Form of the Petition
TO BE WRITTEN OUT AND SIGNED BY EVERY POSTULANT
I, the undersigned, request the Most Wise and Perfect Sovereign and the Very August, Excellent, Puissant and Perfect Princes now assembled, that you will be graciously pleased to admit me to your Princely Order.
I trust that the sincerity of my endeavours to promote the Glory of the Rosie Cross and the Welfare of Mankind will entitle me to your favourable opinions.
Assuring you that I shall not fail to redeem my pledge of allegiance to this Sovereign Chapter, and to devote my Rose and Cross to the prosperity and happiness of the Princes of this sublime degree, I subscribe myself.
THE FURNITURE OF A CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX
RED ROOM
Altar. White silk altar-cloth, with Rose 49 on gold cross 5 with 4 green rays.
Super-altar. Black. 7 steps. Copy of Stele of Revealing. 33 lights. 33 roses. Paten and Chalice. Cakes of Light and Red Wine.
(Optional. Crystal globe: Image of Babalon: &c. But no male symbol.)
Thrones. One each side of the altar for M.W.S.55 and H.P.56 one in West for G.M.57
Stalls for other Princes.
Banners. The Banner of the Rite above M.W.S.
The Banner of Love above the Most Reverend and Perfect Prelate.
Personal banners of the other Princes above their stalls.
Floor-cloth. Ladder. Brass letters for same.
The Brand.
The hangings should be rosy red. BLACK ROOM Tau.
Crucifix.
Pillars. Three, surmounted by lamps with 11 holes and letters T.S.L. Bible.
Bones, skulls, skeletons, hell-broth for 2nd point. The hangings should be black. ANTEROOM
V.S.L. and writing materials.
THE OPENING OF A SOVEREIGN CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX
M.W.S.: v Very excellent and Perfect Princes, be pleased to assist me to open the Chapter of the Holy Order of Rose Croix of Heredom!
Very excellent and perfect Grand Marshal, see that the Castle Gates are duly guarded, and that all is secure within.
(The door is tested. The Grand Marshal receives the first three signs from all present.)
G.M.: All is secure both within and without. M.W.S.: What is the hour?
H.P.: It is the hour when the Veil of the Temple was rent in twain, When darkness began to outspread the earth,
When the altar was thrown down,
The Star called Wormwood fell upon the earth,
When the Blazing Star was eclipsed,
The Sacred Tau was defiled with blood and water, the word was lost, and despair and tribulation visited us.
(Solemn musick.)
M.W.S.: Since the Royal Art has experienced such dire calamities, it is our duty, very Excellent and Perfect Princes to retrieve the loss; and may the influence of Truth, Silence, and Love prosper our endeavours to recover the Lost Word.
(He lays down the Crucifix and tramples upon it.)
Therefore, with my heel upon the head of the Great Serpent I declare this Chapter of Rose Croix duly opened in the name of BABALON and THE BEAST conjoined, of the Secret Savior and of IAO.
(Applause.)
The Secret Rituals of the O.T.O.
(All seat themselves.)
RECEPTION OF POSTULANT FirstPoint
M.W.S.: Very Excellent and Perfect Princes, the business of this evening is the reception of Brother (Sister) ...
(H.P. retires to Red Room, or acts as introducer.
M.W.S. takes position on Tau, setting up the ... and placing the Crucifix on his breast.
G.M. draws sword, and goes without veil. Introducer, who has habited Postulant in white, with IV° apron, and placed the V.S.L. in his hand, takes the petition to G.M. who takes it to M.W.S. who says: 'Admit the Postulant!' Introducer returns to Postulant, and leads him amid strains of martial musick to the outer veil. Then he knocks. G.M. draws veil.)
Introducer: A Member of the Body of Initiates. G.M.: Whither go you?
Introducer: To the Immortal Mansions of Babalon.
Introducer: I am become a Perfect Magician.
Your petition has been favourably received by this Princely Chapter; but, whilst we admire your zeal and courage, alas! you came amongst us at a time when we are overwhelmed by the deepest sorrow. Consternation now spreads horror over our brows. An earthquake rends the fair breast of our mother, and the Head of the Great Serpent is exalted. The Veil of the Temple is rent asunder. (G.M. flings aside.)
Our altars are thrown down; the sacred Tau is defiled with Blood and Water; the Star called Wormwood is fallen upon the earth; and the Blazing Star is eclipsed.
Also, the Word is lost.
(Slow musick.)
M.W.S.: Nevertheless, we rejoice that you have arrived at this hour of peril: your strength and courage may assist us to retrieve our loss, and recover the Word.
Worthy Sir (Noble Dame) I direct you to travel 33 years, 11 to the South, 11 to the West, 11 to the North, returning to me in the East to report the results of your travels.
(G.M. leads Postulant 11 circles deosil and then takes him to the Southern Pillar, where he finds T; 11 circles, and to Western Pillar, where he finds S; 11 circles and to Northern Pillar, where he finds L. He is then brought to head of M.W.S.)
G.M.: Holy Father, I beg to present to you B... (S...) who has completed the 33 years travel imposed on him (or her).
M.W.S.: What have you discovered?
Introducer: I have searched in and about the Pillars in the South, West, and North for the Lost Word, but have only succeeded in finding the letters T., S., and L.
M.W.S.: I congratulate you on the success which has already rewarded your exertions. These letters are the initials of the virtues by whose assistance you may be led to the recovery of the Lost Word. T. stands for Truth, S. stands for Silence, L. for Love, while in conjunction ... (he checks himself). But before I can explain myself further, I must call upon you to take a solemn obligation to keep inviolate the Secrets and Mysteries of our Holy Order. Are you willing to do this?
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