Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests
Degree of the Royal Prussian Blue

1997/2015


The Degree of Knight of the Royal Prussian Blue as worked in the North East appears to be an amalgam of the older Irish Degree of Noachite and the degree of the same name which had been worked in the South West of England. Unlike the French / German degree which eventually became part of the Rite of Perfection and subsequently, the 21st. Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, there is no Password "Frederick". This was also true of the West Country and Irish rituals of the degree.
The degree appears to be similar to the ritual printed by Carlisle in his Manual of Freemasonry (1820 Ed.) with the addition of the Tracing Board used in Ireland. It is therefore likely that the main text is of English origin white the Tracing Board reflects Irish, via Scotland influence.
The earliest rituals of the degree held that the ceremony be performed in the open air by the light of the full moon hut as will be seen, this version has modified that requirement while continuing to recognise that aspect.

 

Officers, Paraphernalia and Chamber

The Officers of the Degree of Knight of the Royal Prussian Blue are:-
KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER (Presiding Officer)
KNIGHT OF INTRODUCTION (Conductor)
KNIGHT OF ELOQUENCE (Lecturer)
KNIGHT OF FINANCE (Treasurer)
KNIGHT OF THE CHANCERY (Secretary)
KNIGHT OF DEFENCE (Inner Guard)
KNJGHT OF THE AVENUES. (Outer Guard)
The Chamber in which the ceremony is conferred is should have a representation of the Moon in the East, from which light shines.
The KGC sits in the West facing East as if on the apex of a triangle with the other members seated in avenues forming the sides of the triangle. The regalia of the degree consists of a white apron trimmed with yellow and a yellow cordon in which a sword is placed. Yellow gloves are also worn. The jewel of the degree is an arrow pointing downwards surmounted on an equilateral triangle.
 
KGC:
Knights of the Royal Prussian Blue, Jets us convene together. The KGC strikes the table three times with the pommel of his sword. then returns it to the scabbard. All raise the hands toward the emblem of the Moon.
KGC:
Brethren this Chapter of Knights of the Royal Prussian Blue is now open and we may labour under the Light of the Moon.
The Knight of Eloquence then uncovers the Board & Drawing. There is no altar and no VSL to be opened, and after this all take their places. When all is ready the KA gives *.
KD:
Most Venerable Grand Commander someone approaches through the Avenues.
KCG:
Knight of Introduction you will retire and see who approaches and report.
Does so. KI ensures that the Cand. wears a plain white apron and gloves and gives *** on the door. The KI enquires what this is about and reports same to the KGC.
KD:
M.Ven. Grand Commander, at the door stands a worthy mason, well skilled in the Masonry of the Red and the Black, who now wishes to be admitted as a Kt. of the Prussian Blue.
KGC:
Does he possess the Word?
KD:
He does not but the Knight of Introduction has given it for him.
KGC:
That worthy Knight is at liberty to enter if he is alone but if he wishes to introduce his companion it is his responsibility to determine the motives of that person in seeking admission to this Order.
KD:
M.Ven. G.Com that is already answered for he is a Master, who has attained the Blue and Red and now seeks admission as a Prussian Blue Kt.
KGC:
Then let him be admitted and duly examined.
Three Kts. take up station before the KGC in the West and draw their swords.
The KE enters with the Cand. who places him before these Kts. and who present the points of their swords to his breast.
KGC:
I declare, brave Kts., that this man is worthy of your countenance. Do you give your assent? The three Kts. lower and raise their swords in assent. Brother Noachite, will you renounce pride all the days of your life?
Cand.,
prompted by KJ: I promise so to do. The three Knights resume their seats.
KGC:
Example is a far greater proof than its precept, commence your career among us with an act of humility.
The KJ advises Cand. to advance towards the KGC with three short steps with the right foot and after each step to kneel on his left knee and bow his head. After the third bow is given the Cand. kneels on both knees and as the KGC reverses his sword and presents it, the Cand. kisses the pommel once with his lips. Remaining upon his knees the KI says:
KI:
Brother, the obeisance which you have now given is to rid you of any trace of Pride or Vanity which may linger within you. Pride causes conceit and vanity will be your downfall as was the case with Peleg and Solomon the architects of the Tower of Babel and The Temple. These great edifices, which should have been dedicated to the Almighty became instead, monuments to the builders. In similar fashion, although we no longer meet as Kts. of this Order in open ground under the Light of the full moon, neither do we use any wondrous coverings or fanciful apparatus within our Chapter. Nor do we dress ourselves in radiant garb nor befeathered chapeau but merely clothe ourselves in the apron of the simple mason and arm ourselves with the sword of the pious soldier.
KGC, lays his right hand upon the head of the Cand.:
Do you promise upon the faith of a Mason, to keep the secrets which I shall commit to your trust : First, that you will never reveal any of the mysteries of our Order to any of the Children of Adam; Second, that you will continue to associate with us at all times except when illness or personal calling does not permit; Third, that you will never allow any person to wear the apron of this Order unless he has made himself known to you in the prescribed manner of a Prussian Mason.
Cand., prompted by the KJ:
I engage myself to ever fulfil these conditions.
KGC:
Then you may be upstanding. Knight of Eloquence, you are now at liberty to make known to this Brother, the History of this Order.
KE:
To every Knight of the Royal Prussian Blue, be it known that, notwithstanding the recent vengeance which the Deity had taken upon mankind for all its iniquities and sins, by causing the Universal Deluge, notwithstanding that the Deity had given the rainbow as a sign of reconciliation, vouchsafing that favour declared that the world should not be again destroyed by a great flood of the water, the descendants of Noah, from their want of faith in the divine prediction, being apprehensive of a second deluge, said, Let us build a city whose top may reach the heavens, and let us make a name lest we be scattered over the face of the earth. To accomplish their designs they began to build a great tower on the Plain of Shinar, but this enterprise being displeasing to the eyes of their Maker, as tending to obviate or delay the final execution of His great design, that Mankind should not always be together, He instructed them to cease with the erection of the Tower, when they would not be ensured that they could not continue by causing a confusion in their language so that one could not understand the other and thereby no work could be undertaken.
From this circumstance the city took its name of Babel which signifies confusion and a dispersion of the peoples and a founding of various nations occurred. This work of the Lord occurred on a night of a full moon for which reason Lodges of Noachites did hold their meetings under similar circumstances.
The architect at the Tower was named Peleg, at least it was he who gave the idea of the building, and its erection became a source of much pride to him. As a result of this contumacy and presumption and the misdirection of his Brethren, he was deprived off all speech and to avoid the remonstrations of his companions, who now considered him to be the cause of the Almighty's wrath, he travelled into countries remote from Shinar, and then only by moonlight, as he feared for the safety of his person should he be recognized. His place of retirement was in Prussia, where having erected a simple triangular dwelling, he, by humility and contrition, for the part he had taken in opposing the will of the Lord God on the Plain of Shinar, obtained remission of his sins and his power of speech was restored unto him.
The dwelling place of Peleg was discovered fifteen cubits under the surface of the earth in the Year 553. In that place was found a marble slab of the purest white on which was in scribed the following epitaph - Here lies the ashes of the Grand Architect of the Tower of Babel. The Lord bad pity on because he became humble.
Thus we communicate our Grand Secret to you, which remains unknown to those but ourselves. We entrust it to you with pleasure but misfortune will fall upon you should you ever be weak enough to transcribe it. Be always circumspect, and for that purpose practice humility, after the example of our Grand Architect.
KGC:
Listen now and forever hold what is said.
KGC:
Who are you?
KE:
Tell me who you are and I will tell you who I am.
KGC:
Do you know the children of Noah?
KE:
I know three of them.
KGC:
Who are they?
KE:
I identify them by the initials of their names, S, H and J.
KGC:
Give me these words.
KE:
You begin and I will reply.
KGC:
Shem, Ham.
KE:
Japhet.
KGC:
What does the letter S signify?
KE:
The first letter of our Sacred Word.
KGC:
Demonstrate the Signs.
KE:
The first is given by raising and extending the arms toward the moon with face toward the East.
KGC:
Why is the face toward the East?
KE:
Because it is the point at which the moon rises.
KGC:
And the second sign?
KE:
This given by raising the right arm above the head and pointing to the heavens with the forefinger, thus, with the face downwards, thus.
KGC:
What is the signification?
KE:
The first acknowledges the Kingdom of our Maker and the second our humility in His presence.
KGC:
What is our Grip?
KE:
The other's hand is taken and then clenched three times.
KGC:
With what words?
KE:
S.H. & J given at each clenching.
KGC:
Make known to me the Pass Word.
KE:
Peleg.
KGC:
How do you know of the Architect of the Tower of Babel?
KE:
I have heard mention of him.
KGC:
Who acquainted you with him and bis history?
KE:
The Knight of Eloquence.
KGC:
In what Lodge?
KE:
In a Lodge where the Moon illuminates the proceedings.
KGC:
Was the building of the Tower praiseworthy?
KE:
It was not, as it never saw completion.
KGC:
Why so?
KE:
For the foundation was laid in Pride.
KGC:
Is it to imitate the children of Noah that you retain it in your memory?
KE:
No. It is to avoid the danger that they experienced.
KGC:
Where are the remains of Peleg deposited?
KE:
In an underground tomb.
KGC:
Was he not considered to be a reprobate?
KE:
No, for the stone that marks bis remains informs us that bis Maker laid mercy upon him on account of his subsequent humility.
KGC:
In what manner were you received as a Prussian Knight?
KE:
After making three obeisance's and then kissing the pommel of the sword of the Knight Grand Commander, once with my lips.
KGC:
Why did you so submit yourself?
KE:
As proof of my obedience to the dictates of this degree and to remove all vestiges of Pride and Vanity.
KGC:
Why do Knights of the Prussian Blue wear the triangle?
KE:
In remembrance of the Temple of Peleg.
KGC:
Why is an arrow placed in the centre of the triangle?
KE:
As a reminder of the remission that followed the contrition of Peleg when the wrath of the Almighty was turned away from him.
KGC, raises hand with second sign:
And so may it be turned aside from all bis successors, we Noachites of the Prussian Blue.
KGC:
Knight of Chancery, you will now enlighten our Brother Knight of the Prussian Blue, the meaning behind the symbols on our Tracing Board.
KCh. rises and takes a position before the TB so that the Cand. may clearly see what is indicated.
KCh.:
Brother Knight, not all Chapters or Lodges of this degree employ a Tracing Board but we, using it as a guide to our History, display it to convey certain particulars to those who have been admitted to the Order.
The depiction of our Lodge represents the Sanctuary it provides from the outer World. The Sun and the Moon denote the Almighty God and represent his Powers. The column is emblematic of those found in Egypt long after the Flood receded; The Ark denotes the beginning when the Deity was first held sacred by Mankind. The Tower of Babel where construction was begun against the wishes of our Maker, is an emblem of Pride and Conceit. The Ark of the Covenant, wherein were the Tablets of the True Law, is an emblem of the Alliance of the Israelites with God. The Temple, constructed Square is both an emblem of Strength and Architecture and of Geometry, which were the foundation of it. The three round stones are symbols of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes and the Sphere as well as that Supreme Letter with neither beginning nor end. The three cubic stones are such as those that were found in the Ruins of the Temple and represent to us not only all the points of Architecture and Geometry, but also of Mathematics. The mound on which is implanted a sprig of Acacia represents the grave of Hiram and the three clubs, the means employed by the ruffians who caused him to be interred there. The four ends of the brass columns support a locked golden box in which is held the Word of a Master Mason. The Menorah and the vessel of Bronze are representations of the furniture of the Temple and the four broken stairs, a reminder of its destruction. You will also note that the Tracing Board is mounted over a Drawing which is divided into two equal parts, that on the left shows the Moon and Stars on a blue background. The Moon and Stars represent the Omnipotent Power of the Almighty which He made to cause the Deluge which is itself denoted by the colour Blue. On the right is the symbol of the Degree of which you have already heard, illustrated upon a field of Black which represents the darkness of Pride and Vanity.
KCh. resumes his place and the KGC moves before the Cand.
KGC:
Brother Knight, I will now confirm to you the Secrets of a Knight of the Prussian Blue although doubtless you have discerned them for yourself if you have given close attention to what you have previously heard.
KGC:
The Pass Word of the Degree is PELEG. The Sacred Word is SHINAR.
The Grip is given by taking the hand of the other loosely and then clenching it tightly three times. Your companion at the first and second clenches will give the words SHEM and HAM and at the third you must say JAPHET.
The Sign of the Degree is given by raising both arms and extending them towards the East with your face toward the Moon. The Pass Sign is given by raising your Right Arm and pointing upwards with your forefinger.
I now invest you with the apron of this degree and present you with these gloves which are of the colour of this degree. If and when you become an Officer in the Ranks of the Prussian Blue Knights, you will be entitled to wear the cordon and bear the sword.
This now concludes the Ceremony of your Admission and you may take a seat among us.
KJ escorts the Cand. to a vacant seat and then resumes his own station.
KGC:
Bother Knights of the Prussian Blue Order, demonstrate the Sign. All do so.
I declare this Chapter Closed and may the shining rays of the full Moon guide you safely to your destination. Gives *** with sword.


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