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
The keystone is now produced and laid on the altar.
There is no more occasion for level or plumb-line,
For trowel or gavel, for compass or square;[7]
Our works are completed, the ark safely seated,[8]
And we shall be greeted as workmen most rare.
Names, those that are worthy our tribes, who have shared,
And proved themselves faithful, shall meet their reward;
Their virtue and knowledge, industry and skill,
Have our approbation--have gained our good will.
We accept and receive them,[9] Most Excellent Masters,
Trusted with honor, and power to preside
Among worthy craftsmen where'er assembled,
The knowledge of Masons to spread far and wide.
Almighty Jehovah,[10] descend now and fill
This Lodge with Thy glory, our hearts with good-will;
Preside at our meeting, assist us to find
True pleasure in teaching good-will to mankind.
Thy wisdom inspired the great institution,
Thy strength shall support it till nature expire;
And when the creation shall fall into ruin,
Its beauty shall rise through the midst of the fire.
[At the time the ark is placed on the altar, there is also placed on
it a pot of incense, to which fire is communicated by the Most
Excellent Master, just as the last line of the song is sung; this pot
to contain incense is sometimes an elegant silver urn; but if the
Lodge is too poor to afford that, a common teapot, with spout and
handle broken off, answers every purpose; for incense some pieces of
paper are dipped in spirits of turpentine.]
The members now all join hands, as in opening; and, while in this
attitude, the Most Excellent reads the following passage of Scripture:
2 Chron. vii. 1-4. "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,
the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and
the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And
the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because
the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when all
the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory
of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces
to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
Lord, saying, FOR HE IS GOOD;[11] FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER."
The members now balance six times as before; in opening, rise and
balance six times more, disengage themselves from each other and take
their seats; the Most Excellent Master then delivers the following
charge to the candidate:
"Brother, your admittance to this degree of Masonry, is a proof of
the good opinion the brethren of this Lodge entertain of your
Masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be
careful of forfeiting by misconduct and inattention to our rules,
that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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