your discretion, leaves you nothing more to desire here.  You see, my dear brother, how, and by whom, Masonry has come to us.  You are to endeavor by every just means to regain our rights, and to remember that we are joined by a society of men, whose courage, merit, and good conduct, hold out to us that rank that birth alone gave to our ancestors.  You are now on the same level with them.  Avoid every evil by keeping your obligations, and carefully conceal from the vulgar what you are, and wait that happy moment when we all shall be reunited under the same Sovereign in the mansions of eternal bliss.  Let us imitate the example of our Grand Master, Jaques De Molay, who to the end put his hope in God, and at his last dying moments ended his life saying, “Spes mea in Deo est!”

Obligation.—­I do, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of the Grand Architect of the Universe, and this consistory of Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret, or Knights of St. Andrew, faithful guardians of the faithful treasure; most solemnly vow and swear, under all the different penalties of my former obligations, that I will never directly or indirectly reveal or make known to any person or persons whatsoever, any or the least part of this Royal degree, unless to one duly qualified in the body of a regularly constituted Consistory of the same, or to him or them whom I shall find such after strict and due trial.  I furthermore vow and swear, under the above penalties, to always abide and regulate myself agreeably to the statutes and regulations now before me; and when in a Consistory to behave and demean myself as one worthy of being honored with so high a degree, that no part of my conduct may in the least reflect discredit on the Royal Consistory, or disgrace myself.  So may God maintain me in equity and justice!  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

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SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL.

The number of Inspectors of a Kingdom or Republic is not to exceed nine.  They claim jurisdiction over all the ineffable and sublime degrees, and in reality form an aristocratic body, with power to appoint their own successors, and act as “Sovereigns of Masonry.”

Decorations of the place of meeting.—­The hangings are purple, embroidered with skeletons, death’s-heads, and cross-bones.  Before the canopy is a transparent delta (equilateral triangle).  In the middle of the room is a grand triangular pedestal, near which is seen a skeleton holding in his left hand the standard of the order, and in his right hand a poniard in the attitude of striking.  Above the door, or place of entrance, is the motto of the order, “Deus meumque jus.”  In the East is a chandelier of five branches; in the South is one of two branches; in the West is one of three; and in the North a single one.