Ancient Order of Knights of Jerusalem – Female Department
Initiation Ritual in the Second Degree

 
1896

The second degree, the W.S. and Chancellor's travelling degree in the Daughters of Jerusalem is the same as in the first Court, except the signs and passwords. Ten officers can open a Court in this degree. The W.P. shall always state in what degree the Court will be opened before the password is taken.
The following constitute the officers: W.P.; P.W.M.; W.M.; W.S.; W.Ch.; Secretary; Treaurer; Inside Doorkeeper; R.H. S. to W.M.; R.H.S. to W.S.
 
 
Opening
 
W.M.: I am about to open this Court for the good of the Order and the advancement and welfare of its members.
W.P., I will thank you for your attention. All members present who are not possessed of this degree, will please retire.
One rap calls up the R.H.S. to the W.M. and R.H.S. to the W.S.
W.M. to the Supporters: You will take up the word from each one on the right and left of the Court and report such who are not worthy.
Two raps call up all the officers to their feet and the W.D.K.to the front of the altar.
W.M. to W.D.K.: Your position and duty?
W.D.K.: It is my duty to attend the door of this Court and to let no one enter without giving the password of this degree; to receive their names and number of the Court or Lodge to which they belong, and see that all persons enter with proper regalia and with the permission of the W.S. or Ch., and to report all candidates when ready for initiation.
W.M.: You will please attend to that part of your duty.
W.M to W.S.: Your duty?
W.S.: When this Court is about to open in the second or travelling degree, it is my duty to see that this Court is properly prepared and to see that the officers' chairs are filled and that they are clothed with sashes, badges, armlets and jewelry, and assist in the initiation ceremonies.
W.M.to S.Ch.: Your position in this Court when opened in the second degree?
S.Ch.: My position is in the north and on the right of the altar to the entrance of this Court.
W.M.: And your duty therein?
S.Ch.: To administer the oath of admission to the candidates, to prepare them for initiation and report to the Court when they' are ready; to instruct all strangers and visiting members how to enter this Court and bow to work therein.
W.M.: Officers and members, you will please clothe yourselves with your sashes, badges, armlets and jewelry.
W.M. to W.P.: Your position and duty?
W.P.: My position is on the left of the altar. It is my duty to call upon the name of the Lord at all times and to ask this blessing for all the poor and rich, the great and small, the needy and distressed, and to give the oath of obligation to the candidates. It is furthermore my duty to assist those persons who are traveling through this degree.
W.M. to W.P.: You will please lay off the works and ask God to be with us and bless us.
 
 
Opening Ode
 
Come, let us anew,
Our journey pursue,
Roll around with the year,
Roll around with the year,
And never stand still
Till the Masters appear.
And never stand still
Till the Masters appear.
 
His adorable will
Let us gladly fulfill,
And our talents improve.
And our talents improve.
By the patience of hope
And the labors of love.
By the patience of hope
And the labors of love.
The working signs are all given.
W.M.: W.P., Officers and Sisters: I now declare this Court duly opened in ancient form, in the second and traveling degree, by the order of our W.P. and by authority of our Chart, for the good and welfare of this Court and the advancement of its members.
All respond: So may it be.
The W.M. gives one rap and seats the Court.
 
 
Initiation Ceremony
 
W.M.to S.Sy.: You will please to read the minutes of the last session of this department.
Upon concluding the reading of the minutes and there appears the name of an applicant for this degree in the minute book, the following ceremony is gone through:
S.Ch. to W.M.: There is a Candidate without who wishes to go upon a journey.
W.M. to S.Ch.: You will perform that part of your duty and administer the oath of admission. When you have prepared the Candidate you will inform the Court by the sign of T.
S.Ch. to Candidate: My friend, before you can enter this Court in this department and at this time, you will have to take an oath, which does not conflict with your earthly or heavenly affairs. Are you willing to take it?
Candidate answers: ….
S.Ch.: Do you know the meaning of an oath?
Candidate answers: ….
S.Ch.: I will call to your remembrance an oath. (Heb. 6-16.) It is a solemn appeal to God, the All-seeing, to witness what we say shall be true and not false, for He will not hold those guiltless who take His name in vain; therefore remember God's justice and judgment. Are you now willing to enter?
Candidate answers: ….
S.Ch. then gives the oath: I, …, do most solemnly swear that I will ever conceal and never reveal any of the secrets of this degree that I am about to receive. I further promise and swear, that if I should omit or unlawfully betray my oath, may God deal with me as He did with those in ancient times who broke his laws and commandments and made them a show for the world, so help me God, and keep me in due performance of the same.
  We will now journey on.
The W.D.K. reports: W.P. and Sisters, there are women from the land of Moab, traveling and journeying this way; their feet are sore and they are hungry and without friends or money.
They say they are descended from Lot and are widows and orphans and they have the sign of K. and these letters K.B.G. and ask if there is a W.P. in this place to tell him to remember the God of Israel and the promise to Noah. Shall they enter?
All respond: No, no! We know them not they are strangers to us, they are intruders.
S.Ch.: Let us journey on and God be with us.
The Candidates and S.Ch. enter while a confusion of the Court takes place. The W.P. calls for order and gives one rap.
W.M. to the Candidates: You say you are descended from Lot, are widows and orphans, and also strangers, without friends or home? If that be so, where are your husbands, mothers, fathers and children? You say you came from the Moabitish nation? I see how it is; you are law-breakers and murderers and have escaped with your lives. I know you not and will have nothing to do with strangers.
W.S.: I think there is something wrong, or there cannot be any Gods in the land from whence they came. See there is one ragged and barefooted and hungry; our Master tells us in his promise that he will clothe the naked, and give us food and water; and there is one that wants to go back to her Gods and there is one that is looking behind.
S.Ch. strikes one with the Bible.
I know them not-but our Master tells us when thou forget a sheep m the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it; it shall be for the stranger and for the fatherless and the widow; that we must remember the poor.
W.D.K.: They say that they have the sign of G, and the words K.A.B.G., and say, tell the W.P. to remember the promise to Noah.
W.P. will advance to the altar.
W.M.: You will call the Sisters and Children of Bethlehem to see these strangers in distress, and who have no friends and are alone.
W.M. calls up the Court by giving two raps.
W.P.: O ye of little faith, and all those that are poor and in distress, come with me and you shall have rest. You say that you have the sign of G. You will give it to me.
The sign is given.
Very good! Now, if I can approve your words, here shall you rest.
The candidates repeat the letters by the instruction of the S.Ch. The candidate must explain the word by the aid of the S.Ch.
W.P.: Where are your fathers, mothers and husbands?
Candidates answer by the aid of the S.Ch.: We have none.
W.M. to W.P.: Remember, W.P., the words of Naomi: Call me not Naomi; call me Mara. The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me: I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home empty. Remember the orphan and widow; then let us rejoice.
 
 
Initiation Ode
 
Jerusalem, my happy home,
Name ever dear to me,
When shall my labors have an end,
In joy and peace in thee?
 
Jerusalem, my happy home,
My soul still pants for thee;
When shall my labors have an end?
When I thy joys shall see.
W.P. to the candidates: You will kneel to hear the prayers of the distressed in time of need and in the days of sorrow and trouble, and also take upon yourself an oath and obligation.
W.P. reads the prayer: Great God of Israel, hear my sorrows and be merciful unto me. I give unto God my distress. O hear my voice and give heed to my sorrows in the days of my trouble, and in the days of my trouble I sought thee, O Lord. From you cometh my relief!
Thou hast promised me to be with us at all times, and stand by us and go with us to the last. Thou hast promised to clothe the naked and feed the hungry with bread and water of everlasting life, and give comfort to the sick and rest to the wearied traveler. O, hear my prayer now, O Lord, for thou hast remembered me in my trouble and hast comforted me. And I will praise God because of these words: he that putteth his trust in me shall be saved, and I shall not fear what flesh can do unto me; and if I should daily mistake in my footsteps, O God, keep me from the path of evil and guide them to everlasting life. Thou hast promised to be a father to the orphan and comfort the widow, and I will put my trust in thee and cast my troubled soul at thy feet. Amen.
The obligation is then taken.
W.P.: I, ..., do most solemnly promise and swear, in addition to my former obligations, that I will not give the secrets of the traveling degree to a Sister of the lower degree or to a Brother who has not received the same and to no person in the whole world, except it is a true and lawful Sister and not unto a Brother, unless he be a W.P. of some Court, who has his proper papers and a diploma from the Grand Encampment K. of J., and unto no Sister or W.P. until I have truly tried and upon due examination and lawful information found her or him entitled;
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not speak the distress-word or give the great distress-hailing sign except I am really in distress, or for the benefit of this Court, and if I should see the sign or hear the word with the sign, I will go and give relief to the person giving the same. I do promise and swear, that I will not wrong a Sister of this degree out of the value of one cent myself, nor suffer it to be done if in my power to prevent it. And I do promise and swear that I will not speak evil of a Sister or W.P. behind their backs or before their faces, and l will apprise them of approaching dangers, and I will defend a worthy Sister at the risk of my life, and that I will assist her in time of trouble and distress, if I can, even if I have to travel three miles to give the relief; and if I should omit any part of this oath when called on, may God deal with me as he did with those that stand this day under his Judgment. So help me God, and keep me in due performance of the same.
W.M. will give the book to the W.P., and the candidates are brought to light.
W.P.to the candidates: You will now rise and receive further instructions and explanations. Now look to the left and behind. A Sister will represent one; also a Sister will represent
two. To this degree there is an entering sign and word, a working sign, a sign of recognition in two words, a grip, a distress sign and word.
The following is then explained to the candidate: The sign of T. and two raps are the entering sign. The password, Naomi. The working sign is drawing of the left shoe with the toe of the right foot, and shading the eyes with the left hand; then enclose the fingers and clasp both hands on the breast and bow your head. The recognition sign is to shade the eyes with the right hand; the answer is to waive a handkerchief; the meaning, the two sisters parting at long distance and looking and bidding adieu. The one making the hailing sign should say: "Moab;" the answer, repeat: "Bethel;" meaning: from the land of Moab to Bethel. The distress sign is to shade the eyes with both bands, and drawing them, covering the face as one weeping; the answer is to turn half around, then stand as one in meditation. The grip is right hand to left; meaning: we agree in heart and hands. The signs are in remembrance of the two sisters who traveled together and parted. The dark traveling word is Ma. Ra.; the answer: I am here; a Brother's word to a Sister: I am from Moab; she answers: let us go to Bethel; then make the grip.
A Sister ought not to hail a Brother in this degree. The token to this degree is a hand, and a red cross a jewel for this degree.
Remember this hand and cross represent the hand of justice and God's judgment on Lot's wife. The armlet is a white ground and a red cross; meaning: Ruth was surprised to see her sister turn back and leave her. Working emblems, one white and one black gown, with a cape, a cap, and a green veil with a white centre; also a dark latern; the two sisters are to act as Orpah and Lot's wife; W.P. to act with the lantern.
W.P. to candidate: The degree is founded on the journey of Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth from the land of Moab to Bethlehem, and proved on Orpah, Ruth's sister, who returned back to her Gods and on Lot's wife, who broke the commandments of God. Then I will say to you, you know what you have been taught, and how you entered this Court, and how you were treated. Do not forget your obligation and what you have seen. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and the wisdom and instruction is to perceive the words of understanding, and to receive the instruction of wisdom is justice, judgement and equity. This degree is or you to remember what  has passed and that you avoid them thereafter. All these things have their meaning, and you must remember how you were treated on your entrance to this Court and how you were denied, when they told you they know you not. This is to remind you that people of different nations do not care to have anything to do strangers and if they look any ways needy they say, I cannot receive them, and they will say I know them not. Why is this? Because they don not want to give you anything without price. This is to remind to avoid the bad mind that we have and that we must not deny strangers, for you know not what they be; They may be your own kindred. Parents may travel from city to city, while some of the children will stop in one of the cities and become married into the different nations. You will also have noticed that when you gave the word of the first degree you were denied. This is to remind you that all nations call on God in their way of worship with their own language and tongue; this is to show you that you must not mock their words and make merry of their ways. Rebuke them not that stand in need and in distress, for you know not yourself, for God has a time for all things. He creates, yields and destroys. You also see there is a mystery of letters and words; these letter and words were a protection to str angers traveling m ancient times. Strangers traveling from city to city, they did not know what kind of people they would meet with, fearing in ancient times some people work under the king's and some worshipped the true God. They had to bold meetings in one another's house, so the king did not know it, and these are the letters and words they used: when they came to the city, M.K.B.G. So with the words, they could enter any city or town and pass through without being slain by the king commanding power, or his subjects, for the king was their God and they had to worship him and his idols. His subjects used the same words, while his subjects were trying to explain, saying that they would ask for the priest and tell him to remember the promise to Noah.
This is to remind you if a stranger is in your city he will ask you where the different churches are. You know that the priests represent the church, and it is the worthy priest's duty to protect all strangers, who seek the church and he will recommend them to the king and pray to God for their deliverance and tell them to fear not, for God is with you, for he has said so in his promise to Noah. Then remember your obligation to God for his protection and thought while you are strangers in the land, for he is everywhere. Forget not your vow to each Sister in the time of trouble and distress.
W.S. says to candidate: Here are a pair of shoes, put them on and go your way in peace. Amen.
 
 
Second Lecture
 
W.P.: You have received instruction and understanding and wisdom, and now you must receive justice and judgment. Justice is truth, and judgment is your eternal welfare. Take not God's name in vain; avoid evil and wickedness and fear the wrath of God-this is judgment. Orpah the sister returned to her Gods and her nation in justice to herself; to prove this, I will explain. She is like unto thousands of nations kindred and tongues in ancient times and unto hundreds at this present day, who start out to seek God the Father and Jesus our great Redeemer. They start with a full intention to serve God and try to do all that God commanded in religion, while their path runs smooth and their faith is not tried and the tempter is not come. And when the tempter comes it is pride, trouble and distress; my shoes, bonnet and dress will not do for church. The husband is sick and no money and no bread, then you will meditate on God in his promise and say that he has not done as he promised. He promised to leave you not in the days of trouble and distress; then you have a mind of discontent and you wish that you were back in the world with its sinful ways, where you would have bread and money, etc.
The W.P. will illustrate.
All of this is to keep you in memory of Orpah, who returned back to her God. Now to prove it. Naomi and her husband left Judah in the time of harvest and went to the land of Moab and there Naomi lost her husband and two sons, who had married Ruth and Orpah, the sisters who were descended from Lot, and who lived with the Moabitish nation and knew not but to worship Moab's Gods.
The W.P. will illustrate the children stopping in different cities, and how Ruth, being the older, perceived understanding and would not leave Naomi. Orpah, however, being young and foolish, went back after idols, for the want of understanding.
The priest will further illustrate the return of Orpah, Ruth's sister, &c.
Then remember and fear God's judgment, for we cannot do anything without him; he has a time for all things, and when he says come, you must obey, and when he says go, you cannot stay. Provoke him not, for your bounds are set and you know not when his judgment may be upon you. Remember Lot's wife. Amen.
 
 
Closing of the Second Court Degree
 
The ceremony of closing the Court in the second degree is the same as in the first degree.
The working emblems for this Department are: a red cross, standing back of the altar, as in the first. In addition thereto a loaf of bread and a glass of water.