Grand United Order of True Reformers
Ritual of the Fifth, or Loyal Degree
Conductor examines the members and reports.
1875
W. G. M.: The members will rise while the D. G. M. opens the Lodge
in the Loyal Degree.
D. G. M.: By the desire of the W. G. M. I declare this Lodge
opened in the Loyal Degree for the purpose of conferring its honors.
W. G. M.: I declare it so opened.
The G. enters with the candidates (the curtain being drawn across the room)
without knocking at the door, and approaches the chair of the D. G. M., who
appears to be sleeping, but suddenly awakes and says: How dare you
enter this sacred retreat without permission from the W. G. M.?
C.: I thought there could be no harm in coming here; I had often
heard of the fame of this Benevolent Institution, and had a desire to become
acquainted with its secret Workings.
D. G. M.: You have trespassed, sir, on forbidden ground, and
deserve to be punished for your temerity. Guard, Guard! bind them and take them
before the magistrate.
C.: Hold, most worthy sir, we are friends and design you no evil;
we are innocent in our intentions.
D. G. M.: Will you observe secrecy if we admit you to these solemn
ceremonies?
C.: We will.
D. G. M.: Will you promise to obey all the sublime principles
inculcated by this Degree, provided you are admitted to its sacred rites?
C. and candidates answer: I will, as far as possible.
D. G. M.: You will proceed to the chair of the W. G. M.
As this is said, the curtain rises.
W. G. M.: What do you desire, and for what purpose do you ask
admission to the secrets of this Degree?
C.: We have understood that there were great advantages to be
derived therefrom, and would be glad to share those advantages with others of
the Order.
W. G. M.: Have you made the necessary advancement in the Order to
entitle you to these honors?
C.: I have, most W. G. M.
W. G. M.: I must refer you to the proper officer for examination,
and if found correct by him, you will be allowed to proceed.
C. conducts the candidates to the D. G. M. who examines them thus:
D. G. M.: How far have you advanced in this Order, strangers?
C.: We have taken the Friendship Degree, and now crave admission
to the mysteries of the Loyal Degree.
D. G. M.: Will you give me the Password to the Friendship Degree?
C.: I did not so receive.
D. G. M.: What will you do with it?
C.: I will divide and letter it with a qualified brother or
sister.
D. G. M.: Well, begin, if you please.
C.: No, you must begin.
D. G. M. then gives C. the first letter of the Password in a whisper; the C.
gives the second, the D. G. M. the third, &c,, till they are all through.
D. G. M.: Well done, brother, now give me the grip.
C. gives the grip.
D. G. M.: Right brother. The brother has passed the Friendship Degree.
W. G. M.: Proceed with the ceremony.
C. marches with the candidates around the room.
W. G. M.: Let love be without dissimulation, for love is the
fulfilling of the law; abhor that which is evil, and cleave unto that which is
good.
D. G. M.: For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning
that we should love one another; be ye true friends and not enemies.
W. G. M.: Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed
and in truth.
C.: You will please follow me and I will introduce you to our S.
W., who will instruct you in some of the important duties of this Degree.
D. G. M.: This Degree, my friends, abounds with the most wholesome
instructions, and is calculated to impress us with those solemn duties we owe to
each other as friends.
W. G. M.: It is with great pleasure that we confer on you this
Degree. Friendship is the link that binds heart to heart, and unites us together
in the bonds of love. It leads us to watch over the interests of each other, and
to bestow such acts of kindness as friends alone are capable of bestowing. When
circumstances render it necessary we aid and assist each other, and especially
do we feel bound to give our support to brothers and sisters of our own beloved
Order, a duty which we, as true friends to each other, cannot forget. Let us
remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive, when we do it under a
sense of obligation to each other, not in word but in the spirit of benevolence.
The great Patron of all human benevolence spent his whole life in doing good,
and to crown his devotedness to the human race, laid down his life for them. We
cannot greatly err while we indulge in these holy and benevolent emotions
towards our fellow men, and every word and act done under the influence of this
pure spirit of kindness, brings with it untold pleasure to the human heart;
while every word and act of unkindness brings with it the opposite state of
feeling, it wounds our conscience and mars our peace; and a wounded conscience
who can bear? May you, my friends, be enabled to carry out the principles
inculcated in this Degree, so shall your life be crowned with usefulness, and
your reward perpetual peace.
W. G. M.: You will now listen to the instructions of my
assistants.
Q.: What are we to expect of each other as true friends?
A.: Kindness and forbearance.
Q.: Are we to be kind to each other under all circumstances?
A.: We are, for so we are taught by our great Leader.
Q.: Please repeat his saying.
A.: But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use and
persecute you.
Q.: It appears by these sayings that we are to be kind to all,
even to our enemies; but why should this be so?
A.: Because thereby we shall overcome evil with good, and convert
our enemy into a friend.
Q.: The lesson is certainly important, and we shall do well to
practice upon those principles if thereby we bring good to ourselves and our
neighbors.
A.: Yes, brother, and from this time let us cherish more, of this
benevolent and kind spirit towards each other, and never indulge in unbrotherly
and unkind epithets which are but the offspring of the baser passions.
W. G. M.: You will receive the obligation.
Obligation
In the presence of the members of the Loyal Degree here assembled, I, ..., do
solemnly promise, declare and say, that I will keep sacred and inviolable all
the secrets of this Degree; that I will neither write, indite or cause to be
written or indited, in part or in whole, any of them upon anything movable or
immovable, so that the same may be by any means obtained. And I furthermore
promise that I will live in accordance with the instructions contained in this
Degree as far as possible. I pledge myself in the true performance of the same.
There are four signs to this Degree, the Countersign, Token, Grip and Word.
The countersign is given thus, by placing the index finger of both hands
pointing to the heart.
The token is the word "Compassion."
The grip is a grasp of the four fingers and thumbs.
The word is the word "Expect," and is to be used "as" in
other degrees.
W. G. M.: In the name of the G. L., I declare you fully instructed
in the Fifth or Loyal Degree. You will salute the chairs and retire to the
ante-room.
The members will rise while the D. G. M. closes the Lodge in this Degree.
D. G. M.: By the desire of the W. G. M., I declare this Lodge
closed in the Fifth or Loyal Degree.
W. G. M.: I declare it so closed.