A brother having made a motion that the Lodge be closed, it being
seconded and carried, the Master says to the Junior Deacon, "Brother
Junior [giving one rap, which calls up both Deacons], the first as
well as the last care of a Mason?" The Junior Deacon answers, "To see
the Lodge tyled, Worshipful." Master to the Junior Deacon, "Attend to
that part of your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to
close this Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, and direct him to tyle
accordingly." The Junior Deacon steps to the door and gives three
raps, which are answered by the Tyler with three more; the Junior
Deacon then gives one, which is also answered by the Tyler by one. The
Junior Deacon then opens the door, delivers his message, and resumes
his place in the Lodge, and says, "The door is tyled, Worshipful."
Master to Junior Deacon, "By whom?" ANS. "By a Master Mason without
the door, armed with the proper implements of his office." Master to
Junior Deacon, "His business there?" ANS. "To keep off all cowans and
eavesdroppers, and see that none pass or repass without permission
from the chair." Master to Junior Deacon, "Your duty there?" ANS. "To
wait on the Worshipful Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the
active duties of the Lodge, and take care of the door." Master to
Junior Deacon, "The Senior Deacon's place in the Lodge?" ANS. "At the
right hand of the Worshipful Master in the East." Master to Senior
Deacon, "Your duty there, Brother Senior?" ANS. "To wait on the
Worshipful Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties
of the Lodge, attend to the preparation and introduction of
candidates; receive and clothe all visiting brethren." Master to the
Senior Deacon, "The Secretary's place in the Lodge?" ANS. "At your
left hand, Worshipful." Master to Secretary, "Your duty there, Brother
Secretary?" The Secretary replies, "Duly to observe the Master's will
and pleasure; record the proceedings of the Lodge; transmit a copy of
the same to the Grand Lodge, if required; receive all moneys and
money-bills from the hands of the brethren; pay them over to the
Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same." Master to the
Secretary, "The Treasurer's place in the Lodge?" ANS. "At the right
hand of the Worshipful Master." Master to Treasurer, "Your business
there, Brother Treasurer?" Treasurer 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 accurate
account of the same; pay them out by order of the Worshipful Master
and consent of the brethren." Master to the Treasurer, "The Junior
Warden's place in the Lodge?" ANS. "In the South, Worshipful." Master
to the Junior Warden, "Your business there, Brother Junior?" The
Junior Warden says, "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
at high twelve, the better to observe the time, call the crafts from
labor to refreshment; superintend them during the hours thereof; see
that none convert the purposes of refreshment into that of excess or
intemperance; call them on again in due season; that the Worshipful
Master may have honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby." The
Master to the Junior Warden, "The Master's place in the Lodge?" ANS.
"In the East, Worshipful." Master to Junior Warden, "His duty there?"
ANS. "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." Master to the Junior Warden, "The Senior
Warden's place in the Lodge?" ANS. "In the West, Worshipful." Master
to the Senior Warden, "Your business there, Brother Senior?" The
Senior Warden replies, "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 and closing the 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." The Master now gives
three raps, when all the brethren rise, and the Master asks, "Are you
all satisfied?" They answer in the affirmative by giving the
due-guard. Should the Master discover that any declined giving it,
inquiry is immediately made why it is so; and if any member is
dissatisfied with any part of the proceedings, or with any brother,
the subject is immediately investigated. Master to the brethren,
"Attend to giving the signs; as I do, so do you give them downwards;"
[which is by giving the last in opening, first in closing. In closing,
on this degree, you first draw your right hand across your throat, as
hereinbefore described, and then hold your two hands over each other
as before described. This is the method pursued through all the
degrees; and when opening on any of the upper degrees, all the signs
of all the preceding degrees are given before you give the signs of
the degree on which you are opening.] This being done, the Master
proceeds, "I now declare this Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons
regularly closed in due and ancient form. Brother Junior Warden,
please inform Brother Senior Warden, and request him to inform the
brethren that it is my will and pleasure that this Lodge of Entered
Apprentice Masons be now closed, and stand closed until our next
regular communication, unless a case or cases of emergency shall
require earlier convention, of which every member shall be notified;
during which time it is seriously hoped and expected that every
brother will demean himself as becomes a Free and Accepted Mason."
Junior Warden to Senior Warden, "Brother Senior, it is the Worshipful
Master's will and pleasure that this Lodge of Entered Apprentice
Masons be closed, and stand closed until our next regular
communication, unless a case or cases of emergency shall require
earlier convention, of which every brother shall be notified; during
which time it is seriously hoped and expected that every brother will
demean himself as becomes a Free and Accepted Mason." Senior Warden to
the brethren, "Brethren, you have heard the Worshipful Master's will
and pleasure as communicated to me by Brother Junior; so let it be
done." Master to the Junior Warden, "Brother Junior, how do Mason's
meet?" ANS. "On the level." Master to Senior Warden, "How do Masons
part?" ANS. "On the square." Master to the Junior and Senior Wardens,
"Since we meet on the level, Brother Junior, and part on the square,
Brother Senior, so let us ever meet and part in the name of the Lord."
Master to the brethren, "Brethren, let us pray."
"Supreme Architect of the Universe! Accept our humble praises for the
many mercies and blessings which Thy bounty has conferred upon us, and
especially for this friendly and social intercourse. Pardon, we
beseech Thee, whatever Thou hast seen amiss in us since we have been
together; and continue to us Thy presence, protection and blessing.
Make us sensible of the renewed obligations we are under to love Thee
supremely, and to be friendly to each other. May all our irregular
passions be subdued, and may we daily increase in faith, hope, and
charity; but more especially in that charity which is the bond of
peace, and perfection of every virtue. May we so practice Thy
precepts, that through the merits of the Redeemer we may finally
obtain Thy promises, and find an acceptance through the gates and into
the temple and city of our God. So mote it be. Amen."
It is often that the prayer is neglected and the following benediction
substituted: May the blessing of heaven rest upon us, and all regular
Masons! May brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue
cement us. So mote it be. Amen.
After the prayer the following charge ought to be delivered, but it is
seldom attended to; in a majority of Lodges it is never attended to;
Master to brethren, "Brethren, we are now about to quit this sacred
retreat of friendship and virtue to mix again with the world. Amidst
its concerns and employments, forget not the duties which you have
heard so frequently inculcated, and so forcibly recommended in this
Lodge. Remember that around this altar you have promised to befriend
and relieve every brother who shall need your assistance. You have
promised in the most friendly manner to remind him of his errors and
aid a reformation. These generous principles are to extend further;
every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto
all. Recommend it more 'especially to the household of the faithful.'
Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the
God of love and peace delight to dwell with and bless you."
In some Lodges, after the charge is delivered, the Master says,
"Brethren, form on the square." Then all the brethren form a circle,
and the Master, followed by every brother [except in using the words],
says, "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light." At the
same moment that the last of these words drops from the Master's lips,
every member stamps with his right foot on the floor, and at the same
instant brings his hands together with equal force, and in such
perfect unison with each other, that persons situated so as to hear it
would suppose it the precursor of some dreadful catastrophe. This is
called "THE SHOCK." The members of the Lodge then separate.
The above comprises all the secret forms and ceremonies in a Lodge of
Entered Apprentice Masons; but if the candidate would thoroughly
understand the whole, he must commit to memory the following
"Lecture." Very few do this except the officers of the Lodge. The
"Lecture" is nothing more nor less than a recapitulation of the
preceding ceremonies and forms by way of question and answer, in order
fully to explain the same. In fact, the ceremonies and forms
(masonically called the WORK) and Lecture are so much the same that he
who possesses a knowledge of the Lecture cannot be destitute of a
knowledge of what the ceremonies and forms are. The ceremonies used in
opening and closing are the same in all the degrees.
* * * * *