The Mysteries of Free Masonry - William Morgan

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writers (who are by no means coeval with Masonry) all write, or copy, very much after each other, and they have all inserted in their books all those clauses of the several Lectures which are not considered by the wise ones as tending to develop the secrets of Masonry. In some instances, they change the phraseology a little; in others, they are literal extracts from the Lectures. This, it is said, is done to facilitate the progress of learners, or young Masons; when, in fact, it has the contrary effect.

      The following charge is, or ought to be, delivered to the candidate after he has got through the ceremonies; but he is generally told, "It is in the Monitor, and you can learn it at your leisure." "Brother, being advanced to the second degree of Masonry, we congratulate you on your preferment. The internal, and not the external, qualifications of a man are what Masonry regards. As you increase in knowledge, you will improve in social intercourse. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the duties which, as a Mason, you are bound to discharge; or enlarge on the necessity of a strict adherence to them, as your own experience must have established their value. Our laws and regulations you are strenuously to support; and be always ready to assist in seeing them duly executed. You are not to palliate or aggravate the offences of your brethren; but in the decision of every trespass against our rules, you are to judge with candor, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with justice. The study of the liberal arts, that valuable branch of education, which tends so effectually to polish and adorn the mind, is earnestly recommended to your consideration; especially the science of Geometry, which is established as the basis of our art. Geometry, or Masonry, originally synonymous terms, being of a divine moral nature, is enriched with the most useful knowledge; while it proves the wonderful properties of nature, it demonstrates the more important truths of morality. Your past behavior and regular deportment have merited the honor which we have now conferred, and, in your new character, it is expected that you will conform to the principles of the Order, by steadily persevering in the practice of every commendable virtue. Such is the nature of your engagements as a Fellow Craft, and to these duties you are bound by the most sacred ties."

      I will now proceed with the Lecture on this degree; it is divided into two sections.

      FIRST SECTION.

       Table of Contents

      Question—Are you a Fellow Craft Mason? A. I am; try me.

      Q. By what will you be tried? A. By the Square.

      Q. Why by the Square? A. Because it is an emblem of virtue.

      Q. What is a Square? A. An angle extending to ninety degrees, or the fourth part of a circle.

      Q. Where was you prepared to be made a Fellow Craft Mason? A. In a room adjacent to the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such, duly assembled in a room or place, representing the middle chamber of King Solomon's Temple.

      Q. How was you prepared? A. By being divested of all metals; neither naked nor clothed; barefooted nor shod; hoodwinked; with a cable-tow twice 'round my neck; in which situation I was conducted to the door of the Lodge, where I gave two distinct knocks.

      Q. What did those two distinct knocks allude to? A. To the second degree in Masonry, it being that on which I was about to enter.

      Q. What was said to you from within? A. Who comes there? Who comes there?

      Q. Your answer? A. A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason; served a proper time as such; and now wishes for further light in Masonry, by being passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft.

      Q. What was then said to you from within? A. I was asked if it was of my own free will and accord I made this request; if I was duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified; and had made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree; all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what further rights I expected to obtain so great a benefit.

      Q. Your answer? A. By the benefit of a pass-word.

      Q. What is that pass-word? A. Shibboleth.

      Q. What further was said to you from within? A. I was bid to wait till the Worshipful Master in the East was made acquainted with my request and his answer returned.

      Q. After his answer was returned, what followed? A. I was caused to enter the Lodge.

      Q. How did you enter? A. On the angle of the Square presented to my naked right breast, in the name of the Lord.

      Q. How were you then disposed of? A. I was conducted twice regularly around the Lodge, and halted at the Junior Warden in the South, where the same questions were asked, and answers returned as at the door.

      Q. How did the Junior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted to the Senior Warden in the West, where the same questions were asked, and answers returned as before.

      Q. How did the Senior Warden dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East, where the same questions were asked, and answers returned as before, who likewise demanded of me from whence I came, and whither I was traveling.

      Q. Your answer? A. From the West, and traveling to the East.

      Q. Why do you leave the West and travel to the East? A. In search of more light.

      Q. How did the Worshipful Master then dispose of you? A. He ordered me to be conducted back to the West, from whence I came, and put in care of the Senior Warden who taught me how to approach the East, by advancing upon two upright regular steps to the second step, my feet forming the right angle of an oblong square, and my body erect; at the altar before the Worshipful Master.

      Q. What did the Worshipful Master do with you? A. He made a Fallow Craft Mason of me.

      Q. How? A. In due form.

      Q. What was that due form? A. My right knee bare bent; my left knee forming a square; my right hand on the Holy Bible, Square, and Compass; my left arm forming an angle, supported by the Square, and my hand in a vertical position; in which posture I took upon me the solemn oath, or obligation, of a Fellow Craft Mason. (See pages 26 and 27 for obligation.)

      Q. After your oath, or obligation, what was said to you? A. I was asked what I most desired.

      Q. Your answer? A. More light.

      Q. On being brought to light, what did you discover different from before? A. One point of the Compass elevated above the Square, which denoted light in this degree; but as one point was yet in obscurity, it was to remind me that I was yet one material point in the dark respecting Masonry.

      Q. What did you next discover? A. The Worshipful Master approaching me from the East, under the sign and due-guard of a Fellow Craft Mason, who presented me with his right hand in token of brotherly love and confidence, and proceeded to give me the pass-grip and word of a Fellow Craft Mason, and bid me arise and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens, and convince them that I had been regularly passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, and had the sign, grip, and word of a Fellow Craft Mason.

      Q. What next did you discover? A. The Worshipful Master approaching me a second time from the East, who presented me a lamb-skin, or white apron, which, he said, he hoped I would continue to wear with honor to myself and satisfaction and advantage to my brethren.

      Q. What was you next presented with? A. The working tools of a Fellow Craft Mason.

      Q. What are they? A. The Plumb, Square, and Level.

      Q. What do they teach? (I think this question ought to be, "How explained?") A. The Plumb is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to raise perpendiculars; the Square, to square the work, and the Level, to lay horizontals; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of them for more noble and glorious purposes. The Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly, in our several stations, before God and man; squaring our actions by the square of virtue; and remembering that we are all traveling upon the level of time, to that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns.

      Q. What was you next presented

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