Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord
Initiation Ritual of the Fourth Grade
2011
All members of the Fourth Grade will be referred to as either
Elders of the Council or as Councillors.
Those taking part in the ceremonial are referred to as officers
of the Council and the square format in which they sit is
designated the Council Chamber. The Priests sit just outside the
Council Chamber.
The Priests will wear surplices.
The Candidate. known as The Aspirant' will wear Sandals.
An extra Pedestal is placed in front of the Summus for the VSL.
A Transparency of the Hosts of the Lord and the Serried Ranks is
placed behind the Summus. At this stage the Transparency is
'Closed'. The Standards of the Armies of Israel are placed
either side of it. Stands for R.A. staves are placed by the
seats of members of the Council.
The Banner of the Order is ranged in the East, as so directed by
the Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Twelve large stones are to be placed in the Temple as follows,
just west of the seats for the Priests:
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
The positions of the stones are numbered and the numbers will
have relevance in the ceremony.
Outside the Temple the Ark of the Covenant is concealed. The
Banners are ready to place in Stands already in position for
when the first procession leaves the Temple.
The Consistory having been opened in the First Grade and then
adjourned all those below the Fourth Grade will retire. The
ceremony then proceeds as follows:
Opening Fourth Grade
Grand Summus stands and Gavels once and says: Companions
assist me to open this Council of Elders in the Fourth Grade of our
Order. Companions the day is far spent, the night is at hand.
Companion Grand Guarder what saith the Grand Watchman?
Grand Guarder gives a Court Bow to the Grand Summus opens door
and says to the Grand Watchman outside: Companion
Grand Watchman what of the night?
Grand Watchman: Companion Grand Guarder the night is
at hand and all is safe and well.
Grand Guarder returns to his place, gives a Court Bow to the
Grand Summus, and says: Grand Summus all is safe and
well.
Grand Summus: Companions you will stand to Order with
the sign of the Fourth Grade of the Order.
ALL Companions give sign.
Grand Summus: I declare this Council duly opened in
the Fourth Grade.
Gavels four times
Grand Director of Ceremonies opens the VSL at Joshua 5:13-15,
which is on a pedestal in front of the Summus.
Grand Director: Be seated Companions of Ceremonies
Ceremony of the Third Grade
Grand Summus: Companions, it is my intention today to
promote to the rank of Councillor, our Distinguished Companion … and
several other Distinguished Companions, as a reward for their
continued service to our Order.
Grand Director of Ceremonies you will retire and introduce the
Aspirants.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies retires. He then:
(a) Leads all bar the representative Candidate to reserved seats
in the Temple
(b) Retires again and returns with Distinguished Companion …
(who is wearing a Third Grade Black Sash in addition to his
scarlet cord & breast jewel) and places him just west of the
High Priests.
Grand Summus: Let Distinguished Companion … stand
forth and prove his worthiness of the rank to which he aspires.
Aspirant takes one pace forward.
Deputy Grand Summus, seated: Distinguished Companion
…, allow me to congratulate you on your preferment. Please tell me
how did you obtain that sash you wear?
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
I received it in appreciation of my faithful service.
Deputy Grand Summus: Whence come you?
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
From the Siege Perilous.
Deputy Grand Summus: What seek you here, in our
Council Chamber?
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
To perform the commands of The God of our Fathers.
Deputy Grand Summus: Companion Grand Director of
Ceremonies, what proofs of his obedience does he bring with him?
Grand Director of Ceremonies: He has safely passed
though the paths of dangerous duty. He has looked peril and death
itself in the face, and has been rewarded by a sign accompanied by
secret words.
Deputy Grand Summus: While your replies to my
inquiries appear to be quite satisfactory, I must inform the Grand
Summus of your request.
He turns to Grand Summus and confers.
Deputy Grand Summus: You spoke of a sign and secret
words. Will you communicate them to us?
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
I cannot do so but I can share them with you.
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
M... m....
Deputy Grand Summus stands: R…m.
Deputy Grand Summus: Will you now show us the sign.
Aspirant shows sign of third grade to all.
Deputy Grand Summus: Most Distinguished Grand Summus,
the Aspirant has duly proved himself.
Gives court bow and sits.
Grand Summus: Right Distinguished Assistant Grand
Summus, from whence did our ancient brethren derive the words M...
m...?
Assistant Grand, rises: History informs us, that, on
Summus festive occasions, when our ancient Egyptian Brethren were
tempted to forget that life is not designed for pleasure alone, but
that their gods were preparing a day of reckoning, for the just as
well as the unjust, they caused an interruption to their feasts, by
bringing in a mummy, to remind them of the uncertainty of life, and
the words M... M... were whispered, from one to another, in a gloomy
tone.
Grand Summus: Were we then to consider the grave to
be man's final resting place?
Assistant Grand: It was so intended, but the spirit of Summus man,
which looks into futurity and recognises the apparent injustice that
inheres within our present state of being, yearning to behold, in
some future state, the full perfection of which it finds abundant
signs in the handiwork of the creator, instinctively apprehended
that this world is not the final stage and cheerfully responded with
the victorious cry R...m.
Grand Summus: Companion Grand Episcopus, when life
endeth are we not but as dust in the sight of God.
Grand Episcopus, rises and recites, and does not read:
Life is real, life is earnest;
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to Dust returnest
Was not spoken of the soul.
Grand Episcopus then sits.
Grand Summus, to Aspirant: Distinguished Companion …,
what brings you before our Council of Elders?
Aspirant, prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
A desire to render service to our Lord.
Grand Summus: Then you must take your seat amongst us
and pay attention to our Grand Lecturers.
Grand Director of Ceremonies conducts Aspirant to his seat –
then sits himself.
Grand Lecturer (1), stands: After the spies had left
the house of Rahab and returned to
Shittim, (pronounced SHE-TEEM) they said to Joshua," The Lord has
surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are
melting in fear because of us.
Early the next morning Joshua and the Children of Israel set out
from Shittim and went to the banks of the River Jordan where they
camped for three days before crossing over.
After three days the officers went throughout the camp giving orders
to the people. "When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord
your God, and the priests, who are the Levites, carrying it, you are
to move out from your positions and follow it. But keep a distance
of two thousand cubits between you and the Ark; do not go near it."
Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow
the Lord will do wonders among you."
He then said to the priests, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant and
cross over ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead
of them.
And the Lord said to Joshua, "Tell the priests who carry the Ark of
the Covenant, 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go
and stand in the liver'."
So when the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying
the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. As soon as the priests
reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the
water from upstream stopped flowing.
The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood
firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel
passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: To order Companions.
To assist the singing and movements which follow are linked
thus:
The Organist plays a two line introduction, then all stand to
sing:
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me now and evermore.
Feed me now and evermore.
During the singing of the first verse the following discipline
is completed:
The Officers in the East remain in position. The Aspirant and
the 11 Officers on the Floor rise, take a pace forward, turn to
the West and directly leave the Temple – in the following Order:
WEST
G.
Rec.
G.Treas.
G.
Herald
G.
Reg.
G.Lect.
(4)
G. Lect. (3)
G.Lect.
(2)
G.
Lect. (1)
Asst.
GDC
GDC
Dep
GDC
Aspirant
The Priests proceeded by the Grand Episcopus, then take two
paces forward. turn to the West and follow them out. Outside all
turn and face the East. The Ark of the Covenant is now in
position outside. As are the Standards in bases. (i.e as they
directly leave the Temple – remain in Columns – the Floor
Officers stop by Standards and the Priests by the Ark of the
Covenant.
Open now the Crystal Fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fiery cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Be thou still my strength and shield.
During the singing of the second verse the following discipline is
completed:
The Priests lift the Ark of the Covenant. The Standards have
been ranged by the Watchman for collection thus:
EAST
Aspirant –
Judah
Dep.GDC
– Issachar
GDC –
Naphtali
Asst.GDC
– Zebulun
G.Lect. (1) –
Asher
G.Lect. (2) – Reuben
G.Lect. (3) –
Dan
G.lect.
(4) – Simeon
G.Reg. –
Beryamin
G.Herald – Gad
G.Treas. – Manasseh G.
Rec. – Ephraim
The above hold Banner in Right Hand The above hold Banner in
Left Hand
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee.
I will ever give to Thee.
During the singing of the third verse the following discipline
is completed:
During the third verse the procession proceeded by the Grand
Episcopus and led by the Priests carrying the Ark of the
Covenant and the officers of the Council, holding their
banners, proceeds into the Temple.
The Priests stop when they are between the rows of stones
representing the river. (The stones will be placed as at the
opening). The members of the Council pass either side of them
to their stations where they place their banners beside their
seats and remain standing.
When the hymn ends the Priests, carrying the Ark on their
shoulders, remain between the stones: all others will have
returned to their stations.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Companions be seated.
Grand Lecturer (2), stands: When the whole nation had finished
crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men
from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take
up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where
the priests stand and to carry them over with you and put them
down at the place where you stay tonight."
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve
stones from the middle of the Jordan and carried them to their
camp where they set them down.
Grand Lecturer 2 sits.
The Floor members of the Council rise together as follows:
Aspirant
(3)
Dep.
GDC (4)
GDC
(2)
Asst.
GDC (5)
G. Lect. One
(1)
G.
Lect. Two (6)
G. Lect. Three
(9)
G. Lect. Four (10)
G. Reg.
(8)
G.
Herald (11)
G. Treas.
(7)
G.
Rec. (12)
Starting with Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder they tum
together and face the West. They then move in unison to the
West and individually pass between the stones, either side of
the Ark of the Covenant, tum outwards and go to the allocated
Stones – numbered by the Officer above. They bend down and
pick up their allotted stone. They then stand holding their
stone facing east. As they do this the next two will stand and
move: thus forming a continuing collection of Stones. The last
to collect the Stones are the Aspirant and Dep. GDC, who will
immediately return to their seats followed by the rest of the
officers. when they arrive in front of seats.
All face inwards, place the stone on the floor in front of
them and sit down.
Grand Lecturer (2), rises and continues: Now the
priests who carried the Ark, remained standing in the middle of
the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done
by the people.
Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Command the priests carrying the
Ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan"
Grand Lecturer 2 sits.
The Priests carry the Ark, place it on the pedestal, covered
by the Cloth and. proceeded by the Grand Episcopus, go to
their stations and sit.
Grand Lecturer 2, rises and continues: And the
priests came up out of the river carrying the Ark of the Covenant
of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on dry ground than
the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran as a
flood as before.
On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the
Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And
Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of
the Jordan.
Grand Lecturer 2 sits.
The Council Officers pick up the stone in front of them and
rise. Then in pairs they move to the East and deposit the
stone they are holding in the area immediately between the
Summus and the Pedestal which has the VSL thereupon. lifter
they have deposited the stone they break left and right and go
and stand in front of seats.
Aspirant
(3)
Dep.
GDC (4)
GDC
(2)
Asst.
GDC (5)
G. Lect. One
(1)
G. Lect. Two (6)
G. Lect. Three (9)
G. Lect. Four (10)
G. Reg.
(8)
G.
Herald (11)
G. Treas.
(7)
G.
Rec. (12)
When all the stones are in front of the Grand Summus and the
officers are back in front of the seats. The Grand Director of
Ceremonies will say:
Grand Director of Ceremonies:
Be seated Companions.
Grand Summus stands and says: Joshua said to the
Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their
fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed
the Jordan on dry land. ' For the Lord your God dried up the
Jordan before them until they had crossed over. The Lord your God
did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he
dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so
that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the
Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your
God"
Aspirant is escorted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies to a
position just outside the Council of Elders. facing the Grand
Summus.
Grand Summus: Companion .... A further trial is now
required of you. Are you willing to take it?
Aspirant answers.
Then you must leave our Council Chamber and walk in darkness, but
fear not for your Conductor will guide you.
Aspirant is blindfolded and led towards the west of the temple
by the Grand Director of Ceremonies and the Deputy Grand
Director of Ceremonies. The transparency is quickly opened and
the lights have been dimmed. So Aspirant is facing West.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Come my Companion,
you must assist in the war against the enemies of the Lord.
Aspirant prompted by the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies:
Alas! my Master, what shall we do?
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Fear not: for they
that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Aspirant prompted by the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies:
Alas! I cannot see, for my eyes are hid.
Grand Director of Ceremonies turns Aspirant around to face
east.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Look as I look.
Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies removes blindfold and
Grand Director of Ceremonies points to the Transparency in the
East.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: What do you now
descry?
Aspirant, prompted by the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies
raises his right arm and points to the transparency behind the
Grand Summus: Upon the distant mountains, I see
approaching, in serried ranks, The Hosts of the Lord.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Then we must return
and report what we have seen.
They return and go to a position inside the Council Chamber;
west of the Pedestal in front of the Grand Summus
Grand Summus: Companion, I welcome you on your
return. What did you discover?
Aspirant prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
All around us on the distant mountains I saw the Hosts of the
Lord.
Episcopus rises and reads: Now it came to pass,
that as Joshua was by Jericho, there came to him a man, with a
sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went up to him and said to him
"Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?"
Then he answered "Nay, but as the Captain of the Host of the Lord
am I now come. And Joshua knew him and went up to him, and saluted
him, and did obeisance unto him. And said "What saith my Lord unto
his servant?"
And the Captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua. "Loose thy
shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is
holy." And Joshua did so.
Grand Director of Ceremonies instructs Aspirant to remove his
sandals.
Grand Summus: Would you, my Companion, take service
in such a Host?
Aspirant prompted by the Grand Director of Ceremonies:
That is my desire.
Grand Summus: Then I now call upon the Grand
Episcopus for prayer.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: To Order, Companions.
Grand Episcopus: May the God of our Fathers pour
down His blessing upon him who stands before Thee, who has passed
through the paths of dangerous duty and now comes seeking to
become a member of our Council.
Vouchsafe to him O Lord Thy guidance and support, that the enemies
of our peace may see that Thine arm stretched out to save can
crush the mightiest force.
Sustain him as Thou did the soldiers who, with Joshua, fought the
battle of the Lord in the Valley of Jericho, and grant that he may
be a conqueror over all that wage war upon our souls; grant him
grace in order to live his life according to Thy will and live in
charity with all men.
Omnes: So mote it be.
The Organist plays a two line introduction, then all sing:
O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting though art God,
To endless years the same.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away.
They fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
Grand Summus: Companions Aspirant, You will now all
take a solemn obligation with regard to the secrets of the Fourth
Grade and your duties as an Elder of this Council.
Companion .... You will stand erect, place your right hand on the
Volume of the Sacred Law.
The other Aspirants will stand to order with the Sign of Fidelity.
You will all state your several names at length and repeat after
me:
I, ..., in the presence of the God of our Fathers and of this
Council of Elders in the Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet
Cord do promise, faithfully and zealously, to support and
encourage all my fellow Elders of the Council and to keep
inviolate all their secrets and deliberations.
All this I swear, on my honour as a Distinguished Companion by
sealing this my Solemn Obligation with my lips, four times, on the
Volume of the Sacred Law.
All other Aspirants are offered VSLs to seal their
obligations.
Grand Summus: You will now return to your seat and
listen to our Grand Lecturer (3) while he relates the story of one
of the greatest battles recorded in the annals of history.
Aspirant replaces his shoes
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Be seated,
Companions.
Grand Lecturer (3), rises: Now Jericho was tightly
shut up because of the Israelites. No-one went out and no-one came
in.
Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See I have delivered Jericho into
your hands along with its king and his fighting men." March around
the city once with all the armed men and the priests carrying the
Ark. Do this for six days. On the seventh day, march around the
city seven times and sound the trumpets.
When you hear a long blast on the trumpet. make all the people
give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the
people will go up, every man straight in.
So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them "Take up
the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord." And he ordered the people,
"Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard going ahead
of the ark of the Lord and the rear guard following"
All this time the trumpets sounded, But Joshua had commanded the
people "Do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day
I tell you to shout. Then shout! So he had the Ark of the Lord
carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people
returned to camp and spent the night there.
Grand Lecturer 3 sits
The following Companions rise (in pairs) and take the Banners
ranged in the East:
Grand Treasurer - Ox
Grand Recorder- Eagle
Grand Registrar- Man
Grand Herald - Lion
The Deputy and Asst. Grand DCs, followed by the Grand
Treasurer, Grand Recorder, Grand Registrar and Grand Herald
(Carrying Banners) and Grand Episcopus move to the
predetermined positions in the West.
When they are in position the Priests rise, advance to and
lift the Ark of the Covenant and form up behind the Grand
Episcopus.
Then the Aspirant and the Grand Director of Ceremonies move to
their predetermined positions in the West, all facing west.
WEST
Asst.
GDC
Dep.GDC
Grand Recorder (Eagle) G.
Treasurer (Ox)
Grand Episcopus
Priest
Priest
Ark of the Covenant
Priest
Priest
G. Herald
(Lion)
G. Registrar (Man)
GDC
Aspirant
Grand Director of Ceremonies, quietly: Escort
Forward.
The procession moves towards the west. turns right and
advances to the east down the north side of the temple,
outside the Council Chamber across to the south side and
directly back to their original position in the west. During
the perambulation TOTAL SILENCE IS MAINTAINED except that the
Organist plays quiet trumpet music.
The procession halts. the Priests lower the Ark onto the
table. The Director of Ceremonies quietly instructs all to
face East.
When all are in position
Grand Lecturer (4), rises: Joshua arose early the
next morning and the Priests took up the Ark of the Lord.
The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the
Ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the
second day they marched around the city once and returned to the
camp. They did this for six days.
On the seventh day. They arose at daybreak and marched around the
city in the same manner save that on that day they circled the
city seven times. The seventh time around, when the trumpet
sounded, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has
given you the city. The city and all that is in it are to be
devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab and all who are with her in her
house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent."
Grand Lecturer 4 sits.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies quietly instructs the escort
to turn to the west. The Priests pick up the Ark.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Companions To Order,
Escort Forward.
Procession proceeds around the temple as before, save that on
this occasion the procession travels to the west before
turning back eastwards to reach its start position. During
this perambulation. the Organist plays a loud continuous
trumpet sound and then into introduction for hymn. VERY LOUD
Played to tune "Guide me o thou Great Jehovah."
Alleluia as he leads us.
We shall gain the victory.
Lift your voices, shout the praises.
To his glorious majesty.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Glory be to God on high.
Glory be to God on high.
On the final note of the hymn, the Organist plays a crescendo
of notes to imitate the walls of Jericho falling. This should
coincide with the Ark's arrival back to its start position.
Grand Regent Vicarius: The walls have collapsed.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Companions, other
than the escort, be seated.
Deputy Grand Summus, rises: When the trumpets
sounded and the people shouted, the walls of Jericho collapsed,
just as the Lord had said; so every man charged in and they took
the city.
They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword
every living thing in it – men and women, young and old, cattle,
sheep and donkeys.
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into
Rehab's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in
accordance with your oath to her." So the young men who had done
the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother
and brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought
out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of
Israel.
Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put
the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the
treasury of the Lord's house.
But Joshua spared Rahab with her family and all that belonged to
her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho.
She lived among the Israelites for the rest of her days.
Deputy Grand Summus sits.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Escort resume your
stations.
The Grand Treasurer, the Grand Recorder, the Grand Registrar
and the Grand Herald replace Banners (in pairs) and go to
seats. The Priests place the Ark of the Covenant in its former
position and return to seats. The Deputy and Assistant Grand
Directors of Ceremonies and Grand Episcopus return to their
seats.
Grand Director of Ceremonies: Companions be seated.
Grand Director of Ceremonies and the Aspirant move to a position
just east of the Ark of the Covenant.
Grand Summus, rises: Companions, henceforth you will all be
addressed as Councillors or Elders of the Council and it now gives
me great pleasure to entrust you with the sign and words of this
Grade.
The sign is given by looking upwards and pointing towards the sky
with the index finger of the right hand, this sign is accompanied
by the words 'Adonai-Sabaoth', pronounced
'Adonai Sabbay Oth' which is Hebrew, denoting 'Host
of the Lord', and refers to Joshua's meeting with the Captain of
the Host of the Lord.
The Scarlet Cord you wear over the left shoulder with the tassels
falling on the right side of the body, should now be worn over the
right shoulder with the tassels falling on the left side of the
body.
Grand Director of Ceremonies conducts Aspirant to a position
in front of Grand Summus who invests him with the Fourth Grade
jewel and congratulates him.
Grand Director Ceremonies conducts Aspirant to his seat in the
Council Chamber.
Grand Summus: Grand Recorder you will now read the
names of those Aspirants who are to be received into our Council
so that I may congratulate and invest them.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies takes position just west of
the Council Chamber. The Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies,
with a few designated assistants, forms a line of Aspirants
who. when each name is called, walks, alone, into the Council
Chamber. down the North side, is received by the Grand Summus
and leaves by the South side.
Closing
Grand Summus, stands, gavels once and says:
Companions, assist me to close this Council of Elders.
Companions you will stand to Order with the sign of the Fourth
Grade.
Companions stand to Order with sign of the Fourth Grade.
Grand Summus: By virtue of the authority vested in
me, I close this Council of Elders.
Gavels four times.
Grand Director of Ceremonies closes the VSL – which is on a
pedestal in front of the Summus.
The Consistory is then resumed in the First Grade.