Prayer.—­Most holy and glorious God! the great Architect of the Universe:  the giver of all good gifts and graces.  Thou hast promised that “Where two or three are gathered together in Thy name, Thou wilt be in the midst of them, and bless them.”  In Thy name we assemble, most humbly beseeching Thee to bless us in all our undertakings, that we may know and serve Thee aright, and that all our actions may tend to Thy glory, and our advancement in knowledge and virtue.  And we beseech Thee, O Lord God, to bless our present assembling; and to illumine our minds through the influence of the Son of Righteousness, that we may walk in the Light of Thy countenance; and when the trials of our probationary state are over, be admitted into the temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  Amen.  So mote it be.

Another prayer.—­Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, evermore.  Amen.  So mote it be. [This prayer is likewise used on closing the Lodge.]

The Lodge being now open and ready to proceed to business, the Master directs the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, which naturally brings to view the business of the present.  If there are any candidates to be brought forward, that is the first business attended to.[1]

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CEREMONIES OF THE ADMISSION AND INITIATION OF A CANDIDATE IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF FREEMASONRY.

At the first regular communication after the candidate has petitioned for admission, if no objection has been urged against him, the Lodge proceeds to a ballot.  One black ball will reject a candidate.  The boxes may be passed three times.  The Deacons are the proper persons to pass them; one of the boxes has black and white beans or balls in it, the other empty; the one with the balls in it goes before and furnishes each member with a black and white ball; the empty box follows and receives them.  There are two holes in the top of this box, with a small tube in each, one of which is black, and the other white, with a partition in the box.  The members put both their balls into this box as their feelings dictate; when the balls are received, the box is presented to the Master, Senior, and Junior Wardens, who pronounce clear or not clear, as the case may be.  The ballot proving clear, the candidate (if present) is conducted into a small preparation room adjoining the Lodge; he is asked the following questions, and gives the following answers.  Senior Deacon to candidate, “Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor before these gentlemen, that, unbiassed by friends, uninfluenced