This degree is very simple. It is necessary that a Master Mason should
take this degree before he can, constitutionally, preside over a Lodge
of Master Masons as Master of it; and when a Master Mason is elected
Master of a Lodge, who has not previously received the Past Master's
degree, it is then conferred upon him, often without any other
ceremony than that of administering the obligation.
This Lodge is opened and closed in the same manner that the Lodges of
the first three degrees are; the candidate petitions and is balloted
for in the same manner, but he is received into the Lodge in a very
different manner. He is conducted into the Lodge without any previous
preparation, when the presiding officer rises and says, "Brethren, it
is inconvenient for me to serve you any longer as Master of this
Lodge. I wish you would select some other brother for that purpose."
The candidate is nominated, the usual forms of balloting for officers
are then dispensed with, and a vote of the Lodge is taken by yeas and
nays. The candidate is elected, and generally refuses to serve, but he
is eventually prevailed on to accept; whereupon the presiding officer
addresses the Master-elect in the words following, viz.:
"Brother, previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you
assent to those ancient charges and regulations, which point out
the duty of a Master of a Lodge.
1. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the
moral law.
2. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform
to the laws of the country in which you reside.
3. You promise not to be concerned in any plots or conspiracies
against government; but patiently to submit to the decisions of
the supreme legislature.
4. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrate, to
work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably by all men.
5. You agree to hold in veneration the original rules and patrons
of Masonry, and their regular successors, supreme and subordinate,
according to their stations, and to submit to the awards and
resolutions of your brethren when convened, in every case
consistent with the constitution of the Order.
6. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard
against intemperance and excess.
7. You agree to be cautious in carriage and behavior, cautious to
your brethren, and faithful to your Lodge.
8. You promise to respect genuine brethren and discountenance
impostors, and all dissenters from the original plan of Masonry.
9. You agree to promote the general good of society, to cultivate
the social virtues, and to propagate a knowledge of the arts.
10. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the time
being, and to his officer when duly installed, strictly to conform
to every edict of the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons
that is not subversive of the principles and ground work of
Masonry.
11. You admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of
men, to make innovations in the body of Masonry.
12. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and
communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and
to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry on convenient
occasions.
13. You admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission
of the Grand Lodge, and that no countenance be given to any
irregular Lodge, or to any person clandestinely initiated therein,
being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order.
14. You admit that no person can be regularly made a Mason in, or
admitted a member of any regular Lodge, without previous notice,
and due inquiry into his character.
15. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your Lodge
without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their
having been initiated into a regular Lodge."
The presiding officer then asks the Master-elect (candidate), the
following question, which he must answer in the affirmative: Q. "Do
you submit to these charges and promise to support these regulations
as Masters have done, in all ages, before you?" A. "I do." The
presiding officer then addresses him: "Brother A. B., in consequence
of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the
Order, you are now to be installed Master of this degree, in full
confidence of your care, skill, and capacity, to govern the same. But
previous to your investiture, it is necessary you should take upon
yourself the solemn oath or obligation appertaining to this degree; if
you are willing to take it upon you, you will please to kneel before
the altar, when you shall receive the same." [Here Lodges differ very
materially, but this is the most prevalent mode of proceeding.] The
candidate then kneels on both knees, lays both hands on the Holy
Bible, Square and Compass, and takes the following oath or obligation:
"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty
God, and this Right Worshipful Lodge of Past Master Masons, 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 Past Master Mason, or any of the secrets pertaining
thereto, to anyone of an inferior degree, nor to any person in the
known world, except it be to a true and lawful brother or brethren
Past Master Masons, or within the body of a just and lawfully
constituted Lodge of such, and not unto him or 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 examination, or lawful
information. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will obey
all regular signs and summons sent, thrown, handed, or given from
the hand of a brother of this degree, or from the body of a just
and lawfully constituted Lodge of Past Masters, provided it be
within the length of my cable-tow. 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 that of
the Grand Chapter 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, so far as in my power. Furthermore, do I promise
and swear, that I will not assist, or be present at the conferring
of this degree upon any person who has not, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, regularly received the degrees of Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, and Mark Master, or been
elected Master of a regular Lodge of Master Masons. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that I will aid and assist all poor and
indigent Past Master Masons, their widows and orphans, wherever
dispersed around the globe, they applying to me as such, and I
finding them worthy, so far as in my power, without material
injury to myself or family. Furthermore, do I promise and swear,
that the secrets of a brother of this degree, delivered to me in
charge as such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast
as they were in his own, before communicated to me, murder and
treason excepted, and those left to my own election. Furthermore,
do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this Lodge, or 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
govern this Lodge, nor any other over which I may be called to
preside, in a haughty, arbitrary, or impious manner; but will at
all times use my utmost endeavors to preserve peace and harmony
among the brethren. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I
will never open a Lodge of Master Masons, unless there be present
three regular Master Masons, besides the Tyler, nor close the same
without giving a Lecture, or some section or part of a Lecture,
for the instruction of the Lodge. Furthermore, that I will not,
knowingly, set in any Lodge where anyone presides who has not
received the degree of Past Master. [This last point is, in many
Lodges, entirely omitted. In some, the two last.] All which I do
most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and
steady purpose of mind, to keep and perform the same, binding
myself under no less penalty than to have my tongue split from tip
to root, that I might forever thereafter be unable to pronounce
the word, if ever I should prove wilfully guilty of violating any
part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a Past Master Mason.
So help me God, and make me steadfast to keep and perform the
same."
The obligation being administered, the candidate rises,[4] and the
Master proceeds to give the sign, word, and grip of this degree, as
follows: The sign (sometimes called the due-guard) is given by laying
the edge of the thumb of the right hand in a vertical position on the
centre of the mouth, high enough to touch the upper lip. The word is
given by taking each other by the Master's grip, and pulling the
insides of their feet together, when the Master whispers the word,
"GIBLEM,"[5] in the ear of the candidate. Then they clap their left
hand on each other's right arm, between the wrist and elbow,
disengaging (at the same moment) their right hand from the Master's
grip; they each seize the left arm of the other with their right
hands, between the wrist and elbow, and (almost at the same instant)
yielding their left hand hold on each other's right arm, and moving
their left hands with a brisk motion, they clasp each other's right
arm with their left hands, above the elbow, pressing their finger
nails hard against the arms, as they shift their hands from place to
place; and the Master says (in union with these movements), "From
grips to spans, and from spans to grips: a twofold cord is strong, but
a threefold cord is not easily broken." The Master then conducts the
candidate to the chair, and, as he ascends the steps, the Master says,
"Brother, I now have the pleasure of conducting you into the oriental
chair of King Solomon;" places a large cocked hat on his head, and
comes down to the front of the newly-installed Master, and addresses
him as follows: "Worshipful brother, I now present you with the
furniture and various implements of our profession; they are
emblematical of our conduct in life, and will now be enumerated and
explained as presented. The HOLY WRITINGS, that great light in
Masonry, will guide you to all truth; it will direct your path to the
temple of happiness, and point out to you the whole duty of man. The
SQUARE teaches to regulate our actions by rule and line, and to
harmonize our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue. The
COMPASS teaches to limit our desires in every station; thus rising to
eminence by merit, we may live respected, and die regretted. The RULE
directs that we should punctually observe our duty; press forward in
the path of virtue, and neither inclining to the right or to the left,
in all our actions have ETERNITY in view. The LINE teaches the
criterion of moral rectitude; to avoid dissimulation in conversation
and action, and to direct our steps to the path that leads to
IMMORTALITY. The BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS you are to search at all times;
cause it to be read in your Lodge, that none may pretend ignorance of
the excellent precepts it enjoins. Lastly, you receive in charge the
by-laws of your Lodge, which you are to see carefully and punctually
executed. I will also present you with the mallet; it is an emblem of
power. One stroke of the mallet calls to order, and calls up the
Junior and Senior Deacons; two strokes call up all the subordinate
officers; and three, the whole Lodge." The following charge is then
delivered to the newly-installed Master (alias candidate) by the
former Master:
"Worshipful Master, being appointed Master of this Lodge, you
cannot be insensible of the obligations which devolve on you as
their head; nor of your responsibility for the faithful discharge
of the important duties annexed to your appointment. The honor,
usefulness, and reputation of your Lodge will materially depend on
the skill and assiduity with which you manage its concerns; while
the happiness of its members will be generally promoted, in
proportion to the zeal and ability with which you propagate the
genuine principles of our institution. For a pattern of
information, consider the luminary of nature, which, rising in the
East, regularly diffuses light and lustre to all within its
circle. In like manner, it is your province to spread and
communicate light and instruction to the brethren of your Lodge.
Forcibly impress upon them the dignity and high importance of
Masonry, and seriously admonish them never to disgrace it. Charge
them to practice out of the Lodge those duties which they have
been taught in it; and by amiable, discreet, and virtuous conduct,
to convince mankind of the goodness of the institution, so that,
when anyone is said to be a member of it, the world may know that
he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour out its sorrows--to
whom distress may prefer its suit--whose hand is guided by
justice, and his heart expanded by benevolence. In short, by a
diligent observance of the by-laws of your Lodge, the constitution
of Masonry, and, above all, the Holy Scriptures, which are given
as a rule and guide of your faith, you will be enabled to acquit
yourself with honor and reputation, and lay up a crown of
rejoicing which shall continue when time shall be no more."[6]
The Master then says to the newly-installed Master, "I now leave you
to the government of your Lodge." He then retires to a seat, and,
after a moment or two, rises and addresses the candidate (now in the
chair as Master), "Worshipful Master, in consequence of my
resignation, and the election of a new Master, the seats of the
Wardens have become vacant. It is necessary you should have Wardens to
assist you in the government of your Lodge. The constitution requires
us to elect our officers by ballot, but it is common, on occasions of
this kind, to dispense with those formalities, and elect by ayes and
noes; I move we do so on the present occasion." The question is tried
and carried in the affirmative. The Master has a right to nominate one
candidate for office, and the brethren one. Here a scene of confusion
takes place, which is not easily described. The newly-installed
WORSHIPFUL is made the butt for every WORTHY brother to exercise his
wit upon. Half a dozen are up at a time, soliciting the Master to
nominate them for Wardens, urging their several claims, and decrying
the merits of others with much zeal, others crying out, "Order,
Worshipful, keep order!" Others propose to dance, and request the
Master to sing for them; others whistle, or sing, or jump about the
room; or scuffle, and knock down chairs or benches. One proposes to
call from labor to refreshment; another compliments the Worshipful
Master on his dignified appearance, and knocks off his hat, or pulls
it down over his face; another informs him that a lady wishes to
enter. If the Master calls to order, every one obeys the signal with
the utmost promptness, and drops upon the nearest seat; the next
instant, before the Master can utter a word, all are on their feet
again and as noisy as ever. Finally, a nominal election is effected,
and some prudent member, tired of such a ridiculous confusion, moves
that the Lodge be closed; which, being done, the poor (and if a
stranger) much embarrassed candidate, has his big hat taken from him,
and is reduced to the ranks; but, for his consolation, the Worshipful
Master informs him that the preceding scene, notwithstanding its
apparent confusion, is designed to convey to him, in a striking
manner, the important lesson, never to solicit or accept any office or
station for which he does not know himself amply qualified.
The Lecture on the fifth, or Past Master's degree, is divided into
five sections. The first section treats of the manner of constituting
a Lodge of Master Masons. The second treats of the ceremony of
installation, including the manner of receiving candidates to this
degree, as given above. The third treats of the ceremonies observed at
laying the foundation stones of public structures. The fourth section,
of the ceremony observed at the dedications of Masonic halls. The
fifth, of the ceremony observed at funerals, according to ancient
custom, with the service used on the occasion.
The foregoing includes all the ceremonies ever used in conferring the
degree of Past Master; but the ceremonies are more frequently
shortened by the omission of some part of them; the presenting of the
"various implements of the profession," and their explanations, are
often dispensed with; and still more often, the charge.
* * * * *