To open the grand council.—­Father Adam says:—­“Brother Truth, what time is it on earth?” Brother Truth:  “Mighty Father, it is midnight among the profane, or cowans, but the sun is in its meridian in this Lodge.”  Father Adam:  “My dear children, profit by the favor of this austere luminary, at present showing its light to us, which will conduct us in the path of virtue, and to follow that law which is eternally to be engraved on our hearts, and the only law by which we cannot fail to come to the knowledge of pure truth.”  He then makes a sign, by putting his right hand on his left breast; on which all the brethren put up the first finger of the right hand above their heads, the other fingers clenched, showing by that, that there is but one God, who is the beginning of all truth; then Father Adam says, “This Lodge is opened.”

Form of reception.—­After the Council is opened, the candidate is introduced into an ante-chamber, where there are a number of Sylphs, each with a bellows, blowing a large pot of fire, which the candidate sees, but they take no notice of him.  After he is left in that situation two or three minutes, the most ancient of the Sylphs goes to the candidate and covers his face with black crape.  He must be without a sword, and is told that he must find the door of the Sanctuary, and when found, to knock on it six times with an open hand.  After he finds the door and knocks, Brother Truth goes to the door, and having opened it a little, asks the candidate the following questions, which he answers by the help of the Sylphs.  “Q.  What do you desire?  A. I desire to go out of darkness to see the true light, and to know the true light in all its purity.  Q. What do you desire more?  A. To divest myself of original sin, and destroy the juvenile prejudices of error, which all men are liable to, namely, the desire of all worldly attachments and pride.”  On which Brother Truth comes to Father Adam, and relates what the candidate has told him; when Father Adam gives orders to introduce the candidate to the true happiness.  Then Brother Truth opens the door, and takes the candidate by the hand, and conducts him to the middle of the Lodge or Sanctuary, which is also covered by a black cloth, when Father Adam addresses him thus:  “My son, seeing by your labor in the royal art, you are now come to the desire of knowledge of the pure and holy truth, we shall lay it open to you without any disguise or covering.  But, before we do this, consult your heart, and see in this moment if you feel yourself disposed to obey her (namely truth) in all things which she commands.  If you are disposed, I am sure she is ready in your heart, and you must feel an emotion that was unknown to you before.  This being the case, you must hope that she will not be long to manifest herself to you.  But have a care not to defile the sanctuary by a spirit of curiosity; and take care not to increase the number