J. D.–Brother Gabe, who has been regularly initiated Entered Apprentice, passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft, and now wishes to receive further light in Masonry, by being raised to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
S. D.–Brother Gabe, is it of your own free-will and accord?
Candidate–It is.
S. D.–Brother Junior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified?
J. D.–He is.
S. D.–Duly and truly prepared?
J. D–He is.
S. D.–Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees?
J. D.–He has.
S. D.–And properly vouched for?
J. D.–He is.
S. D.–Who vouches for him?
J. D.–A brother.
S. D.–By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
J. D.–By the benefit of the password.
S. D.–Has he the password?
J. D.–He has it not, but I have it for him.
S. D.–Advance, and give it me.
Junior Deacon here steps forward and whispers in the Senior Deacon’s ear, “Tubal Cain.”
S. D.–The pass is right; you will wait with patience until the Worshipful Master is informed of your request and his answer returned.
The Deacon then closes the door, repairs to the centre of the Lodge-room before the altar, and sounds his rod on the floor three times (• • •), which is responded to by the Master with three raps of the gavel, when the Senior Deacon makes the sign of a Master Mason (see Fig. 6, p. 18), and says:
p. 90
S. D.–Brother Gabe, who has been regularly initiated Entered Apprentice, passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft, and now wishes to receive further light in Masonry, by being raised to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
W. M.–Is it of his own free-will and accord?
S. D.–It is.
W, M.–Is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
S. D.–He is.
W. M.–Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
S. D.–He has.
W. M.–And properly vouched for?
S. D.–He is.
W. M.–Who vouches for him?
S. D–A brother.
W. M.–By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
S. D.–By the benefit of the password.
W. M.–Has he that pass?
S. D.–He has it not, but I have it for him.
W. M.–Advance, and give it me.
The Senior Deacon steps to the Master, and whispers in his ear, “Tubal Cain.”
W. M.–The password is right. Let him enter, and be received in due form.
The Senior Deacon steps to the altar, takes the compasses, repairs to the door, opens it, and says:
S. D.–Let him enter, and be received in due form.
The Junior Deacon advances, followed by the Stewards, with rods, when the Senior Deacon stops them, by placing his hand against the candidate, at the same time saying:
S. D.–Brother Gabe, on entering this Lodge the first time, you were received on the point of the compasses, pressing your naked left breast, the moral of which was explained to you. On entering the second time, you were received on the angle of the square, which was also explained to you. I now receive you on both points of the compasses, extending from your naked left to your naked right breast (he here places both points against candidate’s breasts), which is to teach you, that as the vital parts of man are contained within the breasts, so the most excellent tenets of our institution are contained between the points of the compasses–which are Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love.
The Junior Deacon now passes the candidate over to the Senior
p. 91
[paragraph continues] Deacon, and he (Junior Deacon) takes his seat near the door, at the right hand of the Senior Warden in the west, while the Senior Deacon proceeds to conduct the candidate, followed by the two Stewards, three times around the Lodge, during which time the Worshipful Master reads the following passage of Scripture:
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them: while the sun, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease, because they are few; and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets; or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken at the fountain, or the wheel at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God, who gave it.”
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
