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.

After the Junior Warden has received the pass Shibboleth, he inquires, “What does it denote?” A.  “Plenty.”  Junior Warden to Senior Deacon, “Why so?” A.  “From an ear of corn being placed at the water-ford.”  Junior Warden to Senior Deacon, “Why was this pass instituted?” A.  “In consequence of a quarrel which had long existed between Jephthah, Judge of Israel, and the Ephraimites, the latter of whom had long been a stubborn, rebellious people, whom Jephthah had endeavored to subdue by lenient measures, but to no effect.  The Ephraimites being highly incensed against Jephthah, for not being called to fight and share in the rich spoils of the Ammonitish war, assembled a mighty army, and passed over the river Jordan to give Jephthah battle; but he, being apprised of their approach, called together the men of Israel, and gave them battle, and put them to flight; and to make his victory more complete, he ordered guards to be placed at the different passes on the banks of the river Jordan, and commanded, if the Ephraimites passed that way, that they should pronounce the word Shibboleth; but they, being of a different tribe, pronounced it SIBBOLETH, which trifling defect proved them spies, and cost them their lives; and there fell that day, at the different passes on the banks of the river Jordan, forty and two thousand.  This word was also used by our ancient brethren to distinguish a friend from a foe, and has since been adopted as a proper pass-word, to be given before entering any well-regulated and governed Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons.”  Since this is the case, you will pass on to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination.  As they approach the Senior Warden in the West, the Senior Deacon says to the candidate, “Brother, the next thing we come to is the inner door of the middle chamber of King Solomon’s Temple, which we find partly open, but more closely tyled by the Senior Warden;” when the Senior Warden inquires, “Who comes here?  Who comes here?” The Senior Deacon answers, “A Fellow Craft Mason.”  Senior Warden to Senior Deacon, “How do you expect to gain admission?” A.  “By the grip and word.”  The Senior Warden to the Senior Deacon, “Will you give them to me?” They are then given as hereinbefore described.  The word is Jachin.  After they are given, the Senior Warden says, “They are right; you can pass on to the Worshipful Master in the East.”  As they approach the Master, he inquires, “Who comes here?  Who comes here?” Senior Deacon answers, “A Fellow Craft Mason.”  The Master then says to the candidate, “Brother you have been admitted into the middle chamber of King Solomon’s Temple for the sake of the letter G. It denotes Deity, before whom we all ought to bow with reverence, worship, and adoration.  It also denotes Geometry, the fifth science:  it being that on which this degree was principally founded.  By Geometry we may curiously trace nature through her various windings to her most concealed recesses; by it we may discover the power,

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