First Ruffian–Is that you, Jubela?

Answer–Yes.

Second Ruffian–Is that you, Jubelum?1

Answer–Yes.

Third Ruffian–Is that you, Jubelo?

Answer–Yes.

First Ruffian–Well, we have all met as agreed upon: the question is, what shall we do with the body? It is now past mid-night, and if we do not act with decision, daylight will be upon us, and we will be discovered and taken. We will carry the body a westerly course from the Temple to the brow of the hill west of Mount Moriah, where I have dug a grave due east and west, six feet perpendicular.

Answer–Agreed!

A sufficient number of the brethren now take up the body (yet rolled up in the canvas), and, raising it on their shoulders, proceed to carry it around the Lodge, head foremost, three times, in representation of ascending a hill, the last time halting in the west end of the Lodge, nearly in front of the Senior Warden’s station, and a little to the right. Upon arriving there they commence to lower it into the grave, as they style it, but in reality only from their shoulders to the floor. After the candidate is lowered, one of the ruffians says:

Let us plant an acacia at the head of the grave, in order to

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conceal it so that the place may be known should occasion hereafter require.

Some Lodges have a small box with a house-plant or dry twig in it, which is set down on the floor near the candidate’s head. One of the ruffians exclaims:

Now let us make our escape out of the country.

And immediately one of the most intelligent brethren stations himself at the door of the ante-room, and when those who have been acting the part of the ruffians approach him, the following colloquy ensues:

First Ruffian–Hallo, friend! Are you a sea-captain?

Captain–I am.

Second Ruffian–Are you going to put to sea soon?

Captain–Immediately.

Third Ruffian–Whither are you bound?

Captain–To Ethiopia.

Ruffian–The very port to which we wish to go. We three should like to take a passage with you.

Captain–Very well, you can have a passage. I suppose you are brothers, workmen from the Temple, and journeying, are you not?

Ruffians–We are.

Captain–I should be glad of your company. You have a pass from King Solomon, I presume?

Ruffians (affecting surprise.)–No, we have no pass; we did not know it was necessary. We were sent in haste and on urgent business; there was nothing said about giving us a pass, and we presume it was forgotten, or not deemed necessary.

Captain–What! no pass. What! no pass. If this is the case, you cannot get a passage with me, I assure you. That is strictly forbidden; so you may set your minds at rest.

Ruffians–We will go back and get a pass, if that is the case.

Captain–The sooner the better! Suspicious characters!

The Ruffians now return near to the body, when the following conversation takes place:

First Ruffian–What shall we do in this case?

Second Ruffian–We will go to some other port.

Third Ruffian–But the rules are as strict in other ports as in this.

First Ruffian–If such are the regulations, we shall not get a pass at any port, and what will become of us?

Second Ruffian–We shall be taken and put to death.

Third Ruffian–Let us secrete ourselves until night and steal a small boat and put to sea.

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First Ruffian–We cannot make our escape in that way. It is a dangerous coast, and we shall be taken; for before this time our escape is discovered, and the sea-coast will be lined with our pursuers.

Second Ruffian–Then let us flee into the interior parts of the country, and avoid being taken as long as possible.

Third Ruffian–Agreed!

They now retire from the body, in different directions. When all has been again quiet in the Lodge for a few seconds, the brethren jump up, commence laughing, singing, &c., exclaiming:

No work to-day. Craftsmen, we are having good times; I wonder if it will last.

They shuffle about a few moments, when they are called to order by the sound of the gavel from the Master’s seat in the east, who inquires in a loud voice as follows:

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