Prologue
January, 1888
The solemn lodge hid from unworthy eyes, an unnoticeable forgotten place made of granite.
Two Sphinx-like granite lions with women’s heads peered down from the entrance of the lodge.
An “ankh” adorned the lion’s neck, entwined with a cobra. An image of a woman embellished
the neck and breast of the other lion, speaking of fertility and procreation.
Fervent men slowly make their way up the three levels of narrowing steps, passing under the
two Egyptian swords with curved serpentine blades, passing through the two tall bronze doors.
One man glanced up as he ascended the steps, silently mouthing, “the temple of the Supreme
Council Freemasons,” made of brass letters and set in stone. His gaze fell to the plaque cut in
stone, “Freemasonry Builds Its Temples in the Hearts of Men and Among Nations.”
Stone columns extend high above the entrance and partially conceal an image of an
Egyptian god, backed with radiating sun and flanked by six large golden snakes. He stepped past
the threshold of the lodge entirely made of marble, exotic wood, and statues carved from gold.
The ofting room decorated with many symbols, especially the serpent, and portraits of
famous and influential men, lined the walls. Illuminations flickered above the men, resembling
stars in the dark blue sky; the golden serpents silently watching in the blue heavens.
Slowly removing his clothes, wrapping the long black robe around him, placing a hood over
his head to partially conceal his face.
In the recesses of the ancient temple, an ornately decorated room filled with candles, lighted
the way for the men filing in. Dressed in long black robes, hands pressed solemnly together,
slowly the row of men trudge into the Temple room. Each with their face down, they instinctively
form a large circle in the room.
The room fell with a deathly silence; abruptly three knocks reverberated throughout the
room. The Worshipful Master spoke, “You will admit him in the name of the Grand Architect of
the Universe, and let him be placed in the West.”
Gradually the door creaks open, a young man enters with a black robe and the left knee and
breast exposed. The young man’s face is covered by a dark cloth and led around the circle by a
rope around his neck. The candidate is led to the oath of secrecy where the Worshipful Master
stands. A sword is pricked to the candidate’s left breast.
“As this is a prick to the flesh at this time, so may the remembrance of it be to your
conscience hereafter, should you ever attempt improperly to reveal any of the secrets with which
you are about to be entrusted.”
The group silently watch as the candidate is instructed to kneel with his left knee bare and
bent, his right foot forming a square and the body being erect in that square. The left hand
supports the Volume of the Sacred Law, compass and square and right hand placed thereon.
“‘Vouch safe Thine Aid, Almighty Father, Grand Architect of the Universe, to this our
present conviction. Grant that this Candidate for Masonry, now kneeling before thee, may
dedicate and devote his life to thy Service, and become a true and faithful Brother amongst us.
To this end endue him with such a competency of thy Divine Wisdom, that assisted by the secrets
of our Royal Masonic Art, he may be better enabled to display the beauties of true godliness to
the Honour and glory of Thy Most Holy Name.’ ”
“‘I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear to have my throat cut across, my
tongue torn out by the roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea at low water
mark, where the tide ebbs and flows in twenty-four hours…should I ever knowingly or willingly
violate this my solemn oath or obligation as an Entered Apprentice Mason. So help me God.’ ”
The young man is then presented with white gloves and escorted to the pedestal in the East
to become an Entered Apprentice.
Throughout the ceremony another waited expectedly. Another man would join them, and this
man would be the one. He had done a lot to encourage them to allow this man to be initiated.
But he could never have foretold the events to come.
* * * *
A candlelit chamber houses a secret meeting where four men sit around a table, each
wearing the long black robes and only talking above a whisper.
“The time has come to make our stand and proclaim to our Brothers that it’s time. It’s our
time to cause such a panic, that people will not know whom to turn to. That the reliance on
religion and government will pass. It’s our time to take control, and whoever does not stand
behind us will fall.”
“Yes, we must give a sign to our Brothers that can only be recognized by them, something
that will forever change the world.”
