Master of the Chair: + Guard 1: + Guard 2: + MofC: Help me to open the Lodge my Sisters and Brothers. - Sister G2! What are the duties of the Guard before the opening of a lodge? 2. To see if the Lodge is ready and that no profane desecrate our Temple. MofC: Sister G2! do your duty. G2 goes out, locks up, turns back - the G2 gives the touch and password "T...n" to G1 and he gives it to the MofC., then the two Guards return to their places. MofC: Brother G1 are you FM.L.? G1: My Sisters and Brothers recognise me as such! MofC: How do I recognise that you are? G1: By my Sign, words and the conditions of my acceptance. MofC: Give me the sign. G1 Gives the sign MofC: Sister G2! - Why have you dedicated yourself to FM? G2: Because I was in the darkness and wanted Illumination. MofC: How have you been initiated into the L.? G2: By three hard knocks. MofC: What do they mean? G2: The words of the sacred writing - Ask, and it will be given ye, Seek and you will find, Knock and it will be opened unto you! MofC: My Sisters and Brothers! Let us make use of these instructions, let us work without rest, to gain more Light, that with it we may ever more near the masonic perfection. - Br. G1! - Tell me the L.W.! G1: I can only letter it - Tell me the first letter, I will tell you the second. - ("I...n") MofC: Sister G2! - Give me the password! G2: "T...n" MofC: Br. G1! When does the FM.L. begin its work? G1: At midday - [very sublime] MofC. MofC: Sister G2! How many officials are in the Lodge? G2: Three - the MofC, the first guard and the second guard. MofC: My Sisters and Brothers, in Order as M.! Br. G1! Where is the place of the first Guard? G1: In the West, just as the Sun sets in the West to end the day, thus stands the first Guard in the West, to close the Lodge at the command of the M. and to give the workers their pay. MofC. Sister G2! - Where is the place of the second Guard in the Lodge? G2: In the South, just as the sun stands in the South, when it is high noon, thus stands the second Guard in the South so as to be like the sun on the meridien, to summon the workers to rest and to make sure that they get back to work. MofC: Br. G1! Where is the place of the MofC? G1: In the East, just as the sun rises in the East to begin the day and to enlighten, thus stands the MofC in the East, to open the Lodge to enlighten and to instruct the Sisters and Brothers in the M. MofC: Because I find the power of the authority lent to me in the East, I therefore open the FM.L. according the ancient solemn manner of the FM! - (completes the sign) ++-+ G1 finishes the Sign ++-+ G2 finishes the Sign ++-+ MofC: My Sister and Brother Guards, help me to illuminate the lodge ... (light the candle) ... Wisdom guide my building! G1 lights the candle: Strength execute it! G2 lights the candle: Beauty adorn it! (better: complete it!) MofC: The Lodge is opened! Each be mindful of his duty and may the A.B.A.W. bless our intentions - in Order is our work begun, in Peace it is done, and in Harmony completed! May the A.B.A.W. make our work worthy of his blessings, lend us the necessary Light, to find perfection on the way to M., to ban disorder from this place and let peace and brotherly love rule! We reach our hands out! Amen, So mote it be! All, rhythm. handshake through the chain: Husseh! MofC: Brothers of the past - you who have carried our movement into Humanity - you who saw further than we, because you had other opportunities and commandments than us, we ask instruction, protection and help in the fuflfillment of our task! Locked on to the living chain of the Kingdom - which binds all things, which serves the ancient idea of Humanity - We are one with the children of the Widow and the Society of the Sacred! Where we err, may the all-seeing Eye illuminate us - that we quit the involvement, so evil will be conquered - and the Kingdom will come - in splendour beyond time! - Amen, so mote it be! All: Amen, so be it! - Tibi sunt (forehead) - Malchut - et (Breast) - Geburah - et (lft. shoulder) - Chesed - (rt. shoulder) - per aeones + (hands together)! (To you belongs the Kingdom, the Justice, the Mercy in the cycle of Creation) - Amen! © P.R. Koenig, 2000