The reading of the foregoing is so timed as not to be fully ended until the Senior Deacon and candidate have performed the sixth revolution. Immediately after this, the Senior Deacon and candidate arrive at the Junior Warden's station in the South, when the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the door (Who comes here, etc.). The Junior Warden then directs the candidate to pass on to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination; where the same questions are asked and answers returned, as before. The Senior Warden directs him to be conducted to the Right Worshipful Master in the East for further examination. The Right Worshipful Master asks the same questions, and receives the same answers as before. He then says, "Please to conduct the candidate back to the West from whence he came, and put him in the care of the Senior Warden, and request him to teach the candidate how to approach the East, by advancing upon six upright regular steps to the sixth step, and place him in a proper position to take upon him the solemn oath or obligation of a Most Excellent Master Mason." The candidate is conducted back to the West, and put in care of the Senior Warden, who informs him how to approach the East, as directed by the Most Excellent Master. The candidate kneels on both knees, and places both hands on the leaves of an opened Bible, Square and Compass. The Most Excellent Master now comes forward and says, "Brother, you are now placed in a proper position to take upon you the solemn oath or obligation of a Most Excellent Master Mason; which, I assure you, as before, is neither to affect your religion or politics. If you are willing to take it, repeat your name and say after me." The following obligation is then administered:
"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty God, and this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons, do hereby and hereon, in addition to my former obligations, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will not give the degree of a Most Excellent Master to any of an inferior degree, nor to any other person or persons in the known world, except it be to a true and lawful brother or brethren of this degree, and within the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such; and not unto him nor them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial and due examination, or lawful information. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs and summons given, handed, sent, or thrown to me from a brother of this degree, or from the body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of such, provided it be within the length of my cable-tow, if in my power. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will support the constitution of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States of America, also the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of ——, under which this Lodge is held, and conform to all the by-laws, rules and regulations of this or any other Lodge, of which I may at any time hereafter become a member, Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will aid and assist all poor and indigent brethren of this degree, their widows and orphans, wheresoever dispersed around the globe, as far as in my power, without injuring myself or family. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that the secrets of a brother of this degree, given to me in charge as such, and I knowing them to be such, shall remain as secret and inviolable in my breast as in his own, murder and treason excepted, and the same left to my own free will and choice. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this Lodge of Most Excellent Master Masons, nor a brother of this degree, to the value of anything, knowingly, myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it; but will give due and timely notice of all approaches of danger, if in my power. Furthermore, do I promise and swear, that I will dispense light and knowledge to all ignorant and uninformed brethren at all times, as far as in my power, without material injury to myself or family. To all which I do most solemnly swear, with a fixed and steady purpose of mind in me, to keep and perform the same binding myself under no less penalty than to have my breast torn open, and my heart and vitals taken from thence and exposed to rot on the dunghill, if ever I violate any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a Most Excellent Master Mason. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."
"Detach your hands and kiss the book."
The candidate is now requested to rise, and the Most Excellent Master gives him the sign, grip, and word appertaining to this degree. The sign is given by placing your hands, one on each breast, the fingers meeting in the centre of the body, and jerking them apart as though you were trying to tear open your breast; it alludes to the penalty of the obligation. The grip is given by taking each other by the right hand, and clasping them so that each compresses the third finger of the other with his thumb. [If one hand is large and the other small, they cannot both give the grip at the same time.] It is called the grip of all grips, because it is said to cover all the preceding grips. The Most Excellent holds the candidate by the hand, and puts the inside of his right foot to the inside of the candidate's right foot, and whispers in his ear, "Rabboni." In some Lodges the word is not given in a whisper, but in a low voice. After these ceremonies are over, and the members seated, some noise is intentionally made by shuffling the feet. M. E. M.—"Brother Senior, what is the cause of this confusion?" S. W.—"Is not this the day set apart for the celebration of the copestone, Most Excellent?" M. E. M.—"I will ask Brother Secretary. Brother Secretary, is this the day set apart for the celebration of the copestone?" Secretary (looking in his book)—"It is, Most Excellent." M. E. M.—"Brother Senior Warden, assemble the brethren, and form a procession, for the purpose of celebrating the copestone." The brethren then assemble (the candidate stands aside, not joining in the procession), form a procession double file, and march six times around the Lodge, against the course of the sun, singing the following song, and giving all the signs from an Entered Apprentice to that of Most Excellent Master. When opposite the Most Excellent Master, the first time they march around the Lodge, each member gives the first sign of an Entered Apprentice, and preserves it until he nearly arrives opposite the Most Excellent a second time, then gives the second sign, and continues it in the same manner, and so of all others, up to that of this degree, saying,
All hail to the morning that bids us rejoice,
The Temple's completed, exalt high each voice.
The copestone is finished—our labor is o'er,
The sound of the gavel shall hail us no more.
To the power Almighty, who ever has guided
The tribes of old Israel, exalting their fame;
To Him who hath governed our hearts undivided,
Let's send forth our vows to praise His great name.
Companions, assemble on this joyful day
(The occasion is glorious!) the keystone to lay;
Fulfilled is the promise, by the Ancient of Days,
To bring forth the copestone with shouting and praise.
The keystone is now produced and laid on the altar.
There is no more occasion for level or plumb-line,
For trowel or gavel, for compass or square;[7]
Our works are completed, the ark safely seated,[8]
And we shall be greeted as workmen most rare.
Names, those that are worthy our tribes, who have shared,
And proved themselves faithful, shall meet their reward;
Their virtue and knowledge, industry and skill,
Have our approbation—have gained our good will.