Knights of Tabor
Ritual of the Second Degree – The Dalmon Lock

1899

It is opened the same as the First Degree, except the signs and pass-word.

The Degree

C.M: Sir Knights, we have assembled to confer the Dalmon Lock on our Brother Friend …. I will thank you for your assistance. Sir D. M., you will please inquire if the candidate is in the ante-room. The D. M. goes to the door and gives three raps. The C. St. answers by three raps and partly opens the door.
C.D. M., whispering: Are there any candidates in waiting?
C.St., whispering: There are … in the preparation room. The door is closed and the usual raps given.
C.D.M., from his station: Sir Chief, I have inquired if there are candidates in waiting. I report that ... are in the preparation room.
C.M.: Thank you. Sir Guards, you will now attend to the preparation of the candidates, and conduct them to the entrance door.
The C.G.’s retire to the preparation room and prepare the candidates by blindfolding, and conduct them to the door, and give three loud knocks. The C.D.M. goes to the door and answers by three raps, and partly opening the door, asks: Who are you, and why are you at the entrance of Dalmon Lock?
C.G., for candidate: I am a Brother Friend who desires to be instructed in true Knighthood.
C.D.M.: By what means did you get this far on your journey?
C.G., for candidate: I rode well, I stood well, I squared well and passed the Temple of the Knights of Tabor.
C.D.M.: Do you bring no word of greeting to tell of the past? Can you give it to me?
They give the grip. Candidate (prompted) says: I passed the Temple of Firm Friendship.
C.D. M.: It is well. I will conduct you to the C. M. for further instruction,
The C. D. M. receives and conducts the candidate around the room three times.
The Vice-Mentor reads: Lord, Thou hast searched and seen me through;
Thine eye commands, with piercing view,
My rising and my resting hours,
My heart and flesh, with all their powers.
My thoughts before they are my own
Are to my God distinctly known;
He knows the words I mean to speak,
Ere from my opening lips they break.
Within Thy circling power I stand,
On every side I find Thy hand;
Awake, asleep, at home, abroad,
I am surrounded still with God.
The reading is so timed that at the end of the last verse they arrive in front of the C.M. and halt.
Sir Chief reads: Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord of Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David, his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite.
And he began to build the temple in the second day of the month, in the fourth year of his reign.
Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length of cubits after the first measure was three score cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
And the porch that was in front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty, and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
And the greater house he sealed with fir tree, which he overlaid with line gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.
And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold of Parvain.
He overlaid also the house with beams, the posts and he walls thereof, and the doors thereof with gold, and graved cherubims on the walls.
This is a brief history of the great temple built by King Solomon. The instruction he received came from the Supreme Master Builder of the World. The Temple we are building is in honor of Solomon’s instructor; the material we are putting in our Temple must believe in and honor the Lord God, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor.
C.D.M., for candidate: I both honor and believe in the Lord, the Savior of mankind.
C.M.: You have spoken well. Sir D. M., you will now conduct the candidate to the Chief Orator for further instruction.
As they pass around the hall, the V. M. reads the following, slowly: But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Behold, the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded.
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplication, O Lord, my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant, prayeth before Thee today.
That Thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which Thou Last said, My name shall be there, that Thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant shall make toward this place.
And hearken Thou to the supplication of Thy servant, and of Thy people, Israel, when they shall pray toward this plate, and hear Thou in Heaven, Thy dwelling place, and when Thou hearest, forgive.
If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before Thine altar in this house.
Then hear Thou in Heaven, and do, and judge Thy servants, condemning the wicked to bring his way upon his head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
The reading is so timed that at the third round it is ended, and the D. M. and the candidate halts at the C.O.’s station.
D.M. to C.O.: Sir Orator, we have traveled by order of the Chief Mentor to find thee. We are seeking for instruction.
C.O.: By what means did you get thus far on your journey?
Candidate: I rode well, I stood well, I squared well, and passed the Temple of the Knights of Tabor.
C.O.: Do you bring no word of greeting to tell of the past? Can you give it to me?
Candidate: I will give you that and what I received when I passed the Temple of Firm Friendship. Gives the grip.
C.O.: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, stranger nor foe art thou; we welcome thee with warm accord, our Friend and Brother now.
The hand of fellowship, the heart of love, we offer thee.
Come with us; we will do thee good, as God to us hath done; stand but to Him, whose faith the victory won.
Witness, ye men and angels, now before the Lord we speak, to Him we make our solemn vow, a vow we dare not break.
C.O.: Sir D. M., it is my will that the candidate be conducted to the Temple House and placed in proper form to take the obligation of a Knight of Dalmon. The candidate is marched slowly around the hall, while the following is read by the C.O., each member repeating after him:
The perfect world, by Adam trod,
Was the first temple built by God;
His fiat laid the corner stone;
He spake, and lo! the work was done.
He hung its starry roof on high,
The broad expanse of azure sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtained it with morning light.
The mountains in their places stood,
The sea, the sky, and all was good;
And when its first pure praises rang,
The morning stars together sang.
Lord, ‘tis not ours to make the sea,
And earth, and sky, a house for Thee;
But in Thy sight and off’ring stands
An humble temple, built with hands.
The members forum in procession behind the candidate as he moves around. At the last verse the D.M. places the candidate in front of the Temple House, the Knights form a square around the candidate and C.O., the D.M. standing behind them. The right hand of the candidate is placed on the Bible, the left hand on his breast.
The D.M. advances to the C.M.’s post and says: Sir Chief, the candidate is placed in proper position to receive your instruction, I am ready to conduct you to the Temple Rouse.
The D.M. conducts the Chief to the letter "O" opposite the candidate.
C.M. to candidate: You have succeeded as a Brother Friend in cowing to the centre of Dalmon Lock. You cannot go farther, unless you take a binding obligation. Please give your full name, and repeat after me:
 

Obligation

I, …, in the presence of the Lord of Lords and these Brother Friends, do solemnly promise and swear that I will keep and conceal the secrets of this degree and those of my Brother Friends.
I further promise that I will obey all signs and summons given to me by the hand of a Sir Knight or Daughter of the Tabernacle.
I further promise that I will aid and assist any poor, indigent Sir Knight or Daughter, they making application to me, I knowing them to be worthy, and if my ability permits.
To all of which I promise, binding myself to keep and perform the same, under no less a penalty than to have my right arm cut off, should I willfully violate this, my solemn obligation. Amen!
The members all repeat: Amen.
C.M. to D.M.: Sir Drill Master, give the obligated Knight of Dalmon light. The hoodwink is removed.
C.M.: Sir Knights, another has been added to our ranks. Let us show him how strong the Dalmon Lock can be made to protect a Knight of Dalmon. The chain is formed by crossing the right arm over the left and clinching each other s hands, thus forming an endless chain, with the newly obligated Knight in the centre. Look around this endless chain and this solid wall, and be assured that the Knights of Dalmon will, like a living wall, form for your protection when in danger. Sir V.M., I have finished. The C.M. returns to his post.
V.M.: Sir Knights, attention! Unlock, and to the right-about face! March to seats!
C.O. to D.M.: Please conduct the obligated Knight to the Chief Mentor. The D.M. conducts the Knight to C.M.)
D.M.: Sir Chief, the C.O. has obeyed your orders, and this obligated Knight is returned to you for the full instruction.
C.M.: Thank you. I take pleasure in giving this Knight of Dalmon the means of making himself known as a member of Dalmon Lock. Your love for the Order of Twelve is evident, for you have shown it by the desire you have to learn more of its work. You now want to fix your mind in love for the Order, and be zealous in fulfilling every duty. Hear the lesson and heed its instruction.
The C.M. reads: Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame
The fire of love supplies;
While that which often bears the name
Is self in a disguise.
True zeal is merciful and mild,
Can pity and forbear;
The false is headstrong, fierce and wild,
And breathes revenge and war.
Self may its poor reward obtain,
And be applauded here;
But zeal, the best applause will gain.
Oh Lord, the idol of self dethrone,
And from our hearts remove;
And let no zeal by us be shown,
But that which springs from love.
 

The Secret Language

C.M.: If you will give me your attention I will impart to you the secret means of making yourself known as a Knight of Dalmon. The first sign is:
THE ONWARD HAIL: This sign is given with the right hand closed, thumb extended and elbow resting on the hip; hand waving three times, distinctly, to and fro. When you desire to ask if there are any members of the Knighthood present, you give this sign. it can be given at any time and in any place.
THE ANSWERING HAIL: The sign of recognition is given by placing your right hand on your breast, thumb pointing to the chin. This sign answers the onward hail, and proves that he who gives it is a member of the Knighthood.
CALLING SIGN: This sign is given by holding up your right hand, palm out, top of the fingers even with the right shoulder. The first motion: Turn the hand half around. Second motion: Turn palm inward. Third motion: Throw the hand over the right shoulder. This sign is given when wishing to call a Knight, but you are admonished not to use it unless you need the Knight’s presence on something important.
THE TOKEN: The token is given in this way: Two fingers in the palm of the right hand, hands closed.
The word is STAND.
The answer is TRUE.
SALUTING SIGN AND THE PASS-WORD: The onward sign is the saluting sign in the degree when entering an open Temple. The pass-word is DALMON.
This word will admit you into a Temple that is opened in the Second Degree. If you are present at the opening of the Temple, this is the pass-word you give to prove that you are a Knight of Dalmon.
CLOTHING: I take pleasure in presenting to you the regalia of a Knight of Dalmon. The Chief Drill Master will place them in proper form upon you. Please notice the color is scarlet, trimmed with white lace. These colors were worn by the Knights of Dalmon of ancient days, as a distinguishing mark of their fidelity to each other. They were called Brothers of Dalmon. This Order existed in Assyria for many years. They were noted lovers of their country, and the most trusted defenders of the empire in time of war. Death had no terrors for them. They believed in the immortality of the soul. The mystic bonds that held them together were never broken, each link in their chain of friendship was welded together by Love and Truth. We trust you, and enroll you as one of the Dalmon Band.
I present to you this javelin with its iron point. It will remind you of the iron-like strength of the Order of Twelve, and tells you when in the fiery furnace of trouble you become more firmly welded to the endless chain of locks.
C.M. gives three laps, all stand: I now announce that Mr. H. A. has received the Dalmon Lock with full instructions. Sir D.M., you will please seat Sir ... in his proper place as a Knight of Dalmon.
If there is no further business, the Temple is closed in the same form as in the First Degree, except that the signs used are the Dalmon signs.
The following lecture, or some part of it, must be given before the Temple is closed.
Lecture, Second Degree
Q. Did you ever return to the Mount?
A.I did, by a secret way.
Q.How is that way guarded?
A.It is guarded by the endless lock.
Q.Why is it called endless?
A.Because this lock forms a perfect chain.
Q.Where were you prepared to receive that lock?
A.I was prepared in the threshing floor of Oman, the Jebusite.
Q.You have traveled, then?
A.Yes; I have traveled from the Mount to the porch of the Temple.
Q.Did you meet any obstructions?
A.I did, at the inner gate.
Q.What was said to you there?
A.Who are you, and why are you here?
Q.What was your answer?
A.A Brother Knight, who desires to be introduced in true Knighthood.
Q.By what means did you get this far on your journey?
A.I rode well, stood well, squared well, and passed the Temple of Knights.
Q.What greeting do you bring to tell of the past?
A.That which I received when I passed the Temple.
Q.Can you give them to me?
A.I will, with your assistance. They here give the grip and word.
Q.What was said to you then?
A.Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, stranger nor foe art thou; we welcome thee with warm accord, our Friend and Brother.
Q.Who was called to witness your vow?
A.Men and angels.
Q.What was further done with you?
A.I was stood at the Temple House, my right hand on the Holy Bible, my left hand on my heart. In that position I took a solemn obligation that made me a Knight of Dalmon Lock.
Q.How were you disposed of?
A.I was made to see light, having been in darkness.
Q.What did you receive?
A.1 was instructed in the secret language of the Lock Degree.
Q.Have you the pass?
A.I have.
Q.Will you divide it with me?
A.I will, if you will begin.
Q.I will give my part of the good name: DAL.
A.My answer makes the full pass: DALMON.

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