The Mysteries of Free Masonry Part 26

Q. What followed? A. I was asked by what right I claimed this privilege.

Q. Your answer? A. I Have performed a feat for the honor of the craft, which I hope will ent.i.tle me to this degree.

Q. What followed? A. I was admitted, and directed to approach the altar by eight quick and one slow steps, still holding the head in my left hand, and the poniard in my right, as if in the act of striking; the ninth step brought me to the altar, where the Most Potent addressed me in an angry tone: "Wretch, what have you done, do you not know that by this rash act you have deprived me of an opportunity of inflicting condign punishment on the a.s.sa.s.sin?"

Q. What followed? A. The companies made earnest intercession for me, observing that my offence had doubtless arisen from the wrath of my zeal, and not from any bad intention. Upon this the Most Potent was reconciled, and he administered to me the obligation of this degree, the companies all standing 'round me with their poniards as if going to stab me.

Q. Repeat that obligation? A. (Same as in Perfect Master.) Under penalty of being stabbed in my head and in my heart. So help, etc.

Q. What followed? A. The Most Potent gave me the sign, token and words of this degree.

Q. Give me the sign? A. (Clap your right hand first to your head and then to your heart.)

Q. Give me the token? A. (Grasp the thumb of your brother's right hand, both clenching the fingers and extending the thumb of the hand that is uppermost.)

Q. To what does that token allude? A. The eight fingers and extended thumb allude to the eight and one elect; the one to Joabert, who left his eight companions, and went alone in search of, etc.

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-words? A. Rawkam and Akirop.

Q. What is the word? A. Bugelkal, who was chief of the tabernacle.

Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Jeva (p.r.o.nounced Je-vau).

Q. What was then done to you? A. I was invested with the ap.r.o.n, gloves and jewels of this degree, and ordered to salute the Warden, and to return to the east for further instructions.

SECOND SECTION.--Question--Give me the history of this degree? Ans.

After the death of Hiram Abiff, the three ruffians who had been apprehended having made their escape, a great a.s.sembly of Masters had sat, etc., he had only time to p.r.o.nounce Naukam, which signifies, "vengeance is taken," and expired. Joabert being extremely fatigued, refreshed himself at the spring which he found in the cavern, and then slept until he was awakened by the other eight, who arrived shortly after. On beholding what Joabert had done, they all exclaimed Naukam.

Joabert then severed the head from the body, divided the body into 4 quarters, which were burnt to ashes, and the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven. Joabert then taking the head, etc., again reconciled. Solomon then ordered the head to be placed on the east pinnacle of the temple.

Q. What was the name of the a.s.sa.s.sin? A. Jubelum Akirop.

Q. From what number were the nine elect chosen? A. Ninety-nine.

Q. Where was the a.s.sa.s.sin found? A. In a cavern, near the coast of Joppa.

Q. How did the nine elect travel? A. By dark and intricate roads, which often obliged them to cross their legs, and this is the reason why the nine elect sit in this manner in the Chapter.

Q. What is meant by the dog you saw on the carpet, in the Lodge? A.

The dog of the stranger, through whose sagacity Akirop was discovered.

Q. What does the color, black, denote in this degree? A. Grief.

Q. What is your age? A. Eight and one, accomplished.

CLOSING.--Most Potent knocks seven (Grand Marshal rises) and says, "The last as well as the first care of a Chapter of E. K.?" Ans. To see that the Chapter is duly guarded.--Please attend to your duty and inform the Sentinel, etc. Most Potent knocks eight, and Warden rises.

Q. What is the hour? A. Evening. Most Potent knocks eight and one.

Companies all rise. Companion Stokin gives notice, etc. Most Potent knocks eight and one, Warden eight and one, Companions eight and one, and the Chapter is declared duly closed.

MASTERS ELECTED OF FIFTEEN.

OPENING.--Most Potent knocks five (Grand Marshal rises) and says, "Brother Grand Marshal, are we all Masters Elected of Fifteen?" A. We are, Most Potent. Q. Your place, etc.? Your business, etc.? Please inform the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Masters Elected of Fifteen. Most Potent knocks twice five--Senior Warden rises. Most Potent knocks three times five. Brethren rise. Most Potent says, "Brother Inspector, give notice that I am going to open a Lodge of Masters Elected of Fifteen, by three times five." Inspector obeys.

Most Potent knocks three times five, Senior Warden three times five, Junior Warden three times five, and the brethren the same, and the lodge is declared open.

LECTURE.--Question--Are you a Master Elected of Fifteen? Answer--My zeal and works have prepared me that honor.

Q. How were you prepared? A. A head was placed in my hand, and I was conducted to the door of the Lodge by the Master of Ceremonies who knocked three times five.

Q. How were those knocks answered? A. By three times five from within.

Q. To what do they allude? A. The fifteen elected Masters.

Q. What followed? A. I was asked, "Who comes there?"

Q. Your answer? A. An Elected Knight who is desirous of joining the other Knights, for the purpose of discovering the other a.s.sa.s.sins.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was told to wait until the Most Potent had been informed of my request, and his answer returned.

Q. What was his answer? A. Let him be introduced in due form.

Q. What was that due form? A. I was conducted to the altar, and caused to make fifteen steps in a triangular form, which brought me again to the altar, when the Most Potent ordered me to kneel, and thus addressed me: "My brother, the Elected Masters here present, wish me to admit you to this degree; will you take the obligation appertaining to the same?" which being answered in the affirmative, I took the obligation.

Q. Repeat that obligation? A. (Same as Perfect Master.) Under penalty of having my body cut open perpendicularly, and my head cut off and placed on the highest pinnacle in the world. So help me, etc.

Q. What did the Most Potent then communicate to you? A. He gave me the signs, words, and token of this degree.

Q. Give me the signs? A. (Hold the thumb of the right hand at the bottom of the belly, and move it perpendicularly upwards.) The second sign (that of the Entered Apprentice, with the fingers clenched.)

Q. Give me the token? A. (Join left hands.)

Q. Give me the pa.s.s-word? A. Eleham.

Q. Give me the mysterious word? A. Jevah (p.r.o.nounced Je-vau).

Q. What then followed? A. I was invested with the ap.r.o.n, gloves and jewels of this degree, and directed to salute the Senior Warden as a Master Elected of Fifteen, and return to the east for further instruction.

SECOND SECTION.--Question--Give me the history of this degree? A. Not long after the execution, they were discovered cutting stone, in a quarry. They were immediately seized and carried to Jerusalem, and imprisoned in the tower of Achizer, and at ten o'clock on the ensuing morning, they were brought forth for execution. They were bound neck and middle, to posts, with their arms extended, and their bellies were cut open by the executioner, lengthways and across, and thus they remained until six in the evening, their entrails exposed to flies and other insects; their tongues and entrails were afterwards taken out for the beasts of the field and the birds of the air to prey upon, and their heads were cut off and placed upon spikes, like that of Akirop, on the west and south pinnacles of the temple. Thus we see that although corruption, perjury and treason a.s.sisted our ancient Knights, their quarters were discovered by the unerring eye of justice, and they were doomed to suffer penalty tantamount to their crimes.

Q. What were the names of the two a.s.sa.s.sins? A. Jubela Kurmavel, and Jubelo Gravolet.

Q. At what hour did the a.s.sa.s.sins expire? A. At six in the evening.