CHAPTER II.

THE DEGREE OF PAST MASTER.

THIS Degree should be carefully studied, and well understood, by every Master of a Lodge. It treats of the government of Lodges, and the duties of Masters; including the Ceremonies of Opening and Closing Lodges; the Initiating, Crafting, and Raising Masons; the forms of Installation, Consecration, and Dedication; the Laying of Corner Stones of Public Edifices; Presiding at Funeral Ceremonies; and gives a variety of particulars explanatory of the foregoing. Full details are contained in the First Part of this work; but are not deemed necessary here. The following explanations are all that will be found of importance in Chapters.

BROTHER:

ADDRESS

то THE MASTER.

Having been elected to preside over this Lodge, it becomes necessary that, previous to your investiture, you should signify your assent to those ancient charges and regulations which point out your duty as Master of a Lodge:

I. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the moral law.

II. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside.

III. You promise not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against government; but patiently to submit to the decisions of the supreme legislature.

IV. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrates, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably by all men.

V. You agree to hold in veneration the original rulers and patrons of the Order of Masonry, and their regular successors, supreme and subordinate, according to their stations; and to submit to the awards and resolutions of your Brethren when convened, in every case consistent with the Constitutions of the Order.

VI. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard against intemperance and excess.

VII. You agree to be cautious in carriage and behavior, courteous to your Brethren, and faithful to your Lodge.

VIII. You promise to respect genuine Brethren, and to discountenance impostors and all dissenters from the original plan of Masonry.

IX. You agree to promote the general good cf society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the knowledge of the art.

X. You promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the time being, and to his officers when duly Installed; and strictly to conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge, or general assembly of Masons, that is not subversive of the principles and ground work of Masonry.

XI. You admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of Masonry.

XII. You promise a regular attendance on the committees and communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry on convenient occasions.

XIII. You admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission of the Grand Lodge; and that no countenance be given to an irregular Lodge, or any person clandestinely initiated therein, being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order.

XIV. You admit that no person can be regularly made a Mason in, or admitted a member of, any regular Lodge, without previous notice, and due inquiry into his character.

XV. You agree that no visitors shall be received into your Lodge, without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their having been initiated into a regular Lodge.

Do you submit to these charges, and promise to support these regulations, as Masters have done in all ages before you? The Master is to answer, I do.

The presiding officer then addresses him :— BROTHER A. B.:

In consequence of your cheerful conformity to these charges and regulations of the Order, you are now to be Installed Master of this* Lodge, in full confidence of your care, skill, and capacity to govern the same.

[The new Master is then regularly invested with the insignia of his office and the furniture and implements of the Lodge.]

The Holy Book, that great light in Masonry, will guide you to all truth; it will direct your paths to the temple of happiness, and point out to you the whole duty of man.

The Square teaches to regulate our actions by rule and line, and harmonize our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue.

The Compasses teach us to limit our desires in every station, that, rising to eminence by merit, we may live respected, and die regretted.

The Rule directs that we should punctually observe our duty;

If the Lodge is Installed for the first time, it is called, "This new Lodge."

press forward in the path of virtue, and, neither inclining to the right nor to the left, in all our actions have eternity in view.

The Line teaches the criterion of moral rectitude, to avoid dissimulation in conversation and action, and to direct our steps to the path which leads to a glorious immortality.

The Book of Constitutions you are to search at all times. Cause it to be read in your Lodge, that none may pretend ignorance of the excellent precepts it enjoins.

You will also receive in charge the By-Laws of your Lodge, which you are to see carefully and punctually executed.

CHARGE UPON THE

INSTALLATION

THE MASTER OF A

WORSHIPFUL MASTER:

LODGE.

OF

Being appointed Master of this Lodge, you cannot be insensible to the obligations which devolve on you, as their head; nor of your responsibility for the faithful discharge of the important duties annexed to your appointment.

The honor, reputation, and usefulness of your Lodge, will materially depend on the skill and assiduity with which you manage its concerns; while the happiness of its members will be generally promoted in proportion to the zeal and ability with which you propagate the genuine principles of our Institution. For a pattern of imitation, consider the great luminary of nature, which, rising in the East, regularly diffuses light and lustre to all within its circle. In like manner, it is your province to spread and communicate light and instruction to the Brethren of your Lodge. Forcibly impress upon them the dignity and high importance of Masonry; and seriously admonish them never to disgrace it. Charge them to practise out of the Lodge those duties which are taught in it; and by amiable, discreet, and virtuous conduct, to convince mankind of the goodness of the Institution; so that, when any one is said to be a member of it, the world may know that he is one to whom the burthened heart may pour out its sorrows; to whom distress may prefer its suit; whose hand is guided by justice, and whose heart is expanded by benevolence. In short, by a diligent observance of the by-laws of your Lodge, the Constitutions of Masonry, and, above all, the Holy Scriptures, which are given as a rule and guide to your faith, you will be enabled to acquit yourself with honor and reputation, and lay up a crown of rejoicing, which shall continue when time shall be no more.

CHAPTER III.

THE DEGREE OF MOST EXCELLENT MASTER.

"NONE but the meritorious and praiseworthy; none but those who, through diligence and industry, have advanced far towards perfection; none but those who have been seated in the Oriental Chair, by the unanimous suffrages of their Brethren, can be admitted to this Degree of Masonry.

"In the original establishment; when the Temple of Jerusalem was finished, and the Fraternity celebrated the capstone with great joy; it is demonstrable that none but those who had proved themselves to be complete masters of their profession were admitted to this honor; and, indeed, the duties incumbent on every Mason, who is received and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master, are such as render it indispensable that he should have a correct knowledge of all the preceding Degrees."

The foundations of the Temple were laid by King Solomon, in the year of the world 2992, and the building was finished in the year 3000. About seven years and six months were consumed in its erection. It was Dedicated in the year 3001, with great solemnity, and in the presence of the assembled people of Israel, to the worship of Jehovah, who condescended to make it the place of the special manifestation of his glory.

Perhaps no structure, erected either before or since, is to be compared with it, for its exactly proportioned and beautiful dimensions. Its various courts and other apartments were capable of holding 300,000 people. It was adorned with 1453 columns of the finest Parian marble, twisted, sculptured, and voluted; and 2906 pilasters, decorated with magnificent capitals. The Oracle and Sanctuary were lined with massive gold, adorned with embellishments in sculpture, and set with numerous gorgeous and dazzling decorations of diamonds and all kinds of precious stones. In the emphatic language of Josephus, "the whole Temple shined, and dazzled the eyes of such as entered it, by the splendor of the gold that was on every side of them." The multitude, on beholding it, were struck with bewildering amazement, and raised their hands in astonishment and admira