station. The two or four guards take appropriate places.
Enter Captain of the Guard and salutes Potiphar.
Captain of the Guard: Most noble Potiphar, Midianitish merchants with slaves for sale.
Potiphar: Permit them to enter.
Captain of the Guard salutes, moves to entrance and motions Minianites, who enter leading the candidate. First Midianite then advances before Potiphar and makes obeisance.
First Midianite: Most noble captain, we have here with us a bright and active slave, whom we would sell to thee. Look at him and make us an offer.
Potiphar: Bring him forward that I may examine him.
The other Midianites advance with candidate and make obeisance.
Potiphar: A likely youth indeed, well formed and of a goodly countenance , I will give thee one hundred pieces of silver for him.
First Midianite: It is well.
Potiphar: Pay the merchant the price,
Escort hands First Midianite bag of silver.
First Midianite bows.
First Midianite: He is now thy slave. May peace and prosperity attend thee.
Midianites pass out.
Potiphar to Escort: Conduct this youth to the slaves’ quarters and instruct him in the duties he is to perform.
Escort retires with candidate.
Potiphar, musing: In this youth I am well pleased. So soon as he becomes familiar with his duties, I will make him overseer of my household.
Potiphar addresses the Captain of the Guard.
Potiphar: Captain, I go for a long journey up the Nile. See thou that in proper time this youth if worthy is made overseer of my household.
Captain: Noble Potiphar, thy command shall be obeyed.
Exit Potiphar, guards and retinue, with impressing march and music.


Egyptian Altar Scene No. 1

Altar prepared with bust of Sphinx or other Egyptian design. No Bible on altar.
Slow music, darkened hall.
Enter four Egyptian Magi with arms crossed, hands touching each shoulder, each bearing a small scroll in right hand. They march slowly to altar and make obeisance. They then march around the altar three times, each time turning to the altar and making obeisance.
Clash of cymbals.
Enter Royal prophet bearing sacred scroll of Isis with head bowed and arms crossed as others. As he approaches altar, the four Magi make obeisance and stand in reverence. Royal Prophet with much solemnity places sacred scroll in center of altar. Clash of cymbals. The four Magi then place thereon the four lesser scrolls, one on each corner. Clash of cymbals. All make further obeisance. Royal Prophet turns and leads procession of Magi slowly out. Where possible slow music of zither, mandolin or organ should be played throughout the entire scene.
 
 
Potiphar’s Return

Fanfare of trumpets, beating of cymbals or joyous march on organ.
Re-enter Potiphar, escorted by guards and captain of the guard. Potiphar Seats himself at station as before.
Potiphar: Captain of the Guard, announce to my wife and officers of my Household that I have returned from my journey up the Nile and desire their presence.
Captain of the Guard salutes and is about retiring when an alarm is sounded. Captain returns to Potiphar.
Captain: Noble Potiphar, a slave desires audience.
Potiphar: Admit him.
Slave approaches trembling.
Slave: Most noble Potiphar, live forever.
Potiphar: Speak, slave!
Slave: Thy Israelitish slave, Joseph, whom thou didst make overseer in all thy house, hath forgotten thy kindness and betrayed thy confidence by unlawfully approaching thy wife.
Potiphar rises and assumes a threatening attitude.
Potiphar: Slave, be sure thou hast proof of that wickedness!.
Slave: Yea, my lord, I have the proof. This garment he left in the hands of thy wife.
Slave hands coat to Potiphar.
Potiphar: Captain, bring Joseph before me.
Captain brings Joseph before Potiphar.
Potiphar: What hast thou done, thou Israelitish slave, whom I didst in all confidence place over my house? My trust thou hast betrayed and wouldst bring ruin upon my household!
In the following Escort answers for Joseph.
Joseph: O, most noble Potiphar─
Potiphar: Hold slave! Silence! I will hear no defence! This is your accuser holds up coat. I need no more. Captain of the Guard, bind him hand and foot and cast him into the deepest dungeon of the palace. Thus I will teach the highest and all under me to beware how they betray confidence.
Potiphar and slave return.
Guards conduct Joseph to prison.
 

Egyptian Altar Scene No. 2

Slow music.
While Pharaoh and courtiers are preparing for the court scene, the four Magi re-enter in same attitude as before and proceed to the altar and make obeisance. They march around altar three times, making obeisance each time. At last time they each take their corner scroll and exit slowly with arms crossed and scrolls held as at first entry.
Court Scene
King and retinue form in ante-room line and march towards station of Worthy Patriarch. All halt when Pharaoh reaches altar, where he assumes attitude of prayer, and all except Guards make obeisance. Pharaoh on reaching altar, after making obeisance, speaks as in communing with himself.
Pharaoh: These dreams sorely trouble me, but here I may find solace. This mystic scroll of our Goddess Isis will possibly unfold the mystery.
Pharaoh grasps the scroll with left hand. Signals with scepter to continue the march to throne. All take positions. Pharaoh seats himself, at same time making sign for others to be seated. All seat themselves but Escort and Guards who remain standing and slaves who recline at foot of throne.
Pharaoh: Royal Prophet, the dreams I have told thee sorely distress both heart and mind. Take this mystic scroll and see if there is aught within that can lead thee to an interpretation of them?
Royal Prophet takes scroll and scans it carefully.
Royal Prophet: Nay, most Royal King, I find no sign within that will give the faintest interpretation to thy most wonderful dreams.
Royal Prophet returns scroll to Pharaoh. Pharaoh returns to Priest and hands him the scroll.
Pharaoh: Canst thou, most venerable Priest, find aught to shed a light upon my troublous dreams?
Priest takes scroll, also scans it and returns it to Pharaoh.
Venerable Priest: Nay, most noble king, the mystic goddess is silent. No sign is given herein whereby thy dreams can be interpreted.
Pharaoh: Captain of the Guard, let the royal magicians be brought before me.
Captain salutes, retires and returns with the four royal magicians, who take position before the king and make obeisance. Each magician holds a small scroll in right hand and enters with arms crossed over the breast, hands touching each shoulder.
Pharaoh: Most learned Magi, the mysteries of the universe are made known to thee. All nature is as an open book before thee. Sun, moon and stars, and all the wondrous planets are thy teachers. Know then, o learned Magi, that Pharaoh’s heart is troubled. Thy king hath strange and wonderful dreams and is sore distressed. Canst thou interpret them and give peace to his mind?
First Magician: Most Illustrious Pharaoh, thou hast truly said that all mysteries are made known to us. Earth, moon and stars are our teachers. Nothing is hidden. We can interpret thy dreams. Speak on.
While Pharaoh tells his dreams, the Magi are all attention and refer to their scrolls.
Pharaoh: I, Pharaoh, King of Egypt, am sorely troubled in mind, on account of two dreams I had last night. In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river, and behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat fleshed and well favored, and they fed in one meadow; and behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and ill favored and lean fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness, and the lean and ill favored kine did eat up the seven fat kine; and when they had eaten them up it could not be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill favored as at the beginning.
And I dreamed again and I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good; and behold, seven ears─withered, thin and blasted with the East wind─sprung up after them; and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. So I awoke, Canst thou give an interpretation of these dreams?
After Pharaoh speaks, magicians confer quietly and dejectedly together; then each advances one after the other and makes humble obeisance.
First Magician: Most noble king, by Some strange mischance no sign is given, and all is dark to us.
Second Magician: O most royal king! Sun, moon and stars have turned to us a darkened page, and we see no light.
Third Magician: Illustrious ruler, most mighty king. Deeper that the depths of the sea are thy dreams. Clouds have fallen before our mental vision. We cannot see.
Fourth Magician: Most noble king, even Isis, the mystic goddess, is silent and thy dreams must be forever hid in mystery. We cannot interpret them.
Pharaoh rises in anger and speaks in a voice of thunder:
Pharaoh: Out of my sight, ye miserable pretenders to wisdom, out of my sight!
Pharaoh waves sceptre with sweeping motion towards the entrance, then seats himself dejectedly upon the Throne. Magicians retire hastily.
Pharaoh: Oh would that some one in my kingdom would unravel this great mystery and could interpret these dreams.
The Butler steps forward and makes most humble obeisance.
Chief Butler: O most Royal Pharaoh, I do remember my fault this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants and put me in a ward in the Captain of the Guard’s, house, both me and the Chief Baker. And we dreamed a dream in one night, both he and I; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, a servant of the Captain of the Guard, who was wrongfully imprisoned under a false, accusation, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dreams, did he interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us so it was; me he returned unto my office, and him he hanged.
Pharaoh: Captain of the Guard, bring this young man to me without delay.
Captain takes Joseph from prison and presents him to Pharaoh:
Captain of the Guard: Most Royal Pharaoh, live forever. Here is Joseph, the interpreter of dreams.
Pharaoh: O Joseph, I have dreamed a dream and there is none who can interpret it, and I have heard it said of thee that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it
Escort now answers for candidate.
Joseph: It is not in me. God shall give Pharao an answer of peace.
Pharaoh: In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river, and behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat fleshed and well favored, and they fed in one meadow; and behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and ill favored and lean fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness, and the lean and ill favored kine did eat up the seven fat kine; and when they had eaten them up it could not be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill favored as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I dreamed again and I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good; and behold, seven ears─withered, thin and blasted with the East wind─sprung up after them; and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. So I awoke, Canst thou give an interpretation of these dreams?
Escort speaks for Joseph.
Joseph: The dream of Pharaoh is one, God hath shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years and the seven good ears are seven years, the dream is one. And the seven lean and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears, blasted by the East wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing that I have spoken unto Pharaoh; what God is about to do He showeth unto Pharaoh. Behold there come seven years of plenty throughout the land of Egypt; and there shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the Land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following, for it shall be very grievous. And for that the doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up a fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years, and let them gather all the food of these seven good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities; and that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land perish not through the famine.
Pharaoh addresses attendants.
Pharaoh: Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?
Chief Butler: Most Royal Pharaoh, Joseph is the man.
Royal Prophet and Priest: Aye, surely Joseph is the man.
Pharaoh addresses Joseph.
Pharaoh: For as much as God has shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh addresses slave.
Pharaoh: Bring hither the royal robe.
Slave retires and returns with royal robe. Pharaoh takes ring off his finger and hands to Priest who blesses it, then places on finger of Joseph. At sign from Pharaoh the slave places robe around Joseph’s shoulders. Pharaoh then takes him by the hand and places Joseph by his side on dais of throne facing the Lodge.
Pharaoh: Come, Zaphnath-Paneah, thou revealer of secrets, we must bestir ourselves, that knowing the interpretation we shall not be weighed and found wanting.
Grand march of Pharaoh and Joseph with retinue and guards in reverse order to Vice-Patriarch’s station. Royal Prophet and Priest halt at their stations and seat themselves. Vice-Patriarch halts at his station but remains standing. Pharaoh leaves candidate at Vice-Patriarch’s station and is conducted out of hall by guards. Re-enters as Worthy Patriarch escorted by Escort and resumes station.
Vice-Patriarch: Brother, the instruction I am about to give you is of vital importance, for without it you cannot enter or participate in any meeting of the Royal Tribe of Joseph. Attend carefully as I proceed and mark well the lessons.
Vice-Patriarch gives candidate instruction in the unwritten work.
Vice-Patriarch: Escort, conduct the brother to our Royal Prophet for the final charge.
Escort conducts candidate to Royal Prophet.
Escort: Royal Prophet, by order of the Vice-Patriarch I present to you this brother, who is in possession of our secret work and awaits your further advice.
Royal Prophet: Friend, the highest pinnacle in the temple of fame has never been reached at a bound. He who would achieve either fame or fortune can only reach the object of his ambition by hard, earnest, persistent toil. Beginning at the lowest step of this lofty temple and persistently toiling upward, the grand heights of noble ambition alone are reached, and then exempt from the cares and trials of the stormy world below, the happy toiler’s serious thoughts have rest in heaven.
"As some tall cliff that lifts it awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm.
Though ‘round its base the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head."
Joseph attained this exalted position. With nobleness of character and persistence of effort, and sustained in all trials and temptations. by an unfaltering faith in the God of his fathers, he bore life’s many trials, until at last the victory was his. First, a humble shepherd boy; finally, the Prime Minister in Pharaoh’s kingdom.
Brother beloved, you have now passed through all the stages of initiation into the Royal Tribe of Joseph. Our patron was the most eminent and the most humane economist of antiquity. His interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream about the seven fat kine and the seven lean kine, the seven good ears and the seven blasted ears: his selection to use all the resources of Egypt during the seven years of plenty, in order to provide against the seven years of famine, and the conspicuous success which he achieved as the Saviour of Egypt and of Israel: all these do but illustrate his superior virtues and. commend him to you as a model after which to mould your own life.
In the experience of life, the seven years of plenty signify the periods of youth, health, strength and maturity; the seven years of famine typify accident, sickness, old age, decrepitude and death. Garner in your storehouse now in the days of thy youth, while the fountain of supply runneth over: provide for yourself and family against that day of your age or misfortune when the years of famine are upon you, "for the night cometh when no man can work."
Therefore, be patient; be industrious; be pure; be humane; be wise, and be provident. Let no conditions turn you aside from these cardinal virtues of our Order. Let your brothers of the Tribe be sharers with you in your prosperity, as you hope for sympathy in your our own time of distress. Let your life be full of generous deeds.
See to it that you take to yourself the great practical lesson of Joseph’s life: Be provident.
Above all take to yourself the great spiritual lesson of his life. Trust in the living God: without God every life is a failure. With God, every life, no matter what its reverses or trials, is a heavenly success.
Escort, you will conduct the brother to our Worthy Patriarch tor introduction to the Tribe.
Escort conducts candidate to Worthy Patriarch.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, you will face the brother to the Tribe.
Escort turns candidate around toward Lodge.
Worthy Patriarch, * *: My brothers, I take pleasure in introducing to you Brother …, who has been initiated into all the rites and ceremonies of the Royal Tribe of Joseph. You will give the newly made brother the sign of courtesy.
All members give the sign of courtesy.
Members: Hail! All hail! and welcome to the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, you will now conduct the newly made member to the Scribe for enrollment, and the Lodge will be at ease until the gavel calls for re-assembly.
 
 
Closing

Worthy Patriarch: Brothers, we have now come to the time of parting. The motto of our brotherhood is Industry, Economy, Patience and Chastity. Let these virtues adorn your lives daily as you mingle with your fellow men. Let us join with our Venerable Priest in the closing prayer.
Priest: Almighty and All-wise God, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy guidance and all Thy goodness. As travelers in this world of discipline we need Thy constant care; as weak and sinful men we need the help of Thy presence and the inspiration of Thy spirit, that we may successfully execute our purposes and realize the noble objects of our Order. As we separate grant us Thy blessing and bring us together again in Thy good providence. May we ever live to Thy glory, so that we may die in peace and reign with Thee forever in Heaven. Now to the King, immortal and invisible, the all-wise and gracious God, be glory, honor, power and blessing forever and ever. Amen
All: Amen.


Ode

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.
Worthy Patriarch: Escort, attend the altar, collect the Rituals and Jewels.
When accomplished Escort salutes Worthy Patriarch.
Escort: Your orders have been obeyed.
Worthy Patriarch: Brothers, give the sign of courtesy.
Worthy Patriarch: I now declare this meeting closed. Escort, inform the Guards.

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