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master mason
CHAPTER V
the masonic manual
robert macoy
FREE-MASONRY in every degree, as before remarked, is progressive. A
knowledge of it can only be attained by time, patience and application. In
the first degree, we are taught the duties we owe to God, our neighbor and
ourselves. In the second, we are more thoroughly inducted into the
mysteries of moral science, and learn to trace the goodness and majesty of
the Creator, by minutely analyzing his works. But the third degree is the
cement of the whole. It is calculated to bind men together by mystic points of
fellowship, as in a bond of fraternal affection and Brotherly Love. It is
among brethren of this degree, that the ancient landmarks of the order are
preserved, and it is from them that we derive that fund of information
which none but ingenious and expert masons can supply.
It is also from brethren of this degree, that the rulers of the Craft
are selected; because it is only from those who are capable of giving
instruction, that we can reasonably expect to receive it.
A knowledge of the first section of this degree is indispensable to
every brother who would make himself useful in the ceremonial transactions
of a lodge.
The following passage of Scripture is introduced 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 bowl be broken, or the
pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall
return unto GOD who gave it."
THE FOLLOWING ODE MAY BE SUNG:
Music - "Bonny Doon."
LET us remember in our youth,
Before the evil days draw nigh,
Our
GREAT CREATOR, and his TRUTH!
Ere memory fail, and pleasure fly;
Or
sun, or moon, or planet's light
Grow dark, or clouds return in
gloom;
Ere vital spark no more incite;
When strength shall bow, and
years consume.
Let us in youth remember HIM!
Who formed our frame, and spirits
gave,
Ere windows of the mind grow dim,
Or door of speech obstructed
wave:
When voice of bird fresh terrors wake,
And Music's daughters charm
no more,
Or fear to rise, with trembling shake
Along the path we
travel o'er.
In youth, to GOD, let memory cling,
Before desire shall fail, or
wane,
Or e'er be loosed life's silver string,
Or bowl at fountain
rent in twain:
For man to his long home doth go,
And mourners group
around his urn;
Our dust, to dust again must flow,
And spirits unto
GOD return.
* * * * * * * *
All the implements in masonry, indiscriminately, properly belong to
brethren of this degree, and may be illustrated in this section. The
TROWEL, however, is more particularly referred to.
THE TROWEL
 Is an instrument made
use of by operative masons, to spread the cement which unites the building
into one common mass; but we, as free and accepted masons, are taught to
make use it for the more noble and glorious 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, among whom no
contention should ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather
emulation, of who best can work and best
agree.
SECTION II
This section recites the historical traditions of the Order, and
presents to view a picture of great moral sublimity. It exemplifies an
instance of virtue and firmness, seldom equaled, and never excelled.
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
Funeral Dirge.
Music - "Pleyel."
Solemn strikes the fun'ral chime.
Notes of our departing
time;
As we journey here below,
Through a pilgrimage of
wo!
Mortals, now indulge a tear,
For mortality is near!
See
how wide her trophies wave
O'er the slumbers of the grave!
Here another guest we bring, -
Seraphs of celestial
wing,
To our fun'ral altar come,
Waft this friend and
brother home.
There, enlarged, thy soul shall see
What was veiled in
mystery;
Heavenly glories of the place
Show his Maker face
to face
Lord of all! below - above -
Fill our hearts with truth and
love;
When dissolves our earthly tie,
Take us to thy Lodge
on high
The following prayer is used at the raising of brother to the sublime
degree of Master Mason:
THOU, O GOD! knowest our down-setting an our up-rising. and
understandeth our thoughts afa 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 traveling 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
thereof 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 the
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. So mote it be Amen.
* * * * * * * *
SECTION III
This section illustrates certain hieroglyphical emblems and inculcates
many useful and impressive moral lessons. It also details many particulars
elative to the building of the Temple at Jerusalem.
This magnificent structure was founded in the fourth year of the reign
of SOLOMON, on the second day of the month Zif, being the second month of
the sacred year. It was located on Mount
Moriah,
near the place where Abraham was about to offer up his son Isaac, and
where David met and appeased the destroying angel. Josephus informs us,
that.
It is said to have been supported by fourteen hundred and fifty-three
columns, and two thousand nine hundred and six pilasters, all hewn from
the finest Parian marble. There were employed in its building, three Grand
Masters; three thousand and three hundred Masters or Overseers of the
work; eighty thousand Fellow Crafts; and seventy thousand Entered
Apprentices, or bearers of burens. All these were classed and arranged in
such manner, by the wisdom of Solomon, that neither envy, discord, nor
confusion, was suffered to interrupt or disturb the peace and good
fellowship which prevailed among the workmen.
In front of the magnificent porch, were placed the two celebrated
pillars, - one on the left hand and one on the right hand. They are
supposed to have been placed there as a memorial to the children of
Israel, of the happy deliverance of their forefathers from Egyptian
bondage, and in commemoration of the miraculous pillars of fire and cloud.
The pillar of fire gave light to the Israelites and facilitated their
march, and the cloud proved darkness to Pharaoh and his host, and retarded
their pursuit. King Solomon, therefore, ordered these pillars to be placed
at the entrance of the temple, as the most conspicuous part, that the
children of Israel might have that happy event continually before their
eyes, in going to and returning from divine worship.
* * * * * * * *
In this section are also explained a variety of appropriate emblems,
with which the skilful brother will not fail to make himself familiarly
acquainted. Among them are the following:
THE THREE STEPS
 Usually delineated
upon the master's carpet, are emblematical of the three principal stages
of human life, viz: youth, manhood and age. In youth,
as entered apprentices, we ought industriously to occupy our minds in the
attainment of useful knowledge: in manhood, as fellow crafts, we
should apply our knowledge to the discharge of our respective duties to
God, our neighbor, and ourselves; that so, in age, as master
masons, we may enjoy the happy reflection consequent on a well-spent life,
and die in the hope of a glorious
immortality.
THE POT OF INCENSE
 Is an emblem of a pure
heart, which is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and, as this
glows with to fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with
gratitude to the great and beneficent Author of our existence, for the
manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.
THE BEE HIVE
 Is an emblem of
industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created
beings, from the highest seraph in heaven, to the lowest reptile of the
dust. It teaches us, that as we came into the world rational and
intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting
down contented while our fellow-creatures around us are in want,
especially when it is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience
to ourselves.
When we take a survey of nature, we view man, in his infancy, more
helpless and indigent than the orutal creation; he lies languishing for
days, months and years, totally incapable of providing sustenance for
himself, of guarding against the attack of the wild beasts of the field,
or sheltering himself from the incelemencies of the weather. It might have
pleased the great Creator of
heaven and earth, to have made man independent of all other beings; but, as
dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society, mankind were mad
dependent on each other for protection and security as they thereby enjoy
better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and
friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active life the noblest
part of the work of God; and he that will so demean himself, as not to be
endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may
be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless member of
society, and unworthy of our protection as masons.
THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS, GUARDED BY THE TYLER'S
SWORD
 Reminds us that we
should be ever watchful and guarded in our thoughts words and actions,
particularly when before the enemies of masonry; ever bearing in
remembrance those truly masonic virtues, silence and
circumspection.
THE SWORD, POINTING TO A NAKED HEART
 Demonstrates that
justice will sooner or later overtake us; and although our thoughts, words
and actions may be hidden from the eyes of man, yet
that
All-seeing Eye
whom the SUN, MOON, and STARS obey, and under whose watchful care, even
COMETS perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses
of the human HEART, and will reward us according to our merits.
THE ANCHOR AND ARK
  Are emblems of a
well-grounded hope, and a well-spent life. They are emblematical of that
divine. Art, which safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles,
and that Anchor, which shall safely moor us into a peaceful harbor,
where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary shall find
rest.
THE FORTY-SEVENTH PROBLEM OF EUCLID
 This was an invention
of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras, who, in his
travels through Asia, Africa and Europe, was initiated into several orders
of priesthood, and raised to the sublime degree of a master mason. This
wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of
things, and more especially in geometry, or masonry. On this subject, he
drew out many problems and theorems; and among the most distinguished, he
erected this, which, in the joy of his heart, he called Eureka,
signifying, in the Grecian language, I have found it; and upon the
discovery of which, he is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb. It teaches
masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences.
THE HOUR-GLASS
 Is an emblem of human
life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are
drawing to a close! We cannot without astonishment behold the little
particles which are contained in this machine; - how they pass away almost
imperceptibly! and yet, to our surprise, in the short space of an hour
they are al exhausted. Thus wastes man! To-day, he puts forth the tender
leaves of hope; to-morrow, blossoms and hears
his blushing honors thick upon him; the next day comes a frost, which nips
the shoot; and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring, he falls,
like autumn leaves, to enrich our mother earth.
THE SCYTHE
 Is an emblem of
time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into
eternity. Behold! what havoc the scythe of time makes among the human
race! If by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to
childhood and youth, and with health and vigor arrive to the years of
manhood; yet, withal, we must soon be cut down by the all devouring scythe
of time, and be gathered into the land where our fathers have gone before
us.
* * * * * * * *
CHARGE TO THE CANDIDATE
BROTHER: - Your zeal for our institution, the progress you have made in
our mysteries, and your steady conformity to our useful regulations, have
pointed you out as a proper object for this peculiar mark of our
favor.
Duty and honor now alike bind you to be faithful to every trust; to
support the dignity of your character on all occasions; and strenuously to
enforce, by precept and example, a steady obedience to the tenets of
Free-masonry. Exemplary conduct on your part, will convince the world,
that merit is the just title to our privileges, and that on you our favors
have not been undeservedly bestowed.
In this respectable character you are authorized to correct the
irregularities of your less informed brethren; to fortify their minds with
resolution against the snares of the insidious, and to guard them against
every allurement to vicious practices. To preserve unsullied the
reputation of the fraternity, ought to be your constant care; and,
therefore, it becomes your province to caution the inexperienced against a
breach of fidelity. To your inferiors in rank or office, you are to
recommend obedience and submission; to your equals, courtesy and
affability; to your superiors,
kindness and condescension. Universal benevolence you are zealously to
inculcate; and by the regularity of your own conduct, endeavor to remove
every aspersion against this venerable institution. Our ancient landmarks
you are carefully to preserve, and not suffer them, on any pretence, to be
infringed, or countenance a deviation from our established customs.
Your honor and reputation are concerned in supporting with dignity, the
respectable character you now bear. Let no motive, therefore, make you
swerve from your duty, violate your vows, or betray your trust; but be
true and faithful, and imitate the example of that celebrated artist whom
you have this evening represented. Thus you will render yourself deserving
of the honor which we have conferred, and worthy of the confidence we have
reposed in
you.
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