M. 3rd V. Give them [given as before], they are right.

Enter. Three most excellent masters you must have been, or thus far you could not have come ; but further you can- not go without my words, sign, and word of exhortation. My words are Haggai, Joshua, and Zerubbabel; my sign is this [See plate 13, fig. 5], my word of exhortation is ex- planatory of this sign, and is found in the writings of Moses. I also present you with the signet of Zerubbabel.
P.S. Companions, we have passed the third veil, we will make an alarm at the fourth veil.
R.A.C. Who comes there? who dares approach this fourth veil of our sacred tabernacle, where incense burns day and night upon our holy altar? who are you, and what are your intentions?
P.S. Three weary sojourners from Babylon, who have come up thus far, to aid and assist in the noble and glorious
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work of rebuilding the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward.
B.A.C. How do you expect to enter the fourth veil of our sacred tabernacle?
P.S. By the words, sign, and word of exhortation of the master of the third veil.
P.A.C. Give them [word, etc., of third veil given] ; they are right; you have my permission to enter.* [Enter.] Three most excellent masters you must have been, or thus far you could not have come. I will now make an alarm and present you to the grand council.
H.P. Who comes here?
P.S. Three weary sojourners from Babylon, wno have come up thus far to aid and assist in rebuilding the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward.
H.P. Have you the signet of Zerubbabel?
P.S. We have [presenting a triangular piece of metal with the words Zer-ubba-'bel engraved on it.]
The high priest takes it, reading as follows: — "In that day, will I take thee, O. Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet, for I have chosen thee." [Turning to the king.] Com- panion king, are you satisfied this is the signet of Zerub- babel?
K. I am satisfied, most excellent, that it is [taking it into his hand and scrutinising it very sagaciously].
H.P. Companion scribe, are you satisfied that it is the signet of Zerubbabel?
S. [looking shrewd]. I am satisfied, most excellent.
H.P. [drawing it across his forehead, in imitation of the penalty]. Signet of truth, holiness to the Lord ! [The king and scribe take and give the sign, repeating "Holi- ness to the Lord."]
H.P. It is the opinion of the grand council, that you have represented the signet of Zerubbabel. But owing to difficulties having arisen from the introduction of strangers among the workmen, none are allowed to undertake in the noble and glorious work, but the true descendants of the twelve tribes. It is necessary you should be very particu-
* The yells are drawn aside, the candidates enter, and for the first time are permitted to behold the " grand council," high priest, king, and scribe, by the light of ignited gum camphor in an urn upon the altar.
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lar in tracing your genealogy. Who are you, and what are your intentions?
P.S. We are of your own kindred, the descendants of those noble families of Giblimites, who wrought so hard at the building of the first temple. We have been regularly initiated as entered apprentice Masons, passed to the de- gree of fellow craft, raised to the sublime degree of master Mason, advanced to the honorary degree of mark master, presided as master in the chair, and at the completion and dedication of the temple, were acknowledged as most ex- cellent masters. We were present at its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, and by him were carried away captive to Babylon • where we remained servants to him and his suc- cessors, until the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, by whose proclamation we were liberated, and have come up thus far to aid and assist in the noble and glorious work of re- building the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward.
H.P. Let the captives be unbound, and brought to light. Companion king, I think we had better employ these so- journers. They look like good hardy men : just such men as we want about the building. What say you ?
K. It is my opinion, most excellent, they are very ex- pert workmen. I wish they might be examined.
H.P. What is your opinion, companion scribe?
&. If they can satisfy us they are Free Masons, I shall be in favour of employing them immediately.
H.P. You say you are entered apprentice Masons? Satisfy the grand council.
All give the signs of the first degree.
H.P. Are you satisfied, companion king?
K. I am satisfied, most excellent [bows gracefully].
H.P. Are you satisfied, companion scribe?
S. I am satisfied, most excellent.
H.P. The grand council are satisfied you are entered apprentice Masons. Can you satisfy them you are fellow craft Masons?
Candidates give the signs of the fellow craft, which causes the same remark from the grand council as the first. In like manner, the signs of each degree are given, up to the most excellent master's degree, inclusive.
After a little consultation, the "grand council" agree
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to employ them, and furnish them with working tools,* and direct them to repair to the north-east corner of the ruins of the old temple, with orders to remove the rubbish, pre- paratory to laying the foundation for the new, and be very careful to preserve everything that falls in their way, that they think will be of any service to the craft, and bring it up to the grand council.
P. S. [to candidates]. Follow me.
Each one shoulders his tool, and follows the principal sojourner, in Indian file, to one corner of the hall, where they find a quantity of blocks, brick-bats, etc., and among other things, a key stone. They commence removing the rubbish, under which they discover a trap door, and find- ing the key stone, take it up to this grand council.
H.P. Companion king, have you further business to lay before the grand council?
K. I have nothing, most excellent.
H.P. Have you anything, companion scribe?
S. I know of nothing, except it is to examine the work- men from the ruins of the temple. The workmen may come forward, and give an account of their labours.
P. S. Most excellent, in pursuance of your orders, we repaired to the ruins, and commenced our labours ; and after labouring several days, we came to what we supposed to be an impenetrable rock ; but one of the companions striking on it with his crow, it returned a hollow sound : and on closer examination, we found it to be the key stone of an arch, which with much difficulty, we succeeded in re- moving from its place ; through the aperture of which we discovered an immense vault, curiously arched, and we have brought the key stone up, that it may be examined by the grand council.
H.P. You will present it. Companion king, this is a very valuable discovery indeed. It must be a key stone of a mark master Mason.
K. I think that is the stone wrought by our grand mas- ter Hiram Abiff.
H.P. [addressing the scribe in the same manner, and re-
* The candidates are presented with a pick-axe, crow, and shorel, of the ordinary size, generally made of wood, and kept in the chapter for this use.
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ceiving a like answer, draws the key stone across his fore- head, and giving the sign]. The key stone of a " mark master Mason; holiness to the Lord." [King and scribe do and say the same.]
H.P. [to candidates]. This is a very valuable discovery, indeed. No doubt it will lead to some important treasure, of inestimable value to the craft. Are you willing to pur- sue your labours, and endeavour to penetrate this secret vault ?
P.S. [after consulting his. companions]. We are, even to the risk of our lives.
H.P. Go : and may the God of your fathers be with you. Preserve every thing that falls in your way.
The principal sojourner and companions repair to the same place where they first commenced their labours ; and raising the trap door, consult together, to ascertain who is willing to descend into the vault : one of the candidates agreeing to go down, they put a rope seven times round his body.
P.S. [to candidate descending into the secret vault]. It is necessary you should take a little precaution ; that is, if you wish to descend still lower, pull the rope in your left hand: if you wish to ascend, pull that in your right.
Two companions take hold of each end of the rope, let- ting the candidate down eight or ten feet, to another trap door, where he finds three small trying squares : and giving the signal of ascending, is drawn violently up. Each can- didate taking a square, repairs to the grand council. As they present themselves, the following passage of Scripture is read : —
ZECHARIAH iv. 9, 10. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house ; his hands shall also finish it ; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel, with those seven."
The high priest then inquires of the king and scribe, as before, if they have any more business, etc. ; and being answered in the negative, directs the candidates to come forward and give an account of their labours. The prin- cipal sojourner then relating what took place in the secret vault, delivers the three squares.
H.P. [drawing the square across his forehead]. The
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jewels of our three ancient grand masters. Holiness to the
The king and scribe in turn do the same. The high priest inquires again if they are willing to penetrate this secret vault still further? The principal sojourner replies as before, that they are, even to the risk of their lives.
H.P. Go, and may the God of your fathers be with you ; and remember your labour shall not go unrewarded.
They repair to the secret vault, letting down one of the companions, who raises the second trap door, and is let down about eight or ten feet further, where he finds the ark [see plate 14], gives the signal, and is drawn up. They take the ark and carry it up to the grand council, who after due inquiry into the business as before, direct the workmen from the secret vault to come forward and give an account of their labours.
P.S. Most excellent, in pursuance of your orders, we repaired to the secret vault, and let down one of the com- panions as before. The sun at this time was at its meridian height, the rays of which enabled him to discover a small box, or chest, standing on a pedestal, curiously wrought, and overlaid with gold : he involuntarily found his hand raised in this position [see plate 13, fig. 1] to guard his eyes from the intense light and heat reflected from it. The air becoming exceedingly offensive, he gave the signal of ascending, and was immediately drawn out. We have brought the ark up, for the examination of the grand council.
H.P. [looking at the ark apparently much surprised]. Companion king, this is the ark of the covenant of God ! [The king and scribe declare the same.]*
H.P. [taking the ark]. We will open this ark, and see what valuable treasure it contains [opens it and takes out a book]. Companion king, here is a very ancient looking book : what can it be ? Let us read from the first page (reads).
Genesis i. 1-3. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep ; and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
* Probably they go on the principle, that, " a lie well stuck to, is a» good as the truth."
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Deut. xxxi. 24-26. "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee."
Exodus xx. 21. " And thou shalt put the mercy seat above, upon the ark ; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that 1 shall give thee."