Q. Why so?  A. Because God’s anger was there appeased.

Q. What did the ark contain?  A. The tables of the law which God gave to Moses.

Q. Of what were they made?  A. Of white marble.

Q. Who constructed the ark?  A. Bezeleel of the Tribe of Judah, and Aholiab of the Tribe of Dan, who were filled with the spirit of God in wisdom and understanding, and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship.

Q. What was the name of the Sanctum Sanctorum in Hebrew?  A.  “Dabir.”

Q. What does the word signify?  A. Speech.

Q. Why was it so called?  A. Because the Divinity resided there in a peculiar manner, and delivered his oracles.

Q. How many doors were there in the Sanctum Sanctorum?  A. Only one on the east side called “Zizon,” or Balustrade.  It was covered with hangings of purple, scarlet, blue, and fine twined linen of cunning work, embroidered with cherubims, and suspended from four columns.

Q. What did these columns represent?  A. The four cardinal points.

Q. Your duty as a Secret Mason?  A. To guard the Sanctum Sanctorum, and sacred furniture of the holy place.

Q. What was that furniture?  A. The altar of incense, the two tables of shew-bread, and the golden candlesticks.

Q. How were they placed?  A. The altar of incense stood nearest the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the tables and candlesticks were placed five on the north and five on the south side of the holy place.

Q. What is meant by the eye in our Lodge?  A. That Secret Masters should keep a careful watch over the conduct of the craft in general.

Q. What is your age?  A. Three times 27, and accomplished 81.

* * * * *

Closing A lodge of secret masters.—­The Master strikes five.—­The Grand Marshal rises.

Master.  Brother Grand Marshal, what is the last as well as the first care of a Lodge of Secret Masters?  Answer.  To see that the Sanctum Sanctorum is duly guarded.

Master.  Please attend to your duty, and inform the guards that we are about to close this Lodge of Secret Masters by the mysterious number.  The Grand Marshal obeys, and repeats, “It is done, Most Powerful.”  Master strikes six.—­Adoniram rises.

Master.  Brother Adoniram, what is the hour?  Answer.  The end of day.

Master.  What remains to do?  Adoniram—­To practice virtue, fly from vice, and remain in silence.

Master.  Since there remains nothing to do but to practice virtue and fly vice, let us enter again into silence, that the will of God may be accomplished.  The signs are given, and seven blows struck as at opening.

Master.  I declare this Lodge duly closed.

* * * * *

DEGREE OF PERFECT MASTER.

Opening.—­Right Worshipful and Respectable Master strikes two, upon which Grand Marshal rises, and Master says, “Brother Grand Marshal, are we all Perfect Masters?” Answer—­We are, Right Worshipful and Respectable.