down and sigh.  The Senior Warden, hearing their sighs, says to them, “Venerable and respectable brethren, be not afflicted; here is a victim (pointing to the candidate), whose courage will give you content.”  Senior Warden to the candidate, “Do you know the reason why the ancients have a long white beard?” Candidate.  “I do not, but I presume you do.”  S. W.  “They are those who came here, after passing through great tribulation, and having washed their robes in their own blood; will you purchase such robes at so great a price?” Candidate.  “Yes; I am willing.”  The Wardens then conduct him to the basin, and bare both his arms—­they place a ligature on each, the same as in performing the operation of blood-letting.  Each Warden being armed with a lancet, makes an incision in each of his arms, just deep enough to draw a drop of blood, which is wiped on a napkin, and shown to the brethren.  The Senior Warden then says, “See, my brethren, a man who has spilled his blood to acquire a knowledge of our mysteries, and shrunk not from the trial!” Then the Most Puissant opens the first Seal of the great book, and takes from thence a bone quiver, filled with arrows, and a crown, and gives them to one of the Ancients, and says to him, “Depart and continue the conquest.”  He opens the second Seal, and takes out a sword, and gives it to the next aged, and says, “Go, and destroy peace among the profane and wicked brethren, that they may never appear in our Council.”  He opens the third Seal, and takes a balance, and gives it to the next aged, and says, “Dispense rigid justice to the profane and wicked brethren.”  He opens the fourth Seal, and takes out a scull, and gives it to the next aged, and says, “Go, and endeavor to convince the wicked that death is the reward of their guilt.”  He opens the fifth Seal, and takes out a cloth, stained with blood, and gives it to the next aged, and says, “When is the time (or, the time will arrive,) that we shall revenge and punish the profane and wicked, who have destroyed so many of their brethren by false accusations.”  He opens the sixth Seal, and that moment the sun is darkened and the moon stained with blood!  He opens the seventh Seal, and takes out incense, which he gives to a brother; and also a vase, with seven trumpets, and gives one to each of the seven aged brethren.  After this, the four old men, in the four corners, show their inflated bladders (beeves’ bladders, filled with wind under their arms), representing the four winds:  when the Most Puissant says “Here is seen the fulfilment of a prophecy;” (Rev. vii. 3).  Strike not, nor punish the profane and wicked of our order, until I have selected the true and worthy Masons!  Then the four winds raise their bladders, and one of the trumpets sound, when the two Wardens cover the candidate’s arms, and take from him his apron and jewel of the last degree.  The second trumpet sounds, when the Junior Warden gives the candidate the apron and jewel of this degree.  The third trumpet sounds, when the