one, too, as you will probably carry to your grave.”  Places the edge of the chisel near his left breast and makes several motions with the mallet, as though he was about to strike upon the head of the chisel.  Executioner—­“This is a painful undertaking; I do not feel able to perform it, Right Worshipful (turning to the Right Worshipful Master); this task is too painful; I feel that I cannot perform it; I wish the Right Worshipful would select some other brother to perform it in my stead.”  R. W. M.—­“I know the task is unpleasant, and a painful one; but as you have undertaken to perform it, unless some other brother will volunteer his service and take your place, you must proceed.”  Exec—­“Brother (calling the name), will you volunteer your service and take my place?” Brother—­“I cannot consent to do it (after several solicitations and refusals).”  Exec.—­“Right Worshipful, no brother feels willing to volunteer his services, and I declare I feel unwilling and unable to perform it.”  R. W. M.—­“As no brother feels disposed to take your station, it becomes your duty to perform it yourself.”  Exec. (taking his station) “Brethren, support the candidate (several take hold of the candidate); brother (naming some physician or surgeon), will you assist?” Doctor (stepping up)—­“Brethren, it becomes necessary that we should have a bowl, or some other vessel, to receive the blood.”  A bowl is presented, having the appearance of blood upon it, and is held in a suitable position to receive the blood; the surgeon places his fingers on the left breast of the candidate, and gives counsel where it would be advisable to inflict the wound.  The executioner then places the edge of the chisel near the spot and draws back the mallet, and while making several false motions, says, “Operative Masons make use of the engraving chisel and mallet to cut, hew, carve, and indent their work; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, make use of them for a more noble and glorious purpose; we use them to cut, hew, carve, and indent the mind;” giving, at the instant the last word is pronounced, a severe blow with the mallet upon the head of the chisel, without the least injury to the candidate, which often terrifies him to an alarming degree.  The candidate is then conducted four times around the Lodge, and each time, as he passes the station of the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, they each give one loud rap with their mallet; the Master, in the meantime, reads the following passages of Scripture:  Psalms cxviii. 22.  “The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner.”  Matt. xxi. 42.  “Did ye never read in the Scriptures the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?” Luke xx. 17.  “What is this, then, that is written:  The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?” Acts iv. 11.  “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders which is become the head of the corner.”  The reading of them is so timed as to be completed