PART I.

Caird the iMiNOR's Degree.

Quest. 'ITT'HEX did Free-MasoHvy begin?

VV Ans. About one hundred and fifty-
four Years after Noalis Flood, at the
building of BaheVs Tower.

Q. Who was Gri,uid Master there?

A. *Xiiitro(l, called by Masons Belns.

Q. Where was the first Lodge h^ld?

A. In a pleasant Plain of Babylon, called Shinar,
on the Banks of the Eiver 7))(jris.

Q. On what Account was this Lodge held?

A. In order to contrive and lay a Plan for a Build-
ing of Friendship, and also for the Building of that
stupendous P]difice.

Q. When was this Lodge held?

A. An hundred and one Years after the Flood.

Q. Did they finish the work which tliey began ?

A. No. it was not compleatly finished; for God
confounded their Language, that they could not un-
derstand what each other called for.

Q. What succeeded the Confusion of Tongues?

A. AVhen Belus was baffled in this Grand Design,
he assembled another Grand Lodge, and instructed

his

* Nimrod, which signifies a Rebel in the Jewish and Chaldean
Languages, was the Name given him by the Holy Family, and
by Moses ; but among his Friends in Chaldea he was called Belui,
which signifies Lord; and afterwards was worshipped as a God
by many Nations, under the Name of Bel or Baal, and became
the Bacchus of the Antients, or Bur-f'hus, the Son of Chiis.

t A Lodge is a Place where Masons assemble and work;
Hence that Assembly, or duly orgai.is'd Society of Masons, is
call'd a Lodge, and every Brother ought to belong to one, and
be sultject to its Bye-Laws and General Begulations.

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his men hovv to converse by * Signs. &g., whereby they
•\vei-e capable of executing his future Designs.

Q. What success attended his Instructions ?

A. Tlie Success was gi-eat ; for soon the Plain of
Shinar became far more splendid than all other Parts,
in the Magnificence of its Buildings.

Q. What were the fii"st Injunctions Belus laid on
the Masons?

A. Silence, Secrecy, and Brotherly Love.

Q. Why so?

A. Silence and Secrecy' were enjoined us, that
none but the Initiated should ever know our Art and
Mystery ; and Brotherl}^ Love, that by our unparal-
lel'd Esteem and Regard for each other's Welfare,
and that of the Craft in general, our Fame might
spread over the Face of the whole Earth and Waters,
so that we might be remembered among the Sons of
Men, till Time shall be no more.

Q, Did they travel into any other Counti-y ?

A. Yes, they travelled into Assyria, where the)'
built several Cities, for which Reason Beliis was called
the Founder of that Monarchy : They afterwards dis-
persed, and multiplied over the Earth, and formed
themselves into Lodges, in which they made, and
instructed Masons, in the usual Manner.

Q. Do they continue to make after that manner ?

A ■ Yes.

Q, In what Manner was you made?

A. Tell me by what Authority,
Thus strictly you examine me,
How I was made a Mason Free :

Ex. From Belus great I had this Power.
Who laid the Plan of BabeVs Tower ;
Then who has such Authority
As I, who Master am to thee ?

A. Since from that mighty Man of Fame
The Pow'r you have you justly claim ;
From thee the Secret I'll not hide,
Who art my true and faithful (jruide.
Q. Give me then an exact account how you was made ?
A. I was led to a Door, whore a Man stood with
a drawn Sword in his Hand, who asked my Friend
what he wanted.

Q. What

• This was what gave Hise to wliat ib called Free-Masonry,
l)eing flfty-three Years after the first Assemljly or Lodge held.
This tradition is firmly Vwlieved.

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Q. What did your Friend reply ?

A. To have me made a ^lasoii.

Q. Did he admit you ?

A. Yes, he struck the Door with his Sword, upon
which it instantly flew open ; mj' Friend tlien led me
Uy the Hand into a very dark Room, and then the
Door was shut,

Q. What succeeded this ?

A. My Friend then said with a loud Voice thus :

" Here standi a Candidate for Masonrj'.

" Wlio fain vould know our Art and Mystery :

*' Shew him the Light * liy which we work, and

then
". Perhaps he'll learn the Art, like other Men."

Upon this a Door flew open, and discovered a
Room extremely light, out of which 3ame three
Men, with drawn Swords, one of whom said, [De-
liver your Friend to ns.] Upon this my Friend de-
liveied me to their Care, and I was ushered into
the Lodge, one walking before, and one on each Side,
and my Friend in the Rear. Thus was I brought
out of Darkness into Light,

Q. What did they do after this?

A. They informed the Master they were ready to
execute his Orders.

Q. . What did he order ?

A. He ordered them to strip me naked.

Q. Did they strip you naked ?

A . Yes.

Q. What was the Reason they stripped you ?

A. In order that all the Lodge might be well as-
sured they were not imposed on by a Woman.

Q What Reason have they for not admitting Wo-
men into this M-ystery ?

A. Because it is well known that Women in gene-
ral cannot keep their own Secrets, much less those
thej' are entrusted with.

Q. What Proof have you of this ?

A. We have many Proofs of this, both in sacred
and profane History ; but as one may serve, the Sto-
ry of Sammn and Delilah will be suflicient : This
Man had no sooner revealed the Secret, wherein his
great Strengtli lay, to his dearly-beloved Mistress,
than she discovered it, and betray 'd him to the Phi-
listines,

* That is, Take him into your Care, ami give him all due
Instructions.

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listines, Judges xvi. for which Reason Women are
thought not proper to be trusted with the Secrets of
Masonry, and Smnpson was never after that num-
bered among * Free-Masons.

Q, Suppose a Brother should prove so weak as to
betray the Secrets to his Wife or any Body else, what
is his Punishment ?

A. If it should ever be known, he Avould be im-
mediately expelled the Lodge to which he belonged,
and never admitted to visit any other Lodge what-
ever.

Q, If a woman should rashly swear, that she
would never cohabit with her Husband, unless he
told her the Secrets, would that exctise him ?

A No, by no Means ; because he may as easily
persuade her that there is nothing more in it than a
Set of Friends well met, and assembled to be merry,
or tell her any Tale that is plausible.

Q. Proceed now to tell me what they did with
you after you was stripped.

A. The Master cloathed me with the t Badge of
Innocence.

Q. What did he do after that ?

A. He took me by the Right-hand, and placed me
in the Centre of the Brethren ; he then ordered me to
kneel down on both my Knees, and held the Point
of a Sword which he had in his Hand to my throat;
and then he addressed me as follows:

•' SIR,

You are now going to be admitted a j\Iember of
this antient and honourable Fraternity, and it is ex-
pected that you will lay yourself under the following
Obligation.

You shall not reveal to any Person or Persons,
either by Word of Mouth, or your own Hand- Writing,
or cause to be revealed in any Manner whatever any
Part or Parts, Point or Points, or any Traditions,
which have been, are now, or shall hereafter be held
as a Secret among Free-Masons, unless to an J honest

INIan,

• 'I'liii Word Free w.is aiMt-d, Ijecause tliey laught their Art
to the Free-boru onl}'.

t This is a loo.se wliite Garment, generally made of Holland
or home otiier fine I.iiinen, and sometimes of Silk. It shews that
when a Man is made a Mason, lie is believed to be a Man of good
Morals, and unsully'd Character, or else he cannot be nnule.

J If a Mason prove otherwise, no Mason dare further instruct
him, on i)aiii of })einir oviielled all Lodges.

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Man, wliom you know is a ]Mason, or to the Master
or Wardens of any regular Lodge,

And as it was always esteemed by the Masons of
old, that to swear by the Sword was the * most bind-
ing of all Obligations, so we do insist and require you
solemnly to kiss the Edge of this Sword presented to
your Throat, as a Signification of your full Consent
and Approbation of the above Particulars.

Your well performing this, will make you ever
esteemed by this venerable Body, as the contrary will
render you guilty oi a Breach of the most sacred
Band of human Society, and consequently degrade
you from the Character of a Man of Honour, which
every Mason ought to preserve more carefully than
his Life."

Q. What was the fir.st Thing the Master did with
3'ou after this ?

A. He ordered the Wardens, who stood on each
Side of me, to raise me on my Feet, and take of? the
white Kobe.

Q. What did he order after that ?

A. He ordered all the Brethren to assist in putting
on in}' Cloaths again, which they accordingly did ;
the blaster then informed me, that as all the Lodge
had assisted in cloathing me when naked, so I should
at all Times (without Prejudice to myself or Family)
relieve the Distressed, but especially Brethren, their
Wives and their Children.

Q. What did the Master do with you after this?

A. He presented me with a white Leather Apron,
to wear while at Work, and told me that I was now
become a Fellow and Brother to Kings and Princes.

Q. How do you prove that?

A. Because the greatest I^Ionarchs in all Ages, for
tlie Sake of knowing our Mystery, have freely con-
sented to be made Masons, by which they were levelled
with the poorest Mason on Karth. f

Q. What

• Masons ;ilwa_>» swfar bv Hh! S\v(ir<l, lj*;cause they were al-
ways dutiful Subjects, ('Diifornuii!;; chearfiiily to the Government
under which they lived, and were ever ready (as they now are)
to defend it (when Necessity required it) Sword in Hand.

t Tho' all Masons are upon the smne Level in the Lwltfe,
they are to pay a due deference to their Superiors; and from
Inferiors they are rather to receive honour with some Belnctance
than to extort it.

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Q. What do you call yourself ?
A. A Minor.
Q. What is the chief Care and Business of a Minor?

A. A Minor's chief Care and Business, is to
sharpen the Tools, clear the Shop from Rubbish, and
sometimes to carry the Hod, ifcc, He is likewise to
attend the Senior Brethren, to take Care that none
enter but Masons, and to keep a watchful Guard all
round the Ijodge.

Q. Can you give me a Sign ?

A. No, because Signs, Tokens and Words, we are
not entrusted with, while we are in this Degrees

Q. Why so?

A. Because this is only a Degree of Probation,
which all must pass thro', who are made Masons ; it
being necessary the Lodge should have some trial of
their Behaviour, before they are admitted into the
next Degree.

Q. What Proof of their Behaviour is necessary ?

A. The Proof they desire is this.

The Minor is enjoined to Secrecy

Before he can be made a Major Free ;

Before he can receive the Major's Word,

He oft must guard the Tjodge with flaming Sword :

He must be silent, sober, and discreet.

And to his Brethren all affectionate ;

Then may he to great Balers Tow'r repair.

And on him take a Major's Character.

Q. Are you desirous of knowing the Major's Secrets ?
A. Yes.

Ex. Your good Behaviour alone will not obtain
them.

A. By that alone they could not be obtain'd ;
But I by that a Colden Signet gain'd,
Which will admit mo into that Degree,
That I may work among the Majors Free.

Q. What is that Signet ?

A. A Ring.

Ex. Produce it.

A. Behold it hei-e. [Here he shows a Ring.]

Ex.

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Ex. Attend my Brethren all that round me stand,
While I obey great Belus" dread Command.
Our Brother here, upon Examination,
Desires I'll place him in a higher Station ;
A Minor Character has well maintain'd
And answer'd all things well ; hy which he's

gain'd
The Signet rare, which Behts did ordain
For such as could the Minor's Art attain.
That they may to the Tow'r repair and be
Eeceiv'd to work among the Majors Free.
'Tis tlien my Will and Pleasure that he may
Begin to work, and enter into Pay.

End of Part the First.

N. B. A Minor is always thus examined before
his Admission into the Major's Degree ; which Exami-
nation if he cannot learn, he must give every Mem-
ber of the Lodge a Pair of Gloves for himself, and a
Pair for his Wife, which will entitle him to the
Eing before-mentioned ; which he must have, it be-
ing a Warrant for his Admission ; but he must not
commit any Part of this to Writing, because it may
be exposed, by Negligence or Accidents [Witness this
Book.]

THE

THE

FREE MASON Examin'd.