Chapter V: Part 5

The Lodge being opened and ready for business, the Right Worshipful Master directs the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, which generally brings to view the business of the present. If there are any candidates to be brought forward, that is generally the first business. A Master Mason, wishing for further light in Masonry, sends a petition to the Chapter, and requests to be advanced to the honorary degree of Mark Master Mason; if there is no serious objection to the petition, it is entered on the minutes, and a committee of several appointed to inquire into his character, and report to the next regular communication: at that time, if the committee report in his favor, and no serious objection is made against him otherwise, a motion is made that the ballot pass; if carried, the Deacons pass the ballot boxes; these boxes are the same as in the preceding degrees. When the balls are received, the box is presented to the Right Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens. R. W. M.--"Clear in the West, Brother Senior?" S. W.--"Clear, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"Clear in the South, Brother Junior?" J. W.--"Clear, Right Worshipful." Right Worshipful Master says, "Clear in the East." This being the case, the candidate is accepted; but if there is one black ball in that end of the box which has the white tube, and the Senior Warden pronouncing "Not clear," all stop, and inquiry is made, and the ballot passes again; and, if blacked a third time, the candidate is rejected. It being otherwise, the Senior Deacon, who is the candidate's conductor, passes out of the Lodge into the adjoining room, where the candidate is in waiting, and there the conductor is furnished with a small oblong square, six inches long; the candidate is presented with a large white marble keystone, weighing, probably, twenty pounds, and is ordered, by his conductor, to take it by the little end, between his first and second fingers and thumb of his right hand. The door is then opened without ceremony, and they pass directly to the Junior Overseer's station at the South gate, which is nothing more than the Junior Warden's seat, and the conductor gives four raps, with his block of timber, on a pedestal in front of the Junior Overseer's station. J. O.--"Who comes here?" Cond.--"Two brother Fellow Crafts, with materials for the Temple." J. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have." J. O.--"Present it." The conductor then presents the piece of timber before described; the Junior Overseer receives it, and applies a small trying square to its different angles, and they agreeing with the angles of the square, he says, "This is good work, square work, such work as we are authorized to receive." Returns the block of timber, and turning his eye upon the candidate, asks, "Who is this you have with you?" Cond.--"A brother Fellow Craft." J. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I have." J. O.--"Present it." The candidate then presents the keystone; the Junior Overseer receives it, and applies his square to all its angles, and they not agreeing with the angles of the square, he says, "What have you here, brother? this is neither an oblong nor a square, neither has it the regular mark of the craft upon it, but from its singular form and beauty, I am unwilling to reject it; pass on to the Senior Overseer at the West gate for further inspection." They then pass on to the Senior Overseer's station at the West gate, which is the Senior Warden's seat, and give four raps, as before, on the pedestal which stands in front of the Senior Overseer. S. O.--"Who comes here?" Cond.--"Two brother Fellow Crafts, with materials for the Temple." S. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have." S. O.--"Present it." The conductor, as before, presents the block of timber; the Senior Overseer applies his square to it, and finding it agrees with the angles of his square, says, "This is good work, square work, such work as we are authorized to receive; who is this you have with you?" Cond.--"A brother Fellow Craft." S. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I have." S. O.--"Present it." The candidate then presents the keystone, and he applies it, but not fitting, he says, "This is neither an oblong nor a square, neither has it the regular mark of the craft upon it; it is a curious wrought stone, and on account of its singular form and beauty, I am unwilling to reject it; pass on to the Master Overseer at the East gate for further inspection." They pass to to his station at the East gate, and give four raps. M. O.--"Who comes here?" Cond.--"Two brethren, Fellow Crafts, with their materials for the Temple." M. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have." M. O.--"Present it." The conductor presents his billet of wood to him, applies his square to it, and, like the other Overseers, says, "This is good work, square work, such work as we are authorized to receive; who is this you have with you?" Cond.--"A brother Fellow Craft." M. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I have." M. O.--"Present it." [It ought here to be remarked that when the candidate is presented with the keystone, and takes it between his thumb and two fingers, it hangs suspended by his side, and he is requested to carry his work plumb, and the conductor taking good care to see that he does it, by the time he arrives at the Master Overseer's station at the East gate, and when the Master Overseer says "Present it," the candidate is extremely willing to hand over the keystone to him for inspection; for, by this time, it becomes very painful to hold any longer the stone which he has in charge.] The Master Overseer having received the keystone, he applies his square to the different angles of it, and, being found not to be square, he, like the other Overseers, says, "This is neither an oblong nor a square, neither has it the regular mark of the craft upon it." He then looks sternly upon the candidate and demands, "Is this your work?" Cand.--"It is not." M. O.--"Is this your mark?" Cand.--"It is not." M. O.--"Where did you get it?" Cond.--"I picked it up in the quarry." M. O.--"Picked it up in the quarry? this explains the matter; what! been loitering away your time this whole week, and now brought up another man's work to impose upon the Grand Overseers! this deserves the severest punishment. [Motions the candidate to stand.] Brother Junior and Senior Overseers, here is work brought up for inspection which demands a council." The Junior, Senior, and Master Overseers then assemble in council. M. O., presenting the stone--"Did a Fellow Craft present this to you for inspection, Brother Junior?" J. O.--"A Fellow Craft came to my office and presented this stone for inspection; I examined it, and found it was neither an oblong nor a square, neither, had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but on account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to reject it, and ordered it to the Senior Overseer at the West gate for further inspection." M. O.--"Brother Senior, was this stone presented to you for inspection?" S. O.--"It was; I know of no use for it in the Temple; I tried it with the square, and observed it was neither an oblong nor a square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but on account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to reject it, and, therefore, directed it to the Master Overseer at the East gate for further inspection." M. O.--"It was also presented to me for inspection, but I do not know of any use which it can be in the building." S. O.--"I know of no use for it." J. O.--"I know of no use for it." M. O.--"Brother Senior, what shall we do with it?" S. O.--"Heave it over among the rubbish." The Master and Senior Overseers then take the stone between them, and after waving it backward and forward four times, they heave it over in such a manner that the one letting go while the stone is arriving at the highest point, it brings the stone in a quarterly direction over the other's left shoulder; the Junior Overseer, being stationed in a suitable position, at this moment receives the stone, and carries it away into the preparation room. R. W. M.--"Brother Senior Warden, assemble the crafts to receive wages." At this command the brethren all arise, and form a procession single file; the candidate is placed at the head of the procession, and when stationed, is told that "the last shall be first, and the first last." The procession being formed, they commence singing the following song: "Mark Masters all appear," &c., and, at the same time, commence a circular march (against the course of the sun) around the room, giving all the signs during their march, beginning with that of Entered Apprentice, and ending at that of Mark Master. They are given in the following manner: The first revolution each brother, when opposite the Right Worshipful Master, gives the first sign in Masonry. The second revolution, when opposite the Master, the second; and so on, until they give all the signs to that of Mark Master. While the ceremony is going on in the Lodge, the Senior Grand Warden procures a sufficient number of cents and passes into the preparation room, and opens a lattice window in the door which communicates to the Lodge room, and when the craftsmen arrive to the Mark Master Mason's sign, each of them, in their last revolution, puts his hand through the window in the door and gives a token (this is given by shutting the third and little fingers, extending the fore and middle fingers, and placing the thumb over them in a suitable manner to receive the penny or cent), and receives a penny or cent from the Senior Grand Warden. Matters are so timed in the march, that when they come to that part of the song which says, "Caution them to beware of the right hand," it comes the turn of the candidate to put his hand through the aperture of the door and receive his penny, but not being able to give the token, he is detected as an impostor, and the Senior Grand Warden, instead of giving him his penny, seizes him by the hand and draws his arm full length through the door and holds him securely, exclaiming at the same time, "An impostor! an impostor!" Others, who are in the room with the Senior Grand Warden, cry out, "Chop off his hand! chop off his hand!" At this moment the conductor steps to the candidate and intercedes warmly in his behalf. Cond.--"Spare him! spare him!" S. G. W.--"He is an impostor. He has attempted to receive wages without being able to give the token. The penalty must be inflicted." Cond.--"He is a brother Fellow Craft, and on condition that you will release him, I will be responsible that he shall be taken before the Right Worshipful Master, where all the circumstances shall be made known, and, if he condemns him, I will see that the penalty is inflicted." S. G. W.--"On these conditions, I release him." The candidate is released, and taken before the Right Worshipful Master. Cond.--"This young Fellow Craft has brought up work for inspection, which was not his own, and has attempted to receive wages for it; he was detected at the Senior Grand Warden's apartment as an impostor, and I became responsible, on condition of his release, that he should appear before the Right Worshipful, and if, after a fair trial, you should pronounce him guilty, that I should see the penalty of an impostor inflicted upon him." R. W. M.--"Brother Junior Overseer, did this man bring up work to your station for inspection?" J. O.--"He did. I inspected it, and observed that it was neither an oblong nor a square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but on account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to reject it; therefore, I ordered it passed to the Senior Overseer's station at the West gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"Brother Senior Overseer, did this young man bring up work to you for inspection?" S. O.--"He did; and I, for similar reasons offered by Brother Junior Overseer, was unwilling to reject it, and ordered it passed on to the Master Overseer at the East gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"Brother Master Overseer, did this young man bring up work to you for inspection?" M. O.--"He did. I inspected the work, and observed that it was neither an oblong nor a square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; I then asked him if it was his work. He admitted that it was not. I asked him where he got it; he said he picked it up in the quarry. I rebuked him severely for his attempt to impose upon the Grand Overseers, and for loitering away his time, and then bringing up another man's work for inspection. I then called a council of my brother Overseers, and we, knowing no use for the work, hove it over among the rubbish." R. W. M.--"Senior Grand Warden, did the young man attempt to receive wages at your apartment?" S. G. W.--"He did, and I detected him as an impostor, and was about to inflict the penalty, but the conductor becoming responsible, that if I would release him, he would see the impostor taken before the Right Worshipful, and, if found guilty, that the penalty should be inflicted, I released him." R. W. M.--"Young man, it appears that you have been loitering away your time this whole week, and have now brought up another man's work for inspection, to impose upon the Grand Overseers, and what is more, you have attempted to receive wages for labor which you never performed; conduct like this deserves prompt punishment. The penalty of an impostor is that of having his right hand chopped off. This young man appears as though he deserved a better fate, and as though he might be serviceable in the building of the Temple. Are you a Fellow Craft?" Cand.--"I am." R. W. M.--"Can you give us any proof of it?" Candidate gives the sign of a Fellow Craft. R. W. M.--"He is a Fellow Craft. Have you ever been taught how to receive wages?" Cand.--"I have not." R. W. M.--"This serves, in a measure, to mitigate his crime. If you are instructed how to receive wages, will you do better in future, and never again attempt to impose on the Grand Overseers, and, above all, never attempt to receive wages for labor which you never performed." Cand.--"I will." R. W. M.--"The penalty is remitted." The candidate is then taken into the preparation room and divested of his outward apparel, and all money and valuables, his breast bare, and a cable-tow four times around his body; in which condition he is conducted to the door, when the conductor gives four distinct knocks, upon the hearing of which the Senior Warden says to the Right Worshipful, "While we are peaceably at work on the fourth degree of Masonry, the door of our Lodge appears to be alarmed." R. W. M.--"Brother Junior, see the cause of that alarm." The Junior Warden then steps to the door and answers the alarm by four knocks, the conductor and himself each giving another; the door is then partly opened, and the Junior Warden then asks, "Who comes there?" Cond.--"A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice, served a proper time as such; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason; and now wishes further light in Masonry, by being advanced to the more honorable degree of a Mark Master Mason." J. W.--"Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?" Cond.--"It is." J. W.--"Is he duly and truly prepared?" Cond.--"He is." J. W.--"Has he wrought in the quarry, and exhibited specimens of his skill in the preceding degrees?" Cond.--"He has." J. W.--"By what further right or benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?" Cond.--"By the benefit of a pass-word." J. W.--"Has he a pass-word?" Cond.--"He has not, but I have it for him." J. W.--"Give it to me." Conductor whispers in his ear, "JOPPA." J. W.--"The pass-word is right. You will let him wait until the Right Worshipful Master is made acquainted with his request and his answer returned." The Junior Warden returns him to the Right Worshipful Master, where the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the door. The Right Worshipful Master then says, "Since he comes endowed with the necessary qualifications, let him enter in the name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters. [Previous to the candidate's entering, one of the brethren, who is best qualified for the station, is selected and furnished with an engraving chisel and mallet, and placed near the door, so that when the candidate enters, it is on the edge of an engraving chisel, under the pressure of the mallet. As this is the business of no particular officer, we have, for convenience, styled him executioner.] Brother, it becomes my duty to put a mark on you, and such a one, too, as you will probably carry to your grave." Places the edge of the chisel near his left breast and makes several motions with the mallet, as though he was about to strike upon the head of the chisel. Executioner--"This is a painful undertaking; I do not feel able to perform it, Right Worshipful (turning to the Right Worshipful Master); this task is too painful; I feel that I cannot perform it; I wish the Right Worshipful would select some other brother to perform it in my stead." R. W. M.--"I know the task is unpleasant, and a painful one; but as you have undertaken to perform it, unless some other brother will volunteer his service and take your place, you must proceed." Exec--"Brother (calling the name), will you volunteer your service and take my place?" Brother--"I cannot consent to do it (after several solicitations and refusals)." Exec.--"Right Worshipful, no brother feels willing to volunteer his services, and I declare I feel unwilling and unable to perform it." R. W. M.--"As no brother feels disposed to take your station, it becomes your duty to perform it yourself." Exec. (taking his station) "Brethren, support the candidate (several take hold of the candidate); brother (naming some physician or surgeon), will you assist?" Doctor (stepping up)--"Brethren, it becomes necessary that we should have a bowl, or some other vessel, to receive the blood." A bowl is presented, having the appearance of blood upon it, and is held in a suitable position to receive the blood; the surgeon places his fingers on the left breast of the candidate, and gives counsel where it would be advisable to inflict the wound. The executioner then places the edge of the chisel near the spot and draws back the mallet, and while making several false motions, says, "Operative Masons make use of the engraving chisel and mallet to cut, hew, carve, and indent their work; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, make use of them for a more noble and glorious purpose; we use them to cut, hew, carve, and indent the mind;" giving, at the instant the last word is pronounced, a severe blow with the mallet upon the head of the chisel, without the least injury to the candidate, which often terrifies him to an alarming degree. The candidate is then conducted four times around the Lodge, and each time, as he passes the station of the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, they each give one loud rap with their mallet; the Master, in the meantime, reads the following passages of Scripture: Psalms cxviii. 22. "The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner." Matt. xxi. 42. "Did ye never read in the Scriptures the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?" Luke xx. 17. "What is this, then, that is written: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?" Acts iv. 11. "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders which is become the head of the corner." The reading of them is so timed as to be completed just as the candidate arrives at the Junior Warden's post; here he stops, and the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the door; the same passes at the Senior Warden and Master, who orders the candidate to be conducted back to the Senior Warden in the West, by him to be taught to approach the East by four upright regular steps, his feet forming a square, and body erect at the altar; the candidate then kneels and receives the obligation, as follows:

"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty
God, and this Right Worshipful Lodge of Mark Master Masons, do
hereby and hereon, in addition to my former obligations, most
solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will not give the
degree of a Mark Master Mason to anyone of an inferior degree, nor
to any other person in the known world, except it be to a true and
lawful brother or brethren of this degree, and not unto him nor
unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only
whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial and due
examination, or lawful information given. Furthermore, do I
promise and swear, that I will support the constitution of the
General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States of America,
also the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of this State, under which this
Lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules and
regulations of this or any other Lodge of Mark Master Masons, of
which I may at any time hereafter become a member. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear that I will obey all regular signs and
summons given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from the hand of a
brother Mark Master Mason, or from the body of a just and legally
constituted Lodge of such, provided it be within the length of my
cable tow. Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not
wrong this Lodge, or a brother of this degree, to the value of his
wages (or one penny), myself, knowingly, nor suffer it to be done
by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise
and swear, that I will not sell, swap, barter or exchange my mark,
which I shall hereafter choose, nor send it a second time to
pledge until it is lawfully redeemed from the first. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that I will receive a brother's mark when
offered to me requesting a favor, and grant him his request, if in
my power and if it is not in my power to grant his request, I will
return him his mark with the value thereof, which is half a shekel
of silver, or quarter of a dollar. To all of which I do most
solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and steady
purpose of mind in me, to keep and perform the same, binding
myself under no less penalty than to have my right ear smote off,
that I may forever be unable to hear the word, and my right hand
chopped off, as the penalty of an impostor, if I should ever prove
wilfully guilty of violating any part of this my solemn oath or
obligation of a Mark Master Mason. So help me God, and make me
steadfast to keep and perform the same."

"Detach your hand and kiss the book"

The Master then produces the same keystone, concerning which so much has already been said, and says to the candidate, "We read in a passage of Scripture--Rev. II 17 'To him that overcometh will I give to each of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save him that receiveth it'" He then presents the stone to the candidate and says, 'I now present you with a white stone, on which is written a new name; we give the words that form this circle (the letters are so engraved on the stone as to form a circle), the initials are H T W S S T K S--Hiram Tyran, Widow's Son, sent to King Solomon. These, placed in this form were the mark of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff. At present they are used as the general MARK of this degree, and in the centre of them each brother places his own individual MARK.' The stone is removed, and the candidate still remains on his knees at the altar, the Master then takes the jewel containing his mark from his neck and presents it to the candidate--requests of him some favor, such as the loan of five, ten, or twenty dollars. The candidate having left all his money and valuables in the preparation room, answers, "I cannot do it. I have no money about me," and offers to return the MARK to the Master, but he refuses to take it, and says to the candidate, "Have you not just sworn that you will receive a brother Mark Master's mark when offered to you, requesting a favor, and if not in your power to grant the favor, you would return him his mark with the value of it? Is this the way you mind your obligations? Here I presented my mark with a request for a small favor; you say you cannot grant it, and offer to return my MARK alone? Where is the quarter of a dollar you have sworn to return with it?" The candidate, much embarrassed, answers, "I cannot do even that. I have no money about me. It was all taken from me in the preparation room." The Master asks, "Are you quite sure you have none?" Candidate answers, "I am, it is all in the other room." Master--"You have not examined; perhaps some friend has, in pity to your destitute situation, supplied you with that amount unknown to yourself; feel in all your pockets, and if you find, after a thorough search, that you have really none, we shall have less reason to think that you meant wilfully to violate your obligation." The candidate examines his pockets and finds a quarter of a dollar, which some brother had slyly placed there; this adds not a little to his embarrassment; he protests he had no intention of concealing it; really supposed he had none about him, and hands it to the Master, with his mark. The Master receives it and says to the candidate, "Brother, let this scene be a striking lesson to you: should you ever hereafter have a mark presented you by a worthy brother, asking a favor, before you deny him make diligent search, and be quite sure of your inability to serve him; perhaps you will then find, as in the present instance, that some unknown person has befriended you, and you are really in a better situation than you think yourself." The candidate then rises and is made acquainted with the grips, words, and signs of this degree. The pass-grip of this degree is made by extending the right arms and clasping the fingers of the right hands, as one would naturally do to assist another up a steep ascent; the pass-word is "JOPPA;" the real grip is made by locking the little fingers of the right hand, bringing the knuckles together, placing the ends of the thumbs against each other; the word is "Mark well." The signs have been described. After the grips, words, and signs are given and explained (see Lectures), the Master says, "Brother, I now present you with the tools of a Mark Master (here he points them out in the carpet, or in the chart), which are the chisel and mallet; they are thus explained: The chisel morally demonstrates the advantages of discipline and education; the mind, like the diamond in its original state, is rude and unpolished, but as the effect of the chisel on the external coat soon presents to view the latent beauties of the diamond, so education discovers the latent beauties of the mind, and draws them forth to range the large field of matter and space, to display the summit of human knowledge, our duty to God and man. The mallet morally teaches to correct irregularities, and to reduce man to a proper level; so that by quiet deportment, he may, in the school of discipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workmen, enlightened reason is to the passions; it curbs ambition, it depresses envy, it moderates anger, and it encourages good dispositions, whence arises among good Masons that comely order,

'Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy,
The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy.'"

The Worshipful Master then delivers a charge to the candidate, which completes the ceremony of advancement to this degree.

* * * * *

CEREMONIES GENERALLY GONE THROUGH IN CLOSING A LODGE OF MARK MASONS.

The Worshipful Master says, "Brother Junior Warden, assemble the brethren, and form a procession for the purpose of closing the Lodge." The brethren then assemble and commence a circular march, singing the song, "Mark Masons all appear." After the song is completed, the brethren compare the wages they have received, and finding that all have received alike (one penny or cent), they begin to murmur among themselves, some pretending to think they ought to have more, as they have done all the labor. They finally throw down their wages upon the altar, declaring if they cannot be dealt justly with, they will have none. The Worshipful Master calls to order, and demands the cause of the confusion. Some brother answers, "Worshipful, we are not satisfied with the manner of paying the workmen, for we find those who have done nothing, and even the candidate just received, is paid just as much as we, who have borne the heat and burden of the day." Master says, "It is perfectly right." Brother--"It cannot be right--it is very unreasonable." Master--"Hear what the law says on the subject." He then reads the following parable--Matt. XX. 1-16. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give you.' And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' They say unto him, 'Because no man hath hired us.' He saith unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.' So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, 'Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.' And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more, and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying, 'These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.' But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.'" The brethren then declare themselves satisfied; the signs are given from Mark Master down to the Entered Apprentice, and the Master declares the Lodge closed.

* * * * *

LECTURE ON THE FOURTH DEGREE OF MASONRY, OR MARK MASTER'S DEGREE.

FIRST SECTION.

Question--Are you a Mark Master Mason? Answer--I am; try me.

Q. By what will you be tried? A. By the engraving chisel and mallet.

Q. Why by the engraving chisel and mallet? A. Because they are the proper masonic implements of this degree.

Q. On what was the degree founded? A. On a certain keystone which belonged to the principal arch of King Solomon's Temple.

Q. Who formed this keystone? A. Our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff.

Q. What were the preparatory steps relative to your advancement to this degree? A. I was caused to represent one of the Fellow Craft at the building of King Solomon's Temple, whose custom it was, on the eve of every sixth day, to carry up their work for inspection.

Q. Why was you caused to represent these Fellow Crafts? A. Because our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, had completed this keystone agreeable to the original plan, and before he gave orders to have it carried up to the Temple, was slain by three ruffians, as already represented in the preceding degrees; and it so happened that on the eve of a certain sixth day, as the craft were carrying up work for inspection, a young Fellow Craft discovered this stone in the quarry, and from its singular form and beauty, supposing it to belong to some part of the Temple, carried it up for inspection.

Q. Who inspected it? A. The Grand Overseers, placed at the East, West, and South gates.

Q. How did they inspect it? A. On its being presented to the Junior Overseer at the South gate, he observed that it was neither an oblong or a square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but from its singular form and beauty was unwilling to reject it, therefore ordered it to be passed to the Senior Overseer at the West gate for further inspection; who, for similar reasons, suffered it to pass to the Master Overseer at the East gate, who held a consultation with his brother Overseers, and they observed, as before, that it was neither an oblong or square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; and neither of them being Mark Master Masons, supposed it of no use in the building, and hove it over among the rubbish.

Q. How many Fellow Crafts were there engaged at the building of the Temple? A. Eighty thousand.

Q. Were not the Master Overseers liable to be imposed upon by receiving bad work from the hands of such a vast number of workmen? A. They were not.

Q. How was this imposition prevented? A. By the wisdom of King Solomon, who wisely ordered that the craftsman who worked should choose him a particular mark and place it upon all his work; by which it was known and distinguished when carried up to the building, and, if approved, to receive wages.

Q. What was the wages of a Fellow Craft? A. A penny a day.

Q. Who paid the craftsmen? A. The Senior Grand Warden.

Q. Was not the Senior Grand Warden liable to be imposed upon by impostors in paying off such a vast number of workmen? A. He was not.

Q. How was this imposition prevented? A. By the wisdom of King Solomon, who also ordered that every craftsman applying to receive wages, should present his right hand through a lattice window of the door of the Junior Grand Warden's apartment, with a copy of his mark in the palm thereof, at the same time giving a token.

Q. What was that token? (This was before explained.)

Q. What did it allude to? A. To the manner of receiving wages; it was also to distinguish a true craftsman from an impostor.

Q. What is the penalty of an impostor? A. To have his right hand chopped off.

* * * * *

SECOND SECTION.

Question--Where was you prepared to be made a Mark Master Mason? A. In the room adjoining the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such, duly assembled in a room or place, representing a workshop that was erected near the ruins of King Solomon's Temple.

Q. How was you prepared? A. By being divested of all my outward apparel and all money; my breast bare, with a cable-tow four times about my body, in which situation I was conducted to the door of a Lodge, where I gave four distinct knocks.

Q. What do these four distinct knocks allude to? A. To the fourth degree of Masonry; it being that on which I was about to enter.

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

Q. Your answer? A. A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice, served a proper time as such; passed to the Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason; and now wishes further light in Masonry, by being advanced to the more honorable degree of a Mark Master Mason.

Q. What further was said to you from within? A. I was asked if it was of my own free will and accord I made this request; if I was duly and truly prepared; worthy and well qualified; had wrought in the quarries, and exhibited specimens of my skill and proficiency in the preceding degrees; all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what further right or benefit I expected to gain this favor.

Q. Your answer? A. By the benefit of a pass-word.

Q. What was that pass-word? A. JOPPA.

Q. What did it allude to? A. The city of Joppa, the place where the materials were landed for building king Solomon's Temple, after being prepared in the forest of Lebanon, and carried there on floats (by sea). [Masonic tradition informs us that the banks of this place are so perpendicular that it was impossible to ascend them without assistance from above, which was effected by brethren stationed there, with this strong grip; this has been explained; which, together with the word JOPPA, has since been adopted as a proper pass to be given before entering any well-regulated Lodge of Mark Master Masons.]

Q. What further was said to you from within? A. I was bid to wait till the Right Worshipful Master in the East was made acquainted with my request and his answer returned.

Q. When his answer was returned, what followed? A. I was caused to enter the Lodge.

Q. On what did you enter? A. On the edge of the engraving chisel, under the pressure of the mallet, which was to demonstrate the moral precepts of this degree, and make a deep and lasting impression on my mind and conscience.

Q. How was you then disposed of? A. I was conducted four times regularly around the Lodge and halted at the Junior Warden's in the South, where the same questions were asked, and answers returned as at the door.

Q. How did the Junior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted to the Senior Warden in the West, where the same questions were asked, and the same answers returned as before.

Q. How did the Senior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted to the Right Worshipful Master in the East, where the same questions were asked, and answers returned as before; who likewise demanded of me from whence I came, and whither I was traveling.

Q. Your answer? A. From the West, and traveling to the East.

Q. Why do you leave the West and travel to the East? A. In search of light.

Q. How did the Right Worshipful Master dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted back to the West, from whence I came, and put in the care of the Senior Warden, who taught me how to approach the East, the place of light, by advancing upon four upright regular steps to the fourth step, my feet forming a square, and my body erect at the altar before the Right Worshipful Master.

Q. What did the Right Worshipful Master do with you? A. He made a Mark Master Mason of me.

Q. How? A. In due form.

Q. What was that due form? A. Both knees bent, they forming a square, both my hands on the Holy Bible, Square, and Compass, my body being erect; in which posture I took upon me the solemn oath or obligation of a Mark Master Mason.

Q. Have you that oath or obligation? A. I have.

Q. Will you give it me? A. I will, with your assistance. [Here, as in the preceding degree, you repeat after the Right Worshipful Master, I, A. B., etc. See pages 67 and 68.]

Q. After your oath or obligation, what follows? A. Information was brought that the Temple was almost completed, but the craft was all in confusion for want of a certain keystone, which none of them had been instrumental to make.

Q. What followed? A. King Solomon believing in confidence, that our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, had completed this keystone agreeable to the original plan, ordered inquiry to be made among the Master Overseers, if a stone bearing a particular mark had been presented to them for inspection; and on inquiry being made, it was found that there had.

Q. What followed? A. King Solomon ordered search to be made for the stone, when it was found, and afterwards applied to its intended use.

Q. What color was the stone? A. White.

Q. What did it allude to? A. To a passage in Scripture, where it says, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving him that receiveth."

Q. What was that new name? A. The letters on the stone and the initials of the words for which they stand, viz.: H. T. W. S. S. T. K. S.

Q. Of what use is this new name to you in Masonry? A. It was the original mark of our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, and is the general mark of this degree, and the letters form the circle, in the centre of which every brother of this degree places his particular mark, to which his obligation alludes.

Q. What followed? A. I was more fully instructed with the secrets of this degree.

Q. Of what do they consist? A. Of signs and tokens.

Q. Have you a sign? A. I have.

Q. What is it called? A. Heave over.

Q. What does it allude to? A. To the manner of heaving over work that the Overseers said was unfit for the Temple; also the manner the keystone was hove over.

Q. Have you any other sign? A. I have (at the same time giving it).

Q. What is that? A. The due-guard of a Mark Master Mason.

Q. What does it allude to? A. To the penalty of my obligation; which is, that my right ear should be smote off, that I might forever be unable to hear the word, and my right hand be chopped off, as the penalty of an impostor, if I should ever prove wilfully guilty of revealing any part of my obligation.

Q. Have you any further sign? A. I have.

Q. What is that? A. The grand sign, or sign of distress.

Q. What does it allude to? A. To the manner the Fellow Crafts carry their work up to the Temple for inspection; also the manner I was taught to carry my work, on my advancement to this degree.

Q. Have you any other sign? A. I have not; but I have a token (gives it to him).

Q. What is this? A. The pass-grip of a Mark Master Mason.

Q. What is the name of it? A. "JOPPA."

Q. What does it allude to? A. The city of Joppa.

Q. Have you any other token? A. I have.

Q. What is this? A. The real grip of a Mark Master Mason.

Q. What is the name of it? A. MARK WELL.

Q. What does it allude to? A. To a passage of Scripture, where it says, "Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looketh towards the East, and it was shut; and the Lord said unto me, son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and the laws thereof, and mark well the entering in of the house, with the going forth of the sanctuary."

Q. Who founded this degree? A. Our three ancient Grand Masters, viz.: Solomon, King of Israel, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff.

Q. Why was it founded? A. Not only as an honorary reward, to be conferred on all who have proved themselves meritorious in the preceding degrees, but to render it impossible for a brother to suffer for the immediate necessities of life, when the price of his mark will procure them.

Q. A brother pledging his mark and asking a favor, who does he represent? A. Our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, who was a poor man, but on account of his great skill and mysterious conduct at the building of King Solomon's Temple, was most eminently distinguished.

Q. A brother receiving a pledge and granting a favor, whom does he represent? A. King Solomon, who was a rich man, but renowned for his benevolence.

* * * * *

THE PAST MASTER'S DEGREE.

This degree is very simple. It is necessary that a Master Mason should take this degree before he can, constitutionally, preside over a Lodge of Master Masons as Master of it; and when a Master Mason is elected Master of a Lodge, who has not previously received the Past Master's degree, it is then conferred upon him, often without any other ceremony than that of administering the obligation.

This Lodge is opened and closed in the same manner that the Lodges of the first three degrees are; the candidate petitions and is balloted for in the same manner, but he is received into the Lodge in a very different manner. He is conducted into the Lodge without any previous preparation, when the presiding officer rises and says, "Brethren, it is inconvenient for me to serve you any longer as Master of this Lodge. I wish you would select some other brother for that purpose." The candidate is nominated, the usual forms of balloting for officers are then dispensed with, and a vote of the Lodge is taken by yeas and nays. The candidate is elected, and generally refuses to serve, but he is eventually prevailed on to accept; whereupon the presiding officer addresses the Master-elect in the words following, viz.:

"Brother, previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you
assent to those ancient charges and regulations, which point out
the duty of a Master of a Lodge.

1. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the
moral law.

2. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform
to the laws of the country in which you reside.

3. You promise not to be concerned in any plots or conspiracies
against government; but patiently to submit to the decisions of
the supreme legislature.

4. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrate, to
work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably by all men.

5. You agree to hold in veneration the original rules and patrons
of Masonry, and their regular successors, supreme and subordinate,
according to their stations, and to submit to the awards and
resolutions of your brethren when convened, in every case
consistent with the constitution of the Order.

6. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard
against intemperance and excess.

7. You agree to be cautious in carriage and behavior, cautious to
your brethren, and faithful to your Lodge.

8. You promise to respect genuine brethren and discountenance
impostors, and all dissenters from the original plan of Masonry.

9. You agree to promote the general good of society, to cultivate
the social virtues, and to propagate a knowledge of the arts.

10. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the time
being, and to his officer when duly installed, strictly to conform
to every edict of the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons
that is not subversive of the principles and ground work of
Masonry.

11. You admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of
men, to make innovations in the body of Masonry.

12. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and
communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and
to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry on convenient
occasions.

13. You admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission
of the Grand Lodge, and that no countenance be given to any
irregular Lodge, or to any person clandestinely initiated therein,
being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order.

14. You admit that no person can be regularly made a Mason in, or
admitted a member of any regular Lodge, without previous notice,
and due inquiry into his character.

15. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your Lodge
without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their
having been initiated into a regular Lodge."

The presiding officer then asks the Master-elect (candidate), the following question, which he must answer in the affirmative: Q. "Do you submit to these charges and promise to support these regulations as Masters have done, in all ages, before you?" A. "I do." The presiding officer then addresses him: "Brother A. B., in consequence of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the Order, you are now to be installed Master of this degree, in full confidence of your care, skill, and capacity, to govern the same. But previous to your investiture, it is necessary you should take upon yourself the solemn oath or obligation appertaining to this degree; if you are willing to take it upon you, you will please to kneel before the altar, when you shall receive the same." [Here Lodges differ very materially, but this is the most prevalent mode of proceeding.] The candidate then kneels on both knees, lays both hands on the Holy Bible, Square and Compass, and takes the following oath or obligation: