I ever knowingly or wilfully violate or transgress any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a Royal Arch Mason.  So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the performance of the same.”

Q. After receiving the obligation, what was said to you?  A. We were told that we were now obligated and received as Royal Arch Masons, but as this degree was infinitely more important than any of the preceding, it was necessary for us to pass through many trials, and to travel in rough and rugged ways to prove our fidelity, before we could be entrusted with the more important secrets of this degree.  We were further told that, though we could not discover the path we were to travel, we were under the direction of a faithful guide, who would “bring the blind by a way they knew not, and lead them in paths they had not known; who would make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight; who would do these things, and not forsake them.”  (See Isa. xlii. 16.)

Q. What followed?  A. We were caused to travel three times around the room, when we were again conducted to the altar, caused to kneel, and attend to the following prayer: 

Supreme Architect of universal nature, who, by Thine Almighty Word, didst speak into being the stupendous arch of heaven!  And for the instruction and pleasure of Thy rational creatures, didst adorn us with greater and lesser lights, thereby magnifying Thy power, and endearing Thy goodness unto the sons of men.  We humbly adore and worship Thine unspeakable perfection!  We bless Thee, that when man had fallen from his innocence and happiness, Thou didst leave him the powers of reasoning, and capacity of improvement and of pleasure.  We thank Thee, that amidst the pains and calamities of our present state, so many means of refreshment and satisfaction are reserved to us while traveling the rugged path of life:  especially would we, at this time, render Thee our thanksgiving and praise for the institution, as members of which we are, at this time, assembled, and for all the pleasures we have derived from it.  We thank Thee, that the few here assembled before Thee, have been favored with new inducements, and been laid under new and stronger obligations of virtue and holiness.  May these obligations, O Blessed Father! have their full effect upon us.  Teach us, we pray Thee, the true reverence of Thy great, mighty, and terrible name.  Inspire us with a firm and unshaken resolution in our virtuous pursuits.  Give us grace diligently to search Thy word in the book of nature, wherein the duties of our high vocation are inculcated with divine authority.  May the solemnity of the ceremonies of our institution be duly impressed on our minds, and have a happy and lasting effect on our lives!  O Thou, who didst aforetime appear unto Thy servant Moses in A flame of fire out of the midst of A bush, enkindle, we beseech Thee, in each