Chapter XLII
The Globe Fraternal Legion
The Ritual does not make the Chaplain a necessary figure at the meetings; but it has the religious hymn and the oath as in other secret societies.
Initiatory Ode
“Witness ye men and angels; now
Before the Lord we speak
To Him we make our solemn vows,
A vow we dare not break.”
“Lord, guide our doubtful feet aright
And keep us in Thy ways;
Turn Thou our prayers to praise.
Etc.”
President: “The Instructor will please conduct the candidate to the Altar, where he will assume the solemn obligation that all of you have assumed.”
President to Candidate: “You will now place your right hand on your heart, your left pointing heavenward, bent at elbow, and repeat after me: I,——, in the presence of Him from whom emanates every good, and of these tried brethren, do promise that I will not knowingly wrong, cause or permit to be wronged, if in my power to prevent it, any member of this Order. I will protect to the utmost of my ability the fair name and character of anyone whom I know to be a member of this Order; will go to the aid and assistance of any member of this Order if in distress, whenever called upon so to do, and will, if found worthy, relieve or aid in relieving them to the utmost of my ability. I will also patronize, or aid any worthy member of this Order to obtain employment when I can consistently do so without detriment to my own interest or interference with any of my civil or religious liberties. I will not commend for membership in this Legion any person whom I know, to be of immoral habits, or whose character I know, or have good reason to believe, to be other than good, and who is not of sound mind and body, and in every way worthy to become a member of this Legion. I will use my best efforts in promoting the interest of the Legion, when I can do so without interfering with my regular business. I will not while a member, or if at any time I cease to be a member, ever while I live, reveal to anyone not entitled to know, any of the secrets of the Legion. All this I promise on my honor, and for any violation thereof, I consent to be punished as provided for in the constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations of this Legion.”
President: “We have in use in our Legion, as you have already been informed, certain passwords, grips, signs, countersigns, etc., which our Instructor will now make known to you.”
But why occupy time in discussing more of the three hundred or more similar societies, one by one, in detail? They all agree substantially in their first principle. They all teach the same religious doctrine—naturalism and salvation without Christ. They all belong to the Masonic family, which is the mother of all, in fact as well as in name.
