The Mysteries of Free Masonry Part 24

Q. Where were you received? A. In the middle chamber.

Q. How did you gain admission there? A. By four and one distinct knocks.

Q. To what do they allude? A. To the qualifications of a Provost and Judge, to wit: impartiality, justice, prudence, discretion and mercy; of which the five lights in the middle chamber are also emblematical.

Q. How were these knocks answered? A. By four and one from within.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked by what further right, etc.

Q. Your answer? A. By the right of a pa.s.s.

Q. What was then said to you? A. Wait until the Thrice Ill.u.s.trious is informed of your request, and his answer returned.

Q. What was his answer? A. Introduce him in due and ancient form.

Q. What was that form? A. I was conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the south-west corner of the middle chamber, between the Wardens, and caused to kneel on my right knee and say Beroke.

Q. What answer was given to that? A. The Thrice Ill.u.s.trious said k.u.mi.

Q. What do these words signify? A. The first signifies to kneel, the last, to rise.

Q. What followed? A. I was conducted three times 'round the Lodge, giving the signs of the ineffable degrees, and led to the altar, and caused to kneel and take the obligation of this degree.

Q. Repeat that obligation. A. Same as Perfect Master, with the addition, that I will justly and impartially decide all matters of difference between brethren of this degree, if in my power so to do, under penalty of being punished as an unjust Judge, by having my nose severed from my face. So help me, etc.

Q. What followed? A. The Thrice Ill.u.s.trious gave me the signs, tokens and words of this degree.

Q. Give me the signs? A. (Put the two first fingers of your right hand to the right side of your nose, the thumb under the chin, forming a square.)

Q. Give me the token? A. (Clench the three first fingers of the right hand over the thumb, and join hands by interlacing the little fingers.)

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-word? A. Jev (p.r.o.nounced Jo).

Q. What was then done to you? A. I was invested with the jewel, ap.r.o.n and gloves of this degree, and was thus addressed:--"Respectable Brother, it gives me joy that I am now about to recompense, etc. This key opens a small ebony box, in which are contained the plans for the building of the temple, and this key opens a small ivory box containing all the keys of the temple. I clothe you with a white ap.r.o.n, lined with red, having a pocket in its centre, and in which you are intended to carry the plans for the building of the temple, that they may be laid out on the tressel board for the use of the workmen when wanted. I also give you a balance in equilibrio, as a badge of your office. Let it remind you of that equity of judgment which should characterize your decisions."

Q. What was next done? A. He made me a Provost and Judge.

Q. In what manner? A. He gave me a blow on each shoulder, and said, "By the power with which I am invested, I const.i.tute you Provost and Judge over all the works and workmen of the temple. Be impartial, just, prudent, discreet and merciful. Go salute the Junior and Senior Wardens as a Provost and Judge, and return to the Lodge for further instruction.

SECOND SECTION.--Question--What did you perceive in the middle chamber? Answer--A curtain, behind which was suspended a small ebony box containing the plans for the construction of the temple.

Q. What else did you see? A. A triangle enclosing the letters G. A.

Q. What is their meaning and use? A. Grand Architect, and are designed to make us remember him in all our decisions and actions.

Q. Did you perceive anything more? A. I saw the letters I. H. S. with the sprig of ca.s.sia.

Q. What is meant thereby? A. Imitate Hiram's Silence, and Justice, Humanity and Secrecy, which are designed to teach Provost and Judge, that while their decisions are just, they should be tempered with humanity, or mercy, and that all differences which may arise among the craft, should be kept secret from the world.

Q. What was the intention of Solomon in inst.i.tuting this degree? A. To strengthen the means of preserving order among such a vast number of workmen; the duty of Provosts and Judges being, to decide all differences that might arise among the brethren.

Q. Who was the first that was made Provost and Judge? A. Joabert being honored with the intimate confidence of King Solomon, received this new mark of distinction. Solomon first created t.i.to, Adoniram, and Abda, his father, Provosts and Judges, and gave them orders to initiate Joabert into the mysteries of this degree, and to give him all the keys of the temple, which were inclosed in a small ivory box suspended in the Sanctum Sanctorum, under a rich canopy. When Joabert was first admitted into this sacred place, he was struck with awe, and involuntarily found himself in a kneeling posture, and said, Beroke; Solomon observing him, said k.u.mi, which signifies to rise.

Q. Whence came you as a Provost and Judge? A. I came and am going everywhere.

CLOSING.--Thrice Ill.u.s.trious Master knocks three (Marshal rises) and says, "Brother Grand Marshal, the last as well as the first care of Provost and Judge?" Answer--To see that the middle chamber is duly tyled.--"Attend to your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to close this Lodge of Provosts and Judges by four and one." Marshal reports. Thrice Ill.u.s.trious strikes four. Wardens rise, and Master says, "Brother Senior Warden, what is the hour?" Ans.--Break of day, 8, 2 and 7.

Q. Brother Junior Warden, how so? A. Because Provosts and Judges should be ready at all times to render Justice. Thrice Ill.u.s.trious knocks four and one, and brethren all rise. Signs reversed given.

Thrice Ill.u.s.trious strikes four and one, Marshal four and one, Junior Warden four and one, and Senior Warden four and one, and then all the brethren strike four & one with their hands, and Thrice Ill.u.s.trious declares Lodge duly closed.

INTENDANT OF THE BUILDINGS (OR I. B.).

OPENING.--Most Puissant knocks three (Marshal rises) and says, "Brother Grand Marshal, are we all I. B.?" Answer--We are, Most Puissant.

Q. Your place? A. In the north.

Q. Your business there? A. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled.--"Attend to your duty, and inform the Lodge that we are about to open a Lodge of I. B. by the number five." Marshal obeys. Most Puissant knocks four, and Wardens rise.--Q. Brother Senior Warden, what is the hour? A. Break of day.--Most Puissant knocks five, and brethren all rise. Most Puissant says, "If it is break of day, it is time to begin our labors; give notice that I am going to open a Lodge of I. B." Senior Warden obeys. All make signs. Most Puissant knocks five, Senior Warden five, Junior Warden five, and brethren five, with their hands; and Most Puissant declares the Lodge open.

RECEPTION.--Most Puissant knocks seven, and Senior Warden rises. Most Puissant says, "My excellent brother, how shall we repair the loss of our worthy Hiram Abiff, he is now removed from us, and we are thereby deprived of his counsel and services; can you give me any advice in this important matter?" Senior Warden answers, "The method I would propose, would be to select a chief from the five orders of architecture upon whom we may confer the degree of I. B., and by his a.s.sistance fill the secret chamber of the third story." Most Puissant says, "I approve of your advice, and to convince you of my readiness to follow it, I appoint you and brothers Adoniram and Abda to carry the same into execution. Excellent Brothers, let Adoniram go into the middle chamber and see if he can find a chief of the five orders of architecture." Junior Warden goes out of the Lodge into the ante-chamber, and finding the candidate, addresses him as in the Lecture.

NOTE.--When the alarm of five is given Senior Warden rises and says, "Most Puissant, we are disturbed in our deliberations by an alarm at the inner door of the secret chamber." Most Puissant says, "Brother Senior Warden, see the cause of that alarm."

LECTURE.--Question--Are you an Intendant of the Buildings? A. I have made the five steps of exactness; I have penetrated the inmost parts of the temple, and have seen the great light, in which were three mysterious characters, J. J. J.

Q. How were you received? A. Being in the middle chamber, in company with the Master of Ceremonies, Adoniram entered and inquired, "Is there here a chief of the five orders of architecture?"

Q. Your answer? A. I am one.

Q. What followed? A. I was then asked, "My dear brother, have you zeal to apply yourself with attention to that which the Most Puissant shall request of you?"

Q. Your answer? A. I have, and will comply with the request of the Most Puissant, and raise this edifice to his honor and glory.

Q. What followed? Ans. Adoniram demanded of me the signs, words, and tokens of my former degrees, which being given, the Master of Ceremonies conducted me to the door of the Lodge, where he gave me five distinct knocks.

Q. To what did they allude? A. To the five orders of architecture.

Q. How were they answered? A. By five from within.

Q. What was then said to you. A. I was asked, "Who comes there?"

Q. Your answer? A. A chief of the five orders of architecture, who is to be employed in the works of the secret chamber.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was then asked by what further right, etc.

Q. Your answer? A. By the right of a pa.s.s-word.