The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's LodgeMorgan, William
Religion
The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge
Morgan, William
Freemasonry -- United States -- Rituals
Q. What happened most remarkable to them? A. Their bravery and good
conduct gained them the esteem and respect of all the Knights of St.
John of Jerusalem. The general of that order, and the principal
officers, took the resolution of being admitted into the secrets of
Masonry, which they accordingly received; and in return they admitted
them into their order.
Q. What became of those Masons afterwards? A. After the crusade they
returned and spread Masonry throughout all Europe, which flourished
for a long time in France and England; but the Scotch, to their great
praise be it spoken, were the only people who kept up the practice of
it.
Q. How came it again in vogue in France? A. A Scotch nobleman went to
France and became a resident at Bordeaux, where he establishes a Lodge
of Perfection, from the members of the Lodge in 1744; in which he was
assisted by a French gentleman, who took great pleasure in all the
Masonic degrees. This still exists in a most splendid manner.
Q. What means the fire in our Lodge? A. Submission, purification of
morals, and equality among brethren.
Q. What signifies the air? A. The purity, virtue, and truth of this
degree.
Q. What does the sign of the sun mean? A. It signifies that some of us
are more enlightened than others in the Mysteries of Masonry; and for
that reason we are often called Knights of the Sun.
Q. How many signs have you in this degree of Grand Pontiff, which is
Grand Master of all Lodges? A. 1st, The sign of the earth, or
Apprentice; 2d, of water--Fellow Craft; 3d, of terror--the Master;
4th, of fire; 5th, of air; 6th, of the point in view; 7th, of the sun;
8th, of astonishment; 9th, of honor; 10th, of stench, or strong smell;
11th, of admiration; 12th, of consternation. End of the Lecture.
TO CLOSE.--The Grand Master says, "My brother, enter into the cave of
Silol--work with Grand Rofadam--measure your steps to the sun, and
then the great black eagle will cover you with his wings, to the end
of what you desire, by the help of the Most Sublime Princes Grand
Commanders." He then strikes four and two, makes the sign of four
squares, which is repeated by the Wardens, and the Lodge is closed.
The examination of a brother in the foregoing degree is as follows:
Q. From whence came you? A. From the sacred vault at Jerusalem.
Q. What are you come to do here? A. I am come to see and visit your
works and show you mine, that we may work together and rectify our
morals, and, if possible, sanctify the profane--but only by permission
of a Prince Adept, or Prince of the Royal Secret (if one is present).
Q. What have you brought? A. Glory, grandeur and beauty.
Q. Why do you give the name of St. John to our Lodge? A. Formerly all
the Lodges were under the name of Solomon's Lodge, as the founder of
Masonry; but since the crusades we have agreed with the Knights
Templars, or Hospitallers, to dedicate them to St. John, as he was the
support of the Christians and the new laws.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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