Question--Are you a Master Mason? Answer--I am; try me; disprove me if
you can.
Q. Where were you prepared to be made a Master Mason? A. In a room
adjacent to the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such,
duly assembled in a room, representing the SANCTUM SANCTORUM, or HOLY
OF HOLIES, of King Solomon's Temple.
Q. How were you prepared? A. By being divested of all metals; neither
naked nor clothed; barefooted nor shod; with a cable-tow three times
about my naked body; in which posture I was conducted to the door of
the Lodge, where I gave three distinct knocks.
Q. What did those three distinct knocks allude to? A. To the third
degree in Masonry; it being that on which I was about to enter.
Q. What was said to you from within? A. Who comes there? Who comes
there? Who comes there?
Q. Your answer? A. 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.
Q. What further was said to you from within? A. I was asked if it was
of my own free will and accord I made this request; if I was duly and
truly prepared; worthy and well qualified; and had made suitable
proficiency in the preceding degree; all of which being answered in
the affirmative, I was asked by what further rights I expected to
obtain that benefit.
Q. Your answer? A. By the benefit of a pass-word.
Q. What was that pass-word? A. TUBAL CAIN.
Q. What was next said to you? A. I was bid to wait till the Worshipful
Master in the East was made acquainted with my request, and his answer
returned.
Q. After his answer was returned, what followed? A. I was caused to
enter the Lodge on the two extreme points of the Compass pressing my
right and left breasts, in the name of the Lord.
Q. How were you then disposed of? A. I was conducted three times
regularly around the Lodge and halted at the Junior Warden in the
South, where the same questions were asked and answers returned, as at
the door.
Q. How did the Junior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be
conducted to the Senior Warden in the West, where the same questions
were asked and answers returned as before.
Q. How did the Senior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be
conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East, where the same
questions were asked, and answers returned as before; who likewise
demanded of me from whence I came, and whither I was traveling.
Q. Your answer? A. From the West, and traveling to the East.
Q. Why do you leave the West and travel to the East? A. In search of
light.
Q. How did the Worshipful Master dispose of you? A. He ordered me to
be conducted back to the West, from whence I came, and put in care of
the Senior Warden, who taught me how to approach the East, by
advancing upon three upright regular steps to the third step, my feet
forming a square, and my body erect at the altar before the Worshipful
Master.
Q. What did the Worshipful Master do with you? A. He made an obligated
Master Mason of me.
Q. How? A. In due form.
Q. What was that due form? A. Both my knees bare bent, they forming a
square; both hands on the Holy Bible, Square, and Compass; in which
posture I took upon me the solemn oath or obligation of a true Master
Mason.
Q. After your obligation, what was said to you? A. What do you most
desire.
Q. Your answer? A. More light. [The bandage around the head is now
dropped over the eyes.]
Q. Did you receive light? A. I did.
Q. On being brought to light on this degree, what did you first
discover? A. Three great lights in Masonry, by the assistance of three
less, and both points of the Compass elevated above the Square, which
denoted to me that I had received, or was about to receive, all the
light that could be conferred on me in a Master's Lodge.
Q. What did you next discover? A. The Worshipful Master approaching me
from the East, under the sign and due-guard of a Master Mason, who
presented me with his right hand in token of brotherly love and
confidence, and proceeded to give me the pass-grip and word of a
Master Mason [the word is the name of the pass-grip], and bid me rise
and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens, and convince them that I was
an obligated Master Mason, and had the sign, pass-grip, and word
(TUBAL CAIN).
Q. What did you next discover? A. The Worshipful Master approaching me
a second time from the East, who presented me with a lamb-skin, or
white apron, which, he said, he hoped I would continue to wear with
honor to myself, and satisfaction and advantage to the brethren.
Q. What were you next presented with? A. The working tools of a Master
Mason.
Q. What are they? A. All the implements of Masonry indiscriminately,
but more especially the Trowel.
Q. How explained? A. 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 purposes of spreading the
cement of brotherly love and affection; that cement which unites us
into one sacred band, or society of brothers, among whom no contention
should ever exist, but that noble emulation of who can best work, or
best agree.
Q. What were you next presented with? A. Three precious jewels.
Q. What are they? A. Humanity, Friendship, and Brotherly Love.
Q. How were you then disposed of? A. I was conducted out of the Lodge,
and invested of what I had been divested, and returned again in due
season.
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