Q. Are you a Master Elected of Fifteen? A. My zeal and works have
procured me that honor.
Q. Give me, etc.? Are you an Illustrious Knight? A. My name will
inform you.
Q. Give me, etc. Are you a Grand Master Architect? A. I know the use
of the mathematical instruments.
Q. Give me, etc. Are you a Knight of the Ninth Arch? A. I have
penetrated through the bowels of the earth, through nine arches, and
have seen the brilliant triangle.
Q. Give me, etc. What then followed? A. The Most Perfect inquired of
the brethren whether they consented that I should be exalted to the
sublime and mysterious degree of Perfection, whereupon one of the
brethren rose and said, "I have objections to this candidate." The
Most Perfect inquired what these objections were, to which this
brother answered, "I will communicate them if the candidate retires."
I was then ordered to retire, which I did.
Q. What then followed? A. Shortly after, the Master of Ceremonies
conducted me again into the Lodge, and placing me in the west, I was
asked the following questions, viz.:--1st, Have you never wilfully
revealed any of the secrets of Masonry? 2d, Have you always been
charitable towards your brethren? 3d, Have you never defrauded a
brother? 4th, Are you in the habit of using the name of God profanely?
5th, Does your conscience accuse you of having committed any offence
against your brethren, which ought to debar you from receiving this
degree? Be sincere, and answer me. Which questions being answered, the
Most Perfect said, "Brethren, do you consent that this candidate be
admitted among us? If you do, raise your right hands." Which being
done, I was directed to approach the altar, by three, five, seven and
nine steps, which I did, and took upon me the obligation of a Perfect
Grand Elect and Sublime Mason.
Q. Repeat that obligation? A. (Same as Perfect Master.) I further
promise that I will aid all my worthy brethren in distress and
sickness, as far, etc., with my counsel as well as my purse. I further
promise, etc. that I will not be concerned in conferring this degree
upon any Mason whose character and knowledge I disapprove, nor unless
he has been elected and installed as an officer in some regular Lodge,
Chapter, Encampment, or Council. I further promise that I will never
fully pronounce more than once in my life the mysterious word of this
degree, under penalty of having my body cut in twain. So help, etc.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Q. What followed? A. While I was still in a kneeling posture, the Most
Most Perfect said, "Let us pray," which was done, and the Master of
Ceremonies then presented the hod and trowel to the Most Perfect, who
said, "My brother, I shall now proceed to anoint you with the holy oil
wherewith Aaron, David, and the wise Solomon were anointed." And then
anointing my head, lips and heart, at the same time said, "Behold how
good and pleasant," etc., and then placing his hand upon me, said, "I
impress you," etc.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Perfect presented me with the bread and
wine, and rising, said, "Eat of this bread," etc. When this part of
the ceremony was ended the brethren made a libation according to
ancient usage.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Perfect raised me and said, "That which
I shall now communicate to you, will make you accomplished in
Masonry." He then gave me three signs, three tokens, the three
pass-words, and the three grand words of this degree.
Q. Give me the signs? [First sign made like Master Mason's, with hands
clenched.]
Q. To what does this sign allude? A. To the penalty of the obligation.
[Second sign: bring your right hand upright, the palm outwards to
guard your left cheek, your left hand supporting your elbow, then
guard your right cheek with left hand, etc.]
Q. To what does that sign allude? A. To the manner in which Moses
guarded his eyes from the light of the burning bush, from which the
Almighty revealed to him his true name. [Third sign is that of
surprise: raise both hands as high as the shoulders, and step back
with the right foot.]
Q. To what does this sign allude? A. To the attitude of Solomon and
Hiram, when the sacred treasure was first produced.
Q. Give me the first token? [First token same as Intimate Secretary,
giving the words Berith, Neder, Shelemoth]
Q. What do those signify? A. Alliance, Promise and Protection.
Q. To what do they allude? A. To the alliance of Moses and Aaron, of
Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyre. The promise made by the Almighty to
the ancient patriarchs that the true pronunciation of his name should
be revealed to their posterity, and the perfection attained when this
promise was fulfilled.
Q. Give me the second token? [Pass from Master's grip, and seize his
right arm above the elbow, and place your left hand on his right
shoulder.]
Q. Give me the third token? [With your left hand seize your brother's
right elbow, and with your right hand, his right shoulder.]
Q. Give me the three pass-words? A. First, Master Mason's; second,
Elhanon; third, Fellow Craft's, repeated thrice.
Q. Give me the three grand words? A. First, Gibulum; second,
Eh-yeh-asher-eh-yeh.
Q. What does that word signify? A. I am what I am. Third, El-hod-dihu
kaw-lu.
Q. What does that word signify? A. God be praised, we have finished
it.
Q. What followed? A. The Most Perfect caused me to pronounce the
mysterious word of this degree.
Q. Pronounce it? A. I cannot but once in my life.
Q. How will you then give it? A. * * * * [A Hebrew pronunciation of
God.]
Q. What followed? A. The Most Perfect thus addressed me: "You are
already acquainted with the fact, that the true pronunciation of the
name of God was revealed to Enoch, and that he engraved the letters
composing that name on a triangular plate of gold. The name was
represented by the four Hebrew consonants, Jod, He, Vau, and He. The
vowel sounds of this language being represented by points placed above
the consonants, and being frequently omitted in writing, the
consonants composing the mysterious word, at different ages, received
different pronunciations. Hence, though the method of writing this
word remained uniform, its pronunciation underwent many changes. These
changes constitute what are termed the different ages of Masonry.
These are 3, 5, 7 and 9. These are the three ages of Masonry, and are
thus estimated: