The Mysteries of Free Masonry eBook

William Morgan
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 425 pages of information about The Mysteries of Free Masonry.

The Mysteries of Free Masonry eBook

William Morgan
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 425 pages of information about The Mysteries of Free Masonry.
to the Treasurer, “Your duty there, Brother Treasurer?” He answers, “Duly to observe the Worshipful Master’s will and pleasure; receive all moneys and money-bills from the hands of the Secretary; keep a just and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the Worshipful Master and consent of the brethren.”  The Master to the Treasurer, “The Junior Warden’s place in the Lodge, Brother Treasurer?” He answers, “In the South, Worshipful.”  Master to Junior Warden, “Your business there, Brother Junior?” He answers, “As the sun in the South at high meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South the better to observe the time; call the crafts from labor to refreshment; superintend them during the hours thereof; see that none convert the hours of refreshment into that of intemperance or excess; and call them on again in due season, that the Worshipful Master may have honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby.”  Master to the Junior Warden, “The Senior Warden’s place in the Lodge?” He answers, “In the West, Worshipful.”  Master to the Senior Warden, “Your duty there, Brother Senior?” He answers, “As the sun sets in the West, to close the day, so stands the Senior Warden in the West, to assist the Worshipful Master in opening his Lodge; take care of the jewels and implements; see that none be lost; pay the craft their wages, if any be due; and see that none go away dissatisfied.”  Master to the Senior Warden, “The Master’s place in the Lodge?” He answers, “In the East, Worshipful.”  Master to the Senior Warden, “His duty there?” He answers, “As the sun rises in the East to open and adorn the day, so presides the Worshipful Master in the East to open and adorn his Lodge; set his crafts to work with good and wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done.”  The Master now gives three raps, when all the brethren rise, and the Master, taking off his hat, proceeds as follows:  “In like manner so do I, strictly forbidding all profane language, private committees, or any other disorderly conduct whereby the peace and harmony of this Lodge may be interrupted while engaged in its lawful pursuits, under no less penalty than the by-laws, or such penalty as a majority of the brethren present may see fit to inflict.  Brethren, attend to giving the signs.” [Here Lodges differ very much.  In some they declare the Lodge open, as follows, before they give the sign.] The Master (all the brethren imitating him) extends his left arm from his body, so as to form an angle of about forty-five degrees, and holds his right hand traversely across his left, the palms thereof one inch apart.  This is called the first sign of a Mason—­is the sign of distress in this degree, and alludes to the position a candidate’s hands are placed in when he takes the obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason.  The Master then draws his right hand across his throat, the hand open, with the thumb next to the throat, and drops it down by his side.  This is called the due-guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason (many call it the sign), and alludes to the penalty of an obligation.  The Master then declares the Lodge opened in the following manner:—­“I now declare the Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons duly opened for the dispatch of business.”  The Senior Warden declares it to the Junior Warden, and he to the brethren.  “Come, brethren, let us pray.”

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The Mysteries of Free Masonry from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.