One rap calls the Lodge to order; one calls up the Junior and Senior
Deacons; two raps call up the subordinate officers; and three, all the
members of the Lodge. The Right Worshipful Master having called the
Lodge to order, and all being seated, the Right Worshipful Master says
to the Junior Warden, "Brother Junior, are they all Mark Master Masons
in the South?" Junior Warden answers, "They are, Right Worshipful." R.
W. M.--"I thank you, brother." R. W. M.--"Brother Senior, are they all
Mark Master Masons in the West?" Senior Warden--"They are, Right
Worshipful." R. W. M.--"They are in the East." At the same time gives
a rap with the mallet which calls up both Deacons. R. W. M.--"Brother
Junior, the first care of a Mason?" "To see the Lodge tyled, Right
Worshipful." R. W. M.--"Attend to that part of the duty, and inform
the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Mark Master Masons, and
direct him to tyle accordingly." Junior Deacon steps to the door and
gives four raps, which are answered by four without by the Tyler; the
Junior Deacon then gives one, which is answered by the Tyler with one;
the door is then partly opened, and the Junior Deacon then delivers
his message and resumes his station, gives the due-guard of a Mark
Master Mason, and says, "The door is tyled, Right Worshipful." R. W.
M.--"By whom?" J. D.--"By a Mark Master Mason without the door, armed
with the proper implements of his office." R. W. M.--"His duty there?"
J. D.--"To keep off all cowans and eavesdroppers, see that none pass
or repass without permission from the Right Worshipful Master." R. W.
M.--"Brother Junior, your place in the Lodge?" J. D.--"At the right
hand of the Senior Warden in the West." R. W. M.--"Your business
there, Brother Junior?" J. D.--"To wait on the Right Worshipful Master
and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge, and
take care of the door." R. W. M.--"The Senior Deacon's place in the
Lodge?" J. D.--"At the right hand of the Worshipful Master in the
East." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother." He then gives two raps with
the mallet, and the subordinate officers rise. R. W. M.--"Your duty
there, Brother Senior?" S. D.--"To wait on the Right Worshipful Master
and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge,
attend to the preparation and introduction of candidates, and welcome
and clothe all visiting brethren." R. W. M.--"The Secretary's place in
the Lodge, Brother Junior?" J. D.--"At the right hand of the
Worshipful Master in the East." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your
duty there, Brother Secretary?" Sec.--"The better to observe the Right
Worshipful Master's will and pleasure; record the proceedings of the
Lodge; transmit the same to the Grand Lodge, if required; receive all
monies and money-bills from the hands of the brethren, pay them over
to the Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same." R. W. M.--"The
Treasurer's place in the Lodge?" Sec.--"At the right hand of the Right
Worshipful Master." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your duty there,
Brother Treasurer?" Treasurer--"Duly to observe the Right Worshipful
Master's will and pleasure; receive all monies and money-bills from
the hands of the Secretary; give a receipt for the same; keep a just
and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the Right
Worshipful Master and consent of the brethren." R. W. M.--"The Junior
Overseer's place in the Lodge, Brother Treasurer?" Treas.--"At the
right hand of the Junior Warden in the South, Right Worshipful." R. W.
M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Junior
Overseer?" J. O.--"To inspect all material brought up for the building
of the Temple; approve or disapprove of the same; and, if approved,
pass it on to the Senior Overseer for further inspection." R. W.
M.--"The Senior Overseer's place in the Lodge?" J. O.--"At the right
hand of the Senior Warden in the West, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I
thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Senior Overseer?" S.
O.--"To inspect all materials brought up for the building of the
Temple; and, if approved, pass it on to the Master Overseer at the
East gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"The Master Overseer's
place in the Lodge, Brother Senior Overseer?" S. O.--"At the right
hand of the Right Worshipful Master in the East." R. W. M.--"I thank
you, brother. Your business there, Brother Master Overseer?" M.
O.--"To assist in the inspection of all materials brought up for the
building of the Temple; and if disapproved, to call a council of my
brother Overseers." R. W. M.--"The Junior Warden's place in the Lodge,
Brother Master Overseer?" M. O.--"In the South, Right Worshipful." R.
W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Junior?" J.
W.--"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 Right Worshipful Master may have
honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby." R. W. M.--"The Senior
Warden's place in the Lodge?" J. W.--"In the West, Right Worshipful."
R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your duty there, Brother Senior?" S.
W.--"As the sun sets in the West to close the day, so stands the
Senior Warden in the West, to assist the Right Worshipful 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." R. W. M.--"The Master's place in the
Lodge?" S. W.--"In the East, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"His duty
there?" S. W.--"As the sun rises in the East to open and adorn the
day, so presides the Right Worshipful Master in the East to open and
adorn his Lodge, set his crafts to work, and govern them with good and
wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done." R. W. M.--"I thank you,
brother." Gives three raps with the mallet, which calls up all the
brethren, takes off his hat and says, "In like manner, so do I,
strictly prohibiting 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 enjoin, or a majority of the brethren
present may see cause to inflict. Brethren, attend to giving the
signs." The Right Worshipful 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 transversely across his
left, the palms thereof about an inch apart. This is called the first
sign of a Mason--is the sign of distress in the first degree, and
alludes to the position a candidate's hands are placed when he takes
the obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason; he then draws his right
hand across his throat, the hand open, with his thumb next his throat,
drops it down by his side. This is called the due-guard of an Entered
Apprentice Mason, and alludes to the penal part of the obligation.
Next he places the palm of his open right hand upon his left breast,
and, at the same time, throws up his left hand, and so extends his
left arm as to form a right angle; from the shoulder to the elbow it
is horizontal, from the elbow to the tip of the finger it is
perpendicular. This is the sign and due-guard of a Fellow Craft Mason,
and also alludes to the penal part of the obligation, which is
administered in this degree. After this, the Right Worshipful Master
draws his right hand across his bowels, with his hand open, and thumb
next his body, and drops it down by his side. This is the sign or
due-guard of a Master Mason, and, like the others, alludes to the
penalty of this degree. He then throws up the grand hailing sign of
distress; this is given by raising both hands and arms to the elbow,
perpendicularly, one on each side of the head, the elbows forming a
square, his arms then drop by his side; he then clutches the third and
little fingers of his right hand; with his thumb extended at the same
time, his middle and forefingers, brings up his hand in such a manner
as to have the side of the middle finger touch the rim of the right
ear, then lets it drop, and, as it falls, brings the outward side of
the little finger of the left hand across the wrist of the right, then
lets them fall by his sides. This is the sign or due-guard of a Mark
Master Mason, and also alludes to the penal part of the obligation in
this degree. Here it is proper to remark that in the opening of any
Lodge of Masons, they commence giving the signs of an Entered
Apprentice, and go through all the signs of the different degrees, in
regular gradation, until they arrive to the one which they are
opening, and commence at the sign of the degree in which they are at
work, and descend to the last when closing. After going through all
the signs, as before described, the Right Worshipful Master declares
the Lodge opened in the following manner: "I now declare this Lodge of
Mark Master Masons duly opened for the dispatch of business." The
Senior Warden declares it to the Junior Warden, and he to the
brethren. The Right Worshipful Master then repeats a charge:
"Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice and guile," &c., &c.
The Lodge being opened and ready for business, the Right Worshipful
Master directs the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting,
which generally brings to view the business of the present. If there
are any candidates to be brought forward, that is generally the first
business. A Master Mason, wishing for further light in Masonry, sends
a petition to the Chapter, and requests to be advanced to the honorary
degree of Mark Master Mason; if there is no serious objection to the
petition, it is entered on the minutes, and a committee of several
appointed to inquire into his character, and report to the next
regular communication: at that time, if the committee report in his
favor, and no serious objection is made against him otherwise, a
motion is made that the ballot pass; if carried, the Deacons pass the
ballot boxes; these boxes are the same as in the preceding degrees.
When the balls are received, the box is presented to the Right
Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens. R. W. M.--"Clear in the
West, Brother Senior?" S. W.--"Clear, Right Worshipful." R. W.
M.--"Clear in the South, Brother Junior?" J. W.--"Clear, Right
Worshipful." Right Worshipful Master says, "Clear in the East." This
being the case, the candidate is accepted; but if there is one black
ball in that end of the box which has the white tube, and the Senior
Warden pronouncing "Not clear," all stop, and inquiry is made, and the
ballot passes again; and, if blacked a third time, the candidate is
rejected. It being otherwise, the Senior Deacon, who is the
candidate's conductor, passes out of the Lodge into the adjoining
room, where the candidate is in waiting, and there the conductor is
furnished with a small oblong square, six inches long; the candidate
is presented with a large white marble keystone, weighing, probably,
twenty pounds, and is ordered, by his conductor, to take it by the
little end, between his first and second fingers and thumb of his
right hand. The door is then opened without ceremony, and they pass
directly to the Junior Overseer's station at the South gate, which is
nothing more than the Junior Warden's seat, and the conductor gives
four raps, with his block of timber, on a pedestal in front of the
Junior Overseer's station. J. O.--"Who comes here?" Cond.--"Two
brother Fellow Crafts, with materials for the Temple." J. O.--"Have
you a specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have." J. O.--"Present it."
The conductor then presents the piece of timber before described; the
Junior Overseer receives it, and applies a small trying square to its
different angles, and they agreeing with the angles of the square, he
says, "This is good work, square work, such work as we are authorized
to receive." Returns the block of timber, and turning his eye upon the
candidate, asks, "Who is this you have with you?" Cond.--"A brother
Fellow Craft." J. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I
have." J. O.--"Present it." The candidate then presents the keystone;
the Junior Overseer receives it, and applies his square to all its
angles, and they not agreeing with the angles of the square, he says,
"What have you here, brother? this is neither an oblong nor a square,
neither has it the regular mark of the craft upon it, but from its
singular form and beauty, I am unwilling to reject it; pass on to the
Senior Overseer at the West gate for further inspection." They then
pass on to the Senior Overseer's station at the West gate, which is
the Senior Warden's seat, and give four raps, as before, on the
pedestal which stands in front of the Senior Overseer. S. O.--"Who
comes here?" Cond.--"Two brother Fellow Crafts, with materials for the
Temple." S. O.--"Have you a specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have."
S. O.--"Present it." The conductor, as before, presents the block of
timber; the Senior Overseer applies his square to it, and finding it
agrees with the angles of his square, says, "This is good work, square
work, such work as we are authorized to receive; who is this you have
with you?" Cond.--"A brother Fellow Craft." S. O.--"Have you a
specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I have." S. O.--"Present it." The
candidate then presents the keystone, and he applies it, but not
fitting, he says, "This is neither an oblong nor a square, neither has
it the regular mark of the craft upon it; it is a curious wrought
stone, and on account of its singular form and beauty, I am unwilling
to reject it; pass on to the Master Overseer at the East gate for
further inspection." They pass to to his station at the East gate, and
give four raps. M. O.--"Who comes here?" Cond.--"Two brethren, Fellow
Crafts, with their materials for the Temple." M. O.--"Have you a
specimen of your labor?" Cond.--"I have." M. O.--"Present it." The
conductor presents his billet of wood to him, applies his square to
it, and, like the other Overseers, says, "This is good work, square
work, such work as we are authorized to receive; who is this you have
with you?" Cond.--"A brother Fellow Craft." M. O.--"Have you a
specimen of your labor?" Cand.--"I have." M. O.--"Present it." [It
ought here to be remarked that when the candidate is presented with
the keystone, and takes it between his thumb and two fingers, it hangs
suspended by his side, and he is requested to carry his work plumb,
and the conductor taking good care to see that he does it, by the time
he arrives at the Master Overseer's station at the East gate, and when
the Master Overseer says "Present it," the candidate is extremely
willing to hand over the keystone to him for inspection; for, by this
time, it becomes very painful to hold any longer the stone which he
has in charge.] The Master Overseer having received the keystone, he
applies his square to the different angles of it, and, being found not
to be square, he, like the other Overseers, says, "This is neither an
oblong nor a square, neither has it the regular mark of the craft upon
it." He then looks sternly upon the candidate and demands, "Is this
your work?" Cand.--"It is not." M. O.--"Is this your mark?" Cand.--"It
is not." M. O.--"Where did you get it?" Cond.--"I picked it up in the
quarry." M. O.--"Picked it up in the quarry? this explains the matter;
what! been loitering away your time this whole week, and now brought
up another man's work to impose upon the Grand Overseers! this
deserves the severest punishment. [Motions the candidate to stand.]
Brother Junior and Senior Overseers, here is work brought up for
inspection which demands a council." The Junior, Senior, and Master
Overseers then assemble in council. M. O., presenting the stone--"Did
a Fellow Craft present this to you for inspection, Brother Junior?" J.
O.--"A Fellow Craft came to my office and presented this stone for
inspection; I examined it, and found it was neither an oblong nor a
square, neither, had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but on
account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to reject it,
and ordered it to the Senior Overseer at the West gate for further
inspection." M. O.--"Brother Senior, was this stone presented to you
for inspection?" S. O.--"It was; I know of no use for it in the
Temple; I tried it with the square, and observed it was neither an
oblong nor a square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon
it; but on account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to
reject it, and, therefore, directed it to the Master Overseer at the
East gate for further inspection." M. O.--"It was also presented to me
for inspection, but I do not know of any use which it can be in the
building." S. O.--"I know of no use for it." J. O.--"I know of no use
for it." M. O.--"Brother Senior, what shall we do with it?" S.
O.--"Heave it over among the rubbish." The Master and Senior Overseers
then take the stone between them, and after waving it backward and
forward four times, they heave it over in such a manner that the one
letting go while the stone is arriving at the highest point, it brings
the stone in a quarterly direction over the other's left shoulder; the
Junior Overseer, being stationed in a suitable position, at this
moment receives the stone, and carries it away into the preparation
room. R. W. M.--"Brother Senior Warden, assemble the crafts to receive
wages." At this command the brethren all arise, and form a procession
single file; the candidate is placed at the head of the procession,
and when stationed, is told that "the last shall be first, and the
first last." The procession being formed, they commence singing the
following song: "Mark Masters all appear," &c., and, at the same time,
commence a circular march (against the course of the sun) around the
room, giving all the signs during their march, beginning with that of
Entered Apprentice, and ending at that of Mark Master. They are given
in the following manner: The first revolution each brother, when
opposite the Right Worshipful Master, gives the first sign in Masonry.
The second revolution, when opposite the Master, the second; and so
on, until they give all the signs to that of Mark Master. While the
ceremony is going on in the Lodge, the Senior Grand Warden procures a
sufficient number of cents and passes into the preparation room, and
opens a lattice window in the door which communicates to the Lodge
room, and when the craftsmen arrive to the Mark Master Mason's sign,
each of them, in their last revolution, puts his hand through the
window in the door and gives a token (this is given by shutting the
third and little fingers, extending the fore and middle fingers, and
placing the thumb over them in a suitable manner to receive the penny
or cent), and receives a penny or cent from the Senior Grand Warden.
Matters are so timed in the march, that when they come to that part of
the song which says, "Caution them to beware of the right hand," it
comes the turn of the candidate to put his hand through the aperture
of the door and receive his penny, but not being able to give the
token, he is detected as an impostor, and the Senior Grand Warden,
instead of giving him his penny, seizes him by the hand and draws his
arm full length through the door and holds him securely, exclaiming at
the same time, "An impostor! an impostor!" Others, who are in the room
with the Senior Grand Warden, cry out, "Chop off his hand! chop off
his hand!" At this moment the conductor steps to the candidate and
intercedes warmly in his behalf. Cond.--"Spare him! spare him!" S. G.
W.--"He is an impostor. He has attempted to receive wages without
being able to give the token. The penalty must be inflicted."
Cond.--"He is a brother Fellow Craft, and on condition that you will
release him, I will be responsible that he shall be taken before the
Right Worshipful Master, where all the circumstances shall be made
known, and, if he condemns him, I will see that the penalty is
inflicted." S. G. W.--"On these conditions, I release him." The
candidate is released, and taken before the Right Worshipful Master.
Cond.--"This young Fellow Craft has brought up work for inspection,
which was not his own, and has attempted to receive wages for it; he
was detected at the Senior Grand Warden's apartment as an impostor,
and I became responsible, on condition of his release, that he should
appear before the Right Worshipful, and if, after a fair trial, you
should pronounce him guilty, that I should see the penalty of an
impostor inflicted upon him." R. W. M.--"Brother Junior Overseer, did
this man bring up work to your station for inspection?" J. O.--"He
did. I inspected it, and observed that it was neither an oblong nor a
square, neither had it the regular mark of the craft upon it; but on
account of its singular form and beauty, I was unwilling to reject it;
therefore, I ordered it passed to the Senior Overseer's station at the
West gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"Brother Senior Overseer,
did this young man bring up work to you for inspection?" S. O.--"He
did; and I, for similar reasons offered by Brother Junior Overseer,
was unwilling to reject it, and ordered it passed on to the Master
Overseer at the East gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"Brother
Master Overseer, did this young man bring up work to you for
inspection?" M. O.--"He did. I inspected the work, and observed that
it was neither an oblong nor a square, neither had it the regular mark
of the craft upon it; I then asked him if it was his work. He admitted
that it was not. I asked him where he got it; he said he picked it up
in the quarry. I rebuked him severely for his attempt to impose upon
the Grand Overseers, and for loitering away his time, and then
bringing up another man's work for inspection. I then called a council
of my brother Overseers, and we, knowing no use for the work, hove it
over among the rubbish." R. W. M.--"Senior Grand Warden, did the young
man attempt to receive wages at your apartment?" S. G. W.--"He did,
and I detected him as an impostor, and was about to inflict the
penalty, but the conductor becoming responsible, that if I would
release him, he would see the impostor taken before the Right
Worshipful, and, if found guilty, that the penalty should be
inflicted, I released him." R. W. M.--"Young man, it appears that you
have been loitering away your time this whole week, and have now
brought up another man's work for inspection, to impose upon the Grand
Overseers, and what is more, you have attempted to receive wages for
labor which you never performed; conduct like this deserves prompt
punishment. The penalty of an impostor is that of having his right
hand chopped off. This young man appears as though he deserved a
better fate, and as though he might be serviceable in the building of
the Temple. Are you a Fellow Craft?" Cand.--"I am." R. W. M.--"Can you
give us any proof of it?" Candidate gives the sign of a Fellow Craft.
R. W. M.--"He is a Fellow Craft. Have you ever been taught how to
receive wages?" Cand.--"I have not." R. W. M.--"This serves, in a
measure, to mitigate his crime. If you are instructed how to receive
wages, will you do better in future, and never again attempt to impose
on the Grand Overseers, and, above all, never attempt to receive wages
for labor which you never performed." Cand.--"I will." R. W. M.--"The
penalty is remitted." The candidate is then taken into the preparation
room and divested of his outward apparel, and all money and valuables,
his breast bare, and a cable-tow four times around his body; in which
condition he is conducted to the door, when the conductor gives four
distinct knocks, upon the hearing of which the Senior Warden says to
the Right Worshipful, "While we are peaceably at work on the fourth
degree of Masonry, the door of our Lodge appears to be alarmed." R. W.
M.--"Brother Junior, see the cause of that alarm." The Junior Warden
then steps to the door and answers the alarm by four knocks, the
conductor and himself each giving another; the door is then partly
opened, and the Junior Warden then asks, "Who comes there?" Cond.--"A
worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered
Apprentice, served a proper time as such; passed to the degree of
Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason; and now
wishes further light in Masonry, by being advanced to the more
honorable degree of a Mark Master Mason." J. W.--"Is it of his own
free will and accord he makes this request?" Cond.--"It is." J.
W.--"Is he duly and truly prepared?" Cond.--"He is." J. W.--"Has he
wrought in the quarry, and exhibited specimens of his skill in the
preceding degrees?" Cond.--"He has." J. W.--"By what further right or
benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?" Cond.--"By the benefit
of a pass-word." J. W.--"Has he a pass-word?" Cond.--"He has not, but
I have it for him." J. W.--"Give it to me." Conductor whispers in his
ear, "JOPPA." J. W.--"The pass-word is right. You will let him wait
until the Right Worshipful Master is made acquainted with his request
and his answer returned." The Junior Warden returns him to the Right
Worshipful Master, where the same questions are asked and answers
returned, as at the door. The Right Worshipful Master then says,
"Since he comes endowed with the necessary qualifications, let him
enter in the name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters.
[Previous to the candidate's entering, one of the brethren, who is
best qualified for the station, is selected and furnished with an
engraving chisel and mallet, and placed near the door, so that when
the candidate enters, it is on the edge of an engraving chisel, under
the pressure of the mallet. As this is the business of no particular
officer, we have, for convenience, styled him executioner.] Brother,
it becomes my duty to put a mark on you, and such a one, too, as you
will probably carry to your grave." Places the edge of the chisel near
his left breast and makes several motions with the mallet, as though
he was about to strike upon the head of the chisel. Executioner--"This
is a painful undertaking; I do not feel able to perform it, Right
Worshipful (turning to the Right Worshipful Master); this task is too
painful; I feel that I cannot perform it; I wish the Right Worshipful
would select some other brother to perform it in my stead." R. W.
M.--"I know the task is unpleasant, and a painful one; but as you have
undertaken to perform it, unless some other brother will volunteer his
service and take your place, you must proceed." Exec--"Brother
(calling the name), will you volunteer your service and take my
place?" Brother--"I cannot consent to do it (after several
solicitations and refusals)." Exec.--"Right Worshipful, no brother
feels willing to volunteer his services, and I declare I feel
unwilling and unable to perform it." R. W. M.--"As no brother feels
disposed to take your station, it becomes your duty to perform it
yourself." Exec. (taking his station) "Brethren, support the candidate
(several take hold of the candidate); brother (naming some physician
or surgeon), will you assist?" Doctor (stepping up)--"Brethren, it
becomes necessary that we should have a bowl, or some other vessel, to
receive the blood." A bowl is presented, having the appearance of
blood upon it, and is held in a suitable position to receive the
blood; the surgeon places his fingers on the left breast of the
candidate, and gives counsel where it would be advisable to inflict
the wound. The executioner then places the edge of the chisel near the
spot and draws back the mallet, and while making several false
motions, says, "Operative Masons make use of the engraving chisel and
mallet to cut, hew, carve, and indent their work; but we, as Free and
Accepted Masons, make use of them for a more noble and glorious
purpose; we use them to cut, hew, carve, and indent the mind;" giving,
at the instant the last word is pronounced, a severe blow with the
mallet upon the head of the chisel, without the least injury to the
candidate, which often terrifies him to an alarming degree. The
candidate is then conducted four times around the Lodge, and each
time, as he passes the station of the Master, Senior and Junior
Wardens, they each give one loud rap with their mallet; the Master, in
the meantime, reads the following passages of Scripture: Psalms
cxviii. 22. "The stone which the builders refused is become the
headstone of the corner." Matt. xxi. 42. "Did ye never read in the
Scriptures the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become
the head of the corner?" Luke xx. 17. "What is this, then, that is
written: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the
head of the corner?" Acts iv. 11. "This is the stone which was set at
nought of you builders which is become the head of the corner." The
reading of them is so timed as to be completed just as the candidate
arrives at the Junior Warden's post; here he stops, and the same
questions are asked and answers returned, as at the door; the same
passes at the Senior Warden and Master, who orders the candidate to be
conducted back to the Senior Warden in the West, by him to be taught
to approach the East by four upright regular steps, his feet forming a
square, and body erect at the altar; the candidate then kneels and
receives the obligation, as follows:
"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty
God, and this Right Worshipful Lodge of Mark Master Masons, do
hereby and hereon, in addition to my former obligations, most
solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will not give the
degree of a Mark Master Mason to anyone of an inferior degree, nor
to any other person in the known world, except it be to a true and
lawful brother or brethren of this degree, 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 given. Furthermore, do I
promise and swear, that I will support the constitution of the
General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States of America,
also the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of this State, under which this
Lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules and
regulations of this or any other Lodge of Mark Master Masons, of
which I may at any time hereafter become a member. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear that I will obey all regular signs and
summons given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from the hand of a
brother Mark Master Mason, or from the body of a just and legally
constituted Lodge of such, provided it be within the length of my
cable tow. Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not
wrong this Lodge, or a brother of this degree, to the value of his
wages (or one penny), myself, knowingly, 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 sell, swap, barter or exchange my mark,
which I shall hereafter choose, nor send it a second time to
pledge until it is lawfully redeemed from the first. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that I will receive a brother's mark when
offered to me requesting a favor, and grant him his request, if in
my power and if it is not in my power to grant his request, I will
return him his mark with the value thereof, which is half a shekel
of silver, or quarter of a dollar. To all of 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 right ear smote off,
that I may forever be unable to hear the word, and my right hand
chopped off, as the penalty of an impostor, if I should ever prove
wilfully guilty of violating any part of this my solemn oath or
obligation of a Mark Master Mason. So help me God, and make me
steadfast to keep and perform the same."
"Detach your hand and kiss the book"
The Master then produces the same keystone, concerning which so much
has already been said, and says to the candidate, "We read in a
passage of Scripture--Rev. II 17 'To him that overcometh will I give
to each of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in
the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save him that
receiveth it'" He then presents the stone to the candidate and says,
'I now present you with a white stone, on which is written a new name;
we give the words that form this circle (the letters are so engraved
on the stone as to form a circle), the initials are H T W S S T K
S--Hiram Tyran, Widow's Son, sent to King Solomon. These, placed in
this form were the mark of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff. At present
they are used as the general MARK of this degree, and in the centre of
them each brother places his own individual MARK.' The stone is
removed, and the candidate still remains on his knees at the altar,
the Master then takes the jewel containing his mark from his neck and
presents it to the candidate--requests of him some favor, such as the
loan of five, ten, or twenty dollars. The candidate having left all
his money and valuables in the preparation room, answers, "I cannot do
it. I have no money about me," and offers to return the MARK to the
Master, but he refuses to take it, and says to the candidate, "Have
you not just sworn that you will receive a brother Mark Master's mark
when offered to you, requesting a favor, and if not in your power to
grant the favor, you would return him his mark with the value of it?
Is this the way you mind your obligations? Here I presented my mark
with a request for a small favor; you say you cannot grant it, and
offer to return my MARK alone? Where is the quarter of a dollar you
have sworn to return with it?" The candidate, much embarrassed,
answers, "I cannot do even that. I have no money about me. It was all
taken from me in the preparation room." The Master asks, "Are you
quite sure you have none?" Candidate answers, "I am, it is all in the
other room." Master--"You have not examined; perhaps some friend has,
in pity to your destitute situation, supplied you with that amount
unknown to yourself; feel in all your pockets, and if you find, after
a thorough search, that you have really none, we shall have less
reason to think that you meant wilfully to violate your obligation."
The candidate examines his pockets and finds a quarter of a dollar,
which some brother had slyly placed there; this adds not a little to
his embarrassment; he protests he had no intention of concealing it;
really supposed he had none about him, and hands it to the Master,
with his mark. The Master receives it and says to the candidate,
"Brother, let this scene be a striking lesson to you: should you ever
hereafter have a mark presented you by a worthy brother, asking a
favor, before you deny him make diligent search, and be quite sure of
your inability to serve him; perhaps you will then find, as in the
present instance, that some unknown person has befriended you, and you
are really in a better situation than you think yourself." The
candidate then rises and is made acquainted with the grips, words, and
signs of this degree. The pass-grip of this degree is made by
extending the right arms and clasping the fingers of the right hands,
as one would naturally do to assist another up a steep ascent; the
pass-word is "JOPPA;" the real grip is made by locking the little
fingers of the right hand, bringing the knuckles together, placing the
ends of the thumbs against each other; the word is "Mark well." The
signs have been described. After the grips, words, and signs are given
and explained (see Lectures), the Master says, "Brother, I now present
you with the tools of a Mark Master (here he points them out in the
carpet, or in the chart), which are the chisel and mallet; they are
thus explained: The chisel morally demonstrates the advantages of
discipline and education; the mind, like the diamond in its original
state, is rude and unpolished, but as the effect of the chisel on the
external coat soon presents to view the latent beauties of the
diamond, so education discovers the latent beauties of the mind, and
draws them forth to range the large field of matter and space, to
display the summit of human knowledge, our duty to God and man. The
mallet morally teaches to correct irregularities, and to reduce man to
a proper level; so that by quiet deportment, he may, in the school of
discipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workmen,
enlightened reason is to the passions; it curbs ambition, it depresses
envy, it moderates anger, and it encourages good dispositions, whence
arises among good Masons that comely order,
'Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy,
The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy.'"
The Worshipful Master then delivers a charge to the candidate, which
completes the ceremony of advancement to this degree.
* * * * *