The Mysteries of Free Masonry Part 27

CLOSING.--Most Potent knocks five. Grand Marshal rises. Most Potent says, "Brother Grand Marshal, the last as well as the first care of a Lodge of Masters Elected of Fifteen?" A. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled.--"Please attend," etc. Most Potent knocks twice five.--Senior Warden rises. Signs reversed. Most Potent knocks three times five, which is repeated by Wardens, and then by brothers with their hands, etc.

ILl.u.s.tRIOUS KNIGHTS ELECTED.

OPENING.--Most Potent knocks ten. Grand Marshal rises. Most Potent says, "Are we all Ill.u.s.trious Knights Elected?" A. We are, Most Potent. "Your place? etc. Your duty?" A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. "Please attend," etc. Most Potent knocks eleven. Grand Inspector rises. "Companion Inspector, what is the hour?" A. It is twelve. Most Potent knocks twelve. Companions rise. "If it is twelve, it is time to labor by the greatest of lights." Signs given. Most Potent knocks twelve, Inspector twelve, and Companion twelve, with their hands, etc.

LECTURE.--Question--Are you an Ill.u.s.trious Knight Elected? Answer. My name will inform you.

Q. What is that name? A. Payrawsh Bawheer, or Ill.u.s.trious Knight elected.

Q. How were you admitted? A. I was hoodwinked and conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the door of the Chapter, where he gave twelve distinct knocks.

Q. To what did they allude? A. To the twelve tribes of Israel.

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

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

Q. Your answer? A. A Master Elected of Fifteen wishes to receive the degree of Ill.u.s.trious Knight.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked by what further right, etc., and I was told to wait until the Most Potent was informed of my request, and his answer returned.

Q. What was that answer? A. Let him be introduced in due form.

Q. What then followed? A. I was conducted to the west, and the Most Potent inquired what I wanted.

Q. Your answer? A. To receive the degree of Ill.u.s.trious Knight, as a reward for my zeal and labor.

Q. What did the Most Potent say to you then? A. My brother, you cannot receive this degree until you have given us satisfactory proof that you have not been an accomplice in the death of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff; to a.s.sure us of this, we require you to partic.i.p.ate in a symbolic offering, of a portion of the heart of our Respectable Master, Hiram Abiff, which we have preserved since his a.s.sa.s.sination.

You are to swallow the portion we present to you. Every faithful Mason may receive it without injury, but it cannot remain in the body of one who is perjured. Are you disposed to submit to this trial?

Q. What was your answer? A. I am.

Q. What followed? A. The Most Potent directed the Master of Ceremonies to cause me to advance to the altar, by twelve upright regular steps, where the Most Potent, with the trowel, presented to me the symbolic offering which I swallowed, and was thus addressed by the Most Potent: "This mystic oblation, which, like you, we have received forms a tie so strong that nothing can oppress it; woe to him who attempts to disunite us. I then received the obligation of this degree.

Q. Repeat that obligation. A. (Same as Perfect Master.) Under penalty of having my hands nailed to my breast. So help, etc.

Q. What was then communicated to you? A. The Most Potent removed the bandage, and gave me the sign. (Cross hands on breast) it alludes to penalty.

Q. Give me the token? A. (Token of Intimate Secretary, with left hand on brother's heart.)

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-word? A. Emun.

Q. What does that word signify? A. Truth.

Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Joha (p.r.o.nounced Yo-hay).

Q. What followed? A. I was invested with the ap.r.o.n, gloves and jewels of this degree, and was told the device on my sash and ap.r.o.n, and also the color of the latter, was an emblem of a heart inflamed with grat.i.tude for the honors and rewards conferred on me, and the sword of that justice which overtook and punished the a.s.sa.s.sins, and was designed to admonish me that perjury and treason will never escape the sword of justice, and I was directed to go and salute the Inspector, and return to the east for further instruction.

SECOND SECTION.--Of what was the symbolic offering presented to you at your initiation composed? A. Of flour, milk, wine and oil.

Q. What did they represent? A. Flour represents goodness, the milk, gentleness, the wine, strength or fort.i.tude, and the oil, light and wisdom, qualities which distinguished Hiram Abiff, and should distinguish every ill.u.s.trious Knight.

Q. How were the Ill.u.s.trious Knights employed at the erection of the temple? A. They had command over the twelve tribes, and by their strict attention, promoted peace and harmony, and animated the laborers with cheerfulness.

Q. What was the intention of Solomon in inst.i.tuting this degree? A. To reward the zeal, etc., and also by their preferment to make more.

CLOSING.--Most Potent knocks ten (Grand Marshal rises). "The last as well as the first care of a Chapter of Ill.u.s.trious Knights?" A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. "Attend to your duty, and inform the Sentinel," etc. Most Potent knocks eleven (Senior Warden rises).

"Brother Inspector, what is the hour?" A. Low six. Most Potent knocks twelve (brethren rise). "Brother Inspector, give notice," etc. Signs.

Most Potent knocks twelve, Inspector twelve, brethren twelve, with their hands, and Most Potent declares the Chapter duly closed.

GRAND MASTER ARCHITECTS.

OPENING.--Most Potent knocks one (Grand Marshal rises). "Are we all,"

etc. Your place? etc. Your duty? A. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded. "Attend," etc. Most Potent knocks two.--Warden rises. Most Potent says, "What is the hour?" A. A star indicates the first instant, the first hour, and the first day, in which the Grand Architect commenced the creation of the universe. Most Potent knocks one and two.--Companions rise. Most Potent says, "Companions, it is the first instant, the first hour, the first day, the first year, when Solomon commenced the temple; the first day, the first hour, the first instant for opening this Chapter. It is time to commence our labors.

Give notice," etc. Signs. Most Potent knocks one and two, Senior Warden one and two, Companions one and two, and Most Potent declares Chapter open, etc.

LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Grand Master Architect? Answer--I know the use of every mathematical instrument.

Q. What are they? A. A square, a single compa.s.s, a compa.s.s with four points, a rule, a line, a compa.s.s of perfection, a quadrant, a level and plumb.

Q. Where were you received? A. In a white place, painted with flames.

Q. What does that signify? A. That purity of heart and that zeal which should characterize every Grand Master Architect.

Q. How were you admitted? A. I was conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the door of the Chapter, where he gave one and two distinct knocks.

Q. How were those knocks answered? A. One and two from within.

Q. What followed? A. I was asked, "Who comes there?"

Q. Your answer? A. An Ill.u.s.trious Knight who wishes to receive the degree of Grand Architect.

Q. What then followed? A. I was conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the west, and thus addressed: "It has become necessary to form a school of Architecture for the instruction of the brethren employed in the temple, as none but skilful Architects can bring the same to perfection. In order to prevent some brethren from receiving the honors and rewards due only to brethren of talents, we have deemed it expedient to prove and test all those who present themselves as candidates for this degree. We, therefore, require you to make the tour of the temple, for the purpose of examining the work, and to produce a plan drawn with exactness which you must present for inspection, that we may judge whether you are ent.i.tled to this degree."

Q. What followed? A. I was conducted through the anti-chamber and 'round the Lodge, when the Master of Ceremonies again stationed me in the west, and where I drew a plan according to my direction. When the same was finished, the Master of Ceremonies informed the Most Potent that I had obeyed his directions. Most Potent inquired, "My brother, what are the fruits of your travels?"

Q. Your answer? A. "Most Potent, I have brought a plan of the works of the temple, which I am ready to present for inspection."

Q. What followed? A. I was directed to approach the east, and present the plan to the Most Potent, which I accordingly did, and the Most Potent examined the same, and then pa.s.sed it on to the other companions, who, after examining, returned it with expressions of approbation, and then the Most Potent addressed me thus: "It is with pleasure we witness the skill you have manifested in fulfilling the conditions prescribed to you, but we require further proof before you can be admitted among us. We again require you to travel."