1988

During the opening the curtains of the Tent are open.
President: Excellent Companions, assist me to open this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest.
All rise.
Excellent Companion Herald, what is the first care of Anointed High Priests when in Convention assembled?
Herald, gives no sign: To ensure that the outer avenue is secure and that the Tabernacle is duly guarded.
President: Direct that duty to be done.
Herald: Excellent Companion Steward, you will see that the outer avenue is secure.
Steward gives one knock on door, answered by Sentinel.
Steward: Excellent Companion Herald, all is secure and the Tabernacle is properly guarded.
Herald, gives Sign: Most Excellent President, the avenues to the Sanctuary are secure and the Tabernacle is properly guarded.
President: Excellent Companion Master of Ceremonies, are you an Anointed High Priest?
Master of Ceremonies, gives Sign: Most Excellent President, I have partaken from the point of the sword that in which we may all participate.
President: Where did you receive that exalted honour?
Master of Ceremonies: In a Just and lawfully constituted Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest, consisting of the indispensable number of three.
President: Do you find that indispensable number now present?
Master of Ceremonies: I do, Most Excellent President.
President: Give me the Sacred Word.
Master of Ceremonies: El Shaddai.
President: Excellent Companions, to order for prayer.
Chap.: May the Supreme High Priest of Heaven and Earth enlighten us with the knowledge of His truth, and grant that the members of this Convention may be endued with wisdom to understand and explain the mysteries of our Holy Order. May He be with us in all our assemblies, guide us in the paths of rectitude, enable us to keep all His statutes while life shall last, and finally bring us to the perfect knowledge of His holy Name.
All: Amen.
President: Excellent Companions, in the name of Melchizedek, I declare this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest duly opened.
Steward gives one knock on door, answered by Sentinel. Master of Ceremonies opens Volume of Sacred Law on Pedestal at Genesis, chap 14.
All sit.
 

Ceremony of Reception
Part I

The President, Vice-President and Chaplain are seated within the Tent, the curtains of which are drawn closed. As many of the Companions as possible sit outside the Tent for Part I; all Companions should stand outside the Tent during the Obligation.
Conductor leaves Tabernacle to take charge of Candidate he explains to him that the drawn curtains towards the Eastern end of the Tabernacle represent the Tent of Melchizedek, King of Salem.
Sentinel knocks on door * * * *.
Herald, gives Sign: Most Excellent President, there is an alarm at the inner avenue.
President: Attend to the alarm and see who seeks admission.
Herald goes to door, which is opened by Steward.
Herald: Who comes here?
Conductor: A Companion of the Holy Royal Arch, who desires further light in Masonry by being Anointed, Consecrated and Set Apart to the Office of High Priest.
Herald: How does he hope to gain admission?
Conductor: By having been found worthy by the voice of his Brethren and the approval of his Companions.
Herald: Halt, while I make a report.
Steward closes door.
Herald, gives Sign: Most Excellent President, a Companion of the Holy Royal Arch, who desires further light in Masonry by being Anointed, Consecrated and Set Apart to the Office of High Priest.
President: How does he hope to gain admission?
Herald: By having been found worthy by the voice of his Brethren and the approval of his Companions.
President, Vice-President and Chaplain rise, pass through curtains and stand facing West; curtains must be closed behind them.
President: Let him be admitted.
Steward opens door Conductor and Candidate enter and stand in West.
President: Excellent Companion Master of Ceremonies, you will instruct the Candidate how to advance to the pedestal in due form.
Master of Ceremonies places Candidate in West at correct distance from pedestal.
Master of Ceremonies: The method of advancing to the pedestal in due form is by nine complete steps, halting and bowing at the third, sixth and ninth.
Candidate advances to the pedestal.
President: Companion, you have duly presented yourself to be Anointed, Consecrated and Set Apart to the Holy Office of High Priest. The members of this Convention, yielding a ready response to your wishes, are now prepared to confer on you that exalted honour. You must first, however, take a solemn Obligation to keep inviolate the secrets of this Holy Order. You will stand erect, place your right hand on the Volume of Sacred Law, and raise your left hand towards Heaven.
Candidate complies.
Master of Ceremonies: Excellent Companions, to order.
President: State your names at length and repeat after me:
I, …, in the presence of this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest. erected to the glory of the Supreme High Priest of Heaven and Earth, and dedicated to
Melchizedek, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear never to reveal any of the secrets or mysteries of this Holy Order, except to a Companion Anointed High Priest, or within the body of a Just and lawful Convention of this Holy Order to a Candidate duly presented, and even then only in the presence of Companion High Priests no fewer in number than the indispensable three, duly summoned for that purpose.
I further engage that I will assist a Companion High Priest even to the dividing of my last loaf, and should his necessities demand it, even though lie be a personal enemy, I will feed him at the point of my sword.
I further promise that I will not wrong a Companion Anointed High Priest, or unlawfully take from him anything, from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and should unhappily any different arise between us, on his giving to me the sign of this Holy Order, all animosity on my part shall cease, and I will hail him as a Companion and a friend.
So help me the Great Disposer of All and keep me steadfast in this my solemn obligation of a Companion Anointed High Priest.
As a pledge of your fidelity, you will seal this Obligation once on the Volume of Sacred Law.
Candidate complies.
The Ancient Penalty, formerly used in this Holy Order, was no less than that the earth may open and swallow me up, as it did Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
Master of Ceremonies: Excellent Companions, be seated.
President, Vice-President and Chaplain remain standing outside closed curtains.
President: You will now attend to a portion of the Volume of Sacred Law.
Chaplain reads from small Volume of Sacred Law held in his hand Genesis chap. 14, vv. 1 to 4 and 8 to 24:
1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
3. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
8. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim,
9. With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
10. And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
11. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
12. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
15. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God.
19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.
20. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up one hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth.
23. That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.
24. Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
President: Companion …, I am now permitted to inform you that the Most Excellent President of a Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest represents Melchizedek, King of Salem and the Priest of the Most High God.
You may now retire to reflect on this first part of the Ceremony of your Reception. On your re-admission you will represent the Patriarch Abram on his journey over the plains, when returning from the slaughter of the kings.
Principals retire within curtains and resume their chairs. Conductor and Candidate withdraw.
 

Part II

Pedestal is moved from centre of Triangle and placed within Tent in front of President’s chair; small kneeling stool or cushion is placed in centre of Triangle.
All the Companions move inside the Tent and stand in the North and South in order to partake of bread and wine; if there is not sufficient room, as many Companions should move in as is consistent with the dignity of the ceremony. Those remaining outside take no active part in the ceremony, apart from standing to order as directed.
The curtains remain closed; Master of Ceremonies details two Companions inside the Tent to draw curtains open when so directed by him.
Outside the door Candidate is armed with a sword, unsheathed, which he holds at the carry. Conductor instructs Candidate how to parry blow with his sword by sinking on one knee and holding sword horizontally above his head by the hilt in his right hand and by the point in his left hand.
Master of Ceremonies picks up sword from Table and hands it to President. He then directs Steward to open door and admits Conductor and Candidate without report.
Conductor and Candidate enter; instructed by Conductor, Candidate advances slowly via North towards the East. President with sword in right hand hastens out through curtains, and aims a downward blow at head of Candidate who parries it in the manner taught.
President: Who art thou?
Conductor: Thy friend and brother Abram.
President: My friend and brother Abram?
President brings sword to carry. Conductor takes sword from Candidate and holds it at carry.
Conductor: Behold the captives and the spoils: I give thee tithes of all.
President: Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.
President transfers sword to left hand.
Arise, my friend and brother Abram.
President raises Candidate to his feet by right hand, and starts to lead him towards Tent.
President: Enter my Tent, eat of my bread and drink of my wine.
As President speaks these words, two Companions previously detailed draw curtains open under direction of Master of Ceremonies. President leads Candidate to Tent and places him at the middle of the entrance. Conductor remains standing in North with sword at carry.
Master of Ceremonies: Excellent Companions, to order.
All rise. President stands in centre of Tent facing West with sword still in left hand. Master of Ceremonies takes from table plate with bread already broken into two unequal pieces; he proffers plate to President, who, with right hand, takes larger piece of bread and impales it on the sword up to the hilt. He fixes smaller piece firmly On the point of the sword, which he then holds at carry in left hand.
Master of Ceremonies replaces plate on table and takes post behind Candidate. President breaks of small piece of bread from hilt with right hand and eats it; he then changes sword to right hand, held at carry; he presents sword vertically to each Companion in turn within Tent, who breaks of a small piece of bread from the hilt with his own right hand and eats it. President offers first to Vice-President, then to Chaplain, then to Companions in North from West to East, finally to Companions in South from East to West. During this progress President recites slowly Psalm 133:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard that went down to the skirts of his garments,
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
President then stands facing West in front of Candidate.
President: Eat with us this bread, which you receive at the point of the sword, to teach you that you should ever be ready to divide your last loaf with a Companion Anointed High Priest, and should his necessities demand it, even though he be a personal enemy, to feed him at the point of the sword.
President presents point of sword to Candidate, who, prompted by Master of Ceremonies breaks off with right hand small piece of bread from point of sword and eats it.
President hands sword to Master of Ceremonies, who lays it aside on table, he brings goblet and napkin from Table and hands them to President. Master of Ceremonies takes sword from Conductor and resumes place behind Candidate.
President stands in centre of Tent, facing West, and drinks from goblet; he offers it to each Companion in turn within the Tent, who takes it and drinks as before, President offers goblet first to Vice-President, then to Chaplain then to Companions in North, and finally to Companions in South; after each Companion has drunk, President wipes goblet with napkin; during this progress President recites slowly Psalm 134:
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
President stands facing West in front of Candidate.
Master of Ceremonies hands sword to Candidate and instructs him to hold it in his right hand horizontally across his body at breast level, hilt to the right.
President: Drink with us this wine, which you receive over the sword, to teach you that you should ever be ready to divide the luxuries as well as the necessities of life with a Companion Anointed High Priest.
President passes goblet over sword to Candidate who, prompted by Master of Ceremonies, takes it and drinks. President takes back goblet over sword. Master of Ceremonies removes sword from Candidate. He then takes goblet from President and lays aside both goblet and sword on table.
President from centre of Tent, facing West: Excellent Companions, as often as ye eat bread or drink wine, learn therefrom to succour, protect and defend a Companion Anointed High Priest. If he hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink; if he be naked, clothe him, if he be sick or afflicted, visit him and minister unto him, sympathise with him in his sorrows, and rejoice with him in his joys. These things do unto him, and never forsake him.
Excellent Companion Conductor, you will place our friend and brother in the centre of the Triangle.
Master of Ceremonies: Excellent Companions, resume your places.
Companions who have been standing inside Tent return to their places and remain standing.
Conductor leads Candidate via North to the base of Triangle in West, facing East. He instructs him to kneel on his right knee on the stool or cushion in the centre of the Triangle, and to assume an attitude of prayer.
President, Vice-President and Chaplain advance to apex of Triangle, where they halt facing West.
All Companions assume attitude of prayer.
Chaplain: May the Supreme High Priest of Heaven and Earth grant His blessing to this our Companion, so that hue may teach the laws and commandments of the Lord, and perform the duties of his office with fervency, fidelity and zeal.
All: Amen.
Master of Ceremonies fetches from table vessels containing oil and wine, and napkin; he stands in a convenient place on the right of President. President, Vice-President and Chaplain, each with extended thumb and fore finger of left hand, other fingers closed, together form Triangular Anointing Sign, apex to East, on top of head of Candidate.
President with right hand dips finger into vessel of oil held by Master of Ceremonies, he anoints Candidate, on head within Triangular Anointing Sign three times.
President: By virtue of the power in me vested as the representative of Melchizedek, King of Salem and the Priest of the Most High God, I Anoint you, Consecrate you, and Set you Apart to the Holy Office of Grand High Priest.
President takes napkin from Master of Ceremonies, dries head of Candidate and returns it.
President, Vice-President and Chaplain retain Triangular Anointing Sign over head of Candidate.
President, with right hand dips finger into vessel of wine held by Master of Ceremonies, while pronouncing the blessing he anoints Candidate on head within Triangular Anointing Sign three times as he speaks first words of each verse of Numbers, chap 6, vv 24 to 26:
The Lord bless thee and keep thee
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
All: Amen.
President takes napkin from Master of Ceremonies, dries head of Candidate and returns it. President, Vice-President and Chaplain drop Triangular Anointing Sign. President takes Candidate by right hand: Rise Aaron.
President then raises Candidate; the words must be said while Candidate is skill kneeling, and before he is raised. Conductor removes kneeling stool or cushion, and re-positions Candidate in centre of Triangle.
Master of Ceremonies: Excellent Companions, be seated.
Master of Ceremonies lays aside oil, wine and napkin; he picks up sword which he holds at carry, and resumes his place chose to the right of President, ready to hand sword to him during explanation of Hailing Sign.
Principals remain standing at apex of Triangle, but Vice-President and Chaplain step back two paces.
President: I will now explain to you the secrets of this Holy Order.
The Salutation is given by placing both hands open on the left breast, fingers slightly apart; then cross your fingers of the right hand on top of three fingers of the left hand, thus forming twelve small squares, alluding to the Breast Plate worn by the High Priest. This Salutation to the Most Excellent President is to be given when entering or leaving the Tabernacle, or when addressing him.
The Ancient Sign is given by extending both arms towards the ground at an angle of 45° , palms together; then suddenly separate the hands laterally.
The Sign alludes to the ancient penalty, formerly used in this Holy Order, ‘that the earth may open and swallow me up’. The Words given with this Sign are: ‘Korah’, ‘Dathan’ and ‘Abiram’.
The Hailing Sign is given thus: Master of Ceremonies hands Sword to President Raise the Sword with both hands, by the hilt with the right hand and by the point with the left hand; hold it horizontally above the head. This Sign alludes to the manner in which Abram defended himself when assailed by Melchizedek. The Words given with this Sign are: ‘Bera, King of Sodom’.
The Dividing Sign is given by holding out the left hand and divide the four fingers of it with the edge of the right hand. It alludes to the part of our Obligation wherein you have sworn that you would assist a Companion Anointed High Priest even to the dividing of your last loaf. The Word given with this Sign is ‘Shaveh’. The Word alludes to the Valley of Shaveh, or the King’s dale, where Melchizedek met Abram returning from the slaughter of the kings, and Abram gave him tithes of all.
The Test Sign is given by raising the right hand with four fingers shewing. You reply this sign with the left hand with four fingers and the thumb shewing. The Words given with this Sign are ‘four against five’, replied with ‘five against four’. These Words allude to the battle of the kings, where four fought against five.
The Grand Word is Aaron. It alludes to Aaron, the first Jewish High Priest.
The Pass Grip is like the Pass Grip of a Mark Master Mason; then one Companion will squeeze the thumb of the other between his own thumb and forefinger. The Pass Word is Mamre. It alludes to the Plain of Mamre the Amorite.
The Grip of this Degree is given by placing the two right hands side by side, palm to palm, fingers straight, thumbs alongside each other; each then places his left hand alongside and outside the right hand of the other Companion; both then place their left thumbs over the top of the two right thumbs. In this position two words are exchanged: ‘Melchizedek’ and ‘Chedorlaomer’. For greater security these Words are normally exchanged broken into three parts; thus: ‘Mel’, ‘Chize’, ‘Dek’, ‘Chedor’, ‘La’, ‘Omer’.
The Sacred Word given at the opening of a Convention is ‘El Shaddai’, meaning ‘God Almighty’. The Sacred Word given at the closing of a Convention is ‘Adonai’, meaning ‘Lord’.
Master of Ceremonies lays aside sword, he takes Jewel to President
President: I now invest you with the Jewel worn by a Companion Anointed High Priest.
President, Vice-President and Chaplain return to the East and resume their chairs. Candidate remains standing in centre of Triangle, with Conductor behind him. Master of Ceremonies resumes his seat.
 

Lecture

President: Excellent Companion …, anointing with oil was the principal and divinely appointed ceremony in the inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish Commonwealth - Prophet, Priest and King. It was received as a symbol of sanctification, and of dedication to the service of the Most High. In this ceremony you were anointed first three times with oil, and then three times with wine both these triple anointings are in allusion to the Triangle, a symbol of the Deity. We are thus reminded that the true Mason should so dedicate himself to the service of the Most High God. As the unchangeable Priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to that of Aaron, which passed away, so do we look forward, after the close of this earthly existence, to an entrance into that Tabernacle not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.
Remember, my Companion, that the responsibilities of this Holy Order rest not alone upon the Officers, but equally upon the individual members of the Order, a dereliction of duty being equally destructive in the one case as in the other.
As you value, then, your honour as a man and a Mason, as you prize the purity and permanency of the Order, as you fear to displease the Almighty, Whose Name you have solemnly invoked, so keep inviolate every pledge you have made, and perform with fidelity every duty to which you have become bound.
Let the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be the symbol of your strength and boldness in the cause of truth and justice. Be as patient as the Ox with the foibles and errors of your Brethren, and as swift as the Eagle to do every good work. Set before your Companions of the Royal Craft the bright example of an upright and perfect Man, and especially of a Companion Anointed High Priest.
Let "Holiness to the Lord" be engraven upon all your thoughts, words and actions. Finally, after this painful life is ended, may the Most High, Who dwelleth between the Cherubim, admit you into His glorious and everlasting Sanctuary, there to adore Him for evermore.
President: Excellent Companion …, now a Companion Anointed High Priest, we welcome you. I bid you take your seat in this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest.
Conductor leads Candidate to a convenient seat, and resumes his own.
 

Closing

During the Closing the curtains of the Tent are open.
President: Excellent Companions, assist me to close this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest.
All rise.
Excellent Companion Herald, what is the last great care of every Anointed High Priest?
Herald, gives Sign: To ensure that the outer avenue is secure and that the Tabernacle is duly guarded.
President: Direct that duty to be done.
Herald: Excellent Companion Steward, you will see that the outer avenue is secure.
Steward gives one knock on door, answered by Sentinel.
Steward: Excellent Companion Herald, all is secure and the Tabernacle is properly guarded.
Herald, gives Sign: Most Excellent President, the avenues are secure and the Tabernacle is properly guarded.
President: Excellent Companions, to order for prayer.
Chaplain: May the Lord save us and gather us from among the nations to give thanks unto His holy Name. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, and let all the people say Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
All: Amen.
President: Excellent Companion Master of Ceremonies, give me the Sacred Word.
Master of Ceremonies: Adonai.
President: Excellent Companion Master of Ceremonies, our labours being ended, you have my command to close this Convention.
Master of Ceremonies: In the name of Melchizedek, and by command of the Most Excellent President, I close this Convention of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest.
Steward: And it is closed accordingly. Gives one knock on door, answered by Sentinel.

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