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Upon this a door flew open, and discovered a room extremely light, out of which came three men, with drawn swords, one of whom said, deliver your friend to us. Upon this my friend delivered me into their care, and I was ushered into the lodge, one walking before, and one on each side, and my friend in the rear. Thus was I brought out of

darkness into light.

What was done after this?-I was stripped naked, in order that all the lodge might be well assured they were not imposed upon by a woman. What was then done ?-The master clothed me with the badge of innocence. (This is a loose white garment, generally made of fine linen, and sometimes of silk.) He then took me by the right hand, and placed me in the centre of the brethren; he then ordered me to kneel down on both my knees, and held to my throat the point of a sword which he had in his hand, and then addressed me as follows:

"SIR,-You are now going to be admitted a member of this ancient and honorable fraternity, and it is expected that you will lay yourself under the subsequent obligation.

"You shall not reveal to any person or persons, either by word of mouth, or your own hand-writing, or cause to be revealed in any manner whatever, any part or parts, point or points, or any traditions, which have been, are now, or shall hereafter be held as a secret among masons, unless to an honest man, who you know is a mason, or to the master or wardens of any regular Lodge.

"And as it was always esteemed by the masons of old, that to swear by the sword was the most binding of all obligations, so we do insist and require you solemnly to kiss the edge of this sword presented to your throat, as a signification of your full consent to, and approbation of, the above particulars.

"Your well performing this injunction, will make you ever esteemed by this venerable body, as the contrary will render you guilty of a breach of the most sacred band of human society, and consequently degrade you from the character of a man of honor, which every mason ought to preserve more carefully than his life."

Are you desirous of knowing the Major's secrets?-Yes. Ex. Your good behaviour alone will not obtain them.

This is a sheer hoax upon the order. The real intention, as in the mysteries and freemasonry, is to represent man in a state of nature, before the arts, and particularly that of making clothing, were invented. The candidate before initiation is lo ked upon as an uncultivated savage; his initiation civilizes and regenerates him ---Edit.

*The freemasons, at the revival of the order in 1717, would have done well to have adopted this oath, instead of those of Hiram-masonry.-Edit.

R. By that alone they could not be obtain'd,
But I by that a Golden Signet gain'd;
Which will admit me into that degree,

That I may work among the Majors Free.

What is that signet?-A ring. Ex. Produce it?-R. Behold it

here. (Shewing the ring.)

Ex. Attend, my brethren, all that round me stand,
While I obey great Belus' dread command.

Our brother here, upon examination,

Desires I'll place him in a higher station;
A Minor's character has well maintain'd,

And answer'd all things well; by which he's gain'd
The Signet rare, which Belus did ordain
For such as could the Minor's art attain,
That they may to the tow'r repair, and be
Receiv'd to work among the Majors Free.
'Tis then my will and pleasure that he may
Begin to work, and enter into pay.

Ceremony of Installment of Officers.

Where were you installed?—In the observatory. How high was it?-On the top of the tower. How got you there?-By a winding ascent. In what manner were you installed?-I first passed the Minor's examination, and then the Major's; after which Belus informed me, the brethren had unanimously agreed to elect me into the office of which he invested me with the badge. Have the officers a secret word?—Yes. How did you receive it ?—

On my two knees he ordered me to kneel,
Before he could the secret word reveal;

A word to all but officers unknown,
Because we give it when we are alone;
The word is Belus, be it known to thee,
'Twas that great man gave birth to Masonry-

CHAPTER VIII.

MISELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

Ceremonies observed in laying the foundation stone of Freemason's-Hall, London, 1775; and its dedication, in 1776.

The similarity of practices in masonry and the ancient rites of Bacchus, is fully exemplified in these ceremonies. The Caduceus or magical wand of Mercury, the mysterious chest, and the three pitchers, containing corn, wine, and oil, are appropriately used. This will appear by the following short abstract of the transactions on those occasions, as published by Smith:

"The first stone of mason's hall was laid by the Rt. Hon. Robert Edward Lord Peter, baron of Writtle, grand master of the masons of England, accompanied by the worshipful Rowland Holt, etc.

About twelve o'clock the procession arrived, and continued three times round the ground, where the hall was to be erected. The grand master then deposited the foundation stone with the usual formalities. After which the deputy grand master presented the square to the grand master, when his lordship tried the corners of the stone, and then returned it to the deputy, who gave it to the architect. The senior grand warden next presented the level to the grand master, who therewith tried the stone horizontally, and returned it as before. The junior grand warden then presented the plumb-rule to the grand master, who applied it properly, and returned it as before. His lordship then struck the stone three times with a mallet, on which the grand treasurer waved his wand, and the brethren joined in the grand honors of masonry. (This is done by clapping hands three times three.)* The following anthem was then sung:

To Heaven's high Architect all praise,
All praise, all gratitude be given,
Who deigned the hunian soul to raise,
By mystic secrets sprung from heaven.
Chorus. Thrice repeated.

Sound aloud the great Jehovah's praise,
To him the dome, the temple raise.

*On laying the foundation of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, in 1738, each of the brethren in their turns gave three strokes upon the corner stone with an iron mallet, which was succeeded by three clarions of the trumpet, three huzzas, and three claps of hands. (See Lawrie, p. 155.)-Edit.

An oration was then pronounced. At the conclusion of which, the grand treasurer again waved his wand, and the grand honors were given as before. A grand piece of music was then performed by the instruments, and an ode on masonry rehearsed; after which the procession was resumed, and continued three times round as before.

The whole ceremony was conducted with the greatest order and decorum. The grand master and the rest of the brethren then proceeded through the city in procession in their carriages, without exposing any of the ensignia of the order, to Leathersellers hall, where an elegant entertainment was provided, and the evening concluded with great joy and festivity."

Dedication of the Hall, in 1776.

At half past twelve the procession entered the hall in the following order:

Grand Tiler, with a drawn sword-four tilers, carrying the lodge [the mysterious chest,] covered with white satín-master of the seventh lodge, carrying two silver pitchers, containing wine and oil-the master of the sixth lodge, carrying a gold pitcher, containing corn-the first light carried by the master of the fifth lodge-architect, carrying square, level, and plumb-rule-master of the fourth lodge, carrying the bible compasses, and square, on a velvet cushion-grand chaplain,-grand secretary, with the bag, [purporting to contain private papers appertaining to the affairs of the lodge-a mere formality]-grand treasurer, with the staff [wand,]-second light, carried by the master of the third lodge—the third light, carried by the master of the second lodge— master of the senior lodge, carrying the book of constitutions-grand sword-bearer, carrying the sword of state-grand master.

On the procession reaching the grand master's chair, the brethren who formed it were-proclaimed, and from that station walked round the hall three times. The lodge was then placed in the center of the hall, and the three lights, with one gold and two silver pitchers, containing corn, wine, and oil, were placed thereon; the bible, compasses, square, and book of constitutions, on a velvet cushion, being placed on a pedestal, the foundation stone anthem was sung.

His lordship then expressed his approbation of the architect's con duct, and commanded the proper officers to receive back the implements which had been delivered him at laying the foundation stone. A sol emn piece of music was next performed, during which the ladies, and those who were not masons, retired. The grand master then ordered the hall to be tiled, on which the lodge [the little chest,] was uncov

ered, and the grand secretary informed the grand master, that it was the desire of the society to have the hall dedicated to masonry; on which the grand master commanded the grand officers to assist in that ceremony, during which the organ kept playing solemn music. The grand officers then walked round the lodge in procession three times, stopping each time for the ceremony of dedication; when the grand master in solemn form declared the hall dedicated to masonry, to virtue, and to universal charity and benevolence; which being proclaimed, the grand honors were given as before: the lodge was then covered, and the ladies introduced amidst the acclamation of the brethren: next

a grand anthem was sung. An oration on masonry was then deliv ered by William Dodd, L. L. D. grand chaplain."

As the method of disposing of the corn, wine, and oil, is not stated in the foregoing account, I will subjoin the custom in this respect, which is observed at laying the foundation stone of public structures, and at the dedication of mason's halls, as given by Webb and others.

"The gold and silver vessels are presented to the grand master; and he, according to ancient ceremony, pours the corn, the wine, and the oil, which they contain, on the stone, saying,

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May the all bounteous Author of Nature bless the inhabitants of this place with all the necessaries, conveniencies, and comforts of life; assist in the erection and completion of this building; protect the workmen against every accident, and long preserve this structure from decay; and grant to us all, in needed supply, the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy.

'Amen! So mote it be! Amen!

"He then strikes the stone thrice with the mallet, and the public honors of masonry are given."

In the dedication of mason's halls, the corn, wine, and oil, are poured upon the lodge, that is, as before observed, the little mysterious chest, Aaron, or ark.

The processions three times round the foundation, and the hall when finished; the three lights; the clapping hands three times; striking the stone thrice, etc. are in conformity to the customs of the ancients; which was done by them in reverence of the deity, and in acknowledg ment of their belief in the triplicity of his nature or attributes.

"The Druid priests, in their worship, looked towards the sunthey retained many of the Ammonian rites,-they are said to have made mystical processions round their consecrated fires sunwise before they proceeded to sacrifice."-[Hutchinson, p. 69.]

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