Archers of the Egyptian Prince
Ritual
Opening
1917
ARCHER, giving one rap:
Lodge No.
Archers of the Egyptian
Prince, will come to order. Officers will resume their respective stations and
perform their duties. The inner gate will be barred and kept barred until
otherwise directed. The Princely Messenger will examine all present and report
accordingly.
The Princely Messenger will follow instructions and will receive from the
members the permanent password and the semi-annual password. If there is anyone
within the gates who has not both passwords, he will report accordingly and,
upon examination of his receipt, if entitled to the password, the Archer will
communicate to him in a whisper the permanent and the semi-annual passwords. The
Princely Messenger shall then receive from him and all other members, the
passwords and will advance to the Sacred Shrine, saluting the Archer with the
Royal Salam.
PRINCELY MESSENGER: Noble Archer, I find all within these gates,
Archers of the Egyptian Prince.
The Princely Messenger shall, at all times, salute the Archer with the Royal
Salam before addressing him, and shall salute the archer upon all of his
commands.
ARCHER: The Scribe will call the roll of officers. The
Scribe does as instructed, the Princely Messenger responding present or absent.
The Archer shall then make pro tem appointment of all the offices vacant.
ARCHER: Princely Messenger, prepare the Sacred Shrine and station,
and distribute the rituals and accessories.
Princely Messenger Salams, and does as directed.
Princely Messenger goes to Sacred Shrine, spreads cloth of black over shrine.
Cloth has Pyramid on one end and Holy Bible on other end. Then opens Bible. Goes
to Archer's station and spreads cloth of purple, with golden sun, upon Archer's
station. Goes to Past Archer's station, spreads cloth of blue, with white moon
on it, upon the Past Archer's station.
Then goes to the Vice Archers station and spreads a red cloth with eleven
stars upon it, on the Vice Archer's station. Then goes to the Chaplain's
station, and, with a cloth of many colors, spreads it upon the Chaplain' s
station. He then advances to center of hall, and with wand in hand, proceeds as
follows, pointing to each station as he refers to them:
PRINCELY MESSENGER: Noble Archer, I have draped the stations with
cloths, in token of the father, mother and eleven brothers who made obeisance to
the wearer of the coat of many colors. I have draped the Sacred Shrine with a
cloth of black. On one end is a Pyramid, on the other end is the Holy Bible. May
our noble order live to a greater age and withstand more than the pyramids of
Egypt, and may we obey the teachings and work of our great and Worshipful
Master, upon whose principles our order is founded. And may we be ever alert to
a call from one who has knelt before this shrine. And upon this shrine I have
opened the Holy Bible, which is our guide. Princely
Messenger salams to Archer. Noble Archer your command has been
obeyed.
NOBLE ARCHER: Princely Messenger, you may take your station at my
right.
NOBLE ARCHER: The Chaplain will invoke the blessings of God. .
CHAPLAIN: Oh Heavenly Father, once more we thank thee that thou
hast allowed us to assemble here again, that we may do good. Thou knowest we are
here for no other purpose. Forgive us of our sins, and bless our brothers who
are not with us tonight, in our hall of brotherhood. Help us, oh merciful
Father, that we may, each day, do at least one good deed to some poor soul on
life's harsh and rugged way. Guard and guide us in our deliberations of this
meeting. And at last, oh Heavenly Father, we pray thee, receive us into thy
kingdom, not made with hands. Amen.
Members should respond and remain standing while singing the opening ode.
There are lonely hearts to cherish,
while the days are going by.
There are weary souls who perish,
While the days are going by.
If a smile we can renew,
As our journey we pursue,
Oh the good we all may do,
While the days are going by.
Refrain:
Going by, going by,
Going by, going by,
Oh, the good we all may do,
While the days are going by.
All the laving links that bind us,
While the days are going by,
One by one we leave behind us,
While the days are going by;
But the seeds of good we saw,
Both in shade and shine will grow,
And will keep our hearts aglow,
While the days are going by.
ARCHER: Brothers, what is the duty of all true Archers?
MEMBERS, in concert: As our duty toward God and man, we promise,
as we climb the pyramids of life, step by step, to do at least one kind act each
day.
ARCHER: Brothers give the sign of the Pyramid.
ARCHER, giving one rap: Brothers, be seated.
ARCHER, giving one rap: Brothers, this lodge is now open. The
Keeper of the inner gate will admit all those qualified to enter. All
members being admitted, when lodge is in session, shall
advance to the Sacred Shrine and salute the Archer with the Royal Salam, then
take their seats in the lodge room.
ARCHER: Brothers, let us proceed with the business of this order.
Initiation of Candidates
NOBLE ARCHER, gives one rap: Princely Messenger, retire beyond the
gates and ascertain if there be any pilgrims journeying this way.
Princely Messenger goes to the shrine and salutes the Noble Archer with the
Royal Salam and retires beyond the gates, and if there be any pilgrims without,
he returns to the inner gate and sounds the trumpet, whereupon the Watchman of
the inner gate reports his presence to the Noble Archer, who directs his
admission. The Princely Messenger again approaches the shrine and gives the
Royal Salam.
PRINCELY MESSENGER: Noble Archer, I find without
pilgrims in
waiting, who have been duly qualified to advance on their journey.
NOBLE ARCHER: Princely Messenger, retire and conduct the pilgrims
to my Throne.
Princely Messenger does as directed.
NOBLE ARCHER, to pilgrims: You are about to enter upon a solemn
and serious epoch in your life. I charge you from this point forward to utter
not a word unless instructed to do so by the Princely Messenger. Princely
Messenger, seat the pilgrims on my right.
PRINCELY MESSENGER, salaaming: Noble Archer, your order has been
obeyed.
Princely Messenger then takes his station by the inner gate. At the sound of
a trumpet without Noble Archer proceeds as follows:
NOBLE ARCHER: Watchman of the Inner Gate, who soundeth the trumpet
from without?
WATCHMAN OF THE INNER GATE: Noble Archer, a pilgrim who seeks to
climb step by step the Pyramid of Life.
NOBLE ARCHER: Watchman of the Inner Gate, swing wide the gate and
let the pilgrim enter.
Candidate having entered the gate, is accosted by the Princely Messenger in
the following manner:
PRINCELY MESSENGER: Pilgrim, why journeyest thou within these
gates, and why seekest thou to climb the Pyramid of Life?
PILGRIM: Oh, noble stranger, I dreamed a dream and I come seeking
an interpretation. Can you direct me to one who can reveal mysteries?
PRINCELY MESSENGER: I can, oh, pilgrim, but before directing you I
must demand of you a solemn oath that you will hold sacred the words of wisdom
committed unto thee and never swerve in the performance of your duty toward God
and man, though it may mean hardship, imprisonment or death. Are you willing to
thus bind yourself with an oath?
PILGRIM: I am.
PRINCELY MESSENGER: You will place your left hand over your heart
and raise your right hand to the God in Heaven. All candidates will place their
left hands over their hearts and raise their right hands to the God in Heaven,
and repeat after me, using your name where use mine.
I,
, in the presence of Almighty God and those here assembled, do most
solemnly promise and
swear that I will hold sacred the words of wisdom which I am about to
receive, and I will at all times strive to be governed by them in my relations
with my brethren; that I will never falter in the cause of right, though it may
mean bodily harm, imprisonment or death, and I will keep inviolate the things
which I may hereafter see and hear within these gates, until the pyramids have
crumbled to dust and the sands of the desert grow cold. Amen.
All members arise and sing "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow
Cold."
NOBLE ARCHER, giving two raps: Brethren, be seated.
PRINCELY MESSENGER, taking the pilgrim by the arm: Let us journey
to the Fountain of Youth, where the prophet of life's morning will reveal the
interpretation of your dreams. Arriving at the Fountain
of Youth. Noble Prophet, a pilgrim desires of you the interpretation
of his dreams.
NOBLE PROPHET: Thou art yet in the morning of life. What troublest
thou, my son?
PILGRIM: Oh, Prophet, I have dreamed a dream and I seek an
interpretation. My brethren and I were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo! my
sheaf arose and also stood upright; and, behold, their sheaves came round about
and made obeisance to my sheaf.
BRETHREN, who are seated on the floor about the prophet: What is
that you are saying? Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have
dominion over us? Thou conceiver of vain imaginations!
PILGRIM: And, oh, Prophet, I dreamed yet another dream, and behold
in this dream the sun, and the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
PATRIARCH: My son, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed?
Shall land thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to the
earth?
BRETHREN: Let us be gone to our flocks and waste no more time upon
this vain babbler and idle dreamer. We shall see what becomes of his dreams.
PROPHET: Is it not written, my son, "That the young men shall
dream dreams and the old men shall see visions"?
I chide thee not for dreaming. How beautiful are dreams of youth! It is dream
stuff that shapes the destinies of men and of nations. The great men of all
times have been men whose minds were filled with all the wonder of the shall be.
Thou doest well to dream. But let not thine imagination paint for thee a vain
picture. Think not to attain to greatness over a pathway of case. Those only
rule who learn to serve. Hardship, struggle, defeat, enslavement and
imprisonment may not seem to mark out a royal pathway. But let not
discouragement detain you in your pilgrimage. Press on with all the ardor and
strength of your youth and thou shalt attain. But ere you go your way, hearken
to the words of my mouth and give ear unto the things which I shall tell thee.
Your dreams are as one. Thou indeed shalt become great among thy people and
shall rule over them. Thou shalt become the preserver and defender of thy
brethren, and thy father and thy mother shall rejoice at thy triumph. But I have
a vision concerning thee to which thou shouldst give ear. I see the evil
passions of hatred and malice kindled in thy brothers' hearts; envy and jealousy
possess them, and thou shalt be evil entreated by them, and thou shalt be sold
into slavery; thou shalt be tempted and tried so as by fire; thou shalt be cast
down to the deepest dungeon; even darkness shall be thy portion, but out of the
depths shalt thou cry unto the all-wise God and He shall lift thee up and thou
shalt be given a place of honor upon the greatest throne of the world. For at
the King's edict shalt thou become the Prince of Egypt. And men from the east,
and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, shall journey to thy
throne, and shall praise thee, and rejoice in thy power, for thou shalt preserve
them from famine and at thy store-house shall they be fed. This, my son, is the
end of the vision of the prophet of life's morning. But ere you go your way to
battle against the trials and temptation of life I have a question to ask thee:
Dost thou believe in God?
PILGRIM: I do. Light is flashed and word
"Faith" shows in step.
PROPHET: It is well. Faith enables us to endure the hardships of
life, because through it we are enablcd ta see the invisible.. Faith sees a star
and that star serves as a guiding light to lead him on life's journey. May your
eye ever beam true because guided by that light. May your feet be beautiful
because they arc swift to carry you to a brother's need, and though thou art
evil entreated, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Now may
the God of Heaven bless thee and keep thee and attend thee on thy journey.
PRINCELY MESSENGER: Come, pilgrim, let us go on our way, and as we
go ponder in thy heart the words thou hast heard. The road o'er which we pass
seems rugged obstacles begin to loom in the distance, the very air seems charged
with some impending peril. But, ah! I see a shrine. Let us draw aside for awhile
and worship. Mayhap some blessing we shall receive that shall prepare us for the
journey ahead. Princely Messenger
and pilgrim bow at the shrine.
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE: Who worships at the shrine, and what is thy
desire?
PRINCELY MESSENGER: It is a pilgrim, who has been led hither by
his faith, and he seeks the heights. He fain would reach the summit of Life's
Pyramid.
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE, tapping the pilgrim on the head with his wand:
Young man, arise! Stand on thy feet and hearken to the lesson of this shrine.
You are now standing at the threshold of manhood. From this point you must
travel alone and meet the dangers that infest the way; and yet not alone shalt
thou go, but sustained by a mighty presence, even the spirit of Truth and Right;
but ere thou goest this message I would impart: Thou shalt have need of courage.
"Courage, the manly art that scorns to bend
To mean desires with sordid end."
No coward can ever stand the test or meet the requirements of the journey.
Thou shalt see foemen worthy of thy steel. None but the manliest men have ever
attained the goal thou dost desire. The road that leads to the heights is a
rugged one and dangers from without and from within shall thwart thy pathway.
Only be thou true to the noblest desires of thy soul and thou shalt have joy and
gladness. Fear not the conspiracies of thy brethren, for "a man's foes
shall be they of his own household." Fear no those who would do thee bodily
harm, but rather the subtle tempter that would destroy thy soul. At
this point the keeper of the shrine hands the pilgrim a
bowl and quiver of arrows, saying as he does so: With this bow, which
is the bow of courage, I commit thee to thy journey, and with this quiver of
arrows, equipped with the darts of Truth, Honor and Righteousness, thou shalt be
able. to attain the highest summit. Hast thou the courage to proceed?
PILGRIM: I have. Light is flashed,
showing Pilgrim standing on step of "Courage."
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE: Then go and may highest Heaven thy steps all
end.
Pilgrim goes his way alone and is met in the way by the aged Patriarch.
PATRIARCH: Whither farest thou, my son?
PILGRIM: I go to seek the heights.
AGED PATRIARCH: I have need of thee, my son. Go seek thy brethren
and then return and tell me how they fare. Go quickly and may God give thee a
speedy journey and a safe return.
PILGRIM: At thy behest, worthy Patriarch, I go. Pilgrim
journeys on alone and meets a stranger.
Stranger, hast thou seen in thy country the shepherds and their flocks?
STRANGER: I have, my friend, but they have journeyed on some three
days' journey to the land of Dothan that they might find better pasturage for
their Rocks.
PILGRIM: I thank thee, stranger, for this message. They are my
brethren and I must journey on until I find them. Pilgrim salams to the stranger
and proceeds alone.
Pilgrim continues peering out into the distance, holding his hands above his
eyes as if to shade them. Brethren are seen in the distance, seated in a circle
upon the ground, earnestly talking. Suddenly one brother arises and, peering out
into the distance, says:
FIRST BROTHER: Behold, the Dreamer is coming. Come now, therefore,
let us slay him and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say an evil beast
hath devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
SECOND BROTHER: No, let us not kill him, but cast him into a pit. Brethren
arise and advance toward him oncoming pilgrim, accosting him as he nears them in
the following manner:
BRETHREN: Why journeyest thou hither, vain dreamer?
PILGRIM: Thy father hath sent me that he might know of thy
welfare.
BRETHREN: He shall never learn of us through thee, thou conceited
troubler of our peace. In yonder deep pit thou shalt languish and die. Brethren
seize him and strip him of his coat of many colors and cast him in the pit. A
caravan of merchantmen appear and brethren take pilgrim from the pit and sell
him to the merchantmen, who tie his hands behind his back and place a burden
upon him and continue.
THIRD BROTHER, comes and looks down into the pit and calls, but hearing no
answer, says: The young man is not, and whither shall I go?
Brethren now take coat and dip it in a vessel and dye it red. This may be
done by putting the coat of many colors in a vessel already containing a red
garment and then removing the red coat, leaving the coat of many colors in the
vessel. Brethren journey to far end of the hall and meet the Patriarch (their
father), and presenting the coat, say:
BRETHREN: This we found in the fields. Dost thou know whether it
be thy sons coat or not?
AGED PATRIARCH: It is his coat, as I live. Behold how it has been
torn. An evil beast hath devoured him. No doubt he has been torn in pieces. Now
shall I die mourning my son.
By this time the merchantmen have reached Potiphar's house and are seen
delivering the pilgrim to Potiphar, who pays them a sum of money for him and
turns him over to the guards.
The pilgrim, now in Potiphar' s house, is seen serving the table of Potiphar.
After eating, Potiphar and others, if any retire, leaving Pilgrim and Potiphar's
wife alone in the room. Potiphar's wife, who is a man dressed for the occasion
in the proper regalia, is seen giving enticing looks at Joseph, and finally
says:
POTIPHAR'S WIFE: Come and lie with me.
PILGRIM: Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the
house, and he hath put all that he hath in my hands. He is not greater in this
house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou
art his wife.
Bow, then, can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?
Potiphar's wife then draws near to the pilgrim and takes hold of his garment,
whereupon the pilgrim starts to leave and she holds on to the garment, pulling
it from him. The pilgrim flees from the side of Potiphar's wife and going down
the side of the hall, crouches as in hiding. Potiphar returns amd his wife tells
him the following story:
POTIPHAR'S WIFE: Behold, my Lord, the young Jew whom thou hast
lately brought into thy house, he seeks to mock thee, for while I was in my room
he came in unto me and sought to entice me to be with him, and when I lifted up
my voice to cry out be fled, leaving this behind.
POTIPHAR, very much enraged: Come hither, my guards. Go seek the
young Jew, and when thou hast found him spare him not, but cast him in the inner
dungeon, the vile vagabond.
GUARDS, departing hastily: Look! Yonder he crouches, the wretch. They
seize the pilgrim and, placing chains upon him, hurry
him roughly away to prison.
Pilgrim is seen behind bars praying.
PILGRIM: Oh, thou God of mercy, be with me, I beseech thee, and
help me in my distress. Give me strength to endure. And may thy servant yet be
delivered from these bonds; and thou who art mighty to save, give me freedom,
and then will I serve thee all the days of my life. Amen.
Guards arrive at prison with prisoners, butler and baker of King, and thrust
them in with pilgrim, saying as they do so:
GUARDS: Keep these, thy fellow prisoners, against the day of their
punishment by the King.
Pilgrim is seen watching over them as they sleep in prison. The lights are
dimmed with the exception of a light in the cell where the prisoners are.
Pilgrim, who is now a trusty, passes out of cell and walks up and down in front
of it. Lights are turned on and pilgrim enters cell and the prisoners sit up and
pilgrim says:
PILGRIM: Wherefore look ye so sad to-day?
PRISONERS: We have dreamed a dream and there is none that can
interpret it.
PILGRIM: Do not interpretations belong to God! Tell it me, I pray
you.
KING'S BUTLER: In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and in
the vine were three branches; and it was as though it budded and blossoms shot
forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup was
in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and I gave
the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
PILGRIM: This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are
three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head and restore
thee unto thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand after
the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be
well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me
unto Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison: For indeed I was stolen away out
of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should
put me into the prison.
CHIEF BAKER: I also had a dream, and, behold, I had three white
baskets on my head. And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked
meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
PILGRIM: This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are
three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee,
and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Messenger from the King comes and conducts butler to Pharaoh and guards come
and conduct baker to a place of hiding. Butler waits on King and hears him tell
his dream, and he then says:
BUTLER: I do remember my faults this day, for when I was in prison
there was a young Hebrew there that could interpret dreams, for thy servant had
a dream and he interpreted it for me, and, behold, it came to pass according to
the interpretation. I pray thee send for him that he may hear thy dream.
Pharaoh sounds gong. Messenger appears and salams, saying:
MESSENGER: What is thy pleasure, my Lord?
PHARAOH: Go at once to the captain of the guard and ask for the
release of the young Hebrew he has in ward and bring him at once to the palace.
MESSENGER to pilgrim: The King desires thee to come at once to the
palace. Takes pilgrim
and hurries away.
As they go pilgrim speaks to messenger:
PILGRIM: Behold, I see a shrine. Let us turn aside and worship
there. The moment seems fraught with meaning of great portent. Mayhap the keeper
of the shrine may give us light. Messenger and pilgrim
ascend the steps and bow at the shrine.
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE: Who bows at the shrine, and what has led
thee hither?
PILGRIM: Oh, man of God, I seek thy help. The shadows that have
hovered about me have been deep. My earthly pilgrimage has been rough; sorrow
upon sorrow has tried to conquer my soul; evil conspiracy, slavery, temptation,
trial imprisonment have been my portion. Speak to me that I may know more
perfectly the end and purpose of my life. Sing
"Sometimes the Shadows Are Deep." .
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE OF KNOWLEDGE: Well hast thou spoken, my son.
Truly, the mad, that leads to the stars is rugged. You are now bowing at the
Shrine of Knowledge. Thou seekest to know and I perceive that thou art led by
the spirit of the Most High. Be not downcast, my son, although the sorrows of
life have swept down upon thee like tempests and the path has been rugged and
steep. Yet thou hast been true and good and the experiences through which thou
hast passed have made thee wise and have given thee discernment which shall be
of greatest value to thee and all mankind. Thou hast been called by the Great
King. Fear not, my son, for thy days of hardship are soon ended, and for all the
trials of the way thou shalt be richly rewarded: For the King is sore perplexed
and awaits thy coming that thou mayest give him light. Son of man, stand on thy
feet. Thou hast loved wisdom and hated iniquity, therefore thy choice has been
rewarded and knowledge shall be thy portion. Light
is flashed, showing young man standing on the step of
"Knowledge." Now go thy way. The King awaits thee and the
God of Heaven shall give thee the message which the King desires.
Messenger and pilgrim arrive at the King's throne.
MESSENGER: Behold, my Lord the King, the young man whom thou hast
sent for is here and awaits thy pleasure.
PHARAOH: I have dreamed a dream and there is none that can
interpret it: And I have heard say of thee that when thou hearest a dream, thou
canst interpret it.
PILGRIM: It is not in me to interpret dreams, but the God of
Heaven, whom I worship, shall give thee an answer of peace.
PHARAOH: In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river
and behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle; fat-fleshed and well
favored, and they fed on the reed grass; and, behold, seven other cattle came up
after them; poor and very ill favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in
all the land of Egypt, for badness. And the lean and ill favored cattle did eat
up the first seven fat cattle, and when they had eaten them up it would 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 behold, seven ears of corn came
up upon 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 swallowed up
the good ears; and I told it unto the magicians, but there was none that could
declare it to me.
PILGRIM: Your dreams are as one. What the God of Heaven is about
to do He hath declared unto Pharaoh. The seven good cattle are seven years; and
the seven good ears are seven years; and the seven lean and ill favored cattle
that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted
with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine. That is the thing which
I spake unto Pharaoh. What God is about to do he hath showed unto Pharaoh.
Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt;
and there shall arrive 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 which
followeth; for it shall be very grievous, and for that the dream was doubled
unto Pharaoh. It is because the thing is established by God, 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 overseers over the land and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt
in the seven plenteous years; and let them gather all the food of these good
years that come and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the
cities, and let them keep it, and the food shall be for a 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: There is wisdom in thy interpretation. Go thy way and if
I have need of thee I will call thee. Pilgrim
and guard go away, leaving the King in a deep study.
They proceed on their way back to the prison, but as they go another shrine
appears and the pilgrim says:
PILGRIM: Let us tarry at the shrine for a few moments. It may be
we shall learn same lesson which shall be of greatest value to us in our efforts
to serve our fellowmen.
Pilgrim and messenger bow at shrine.
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE OF SERVICE: Who tarries at the shrine, and
what is the purpose of thy tarrying?
PILGRIM: Oh, man of God, all my life long have I sought to serve
my fellowman, but I have been misunderstood, conspired against, evil entreated,
sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned, and yet I desire to help my
fellow men. Show me, I pray thee, how I may minister unto my brethren.
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE: My son, well hast thou spoken and thy
desires are known of the Most High God, and thou hast been providentially led of
Him. Thine hour is at hand and thy prayer shall be answered, and out of prison
thou shalt be delivered to a place of majesty and power, and because thou hast
desired to serve and not to rule, at thy footstool shall the people bow. Duly
listen to the message which I now impart; How beautiful is a life of service!
The
greatest of all ages have been men who were ready to serve their fellowmen.
God leads men by a devious course sometimes that they may be prepared when the
hour comes to do the greatest good. By the way of suffering and sorrow thou hast
been led to the place where thy service to man may be greatest. The larger
opportunity for thee to be and to do all that thy God created thee capable of
being and doing at last has crowned thy days. Thou hast climbed high on the
Pyramid of Life. Light is
flashed in word "Service" in the step where pilgrim and messenger are
standing. Now go thy way and await the time when the King shall call
for thee, for I perceive that he will have need of thee in shaping the destiny
of his kingdom.
Pilgrim and messenger go back to prison cell and scarcely arrive until a
second messenger comes, saying:
SECOND MESSENGER: Behold, I come from the King and have a massage
for the young man who lately stood before him. Guard
opens cell and leads pilgrim out.
SECOND MESSENGER: The King desires that thou shouldst make haste
and come to the palace. Pilgrim accompanies second
messenger to King's trone. Behold, oh, King, the young man is here
and awaits thy command. Messenger salams
and retires.
KING PHARAOH: Thou hast wisely spoken concerning the King's
dream, and what thou hast said seemeth good unto the King, and because the
spirit of the Holy God dwelleth in thee and He hath shown thee all this, there
is none so discreet and wise as thou. Therefore, I decree that thou shalt be
over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in
the throne will I be greater than thou. King
arises from the throne and takes pilgrim by the hand,
saying: See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. King
removes his signet ring and places it upon pilgrim's hand, and places royal robe
upon him and a gold collar around his neck and asks him to be seated at his
right hand.
PHARAOH: Let all the Archers bow before the Prince of Egypt and
salute him with the Royal Salam. As the Archers salute
pilgrim with the Royal Salam he answers with the sign of the Pyramid.
PHARAOH, addressing pilgrim: Behold, I am Pharaoh and without thee
shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all Egypt.
PHARAOH, addressing Princely Messenger: Princely Messenger,
assemble the candidates about the sacred shrine.
PRINCELY MESSENGER obeys and salams,
saying: Your orders have been obeyed, oh, King.
Organizer advances to place before the sacred shrine and proceeds as follows:
ORGANIZER: Behold, thou hast witnessed the pilgrimage of a fellow
man. Thou hast seen him journey from the depths to the heights: Thou hast beheld
the inhumanity of men to their brother, and throughout all his journey he bore
himself manfully, courageously and truthfully. He has acquitted himself with
honor, although lied about, scorned, cast down and imprisoned; yet through all
of this he never lost his faith in his God or his fellowmen. He returned good
for evil. He did unto his fellowmen as he would that they should do unto him,
and now unto you, my fellowmen, who have assembled about this sacred altar, it
is your privilege to take the oath of fealty with a body of men who seek to
perpetuate this manly manhood of the pilgrim and seek to bind themselves in
perpetual brotherhood to defend the weak, minister unto the oppressed, give ear
unto the cry of sorrow and distress and love their fellowmen as they love
themselves. Should there be one here who at this time, before taking this most
binding oath, desires to withdraw and leave the room, let him speak now or else
forever after hold his peace.
The King will now give the oath of allegiance.
Obligation
My Friends, you will kneel at the Sacred Shrine; you will place your left
hand on your heart and the right hand upon the Holy Bible, which lies open
before you, and repeat after me, using your name where I use mine.
I,
, in the presence of Almighty God and those here assembled, do most
solemnly promise and swear that I will obey the laws and ritual of this order;
that I will seek to aid and assist any member of the Archers of the Egyptian
Prince, and I will stand by and protect every member of this order until he has
been guilty of a crime or an offense the second time, or until he has proven
himself unworthy to be a member and a brother of this order. This I do swear,
and should I swerve from this, I pray that my tongue may be torn out by the
roots and my eyeballs may be torn from the sockets with red hot irons; and I
pray thee, oh, God, that should I fall so low as to violate the chastity of the
wife, daughter or sister of a brother of this order, may I spend the remaining
days of my life in bitter agony, terror and pain; and should I deprive an
innocent girl of her virtue, oh, God, deliver me and my old mother to the
bottomless pit, and may no water there quench the thirst of our parching tongues.
And should I defraud or cheat a brother, may I be damned forever. Should I
borrow any moneys from a brother of this order, or create a debt which I do not
pay within a reasonable length of time―or make efforts to pay―may my
body be smitten with boils until I have satisfied this brother. And
should I speak ill of the Officers of the Imperial Lodge or the organization as
a whole, or refuse to stand by and forever protect the honor of the Imperial
Lodge of the World, Archers of the Egyptian Prince, and thc Subordinate Lodges
thereof, may I be smitten that I shall eat grass from the earth like an ox in
the field; and I do promise and swear by the God of the Heavens that I will, as
an employer, be better to my employees, and that as an employee I will be fairer
and seek to protect all of the interests of my employer. I will never, because
of any personal prejudice, hatred or hearsay, oppose or reject the admission of
au applicant in this order, and should I advise a Brother of this order to cast
a blank ball against an applicant for admission into this order, may my dreams
haunt me until I toss upon my pillow, and may there be no rest for me, day or
night. Should I fall so low as to disregard any part of this obligation, may I
be driven from the dwelling place of men, and may my hand forget her skill and
my body be paralyzed, and may I see my own children or the children of my
dearest kindred tom from the breast of their mother and crushed against the
rocks; and may God keep me
steadfast and bind me by this sacred obligation that I may forever be an
Archer of the Egyptian Prince. Amen.
Candidates, having taken the oath, are seated. Then the ten brothers come
before the throne of the Pilgrim, who is now the Crown Prince and bow down with
their faces to the floor.
CROWN PRINCE, Pilgrim standing before them says: Whence come ye?
BRETHREN: From the land of Canaan to buy food.
CROWN PRINCE: Ye are spies. To see the nakedness of the land ye
are come.
BRETHREN: Nay, nay, my Lord, but to buy food are thy servants
come. We are all one man's sons. We are true men. Thy servants are no spies.
PILGRIM PRINCE: Nay, but I say to see the nakedness of the land
are ye come.
BRETHREN: We, thy servants, are twelve brethren, the sons of one
man, in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our
father, and one is not.
PILGRIM PRINCE: That is what I said; ye are spies, and I shall
prove thee. By the life of Pharaoh, ye shall not go forth hence except your
youngest brother come hither. Now, one of you go and fetch your brother and all
the rest of you shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be
truth in you, or else, by the life of. Pharaoh, surely ye are spies.
Pilgrim Prince sounds gong. Guards enter
and take brethren out, binding their hands with ropes. Pilgrim Prince now goes
to Prison, where brothers have been taken, and addresses them thus:
PILGRIM PRINCE: This do, and live; for I fear God. If ye be true
men, let one of you remain here in prison and the rest of you go and carry grain
for the famine of your houses, and bring your youngest brother unto me. So shall
your words be verified and ye shall not die.
BRETHREN, speaking to one another: We are verily guilty concerning
our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul when he besought us and we
would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
REUBEN: Did I not say unto you: Do not sin against the child, and
ye would not hear? therefore also behold his blood is required.
Simeon is now left in prison and others give Pilgrim Prince money for corn.
Their sacks are filled and money is put in the mouth of each man's sack. They
take sacks and go away. They stop at other end of hall, put down sacks, open
them and then one says:
ONE OF THE BRETHREN: Behold, my money is in my sack. Now what hath
God done unto us? They get up and journey to their
father, saying unto him:
BRETHREN: Behold, let us tell thee what has befallen us. We went
down to Egypt and behold, the man, the Lord of the land, spake roughly with us
and took us for spies of the country. And we said unto him: We are true men, we
are no spies, we are twelve brethren, sons of our father, one is not, and the
youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. And, the man, the
Lord of the land, said unto us: Hereby shall I know that ye are true men. Leave
one of your brethren with me and take grain for the famine of your houses and go
your way and bring your youngest brother unto me. Then shall I know that ye are
no spies, but that ye are true men. So will I deliver your brother and ye shall
traffic in the land.
PATRIARCH: Me, have ye bereaved of my children. Joseph is not, and
Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.
REUBEN: Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee. Deliver him
into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
PATRIARCH: My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is
dead and he only, is left. If harm befall him by the way in which ye go, then
win ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Go now and buy more
food.
JUDAH: The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying: Ye shall not
see my face except your brother be with you. If thou will send our brother with
us, we will go down and buy food. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go
down, for the man said unto us: Ye shall not set my face, except your brother be
with you.
PATRIARCH: Why did you deal so ill with me? Why did you tell him
you had yet another brother?
BRETHREN: He asked us straightway concerning ourselves and
concerning our kindred, saying: Is your father yet alive? Have ye another
brother? And we told him. Could we in anywise know that he would say, bring our
brother down?
JUDAH: Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go that we may
live and not die, both we, and thou and also our little ones. I will be surety
for him. Of my hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto thee, and
set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever; for, except we had
lingered, surely we had returned a second time.
PATRIARCH: If it must be so, then do this: Take of the choice
fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little
balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts and almonds and take double
money in your hands; and also the money that was returned in the mouth of your
sacks carry again to him, peradventure it was an oversight; take also your
brother, and arise and go again unto the man. And God, almighty, give you mercy
before the man, that he may release unto you your other brother, and Benjamin.
And if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
Brethren now take Benjamin and journey to
other end of hall, again leaving aged Patriarch alone. They take present with
them for the Prince and upon arriving at the throne, Steward of the Prince meets
them and they speak to him as follows:
BRETHREN: Oh, my Lord, we came indeed down at the first time to
buy food, and it came to pass that when we came to a lodging place that we
opened our sacks, and, behold every man's money was in the mouth of his sack,
our money in full weight, and we have brought it again in our hands, and other
money have we brought in our hands to buy food. We know not who put our money in
our sacks.
STEWARD: Peace be to you, fear not. Your God and the God of your
Father hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. Steward
now opens prison cell and brings brother out and they
fell upon his neck and welcome him. Now, behold here is water. Wash
your feet and your hands for my master desires that you should dine with him. Brethren
wash hands and feet and prepare present for the Prince.
Pilgrim Prince comes in and they bow before him and carry present and lay it at
his feet.
PILGRIM PRINCE: Is your father well? Is he yet alive?
BRETHREN: Thy servant, our father, is well. He is yet alive.
PILGRIM PRINCE: And is this your youngest brother, of whom ye
spake ? God be gracious unto thee my son.
They all sit down now and eat and drink together and then Pilgrim Prince
says:
PILGRIM PRINCE: Steward, fill the men's sacks with grain and food,
as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack and put my cup,
the silver cup, in the mouth of the youngest man's sack. Steward
does as directed and men start away with sacks on their
shoulders. They have no sooner started until Steward runs after them and says:
STEWARD: Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
Behold, the cup of the Prince is missing and he has reason to believe that
you are carrying it away. It is by this cup that my Lord divineth, and out of it
he drinketh. Behold, ye have done a great evil if so be it shall be found upon
you.
BRETHREN: Wherefore speaketh my Lord with such words as these? Far
be it from thy servants that they should do such a thing. Did we not return unto
thee the money which we found in our sacks? Why, then, thinkest thou we would
take gold or silver from the Prince? With whomsoever of our number the cup is
found let him die, and we will also be thy slaves.
STEWARD: Let him that hath the cup be my slave and ye shall be
blameless. All open sacks and cup is found in
Benjamin's sack. All return to Prince's throne and bow before Pilgrim Prince.
PILGRIM PRINCE: What deed is this that ye have done?
Do you not know that I can Divine?
JUDAH: What shall we say unto my Lord? What shall we speak, or how
shall we dear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants, behold
we are thy slaves.
PILGRIM PRINCE: Far be it from me that I should do this. The man
in whose hand the cup is shall be my slave, but as for you, get you lip in peace
unto your father.
JUDAH: Oh, my Lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in
my Lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant, for thou art
even as Pharaoh. My Lord asked his servants, saying: Have je a father or a
brother? And we said unto my Lord: We have a father, an old man, and a child of
his old age, a little one, and his brother is dead and he alone is left of his
mother and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants: Bring him
down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said: the lad cannot
leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And
thou saidst unto thy servants: Except your younger brother shall come down with
thee, you shall never see my face again. And when we told our father these
words, our father said: Go again and buy a little food. We said: We cannot go
down except our youngest brother be with us, for the Prince said we should not
see his face if our youngest brother was not with us. And thy servant, our
father, said unto us: Ye know that my wife bare me two sons, and the one went
out from me, and I said, surely he was torn in pieces by the wild beasts, and I
have not seen him and now, if ye take this one also from me and harm befall him;
then ye shall bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Now, if thy servants return and the lad is not with us, seeing that his life
is bound up with the lads life, surely he will die and thy servants will be
the cause of it. For, thy servants became surety for the lad unto my father, for
I said, . if I bring not the lad back to thee, then, will I bear the blame
forever. Now, let thy servant be thy slave but let the lad go with his brethren.
For, I cannot go up to my father if the lad be not with me, lest I shall see the
evil that shall come upon him.
PILGRIM PRINCE: Behold, my brethren, it is enough.
Come near me, I pray thee, that I may speak to thee. Joseph, thy brother, is
not dead; but I that speak to thee am he. I am Joseph; thy brother whom ye sold
into Egypt, Does my father yet live? Come near to me, I pray thee; Be not angry
with yourselves that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to
preserve your life; and He hath given me great, glory in Egypt, so that I am
over all the house of Pharaoh. Go quickly; I pray thee, and bring my father
hither and tell him of all my glory. Pilgrim
Prince now kisses all his brethren and they depart to bring their father down.
BRETHREN: Oh father, Joseph is yet alive. Behold, it is he that
hath prepared all the food against the days of famine in Egypt and he hath sent
for thee to come down at once. Behold, he rules as a Prince in Egypt and his
glory is like unto the glory of Pharaoh.
PATRIARCH: It is enough. Joseph, my son, is yet alive.
I will go and see him before I die.
Brethren carry old man in a chair to Joseph and Joseph falls upon his neck
and kisses him.
PATRIARCH: Now, let me die, since I have seen thy face and know
that thou art yet alive.
CHAPLAIN: A long time ago, a great man said: "Though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels and have not Love, I am become as a
sounding brass or a clanging cimbal."
You men who, are here tonight have witnessed a fellow pilgrim, as he
laboriously climbed the Pyramid of Life. And, how did he reach the summit? Was
it not by concerning himself at every step in the welfare of his fellows? To
love your fellowman is the chief attainment of life. Success awaits to crown the
man who loves. His life shall never cease. In the sacred shrine of the heart
affection of his brethren, his memory will be perpetuated to the farthest
generations. For, to love is to live. You shall pass through this world but
once. Any good thing, therefore, which you can do, or any kindness that you can
show to any human being, do it now. Do not defer it, or neglect it, for you
shall not pass this way again.
Therefore, my brethren, be kind, and after you have been kind, after your
love has stolen forth in the world and done its beautiful work, do not shout it
from the housetops but go back into the shade again and say nothing about it.
Remember this, that happiness comes not in having or getting, but in giving.
Give, therefore, to your fellowman, the greatest boon it is in your power to
bestow, and give it as the sun gives its light in the morning, or, as the rain
descending upon the earth, or as heaven itself, exhausting its very treasure
house for man. Do it lavishly, utterly, joyously. And, know this, oh man, that
love abideth forever. Faith becomes sight. Dreams and visions arc realized. Hope
may be deferred, but at last is satisfied in fruition. But Love shall never die.
Love is eternal. The pyramids of Egypt may one day crumble to dust, even the sun
may cease to shine and the sands of the desert grow cold, but love will still
yield its warmth and light and life. You have witnessed a fellow pilgrim
supplying the needs of his people during a great famine and life and happiness
to them when death seemed ready to swallow them up.
You may never have opportunity to do what he did, but all about you; touching
your elbows as you labor with them in shop or field, or, as you walk beside them
down life's path way, are men who hunger for kindness, truth and love. Think not
to wait until some great day shall arrive, but, as you toil with men and live
with men, invite their sorrows to sit by your fireside. Lift the burden from
their breasts and lead them out of the shadows into the light. The common touch
affords the opportunity for you to impress your life upon the world centuries
after your mortal bodies have crumbled to ashes. "The one coinage that
shall be current in the world when all other coinages of the nations of the
world are useless; and unhonored, is love." Love can only exist in
relationship to somebody or something. The saddest sight in all the world is to
witness a man growing old alone, unloving and unloved. Therefore, my fellowmen,
be not deceived if you shall one day hear the voice of the Prince of Heaven
saying: "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom which has been
'prepared for you from the foundations of the world. For, I was hungry and ye
gave me to eat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took
me in; naked and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison
and ye came unto me." Rest assured it will be because you fed the hungry,
gave the cup of cold water to the thirsty pilgrim, ministered unto the needs of
the stranger at your gate, shielded a fellow pilgrim from the chilling blast,
visited the sick and needy and led your imprisoned fellowman from the darkness
of the dungeon to heights where he could see the world was fair.
The Noble Archer will now instruct you further in the mysteries of our order.
ARCHER: Listen, my brothers, to the final instructions: In order
to be admitted to any lodge of the Archers of the Egyptian Prince, at the outer
gate you will give two raps, pause, give two raps. The keeper of the outer gate
will raise the wicket and to him you will give
. You will then be allowed to
enter the ante room. At the inner gate you will give
. The keeper of the
inner gate will open the wicket and you will give him the semi-annual password,
. You will then be permitted to enter the lodge room. If you are a visiting
member to that lodge, you will remain standing on the inside of the inner gate
and will be met there by the Princely Messenger, who will conduct you to the
Sacred Shrine and after saluting the Chaplain with
, you will be taken to the
Archer, and, after being introduced to him, you will take your seat in the lodge
room.. Members, in their own lodge, after entering the lodge room, while the
lodge is in session, will go to the Sacred Shrine and salute the Chaplain with
and take their seats in the lodge room. If you wish to retire while the
lodge is in session, you will go to the Sacred Shrine and will kneel, facing the
Chaplain and salute him with
. Arise and remain standing until the Chaplain
salutes you with
. You are then permitted to leave the lodge room. During
opening and dosing prayer, all members shall rise and remain standing with heads
bowed.
We have a distress sign which is made in the following manner,
. The
answer is
. The grip is made in the following manner
. The distress signal
after night is
. Answer is
. We have a test which is made as follows
.
the voting sign is
. The sign of courtesy from the Archer is
. The gavel
is the emblem of authority in the Archer's hands. Three raps calls lodge to
order. One rap calls up entire lodge. Two raps seat members when standing.
ARCHER: Brothers, by the virtue of the power vested in me as
Archer of
Lodge No.
, I now declare you, and each of you, Archers of the
Egyptian Prince.
ARCHER: Princely Messenger, you may conduct the brothers to a
seat.
ARCHER: Brothers, let us proceed with the business of this lodge.
Closing Ceremonies
ARCHER: Brothers, if there be no further business, we will proceed
to close.
ARCHER, gives three raps: Brothers, what is the duty of all
members after leaving the lodge room?
MEMBERS, repeating in concert: To aid a brother and his loved
ones. To never discuss the business of the lodge in the hearing of outsiders. To
never congregate in the streets and talk matters pertaining to lodge affairs. If
a brother be doing wrong, take him by the hand and try to set him right.
ARCHER: The Chaplain will again invoke the blessings of God.
CHAPLAIN: Our Father in Heaven, we are about to leave this hall to
mingle once more with humanity. May the instruction we have received here,
supply us with strength to do the right. Bless our brotherhood and give it
length of days, that it may be a blessing to our posterity. Guide us, guard us
and keep us until we meet again, for we ask it in thy name. Amen.
ARCHER: Princely Messenger, you will close the Holy Bible, remove
the cloth from the shrine and bring the Bible and station covers and rituals to
this station.
Princely Messenger does as directed.
Members shall remain standing and sing the closing 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 prayer;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
A sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart
And hope to meet again.
ARCHER: Brothers this lodge is now closed.