Mars is throned in the South, Scorpio on his right, Aries on his left. In the East is also a veil, behind which is Sol in Aries. In the North is Capricornus, crouching, kept from the altar by the guard.
Charcoal in censer alight. No incense.«MDNM»
«MDRV»BROTHER SOL is concealed behind the veil in the East, enthroned upon the Altar.«MDNM»
«MDRV»MARS, ARIES, & SCORPIO enthroned.«MDNM»
CAPRICORNUS. 4444-1
ARIES. 1-4444
«MDRV»[MARS reads the Twelvefold Affirmation from 963.
[SOR. SCORPIO plays a short martial air.«FN1«MDNM»March: Beethoven.«MDRV»»
[CAPRICORNUS draws aside veil & admits Probationers and Guests.
[The voice of Mars is heard reciting the 91st Psalm of David.]«MDNM»
BRO. ARIES. Let the sacred perfume be kindled upon the Altar of Mars. «MDRV»(does so)«MDNM»
SOR. SCORPIO. Hail unto the Master of the Battle!
BRO. ARIES. Hail unto the Leader of the Armies of Jupiter!
BRO. CAPRICORNUS. Hail unto the Warrior of Eternity!
BRO. MARS. Hail, brethren!
[«MDRV»CAPRICORNUS returns«MDNM»]
1. Let the Temple be purified and consecrated. [«MDRV»CAP. does so.«MDNM»]
1. Are the Brethren prepared?
BRO. ARIES. They are prepared, Master! They are drawn up in military array around the sacred altar.
BRO. MARS. 1. Brother Capricornus, I command you to perform the Ritual of the Pentagram.
BRO. CAPRICORNUS. Fiat. («MDRV»does so«MDNM»)
BRO. MARS. 1. Brother Aries, I command you to perform the Invocation of the Holy Fire.
BRO. ARIES. Fiat. («MDRV»goes to altar.«MDNM»)
333. («MDRV»erect«MDNM») I swear by Djinn and by Shin and by the space between that I will not stir from this place until the fire of God hath flamed upon the water that is upon the altar.
(«MDRV»His face over lamp«MDNM») Dost thou hear, Brother Ash?
(«MDRV»Erect«MDNM») By Aub, the witchery of the secret flame;
By Aud, the subtlety of the inmost fluid;
By Aur, the effulgence of the radiant light;
I call the, Ash! I adore thee, Ash!
(«MDRV»Over lamp«MDNM») Ash! Ash! Ash!
I caress thee! I kiss thee! I suck thee up into by mouth and nostrils!
Ohooatan! Ohooatan! Ohooatan! («MDRV»The water flames«MDNM»)
Behold! the fire of God upon the altar as I have sworn by Djinn and by Shin and by the space between! («MDRV»returns to his throne«MDNM»)
BRO. MARS. 1. Hail, sister of the Scorpion!
SOR. SCORPIO. Hail, Lord of the Eagle and the Serpent!
BRO. MARS. Amen. I appoint you to lead the army.
SOR. SCORPIO. Let us carry the holy symbols with sacred song and dance round the altar of Mars.
[«MDRV»The song«FN1«MDNM»Tune. Litany: Waddell.«MDRV»» is sung as all march round five times deosil before MARS in procession headed by SCORPIO, ARIES, CAPRICORNUS.«MDNM»]
Brother Aries, let us invoke the Master of the Battle.
BRO. ARIES. [«MDRV»advances and kneels to MARS«MDNM»] Mighty and Terrible One, we beseech thee to lead us the Battle. Here, by thy Symbols, thy Spear, the Sword, and the Drum, we pray thee to strengthen our arms and to defend our hearts. For we are thy chosen warriors, O thou Master of the Battle!
«MDRV»[Silence]«MDNM»
We now invoke thee, O Ama-Inanna, whom our Brethren worshipped in the days of ancient Babylon, great Goddess of Love and War, who made love and war to Gilgamesh, the ruler of thine own city Erech. We invoke thee, our Mother, that thou entreat for us with the Master of Battles.
SOR. SCORPIO. To what end do we ask the aid of the Lord Mars?
BRO. ARIES. Unto Jupiter we have given the thuderbolt and the lightning-flash; for we seek to enthrone him in the stead of Saturn his father. But Saturn yet reigns; we need the Sword of Mars.
SOR. SCORPIO. My heart and hand are with you, children.
[«MDRV»She plays.«MDNM»]«FN1Romance in G: Beethoven.»
[«MDRV»MARS starts up and recites:«MDNM»
1....The Dukes of Edom were amazed: Trembling took hold on the mighty of Moab!
2. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir; when thou marchedst out of the Field of Edom; the earth trembled, and the heaven dropped: the clouds also dropped water.
3. Curse ye Meroz, saith the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the Mighty!
4. The river Kishon swept them away: that ancient river, the river Kishon!
5. Oh, my soul, thou hast trodden down strength!
1. He bowed the Heavens also and came down: and darkness was under his feet: at the Brightness that was before him thick clouds passed: hail stones and flashes of fire!
2. The Lord thundered through the Heavens, and the Highest have forth his Voice; hailstones and flashes of fire!
3. He sent forth his arrows and scattered them: He hurled forth his lightnings and destroyed them!
4. The Channels of the Waters were seen: and the Foundations of the World were discovered.
5. At thy Rebuke, on Lord! At the Blast of the Breath of thy Nostrils!
1.Oh Lord! I have heard thy Speech, and was afraid!
2.The Voice of the Lord is upon the Waters. The God of Glory thundereth! The Lord is upon many Waters.
3.The Voice of the Lord is strong and powerful! The Voice of the Lord is full of Majesty!
4. The Voice of the Lord breaketh the Cedars! Yea! the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon!
5. The Voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire! Yea! the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh!
1. Eloah came out of Temani of Edom: And the Holy One from Mount Paran:
2. He had Karnaim in his hand; and there was the Hiding of his Power.
3. Before him went the Pestilence; and the Flaming Fire went forth at his feet.
4. He stood, and measured the Earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the Nations.
5. And the Everlasting Mountains were scattered; the Perpetual Hills did bow!
1.Was the Lord displeased against the Rivers? Was thine anger kindled against the Rivers? Was thy wrath kindled against the Sea? That thou didst ride upon thy Horses and thy Chariots of Salvation?
2. The Mountains saw thee and they trembled. The deluge of Water rolled by: the Deep uttered his Voice; and lifted up his hands of high.
3. The Sun and the Moon stood still in their habitations. At the light of thine arrows they went, at the shaking of thy glittering spear!
4. Thou didst march through the Land in thine indignation: thou didst thresh the Heathen in thine anger.
5. Thou didst march through the sea with thine Horses: through the Depth of the Mighty Waters!
«MDRV»[CAPRICORNUS starts up wildly & dances the dance of MARS.]
CAPRICORNUS falls on floor near his place.«MDNM»
SOR. SCORPIO. Brother Aries, let us crown the Master of Battles.
[«MDRV»They advance to altar. SOR SCORPIO takes crown & crowns MARS, all PROBATIONERS joining in chant as before (Strike, Strike etc.)«MDNM»
BRO. MARS. May Victory crown your arms!
PROBATIONERS. Let us join battle! We conquer! We conquer!
[«MDRV»CAPRICORNUS rushes forward and threatnes them, reciting: «MDNM»
My head is split. The crashing axe
Of the agony of things shears through
The stupid skull: out spurt the brains.
The universe revolves, then cracks,
Then roars in dissolution due;
And I am counting up the gains
And losses of a life afire
With dust of thought and dulled desire.
«MDRV»[SCORPIO, as if alarmed at the interruption, flees to throne of MARS and there with MARS defies the rabble. BRO ARIES rallies PROBATIONERS.]«MDNM»
