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
Master to the Treasurer, "Your duty there, Brother Treasurer?" He
answers, "Duly to observe the Worshipful Master's will and pleasure;
receive all moneys and money-bills from the hands of the Secretary;
keep a just and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the
Worshipful Master and consent of the brethren." The Master to the
Treasurer, "The Junior Warden's place in the Lodge, Brother
Treasurer?" He answers, "In the South, Worshipful." Master to Junior
Warden, "Your business there, Brother Junior?" He answers, "As the sun
in the South at high meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so
stands the Junior Warden in the South the better to observe the time;
call the crafts from labor to refreshment; superintend them during the
hours thereof; see that none convert the hours of refreshment into
that of intemperance or excess; and call them on again in due season,
that the Worshipful Master may have honor, and they pleasure and
profit thereby." Master to the Junior Warden, "The Senior Warden's
place in the Lodge?" He answers, "In the West, Worshipful." Master to
the Senior Warden, "Your duty there, Brother Senior?" He answers, "As
the sun sets in the West, to close the day, so stands the Senior
Warden in the West, to assist the Worshipful Master in opening his
Lodge; take care of the jewels and implements; see that none be lost;
pay the craft their wages, if any be due; and see that none go away
dissatisfied." Master to the Senior Warden, "The Master's place in the
Lodge?" He answers, "In the East, Worshipful." Master to the Senior
Warden, "His duty there?" He answers, "As the sun rises in the East to
open and adorn the day, so presides the Worshipful Master in the East
to open and adorn his Lodge; set his crafts to work with good and
wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done." The Master now gives
three raps, when all the brethren rise, and the Master, taking off his
hat, proceeds as follows: "In like manner so do I, strictly forbidding
all profane language, private committees, or any other disorderly
conduct whereby the peace and harmony of this Lodge may be interrupted
while engaged in its lawful pursuits, under no less penalty than the
by-laws, or such penalty as a majority of the brethren present may see
fit to inflict. Brethren, attend to giving the signs." [Here Lodges
differ very much. In some they declare the Lodge open, as follows,
before they give the sign.] The Master (all the brethren imitating
him) extends his left arm from his body, so as to form an angle of
about forty-five degrees, and holds his right hand traversely across
his left, the palms thereof one inch apart. This is called the first
sign of a Mason--is the sign of distress in this degree, and alludes
to the position a candidate's hands are placed in when he takes the
obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason. The Master then draws his
right hand across his throat, the hand open, with the thumb next to
the throat, and drops it down by his side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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