p. 160Knights of the Orient

According to the Ritual: “The aim of the Order is to improve the condition of mankind.” The Chaplain is called “Grand Prophet.” His duties are: “to assist in the ceremonies of initiation and to perform such other duties as the Grand Chief Orient may direct.” The candidate is called Pilgrim. He is gravely told, as in other lodges, by the Grand Marshal: “Sir, my first duty, requires me to assure you that neither your political, moral nor religious liberty will in any wise be affected by the obligation, rites, regulations or laws of the Order.”

The Grand Marshal conducts the Pilgrim to the Grand Chief Orient and says: “Grand Chief Orient, he who stands before you has signified his desire to become one of us, and his willingness to covenant with, and obedient to our laws and usages.”

Grand Chief Orient (to candidate): “Pilgrim, is this true?”

Candidate: “Yes, it is true.”

Grand Chief Orient: “Then answer promptly and respectfully our questions; attend closely to our rites and ceremonies, and yield willing obedience to official commands, and unwavering fidelity to our obligations, laws and rules. Under these requirements will you assume and comply with our obligations, laws and regulations, and ever afterwards conduct yourself as becomes an upright member of this Order?”

Candidate answers.

Grand Chief Orient: “Grand Marshal, conduct the Pilgrim to our Grand Prophet, where he will be duly obligated.”

Grand Marshal: “Grand Prophet, the Grand Chief Orient directs that you administer our binding obligation upon this Pilgrim.”

Grand Prophet: “Pilgrim, having signified your willingness to proceed, as they sat in ancient mosques of the orient, be seated in our temple of modern wisdom and repeat: I,——, do sincerely promise, declare and say that I will truly and faithfully regard and conform to all the obligations that I now or hereafter may assume in this Order, and will warn against, and, if in my power, prevent the exposing or publishing in any manner whatsoever, any sign, grip, password or position, or other privacies thereof.”

“And now I sacredly promise, that once having assumed them, I will never again permit myself to be seen in either of the positions of this Order, so that they will be discovered as such, or confer any degree, or make known to any uninitiated or unprepared person, unless authorized by a Supreme or Grand Council, or such authority as shall legally emanate therefrom, and then provided only I shall find such person to be a male of the human race.”

“And I further promise that I will ever and always promptly respond to the distress sign.”

Grand Chief Orient: “Arise, be faithful; go, journey with and learn wisdom from our Grand Marshal.”

Grand Marshal: “Come; our way to wisdom is direct. Race and association here are chosen, but no distinction is made on account of wealth, religion or politics. Here we germinate thought, gather reason from symbolism, elevate man’s social position, and inculcate equality of heart and mind; believing these are principles that will aid in keeping more perfect the fraternal band of union between man and man.”

“But come; our Grand Vice Orient has a word of wisdom to repeat, to which in silent reverence listen.”

Grand Vice Orient: “Pilgrim, remember, a sensible man will seek and enter the portals of any secret society with calm and serious thought. Be not deceived, but rather assured that oft, in either pantomime or burlesque, many a valuable lesson is taught. Ignorance sometimes aided by prejudice, frequently condemns secret, charitable and benevolent fraternities, as conducive of no good to society, containing no pure sentiment or true instructions. High associations should be the aim of all men. Charity should speak in silence, Benevolence knows no boast, nor Friendship falsity. We can gratify no idle curiosity. No thoughtful man can journey through our gates without finding something beyond of more than meaningless pantomime. The purpose of this Order is not to erect vain altars, but to exemplify a lesson, and to practice those principles calculated to form and strengthen thought and reason. If man’s heart is responsive to the latter’s call and he loves the beautiful and good, and desires their reward, we welcome him to our fellowship. Life’s responsibilities, its sorrows and its sadness are ever before us to keep more perfect the fraternal bond of union between man and man. A great fact thus speaks to mortal man, to which you will in silent reverence kneel and listen.”

After a lengthy exhortation, the Grand Chief Orient says:

“Brothers of the Orient, the hour for ribald speech and boisterous mirth is at an end. Let us forsake the orgies into which we have been led, and to this weary pilgrim, seeking favor at our hands, confer the boon, that he may sit within this Oriental Circle, and with us council over the woes of fallen man. Grand Marshal, give the pilgrim courteous guidance to the altar of our Grand Prophet, that he may pour the oil of calm repose, in words of wisdom, over the fretted, downcast soul, and fit it for the splendors of our Oriental Temple.”

(Grand Marshal conducts pilgrim to the Grand Prophet and instructs him to kneel on both knees.)

Grand Marshal: “Grand Prophet, by command of the Grand Chief Orient, I present this pilgrim, who seeks wisdom and consolation, to prepare him to mingle with our circle.”

(After more advice, the Grand Chief Orient says):

“Princes, give heed and join in this grand and solemn rite—forming a crescent around the throne, symbolic of our ancient creed. Pilgrim, step by step you have scaled the ladder, leading to the summit of our oriental splendors. Amid the grand old mosque and temples of orients; in the palace of the princes, round about the chancel, gathered there the noble throng of youth and beauty, brilliant as the morning sun. And now, surrounded by this Council and brothers of this circle, by my command, I bid you bow your head and receive the crown you have so ably won.”

(Crown is put on candidate’s head.)

Grand Chief Orient: “Brothers of our ancient Order, behold the emblem of your creed. Salute your peer.”

“Oriental Prince, having successfully passed through the rites and ceremonies of the Order, it only remains for me to instruct you in the signs, passwords and grip, that you may be able to make yourself known to members of the Order.”