The Equinox (Volume I, Number II)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING In and by this word the Hierophant Inductor declares the Portal of the Vault of the Adepts duly opened. THE CEREMONY At the bidding of the Hierophant Inductor the Associate Adept places the Candidate in the West between the Banner and the Black Pillar, before the Elemental Tablets, but facing the West. After which he presents him to the Hierophant Inductor. ~ - ~ - > The Hierophant Inductor then ad- Dy Ty oD Iq 1> dresses the Philosophus and points out Koay ot tohim that if in the previous grades much ES | & information was imparted to him; it was | fsecsnaud “S* Fcopetha] WP Peak Aa] i paw Tas ee done as a test of his trustworthiness. Continuing he says: “I therefore now ask sweat i " § dagen § you before proceeding further in the Order, Sah 4) to pledge yourself to the following, laying Wterilay |g. J fBermer af ose. your hand upon the Central Tablet in the midst of the four Elemental Tablets.” Sieemesey [svenml £ . . z A Brea PF The Philosophus then promises never = to reveal the Secrets of this Ritual ; never eres A to use his practical Occult Knowledge for wy Es i Evil; to use his influence only for the nonrws honour of God, not to stir up strife ; and whe | 77 y to uphold the authority of the Chiefs of oa the Order. After which he confirms his obligation by saying, “I undertake to maintain the Vel peteeen the First and Second Orders DIAGRAM 53. Arrangement of the Temple for the 24th, 25th, and may the powers of the elements bear and 26th Paths in the Portal Ritual. witness to my pledge.” The Associate Adept then explains to the Philosophus the admission badge, which is the peculiar emblem of the Hiereus of a Temple of the First Order. And the Hierophant Inductor explains the Hierophant’s Lamen and the Banner of the East, thus completing his knowledge of the Emblems appropriate to the Officers of a Temple of the First Order. The Diagram of the Paths is then explained to the Candidate, after which the Hierophant Inductor says : «Before you in the East are represented the Five Portals of the 21st, 24th, 25th, 26th and 23rd Paths ; thus shadowing forth by their number the Eternal Symbol of the Pentagram; for five will divide without remainder the number of the letter of each of these Paths, that is, its numerical value, as it will those of all the paths from °, the 2oth, to nm, the 32nd, inclusive; and also the sum of their numbers. 285