Grand United Order of Moses
Ritual of the Law or Fifth Degree
This degree opens with solemn rejoicing, singing hymns and marching around
the lodge room. The C. is brought in, not blind-folded, and marched around the
lodge room with a l. l. in front of him and an u. l. behind him and no other l.
b. in the room. Sing, "Jesus lover of my soul."
1905
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the billows nearer roll,
While the tempest still is high,
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring.
Cover my defenseless bead
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
I am all unrighteousness:
False and full of sin lam,
Thou art full of truth and grace.
The R.W.H.P. reads Exodus 13: 17-22 and Exodus 14: 5-11. When verse 10 is
reached the lights are put out in the lodge room and there is great confusion.
Then shall the R.W.L. give the signal, and all is solemn and still for three to
five minutes. The lights are now turned on and the R.W.H.P. reads the 13th and
14th verses of the 14th chapter of the Exodus. Lodge and C. march around
singing, "Didn’t old Pharaoh get lost?"
The lodge is seated and Exodus the 15th chapter is read alternately by the
R.W.H.P. and the lodge.
Then shall the R.W.L.s. read thus: Sojourners and travelers to
eternity, there is none like the God of Moses and the God of our forefathers. He
is even our God; he is a man of war, the Lord God is his name. Let us love and
serve Him. This we must do.
The Lodge repeats: Amen, Amen, Amen.
R.W.L.s.: He delivered Moses and the children of Israel from the
hand of the oppressor.
Lodge responds: And he will deliver us.
R.W.L.s.: Let us treasure up the principles of our noble Order—Industry,
Unity, Morality, Temperance Charity, Brotherly Love; for the hour that knoweth
us now will soon know us no more forever. Live the life so that we may die the
death.
Lodge responds: Amen, Amen, Amen.
All sing:
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify;
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;
And oh! thy servant, Lord! prepare
A strict account to give.
Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
Then shall the R.W.P.L. s. t. t. upon his stand with a s. and say to the C.
who is brought before him: My child, as touching the law we should
have you take warning, for none break it but to be broken by it. The awful
thunders and the smoke through which it was handed down are but God’s sentence
in advance upon the wretched sinner that mocks his mandates. Beware and live;
refuse and die.
The C. is conducted to the R.W.L. who reads, after striking his stand two
times: You have heard the warning of the R.W.P.L. You will do well to
heed it. Do not think, however, that the law is hard. Hear the words of Him whom
Moses foreshadowed when he lifted up the serpent in the wilderness: ‘Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with
all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets.’
Hence love and charity are the highest manifestations of law.
C. is conducted before the R.W.L.s. who reads: Fair Charity be
thou my guest, And be thy constant couch my breast.
This is the golden chain that reaches from heaven to earth. Let us hold fast
to it, and whenever our day’s work is done, we shall hear the welcome
approbation, Come ye blessed and sit in the Grand Lodge above where Jesus Christ
our Grand Worshipful Leader presides forevermore.
Lodge responds: Amen, Amen, Amen.
Close by singing:
Shall we meet beyond the river,
Where the surges cease to roll,
Where in all the bright forever,
Sorrow ne’er shall press the soul?
Cho. Shall we meet? Shall we meet?
Shall we meet? Shall we meet?
Shall we meet beyond the river,
Where the surges cease to roll?
Shall we meet in that blest harbor,
When our stormy voyage is o’er?
Shall we meet and cast the anchor,
By the fair celestial shore?
Shall we meet in yonder city,
Where the towers of crystal shine,
Where the walls are all of jasper,
Built by workmanship divine?
Shall we meet with many a loved one,
That was torn from our embrace?
Shall we listen to their voices,
And behold them face to face?
Giving of grip, password and token.