Senior Overseers then take the stone between them,
and after waving it backward and forward four times,
they heave it over in such a manner that the one letting
go while the stone is arriving at the highest point,
it brings the stone in a quarterly direction over
the other’s left shoulder; the Junior Overseer,
being stationed in a suitable position, at this moment
receives the stone, and carries it away into the preparation
room. R. W. M.—“Brother Senior
Warden, assemble the crafts to receive wages.”
At this command the brethren all arise, and form a
procession single file; the candidate is placed at
the head of the procession, and when stationed, is
told that “the last shall be first, and the
first last.” The procession being formed,
they commence singing the following song: “Mark
Masters all appear,” &c., and, at the same time,
commence a circular march (against the course of the
sun) around the room, giving all the signs during
their march, beginning with that of Entered Apprentice,
and ending at that of Mark Master. They are given
in the following manner: The first revolution
each brother, when opposite the Right Worshipful Master,
gives the first sign in Masonry. The second revolution,
when opposite the Master, the second; and so on, until
they give all the signs to that of Mark Master.
While the ceremony is going on in the Lodge, the Senior
Grand Warden procures a sufficient number of cents
and passes into the preparation room, and opens a
lattice window in the door which communicates to the
Lodge room, and when the craftsmen arrive to the Mark
Master Mason’s sign, each of them, in their
last revolution, puts his hand through the window
in the door and gives a token (this is given by shutting
the third and little fingers, extending the fore and
middle fingers, and placing the thumb over them in
a suitable manner to receive the penny or cent), and
receives a penny or cent from the Senior Grand Warden.
Matters are so timed in the march, that when they come
to that part of the song which says, “Caution
them to beware of the right hand,” it comes
the turn of the candidate to put his hand through the
aperture of the door and receive his penny, but not
being able to give the token, he is detected as an
impostor, and the Senior Grand Warden, instead of
giving him his penny, seizes him by the hand and draws
his arm full length through the door and holds him
securely, exclaiming at the same time, “An impostor!
an impostor!” Others, who are in the room with
the Senior Grand Warden, cry out, “Chop off his
hand! chop off his hand!” At this moment the
conductor steps to the candidate and intercedes warmly
in his behalf. Cond.—“Spare him!
spare him!” S. G. W.—“He is
an impostor. He has attempted to receive wages
without being able to give the token. The penalty
must be inflicted.” Cond.—“He
is a brother Fellow Craft, and on condition that you
will release him, I will be responsible that he shall
be taken before the Right Worshipful Master, where