“To preserve the reputation of the fraternity unsullied, must be your constant care, and for this purpose, it is your province to recommend to your inferiors, obedience and submission; to your equals, courtesy and affability; to your superiors, kindness and condescension.  Universal benevolence you are always to inculcate; and, by the regularity of your own behavior, afford the best example for the conduct of others less informed.  The ancient landmarks of the Order, entrusted to your care, you are carefully to preserve; and never suffer them to be infringed, or countenance a deviation from the established usages and customs of the fraternity.

“Your virtue, honor, and reputation are concerned in supporting, with dignity, the character you now bear.  Let no motive, therefore, make you swerve from your duty, violate your vow, or betray your trust:  but be true and faithful, and imitate the example of that celebrated artist whom you this evening represent:  thus you will render yourself deserving the honor which we have conferred, and merit the confidence that we have reposed.”

Here follows the Lecture on this degree, which is divided into three sections.

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FIRST SECTION.

Question—­Are you a Master Mason?  Answer—­I am; try me; disprove me if you can.

Q. Where were you prepared to be made a Master Mason?  A. In a room adjacent to the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such, duly assembled in a room, representing the sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies, of King Solomon’s Temple.

Q. How were you prepared?  A. By being divested of all metals; neither naked nor clothed; barefooted nor shod; with a cable-tow three times about my naked body; in which posture I was conducted to the door of the Lodge, where I gave three distinct knocks.

Q. What did those three distinct knocks allude to?  A. To the third degree in Masonry; it being that on which I was about to enter.

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

Q. Your answer?  A. A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, and now wishes for further light in Masonry, by being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.

Q. What further was said to you from within?  A. I was asked if it was of my own free will and accord I made this request; if I was duly and truly prepared; worthy and well qualified; and had made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree; all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what further rights I expected to obtain that benefit.

Q. Your answer?  A. By the benefit of a pass-word.

Q. What was that pass-word?  A. Tubal Cain.