The foregoing includes all the ceremonies ever used in conferring the degree of Past Master; but the ceremonies are more frequently shortened by the omission of some part of them; the presenting of the "various implements of the profession," and their explanations, are often dispensed with; and still more often, the charge.
MOST EXCELLENT MASTER'S DEGREE.
Ceremonies Used in Opening a Lodge of Most Excellent Masters.
The Lodge being called to order, the Most Excellent Master says, "Brother Junior, are they all Most Excellent Masters in the South?" The Junior Warden replies, "They are, Most Excellent." Most Excellent Master to Senior Warden, "Brother Senior, are they all Most Excellent Masters in the West?" The Senior Warden replies, "They are, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"They are in the East (gives one rap, which calls up both Deacons); Brother Junior Deacon, the first care of a Mason?" J. D.—"To see the door tyled, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"Attend to that part of your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to open this Lodge of Most Excellent Masters, and direct him to tyle accordingly." Junior Deacon steps to the door and gives six knocks, which the Tyler answers with six more; Junior Deacon gives one more, which the Tyler answers with one; the door is then partly opened, when the Junior Deacon informs the Tyler that a Lodge of Most Excellent Masters is about to be opened, and tells him to tyle accordingly; and then returns to his place in the Lodge and says, "Most Excellent Master, the Lodge is tyled." M. E. M. "By whom?" J. D.—"By a Most Excellent Master Mason without the door, armed with the proper implements of his office." M. E. M.—"His duty there?" J. D.—"To keep off all cowans and eavedroppers, and see that none pass and repass without permission from the chair." M. E. M.—"Your place in the Lodge, Brother Junior?" J. D.—"At the right hand of the Senior Warden in the West, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"Your duty there, Brother Junior?" J. D.—"To wait on the Most Excellent Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge, and take charge of the door." M. E. M.—"The Senior Deacon's place in the Lodge?" J. D.—"At the right hand of the Most Excellent Master in the East." M. E. M.—"I thank you, brother. Your duty in the East, Brother Senior?" S. D.—"To wait on the Most Excellent Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge; attend to the preparation and introduction of candidates; and receive and welcome all visiting brethren." M. E. M.—"The Secretary's place in the Lodge, Brother Senior?" S. D.—"At the left hand of the Most Excellent Master in the East." M. E. M.—"I thank you, brother. Your business there, Brother Secretary?" Sec.—"The better to observe the Most Excellent Master's will and pleasure; record the proceedings of the Lodge, and transmit a copy of the same to the Grand Chapter, if required; receive all monies and money-bills from the hands of the brethren; pay them over to the Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same." M. E. M.—"The Treasurer's place in the Lodge?" Sec.—"At your right hand, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"I thank you, brother. Your duty there, Brother Treasurer?" Treas.—"The better to observe the Most Excellent Master's will and pleasure; receive all monies and money-bills from the hands of the Secretary; keep a just and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the Most Excellent Master, and consent of the brethren." M. E. M.—"The Junior Warden's place in the Lodge?" Treas.—"In the South, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"I thank you, brother. Your business in the South, Brother Junior?" J. W.—"As the sun in the South, at high meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South, the better to observe the time of high twelve; call the craft from labor to refreshment; superintend them during the hours thereof; see that none convert the hours of refreshment into that of intemperance or excess; call them again in due season; that the Most Excellent Master may have honor, and they profit thereby." M. E. M.—"The Senior Warden's place in the Lodge?" J. W.—"In the West, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"I thank you, brother. Your duty in the West, Brother Senior?" S. W.—"As the sun sets in the West to close the day, so stands the Senior Warden in the West, to assist the Most Excellent Master in the opening of his Lodge; take care of the jewels and implements; see that none be lost; pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied." M. E. M.—"The Most Excellent Master's place in the Lodge?" S. W.—"In the East, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"His duty in the East, Brother Senior?" S. W.—"As the sun rises in the East to open and adorn the day, so presides the Most Excellent Master in the East to open and adorn his Lodge; to set his craft to work; govern them with good and wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done." [In some Lodges the forgoing ceremonies are omitted.] M. E. M.—"Brother Senior Warden, assemble the brethren around the altar for the purpose of opening this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons." S. W.—"Brethren, please to assemble around the altar for the purpose of opening this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons." In pursuance of this request, the brethren assemble around the altar and form a circle, and stand in such a position as to touch each other, leaving a space for the Most Excellent Master; they then all kneel on their left knee and join hands, each giving his right hand brother his left hand, and his left hand brother his right hand; their left arms uppermost, and their heads inclining downward; all being thus situated, the Most Excellent Master reads the following portion of Scripture: Psalm xxiv.—"The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the King of glory. Selah." The reading being ended, the Most Excellent Master then kneels, joins hands with the others, which closes the circle; they all lift their hands, as joined together, up and down six times, keeping time with the words as the Most Excellent Master repeats them—one, two, three; one, two, three. This is masonically called balancing. They then rise, disengage their hands, and lift them up above their heads with a moderate and somewhat graceful motion; cast up their eyes, turning, at the same time, to the right, they extend their arms and then suffer them to fall loose and nerveless against their sides. This sign is said by Masons to represent the sign of astonishment, made by the Queen of Sheba, on first viewing Solomon's Temple. The Most Excellent Master now resumes his seat and says, "Brethren, attend to giving the signs." The Most Excellent Master then gives all the signs from an Entered Apprentice Mason up to the degree of Most Excellent Master; in which they all join and imitate him. M. E. M.—"Brother Senior Warden, you will please to inform Brother Junior, and request him to inform the brethren that it is my will and pleasure that this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons be now opened for dispatch of business, strictly forbidding all private committees, or profane language, whereby the harmony of the same may be interrupted, while engaged in their lawful pursuits, under no less penalty than the by-laws enjoin, or a majority of the brethren may see cause to inflict." S. W.—"Brother Junior, it is the will and pleasure of the Most Excellent Master, that this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons be now opened for dispatch of business, strictly prohibiting all private committees, or profane language, whereby the harmony of the same may be interrupted, while engaged in their lawful pursuits, under no less penalty than the by-laws enjoin, or a majority of the brethren may see cause to inflict." J. W.—"Brethren, you have heard the Most Excellent Master's will and pleasure, as communicated to me by Brother Senior—so let it be done."
Ceremonies of Initiation.
The Lodge being now opened and ready for the reception of candidates, the Senior Deacon repairs to the preparation room, where the candidate is in waiting, takes off his coat, puts a cable-tow six times around his body, and in this situation conducts him to the door of the Lodge, against which he gives six distinct knocks, which are answered by the same number by the Junior Deacon from within; the Senior Deacon then gives one knock, and the Junior Deacon answers by giving one more; the door is then partly opened by the Junior Deacon, who says, "Who comes there?" Senior Deacon—"A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason; advanced to the honorary degree of a Mark Master Mason; presided in the chair as Past Master; and now wishes for further light in Masonry by being received and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master." Junior Deacon—"Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?" Senior Deacon—"It is." J. D.—"Is he duly and truly prepared?" S. D.—"He is." J. D.—"Is he worthy and well qualified?" S. D.—"He is." J. D.—"Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees?" S. D.—"He has." J. D.—"By what further right or benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?" S. D.—"By the benefit of a pass-word." J. D.—"Has he a pass-word?" S. D.—"He has not, but I have it for him." J. D.—"Will you give it to me?" S. D. whispers in the ear of the Junior Deacon the word, "Rabboni." [In many Lodges the Past Master's word, "Giblem" is used as a pass-word for this degree, and the word, "Rabboni," as the real word.] J. D.—"The word is right; since this is the case, you will wait until the Most Excellent Master in the East is made acquainted with your request, and his answer returned." Junior Deacon repairs to the Most Excellent Master in the East and gives six raps, as at the door. M. E. M.—"Who comes here?" J. D.—"A worthy brother, who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason; passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft; raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason; advanced to the honorary degree of Mark Master Mason; presided in the chair as Past Master: and now wishes for further light in Masonry by being received and acknowledged as a Most Excellent Master." M. E. M.—"Is it of his own free will and choice he makes this request?" J. D.—"It is." M. E. M.—"Is he duly and truly prepared?" J. D.—"He is." M. E. M.—"Is he worthy and well qualified?" J. D.—"He is." M. E. M.—"Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degrees?" J. D.—"He has." M. E. M.—"By what further right or benefit does he expect to obtain this favor?" J. D.—"By the benefit of a pass-word." M. E. M.—"Has he a pass-word?" J. D.—"He has not, but I have it for him." M. E. M.—"Will you give it to me?" Junior Deacon whispers in the ear of the Most Excellent Master the word, "Rabboni." M. E. M.—"The pass is right; since he comes endowed with all these necessary qualifications, let him enter this Lodge of Most Excellent Masters in the name of the Lord." The candidate is then conducted six times around the Lodge by the Senior Deacon, moving with the sun. The first time they pass around the Lodge, when opposite the Junior Warden, he gives one blow with the gavel; when opposite the Senior Warden he does the same; and likewise when opposite the Most Excellent Master. The second time around, each gives two blows; the third, three; and so on, until they arrive to six. During this time, the Most Excellent Master reads the following passage of Scripture:
Psalm cxxii. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will seek thy good."