Q. Explain to me the square of 9, which you see in the triple triangle.

A. Nine, thrice multiplied by three, makes 81.

Q. Why do you place Solomon King of Israel, in the temple. A. In memory of his being the first who constructed a temple to his Lord.*

Q. Why do you place a brazen sea in the temple.

A. To let us know, that the temple of God is holy, and that we must not enter it before we are purified from all unclean

ness.

Q. What does the left side of the temple signify.

A. Masonry, under the laws of types and ceremonies.
Q. What does the right side of the temple signify.
A. Freemasonry, under the laws of grace and truth.

Q. What is the meaning of the tomb, which is under the threshold of the door of the sanctuary in your degrees of Perfect Master and Provost and Judge.

A. It shews that we must be purified by death, before we can enter into the mansions of bliss.

Q. What does the candlestick with seven branches signify. A. The presence of the holy spirit in the heart of those who faithfully observe the law.

Q. Why are you barefooted at the time of reception.

A. Because moses was so when on the Mount,

Q. What did you hear before you entered the lodge.

A. Five great strokes.

Q. What do they denote.

A. The five points of felicity.

Q. What happened in consequence and what was done with you.

A. A warden immediately appeared, who supported and carried me round the temple five times.

Q. What was his intention in so doing.

A. Surprise, wonder and grief took possession of my mind all the time.

Q. Why were you thus affected.

A. I was thus affected at the sight of what was enclosed in the blazing star.

Q. Pray, what could that be,

A. Something that was mysterious and appertaining to the grand architect of the universe, which I hope to be acquainted with in time.

Q. Why had that star five points or rays.

A. It was to shew, first, that in the construction of the temple, the five orders of architecture were made use of: second, to

*Who constructed the temple of Elora in Hindostan before the name of Solomon King of Israel was fabled? Answer me that masons. Your Solomon's Fabled Temple, as to skill and labour, is a wigwam compared to this reality. R. C.

represent the five points of felicity: third, the five senses, without which man is imperfect: fourth, the five lights of masonry: and fifth, the five zones inhabited by masonry.

Q. What are the five points of felicity.

A. To walk, to intercede for, to pray, to love, and to assist your brethren, so as to be united with them in heart and mind.

Q. Why were you seized with wonder.

A. It was on seeing the beauty and ornaments of the temple, whereof I saw but a part.

Q. Why did you not see the whole.

A. A thick veil concealed a part from my view; but I hope that the strong desire which I have to improve in my zeal for the royal art will disperse the cloud in time, which now obstructs my sight from them.

Q. Why were you seized with grief.

A. Because all the wonders I saw brought to my remembrance the melancholy end of our respectable Master Hiram Abiff. Q. How were you made to walk.

A. By the five points of exactness.

Q. And what do you mean by this.

A. I mean the five solemn steps which I took in advancing to the foot of the throne of the powerful king of Israel, where I took my obligation in his presence.

Q. Why, at your reception, where you obliged to represent a dead man.

A. It denotes to us, that good masons should be silent to the world and repair from its vices.

Q. What do the seals imply, which are put into your hands.

A. An emblem of Justice to my brethren. By the said scales, I ought also to weigh my own actions and to regulate my own conduct, in order to justify the good opinion conceived of me by appointing me a Master in Israel and an Intendant of the building.

Q. Have you seen your illustrious and Perfect Master to-day. A. I have seen him.

Q. Where was he placed and how clad.

A. He was placed in the east under a canopy bespangled with brilliant stars and clad with azure and gold.

Q. Have you any remains of darkness about you.

A. The morning star lights me and the mysterious star guides me.

Q. Where were you thus conducted.

A. I cannot tell you.

Q. How old are you.

A. Twenty seven.

Q. What number have you
A. Five, seven and fifteen.

marked.

Q. Where did you remark them and what do they mean.

A I remarked them in the arrangement of the lights and have already explained the two first numbers. The last represents the fifteen masters, headed by Mohabone, who found the body of Hiram Abiff.

Q. Why do you wear a green ribbon and the same colour on your apron.

A. To teach me that virtue and zeal in Masonry are the only roads to lead me to true and sublime knowledge.

Q. What does your jewel represent.

A. The triple essence of the divinity.

Form of closing in this degree.

T. P. M. What is the clock, Illustrious Warden.
A. Thrice Puissant, the day is at an end.

T. P. M. Remember, Illustrious brethren, and think often of the five points of felicity. It is time to rest.

The T. P. M. and Wardens strike five times each. All the brethren clap five, seven and fifteen times, and the lodge is closed.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE OF PAST MASTER.

Catechism.

W. M. How were you prepared as a Past Master of arts and sciences?

P. M. In the character of a Master Mason and properly hoodwinked.

W. M. Why were you hoodwinked?

P. M. To point out to me, that the secrets of this degree, perceptible by vision, were to be hidden from my sight, until the light of my understanding had qualified me to receive them. W. M. What procured you admission?

P, M. Four distinct knocks and the pass-word of a Master Mason.

W. M. In what manner did you enter the lodge of a Past Master?

P. M. Upon four points of geometry, formed by the square and compasses united; and the letter G in the centre.

W. M. Why were you initiated in this manner?

P. M. Because the compasses are the principal instrument belonging to the master mason; and the two points elevated above the points of the square denoted, that I had arrived at the summit of operative Masonry. The letter G in the centre was the proper passport, that being the initial of the pass-word of this degree, signifying a mason that is master of his profession.

W. M. In what manner were you then dealt with?

P. M. I was conducted in the usual form and by the proper steps of advancing, to receive the obligation.

W. M. In what manner were you placed to receive the obligation?

P. M. Upon both my knees, my hands upon the Holy Bible, and my mouth holding a pair of compasses over my hands. W. M. What was the reason of this peculiar position of the compasses?

P. M. As my hands had been instrumental in duly executing the noblest parts of operative masonry, my mouth was thus employed, to denote that I was then about to be passed a Past Master of Arts and sciences. And as my head was then confined with the compasses by my hands on the Holy Bible, it strongly figured to my mind, that the compass of God's word was to be the standard of every operation in my future life, that I might thereby arrive at the summit of masonry, by passing through the speculative degree of this mortal life, to that glorious and celestial lodge, where the Grand Pass-Word of the Almighty Architect will procure us admission, and with whom, peace, order, and harmony will eternally reign.

W. M. Be pleased to arise and in proper position deliver the obligation.

(The additional penalty of this obligation is to have the hands struck of at the wrist.)

W. M. How did you confirm it?

P. M. With my lips four times on the Holy Bible.

W. M. In what manner were you raised?

P. M. By the grip of a past master.

W. M. Be pleased to advance and give it to me with the first sign.

(The grip is to lay hold of the left hand of one brother by the right of the other, at the wrist, grasping it tight.

The sign, place the thumb perpendicular on the lips, between the nose and chin. Indicative silence.

my

W. M. To what do they allude?

P. M. The grip alludes to the part of the obligation, of having hands struck off from my wrists; and the sign alludes to that other part of the obligation, of having my arms struck off from my body and both hung at my breast, suspended at the neck, as an index of infamy till time and putridity consume the

same.

W. M. Be pleased to deliver the second sign and its signification? (By extending the arm at length, and, with the thumb and finger, as if holding the plumb-line.)

P. M. It alludes to the manner of distinguishing a brother of this degree at such a distance, that it prevents us from making use of any other method.

W. M. Be pleased to communicate the chief word and its signi fication.

P, M. Giblum or Chibbelum. It means a workman, who is master of his profession; but more especially alluding to the excellency of the sculpture, in the stone work of Solomon's temple. W. M. To what does the pass-grip allude?

P. M. That memorable characteristic which distinguished the ancient Sidonia workmen at the building of Solomon's Temple. W, M. To what does the pass word allude?

P. M. To the first and most distinguished workmen in the Porphyre stone work, during the erection of that edifice.

W, M. What is the distinguishing mark or signature used by the brothers of this degree?

P. M. The initial of its first noble chief officer, at that time in Jerusalem, to be placed in conjunction with the initial of that famous class of workmen, who distinguish themselves in that branch of operative masonry set apart for finishing the Porphyre materials.

W. M. Where were you placed after your obligation?

P. M. After circumscribing the Lodge by the Right Worshipful Master's command, from east to west, I was placed in a circle, in the centre, as a Past Master, to prove to all the brothers then present, that I was eligible to act in future, in conjunction with them, to superintend the workmen up to this order inclusive.

W. M. Why is our Lodge in this degree dedicated to the noble prince Adoniram?

P. M Because he was next in rank to Hiram Abiff, and also grand superintendant over the levy of Jerusalem, and the first Right Worshipful Master who presided over the Master Masons at that memorable period of time.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE OF EXCELLENT MASONS.

Catechism.

W. M. How were you prepared as an Excellent Mason?

E. M. In the character of a Past Master of arts and Sciences and properly hoodwinked.

W. M. Why were you hoodwinked in this degree ?

E. M. It alludes to the darkness of the Jewish nation, prior to the delivery of the two tables of stone by the almighty to Moses, which was to bring them to the light of the those religions and moral laws, that were ever after to be the standard of their future lives and actions.

W. M. What procured you admission?