Four Times Respectable College of Saint Andrew of Scotland

The Chaplain intones the De profundis Psalm 130, "Out of the depths," traditionally used for the dead and the members of the chapter respond to him.

After this mournful prayer, the chapter remains in a gloomy silence for a space of 2 to 3 minutes. The Grand Prior resumes speaking and says: = My illustrious companions, brave knights, after the loss we have suffered, the Supreme Being grants us a great motive for consolation, which is, my brothers, the hope of rehabilitating the memory of our ancestors and of avenging them by destroying the tyrants who murdered them, and one day restoring to our order the luster that injustice has tarnished. Obliged since the unfortunate event that the first order of chivalry suffered to hide its precious remains and even its very name under the emblem of Masonry, prudence forces us to yield to circumstances. We are finally retired into a dark but safe retreat that our ancient brothers-in-arms, the Scottish Knights of St. Andrew of the Thistle, have procured for us. The alliance that we have made with these respectable orders, and these two orders now forming only one, we are going to work in concert to reach the goal at which we aim. Let us begin these holy works, my illustrious companions, by renewing upon the coffin of our former Grand Master the oaths that bind us, and let us assure, in spirit, heart, and soul, upon the sacred mysteries of the Christian Religion and upon our honor, that we promise to God and to the shades of this great man the faithful execution of our promises, by committing ourselves before God and honor. All the members of the chapter surround the coffin and take the same oath, having their hand upon the magisterial sword that is upon it. This ceremony ended, the Grand Prior says:

= My illustrious companions, here we are gathered to admit among us a Scottish Master of the Lodge of St. John. My dear Brother Master of Ceremonies, I pray you to tell the illustrious knights assembled the name of this Scottish Master of the Lodge of St. John, and to take the opinion of the brother knights for his admission. =

If he is accepted by the chapter, the Grand Prior says: Brother Master of Ceremonies, do us the kindness to go and fetch the candidate by having him called by one of the Squires who guard the avenues of the cavern. The Master of Ceremonies, at the order of the Grand Prior, brings the Scottish Master to the door of the chapter where he strikes a small knock. The 2nd assistant rises in silence, opens the door slightly, and asks who knocks? Upon the reply of the Master of Ceremonies, the 2nd assistant announces him to the Grand Prior, who orders the Master of Ceremonies to bring in the candidate. As soon as he has entered, the Grand Prior says: = Brother Master of Ceremonies, whom do you bring us? = R. Very sublime Grand Prior, it is a Scottish Master of the Lodge of St. John whose conduct is irreproachable, who has just accomplished his promises, and who desires to be admitted into the interior of our august retreat. The Grand Prior says: = Lead this Scottish Master to the feet of the coffin of our last Grand Master, so that by rendering homage to the ashes of this great man, he may penetrate himself with us with the sorrow we feel for his loss, and that he may there lend his hand upon his magisterial sword to his obligation. = The Grand Prior goes to stand with all the members of the chapter around the coffin, takes the candidate's hand, places it upon the magisterial sword, explains to him how sacred the promise he is about to make is before God and the order, and has him pronounce the oath of the Novices.

Oath

The Grand Prior raises the novice, takes him by the hand, and leading him to the feet of the throne, says to him:

= My son, your virtues, your discretion, and your attachment to the order having made you worthy to approach the interior, in the respectable order of which until now you have known only the emblems and which is covered by the allegory of the Masonic grades, you are going, my son, to know us. I am going to speak to you in the name of our Superiors, without allegory. All the grades through which you have been made to pass in the Lodge of St. John