KNIGHT OF THE EAST OR SWORD. The 15th degree of the Ancient and Accepted rite. It refers to those valiant Masons who, with trowels in hand and swords by their sides, were ever ready to construct and defend the Holy City and Sanctuary. It is founded on the circumstance of the assist ance rendered' by Darius to the Jews, who, liberated from their captivity by Cyrus, had been prevented by their ene mies from rebuilding the temple. This degree requires three apartments, styled Hall of the West and Hall of the East, between which must be an ante-chamber or passage, repre senting the road from Jerusalem to Persia. The first apartment represents the encampment of the Masons among the ruins of Jerusalem. The hangings are crimson. The room is lighted with 70 lights, disposed in groups of 7 each, in commemoration of the 70 years captivity. The second apartment represents the council chamber of Cyrus, King of Persia, and should be decorated according to the customs of the Orientals. In the ante-room, separating the two apartments, must be a solid bridge, resembling stone, with a representation of running water undtr it. The jewel, of gold, is three triangles, one within the other, diminishing in size, and inclosing two naked swords, crossed hilts down ward, resting on the base of the inner triangle. From Scripture and tradition is derived the following legend of this degree: The Knights of the East derive their origin from the captivity, when the whole land was a "desolation and an astonishment," and the nation did " serve the King of Babylon seventy years." And when the seventy years were accomplished, the Israelites were restored to liberty by Cyrus, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah. Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem for the purpose rebuilding the temple, and he caused all the holy vesseh and ornaments which had been carried away by Nebuzaradan to "be restored, and brought again into the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God" (Ezra vi. 5). The king committed the charge of the holy vessels, as well as of the returning captives, to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah; this is the Babylonian us me of Zerubbabel, who was of the royal line of David.
When the Israelitish captives were assembled they numbered 12,360, exclusive of slaves and servants amounting to 7,33" This traditional history relates that Zerubbabel, for the pro tection of his people, armed 7,000 Masons, and placed them in the van to repel such as should oppose their march to Judea. Their march was unimpeded as far as the banks of the Euphrates, where they found an armed force opposed to their passage. A conflict ensued, and the enemy was cut to pieces or drowned at the passage of the bridge. The emblematic color of the degree is in allusion to this circumstance. The journey occupied four months, and in seven days from their arrival the work of restoring the temple was commenced. The workmen were divided into classes, over each of which a chief, with two assistants, was placed. Every degree of each class was paid according to its rank, and each class had its distinctive modes of recognition. The works had scarcely commenced before the workmen were disturbed by the neighboring Samaritans, who were determined to oppose the reconstruction of the _ _ _ _ edifice. Zerubbabel therefore ordered, as a measure of precau tion, that the Masons should work with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other, that they might be able at any moment to defend themselves from the attacks of their _ second temple pied about 20 yeais in its construction, and was crated in a like manner to that of the Temple of Solomon. Those Masons who constructed it were created by Cyrus Knights of the East, and hence the title of this degree. This degree appears in both the French rites; in the Grand Orient it is the 6th; in both it is termed Knight of the East. The assembly is called a Council. Everything bears a Hebrew character; there are the candlestick with seven branches, the brazen sea, and the table of shewbread, etc Tho Chief of the Council is designated Sovereign, and repre sents Cyrus, King of Persia. Zerubbabel and two others receive the authority from the King of Persia to rebuild the Holy City and Sanctuary.