CHAPTER L

Gbservations on the Degree of Secret Master^

THE lodge of Secret Masters is spread with
Iblack. The master represents Solomon coming
to the temple to elect seven experts* He is styU
ed. Most Powerful,

There is only one warden> who is called Ado*
niram^ after him who had the inspection of the
workmanship done at Mount Libanus. He wa«
the first made secret master.

Solomon holds a sceptre in his band^ standing
in the East^ before a triangukir altar^ upon which i«
It crown^ and some oFive and laurel leaves. Adoni*
fam, the inspector^ stands in the West.

The first oiBcer is decorated with a blue ribbon^
iirom the right shoulder to the left hip> to whicli

«Jtf FREEMA.SO^'*S MONITOR.

bangs a triangle. 'Hie second officer is decorated
with a white ribbon^ bordered with blacky in a
triangular form, and an ivory key suspended there-
from^ with a figure of Z upon it.

All the other brethren are decorated in^the same
manner, with white aprons andgloves^the strings
of the aprons black ; the flap of the apron is blu^f
with a golden eye upon it. This lodge should be
enlightened by eighty-one candles, distributed by
nine times nine.

A candidate, after being strictly examined by
the inspector, who must Avouch for his qualifica-
tions, is thus addressed by the M. P.

** Brother,
^' You have hitherto only seen the thick veil

that covers the S. S. of God^s temple ; your fidel-
ity, zeal and constancy have gained you this fa-
vour I now grant you, of she wing you our treasure^
and introducing you into the secret place."

He is then invested with the ribbon, the crown
of laurels and olives, by the M. P. who thus ad-
dresses him :

f^ My Brother,

*' I receive you as secret master, and give you
lank among the Lerites. This laurel, the emblem
,of victory, is to remind you of the conquest you
are to gain over your passions. The olive is the
j^wbol of thatpeace and union^ whichjooght toreijp

•mongst us. It belongeth to you to deserve the
favour^ that you may be enabled, one day, to ar*
rive in the secret place, to contemplate the pillar
of beauty. I decorate you with the ivory key,
bung to a white and black ribbon, as a symbol of
your fidelity, innocence and discretion.

** The apron and gloves are to be marks of th«
eandour of all S. M. in the number of which you
have deserved to> be introduced. In this quality,
jny l^rother, you are tabecome the faithful guardian
of the S. S. and I put you ia the number of seven,
to be one of the conductors of the works which
ere raising to the Divinity. The eye upon your
apron is to remind you to have a careful watch
over the conduct of the craft in general.''

The lodge is closed by the mysterious number;