CHAPTER XI.

Remarks on the Fourth, or Mark Master Ma^

soTh^s Degree.

THIS degree of masonry was not less useful in
its original institution, nor are its effects less be-
neficial to mankind, than those which pfecede it.

By the influence of this degree, each operative
mason, at the erection of the temple of Solomon,
was known and distinguished by the Senior Grand
Warden.

By its effects the disorder and confusion that
might otherwise hav6 attended so immense an
undertaking was completely prevented ; and not

TM.EUASO'^S MONITOR. 85

t)nly tlie craftsmen themselvee, who were eighty
thousand in number, but every part of their work-
manship, was discriminated with the greatest
nicety, and the utmost facility. If defects were
found, by the help of this degree the overseers
=were enabled without diflBculty to ascertain who
^vas the faulty workman: so that all deficiencies
might be remedied, without injuring the credit,.or
diminishing the reward, of the industrious and
faithful of the craft.

Charge to he read at Opening the Lodge^

" Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice, and
guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil
•speakings.

'^ If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gra-
cious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, dis-
. allowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious ; ye also, as living stones, be ye built up
. a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to oflfer up
sacrifices acceptable to God.

** Wherefore, also, it is contained in the scrip-
tures. Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foun-
dation ; he that believeth shall not make haste to
pass It over. Unto you, therefore, which believe,
it is an honour ; and even to them which be dis*

H

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B6 FREEMASON'S MONITOR.

obedient^ the stone which the builders disallowed^
the same is made the head of the corner.

'* Brethren, this is the will of God, that with
well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of fool-
ish men. As free, and not using your liberty for
a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of
God. Honour all men, love tl^e brotherhood, fear
God.'»

REMARKS ON THE FOURTH LECTURE.

The First Section.

The first section explains the manner of convo-
eating and opening a mark-master^s lodge. It
teaches the stations and duties of the respective
officers, and recapitulates the mystic ceremony of
introducing a candidate.

In this section is exemplified the regularity and
good order that was observed by the craftsmen on
Mount Libanus, and in the plains and quarries of
Zeredathah, and ends with a beautiful display of
the manner in which one of the principal events
originated, which characterises this degree.

The Second Section.

In the second section the mark-master is parti-
cularly Instructed in the origin and history of this
degr€e^ and the indispensable obligations he is un-

FREEMASON'S MONITOR. 87

der to stretch forth his assisting hand to the relief
of an indigent and worthy brother, to a certain
and specified extent.

The progress made in architecture, particularly
in the reign of Solomon, is remarked ; the num-
ber of artists employed in building the temple of
Jerusalem, and the privileges they enjoyed, are
specified ; the mode of rewarding merit, and of
punishing the ' guilty, are pointed out ; and the
marks of distinction, which were conferred on our
ancient brethren, as the rewards of excellence, arc
named.

In the course of the lecture, the following text»
of scripture are introduced, and explained, viz.

Rev. of St. John, ii. 1 7. — ^To him that over-
cometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
and will give him a white stone, and in the stone
a new name written, which no man knoweth sav-
ing him that receiveth it.

2 Chron. ii. 16. — ^And we will cut wood out of
Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need ; and we
will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa, and
thbu shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

Psalm cxviii. 22.— -The stone which the build-
ers refused, is become the head stone of the cor^
ner»

88 VREKMASON'S MONITOR.

MatU xxi. 42» — Did ye never read in the scrrp^
tures. The stone which the builders rejected, is be-
come the head of the corner ?

Mark xii, 10.— And have ye not read this scrip-
ture. The stone which the builders rejected, is be-
come the head of the corner ?

Luke XX. 17. — What is this, then, that is writ-
ten,. The stone which the builders rejected, is be-
come the head of the corner ?

Acts iv. 11. — ^This is the stone which was set
at nought of you, builders, which is become thf
head of the corner.

Rev. iii. 13.— He that hath an ear to hear, let
him hear. .

Ezekiel xliv. 1 — 3 & 6. — ^Then he brought me
back the way of the gate of the outward sanctua-
ry, which looketh toward the east, and it wai
shut. Then said the Lord unto me. This gate
shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no matt
shall enter in by it ; because the Lord, the Qod of
Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall b^
shut. It is for the prince ; the prince he shall sit
in it to eat bread before the Lord ; he shall enter
by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go
out by the way of the same, jlnd the Lord said
unto me. Son of man, mark well, and behold with
thine eyesy and hear with thine ears, all that I say
unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the

PREEMASON^S MONITOR. 89

house of the Lord^ and all the laws thereof ; and
mark well the entering inof the housej with every
going forth of the sanctuary.

The working tools of a mark-master are the
ehisel and mallet.

The chisel morally denwnstrates the advanta-
ges of discipline and education. The mind^ like
the diamond in its original state^ is rude and un-
polished ; but, as the effect of the chisel on the
external coat sodn presents to view the latent
beauties of the diamond, so education discovers the
latent virtues of the mind, and draws them forth
to range the large field of matter and space, to
display the summit of human knowledge, our duty
to God and to man.

The mallet morally teaches to correct irregula-
rities, and to reduce man to a proper level ; so
that, by quiet deportment, he may, in the school
of discipline, learri to be content. What the mal-
let is to the workman, enlightened reason is^ to
the passions : il curbs ambition, it depresses eHvy,
it moderates anger, and it encourages good dispo*
sitions ; whence arises, among good masons, that
comely order,

** Which nothing^ earthty gives, or can destroy —

** The soors ealm sunshine, and the heart-feU joy.^' ' -

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90 FREEMAS0N^6 MONITOR.

Charge to be delivered when a candidate is ad^
vanced to the Fourth Degree^

*« Brother,

^^I congratulate you on having been thought
worthy of being promoted to this honourable de*
gree of masonry. Permit me to impress it ou;
your mind^ that your assiduity should ever be
commensurate with your duties, which, become
more and more extensive as you advance in ma-
sonry.

*^ The situa.tion to which you are now promot*
ed will draw upon you not only the scrutinizing'
eyes of the world at large, but those also of your
brethren, on whom this degree of masonry ha»
not been conferred : all will be justified in ex-
pecting your conduct and behaviour to be such as
may with safety be imitated.

*^ In the honourable character of mark-master
mason, it is more particularly your duty to endeiEi-
vour to let your conduct in the world, as well a£h
in the lodge and among your brethren, be such
as may stand the test of the Grand Over8eer'»
square, that you may not, like the unfinished and
imperfect work of the negligent and unfajthful of
foi-mer times, be rejected ai)d thrown aside, as un« '

FKEEMASON^S MONITOR. 9V

Itt for tliat spiritual building, that house not miade
with hands^ eternal in the^ heavens.

** While such is your conduct, should misfor-
tunes assail you, should friends forsake you, should-
envy traduce your good name, and' malice perse-
cute yoti; yet may you have confidence, that*
among markrmaster masons^,^ you will find friends
who will adnjinister relief tb your distresses, and-
comfort your afflictions ;: ever bearing in mind, as^
a consolation under all the frowns of fortune, and-
fts an encouragement to hope for better prospects^
that the stone, which the. builders rejected (pos-^
sessing mierits to thefn unknown) became the
chief stone of the eomer^'

Previous to closing tJie Lodge, the folloiving:

Parable is recited,

MATTHEW, XX* 1 — 16i

^^For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a
Ttian that is tin householder, which went out ear-
ly in the morning to hire labourers into his vine-
yard. And when he had agreed with the labour-
ers for a penny a day> he sent them into his vine-
yard. And he went out about the third hour, and
saw others standing idle in the. market place, and-
said unto them. Go ye also into the vineyard, and:
whatsoever is right I will- give yoiu And they,
went their way. Again he went* out about the

92 FREEMASON'S MOKITOR*

•

sixth and ninth hour^ and did likewkeJ And
about the eleventh hour^ he went out, and found
others standing idle, and saith unto them. Why
stand ye here all the day idle ? They say unto
him. Because no man hath hired us. He saith un-
to them. Go ye also into the vineyard, and what-
soever is right, that shall ye receive* So when;
even was come, the lord of the vine3rard saith un-
to his steward. Call the labourers, and give then»
their hire,- beginning from the last unto the firsts
And when they came that were hired about the
eleventh hour, they received every man a penny*
But when the first came, they supposed that they
should have received more, and they likewise, re-
ceived every man a penny. And when they had
received it, they murmured against the good man
of the house, saying. These last have wrought but
one hour, and thou hast made them equal untous^
which have borne the burthen and heat of the
day. But he answered one of them, and said>
Friend, I do thee no wrong : didst thou not agree
with me for a penny ? Take that thine is, and
go thy way ; I will give unto this last even as
unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I
will with mine own ? Is thine eye evil because i
am good P So the last shall be first, and the first
last ; for many be called^ but few chosen,"

FMEMASON^S MONITOR. 93

■

The ceremony of closing a lodge in this degree,
when properly conducted, is peculiarly interesting.
It assists in strengthening the social affections ; it
teaches us the duty we owe to our brethren in
particular, and the whole family of mankind in ge-
neral ; by ascribing praise to the meritorious, and
dispensing rewards to the diligent and industrious.

The following Song is sung during the Closing

Ceremony.

I.

MARK MASTERS, all appear
Before the Chief O'erseer j

In concert move j
Let him your work inspect^
For the Chief Architect,
If there is no defect.

He wiU approve...

IL
Those who have passM tUe Square,
For your rewards prepare,

Joip heart and hand ;
Each with his mark in view,
March with the just and true ;
Wages to yqvL are due,

At your command.

III.

Hiram, the widow's sod,
Sent unto Solomon
Our great Vey-stone |^

94 FREEMASON'S MONITOR.

On it appcai'B the name
Which raises high the fame
Of all to whom the Bamc
Is truly known.

IV.
Now to the westward move,
Where, full of strength and lore,

Ilirani doth stand •,
But if impostors are
Mix'd with the worthy thcrcr^
Caution them to beware

O/the right hand^

V.

Now to the praise of those
Who triumphed o'er the foe%

Of mason*s art;
To the praiseworthy three,
Who founded this degree :
May all their virtues be

Deep in oiir hearts.