‘1’

ii

~lr 62 NINTH DBGRBB

14
‘1!
the presence of the King, passing the guards at the entrance.

I
Solomon was at first very much offended that Joabert had put it
out of his power to take vengeance in the presence of, and as a
warning to, the rest of the workmen, and ordered the guards to put TENTH DEGREE—ELECT OF FIFTEEN
Joabert to death; but by the intercession of his Brethren he was
pardoned for his zeal, and they became reconciled. Joabert became
highly favored by Solomon, who established the degree of Elect of This degree is a continuation of the series known as the Elu, or
Nine,~4 conferred it upon him /~d ,~is eight companions. Elect degrees, and recounts in detail the mode of the arrest and
‘7 ~, 7) ~ CLOSING punishment of the remaining two assassins of Hiram Abiff, and is
intended morally to instruct us that ambition and fanaticism, en-
7’. P.—4~ Brother Captain of the Guard, your station and duty? slavers of mafikind, are overthrown and dispelled~ ~y~he sword of
C. of G.—In the North, to see the Guards duty posted and that justice and freedom. ~ /.~ $e /~/ ~ 4’f
the Chapter is secure.
7’. P.—Attend to your duty, and inform the Guards that] am DECORATIONS, OFFICERS, CLOTHING, ETC.
l~ I
about to close this Chapter of Elect of Nine. The hangings are black, sprinkled with red and white tears.
Ii
‘I Captain of the Guard does so and reports. There are fifteen lights, five in the East, and five before each Warden;
four forming a square, and one in the center; all of yellow wax.
7’. P.—+4~ Brother Junior Inspector, are you an Elect of
L 3; The altar is covered with black, strewed with s[lver tears.
Nine? On the altar the Great Light, Book of Constitutions, two cross swords
J. 1.—A cavern received me, a lamp lighted me and a fountain and two daggers.
refreshed me. The Thrice Potent Master, who represents King Solomon.
The Senior Warden represents King Hiram, and sits on the right.
7’. P.—What are you taught as an Elect of Nine? The Junior Warden, in the West, represents Adoniram, the son of
4 J. 1.—That I should be careful how I suffer myself to be led Abda.
away by an excess of zeal, even in a good cause, to exercise as an The Orator represents Zabud, the King’s friend.
individual the vengeance due for the violation of divine and human The Secretary represents Zadoc, the Priest.
laws. The Treasnrer represents Josaphat, the son of Ahilud, the Chancellor.
7’. P.—My Brother, what is the hour? The Hospitaler represents Ahishar, Governor of the House.
44~ The Captain of the Guard represents Zerbal.
J. 1.—It is midnight. The Master of Ceremonies represents the stranger who gave informa-
4— 7’. P.—If it is midnight, then it is time to close our work; give tion of the place of concealment of the assassins.
notice to the Brethren that I am about to close the Chapter of The number of members is regularly fifteen, and no more.
Elect of Nine. The Apron is white, lined, edged and fringed with black, and the flap
J. 1.—~4~4-~ Brethren, the Thrice Potent is about to close this black. In the middle are painted or embroidered three gates, and over
each gate a head impaled on a spike.
Chapter of Elect of Nine; give your attention and assistance to The Sash is a black ribbon or sash, worn from right to left, on the
the work. front of which is painted or embroidered three heads.
111 Signs, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, II, 2, 1. The Jewel is a dagger, its hilt gold and its blade silver, hanging at the
Thrice Potent ++++++++ + end of the sash.
I1~
i’; Junior Inspector ~++++ + During a reception the officers are dressed as in the ninth degree.
4,
1 The age is 5 times 3, or 15 years.
7’. P.—This Chapter of Elect of Nine is closed. Brother Captain The hour for opening is the sixth hour of the night; the hour for
of the Guard, inform the Guard. closing is the sixth hour of the day.
The fifteen lights are not burning.
41

I.’
s~ 163]
 64 TENTH DEGREE
OPENING
7’. P.—4~ Brethren, I am about to open this Chapter of Illus-
trious Elect of Fifteen. Brother Captain of the Guard, assure your-
self that all present have attained that degree.
Captain of the Guard satisfies himself and reports:
C. of G.—Thrice Potent, all present are Illustrious Elect of
F4 Fifteen.
7’. P.—++++ Brother Captain of the Guard, see that the
entrance to the Chapter is duly guarded, that we may not be dis-
turbed in our deliberations.
Captain of the Guard stations the guard.
K
C. of G.—Thrice Potent, the entrances to the Chapter are duly
guarded, and we are secure.
7’. P.—Illustrious Brother Senior Inspector, how did you become
an Illustrious Elect of Fifteen?
S. W.—My zeal and indefatigable exertions procured me that
great hon6r far above my deserts.
7’. P.—Where were you received as such?
S. W.—In the audience chamber of King Solomon, and by him-
self, in the presence of his court.
4-f’ - 7’. P.—How many Elect were at first received?
S. W.—Fifteen, including Joabert, whom I afterward repre-
sented.
7’. P.—On what occasion were they received?
‘II
S. W.—When King Solomon dispatched them to search for and
—4’ apprehend the two murderers of our Grand Master Hiram Abiff,
who still remained at large.
7’. P.—Whither were they dispatched?
S. W.—To the country near Gath, a city of the Philistines,
where they had taken refuge, after they fled frQm the mountains
east of Joppa, where Akirop was taken.
-i 7’. P.—By whom was it discovered that they had taken refuge
there?
S. W.—By Ben-Dekar, one of the nine Elect, and afterward
appointed viceroy over that portion of Palestine.
7’. P.—What steps did King Solomon take to have them appre-
hended?
TENTH DEGREE 65
S. W.—He sent thither the fifteen Elect, bearing a letter to
Maaha, tributary King of Gath, with a sufficient escort.
7’. P.—To whom was the letter committed?
S. W.—To Zerbal, Captain of the Guard, and one of the nine
Elect.
7’. P.—Did the Fifteen succeed in apprehending the murderers?
S. W.—They did, with the assistance furnished them by Maaka.
7’. P.—Where did they discover them?
S. W.—In a quarry between Gath and Saphir, in which they had
taken refuge.
7’. P.—By whom were they discovered?
S. W.—By Joabert and Zerbal, two of the Elect of Fifteen
7’. P.—Wha~ was done with the murderers?
S. W.—T hey were taken to Jerusalem, tried, convicted and
executed.
7’. P—Of what are these two murderers the types to the Illus-
trious Elect of Fifteen?
S. W.—Of Ambition.
7’. P.—What do three heads upon the apron and collar represent?
S. W.—Ignorance, Tyranny and Fanaticism; the three enslavers
of mankind, smitten by the sword of freedom.
7’ P.—What is the cause to which the Illustrious Elect of
Fifteen are now devoted?
S. W.—That of the oppressed against the oppressor, and of
Toleration against Intolerance.
7’. P—When did the fifteen Elect depart from Jerusalem?
S. W.—On the 15th day of the month Tanimuz.
7’. P.—When did they arrive in Gath?
S. W.—On the 18th day of the same month.
7’. P.—What is your age?
S. W.—5 times 3, or 15 years, complete.
7’. P.—What is the hour?
S. W.—The sixth hour of the night.
7’. P.—Cause, then, the brethren to assemble around the altar,
that, renewing our pledge to one another, we may open this Chapter
of Illustrious Elect of Fifteen.
S. W,—~ Brethren, you will please assemble around the altar,
that this Chapter may be opened in due and ancient form.

66 TENTH DEGREE
The brethren assemble around the altar in a circle, including all the officers,
with their swords drawn. They raise their swords, and place the points together
in the center at an angle of 45 degrees, and repeat as follows:
0.—To the cause of every people that struggle against op-
pression!
J. W.—To the cause of all who defend Right and Justice against
Tyranny!
S. W.—To the cause of Toleration against Intolerance and
Persecution!
7’. P.—To the cause of Free Thought, U’ree Speech, Free Con-
science!
All—We devote ourselves, our hands, our hearts, our intellects!
7’. P.—Now, henceforward, and forever
All—Amen!
All return to their places. Then the Thrice Potent gives the sign ~nd all
the brethren answer. The Thrice Potent then ~~4++~ and a brother lights
the five lights in the East, the Thrice Potent saying:
7’. P.—A5 these lights shine in this Chapter, so shall the light of
Freedom illuminate the world.
The Senior Warden ~ and a brother lights the five lights in front
of him.
S. IV.—As my lights shine in this Chapter, so shall the light of
Religious and Political Toleration rise upon the world.
The Junior Warden-+++++, and a brother lights the five lights in front
of him.
J. W.—As my lights shine in this Chapter, so shall the light of
Education and Intelligence yet shine in all the corners of the earth.
7’. P.—So mote it be! My Brethren, this Chapter is duly opened
in due and ancient form.
Thrice Potent ~ and all are seated.
4.
RECEPTION
The officers being properly clothed and seated, the Candidate, clothed as
an Elect of Nine, is received in the preparation room and carefully examined
by the Master of Ceremonies in the work and principles of the ninth degree.
if the examination be satisfactory, he is conducted into the Chapter, and
directed to take a seat.
7’. P.—My Brethren, we still lament the death of our illustrious
I -
Grand Master Hiram Abiff, and the demands of justice remain un-
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TENTH DEGREE 67
satisfied. Excellent Orator, what sayeth the law as to him who
slayeth his brother?
0.—If any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and
rise up against him and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth
into one of the cities of refuge, then the Elders of his city shall send
and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the Avenger
of Blood, that he may die. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou
shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may
go well with thee.
7’. P.—Such is the law; and the land of Israel is not yet purified
of the iunocent blood of our brother shed upon the floor of the
Temple. One of his assassins has suffered swift punishment, but
two remain at large, nor have yet been traced from their retreat in
the mountains of Joppa. I fear they have escaped by sea, and
are beyond our reach.
0.—Most Potent King, doubt not that the Lord will at length
give the two assassins into thy hand, even as he did Akirop, when
thou didst despair of discovering his retreat.
7’. P.—The nine have even now returned from Galilee and the
conb’ies of Phenicia, and have no trace whatever of the fugitives.
I know not what further steps to take.
The Master of Ceremonies, who represents Ben-Dekar, one of the Elect of
Nine, ~ at the door.
C. of 0.—Thrice Potent King Solomon, there is an alarm at the
entrance of the audience chamber.
7’. P.—See who applies to enter, and what his errand is.
The Captain of the Guard goes to the door, opens it, and asks:
C. of G.—Who is it that applies to enter here?
M. of C.—Ben-Dekar, one of the Elect of Nine, who desires to
have speech with our lord the King.
C. of 0.—Wait, then, my Brother, while I inform him of thy
request.
He closes the door and approaches the East.
7’. P.—Who is he that applies to enter?
C. of G.—Ben-Dekar, one of the Elect of Nine, who desires to
have speech with thee, and craves permission to approach thy
footstool.
T. P.—Let him enter and make known his tidings.
I

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 1~
68 TENTH DEGREE
The Captain of the Guard opens the door, and the Master of C&remonies
enters, advances to the East, kneels, rises, and stands with his hands folded
across his breast.
7’. P.—What is thine errand, and the tidings that thou bringeth?
M. of C.—Thrice Potent King Solomon, returning from Galilee
with my companions, and leaving them on the way, I traversed the
mountains to Ekron. When at Ekron and at Ashdod I came upon
the track of the fugitives, and have returned hither to. inform my
lord the King that they have taken refuge in the land of Gath.
7’. P.—Ben-Dekar, thou hast done well. I will forthwith send
messengers to my servant Maaka, with letters, requiring his assist-
— 4, ance in searching out and capturing the fugitives. Let our Chan-
K
I’
cellor write such letters, and the Elect of Nine prepare to set forth
with sufficient escort. And, lest their number be too small, let six
others go forth with them, selected by lot from among our servants,
making fifteen in all. Place thou in an urn, my Broth.er Adoniram,
the names of all our Perfect Masters other than the Nine Elect, and
let our Orator draw forth six names, and those so drawn, with the
-Il i~ine, shall go forth upon this expedition.
The Senior Warden places several names in an urn, upon slips of paper, and
II the Orator draws forth six in succession, reading, n~ he does so, the following
names:
0 .—Ben-Khased, Ben-Abinadab, Akhimaz, Bana Ben-Akhihed,
Josaphat, the son of Pharaoh, Ben-Gaber.
1,. P.—Let the Elect of Nine and the six brethren named ad-
vance.
The Candidate and fourteen brothers, including the Master of Ceremonies,
advance to the East, and the Thrice Potent says:
~‘ 7’. P.—My Brethren, it devolves on you to perform an important
duty; I place you under the command of Zerbal, who shall bear our
letters to Maaka, our servant, King of Gath. Go thither, speedily,
and aided by the King, search his dominions for these murderers.
If you discover the assassins take them alive and bring them here
to be tried and punished. Prepare to set forth at mid-day.
The Candidate and several brothers retire to the ante-room and lay aside
their Nfasonic clothing and jewels, and each arms himself with a sword. In
‘1’
the meantime all the furnitlire of the Lodge room is removed except the lights.
The Captain of the Guard, who represents Zerbal, then enters, conducting the-
Candidate, and the other brothers follow. They proceed over a tortuous road,
or make several times the circuit of the room, while the lights behind the Can-
didate, as he travels, are put out by degrees, until it is dark. Obstacles are
V
I-’-
TThNTH DEGREE’
69
~thenplaced in his way, and several more circuits are made, when he is con-
ducted to the ante-room, where the Captain of the Guard says:
C. of 0.—My Brethren, we now enter the city of Gath. Remain
here while I enter the city and present to King Maaka the letters
of our lord the King.
He goes out, remains some time, returns and says:
C. of 0.—Be of good cheer, my Brethren! The King of Gath has
received with reverence the letters of our lord the King, and hath
sent out his guards to scour the country in all directions in search
of the fugitives. They may have taken refuge in the quarries. Let
us proceed hither.
They again enter the Chapter-room, and make several circuits as before.
Then Zerbal says:
C. of 0.—Here is the entrance to a quarry; I will explore it
with Joabert and Stolkin, while the rest keep watch without.
The Candidate, with the brethren who represent Joabert and Stolkin, then
pass through a narrow passage, so low as to compel theni to stoop, and emerge
into a small room representing a quarry in the rocks, lighted by two or three
dim lamps, and in which are two men roughly dressed a,id with miner’s tools
in their hands.
C. of 0.—Behold the assassins.
The two—We are lost.
The two men throw down their tools and rush upon the three brothers;
Zerbal and the Candidate seize one, who submits, and they take his dagger
from him. The other is seized by Stolkin. Zerbal, Stolkin and the Candidate
then return through the passage, rejoin the others, and all proceed to the ante-
room, where they deliver the two prisoners to the guards. In the meantime the
Chapter room is lighted and the officers seated as before. The Master of
Ceremoaies f.~f..f..f. at the door, which is answered by the Hospitaler within,
who opens the door and asks:
‘4.
H.—Who apply to enter here?
M. of C.—The Elect of Fifteen, who were sent to the land of Gath
in search of the assassins of our deceased Grand IVtaster.
H.—The King hath ordered that, upon your return, you at once
appear before him. Enter.
The Candidate and the brethren eater, advance to the East, cross their hands
upon their breasts, and stand in silence.
7’. P.—Speak, Zerbal, hast thou succeeded?
C. of 0.—My Lord, we have. We journeyed hence with all
speed and by the shortest route to the city of Gath, where, my
 4’- ‘4
70 TBNTH DBGRBB
brethren remaining without the walls, I entered the city, obtained
immediate audience of the King, and laid before him my letters.
He received them with reverence, and forthwith dispatched his
guards in every direction to seek the fugitives. Returning to my
companions, we hastened to the quarries between Gath and Saphir,
where I suspected the murderers were concealed; and coming to
the entrance of one, 1, with Joabert and Stolldn, entered and found
two men at work, whom I recognized as the assassins. We sprang
upon them; they defended themselves with their daggers, but we
I’, overpowered them, and, having sent this information to King
Maaka, we returned, and have delivered the two fugitives to the
guards.
7’. P.—Let them be chained and assigned to separate dungeons
till the morrow. If, after fair trial, they are found guilty, then
let their bodies be forthwith opened, their bowels taken thence and
burned to ashes, and scattered to the four winds of heaven; then let
I
them be beheaded and their heads placed upon the West and South
gates of the city as a terror to all evil doers. Have I said well, my
Brother?
~ S. W.—Most well and wisely.
~-T~-.P.==.ZeibaI,J
will reward you and your companions as you
V
4’’ I
deserve. I will make you the members of a new order of nobility
and a new degree in Masonry to be styled the Illustrious Elect of
Fifteen, which none shall receive hereafter except by unanimous
vote. Place yourselves around the altar, my Brethren, and assume
an obligation appropriate to the new degree.
____ The fifteen brethren stand around the altar in a circle, placing their hands
on the cross-swords and cross-daggei s which are upon it, The other brethren
encircle them, and form the roof of steel over them. In this position the fifteen
~peat the following
OBLIGATION - The brethren assemble around the altar, and the same ceremonies aie per-
I, ,in the presence of the Grand Architect of the Universe,
and under these swords drawn to protect and punish, do most
solemnly swear that I will never reveal the secrets of this degree
to any person in the world, unless it be to a person duly authorized
to receive them, and when I am duly authorized to communicate
them;
I furthermore promise and swear that I will evermore punctually
observe my obligations as an Elect of Nine; and again to the
‘‘4
TENTH DEGREE 71
same causes as by my obligations in that degree I did, and to the
cause of the oppressed against the oppressor everywhere, and of
toleration against fanaticism and persecution, I irrevocably devote
my hand, heart and intellect, under the penalty of having my body
opened, my bowels taken from thence, burnt to ashes and scattered
to the four winds of heaven, if I willfully violate this my obligation
of an Elect of Fifteen. So help me, God! and keep me steadfast
in the due performance of the same.
.~.. The swords are lowered, and one laid on the head of each of the brethren,
and the Thrice Potent says:
7’. P.—I therefore declare you to be duly invested with the rank
and diguity of the Illustrious Elect of Fifteen, which degree I
declare to be devoted now and always hereafter to Liberty and
Toleration; and I invest you with its collar, apron and jewel, which
need no explanation.
I will now instruct you in the sign, grip, word, etc., of this
CLOSING
The floor is offered to the Wardens, and through them to the brethren.
When silence is reported to prevail, notificlition is given, and the box of
fraternal assistance passed around. After which:
7’. P.—Brothei~ Senior Warden, what is the hour?
S. W.—Thrice Potent, the hour when the Fifteen Elect returned
to Jerusalem.
7’.P.—The hour of rest has come; cause the brethren to assemble
around the altar, that, renewing our pledges to one another, we may
close this Chapter of Illustrious Elect oe Fifteen.
S. W.—~4-E4-E Brethren, you will please assemble around the
altar, that this Chapter may be closed in due and ancient form.
formed as in opening. Then all return to their places. The Thrice Potent
gives the sign, and all the brethren the answer. Then the Thrice Poteat
+++++, and the lights in front of him are extinguished; the Senior
Warden +++++; and the lights in front of him are extinguished; the
Junior Warden +++++, and the lights in front of him are extinguished;
and the Thrice Potent says:
7’. P.—This Chapter of Illustrious Elect of Fifteen is closed.