A Curious Old Ritual.

A CURIOUS OLD RITUAL .

LAST summer I spent my holiday in the wonderful district of Armenia , and as I had made it almost a religious , and certainly a Masonic duty to visit if possible the site of the stranding of the Ark of Noah ( being myself a Royal Ark Mariner ) , it was part of my programme to ascend those wonderful peaks on which the first recorded ship took

the ground . I reached those peaks . I have seen the exact spot , marked by a votive altar , where that four-decker was piled up by her captain and came to grief , and I have sat by the wood fires kindled out of her poor old timbers . There is an ancient Monastery about a mile below the summit of

Mount Ararat , peopled by old world monks . They are men , God save them , who have lived an out of the world life all their days . They know little save the traditions of their own Monastery , but those traditions are old , and so old that all other stories fade into mere fireworks beside them . When I

visited their isolated abode they were astonished at the arrival of a person from the outside world , but they were most hospitable . They killed the fatted calf , and made me free of all they possessed , and fed me right royally , but at the same time with a certain sort of reservation that savoured to me of medical supervision .

Happening to scratch the crown of my head with my right hand ( I need not explain why to those who have been in Armenia ) I at once saw a brother of the Monastery making the same movement . I winked at him , and he immediately said ( in Armenian of course ) " Boozed . " I said " No , I wish

I was . ' He conducted me on one side , and asked me if I were an Ark Mariner . I replied that I was one in England , but had no notion that this wonderful degree had penetrated into Armenia . The Monk indignantly replied that Ararat was the head-quarters of the genuine Order , and that all other

adaptions were frauds of the basest kind . Well , to make a long story short , I was brought before the Chief of the House , and was allowed not only to see , but to copy the original Ritual , the Brotherhood being perfectly horrified and shocked at the exposition which I illustrated to them of the Degree as given in England .

They expressed themselves as absolutely certain that had the Patriarch had the least notion that his voyage would have been illustrated in such an inane , idiotic , and unseamanlike manner he would have seen the Ark d d first before he

would have launched her . It luckily happened that my Father and Mother were both Caldasans , and after their death I was brought up by a Coptic Aunt , so that I was able to copy and translate their quaint old ritual into familiar English , and I now send it to you , hoping that it may be of interest to your Archaeological readers .

Some of my learned Masonic friends will doubtless remark that in the ancient working of this most interesting and ancient of Degrees , the presence of women is essential . This point struck me very forcibly at the time of my discovery , and having previously taken a great interest in the

history of Androgynous Masonry , and moreover being a member of the Order of the Eastern Star , and having been initiated therein by the wife of a Brother Mason , a most lovely creature , I naturally inquired of the Holy Father how it came about that in a Society worked by Celibates , the

fairer but weaker sex could be admitted . He replied " My pious friend , this is the great point of the whole thing . Don't you see that whilst we are debarred from matrimony , there is no injunction against our adoration of the other sex . Consequently , when one of the Brethren is admitted he brings his

best girl with him , and they are initiated together . Thus we have Brother Lion and Sister Lioness , Brother Horse and Sister Mare , Brother Drake and Sister Duck ( and she is a real little duck too ) , and so on . The present Mrs . Noah is a really charming girl , and a clinking cook , and she keeps all the other Jennies in first class order . "

Doubtless my friends of the Inner Circle of the Quatuor Coronati will see much in all this , which perhaps may shed some faint light on the greatly discussed " shee" in that ancient Roll of Constitutions at York . APOBATERION .

THE RITUAL . The Lodge is intended , io represent the Ark of Noah whilst in Commission . Candidates are supposed to represent animals , and must therefore always be received in pairs . They take the name of some animal not already represented in the Lodge and are known afterwards by that name and use it in signing the Lodge Books and are so registered .

A Curious Old Ritual.

OFFICERS . NOAH ( called "Skipper" ) . SHEM ( called " Mate " ) . J APHET ( called " 2 nd Mate " ) . HAM ( called Bosun " ) .

These answer to the Master , Wardens and Treasurer and Secretary of a Lodge . NOAH ' WIFE ( called " The Missis , " and conducts candidates ) . THREE SONS WIVES ( called " Stewardesses " ) .

( Knocks 1 , 2 , 3 , and as many as you like . ) Minature handspikes are used as gavels . The Stewardesses are responsible for the dinners , & c .

OPENING . SKIPPER . Are we all aboard , Mate ? MATE . Are we all aboard , Second Mate ? 2 nd MATE . Bosun see that all hands are aboard . BOSUN . NOW then you lazy lubbers , rouse out there . All hands ahoy ! Lay aft and report yourselves .

OMNES . Aye , aye , Sir . { The Brethren muster in the West and stand facing the Skipper . ) SKIPPER . Are you all signed on ? OMNES . We are—worse luck .

SKIPPER . Have you cashed your advance notes ? OMNES . We have . ( This is the test question and demands the sign and word . The sign is given by placing

the tips of the right hand on the crown of the head . The word is "Boozed . " This signifies that the advance notes have been both cashed and spent in the usual seafaring manner and with the usual results . )

SKIPPER . Then chaps , as we are a complete crew of . Ark Mariners we may proceed to unmoor the old Craft . MATE . Lay aloft and loose topsails . Waisters , man the halliards .

( The Brethren resume their places . ) 2 nd MATE . Cast off the shore lines . . ( Missis gives knocks at door ) . SKIPPER . Your course is North and by West , three quarter South , half East . Let her rip .

MATE . Make all plain sail . 2 nd MATE . Aye , Aye , Sir . BOSUN . Aye , Aye , Sir . MISSIS . ( Opens wicket of door . ) Keep a good look out there forrard ! STEWARDESSES . Aye Aye , missis .

RECEPTION . ( Knock at Door ) . MISSIS . A signal of distress , Skipper . SKIPPER . Open the port and see what it is . MISSIS . Some of the animals who have missed their passages are swimming around the gangway port . SKIPPER . Lower away a quarter boat and pick them

up . ( Missis and Bosun retire , take the fees and prepare candidates and give them their names , which the Bosun registers . ) BOSUN . ( Returns and says ) The Boat is alongside .

SKIPPER . Right you are , man the falls and hoist away . MISSIS . ( Enters with candidates and says ) Here we are " again , Skipper . They are not much the worse for their ducking , but will be glad to have their berths allotted and have a supply of fodder as soon as possible .

SKIPPER . It shall be done , but we must first see them bound over to stick to the ship and keep the peace with the other animals . Let them be conducted in front of the binnacle , stand on their hind legs and place their front paws on the pawferry stone , repeat their antediluvian names at

length and say : I do promise faithfully to obey the regulations of this ship and orders of her officers when seamanlike and lawful . I will not leave the ship without the

permission ofthe Skipper , and will strive to maintain good feeling and jollity amongst the whole ship ' s company , and if I break any of these promises I hope that my liver may be congested and my body be given to the fishes .

SKIPPER . I now allot you the midship , forrard , aft , starboard , port berth , and trust that you may long live to enjoy the comforts and privileges of this Order . ( A bell rings and all the animals make their respective

noises . ) BOSUN . Ah ! feeding time of course . SKIPPER . Right you are . Back the main topsail and heave her to . Shove a handspike in the lee scuppers to keep her steady , and pipe to dinner .