Q. Your place in the Lodge?  A. In the North, Right Worshipful and Respectable.

Q. Your business there?  A. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled.

Q. Please to attend to your duty and inform the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Perfect Masters. (Grand Marshal reports.) Right Worshipful and Respectable Master knocks three, upon which the Warden and the Master of Ceremonies in the South rise.  Master says, “Brother Stokin, are you a Perfect Master?” Answer—­I have seen the tomb of our respectable Master, Hiram Abiff, and have in company with my brethren shed tears at the same.

Q. What is the hour?  A. It is four.

Master then knocks four, upon which all the brethren rise.  Master says, “If it is four, it is time to set the workmen to labor.  Give notice that I am going to open a Lodge of Perfect Masters by four times four.” (Senior Warden reports to brethren.) Signs given of former degrees, together with those of this degree.  Master knocks four, Stokin four, Master of Ceremonies four, and Grand Marshal four—­then all the brethren strike four times four with their hands.  Then Master declares the Lodge open, and orders the Marshal to inform the Tyler.

Reception.—­The candidate has a green cord put ’round his neck and is led by the Master of Ceremonies to the door, who knocks four, which is repeated by the Warden and answered by the Master.  The Senior Warden says, “While the craft are engaged in lamenting the death of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff,” an alarm is heard at the inner door of the Lodge.

Lecture.—­Question—­Are you a Perfect Master?  Answer—­I have seen the tomb of Hiram Abiff, and have in company with my brethren, shed tears at the same.

Q. How were you prepared to be a Perfect Master?  Answer—­A sprig of cassia was placed in my left hand, and a green cord about my neck.

Q. Why was the sprig of cassia placed in the left hand?  A. That I might deposit it in the grave of Hiram Abiff.

Q. Why was a rope of green color put ’round your neck?  A. Because the body of Hiram Abiff was lowered into the grave by the brethren, at his second interment, by a rope of that color.  There is another reason, to signify thereby that a Perfect Master by flourishing in virtue, might hope for immortality.

Q. How did you gain admission?  A. By four distinct knocks.

Q. What did they denote?  A. Life, virtue, death, and immortality.

Q. How were they answered?  A. By four from within.

Q. What was then said to you?  A. Who comes there?

Q. Your answer?  A. A Secret Master who is well qualified, etc.

Q. What was then said to you?  A. I was then asked by what further right, etc.

Q. Your answer?  A. By the right, etc.

Q. What was then said to you?  A. Wait until the Right Worshipful and Respectable Master has been informed of your request and his answer returned.