The Lodge being now opened and ready for the reception of candidates,
the Senior Deacon repairs to the preparation room, where the candidate
is in waiting, takes off his coat, puts a cable-tow six times around
his body, and in this situation conducts him to the door of the Lodge,
against which he gives six distinct knocks, which are answered by the
same number by the Junior Deacon from within; the Senior Deacon then
gives one knock, and the Junior Deacon answers by giving one more; the
door is then partly opened by the Junior Deacon, who says, "Who comes
there?" Senior Deacon--"A worthy brother, who has been regularly
initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason; passed to the degree of
Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason; advanced
to the honorary degree of a Mark Master Mason; presided in the chair
as Past Master; and now wishes for further light in Masonry by being
received and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master." Junior
Deacon--"Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?"
Senior Deacon--"It is." J. D.--"Is he duly and truly prepared?" S.
D.--"He is." J. D.--"Is he worthy and well qualified?" S. D.--"He is."
J. D.--"Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees?" S.
D.--"He has." J. D.--"By what further right or benefit does he expect
to obtain this favor?" S. D.--"By the benefit of a pass-word." J.
D.--"Has he a pass-word?" S. D.--"He has not, but I have it for him."
J. D.--"Will you give it to me?" S. D. whispers in the ear of the
Junior Deacon the word, "RABBONI." [In many Lodges the Past Master's
word, "GIBLEM" is used as a pass-word for this degree, and the word,
"RABBONI," as the real word.] J. D.--"The word is right; since this is
the case, you will wait until the Most Excellent Master in the East is
made acquainted with your request, and his answer returned." Junior
Deacon repairs to the Most Excellent Master in the East and gives six
raps, as at the door. M. E. M.--"Who comes here?" J. D.--"A worthy
brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice
Mason; passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime
degree of a Master Mason; advanced to the honorary degree of Mark
Master Mason; presided in the chair as Past Master: and now wishes for
further light in Masonry by being received and acknowledged as a Most
Excellent Master." M. E. M.--"Is it of his own free will and choice he
makes this request?" J. D.--"It is." M. E. M.--"Is he duly and truly
prepared?" J. D.--"He is." M. E. M.--"Is he worthy and well
qualified?" J. D.--"He is." M. E. M.--"Has he made suitable
proficiency in the preceding degrees?" J. D.--"He has." M. E. M.--"By
what further right or benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?" J.
D.--"By the benefit of a pass-word." M. E. M.--"Has he a pass-word?"
J. D.--"He has not, but I have it for him." M. E. M.--"Will you give
it to me?" Junior Deacon whispers in the ear of the Most Excellent
Master the word, "RABBONI." M. E. M.--"The pass is right; since he
comes endowed with all these necessary qualifications, let him enter
this Lodge of Most Excellent Masters in the name of the Lord." The
candidate is then conducted six times around the Lodge by the Senior
Deacon, moving with the sun. The first time they pass around the
Lodge, when opposite the Junior Warden, he gives one blow with the
gavel; when opposite the Senior Warden he does the same; and likewise
when opposite the Most Excellent Master. The second time around, each
gives two blows; the third, three; and so on, until they arrive to
six. During this time, the Most Excellent Master reads the following
passage of Scripture:
Psalm cxxii. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, O
Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact
together. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto
the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of
David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that
love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy
palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes I will now say,
Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I
will seek thy good."
The reading of the foregoing is so timed as not to be fully ended
until the Senior Deacon and candidate have performed the sixth
revolution. Immediately after this, the Senior Deacon and candidate
arrive at the Junior Warden's station in the South, when the same
questions are asked and answers returned, as at the door (Who comes
here, etc.). The Junior Warden then directs the candidate to pass on
to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination; where the
same questions are asked and answers returned, as before. The Senior
Warden directs him to be conducted to the Right Worshipful Master in
the East for further examination. The Right Worshipful Master asks the
same questions, and receives the same answers as before. He then says,
"Please to 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 six upright
regular steps to the sixth step, and place him in a proper position to
take upon him the solemn oath or obligation of a Most Excellent Master
Mason." The candidate is conducted back to the West, and put in care
of the Senior Warden, who informs him how to approach the East, as
directed by the Most Excellent Master. The candidate kneels on both
knees, and places both hands on the leaves of an opened Bible, Square
and Compass. The Most Excellent Master now comes forward and says,
"Brother, you are now placed in a proper position to take upon you the
solemn oath or obligation of a Most Excellent Master Mason; which, I
assure you, as before, is neither to affect your religion or politics.
If you are willing to take it, repeat your name and say after me." The
following obligation is then administered:
"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty
God, and this Lodge of Most Excellent 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
Most Excellent Master to any of an inferior degree, nor to any
other person or persons in the known world, except it be to a true
and lawful brother or brethren of this degree, and within the body
of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such; and not unto him
nor 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. Furthermore, do I promise and
swear, that I will obey all regular signs and summons given,
handed, sent, or thrown to me from a brother of this degree, or
from the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such,
provided it be within the length of my cable-tow, if in my power.
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 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 aid and assist all poor and
indigent brethren of this degree, their widows and orphans,
wheresoever dispersed around the globe, as far as in my power,
without injuring myself or family. Furthermore, do I promise and
swear, that the secrets of a brother of this degree, given to me
in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as
secret and inviolable in my breast as in his own, murder and
treason excepted, and the same left to my own free will and
choice. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong
this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons, nor a brother of this
degree, to the value of anything, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it
to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it; but will give
due and timely notice of all approaches of danger, if in my power.
Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will dispense light
and knowledge to all ignorant and uninformed brethren at all
times, as far as in my power, without material injury to myself or
family. To all which I do most solemnly 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 breast torn open,
and my heart and vitals taken from thence and exposed to rot on
the dunghill, if ever I violate any part of this my solemn oath or
obligation of a Most Excellent Master Mason. So help me God, and
keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."
"Detach your hands and kiss the book."
The candidate is now requested to rise, and the Most Excellent Master
gives him the sign, grip, and word appertaining to this degree. The
sign is given by placing your hands, one on each breast, the fingers
meeting in the centre of the body, and jerking them apart as though
you were trying to tear open your breast; it alludes to the penalty of
the obligation. The grip is given by taking each other by the right
hand, and clasping them so that each compresses the third finger of
the other with his thumb. [If one hand is large and the other small,
they cannot both give the grip at the same time.] It is called the
grip of all grips, because it is said to cover all the preceding
grips. The Most Excellent holds the candidate by the hand, and puts
the inside of his right foot to the inside of the candidate's right
foot, and whispers in his ear, "RABBONI." In some Lodges the word is
not given in a whisper, but in a low voice. After these ceremonies are
over, and the members seated, some noise is intentionally made by
shuffling the feet. M. E. M.--"Brother Senior, what is the cause of
this confusion?" S. W.--"Is not this the day set apart for the
celebration of the copestone, Most Excellent?" M. E. M.--"I will ask
Brother Secretary. Brother Secretary, is this the day set apart for
the celebration of the copestone?" Secretary (looking in his
book)--"It is, Most Excellent." M. E. M.--"Brother Senior Warden,
assemble the brethren, and form a procession, for the purpose of
celebrating the copestone." The brethren then assemble (the candidate
stands aside, not joining in the procession), form a procession double
file, and march six times around the Lodge, against the course of the
sun, singing the following song, and giving all the signs from an
Entered Apprentice to that of Most Excellent Master. When opposite the
Most Excellent Master, the first time they march around the Lodge,
each member gives the first sign of an Entered Apprentice, and
preserves it until he nearly arrives opposite the Most Excellent a
second time, then gives the second sign, and continues it in the same
manner, and so of all others, up to that of this degree, saying,
All hail to the morning that bids us rejoice,
The Temple's completed, exalt high each voice.
The copestone is finished--our labor is o'er,
The sound of the gavel shall hail us no more.
To the power Almighty, who ever has guided
The tribes of old Israel, exalting their fame;
To Him who hath governed our hearts undivided,
Let's send forth our vows to praise His great name.
Companions, assemble on this joyful day
(The occasion is glorious!) the keystone to lay;
Fulfilled is the promise, by the ANCIENT OF DAYS,
To bring forth the copestone with shouting and praise.
The keystone is now produced and laid on the altar.
There is no more occasion for level or plumb-line,
For trowel or gavel, for compass or square;[7]
Our works are completed, the ark safely seated,[8]
And we shall be greeted as workmen most rare.
Names, those that are worthy our tribes, who have shared,
And proved themselves faithful, shall meet their reward;
Their virtue and knowledge, industry and skill,
Have our approbation--have gained our good will.
We accept and receive them,[9] Most Excellent Masters,
Trusted with honor, and power to preside
Among worthy craftsmen where'er assembled,
The knowledge of Masons to spread far and wide.
Almighty Jehovah,[10] descend now and fill
This Lodge with Thy glory, our hearts with good-will;
Preside at our meeting, assist us to find
True pleasure in teaching good-will to mankind.
Thy wisdom inspired the great institution,
Thy strength shall support it till nature expire;
And when the creation shall fall into ruin,
Its beauty shall rise through the midst of the fire.
[At the time the ark is placed on the altar, there is also placed on
it a pot of incense, to which fire is communicated by the Most
Excellent Master, just as the last line of the song is sung; this pot
to contain incense is sometimes an elegant silver urn; but if the
Lodge is too poor to afford that, a common teapot, with spout and
handle broken off, answers every purpose; for incense some pieces of
paper are dipped in spirits of turpentine.]
The members now all join hands, as in opening; and, while in this
attitude, the Most Excellent reads the following passage of Scripture:
2 Chron. vii. 1-4. "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,
the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and
the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And
the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because
the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when all
the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory
of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces
to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
Lord, saying, FOR HE IS GOOD;[11] FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER."
The members now balance six times as before; in opening, rise and
balance six times more, disengage themselves from each other and take
their seats; the Most Excellent Master then delivers the following
charge to the candidate:
"Brother, your admittance to this degree of Masonry, is a proof of
the good opinion the brethren of this Lodge entertain of your
Masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be
careful of forfeiting by misconduct and inattention to our rules,
that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.
"It is one of your great duties, as a Most Excellent Master, to
dispense light and truth to the uninformed Mason; and I need not
remind you of the impossibility of complying with this obligation
without possessing an accurate acquaintance with the Lectures of
each degree.
"If you are not already completely conversant in all the degrees
heretofore conferred on you, remember, that an indulgence,
prompted by a belief that you will apply yourself with double
diligence to make yourself so, has induced the brethren to accept
you.
"Let it, therefore, be your unremitting study to acquire such a
degree of knowledge and information as shall enable you to
discharge with propriety the various duties incumbent on you, and
to preserve unsullied the title now conferred upon you of a Most
Excellent Master."
After this a motion is made by some of the members to close the Lodge.
This motion being accepted and received, the Most Excellent says,
"Brother Junior Warden, you will please assemble the brethren around
the altar for the purpose of closing this Lodge of Most Excellent
Masters." The brethren immediately assemble around the altar in a
circle, and kneel on the right knee, put their left arms over and join
hands, as before; while kneeling in this position, the Most Excellent
reads the following Psalm: Psalm cxxxiv. "Behold, bless ye the Lord,
all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the
Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The
Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." The Most
Excellent then closes the circle as in opening, when they balance six
times, rise and balance six times more, disengaging their hands, and
give all the signs downwards, and declares the Lodge closed.
* * * * *