Knights of Pythias
Rank of Esquire


 
1954

 
Proving
 
Chancellor Commander:  Officers and members, the introduction of any discussion of a personal character, liable to be offensive to the candidate, must be avoided. The sole purpose of the ceremony must be to impress the candidate with the lesson of C..., and the observance of the obligations of the order. The discussion should be clean and dignified, calculated to appeal to the better side of man, and leave in truth, “no unpleasant recollections.”
Master at Arms, retire and present the Page for proving.
The Master at Arms will then retire to the ante-room, and conduct the candidate (in ordinary dress) to the inner door.
Master at Arms gives the alarm of the rank upon the shield.
Inner Guard repeats the alarm and attends the wicket: Who strikes upon the shield of this lodge?
Master at Arms: The Master at Arms of this lodge, with a Page who desires to be proved in the rank of Esquire.
Inner Guard closes the wicket: Chancellor Commander, the Master at Arms of this lodge, with a Page who desires to be proved in the rank of Esquire, applies for admission.
Chancellor Commander: Admit them.
Inner Guard opens the door.
Master at Arms enters, with the candidate on his left, escorts him around the lodge-room twice, and halts before the station of the Chancellor Commander. In the meantime, perfect silence should prevail. If possible a march should be played: Chancellor Commander, before you stands a Page who desires to be proved in the rank of Esquire.
Chancellor Commander, standing: With pleasure I welcome you as an applicant for the honors of this rank. Your presence to-night shows your appreciation of the purposes of our order, and is evidence of the fact that your exemplification of friendship by the practice of fraternity has caused the members of this lodge to regard you as worthy of advancement. That you may give a further pledge of your fidelity, the Master at Arms will conduct you to the Prelate of this lodge, who will administer to you the obligation of the rank of Esquire. Takes his seat.
Prelate takes position at the altar, facing the station of the Vice Chancellor.
Master at Arms presents the candidate at the altar, facing the station of the Chancellor Commander: Prelate, by order of the Chancellor Commander, I present you a Page, that you may administer to him the obligation of the rank of Esquire.
Prelate: Advance your left foot, place your left hand on your left breast, close your right hand, raise your right arm as if to strike a downward blow, and repeat after me.
Chancellor Commander gives two raps.
Prelate: I solemnly promise that I will never reveal the password, signs or any other secret or mystery of this rank, except in a lodge of this order, recognized by and under the control of the Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias, or when being examined by the proper officer of a lodge, or to one whom I know to be a member of this rank.
I specially promise that I will not commit to writing any of the secret work of this order, so that it may become known; nor will I permit it to be done by another, if in my power to prevent.
I further promise, so far as may be in my power, to guard the good name of a member of this or of any other rank of this order, and that I will not speak ill of him until I am satisfied by careful investigation, that he has disregarded his obligation, has violated the laws of his country or has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentleman.
I further promise that, in my dealings with men, I will endeavor to be careful, cautious and prudent; and for the frailties of others will exercise the same charity I would ask for myself.
To the faithful observance of this obligation I pledge my sacred word of honor. So help me God— and may he keep me steadfast.
Chancellor Commander gives three raps.
Prelate: You are now entitled to full instruction in the secret work of this rank, and, in receiving it, remember that its teachings are not limited to the signs and password. There is a lesson we would impress upon you that may be of use in every transaction of life.
In all that is done here, we do not look to our pleasure, but to your good. The obligation you have taken is a comprehensive one, and imposes duties you should not forget. The friendship of Damon and Pythias should be your friendship for the members of this lodge. It will be your duty to protect their honor and to defend their integrity. Your force of character and prudent counsel should guide them past the dangers that line the pathway of all.
Especially to young men should this order be a defence against every evil, and keep them perfect in their manhood.
You should so learn the lesson of friendship that, in its exercise, you may correct a fault as well as commend a virtue. If you have not so learned this lesson, I ask you to turn again to that Grecian scene, and again, and again, until its sacred memories are your own, and you shall know, as never before, the full, the Pythian, meaning of friendship.
Your future in this lodge is what you make it.
If you love mankind; if you would make the world brighter and better and bring sunshine and gladness to hearts in gloom; if you would aid in dispelling the clouds that at times gather about and darken the lives of all men—we bid you welcome to our midst, and ask you to
“Do noble things—nor dream them all day long— And so make life, death and that vast Forever One grand, sweet song.”
Master at Arms, conduct the Page to the Vice Chancellor for instruction.
Returns to his station.
Master at Arms conducts the candidate to the station of the Vice Chancellor.
Vice Chancellor, by direction of the Prelate, I present to you a Page for instruction.
Vice Chancellor, standing: I will now instruct you in the secret work of this rank.
When this lodge is open in the rank of Esquire, and you desire admittance to the ante-room, you will make your presence known at the outer door. The Outer Guard will open the door, obtain your name and report it to the Inner Guard, who will report it to the Vice Chancellor. If you are in good standing, the Outer Guard will be ordered to admit you to the ante-room, where you will invest yourself with the jewel of an Esquire, bearing the letter “C” in a field of yellow, yellow being the emblematic color of this rank.
You will then approach the inner door and give thereon ..., which will be answered from within by ...
The wicket will then be opened, and through it you will give your name. This will be reported to the Vice Chancellor, who will order you admitted if correct. The wicket will again be opened, and through it you will give in a whisper the password of this rank, which is ...
You will then be admitted to the lodge-room, and will advance to the altar, on which will rest the open book of law, with two swords crossed thereon, the points toward you. There you will salute the flag of our country, as in the rank of Page. You will then give to the Chancellor Commander the sign of courtesy, thus: ...  The Chancellor Commander will answer it by ..., which indicates permission to be seated.
Should you desire to retire while the lodge is open in this rank, unless leaving the lodge-room to execute an order of the Chancellor Commander, you will advance to the altar and salute the flag of our country. You will then give to the Chancellor Commander the same sign which you gave on entering the lodge room. Should the Chancellor Commander answer it by ..., you may retire—otherwise, you will return to your seat.
The motto of this rank is ...
The use of the gavel is the same as in the rank of Page.
Master at Arms, conduct the Page to the Chancellor Commander, for instruction in the lesson of this rank.
Master at Arms conducts the candidate to the station of the Chancellor Commander: Chancellor Commander, by direction of the Vice Chancellor, I present this Page, for instruction in the lesson of this rank.
Chancellor Commander, standing: In ancient times, an Esquire was but one rank removed from the honors of knighthood. It is the same in this order; and, as you advance to this rank, remember its motto C Study the full meaning of the word, so that, under all circumstances, at all times, you may be prudent, cautious and watchful, exercising care in the business of life, prudence in your social relations, and that watchful tenderness toward your loved ones consistent with the highest, purest type of manhood.
The lesson of this rank is intended to be practical and of practical benefit. If you will take the motto as your life-motto; if you will keep it always before you, it will prove a danger-signal, warning you of the pitfalls that line the path of life.
Our desire is so to impress the lessons of this order that, when you shall have reached the summit, and stand among us a Pythian knight, you will have no unpleasant recollections of your journey; but all that you may have seen and heard will give you a grander view of life, a more extended conception of its duties and responsibilities, and you may fully realize that our order has but one purpose, one result—the elevation, the happiness, the betterment, of mankind.
Exercise friendship; be cautious; be charitable; and, in your daily life, reflect credit and honor upon the ceremonies of to-night.
Master at Arms, conduct the Page to a seat.
Takes his seat.
Master at Arms conducts the candidate to a seat.
The lodge immediately proceeds to the apparent transaction of ordinary business, during which the Secretary approaches the candidate and quietly asks him to accompany him to his station and record his name. The Secretary thereupon escorts the candidate to his station, requests him to be seated and presents to him a form containing blanks for name, age, residence, occupation and motto, which he directs him to fill.
As soon as the candidate has taken his seat, the Master at Arms will quietly take position behind him.
If the candidate declines to fill the blank for the motto, the Secretary should offer to do so for him. If the candidate refuses to permit this, the Master at Arms will announce: Chancellor Commander, the Page remembers his obligation, and refuses to write the motto or to permit it to be written.
Chancellor Commander: Master at Arms, present the Page at this station.
Master at Arms presents the candidate at the station of the Chancellor Commander.
Chancellor Commander, standing: Your remembrance of this obligation deserves and has our warmest commendation. You have here exemplified caution, care and prudence; and we would impress upon you the necessity of exercising, in every vocation of life, the same caution, the same care, the same prudence, you have just shown.
This evidence of your regard for the obligation of this rank we accept as an assurance of your fidelity to every obligation which you as a gentleman are bound to respect.
This test is but one of the many you will find in the path of years. As you stand here, in the flush of successful progress in our order, I would ask you to remember that you are but human, and share with us to some extent the frailties of mankind. Do not let this temporary triumph make you self-complacent. Over-confidence has proven the ruin and downfall of many worthy, well-meaning men. Man’s natural tendency is to egotism. Success oft leads to vanity and a self-assurance which bring swift and sure disaster. Vaunting pride and self-laudation are not the keys that will open the door to the hearts of your friends. The exercise of prudence, caution and care in the affairs of life will commend you to your fellows, and the remembrance of the frailties of men will temper your judgments with mercy, as you keep in mind the lesson of this rank.
I now confer upon you the rank of Esquire in the order of Knights of Pythias.
Invests the candidate with a yellow jewel.
Master at Arms, face the Esquire to the lodge.
Master at Arms faces the Esquire toward the station of the Vice Chancellor.
Chancellor Commander gives two raps: Officers and members of ... Lodge, No. ..., I take pleasure in introducing Esquire ...
The lodge will be at ease.
If the candidate attempts to fill the blank for the motto, or permits the Secretary to do so, the Master at Arms shall prevent the completion of the act.
Master at Arms: Chancellor Commander, the Page has attempted to write the motto of this rank [or, the Page has permitted the writing of the motto of this rank, when it was in his power to prevent].
Hands the blank to the Chancellor Commander.
Prelate, standing: “I specially promise that I will not commit to writing any of the secret work of this order, so that it may become known; nor will I permit it to be done by another, if in my power to prevent.”
Takes his seat.
Chancellor Commander, standing: Brethren, the Page has attempted to write the motto of this rank [or, the Page has permitted the writing of the motto of this rank, when it was in his power to prevent]. What is your will?
Takes his seat.
At this point, the motion to suspend having been made and seconded, the member previously appointed by the Chancellor Commander for the purpose will rise in his place and open the prosecution.
Chancellor Commander: Master at Arms, present the Page at this station.
Master at Arms presents the candidate at the station of the Chancellor Commander.
Chancellor Commander, standing: We trust that the events of tonight will not pass away like a dream of youth, but be with you through all the years, another link in the golden chain that binds you to our glorious trinity. These ceremonies are but pages from the book of life, and in their study you will gather strength for the duties that come to all.
The presence of these friends gave you confidence; and, in the security that lulls you to sleep, the full effect of your obligation was for the moment lost. We commend your confidence, and would have you rest secure in the friendships of our order; but, as a good citizen, as a faithful Esquire, we would have you ever careful of your conduct, although surrounded by friends most true. Ever remember that the seeming friend of today may be the enemy of tomorrow, and by no act of yours place it in his power to do you an injury should he become your foe.
Your mistake brought hasty words of censure from those who thus exemplified the tendency of mankind. When the breath of scandal touches the garments of a fellow being, many are ready to condemn, and to accept the naked charge as a proof of guilt, as they pass the judgment of an evil-thinking mind. Be not so hasty as they in dealing with the weaknesses of mankind. Remember, there are those near and dear to every one; and, as you love your own, neither think nor speak ill of any until you have exercised the prudence shown by those who to-night have spoken in your behalf. The lives of many have been clouded by thoughtless, unkind words. Good men and true have struggled and gone down, poisoned by the slanders that have followed them through all their days. Be prudent in your converse and cautious in your judgment, that no unjust words of censure pass your lips. What to your dim eyes may seem a stain, in God’s clear light may prove a scar, won on some hard-fought field, where you would faint and yield.
You have here made a mistake—one common to our humanity—and when it was so proven, you saw the hand of charity extended in the pardon granted. We would have you cautious and prudent; but, more than this, forget not that charity is over all. If the weak or unwary stumble and fall, it is not only your duty, but it should be your pleasure, to place them again upon their feet, and by words of kindness and acts of love bid them Godspeed.
The importance of regard for your obligation has marked the lesson of tonight. We would have you remember every obligation of life. Be true to yourself, your home and loved ones; and at all times remember that these friends have meant you well, and will stand your firm defenders as long as your armor is worn in the cause of right and of humanity.
Lights the blank, and, as it bums, says: And now, as this, the only evidence of your error, turns to ashes, these friends blot from their memories all unpleasant recollections of the mistake by you made.
I now confer upon you the rank of Esquire in the order of Knights of Pythias.
Invests the candidate with a yellow jewel.
Master at Arms, face the Esquire to the lodge.
Master at Arms faces the Esquire toward the station of the Vice Chancellor.
Chancellor Commander gives two raps: Officers and members of ... Lodge, No ..., I take pleasure in introducing Esquire ...
The Lodge will be at ease.