SECTION I.

Previous to the B, being admitted for the Third de- i gree, at is necessary that he should undergo a rigid ex- ] amination as to his proficiency in the preceding degrees, which, if satisfactory, he is then introduced and received,
RD Ri ee
it * * * * * * * ® * * ve The Compasses are peculiarly consecrated to i this degree, because within their extreme points, i ae | when properly extended, are emblematically
i L. a
MASTER MASON’S DEGREE—SECTION I, 119
sure to be enclosed the principal tenets of our
ane profession, and hence the moral application of | learn the Compasses, in the third degree, is to those or, by precious jewels of a Master Mason, Friendship, gree © Morality, and Brotherly Love. 1d men pond of |
among | + * * * * * * ‘ * narks of | it we de> | ngenious \ Fi By
the rulers |
INVOCATION. rom those |
Almighty and Eternal Being, the glorious Architect and Ruler of the universe, at whose creative fiat all things first were made, we, the frail creatures of thy providence, humbly im- plore Thee to pour down on this convocation,
e can rea-
Third de-
a rigid ex- assembled in Thy holy name, the continued ng degrees, dew of Thy blessings : more especially, we be- d received. seech Thee, to impart Thy grace to this Thy ‘8 servant, who offers himself a candidate to par- take with us the mysterious secrets of a Master
ecrated to Mason, endue him with such fortitude, that in pme points, the hour of trial he fail not ; but pass him safe-
lematically
fo aernin NES | |
ee eee
I20 THE FREEMASON’S MANUAL. |
ly, under Thy protection, through the valley of |
the shadow of death, that he may finally arise from the tomb of transgression to shine as the |. A stars for ever and ever. So mote tt de.
The solemn and impressive ceremony is then proceed- ed with and the candidate is then addressed by the W.M. My Bro, * * * * * * * * It is now my duty to call your attention to a retrospect of those * * * through which you have already passed, by which you will be the better enabled to dis- tinguish and appreciate the connection of our whole sys-
4 i tem, and the relative dependency of its several parts.
emblematic representation of the entrance of all men upon this their mortal existence. It inculcated a useful lesson of natural equality and mutual dependence. It instructed you in the proper exercise of universal benefi- ‘a cence and charity, to seek the solace of your own distress fi by extending relief and consolation to your fellow crea-
| tures in the hour of their affliction, it enabled you to free fi the soul from the dominion of pride and prejudice, and to look beyond the narrow limits of particular institutions, whether civil or religious, and to view in every son of Adam a brother of the dust. But above all it taught you to bend with humility and resignation to ne will of
i | al ind:
Your admission in a state of helpless indigence was an !
|
alley of ily arise e as the
*
n proceed- | the W.M.
* * | retrospect ve already bled to dis- r whole sys- al parts.
Fence Was an of all men ated a useful andence. It ersal benefi- own distress fellow crea- ed you to free
brejudice, and
hy institutions,
MASTER MASON’S DEGREE—SECTION I. 121
a
T. G. A. O. T. U. and to dedicate your heart, thus purified from every baneful and malignant passion, and filled only for the reception of truth and wisdom, as well to His glory as to the welfare of your fellow creatures,
Proceeding onwards, and still guided in your progress by the principles of moral truth, you were led in the S. Deg. to contemplate the intellectual faculties, and to trace them from their development through the paths of heavenly science even unto the thrown of God himself. The secrets of nature and the principles of moral truth were then unveiled to your view,—you learned a just estimate of those wonderous faculties with which God has endowed the being formed after His own image ; and feel the duty which he has thereby imposed on you, of cultivating this Divine attribute with the most diligent and unremitting care and attention ; that you may be enabled to show forth His glory and render yourself use- ful to the happiness of mankind,
To your mind thus moulded by virtue and science, na- ture however presents one great and useful lesson more, the knowledge of yourself. She prepares you by con- templation for the closing hour of your existence, and when by means of that contemplation she has conducted you through the intricate windings of this your mortal state, she finally instructs you how to die.
‘every son of | > all it taught
to ne will of
Such, my brother, is the peculiar object of this degree. It invites you to reflect upon this awful subject, and
THE FREEMASON’S MANUAL,
teaches you to feel that to the just and virtuous man death has no terrors equal to the stain of falsehood and 3 dishonor.
* * &* &* &* *F KF &F KF FF KF KF KF KF OF
The foilowing passage of scripture is intro- duced during the ceremonies : | | | \
** Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them ; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: in the day ’ when the keepers of the house shall tremble, 4 and the strong men shall bow themselves, and 4 the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. Also, when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond- tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be
rls Paes -
MASTER MASON’S DEGREE—SECTION I. 123
|
|
| a burden, and desire shall fail ; because man | goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: or ever the silver cord be losed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel
broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust re- turn to the earth as it was ; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave‘it.”
INVESTMENT.
Bro. , I must state that the B with which you have now been invested not only points out your rank as a Mason, but is meant to remind you of those important duties which you have just solemnly engaged yourself to observe; and while it marks your own superiority, it calls on you to afford assistance and instruction to your brethren in the inferior degrees.
* * * * * * * * * * * + * * * *
ORNAMENTS,
The ornaments * * * * * * are the Porch, Dormer, and Square Pavement. The Porch is the en- trance to the T., the Dormer the window which admit- ted light to the sanctum sanctorum, and the Square Pavement for the High Priest to walk upon.
ee |
Ha 124 THE FREEMASON’S MANUAL,
WORKING TOOLS.
The Skirret, Pencil and Compasses. The “Skirret is an implement which acts on a centre pin, from which a line is drawn to mark out the ground for the fo.ndation of the intended struc- ture. With the Pencil the skilful artist deline- ates the building in a draft or plan, for the in- struction and guidance of the workmen. The Compasses enables him with accuracy and pre- cision, to ascertain and determine the limits and proportions of its several parts. But as we are not operative, but speculative or F. and A., we apply these tools to our morals. In this sense the Skirret points out to us that straight and undeviating line of conduct laid down for our guidance in the volume of the sacred law. The Pencil teaches us that all our words and actions are not only observed but are recorded by the Most High, to whom we must render an account of our conduct through life. ‘The Compasses reminds us of his unerring and impartial justice, which having defined for our instruction the
MASTER MASON’S DEGREE—SECTION I. 125
| limits of good and evil, will either reward or punish us as we have obeyed or disregarded his Divine commands. 4
The
Thus, my Brother, the working tools of a * q * * teach us to bear in mind, and to act ac- ‘
1 centre
out the cording to the laws of the Divine Creator, so sd struc- that when we shall be summoned from this sub- t deline- lunary abode, we may ascend to the ‘Grand
Lodge above, where the worlds great Architect lives and reigns for ever and ever.
the in- Nn. The and pre- imits and as we are
d A., We this sense night and im for our law. The nd actions ed by the an account ompasses tial justice; uction the
126 THE FREEKMASON’S MANUAL,