Part 9

One rap calls the Lodge to order; one calls up the Junior and Senior Deacons; two raps call up the subordinate officers; and three, all the members of the Lodge. The Right Worshipful Master having called the Lodge to order, and all being seated, the Right Worshipful Master says to the Junior Warden, "Brother Junior, are they all Mark Master Masons in the South?" Junior Warden answers, "They are, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother." R. W. M.--"Brother Senior, are they all Mark Master Masons in the West?" Senior Warden--"They are, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"They are in the East." At the same time gives a rap with the mallet which calls up both Deacons. R. W. M.--"Brother Junior, the first care of a Mason?" "To see the Lodge tyled, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"Attend to that part of the duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Mark Master Masons, and direct him to tyle accordingly." Junior Deacon steps to the door and gives four raps, which are answered by four without by the Tyler; the Junior Deacon then gives one, which is answered by the Tyler with one; the door is then partly opened, and the Junior Deacon then delivers his message and resumes his station, gives the due-guard of a Mark Master Mason, and says, "The door is tyled, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"By whom?" J. D.--"By a Mark Master Mason without the door, armed with the proper implements of his office." R. W. M.--"His duty there?" J. D.--"To keep off all cowans and eavesdroppers, see that none pass or repass without permission from the Right Worshipful Master." R. W. M.--"Brother Junior, your place in the Lodge?" J. D.--"At the right hand of the Senior Warden in the West." R. W. M.--"Your business there, Brother Junior?" J. D.--"To wait on the Right Worshipful Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge, and take care of the door." R. W. M.--"The Senior Deacon's place in the Lodge?" J. D.--"At the right hand of the Worshipful Master in the East." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother." He then gives two raps with the mallet, and the subordinate officers rise. R. W. M.--"Your duty there, Brother Senior?" S. D.--"To wait on the Right Worshipful Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge, attend to the preparation and introduction of candidates, and welcome and clothe all visiting brethren." R. W. M.--"The Secretary's place in the Lodge, Brother Junior?" J. D.--"At the right hand of the Worshipful Master in the East." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your duty there, Brother Secretary?" Sec.--"The better to observe the Right Worshipful Master's will and pleasure; record the proceedings of the Lodge; transmit the same to the Grand Lodge, if required; receive all monies and money-bills from the hands of the brethren, pay them over to the Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same." R. W. M.--"The Treasurer's place in the Lodge?" Sec.--"At the right hand of the Right Worshipful Master." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your duty there, Brother Treasurer?" Treasurer--"Duly to observe the Right Worshipful Master's will and pleasure; receive all monies and money-bills from the hands of the Secretary; give a receipt for the same; keep a just and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the Right Worshipful Master and consent of the brethren." R. W. M.--"The Junior Overseer's place in the Lodge, Brother Treasurer?" Treas.--"At the right hand of the Junior Warden in the South, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Junior Overseer?" J. O.--"To inspect all material brought up for the building of the Temple; approve or disapprove of the same; and, if approved, pass it on to the Senior Overseer for further inspection." R. W. M.--"The Senior Overseer's place in the Lodge?" J. O.--"At the right hand of the Senior Warden in the West, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Senior Overseer?" S. O.--"To inspect all materials brought up for the building of the Temple; and, if approved, pass it on to the Master Overseer at the East gate for further inspection." R. W. M.--"The Master Overseer's place in the Lodge, Brother Senior Overseer?" S. O.--"At the right hand of the Right Worshipful Master in the East." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Master Overseer?" M. O.--"To assist in the inspection of all materials brought up for the building of the Temple; and if disapproved, to call a council of my brother Overseers." R. W. M.--"The Junior Warden's place in the Lodge, Brother Master Overseer?" M. O.--"In the South, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Junior?" J. W.--"As the sun in the South, at high meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South, the better to observe the time, call the crafts from labor to refreshment, superintend them during the hours thereof, see that none convert the hours of refreshment into that of intemperance or excess, and call them on again in due season, that the Right Worshipful Master may have honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby." R. W. M.--"The Senior Warden's place in the Lodge?" J. W.--"In the West, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother. Your duty there, Brother Senior?" S. W.--"As the sun sets in the West to close the day, so stands the Senior Warden in the West, to assist the Right Worshipful in opening and closing the Lodge; take care of the jewels and implements; see that none be lost; pay the craft their wages, if any be due; and see that none go away dissatisfied." R. W. M.--"The Master's place in the Lodge?" S. W.--"In the East, Right Worshipful." R. W. M.--"His duty there?" S. W.--"As the sun rises in the East to open and adorn the day, so presides the Right Worshipful Master in the East to open and adorn his Lodge, set his crafts to work, and govern them with good and wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done." R. W. M.--"I thank you, brother." Gives three raps with the mallet, which calls up all the brethren, takes off his hat and says, "In like manner, so do I, strictly prohibiting all profane language, private committees, or any other disorderly conduct, whereby the peace and harmony of this Lodge may be interrupted, while engaged in its lawful pursuits; under no less penalty than the by-laws enjoin, or a majority of the brethren present may see cause to inflict. Brethren, attend to giving the signs." The Right Worshipful Master (all the brethren imitating him) extends his left arm from his body, so as to form an angle of about forty-five degrees, and holds his right hand transversely across his left, the palms thereof about an inch apart. This is called the first sign of a Mason--is the sign of distress in the first degree, and alludes to the position a candidate's hands are placed when he takes the obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason; he then draws his right hand across his throat, the hand open, with his thumb next his throat, drops it down by his side. This is called the due-guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason, and alludes to the penal part of the obligation. Next he places the palm of his open right hand upon his left breast, and, at the same time, throws up his left hand, and so extends his left arm as to form a right angle; from the shoulder to the elbow it is horizontal, from the elbow to the tip of the finger it is perpendicular. This is the sign and due-guard of a Fellow Craft Mason, and also alludes to the penal part of the obligation, which is administered in this degree. After this, the Right Worshipful Master draws his right hand across his bowels, with his hand open, and thumb next his body, and drops it down by his side. This is the sign or due-guard of a Master Mason, and, like the others, alludes to the penalty of this degree. He then throws up the grand hailing sign of distress; this is given by raising both hands and arms to the elbow, perpendicularly, one on each side of the head, the elbows forming a square, his arms then drop by his side; he then clutches the third and little fingers of his right hand; with his thumb extended at the same time, his middle and forefingers, brings up his hand in such a manner as to have the side of the middle finger touch the rim of the right ear, then lets it drop, and, as it falls, brings the outward side of the little finger of the left hand across the wrist of the right, then lets them fall by his sides. This is the sign or due-guard of a Mark Master Mason, and also alludes to the penal part of the obligation in this degree. Here it is proper to remark that in the opening of any Lodge of Masons, they commence giving the signs of an Entered Apprentice, and go through all the signs of the different degrees, in regular gradation, until they arrive to the one which they are opening, and commence at the sign of the degree in which they are at work, and descend to the last when closing. After going through all the signs, as before described, the Right Worshipful Master declares the Lodge opened in the following manner: "I now declare this Lodge of Mark Master Masons duly opened for the dispatch of business." The Senior Warden declares it to the Junior Warden, and he to the brethren. The Right Worshipful Master then repeats a charge: "Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice and guile," &c., &c.