Q. Were not the Master Overseers liable to be imposed upon by receiving bad work from the hands of such a vast number of workmen? A. They were not.
Q. How was this imposition prevented? A. By the wisdom of King Solomon, who wisely ordered that the craftsman who worked should choose him a particular mark and place it upon all his work; by which it was known and distinguished when carried up to the building, and, if approved, to receive wages.
Q. What was the wages of a Fellow Craft? A. A penny a day.
Q. Who paid the craftsmen? A. The Senior Grand Warden.
Q. Was not the Senior Grand Warden liable to be imposed upon by impostors in paying off such a vast number of workmen? A. He was not.
Q. How was this imposition prevented? A. By the wisdom of King Solomon, who also ordered that every craftsman applying to receive wages, should present his right hand through a lattice window of the door of the Junior Grand Warden's apartment, with a copy of his mark in the palm thereof, at the same time giving a token.
Q. What was that token? (This was before explained.)
Q. What did it allude to? A. To the manner of receiving wages; it was also to distinguish a true craftsman from an impostor.
Q. What is the penalty of an impostor? A. To have his right hand chopped off.