Covenanters’ Mystic Union
Initiation Ritual,
Second or Progressive Degree
Candidate shall not be hoodwinked. Guardian Knight in Ante-room knocks * * *
* on inner door. Cov. Knight answers on door with * * * *, opens the door and
says: Guardian Knight, who comes here?
1901
Guardian Knight: Covenant Knight, I chanced to meet in yonder
glen, an honorable, valiant comrade who has passed through our Historic Degree
with the dignity and valor becoming a loyal Covenanter, and who is now on his
way Eastward, toward the dawning of the morning, in search of more light and
true liberty.
Cov. Knight, in a loud voice: Commander, our trusty Guardian
Knight has just informed me that a comrade of the Historic Degree is at our
draw-bridge, in his journeying Eastward toward the dawning of the morning in
search of more light and true liberty.
Commander, in a loud voice: Let him be admitted.
Members begin immediately to sing our:
Initiation Ode
Blest be the sacred ties.
That make our lives sublime,
That join our kinship with the skies
In every land and clime.
Though foes assail, we stand,
Defend our sacred shrine,
Protect each member of our band.
And fight for truth divine.
Marching in bright array,
The breeze our banners wave,
We're marching in our King's highway,
Our God is King, He'll save.
During the singing, the Field-Marshal (with his clarion hanging by his right
side, a helmet on his head, a shield in his left hand, and sword hanging at left
side from belt) heads the procession, while the Guardian Knight escorts
candidates twice or three times around the Lodge arranging that, at the close of
the singing of the third verse, the procession shall be approaching the
north-east corner of the Lodge where is located a canvas tent or a painted
canvas imitating a pile of rocks, from which a Royalist Knight of the King's
Bodyguard, with drawn sword, jumps forth and says, with a haughty challenge: Halt!
I am a trusty Knight of His August Majesty the King, Charles the First, and
Captain of His Majesty's imperial Bodyguard. Various rumors have come to the
ears of His Majesty that divers insurrections resulting in much bloodshed in
this Northern realm are now desolating the country, and I have been commanded by
His Majesty to inquire into the real causes of these disturbances and to bring
the of captive to the capitol, that summary torture and imprisonment may be
meted out to those who commit such felonies against His Majesty's government. I
therefore command you to tell me who this man is among you whose garb betrays
him as one of those felonous Covenanters whom I am hunting down with a greater
vengeance than a hound would track and shake a fox. Is he, or is he not, a
Covenanter?
Field-Marshal: This man, John Brown, is a comrade of mine, and a
peaceful, industrious, honorable peasant, of a borough of Argyleshire.
Knight of the King's Bodyguard: Yon have evaded my question. It
matters not whether you regard him as an honorable man or not. If he is a
Covenanter, he is a felon in the judgment of the law, and must be surrendered to
me for imprisonment, torture, and perhaps ... death! I command you therefore, in
the name of His August Majesty, Charles the First, to answer my question ...,
"Is he, or is he not, ... a Covenanter"?
Field Marshal, draws his sword, steps forward one or two paces, and with a
heavy stamp of his right foot forward in fencing position, says with a loud
defiant challenge: Yes, he is a Covenanter, and so am I! You go, ...
tell your King that the Lord our God is our only King, ... that our country is
free from your tyrants domination, and we are free citizens: and upon our
honor have sworn to shield our honorable Covenanters, even unto ... death!
Here the Field-Marshal and the Knight of the King's Bodyguard immediately
engage in a sham-battle ... sword contest, ... where the actual swords shall be
made to clash together several times. The Knight of the King's Body-guard falls
mortally wounded with his hand over his heart. He is kindly attended, his head
raised, and is given a glass of water, by the
Field-Marshal, who says: We Covenanters are taught in the Holy
Scriptures that even a glass of cold water given in charity to our enemies shall
not lose its reward; for it is written ... If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if
he thirst, give him drink ....
Knight of the King's Bodyguard, in an agonizing, fainting tone: If
your religion and Covenants thus teach you to be so kind, even unto your
enemies, I would to God I too were a Covenanter!
The Field-Marshal remains with the dying Knight of the King's Bodyguard,
until the Guardian Knight conducts the candidate back to the Ante-room.
Commander: Covenant and Guardian Knights, you will now conduct the
candidate back to the place whence he came, there to await my orders.
During initiation, the Bible upon the altar always remains open. A suitable
cushion is placed by the altar for the candidate to kneel upon. The four red
lights remain lit upon the Four Tables about the altar, and the four sets of
ribbon streamers (of three ribbons each, red, white and blue) are suspended from
a wire above the altar to the Four Tables.
The lodge lights are turned low. The Commander stands before the altar; the
Field Marshal by his side in full armor, with sword drawn. Four Knights with
spears about seven feet long, stand beside the Four Tables and cross the points
of spears over each other about six feet above the altar. All members surround
the altar forming a square, with hands joined.
leaving a gap behind the altar for entrance of candidate, who is now
hoodwinked. An elevated platform or bridge should be prepared by some such
device as joining together two doors at the top, with hinges, and place a wooden
horse under the center to elevate the center about two feet, which would make
the bridge about fourteen feet long. Nail cleats or battens across the doors to
prevent candidate from slipping and to make it also appear ... a rough road.
Guardian Knight in ante-room gives * * * * knocks at the inner door, which is
answered from within by the Covenant Knight with * * * * knocks.
Cov. Knight: Who comes here?
Guardian Knight: Your Guardian Knight with a comrade who is still
journeying Eastward, toward the dawning of the morning, in search of more light
and true liberty.
Cov. Knight: Commander, our trusty Guardian Knight with a comrade
who is loyal to our cause, are at the draw-bridge of the portal seeking
admittance.
Com.: Escort them into our midst.
The Guardian Knight escorting the candidate, halts before they come to the
bridge, when the Commander says: Our trusty Guardian Knight you have
passed many mile-stones in the rugged journey of life. You are now on a rugged
road, so I think it well that you should counsel our comrade along this rugged
pathway of life that he may not lose his way, in search of light, nor fall over
some precipice.
Guardian Knight: My worthy comrade, thus far you have run well,
but beware of dangers ahead, for you must now pass over a rugged foot-bridge
which spans a, rushing mountain torrent. Here sheets of
tin should be used to resemble distant thunder and rushing water.
Be of good courage and I will point out the safe pathway to you, Life is a
rugged road and many lose their way, fall over precipices and are dashed to
pieces on the cruel rocks below. Many pilgrims who travel without a trusty
guide, fall into the mountain torrents and are swept out into the tempestuous
ocean of eternal ruin.
After the candidate is led twice around the room and twice over the bridge,
he is led toward the altar, while the Guardian Knight says: And now
my comrade, a loyal Covenanter has guided you safely over many rugged paths,
where otherwise you would have met with disaster. Now therefore, let us kneel at
this altar by the way side, and with our hands outstretched upon the Holy
Scriptures, give thanks unto our God for our deliverance from peril and for the
protection afforded by our noble fraternity.
Just before the candidate approaches the altar, the piano should be played
softly and the members sing softly:
Rock of Ages cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in Thee:
Let the water and the blood.
From Thy wounded side which flowed.
Be of sin the double cure.
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Could my tears forever flow,
Could my zeal no languor know.
These for sin could not atone;
Thou must save and Thou alone:
In my hands no price I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
White I draw this fleeting breath.
When my eyes shall close in death.
When I rise to worlds unknown.
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
While the last stanza is being sung, the hoodwink is removed from candidate.
Com., to candidate: You will now arise from the altar. Now that
the hoodwink is removed from your eyes, you have come out of darkness into
light, and you now behold before you the four great beacon lights of Covenantry
on the Four Tables. You now behold the protection afforded you by all loyal
Covenanters, which has been symbolized throughout this Degree; and you, in turn,
are expected to give that loyal protection to others. In this Degree yon have
played the part of John Brown, the loyal Covenanter, known as the ''The
Christian Carrier", who was massacred by Claverhouse, the Royalist, because
he was true to his convictions. Be ye therefore true and steadfast, even unto
death. Where ever you meet a Knight or Lady Covenanter along the pathway of
life, it is your duty, to treat them with the true courtesy, kindly
consideration and chivalry of the ancient Covenanters; and never refuse the
"cup of cold water" even unto your enemies; for "To err is human;
to forgive, divine". This concludes the "Second, or Progressive
Degree". You will now be conducted through the gate, by the draw-bridge,
there to await my instructions.
Guardian Knight conduct the candidate back to the ante-room.