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