am.” R. W. M.—“Can you
give us any proof of it?” Candidate gives the
sign of a Fellow Craft. R. W. M.—“He
is a Fellow Craft. Have you ever been taught how
to receive wages?” Cand.—“I
have not.” R. W. M.—“This
serves, in a measure, to mitigate his crime.
If you are instructed how to receive wages, will you
do better in future, and never again attempt to impose
on the Grand Overseers, and, above all, never attempt
to receive wages for labor which you never performed.”
Cand.—“I will.” R. W. M.—“The
penalty is remitted.” The candidate is then
taken into the preparation room and divested of his
outward apparel, and all money and valuables, his
breast bare, and a cable-tow four times around his
body; in which condition he is conducted to the door,
when the conductor gives four distinct knocks, upon
the hearing of which the Senior Warden says to the
Right Worshipful, “While we are peaceably at
work on the fourth degree of Masonry, the door of
our Lodge appears to be alarmed.” R. W.
M.—“Brother Junior, see the cause
of that alarm.” The Junior Warden then
steps to the door and answers the alarm by four knocks,
the conductor and himself each giving another; the
door is then partly opened, and the Junior Warden
then asks, “Who comes there?” Cond.—“A
worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as
an Entered Apprentice, served a proper time as such;
passed to the degree of Fellow Craft; raised to the
sublime degree of a Master Mason; and now wishes further
light in Masonry, by being advanced to the more honorable
degree of a Mark Master Mason.” J. W.—“Is
it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?”
Cond.—“It is.” J. W.—“Is
he duly and truly prepared?” Cond.—“He
is.” J. W.—“Has he wrought
in the quarry, and exhibited specimens of his skill
in the preceding degrees?” Cond.—“He
has.” J. W.—“By what further
right or benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?”
Cond.—“By the benefit of a pass-word.”
J. W.—“Has he a pass-word?”
Cond.—“He has not, but I have it
for him.” J. W.—“Give it
to me.” Conductor whispers in his ear,
“Joppa.” J. W.—“The
pass-word is right. You will let him wait until
the Right Worshipful Master is made acquainted with
his request and his answer returned.” The
Junior Warden returns him to the Right Worshipful
Master, where the same questions are asked and answers
returned, as at the door. The Right Worshipful
Master then says, “Since he comes endowed with
the necessary qualifications, let him enter in the
name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters.
[Previous to the candidate’s entering, one of
the brethren, who is best qualified for the station,
is selected and furnished with an engraving chisel
and mallet, and placed near the door, so that when
the candidate enters, it is on the edge of an engraving
chisel, under the pressure of the mallet. As
this is the business of no particular officer, we
have, for convenience, styled him executioner.] Brother,
it becomes my duty to put a mark on you, and such a