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Article DU PELERIN, OR THE PROFESSION. ← Page 4 of 6 →
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Du Pelerin, Or The Profession.
now addressed themselves to the candidate , endeavouring to impress upon him a sense of the great responsibility which he was laying himself under ; setting before him , in strong and glowing colours , the arduous duties which he would be required to perform , and the rigour of their rules both as to thought and actions . They advised him even yet to pause before he committed himself further , and rather return to the world than take the one irrevocable stepwithout due impression of its
, a consequences . Upon his resolutely avowing his determination to proceed , they then interrogated him with soul-searching eyes , whether he had made a vow in any other order ; whether he owed more than he could pay ; whether he was without any secret personal infirmity that might affect his labours ; and whether he was married or betrothed to any woman ; also , if he had already received the honour of the accollade . Then they adjured him as a Christian to answer truly ; all of which , without of conscience '
any compunctions , Du Pelerin felt he could do save that at the last question ; a slight and sudden thrill ran through his veins as the subject recalled to his memory the beloved , but , to him , lost object of his early adoration . The preceptor and assistants expressed themselves satisfied with the sincerity of his answers , and they again left him alone to his reflections , while they reported to the Chapter the result of their communicationU making the issue
. pon of the examination known , the Grand Master demanded , in a loud voice , if the knights were willing to receive the aspirant . A mute inclination of the head from the assembled members signified their t to
assen the reception . _ The Inducting knights once more withdrew to intimate to the novice the sanction of the Chapter , and prepare him for the approaching ceremony . _ Disrobing him of his secular garments , he was now habited in the simplest apparel ; similar to the garb of a pilgrim , and formally conducted by the initiating preceptor into the presence of the Grand Master and
Chapter . And now , for the first time , the heart of the aspirant experienced a sensation of awe—perhaps , of apprehension — whicii no previous ordeal or circumstances had had the effect of creating . But it was only the natural and passing effect of a youthful and susceptible spirit , liable to be acted upon b y the influence of imagination ; and he soon resumed his wonted self-possession to attend to the formal directions of the preceptorHe first instructedbthe
. was , y latter , to advance nine paces , with his hands devoutl y folded , and in a kneeling attitude , thus to address the Grand Master : — " Most venerable and puissant sir , I am here come before God and before you , and before the Brethren ; and I do humbl y and sincerely pray and beseech you , for the sake of heaven , and our sweet lady , to receive me into your society and the good works of this Order , as one who will all lus life timebe the servant and slave of the Order "
, . Scarcely seeming to regard the supplicant , the magisterial dignitary addressed the preceptor . " Brother , do you examine in our special presence this novice desirous of being rescued from the worldly mass of perdition . "
Pile preceptor thereupon proceeded to put similar questions to him to those which he had done in private , to each of which the candidate suitably replied . The ori ginal rule of the Order was then directed to be read over to him conformable to its precepts . A priest or chaplain advanced be / ore the Altar , holding in his hands an illuminated scroll , containing the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Du Pelerin, Or The Profession.
now addressed themselves to the candidate , endeavouring to impress upon him a sense of the great responsibility which he was laying himself under ; setting before him , in strong and glowing colours , the arduous duties which he would be required to perform , and the rigour of their rules both as to thought and actions . They advised him even yet to pause before he committed himself further , and rather return to the world than take the one irrevocable stepwithout due impression of its
, a consequences . Upon his resolutely avowing his determination to proceed , they then interrogated him with soul-searching eyes , whether he had made a vow in any other order ; whether he owed more than he could pay ; whether he was without any secret personal infirmity that might affect his labours ; and whether he was married or betrothed to any woman ; also , if he had already received the honour of the accollade . Then they adjured him as a Christian to answer truly ; all of which , without of conscience '
any compunctions , Du Pelerin felt he could do save that at the last question ; a slight and sudden thrill ran through his veins as the subject recalled to his memory the beloved , but , to him , lost object of his early adoration . The preceptor and assistants expressed themselves satisfied with the sincerity of his answers , and they again left him alone to his reflections , while they reported to the Chapter the result of their communicationU making the issue
. pon of the examination known , the Grand Master demanded , in a loud voice , if the knights were willing to receive the aspirant . A mute inclination of the head from the assembled members signified their t to
assen the reception . _ The Inducting knights once more withdrew to intimate to the novice the sanction of the Chapter , and prepare him for the approaching ceremony . _ Disrobing him of his secular garments , he was now habited in the simplest apparel ; similar to the garb of a pilgrim , and formally conducted by the initiating preceptor into the presence of the Grand Master and
Chapter . And now , for the first time , the heart of the aspirant experienced a sensation of awe—perhaps , of apprehension — whicii no previous ordeal or circumstances had had the effect of creating . But it was only the natural and passing effect of a youthful and susceptible spirit , liable to be acted upon b y the influence of imagination ; and he soon resumed his wonted self-possession to attend to the formal directions of the preceptorHe first instructedbthe
. was , y latter , to advance nine paces , with his hands devoutl y folded , and in a kneeling attitude , thus to address the Grand Master : — " Most venerable and puissant sir , I am here come before God and before you , and before the Brethren ; and I do humbl y and sincerely pray and beseech you , for the sake of heaven , and our sweet lady , to receive me into your society and the good works of this Order , as one who will all lus life timebe the servant and slave of the Order "
, . Scarcely seeming to regard the supplicant , the magisterial dignitary addressed the preceptor . " Brother , do you examine in our special presence this novice desirous of being rescued from the worldly mass of perdition . "
Pile preceptor thereupon proceeded to put similar questions to him to those which he had done in private , to each of which the candidate suitably replied . The ori ginal rule of the Order was then directed to be read over to him conformable to its precepts . A priest or chaplain advanced be / ore the Altar , holding in his hands an illuminated scroll , containing the