Q. Your answer? A. A chief of the five orders of architecture, who is
to be employed in the works of the secret chamber.
Q. What was then said to you? A. I was then asked by what further
right, etc.
Q. Your answer? A. By the right of a pass-word.
Q. Give me that pass-word? A. Bonahim (pronounced Bo-nau-heem).
Q. What was then said to you? A. Wait until the Most Puissant is
informed, etc.
Q. What was his answer? A. Let him be introduced in due form.
Q. What followed? A. I was conducted to the altar and caused to recede
five steps, and then to advance to the altar by five steps of regular
exactness.
Q. What is meant thereby? A. That I should recede from vice, and
advance to virtue, before I was qualified to supply the place of so
good a man as the lamented Hiram Abiff.
Q. What followed? A. I was laid prostrate before the altar, with a
sprig of cassia in my right hand, and my left upon the first great
light of Masonry, in which posture I took the obligation of this
degree.
Q. Repeat that obligation. A. (Same as Perfect Master) under penalty
of being deprived of my sight. So help, etc.
Q. What followed? A. I was thus addressed by the Most Puissant: "Your
present posture is that of a dead man, and is designed to remind you
of the fate of our worthy Hiram Abiff. I shall now raise you in the
same manner he was raised, under the sprig of cassia." I was then
raised by the Master's grip, and further addressed, "By your being
raised, our hope is signified, that in some measure you will repair
his loss, by imitating his bright example."
Q. What followed? A. I received the signs, tokens and words of this
degree.
Q. Give me the signs. A. (Interlace the fingers, and place the hands
over the eyes, alluding to penalty; second sign is that of grief, made
like Fellow Craft's, with left hand on the left hip.)
Q. Give me the token? A. (Take hold of each other by the right wrists
with the right hand.)
Q. Give me the pass-word. A. Bonahim.
Q. What does that word signify? A. Builders.
Q. Give me the words. A. Achard, jenok (pronounced yo-kayn).
Q. Give me the mysterious word. A. Jah (pronounced yaw).
Q. What was next done? A. I was invested with the apron, gloves and
jewels of this degree, and was thus addressed: "I decorate you with a
red ribbon, to be worn crossing the breast from the right shoulder to
the left hip, to which is suspended a triangle fastened with a green
ribbon. I also present you with a white apron, lined with red, and
bordered with green. The red is emblematical of that zeal which should
characterize you as an I. of B., and the green, of the hope we
entertain that you will supply the place of our lamented Hiram Abiff.
Q. What is meant by the letters B. A. J. in the triangle which you
wear? A. They are the initials of the pass-word and words of this
degree.
Q. What followed? A. I was directed to salute the Senior Warden as an
Intendant of the Buildings, and return to the east for further
instruction.
* * * * *
SECOND SECTION.--Question--What did you see in the Lodge? Answer--A
triangle enclosing a circle, having on its circumference the letters
J. A. I. N., and in its centre the letters J. J. J.
Q. What is signified by the circle in the triangle? A. The eternity of
the powers of God, which hath neither beginning nor end.
Q. What is signified by the letters J. A. I. N.? A. They are the
initials of the four Hebrew words, Jad, Ail, Jotsare, and Nogah, which
are expressive of four attributes of the Deity; power, omnipresence,
creation and splendor.
Q. What is signified by the letters J. J. J? A. Jah, Jokayn and Jireh,
signifying "The Lord, the Creator seeth."
Q. What else did you see? A. A blazing star with five beams, in the
centre of which appeared the letter J.
Q. What is signified by the five beams? A. The five equal lights of
Masonry, the Bible, the square, the compass, the key, and the
triangle.
Q. What is signified by the letter J.? A. It is the initial of the
ineffable name, as known by us.
Q. Are you in darkness? A. No, the blazing star is my guide.
Q. What is your age? A. 27, or 5, 7 and 15.
Q. To what do those three numbers allude? A. To the five chiefs of the
five orders of architecture, to seven cubits, which was the breadth of
the golden candlestick with seven branches, and the fifteen Fellow
Crafts, who conspired against the life of our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff.
CLOSING.--Most Puissant knocks three (Grand Marshal rises) and says,
"Brother Grand Marshal, the last as well as the first care of I. of
B.?" Answer. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled. "Attend to your
duty," etc. Most Puissant knocks four, and Warden rises; "Brother
Senior Warden, what is the hour?" A. Seven at night. Most Puissant
strikes five--all brethren rise. Most Puissant says, "As it is seven
at night, it is time to retire: Brother Junior Warden, give notice
that I am going to close this Lodge of Intendants of the Building."
Signs reversed, Most Puissant knocks five, Junior Warden seven, and
Senior Warden fifteen, then the brethren five, seven and fifteen, with
their hands, and the Most Puissant declares the Lodge closed.
* * * * *