The Mysteries of Free Masonry Part 22

Q. How were they placed? A. The altar of incense stood nearest the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the tables and candlesticks were placed five on the north and five on the south side of the holy place.

Q. What is meant by the EYE in our Lodge? A. That Secret Masters should keep a careful watch over the conduct of the craft in general.

Q. What is your age? A. Three times 27, and accomplished 81.

CLOSING A LODGE OF SECRET MASTERS.--The Master strikes five.--The Grand Marshal rises.

Master. Brother Grand Marshal, what is the last as well as the first care of a Lodge of Secret Masters? Answer. To see that the Sanctum Sanctorum is duly guarded.

Master. Please attend to your duty, and inform the guards that we are about to close this Lodge of Secret Masters by the mysterious number.

The Grand Marshal obeys, and repeats, "It is done, Most Powerful."

Master strikes six.--Adoniram rises.

Master. Brother Adoniram, what is the hour? Answer. The end of day.

Master. What remains to do? Adoniram--To practice virtue, fly from vice, and remain in silence.

Master. Since there remains nothing to do but to practice virtue and fly vice, let us enter again into silence, that the will of G.o.d may be accomplished. The signs are given, and seven blows struck as at opening.

Master. I declare this Lodge duly closed.

DEGREE OF PERFECT MASTER.

OPENING.--Right Worshipful and Respectable Master strikes two, upon which Grand Marshal rises, and Master says, "Brother Grand Marshal, are we all Perfect Masters?" Answer--We are, Right Worshipful and Respectable.

Q. Your place in the Lodge? A. In the North, Right Worshipful and Respectable.

Q. Your business there? A. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled.

Q. Please to attend to your duty and inform the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Perfect Masters. (Grand Marshal reports.) Right Worshipful and Respectable Master knocks three, upon which the Warden and the Master of Ceremonies in the South rise. Master says, "Brother Stokin, are you a Perfect Master?" Answer--I have seen the tomb of our respectable Master, Hiram Abiff, and have in company with my brethren shed tears at the same.

Q. What is the hour? A. It is four.

Master then knocks four, upon which all the brethren rise. Master says, "If it is four, it is time to set the workmen to labor. Give notice that I am going to open a Lodge of Perfect Masters by four times four." (Senior Warden reports to brethren.) Signs given of former degrees, together with those of this degree. Master knocks four, Stokin four, Master of Ceremonies four, and Grand Marshal four--then all the brethren strike four times four with their hands.

Then Master declares the Lodge open, and orders the Marshal to inform the Tyler.

RECEPTION.--The candidate has a green cord put 'round his neck and is led by the Master of Ceremonies to the door, who knocks four, which is repeated by the Warden and answered by the Master. The Senior Warden says, "While the craft are engaged in lamenting the death of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff," an alarm is heard at the inner door of the Lodge.

LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Perfect Master? Answer--I have seen the tomb of Hiram Abiff, and have in company with my brethren, shed tears at the same.

Q. How were you prepared to be a Perfect Master? Answer--A sprig of ca.s.sia was placed in my left hand, and a green cord about my neck.

Q. Why was the sprig of ca.s.sia placed in the left hand? A. That I might deposit it in the grave of Hiram Abiff.

Q. Why was a rope of green color put 'round your neck? A. Because the body of Hiram Abiff was lowered into the grave by the brethren, at his second interment, by a rope of that color. There is another reason, to signify thereby that a Perfect Master by flourishing in virtue, might hope for immortality.

Q. How did you gain admission? A. By four distinct knocks.

Q. What did they denote? A. Life, virtue, death, and immortality.

Q. How were they answered? A. By four from within.

Q. What was then said to you? A. Who comes there?

Q. Your answer? A. A Secret Master who is well qualified, etc.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was then asked by what further right, etc.

Q. Your answer? A. By the right, etc.

Q. What was then said to you? A. Wait until the Right Worshipful and Respectable Master has been informed of your request and his answer returned.

Q. What was his answer? A. Introduce him in due and ancient form.

Q. What was that form? A. I was conducted to the West by the Master of Ceremonies and interrogated by the Master, "What is your request?"

Q. Your answer? A. To receive the degree of Perfect Master.

Q. What was then said to you by the Master? A. Before you can be admitted to this privilege, it will be necessary for you to join the funeral procession of Hiram Abiff.

Q. What followed? A. I joined in the procession, which moved four times 'round the Lodge, the brethren singing a funeral ode; when we arrived at the grave, the procession moved in an inverted order--the coffin was lowered with a green rope, and the sprigs of ca.s.sia thrown into the grave.

Q. What followed? A. The Master resumed his station, and the procession moved to the east.

Q. What followed? A. When he directed the Grand Marshal to inform King Solomon that the tomb of Hiram Abiff was completed, and request him to examine the same.

Q. What followed? A. Solomon entered and proceeded with the procession to the tomb of Hiram Abiff, and having examined the same and read the inscription J. M. B., he made a sign of admiration, and said in the joy of his heart, "It is accomplished and complete;" the brethren all making the same sign.

Q. What followed? A. The brethren resumed their places, and the Master directed the Master of Ceremonies to cause me to approach the east by four times four steps from the compa.s.s extended from an angle of seven to that of sixty degrees, and take the obligation of a Perfect Master.

Q. Repeat that obligation. A. OBLIGATION.--"1st point, Secrecy. 2d.

Obey orders and decrees of Council of Princes of Jerusalem, under penalty of all the former degrees; also, under penalty of being smitten on the right temple with a common gavel or setting maul. So help," etc.

Q. What did the Master then communicate to you? A. He said, "It is my desire to draw you," etc., and then gave me the signs, words, tokens and history of this degree.

Q. Give me the signs. A. 1st sign--Place the palm of the right hand on the right temple, at the same time stepping back with the right foot, then bring up the right foot to its first position and let the right arm fall perpendicularly on the right side (alluding to the penalty).

Second sign is that of admiration.--Raise the hands and eyes to heaven, let the arms fall crossed upon the belly, looking downwards.

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-word. A. (Acca.s.sia.)

Q. To what does the word allude, etc. Give me the token and mysterious word. A. Token is that of the Mark Master, given on the five points of fellowship; the mysterious word Jeva (p.r.o.nounced Je-vau).

Q. What was then done? A. The Master invested me with the jewel and ap.r.o.n of this degree, and informed me that my jewel was designed to remind me, that, as a perfect Master, I should measure my conduct by the exact rule of equity.