Q. Chancellor’s station?  A. On the right of the Sovereign Master.

Q. His duty?  A. To receive and communicate all orders and petitions; to assist the Sovereign Master in the discharge of his various duties, and in his absence to preside in the Council.

Q. Sovereign Master’s station?  A. In the East.

Q. His duty?  A. To preside in the Council; confer this order of knighthood upon those whom his Council may approve; to preserve inviolable the laws and constitution of our Order; to dispense justice, reward merit, encourage truth, and diffuse the sublime principles of universal benevolence.

S. M.—­“Sir Knight Chancellor, it is my will and pleasure that a Council of Knights of the Red Cross be now opened, and to stand open for the dispatch of such business as may regularly come before it at this time, requiring all Sir Knights now assembled, or who may come at this time, to govern themselves according to the sublime principles of our Order.  You will communicate this to the Sir Knight Master of the Palace, that the Sir Knights present may have due notice thereof, and govern themselves accordingly.” [The Sir Knight Chancellor communicates it to the Sir Knight Master of the Palace, and he to the Knights.] S. M.—­“Return arms—­right about face—­to your posts—­march—­center face—­Sir Knights, this Council is now open for the dispatch of business.”

* * * * *

SECOND SECTION.

Question—­What were the preparatory circumstances attending your reception to this illustrious Order?  Answer—­A Council of Royal Arch Masons being assembled in a room adjacent to the Council chamber, I was conducted to the door, where a regular demand was made by two, three, and two.

Q. What was said to you from within?  A. Who comes there?

Q. Your answer?  A. Companion A. B., who has regularly received the several degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch, and now solicits the honor of being regularly constituted a Knight of the Red Cross.

Q. What was then said to you?  A. I was asked if it was of my own free will and accord that I made this request; if I was worthy and well qualified; if I had made suitable proficiency in the foregoing degrees, and was properly vouched for; all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what further right or benefit I expected to gain admittance.

Q. Your answer?  A. By the benefit of a pass-word.

Q. Did you give that pass-word?  A. I did, with the assistance of my companions. [Here the Royal Arch word is given as described in the Royal Arch degree.]

Q. What was then said to you?  A. I was then directed to wait with patience till the Most Excellent Prelate should be informed of my request, and his answer returned.

Q. What was his answer?  A. Let him be admitted.