The traditional account of the death, several burials, and
resurrection of Hiram Abiff, the widow's son (as hereafter narrated),
admitted as facts, this degree is certainly very interesting. The
Bible informs us that there was a person of that name employed at the
building of King Solomon's Temple; but neither the Bible, the writings
of Josephus, nor any other writings, however ancient, of which I have
any knowledge, furnish any information respecting his death. It is
very singular that a man so celebrated as Hiram Abiff was, and arbiter
between Solomon, King of Israel, and Hiram, King of Tyre, universally
acknowledged as the third most distinguished man then living, and in
many respects, the greatest man in the world, should pass off the
stage of action, in the presence of King Solomon, three thousand,
three hundred grand overseers, and one hundred and fifty thousand
workmen, with whom he had spent a number of years, and neither King
Solomon, his bosom friend, nor any other among his numerous friends,
even recorded his death, or anything about him.
A person who has received the two preceding degrees, and wishes to be
raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, is (the Lodge being
opened as in the preceding degrees) conducted from the preparation
room to the door (the manner of preparing him is particularly
explained in the Lecture), where he gives three distinct knocks, when
the Senior Warden rises and says, "Worshipful, while we are peaceably
at work on the third degree of Masonry, under the influence of
humanity, brotherly love, and affection, the door of our Lodge appears
to be alarmed." The Master to the Junior Deacon, "Brother Junior,
inquire the cause of that alarm." The Junior Deacon then steps to the
door and answers the three knocks that have been given by three more
(the knocks are much louder than those given on any occasion, other
than that of the admission of candidates in the several degrees); one
knock is then given without, and answered by one from within, when the
door is partly opened, and the Junior Deacon asks, "Who comes there?
Who comes there? Who comes there?" The Senior Deacon answers, "A
worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered
Apprentice Mason, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, and now
wishes for further light in Masonry, by being raised to the sublime
degree of a Master Mason." Junior Deacon to Senior Deacon, "Is it of
his own free will and accord he makes this request?" A. "It is."
Junior Deacon to Senior Deacon, "Is he worthy and well qualified?" A.
"He is." Junior Deacon to Senior Deacon, "Has he made suitable
proficiency in the preceding degree?" A. "He has." Junior Deacon to
Senior Deacon, "By what further rights does he expect to obtain this
benefit?" A. "By the benefit of a pass-word." Junior Deacon to Senior
Deacon, "Has he a pass-word?" A. "He has not, but I have it for him."
Junior Deacon to Senior Deacon, "Will you give it to me?" The Senior
Deacon then whispers in the ear of the Junior Deacon, "TUBAL CAIN."
Junior Deacon says, "The pass is right; since this is the case, you
will wait till the Worshipful Master be made acquainted with his
request, and his answer returned." The Junior Deacon then repairs to
the Master, and gives three knocks, as at the door; after answering
which, the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the
door; when the Master says, "Since he comes endued with all these
necessary qualifications, let him enter this Worshipful Lodge in the
name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters." The Junior Deacon
returns to the door and says, "Let him enter this Worshipful Lodge in
the name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters." In entering,
both points of the Compass are pressed against his naked right and
left breasts, when the Junior Deacon stops the candidate and says,
"Brother, when you first entered this Lodge, you was received on the
point of the Compass pressing your naked left breast, which was then
explained to you; when you entered it the second time, you were
received on the angle of the Square, which was also explained to you;
on entering it now, you are received on the two extreme points of the
Compass pressing your naked right and left breasts, which are thus
explained: As the most vital points of man are contained between the
two breasts, so are the most valuable tenets of Masonry contained
between the two extreme points of the Compass, which are 'Virtue,
Morality, and Brotherly Love.'" The Senior Deacon then conducts the
candidate three times regularly around the Lodge. [I wish the reader
to observe, that on this, as well as every other degree, the Junior
Warden is the first of the three principal officers that the candidate
passes, traveling with the Sun, when he starts around the Lodge, and
as he passes the Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and Master, the first
time going around, they each give one rap; the second time, two raps;
and the third time, three raps. The number of raps given on those
occasions are the same as the number of the degree, except the first
degree, on which three are given, I always thought improperly.] During
the time the candidate is traveling around the room, the Master reads
the following passage of Scripture, the conductor and candidate
traveling, and the Master reading, so that the traveling and reading
terminates at the same time:
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil
days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I
have no pleasure in them: while the Sun, or the Moon, or the Stars
be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain; in the day
when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men
shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few,
and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors
shall be shut in the streets; when the sound of the grinding is
low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the
daughters of music shall be brought low. Also, when they shall be
afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and
the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a
burden, and desire shall fail, because man goeth to his long home,
and the mourners go about the streets. Or ever the silver cord be
loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at
the fountain, or the wheel at the cistern. Then shall the dust
return to the earth, as it was; and the spirit return unto God who
gave it."
The conductor and candidate halt at the Junior Warden in the South,
where the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the
door; he is then conducted to the Senior Warden, where the same
questions are asked and answers returned as before; from thence he is
conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East, who asks the same
questions and receives the same answers as before; and who likewise
asks the candidate from whence he came, and whither he is traveling?
ANS. "From the West, and traveling to the East." Q. "Why do you leave
the West and travel to the East?" A. "In search of more light." The
Master then says to the Senior Deacon, "You will please conduct the
candidate back to the West, from whence he came, and put him in the
care of the Senior Warden, and request him to teach the candidate how
to approach the East, by advancing upon three upright regular steps to
the third step, his feet forming a square, his body erect at the altar
before the Worshipful Master, and place him in a proper position to
take upon him the solemn oath or obligation of a Master Mason." The
Master then comes to the candidate and says, "Brother, you are now
placed in a proper position (the Lecture explains it) to take upon you
the solemn oath or obligation of a Master Mason, which I assure you,
as before, is neither to affect your religion nor politics. If you are
willing to take it, repeat your name, and say after me:
"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in the presence of
Almighty God, and this Worshipful Lodge of Master Masons erected
to God, and dedicated to the Holy Order of St. John, do hereby and
hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition
to my former obligations, that I will not give the degree of a
Master Mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other
being in the known world, except it be to a true and lawful
brother, or brethren Master Masons, or within the body of a just
and lawfully constituted Lodge of such; and not unto him, nor unto
them, whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only whom
I shall find so to be, after strict trial and due examination, or
lawful information received. Furthermore, do I promise and swear,
that I will not give the Master's word, which I shall hereafter
receive, neither in the Lodge, nor out of it, except it be on the
five points of fellowship, and then not above my breath.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not give the
grand hailing sign of distress, except I am in real distress, or
for the benefit of the craft when at work; and should I ever see
that sign given, or the word accompanying it, and the person who
gave it appearing to be in distress, I will fly to his relief at
the risk of my life, should there be a greater probability of
saving his life than of losing my own. Furthermore, do I promise
and swear, that I will not wrong this Lodge, nor a brother of this
degree, to the value of one cent, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it
to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that I will not be at the initiating,
passing, and raising a candidate at one communication, without a
regular dispensation from the Grand Lodge for the same.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not be at the
initiating, passing, or raising a candidate in a clandestine
Lodge, I knowing it to be such. Furthermore, do I promise and
swear, that I will not be at the initiating of an old man in
dotage, a young man in nonage, an atheist, irreligious libertine,
idiot, madman, hermaphrodite, nor woman. Furthermore, do I promise
and swear, that I will not speak evil of a brother Master Mason,
neither behind his back, nor before his face, but will apprise him
of all approaching danger, if in my power. Furthermore, do I
promise and swear, that I will not violate the chastity of a
Master Mason's wife, mother, sister, or daughter, I knowing them
to be such, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to
prevent it. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will
support the constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State of ----,
under which this Lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws,
rules, and regulations of this, or any other Lodge, of which I
may, at any time hereafter, become a member. Furthermore, do I
promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs, summons, or
tokens given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from the hand of a
brother Master Mason, or from the body of a just and lawfully
constituted Lodge of such: provided it be within the length of my
cable-tow. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that a Master
Mason's secrets, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them
to be such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast as
in his own, when communicated to me, murder and treason excepted;
and they left to my own election. Furthermore, do I promise and
swear, that I will go on a Master Mason's errand, whenever
required, even should I have to go barefoot and bareheaded, if
within the length of my cable-tow.[3] Furthermore, do I promise
and swear, that I will always remember a brother Master Mason when
on my knees, offering up my devotions to Almighty God.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will be aiding and
assisting all poor indigent Master Masons, their wives and
orphans, wheresoever disposed 'round the globe, as far as in my
power, without injuring myself or family materially. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that if any part of this my solemn oath or
obligation be omitted at this time, that I will hold myself
amenable thereto, whenever informed. To all which I do most
solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and steady
purpose of mind in me, to keep and perform the same, binding
myself under no less penalty than to have my body severed in two
in the midst, and divided to the North and South, my bowels burnt
to ashes in the centre, and the ashes scattered before the four
winds of heaven, that there might not the least tract or trace of
remembrance remain among men or Masons of so vile and perjured a
wretch as I should be, were I ever to prove wilfully guilty of
violating any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a
Master Mason; so help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due
performance of the same."
The Master then asks the candidate, "What do you most desire?" The
candidate answers after his prompter, "More light." The bandage which
was tied 'round his head in the preparation room is, by one of the
brethren who stands behind him for that purpose, loosened and put over
both eyes, and he is immediately brought to light in the same manner
as in the preceding degree, except three stamps on the floor, and
three claps of the hands are given in this degree. On being brought to
light, the Master says to the candidate, "You first discover, as
before, three great lights in Masonry, by the assistance of three
lesser, with this difference, both points of the Compass are elevated
above the Square, which denotes to you that you are about to receive
all the light that can be conferred on you in a Mason's Lodge." The
Master steps back from the candidate and says, "Brother, you now
discover me as Master of this Lodge, approaching you from the East,
under the sign and due-guard of a Master Mason." The sign is given by
raising both hands and arms to the elbows perpendicularly, one on
either side of the head, the elbows forming a square. The words
accompanying this sign in case of distress are, "O Lord, my God, is
there no help for the widow's son?" As the last words drop from your
lips, you let your hands fall in that manner best calculated to
indicate solemnity. King Solomon is said to have made this exclamation
on the receipt of the information of the death of Hiram Abiff. Masons
are all charged never to give the words except in the dark, when the
sign cannot be seen. Here Masons differ very much; some contend that
Solomon gave this sign, and made this exclamation when informed of
Hiram's death, and work accordingly in their Lodges. Others say the
sign was given, and the exclamation made at the grave when Solomon
went there to raise Hiram, and, of course, they work accordingly; that
is to say, the Master who governs a Lodge holding the latter opinion,
gives the sign, &c., at the grave, when he goes to raise the body, and
vice versa. The due-guard is given by putting the right hand to the
left side of the bowels, the hand open, with the thumb next to the
belly, and drawing it across the belly and let it fall; this is done
tolerably quick. After the Master has given the sign and due-guard,
which does not take more than a minute, he says, "Brother, I now
present you with my right hand in token of brotherly love and
affection, and with it the pass-grip and word." The pass-grip is given
by pressing the thumb between the joints of the second and third
fingers, where they join the hand, and the word or name is TUBAL CAIN.
It is the pass-word to the Master's degree. The Master, after having
given the candidate the pass-grip and word, bids him rise and salute
the Junior and Senior Wardens, and convince them that he is an
obligated Master Mason, and is in possession of the pass-grip and
word. While the Wardens are examining the candidate, the Master
returns to the East and gets an apron, and as he returns to the
candidate, one of the Wardens (sometimes both) says to the Master,
"Worshipful, we are satisfied that Brother ---- is an obligated Master
Mason." The Master then says to the candidate, "Brother, I now have
the honor to present you with a lamb-skin, or white apron, as before,
which, I hope, you will continue to wear with credit to yourself, and
satisfaction and advantage to the brethren; you will please carry it
to the Senior Warden in the West, who will teach you how to wear it as
a Master Mason."
The Senior Warden ties on his apron, and lets the flap fall down
before in its natural and common situation.
The Master returns to his seat, and the candidate is conducted to him.
Master to candidate, "Brother, I perceive you are dressed; it is, of
course, necessary you should have tools to work with; I will now
present you with the working tools of a Master Mason, and explain
their uses to you. The working tools of a Master Mason are all the
implements of Masonry indiscriminately, but more especially the
Trowel. The Trowel is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to
spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass; but
we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the
more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly
love and affection; that cement which unites us into one sacred band
or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should
ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who can
best work, or best agree. I also present you with three precious
jewels; their names are Humanity, Friendship, and Brotherly Love.
Brother, you are not yet invested with all the secrets of this degree,
nor do I know whether you ever will, until I know how you withstand
the amazing trials and dangers that await you. You are now about to
travel to give us a specimen of your fortitude, perseverance, and
fidelity, in the preservation of what you have already received; fare
you well, and may the Lord be with you, and support you through your
trials and difficulties." [In some Lodges they make him pray before he
starts.] The candidate is then conducted out of the Lodge, clothed,
and returns; as he enters the door, his conductor says to him,
"Brother, we are now in a place representing the SANCTUM SANCTORUM, or
HOLY OF HOLIES, of King Solomon's Temple. It was the custom of our
Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, every day at high twelve, when the crafts
were from labor to refreshment, to enter into the sanctum sanctorum
and offer up his devotions to the ever living God. Let us, in
imitation of him, kneel and pray." They then kneel, and the conductor
says the following prayer:
"Thou, O God, knowest our downsitting and uprising, and
understandest our thoughts afar off; shield and defend us from the
evil intentions of our enemies, and support us under the trials
and afflictions we are destined to endure while traveling through
this vale of tears. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and
full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he
fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Seeing his days are
determined, the number of his months are with Thee: Thou hast
appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; turn from him, that he
may rest till he shall accomplish his day. For there is hope of a
tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the
tender branch thereof will not cease. But man dieth and wasteth
away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters
fail from the sea, and flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth
down and riseth not up till the heavens shall be no more. Yet, O
Lord! have compassion on the children of Thy creation; administer
unto them comfort in time of trouble, and save them with an
everlasting salvation. Amen. So mote it be."
They then rise, and the conductor says to the candidate, "Brother, in
further imitation of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, let us retire at
the South gate." They then advance to the Junior Warden (who
represents JUBELA, one of the ruffians), who exclaims, "Who comes
here?" [The room is dark, or the candidate hoodwinked.] The conductor
answers, "Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff." "Our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff!" exclaims the ruffian, "he is the very man I wanted to see
(seizing the candidate by the throat at the same time, and jerking him
about with violence); give me the Master Mason's word, or I'll take
your life." The conductor replies, "I cannot give it now, but if you
will wait till the Grand Lodge assembles at Jerusalem, if you are
worthy, you shall then receive it, otherwise you cannot." The ruffian
then gives the candidate a blow with the twenty-four-inch gauge across
the throat, on which he fled to the West gate, where he was accosted
by the second ruffian, JUBELO, with more violence, and on his
refusing to comply with his request, he gave him a severe blow with
the Square across his breast; on which he attempted to make his escape
at the East gate, where he was accosted by the third ruffian, JUBELUM,
with still more violence, and refusing to comply with his request, the
ruffian gave him a violent blow with the common gavel on the forehead,
which brought him to the floor, on which one of them exclaimed, "What
shall we do, we have killed our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff?" Another
answers, "Let us carry him out at the East gate and bury him in the
rubbish till low twelve, and then meet and carry him a westerly course
and bury him." The candidate is then taken up in a blanket, on which
he fell, and carried to the West end of the Lodge, and covered up and
left; by this time the Master has resumed his seat (King Solomon is
supposed to arrive at the Temple at this juncture), and calls to
order, and asks the Senior Warden the cause of all that confusion; the
Senior Warden answers, "Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, is missing, and
there are no plans or designs laid down on the Tressle-Board for the
crafts to pursue their labor." The Master, alias King Solomon,
replies, "Our Grand Master missing; our Grand Master has always been
very punctual in his attendance; I fear he is indisposed; assemble the
crafts, and search in and about the Temple, and see if he can be
found." They all shuffle about the floor a while, when the Master
calls them to order, and asks the Senior Warden, "What success?" He
answers, "We cannot find our Grand Master, my Lord." The Master then
orders the Secretary to call the roll of workmen, and see whether any
of them are missing. The Secretary calls the roll, and says, "I have
called the roll, my Lord, and find that there are three missing, viz.:
JUBELA, JUBELO and JUBELUM." His Lordship then observes, "This brings
to my mind a circumstance that took place this morning--twelve Fellow
Crafts, clothed in white gloves and aprons, in token of their
innocence, came to me and confessed that they twelve, with three
others, had conspired to extort the Master Mason's word from their
Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, and in case of refusal to take his life;
they twelve had recanted, but feared the other three had been base
enough to carry their atrocious designs into execution." Solomon then
ordered twelve Fellow Crafts to be drawn from the bands of the
workmen, clothed in white aprons, in token of their Innocence, and
sent three East, three West, three North, and three South, in search
of the ruffians, and, if found, to bring them forward. Here the
members all shuffle about the floor awhile, and fall in with a reputed
traveler, and inquire of him if he had seen any traveling men that
way; he tells them that he had seen three that morning near the coast
of Joppa, who from their dress and appearance were Jews, and were
workmen from the Temple, inquiring for a passage to Ethiopia, but were
unable to obtain one, in consequence of an embargo which had recently
been laid on all the shipping, and had turned back into the country.
The Master now calls them to order again, and asks the Senior Warden,
"What success?" He answers by relating what had taken place. Solomon
observes, "I had this embargo laid to prevent the ruffians from making
their escape;" and adds, "you will go and search again, and search
till you find them, if possible; and if they are not found, the twelve
who confessed shall be considered as the reputed murderers, and suffer
accordingly." The members all start again, and shuffle about awhile,
until one of them, as if by accident, finds the body of Hiram Abiff,
alias the candidate and hails his traveling companions, who join him,
and while they are humming out something over the candidate, the three
reputed ruffians, who are seated in a private corner near the
candidate, are heard to exclaim in the following manner--first,
JUBELA, "O that my throat had been cut across, my tongue torn out, and
my body buried in the rough sands of the sea at low-water mark, where
the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, ere I had been
accessory to the death of so good a man as our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff."
The second, JUBELO, "O that my left breast had been torn open, and my
heart and vitals taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder,
carried into the valley of Jehosaphat, and there to become a prey to
the wild beasts of the field, and vultures of the air, ere I had
conspired the death of so good a man as our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff."
The third, JUBELUM, "O that my body had been severed in two in the
midst, and divided to the North and South, my bowels burnt to ashes in
the centre, and the ashes scattered by the four winds of heaven, that
there might not the least track or trace of remembrance remain among
men or Masons of so vile and perjured a wretch as I am. Ah, JUBELA and
JUBELO, it was I that struck him harder than you both--it was I that
gave him the fatal blow--it was I that killed him outright."
The three Fellow Crafts who had stood by the candidate all this time
listening to the ruffians, whose voices they recognized, says one to
the other, "What shall we do, there are three of them, and only three
of us?" "It is," said one in reply, "our cause is good, let us seize
them;" on which they rush forward, and carry them to the Master, to
whom they relate what had passed. The Master then addresses them in
the following manner (they in many Lodges kneel, or lie down, in token
of their guilt and penitence): "Well, JUBELA, what have you got to say
for yourself--guilty or not guilty?" A. "Guilty, my Lord." "JUBELO,
guilty or not guilty?" A. "Guilty, my Lord." "JUBELUM, guilty or not
guilty?" A. "Guilty, my Lord." The Master to the three Fellow Crafts
who took them, "Take them without the West gate of the Temple, and
have them executed according to the several imprecations of their own
mouths." They are then hurried off to the West end of the room. Here
this part of the farce ends. The Master then orders fifteen Fellow
Crafts to be elected from the bands of the workmen, and sent three
East, three West, three North, three South; and three in and about the
Temple, in search of their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff [In some Lodges
they only send twelve, when their own Lectures say fifteen were sent],
and charges them if they find the body, to examine carefully on and
about it for the Master's word, or a key to it. The three that
traveled a Westerly course come to the candidate and finger about him
a little, and are called to order by the Master, when they report that
they have found the grave of their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, and, on
moving the earth till they came to the body, they involuntarily found
their hands raised in this position [showing it at the same time; it
is the due-guard of this degree], to guard their nostrils against the
offensive affluvia which arose from the grave; and that they had
searched carefully on and about the body for the Master's word, but
had not discovered anything but a faint resemblance of the letter G on
the left breast. The Master, on the receipt of this information
(raising himself), raises his hand three several times above his head
(as herein before described), and exclaims twice, "Nothing but a faint
resemblance of the letter G! that is not the Master's word, nor a key
to it, I fear the Master's word is forever lost!" [The third
exclamation is different from the others--attend to it; it has been
described in pages 40 and 41.] "Nothing but a faint resemblance of the
letter G! that is not the Master's word, nor a key to it." "O Lord, my
God, is there no help for the widow's son?" The Master then orders the
Junior Warden to summon a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, and
repair to the grave to raise the body of their Grand Master, by the
Entered Apprentice's grip. They go to the candidate and take hold of
his forefinger and pull it, and return and tell the Master that they
could not raise him by the Entered Apprentice's grip; that the skin
cleaved from the bone. A Lodge of Fellow Crafts are then sent, who act
as before, except that they pull the candidate's second finger. The
Master then directs the Senior Warden [generally] to summon a Lodge of
Master Masons, and says, "I will go with them myself in person, and
try to raise the body by the Master's grip, or lion's paw." [Some say
by the strong grip, or the lion's paw.] They then all assemble around
the candidate, the Master having declared the first word spoken after
the body was raised, should be adopted as a substitute for the
Master's word, for the government of Master Mason's Lodges in all
future generations; he proceeds to raise the candidate, alias the
representative of the dead body of Hiram Abiff. He [the candidate] is
raised on what is called the five points of fellowship, which are foot
to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to
ear. This is done by putting the inside of your right foot to the
inside of the right foot of the person to whom you are going to give
the word, the inside of your knee to his, laying your right breast
against his, your left hands on the back of each other, and your
mouths to each other's right ear [in which position you are alone
permitted to give the word], and whisper the word MAH-HAH-BONE. The
Master's grip is given by taking hold of each other's right hand, as
though you were going to shake hands, and sticking the nails of each
of your fingers into the joint of the other's wrist, where it unites
with the hand. In this position the candidate is raised, he keeping
his whole body stiff, as though dead. The Master, in raising him, is
assisted by some of the brethren, who take hold of the candidate by
the arms and shoulders. As soon as he is raised to his feet they step
back, and the Master whispers the word MAH-HAH-BONE in his ear, and
causes the candidate to repeat it, telling him at the same time that
he must never give it in any manner other than that in which he
receives it. He is also told that MAH-HAH-BONE signifies marrow in
the bone. They then separate, and the Master makes the following
explanation respecting the five points of fellowship. Master to
candidate, "Brother, foot to foot teaches you that you should,
whenever asked, go on a brother's errand, if within the length of your
cable-tow, even if you should have to go barefoot and bareheaded. Knee
to knee, that you should always remember a Master Mason in your
devotion to Almighty God. Breast to breast, that you should keep the
Master Mason's secrets, when given to you in charge as such, as secure
and inviolable in your breast, as they were in his own, before
communicated to you. Hand to back, that you should support a Master
Mason behind his back, as well as before his face. Mouth to ear, that
you should support his good name as well behind his back as before his
face."
After the candidate is through with what is called the work part, the
Master addresses him in the following manner: "Brother, you may
suppose from the manner you have been dealt with to-night, that we
have been fooling with you, or that we have treated you different from
others, but I assure you that is not the case. You have, this night,
represented one of the greatest men that ever lived, in the tragical
catastrophe of his death, burial, and resurrection; I mean Hiram
Abiff, the widow's son, who was slain by three ruffians at the
building of King Solomon's Temple, and who, in his inflexibility,
integrity, and fortitude, never was surpassed by man. The history of
that momentous event is thus related. Masonic tradition informs us
that at the building of King Solomon's Temple, fifteen Fellow Crafts
discovering that the Temple was almost finished, and not having the
Master Mason's word, became very impatient, and entered into a horrid
conspiracy to extort the Master Mason's word from their Grand Master,
Hiram Abiff, the first time they met him alone, or take his life, that
they might pass as Masters in other countries, and receive wages as
such; but before they could accomplish their designs, twelve of them
recanted, but the other three were base enough to carry their
atrocious designs into execution. Their names were JUBELA, JUBELO, and
JUBELUM.
"It was the custom of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, every day at high
twelve, when the crafts were from labor to refreshment, to enter into
the sanctum sanctorum, and offer his devotions to the ever living God,
and draw out his plans and designs on the Tressle-Board for the crafts
to pursue their labor. On a certain day (not named in any of our
traditional accounts), JUBELA, JUBELO and JUBELUM placed themselves at
the South, West, and East gates of the Temple, and Hiram having
finished his devotions and labor, attempted (as was his usual custom)
to retire at the South gate, where he was met by JUBELA, who demanded
of him the Master Mason's word (some say the secrets of a Master
Mason), and on his refusal to give it, JUBELA gave him a violent blow
with a twenty-four-inch gauge across the throat; on which Hiram fled
to the West gate, where he was accosted in the same manner by JUBELO,
but with more violence. Hiram told him that he could not give the word
then, because Solomon, King of Israel, Hiram, King of Tyre, and
himself had entered into a solemn league that the word never should be
given, unless they three were present; but if he would have patience
till the Grand Lodge assembled at Jerusalem, if he was then found
worthy he should then receive it, otherwise he could not; JUBELO
replied in a very peremptory manner, "If you do not give me the
Master's word, I'll take your life;" and on Hiram's refusing to give
it, JUBELO gave him a severe blow with the Square across the left
breast, on which he fled to the East gate, where he was accosted by
JUBELUM, in the same manner, but with still more violence. Here Hiram
reasoned as before; JUBELUM told him that he had heard his caviling
with JUBELA and JUBELO long enough, and that the Master's word had
been promised to him from time to time for a long time; that he was
still put off, and that the Temple was almost finished, and he was
determined to have the word or take his life. "I want it so that I may
be able to get wages as a Master Mason in any country to which I may
go for employ, after the Temple is finished, and that I may be able to
support my wife and children." Hiram persisting in his refusal, he
gave Hiram a violent blow with the gavel on the forehead, which felled
him to the floor and killed him; they took the body and carried it out
of the West gate, and buried it in the rubbish till low twelve at
night (which is twelve o'clock), when they three met agreeably to
appointment, and carried the body a westerly course, and buried it at
the brow of a hill, in a grave, dug due East and West, six feet
perpendicular, and made their escape. King Solomon coming up to the
Temple at low six in the morning (as was his usual custom), found the
crafts all in confusion, and on inquiring the cause, was informed that
their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, was missing, and there was no plans
or designs laid down on the Tressle-Board, for the crafts to pursue
their labor. Solomon ordered search to be made inland about the Temple
for him; no discovery being made, he then ordered the Secretary to
call the roll of workmen to see if any were missing; it appearing that
there were three, viz.: JUBELA, JUBELO and JUBELUM, Solomon observed,
"This brings to my mind a circumstance that took place this morning.
Twelve Fellow Crafts came to me, dressed in white gloves and aprons,
in token of their innocence, and confessed that they twelve, with
three others, had conspired to extort the Master Mason's word from
their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, and in case of his refusal to take
his life; they twelve had recanted, but feared the three others had
been base enough to carry their atrocious designs into execution."
Solomon immediately ordered twelve Fellow Crafts to be selected from
the bands of the workmen, clothed in white gloves and aprons, in token
of their innocence, and sent three East, three West, three North, and
three South, in search of the ruffians, and, if found, to bring them
up before him. The three that traveled a westerly course, coming near
the coast of Joppa, fell in with a wayfaring man, who informed them
that he had seen three men pass that way that morning, who, from their
appearance and dress, were workmen from the Temple, inquiring for a
passage to Ethiopia, but were unable to obtain one, in consequence of
an embargo which had recently been laid on all the shipping, and had
turned back into the country. After making further and more diligent
search, and making no further discovery, they returned to the Temple
and reported to Solomon the result of their pursuit and inquiries. On
which Solomon directed them to go again, and search until they found
their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, if possible; and if he was not found,
the twelve who had confessed should be considered as the murderers,
and suffer accordingly.
They returned again in pursuit of the ruffians, and one of the three
that traveled a westerly course, being more weary than the rest, sat
down at the brow of a hill to rest and refresh himself; and, in
attempting to rise, caught hold of a sprig of cassia, which easily
gave, and excited his curiosity, and made him suspicious of a
deception; on which he hailed his companions, who immediately
assembled, and, on examination, found that the earth had been recently
moved; and on moving the rubbish, discovered the appearance of the
grave, and while they were confabulating about what measures to take,
they heard voices issuing from a cavern in the clefts of the rocks, on
which they immediately repaired to the place, where they heard the
voice of JUBELA exclaim: "O that my throat had been cut across, my
tongue torn out, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea at
low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four
hours, ere I had been accessory to the death of so good a man as our
Grand Master, Hiram Abiff"--on which they distinctly heard the voice
of JUBELO exclaim, "O that my left breast had been torn open, and my
heart and vitals taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder,
carried into the valley of Jehosaphat, there to become a prey to the
wild beasts of the field, and vultures of the air, ere I had conspired
to take the life of so good a man as our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff"--when they more distinctly heard the voice of JUBELUM exclaim,
"O that my body had been severed in two in the midst, and divided to
the North and the South, my bowels burnt to ashes in the centre, and
the ashes scattered by the four winds of heaven, that there might not
remain the least trace of remembrance among men or Masons of so vile
and perjured a wretch as I am, who wilfully took the life of so good a
man as our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff. Ah, JUBELA and JUBELO, it was I
that struck him harder than you both--it was I that gave him the fatal
blow--it was I that killed him outright!" on which they rushed
forward, seized, bound, and carried them before King Solomon, who,
after hearing the testimony of the three Fellow Crafts, and the three
ruffians having pleaded guilty, order them to be taken out at the West
gate of the Temple, and executed agreeably to the several imprecations
of their own mouths. King Solomon then ordered fifteen Fellow Crafts
to be elected from the bands of the workmen, clothed with white gloves
and aprons, in token of their innocence, and sent three East, three
West, three North, three South; and three in and about the Temple, in
search of the body of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff; and the three
that traveled a westerly course found it under a sprig of cassia,
where a worthy brother sat down to rest and refresh himself; and on
removing the earth till they came to the coffin, they involuntarily
found their hands raised, as hereinbefore described, to guard their
nostrils against the offensive effluvia that 'rose from the grave. It
is also said that the body had lain there fourteen days; some say
fifteen.
The body was raised in the manner herein before described, carried up
to the Temple, and buried as explained in the closing clauses of the
Lecture. Not one-third part of the preceding history of this degree is
ever given to a candidate. A few general, desultory, unconnected
remarks are made to him, and he is generally referred to the manner of
raising, and to the Lecture, for information as to the particulars.
Here follows a charge which ought to be, and sometimes is, delivered
to the candidate after hearing the history of the degree.
* * * * *
AN ADDRESS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE CANDIDATE AFTER THE HISTORY HAS
BEEN GIVEN.
"Brother, your zeal for the institution of Masonry, the progress
you have made in the mystery, and your conformity to our
regulations, have pointed you out as a proper object of our favor
and esteem.
"You are bound by duty, honor, and gratitude to be faithful to
your trust; to support the dignity of your character on every
occasion; and to enforce, by precept and example, obedience to the
tenets of the Order.
"In the character of a Master Mason you are authorized to correct
the errors and irregularities of your uninformed brethren, and to
guard them against a breach of fidelity.
"To preserve the reputation of the fraternity unsullied, must be
your constant care, and for this purpose, it is your province to
recommend to your inferiors, obedience and submission; to your
equals, courtesy and affability; to your superiors, kindness and
condescension. Universal benevolence you are always to inculcate;
and, by the regularity of your own behavior, afford the best
example for the conduct of others less informed. The ancient
landmarks of the Order, entrusted to your care, you are carefully
to preserve; and never suffer them to be infringed, or countenance
a deviation from the established usages and customs of the
fraternity.
"Your virtue, honor, and reputation are concerned in supporting,
with dignity, the character you now bear. Let no motive,
therefore, make you swerve from your duty, violate your vow, or
betray your trust: but be true and faithful, and imitate the
example of that celebrated artist whom you this evening represent:
thus you will render yourself deserving the honor which we have
conferred, and merit the confidence that we have reposed."
Here follows the Lecture on this degree, which is divided into three
sections.
* * * * *