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

He makes him rise and kisses him on the forehead, then says to him:

M. Novice, from this moment you are a member of the order of Chevaliers bienfaisans de la Cité Sainte Beneficent Knights of the Holy City; you form a free body, devoted to the practice of beneficence and all Christian virtues. Never forget that if, in the symbolic light of the order of Freemasons founded on the mysteries of the ancient law, you were asked for the same virtues, they will be strictly demanded of you in the order of the Chev: bienf. de la Cité Ste Beneficent Knights of the Holy City, which is founded on the truths and principles of the holy, perfect, and sublime law of Christianity. When you have proven, through positive acts of charity and virtue and through the reasonable obedience that our rules prescribe, that your heart and your conduct have been in agreement with your mouth while pronouncing your engagements, and when you have accomplished the tests of beneficence prescribed by our statutes, we will admit you to the final rank of the order. This will raise you to the rank and title of Chev: bienf. de la Cité Ste Beneficent Knight of the Holy City, that is to say, defender of Christianity and humanity.

The Master takes his place again and gives the kiss. Now, M. brother, give the authentic sign of obedience that you promised to the Superior of the order, whom I represent here, and of that which you owe to the dignity with which I am invested.

The Master of Ceremonies, making the Novice bow deeply, makes him touch the pommel of the sword of the President, who continues:

Go now and give the same sign of obedience to the Rev. brother C. de la P.?... under whose inspection you will henceforth be (and to the Rev. brother who represents him at this ceremony if he is absent). You also owe, during your novitiate, particular obedience to the instructor of the novices of the Commandery of... on which you depend.

The Master of Ceremonies leads the Novice toward the titular Master of the Commandery on which he depends, who also receives the sign of obedience and kisses the Novice on the forehead. But the titular officer does not bow; the one who represents him says: I receive, M. brother, your obedience in the name of the Rev. brother... Commander of... whom I represent here. He kisses him on the forehead.

The Master of Ceremonies then brings him back to the Prefect, who gives him the signs, words, and grip of a Novice as follows.

Sign. The one being questioned places the two elongated fingers of the right hand on his left shoulder near the collar and brings them down transversally to the

middle of the chest. The other responds by making the same sign with the two fingers of the left hand, which he places on his right shoulder and also brings down to the middle of the chest. This sign represents the red cord worn by novices.

Grip. The one questioning takes the other's right hand with his right hand, saying in a loud voice: Religion. The other responds by taking the other's left hand with his left, saying likewise: Beneficence. Their arms, thus interlaced, form a cross. Afterward, they embrace and whisper the word Virtue into the ear, and the second, Humanity, which are the two watchwords.

This is how the sign and the grip must be given between brothers who meet and wish to examine one another. But if a novice is addressed to the Prefect, he must give the two stages of the sign and all the watchwords alone to the one who will be sent to recognize him.

The Prefect, having given the novice the signs, grip, and words of his grade, shows him and explains the coat of arms of the province and the emblems of the phoenix and the pelican, saying:

See above me this coat of arms; it contains the arms of the province to which you belong, which is that of Burgundy, the fifth in the order.

You perceive to my right a Phoenix with the motto Perit ut Vivat It perishes so that it may live; it is the emblem of the rebirth of the being. It recalls at once the original perfection of man, his degradation, and the regeneration that will be the basis of the mysteries of all peoples. It is at the same time the sign of the virtue and the purity of the morals of the members of the order. You also see to my left a Pelican with the motto Churientet enutrit original: "Charitatem enutrit" (It nourishes with charity). This emblem, which is very ancient in the order, is still preserved here to express that it is today, more than ever, devoted to active beneficence toward all men, of whatever nation and religion they may be.

Go then and present yourself to the brother Chaplain in order to place your first gifts for the poor into his hands in your capacity as a novice; you will then go to be recognized by your brothers, and we will finish the ceremony of your reception with the instruction of the novices.