Rectified Rite: Beneficent Knights of the Holy City, Ritual for the Novitiate

Another order for the Novice’s being.

The aspirant having answered affirmatively, the Prefect says to him:

Come then, my brother, to pronounce in a loud voice between our hands the engagements of the Novitiate. The Prefect strikes one blow with the pommel of his sword upon the table: all the brothers, standing in their places and with heads covered, hold their swords with the point raised and remain in this attitude until after the investiture of the Novice.

The Master of Ceremonies has the aspirant kneel, holding his right hand upon his heart and his left upon the Prefect’s sword.

The Commander remains to his right and the Master of Ceremonies to his left; in this position, the Prefect has him read and pronounce in a loud voice the following formula of the Novice’s engagement.

Engagement of the Novices.

I...... recognizing that I have requested freely and voluntarily my reception into the Novitiate of the order of the Chevaliers bienfaisans de la Cité Sainte Beneficent Knights of the Holy City, I promise before God and this Respectable assembly and solemnly engage myself upon my honor:

1st. To keep inviolably throughout my life secrecy regarding the things that have been or will be entrusted to me concerning, directly or indirectly, the order I am joining.

2nd. I promise obedience and fraternal submission to the superiors of the said order, as well as to observe its rules, statutes, and regulations, particularly those of this province; save for what I owe to my religion, to my sovereign, to my country, and to my civil status, which I do not intend to compromise in any way by the present engagement.

3rd. To work, whether with my brothers or privately, for the happiness of my country and of humanity in general, as well as for the good and prosperity of the order.

4th. To devote myself especially to the defense of Christianity and to the beneficence which is the goal of the said order, as well as to the love of virtue and truth; promising to observe and to cause to be observed, as much as it shall be possible for me, the laws of a truly Christian charity toward all men, of whatever religion they may be.

I reiterate freely and voluntarily my promise to keep faithful to

all these engagements as well as those that I have heretofore contracted, and if I fail in them, I consent to be reputed a man without honor and worthy of the contempt of all my brothers. In faith of which I pronounce and sign this present act to attest to my promise in the assembly of my brothers. May God be my aid to fulfill it.

The Prefect has him rise; the Master of Ceremonies presents him with the pen to sign the formula of the engagement on the loose sheet that is intended for the archives for each year.

The aspirant remaining standing between the Commander and the Master of Ceremonies, the Prefect says to him:

Quit these vile? garments, and come to clothe yourself in those that your virtue and your perseverance have earned you. He adds:

Transeunt? original: "The old things pass away, all things are made new." vetera, cuncta nova facta sunt.

After he has removed his jewels and vile? garments, the Master of Ceremonies has him kneel before the Prefect to receive the investiture.

The Commander remaining always at his side, the Prefect places the coat of arms referring here to the mantle or tabard of the Novices upon him, saying:

In Insto noviciorum ordinis equitum beneficiorum Civitatis Sanctae palludamento albo, fasciola rubra circumdato, sit tibi signum virtutis puritatis morum et charitatis christianae. original translation: May this white mantle, bordered with a red band, of the novices of the order of the Beneficent Knights of the Holy City, be for you a sign of virtue, purity of morals, and Christian charity.

He places the red cord around his neck, saying:

Accipe hanc vitam rubram, cui infra pendet signum sanctae crucis in honorem sanctae religionis Christi. original translation: Receive this red cord, from which hangs below the sign of the holy cross in honor of the holy religion of Christ.

He adds:

You must henceforth wear this cord at your neck over your shirt if, however, prudence and particular circumstances permit you to do so, but you must never appear in a novice assembly without being adorned with it.

He touches him on the forehead with the pommel of his sword, saying to him:

In the name of the legitimate superiors of the order and by the authority that I have received from them, I receive you as Squire Novice of the said order of the Beneficent Knights of the Holy City. May wisdom direct all your actions; be religious, humane, beneficent, and never forget the extent nor the strength of the engagements that unite you to us.