Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

CHAPTER VII.

MASTER MASON'S DEGREE.

GENERAL REMARKS.

FROM this class the rulers of regular bodies of Masons, in the first three degrees, are selected. The lecture is divided into three sections.

SECTION FIRST.

The ceremony of raising a brother to this degree is here particularly specified, and much important instruction is communicated in this section.

The following passage of scripture is employed during the ceremonies.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

"While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain :

"In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.

"And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bow! be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it."

The working tools of a master Mason are all the implements of the craft indiscriminately, but more especially the trowel.

The TROWEL is an instrument used, by the operative builder, to spread the cement which unites the building into one common mass; but we as free and accepted Masons are taught to make use of it for the more noble and important purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection, that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers.

SECOND SECTION.

This section recites the historical traditions of the order, presenting to view an example of virtue, fortitude, and integrity, seldom equalled, and never surpassed in the history of man.

The following passages of scripture should be solemnly recited by the master.

"The and of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.

"And he said unto me, on of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lo d God, thou knowest.

"Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,

"Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.

"And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shaii live and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

"So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

"Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the

Lord God, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."

Prayer at raising.

"Thou, O God! knowest our down-sitting and our uprising, and understandest our thoughts afar off Shield and defend us from the evil intentions of our enemies, and support us under the trials and afflictions we are destined to endure, while travelling through this vale of tears. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; turn from him that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch there of will not cease. But man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down, and riseth not up till he heavens shall be no more. Yet, O Lord! have compassion on the children of thy creation, administer them comfort in time of trouble, and save them with an everlasting salvation. Amen. So mote it be."

THIRD SECTION

In this section many particulars relative to king Solomon's temple are considered, and likewise certain hieroglyphical emblems illustrated calculated to extend the knowledge and promote the virtue of the craft.

POT OF INCENSE.

This is an emblem of ever acceptable to God.

a pure heart, which is a sacrifice As this glows with fervent heat,

so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the beneficent Author of our being, for the manifold blessings we enjoy.

BEE-HIVE.

This is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the brightest seraph in heaven, to the vilest reptile in the dust. Man was formed for active and social life; and he that refuses or neglects to add to the common stock of useful knowledge, is a useless member of the community, and may be treated as a drone in the hive of Nature.

Book of Constitutions guarded by the sword.

This emblem reminds us that we should ever be watchful and guarded, in our thoughts, words, and actions, particularly when before the enemies of masonry; ever bearing in mind those truly masonic virtues, silence and circumspection.

SWORD POINTED TO A NAKED HEART.

This may admonish us, that, although mercy may follow us, whether we be good or bad; there is a time appointed when the sword of justice shall overtake the guilty.

ALL-SEEING EYE.

Though we imagine that our actions and our motives are nid from the knowledge of all beings but ourselves, there is an EYE above that pervades the most secret recesses of the heart.

ANCHOR AND ARK.

These are emblems of a well grounded hope and a well spent life. They remind us of that divine ark of safety which wafts us securely over this sea of troubles; and of that anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbour," where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest."

PYTHAGOREAN PROBLEM.

When the philosopher Pythagoras had demonstrated the problem, that "in every right angled triangle, the square described upon the side opposite the right angle is equal to the sum of the squares of the two remaining sides," he exclaimed in the Greek language Eureka, I have found it; and in the joy of his heart he sacrificed a hecatomb.

THE HOUR-GLASS.

This is an emblem of human life. Behold, how swiftly the sands are running, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close! in the short period of an hour the little particles of sand are completely exhausted; thus wastes man! "To-day, puts forth the tender leaves of hope, to-morrow, blossoms; the next day comes a frost and all the blushing honours fall before it."

THE SCYTHE.

Behold, what havoc the scythe of time is making among the human race! if we escape the nameless evils of childhood, and are preserved amid the threatening dangers of youth, yet we must shortly fall, for the brittle thread will be sundered and we shall launch into eternity.

1

THREE STEPS.

This device on a master's carpet is emblematical of the three principal stages of human life, infancy, manhood, and decrepitude. In youth, as apprentices, we should search for knowledge; in manhood, as craftsmen, we should apply that knowledge to useful purposes; that in the decline of life, as master Masons, we may reflect with pleasure upona well spent life, and die in hope of a glorious immortality.

« PoprzedniaDalej »