OPENING.--Most Puissant knocks three (Marshal rises) and says,
"Brother Grand Marshal, are we all I. B.?" Answer--We are, Most
Puissant.
Q. Your place? A. In the north.
Q. Your business there? A. To see that the Lodge is duly
tyled.--"Attend to your duty, and inform the Lodge that we are about
to open a Lodge of I. B. by the number five." Marshal obeys. Most
Puissant knocks four, and Wardens rise.--Q. Brother Senior Warden,
what is the hour? A. Break of day.--Most Puissant knocks five, and
brethren all rise. Most Puissant says, "If it is break of day, it is
time to begin our labors; give notice that I am going to open a Lodge
of I. B." Senior Warden obeys. All make signs. Most Puissant knocks
five, Senior Warden five, Junior Warden five, and brethren five, with
their hands; and Most Puissant declares the Lodge open.
RECEPTION.--Most Puissant knocks seven, and Senior Warden rises. Most
Puissant says, "My excellent brother, how shall we repair the loss of
our worthy Hiram Abiff, he is now removed from us, and we are thereby
deprived of his counsel and services; can you give me any advice in
this important matter?" Senior Warden answers, "The method I would
propose, would be to select a chief from the five orders of
architecture upon whom we may confer the degree of I. B., and by his
assistance fill the secret chamber of the third story." Most Puissant
says, "I approve of your advice, and to convince you of my readiness
to follow it, I appoint you and brothers Adoniram and Abda to carry
the same into execution. Excellent Brothers, let Adoniram go into the
middle chamber and see if he can find a chief of the five orders of
architecture." Junior Warden goes out of the Lodge into the
ante-chamber, and finding the candidate, addresses him as in the
Lecture.
NOTE.--When the alarm of five is given Senior Warden rises and says,
"Most Puissant, we are disturbed in our deliberations by an alarm at
the inner door of the secret chamber." Most Puissant says, "Brother
Senior Warden, see the cause of that alarm."
LECTURE.--Question--Are you an Intendant of the Buildings? A. I have
made the five steps of exactness; I have penetrated the inmost parts
of the temple, and have seen the great light, in which were three
mysterious characters, J. J. J.
Q. How were you received? A. Being in the middle chamber, in company
with the Master of Ceremonies, Adoniram entered and inquired, "Is
there here a chief of the five orders of architecture?"
Q. Your answer? A. I am one.
Q. What followed? A. I was then asked, "My dear brother, have you zeal
to apply yourself with attention to that which the Most Puissant shall
request of you?"
Q. Your answer? A. I have, and will comply with the request of the
Most Puissant, and raise this edifice to his honor and glory.
Q. What followed? Ans. Adoniram demanded of me the signs, words, and
tokens of my former degrees, which being given, the Master of
Ceremonies conducted me to the door of the Lodge, where he gave me
five distinct knocks.
Q. To what did they allude? A. To the five orders of architecture.
Q. How were they answered? A. By five from within.