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 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Supreme Council 
 Conf Pam #695 
 
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AD UXU'EOSI TERIIARBI ORBIS ARClllTECTI GLORIA!!, 
 
 ORDO AB CHAO, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTCS RITE OF FREEIIASONRV, 
 
 IN AND FOR 
 
 THS SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT STATS OF LOuISlANA. 
 
 VALLEY OF NSV7 ORLEANS. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 J. II. KEEFE & BRO., PRINTERS. 57 GRAVIER STREET. 
 1861. 
 
T/. T.-. G.-. 0.-. T.-. G/. A.-, 0/, T.\ U, 
 
 A RITUAL OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTCH RITE OF FREEilASOXRV. 
 
 FIRST DEGREE 
 
 ENTERED APPRENTICE, E.-. A.-. 
 
 OFFICERS, 
 
 1st.— VENERABLE MASTER , V.-. M.-. 
 
 2d.— FIRST SURVEILLANT 1st Surv.-. 
 
 3a.— SECOND SURVEILLANT 2d Surv.-. 
 
 4th.— ORATOR Or.-. 
 
 5th.— SECRETARY Sec.-. 
 
 Gth.— TREASURER Treas.-. 
 
 7th.— MASTER EXPERT ..M.-. E.-. 
 
 8th.— MASTER OF CEREMONIES M.-. Cer.-. 
 
 9th.— STANDARD BEARER Stand.-. B,- 
 
 lOh.— INSIDE SENTINEL Ins.-. Sent. 
 
 «« 
 
FIRST DEGREE. 
 
 OPENING OF THE LODGE. 
 
 {The BB'. heing assembled in the Temple, the Ven.-. 31.'. 
 fills the vacancies of the absent officers and gives a rap ivith 
 Ms gavel repeated by the two Surv.-.) 
 
 Ven. M — BroV. 1st iSurveillmt, are you a Free-masou? 
 
 1st SuRv. — My BB.'. recognize me as such. 
 
 Ven. M. — What is your first duty ? 
 
 1st SuiiY. — To ascertain whether the Temple is well 
 guarded outside. 
 
 Ven. M. — Please ascertain it, my brother, 
 
 1st SuRV. — Bro.-. Inside Sentinel please ascertain 
 whether the Temple is well guarded outside. 
 
 {The Inside Sentinel raps / / / which is ansivered by 
 
 the Outside Sentinel / .' / — The Inside Sentinel raps 
 
 another time ! and the Outside Sentinel anstoers / — 
 
 Then, ajter having opened the ivicJcet and being aivare that 
 the Lodge mag begin its works, the Inside Sentinel sags :) 
 
 Ins. Sent — Bro.-. 1st Surv.*., the Temple is well 
 guarded outside- 
 
 1st SuRV.*. repeats: — Ven.-. M.-., the Temple is well 
 guarded outside. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.-. 1st Surv--., what is your second duty 
 when the Lodge opens in the Apprentice's Degree ? 
 
 1st Surv. — To ascertain whether the persons present are 
 Entered Apprentices and members of this Lodge- 
 
 Ven. M — BB-*. 1st and 2nd Sarveillants, please ascer- 
 tain on your respective columns if all the BB.-. present are 
 Entered Apprentices. Ascertain also that they are mem- 
 bers of this Lodge. 
 
 {The 1st and 2nd Surv.',, in succession give a rap ivith their 
 
gaveU saying:) — To order! BB/. ! 
 
 2(] SuRv. — {Gives a rap with his gavel and sags:) — Bro.'. 
 1st Surv.-. the BB.-. on my column arc Entered Ap|)ren- 
 tices; the}' arc in order- They arc also members of this 
 Lodge. 
 
 1st iSuRv.— {Gives a rap 7vUh his gavel and sags:) — Ven/. 
 M.*., the BI3.-. on both cohiinn.s arc Kntei'ed Apprentices; 
 they are in order. They arc also members of this Lodge. 
 
 Ven. M. — The East is also in order- 
 
 Ven- M — Bro-* 1st Surv.*., where docs our Bro-"- 2nd 
 Surv-'- sit ill the Temple? 
 
 1st SuKV — Li the South- 
 
 Yiix. M — Bro/. 2ii(l ISurv"-, what are your duties in 
 tlie l^outh ? 
 
 2nd Surv — {Giving a rap tviih his gavel, replies:) — To 
 assist our BB/. in preserving a remembrance of the 
 impressions and sensations of the First of Mankind, when 
 he saw the snn in all its glory pass the meridian of the 
 celestial canopy and tluM-eby learned to divide the day anil 
 its occupations. 
 
 Vev.M — Bro •. 2nd Surv.-. where does our Brother 1st 
 Surv.-. sit in the Temple? 
 
 2d SuHv.-— In the West, Ven.-- :\r.-. 
 
 Vi;x- M — Bro.". 1st Surv-'., what are your duties in 
 the West ? 
 
 1st SuKv". — To as ist our BB. . in preserving the remem- 
 brance of the ini[)ressions and sensations which our First 
 Parent must 1 ave experienced when he saw the sun descend 
 below the western horizon, illuminating the sky with golden 
 drapery, succeeded by twilight and the obscurity of 
 darkness, when all animated creation seek.? repose, thereby 
 
learning of God's design in giving us n period for medita- 
 tion and rest. 
 
 Yes. M. — I3ro.'. 1st Surveillant, where does the Ven.*. 
 Master sit in the Temple? 
 
 1st Suav — In the East, Venerable Master. 
 
 Ven. M. — What are his duties, there, Brother 1st 
 Surveillant? 
 
 1st ISuRV — To instruct our Fraternity in preserving a 
 remembrance of the divine instruction given to our First 
 Parent wl-en he saw the sun appear again in the East, 
 teaching him the importance of measuring time, and of 
 impr Dying it wilh useful works and researches. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.-. 1st Surv.-., when do the Entered 
 Ap[)renticcs open their works ? 
 
 1st Surv — At noon. 
 
 Vex. M- — What time is it, Bro.-. 1st Surveillant? 
 
 1st Surv.— It is high 12. 
 
 Ven. M. — Since it is high 12 and it is- the hour chosen 
 by Entered Apprentices to open their works, please BB.-. 
 1st and 2d fcurv.'-, announce to the members on your 
 respective columns that it is my intention to begin the 
 Works of this R.*. L/. in the Apprentice's Degree. 
 
 1st Surv. — BB.'. on the northern column, I inform 
 you that the Ven.-. M.-. intends to open the works of this 
 R.'. L.-. in the x\pprentice's Degree. 
 
 2(1 SuKV. — BB,-. on the southern column, I 'inform 
 you that the Ven/. M.*. intends to open the works of this 
 R.-. L. . in the Apprentice's Degree. {The 2d Surv.-. raps 
 a stroke tvilh his gavel and suf/s:) Announced ! Bro *. 1st 
 Surveillant. / 
 
 1st Suuv — {Gives a rap tvilh his gavel and sags:) — 
 Announced, Ven.\ M.'. 
 
ViiN. M. — [Gives ihrce raps with his gavel and says:) — 
 To order ! 
 
 To the G.-. 0.'. T.-. G--. A.'. 0.-. T.-. U.-., under the 
 auspices of the Sup/. Council of the 33d and last 
 Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch . Rite of 
 Freemasonry in and for the Sovereign and Independent 
 State of Louisiana, and b}^ virtue of the powers on me 
 conferred by this R.". L,". [name and number), I do declare 
 its works opened in the first degree. 
 
 Yen. M. — With me, brethren ! (^1// iinite in giving the 
 sign and hattcrg ) Take your seats, the works of this 
 Lodge are open. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.'. Secretary, please read the minutes of 
 the last meeting. [The Vcn:- 31.-. gives a rap of ihe gavel, 
 which is repeated hj both Surv.'. and sags:) Attention, 
 brethren ! 
 
 [After the reading, the Ven. \ 31.'. gives a rap with his 
 gavel, which is repeated by both Surv.-. and sa?/s:) 
 
 Ven. M. — BB/. 1st and 2d Surv.-. please iLforni the 
 brethren on your respective columns that they are now 
 invited to offer remarks concerning the correctness of the 
 minutes. 
 
 [Both Surv.'. repeat:) 
 
 1st and 2d Surv. — Brethren of my column, you are 
 invited to make remarks, if you have any, before the 
 adoption of the minutes now read. 
 
 [If the minutes need correction, the Secretary will im- 
 mediately proceed to make them as directed by the V.' . M.'. 
 
 [If no remarks are made, the 2d Surv.'. raps a stroke of 
 his gavel and sayr.) — Brother 1st Surv.-., silence prevails 
 with the brethren on the southern column. 
 
 1st Surv. — [Gives a rap with his gavel.) Ven.-. M.-. — 
 
Silence prevails on both columns- 
 
 Ven. M — Brother Orator please give us your conclusions. 
 
 Orator. — We conclude the minutes of the last meeting 
 be approved. 
 
 Ven. M. — With me, BB.'., for the adoption of those 
 
 minutes. 
 
 CLOSING. 
 
 Ven. M — BB.*. Lst and 2nd Surv."., please inform 
 the brethren on your respective columns that we are now 
 prepared to hear such remarks as they may please to offer 
 with a view to the advancement of the interests of the 
 Order in general, or of this Lodge in particular. 
 {Doth Siirveiliants repeat:) 
 
 Brethren of my column, you arc invited by our Ven.-. 
 M.*. to present such suggestions as may to you appear 
 proper for the advancement of the interests of the Order 
 in general, or of this Lodge in particular. 
 
 {I/ 710 Brother wishes to speak, the 2d Suriw ^ivesa rap 
 with his gavel, and says:) — Brother 1st Surv,-., silence 
 prevails on the southern column. 
 
 1st Surv. — {Gives a rap with his gavel — Ven.-. M.--, 
 silence prevails on both columns. 
 
 (// there are any Visiting Brethren, the Venerable 
 says:) — BB.\ 1st and 2d Surv.*., please invite the 
 brethren on your respective columns to join with us in com- 
 plimenting our visiting brethren. 
 
 {Both Siirveiliants repeat:) — Brethren of this Eesp.-. 
 Lodge, the Ven--- M-*. invites you to join with us in compli- 
 menting o^r visiting brethren. 
 
 2d Surv. — {Gives a rap with his gavel and says:) — 
 
8 
 
 Announced ! brother 1st Surveillnnt. 
 
 1st SuRV — [Gives a rep v.ith his g<ivel and says:) — 
 Announrcd ! Ven*^rable Master. 
 
 Ven- M. — To onlor^ brethren ! 
 
 {All rise. — The F. n,-. M.\ then Inujl'j I hanks (he Vis'/ors 
 for their assist once ; the members of the Ledge unite with 
 the Ve;i.'. Mr. in giving the sign and battery as a eompli- 
 meni to the Visitors. — One of the Visitors will acknowledge 
 the compliment, and then all present unite in giving the 
 sign and battery.) 
 
 Vex. M — Brother 2d Surv.-., what is your nge as an 
 Entered Apprentice? 
 
 2d Surv. — Three years, answering the number of my 
 travels for light, and symbolizing my ignorance as an 
 Apprentice. 
 
 Ven. M. — What time is allotted for work to an Entered 
 Apprentice ? 
 
 2d Surv — Eight hours from morning till mid-day, and 
 eight hours from mid-day to ir id-night, at which time the 
 hours of rest begin. 
 
 Ven. U —What time is it ? 
 
 2d Surv. — It is midnight. 
 
 Ven. M — Since it is midnight and it is the time chosen 
 by Entered Apprentices to close their works, BB.'. 1st 
 and 2d Surv.*., please invite the brethren on your respec- 
 tive columns to assist me in closing this Lodge in the 
 Apprentice's Degree. 
 
 {The }st and 'Id Surveillants repeals-) — Brethren, of my 
 column, the Ven-*. M.-. invites us to a.ssist him in closing 
 the works of this R.;. Lodge in the A.p[)rentice's Degree- 
 
 {The 2d Surv.'. then gives a rap with hi$ gavel and 
 says:) — Announced, brother Ut Surveillant- 
 
{The 1st Surveillant raps a stroke ivUh his gavel and 
 says: — Announced ! Ven.-. Master. 
 
 Ven. M. — Gives three raps, repeated bij both Surveillants, 
 and says: — To order, brethren ! 
 
 To the Glory of the G.-. A/. 0/. T.-. U.-., under the 
 auspices of the Supreme Council of the 3od and last 
 •Degree, of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite of 
 Freemasonry in and for the Sovereign and Independent 
 State of Louisiana, and b}' virtue of the powers on me 
 conferred, by this E/. L;., {name and number), I. declare 
 its works closed in the 1st Degree. 
 
 Ven. M. — With me, brethren, by the signs, battery and 
 acclamations. 
 
 We will now retire in peace, but before parting w^e w^ill 
 I'enew' our promise of secrecy regarding all which has 
 transpired here, 
 
 {All extend their rigid hand and arm, pabn djwn and 
 say:) 
 
 — We promise. 
 
 INITIATION TO THE FIRST DEGREE. 
 
 The Secretary w^ill rise and proclaim, after receiving an 
 intimation from the Ven.-. M.*. to thai: eflect, as follows : 
 The following named gentlemen, (giving their names,) 
 having been duly presented and successfully balloted by 
 this Lodge, are in attendance awaiting an initiation. 
 
 TiiK Treasurer- — The candidates named by our Rro-*. 
 Secretary have our I'eceipt in full for initiation fees, in 
 accordance with the by-laws of this Lodge. 
 
 Ven. M. — Such being the case, we will proceed to the 
 
10 
 
 initiation. Master Expert, you will see that the candidates 
 are properly prepared for our presence. 
 
 *' Master Expert leaves the Lodge in due form." 
 
 PREPARATION OF THE CANDIDATE. 
 
 The candidate will be brought to the Outside Sentinel 
 rooms, (the anti-chamber,) by the brother presenting him. 
 The Master Expert having a black veil over his face will 
 approsich the candidate, tap him on the shoulder and say; 
 — " I am your guide, follow me-" — He leads him aside, 
 blindfolds him thoroughly, conducts him around the 
 anti-chamber, and, if possible, out of doors around the 
 Lodge buildings. 
 
 On returning he will divest tho candidate of his coat, 
 vest, watch, money, knife, keys and all metallic substance 
 which he may have about him; his* loft arm, breast and leg 
 to the knee must be uncovered; he may wear a slpper on 
 his left foot. 
 
 Thus prepared, the Exfcrtwill introduce the candidate 
 to the chamber of reflection, and seat him at a table pre- 
 pared for the purpose. — Relieving his e3''es from the bandnge 
 he will place before him a paper,'in the form of a tiiangle, 
 upon V7hich must be written the following questions ; 
 
 1st. What does man owe to God? 
 
 2d. What does he owe to himself? 
 
 3d. What does he owe to his fellow-beings ? 
 
 4tb, What does he owe to his country? 
 
 5th. Make your last \vill and testament, (briefly). 
 
 This room must be a small closet without other openings 
 than the door — ceiling and walls painted or hung in black. 
 It must be a receptacle for every insignia of death- — It will 
 
11 
 
 contain a small deal table and stool. — The room will be 
 lighted by a dim taper — Upon the table will be placed an 
 inkstand, a pen, a cup of water, a piece of stale bread, and 
 a human skull. At one end of the table will stand a 
 mounted human skeleton. — At the opposite side, upon the 
 floor, will be a coffin. The candidate will be seated with 
 his back to the door- The Expert will explain to the can- 
 didate that he is now in a proper place for silent meditation 
 and self-examination, and that he will leave him alone for a 
 short time in order that he may the better answer the 
 questions propounded. The candidate will write his 
 answers in a legible manner and affix thereto his signature. 
 
 OPENING OF THE INITIATION, 
 
 Ven, M, — Bro.',- Master of Ceremonies, you will please 
 report if there are any visitors in the hall, and bring us a 
 list of their names, surnames, with their degrees, and the 
 Lodge and jurisdiction to which they severally belong- 
 
 The M.-, C.-. will bring in the "Visitors' Register" and 
 present it to the V.-. M,*, — The visitors will be disposed of 
 according to Masonic usages. A visitor whose standing is 
 not vouched for by a Bro.-, known to the Lodge must be 
 examined by a committee appointed by the V.*. M.-. 
 
 Visitors are introduced by the M.'. C.\ in the order of 
 their degrees, beginning with the 1st. A gracefuL saluta- 
 tion will be extended to them by the Ven.', Master, and 
 the M,*. C-". will show them seats according to the regalia 
 with which they may be clothed- 
 
 A single rap from the gavel of the V.'. M-"- repeated 
 by the Assistants, calls up the roder of Exercises. 
 
 Ven. M — Brethren, we are about to initiate to the 1st 
 
12 
 
 degree of Freemasonry the following named gentlemen, or 
 
 ]Mr All the required forms have been observed in their 
 
 presentation, the ballot has been passed for each and has 
 on every ccoasion been clear- 
 
 Now if any one has objections to oder they are invited 
 to speak freely. 
 
 The Lodge shall duly examine such objections f s may 
 be oflered, and shall direct that the candidate be either 
 received, rejected, or that h;s initiation be deferred for 
 further consideration- No objections being presented the 
 V-'. M-". will proceed with the initiation. 
 
 Ven, M — As }'ou think we may now safely proceed 
 with the initiation, let us unite in giving the sign of 
 adhesion. 
 
 Ven- M. — Brother Expert will please bring ns the result 
 of the candidate's visit to the Chamber of Reflection. 
 
 Brother Expert brings in the papers, hands them to the 
 M.-. C.-., who takes them to the East. The Yen.'. M/, will 
 read the answers in an audible voice. 
 
 Ven. M — You will see if the candidates are properly 
 prepared to enter this Lodge- Tell them that the ordeal 
 through which they will have to pass is of a solemn and 
 serious nature, and that we expect from them due attention, 
 courage and care in order th.it he may avoid stumbling in 
 his way, and successfully reach the summit of the mount 
 from which he is to discover the light in search of which 
 he has come; put a cable tow around his neck and lead him 
 to our door. 
 
 The Expert will cause the candidate to knock violently 
 at the door. 
 
 The Inside Guardian who has had a care to keep the 
 wicket opened, cries out in a terrified voice- — Brother 1st 
 
13 ' 
 
 Surveillant, there is an alarm at the door. 
 
 1st Sdrv — Ven.-. M.'., there is an alarm at our door. 
 
 Ven. M. — Enquire, Bro.--, and see Avho is the daring 
 and imprudent man who comes at this dread hour to disturb 
 our works and mysteries- 
 
 1st Sdrv — Goes to the wicket and calls out: — Who is 
 the rash man who comes at this dread hour to dirturb our 
 works and mysteries ? 
 
 Bro. Expert — It is a candidate who desires admission 
 to the venerable and secret society of Freemasons. 
 
 1st SuRV— Ven.-. M.-., it is a candidate who desires ad. 
 mission to the venerable and secret society of Freemasons. 
 
 Ven. M. — (Giving a heavy rap with his gavel.) — BB.-. 
 let us rise and unsheath our swords, there is a stranger at 
 the door. 
 
 All rise and unsheath their swords, so as to be distinctly 
 heard by the candidate. 
 
 Ven. M. — What means this unexpected call, and what is 
 your design ? 
 
 Bro. Expert. — To crave at your hand, the initiation of 
 the candidate to our ancient mysteries. 
 
 Ven. M. — By what right does h© expect to obtain 
 that favor ? 
 
 Bro. Expert — By being a man free born, of competent 
 age, and under the tongue of good report. 
 
 Ven. M — What is his name ? 
 
 «' 
 
 i( 
 
 age? 
 
 (.' 
 
 "• 
 
 religion ? 
 
 (( 
 
 ii 
 
 civil status ? (married or unmarried.) 
 
 (( 
 
 li 
 
 profession ? 
 
 « 
 
 u 
 
 native country? 
 
 (I 
 
 11 
 
 present domicil ? 
 
14 
 
 The responses must be taken note of by the Secretary. 
 
 Ven. M. — Let hioi enter. 
 
 The Inside Sentinel awkwardly slams open both folds of 
 the door; the brethren present make with their gavels or 
 other instruments, a rustling noise like carpenters at work 
 in their shops- The M.*. E--. seizes the candidate by the 
 nape of his neck, holding him by the left arm, leads him 
 around the Lodge, carefully conducting him over such ob- 
 stacles as may be placed in his way, conducts him on the 
 false ladder, makes him jump down, takes him to the altar 
 where the M.-. C*. pricks him slightly Avith the point of the 
 compasses on his bare breast 
 
 Ven. M. — Stransrer or Mr. , what do you see? what 
 
 do you feel ? 
 
 The candidate answers- 
 
 Ven. M. — The partial state of nakedness in "which all 
 must be introduced to our mysteries,, constitutes the first 
 symbolical lesson, and personifies the primal stale of man 
 after his creation. Although surrounded with every 
 element of comfort, he found himself with no other re- 
 sourdce than that of his bodily strength and powers, which 
 he did not know how to use, in consequence of his primi- 
 tive ignorance. This is symbolized by the darkness to 
 which you Imve submitted yourself. In that helpless con- 
 dition he must have been a ])rey to great anxiety, and his 
 loneliness and feebleness must have been oppressive- 
 
 The puncture which you have felt on your bare breast, is 
 the symbol of those first sufferings of his mind, and of the 
 loneliness which overshadowed his heart The future and 
 the object of his creation were inexpliccble, and a source 
 of great uneasiness. Many an idea, no doubt, arose in his 
 mind suggesting what he might do to make his way 
 
15 
 
 through the immensity which had suddenly enrolled itself 
 before him, in all the brilliant glory of the universe of the 
 New Creation, but \vant of experience led him to uncertain 
 views, and he found him-self a slave, and bound down by 
 his own perplexities in the abode of liberty which is sym- 
 bolized by the cord, w'hich appears to restrain you of the 
 free use of your limbs, and keeps you defenceless in the 
 hands of .an unknown guide- In a word, your condition is 
 intended to impress upon your mind the circunstance at- 
 tending the introduction of man upon earth, his entrance to 
 a new and untried existence, with a world to conquer and 
 subdue, So with you — You enter upon this new 
 world, naked, blind, helpless, and chaos appears to reign 
 supreme. Let your mind seek foi light, truth and 
 liberty in this new world, and it will surely come to you- 
 ' We will proceed. 
 
 Is it of your oavu free will and accord, unactuated by 
 motives of curiosity or self-aggrandisement, that you have 
 asked to be initiated to the mysteries of this Ancient 
 Institution. 
 
 Candidate. — Yes. 
 
 V£N. M. — It behooves you then to give heed to the 
 difficulties which will beset you on every side. The path 
 of life is strewed with care and disappointment. Every 
 step in knowledge, which Icids to light, calls for labor 
 So here, your every step will be attended with fatigues, 
 difficulties and trials, not to say dangers, which will call for 
 the exercise of patient endurance on your part, accom- 
 panied by a persevering effort and presence of mind- 
 Are you ready, calmly and steadily to encounter them ? 
 Candi date- — Yes. 
 Ven- M. — It being so, we now leave you for a short time 
 
16 
 
 •to commune with your own thoughts. Bro-*. Expert, take 
 Mr to the rough stone- 
 
 The Bro.'. Expert lakes the candidate just without the 
 door and causes him to sit upon the rough Ashlar, returns 
 to the Lodge leaving the door njiir that the candidate may 
 overhear what is said. 
 
 Feiaucd objections are now raised with reference to 
 the candidate's initiation, cither by the introduction of a 
 letter of accusation, or by causing a brother, whose voice is 
 unknown to the candidate to impugn his motives- 
 
 A discussion arises thereon. 
 
 Ven- M — Bro--. Expert, please bring the candidate into 
 our presence. 
 
 When near the altar the Ven.'. M-*. says: 
 
 Ven. M» — Mr It appears from what we have heard 
 
 that like many a stranger to Freemasonry you have for 
 some time entertained erroneous notions concerning the in- 
 stitution. Like all institutions, whether sacred or profane, 
 it has not escaped the tongue of envy, jealousy and all 
 uncharitableness. It bas been said by thoughtless persons 
 that our mysteries are but as childish plnys,.-.that we meet 
 for the purpose of passing our leisure hours, in the revels 
 of the banqueting hall, and that the tendency of the insti- 
 tution and the observance of its obligations and precepts, 
 is to make us forgetful and nec;lii'ent of the duties and 
 love we owe to our families, and that we even propagate 
 pernicious doctrines in matters of religion and politics. 
 ^Vithout assuming to ourselves perfection in all things, we 
 sincerely believe that you will soon discover that we are 
 not ametable to these accusations; that they are unfounded 
 and proceed from the envious and malicious. 
 
 On the contrary it is chief among our aims to attain to a 
 
17 
 
 true knowledge of our duties to our God, to our country, 
 and to our fellow-men- 
 
 Now if you have been prompted to approach our portals 
 and to ask for initiation to the Ancient Mysteries of Free- 
 masonry with no more praiseworthy motives than the 
 gratification of a vain and idle curiosity, regardless of the 
 consequences of imposing upon our kind indulgence, we 
 would most earnestly advise you to withdraw, reminding 
 you that in so doing, your trials will probably terminate in 
 u. manner quite diflere'nt from what you may have been led 
 to expect. 
 
 Has the judgment of this Lodge been guided by wisdom 
 and- prudence, when a few moments since, its members 
 exercised so much of confidence in' your honor and upright- 
 ness as to overlook the errors attributed to you ? Can we 
 rely upon the earnestness of your determination to become 
 a faithful, honorable, upright Freemason, true to your God, 
 to your country, and to your fellow-men ? 
 
 Candidate — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M — Bro-'. Expert, let Mr. take a scat upon 
 
 the bench of probation, while we devote ourselves to the 
 solemn meditations incident to the groat work before us- 
 
 A few moments of perfect silence prevail 
 
 Ven. M. — BB.-., let us rise and pray. 
 
 Almighty Creator and Father of the Universe, we hum- 
 bly bow our heads before Thee, acknowledging thine 
 omnipotence and confessing our manifold weakness- Con- 
 tain our hearts and minds, keep them Avithin the bounds of 
 equity, and be our light and guide in the path of Justice- 
 Thou art one in all thy eternal' perfeclions and self- 
 distinctions- All powerful, all wise, all love. Thou livest 
 
 by thyself and every being is indebted to Thee for exis- 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 tence ; lor we all live and move in Tlico. Although 
 invisible to all, Thou sccst and rulest all. Pray, then, 
 receive our adoration and vows. Protect and bless these 
 peace workers who are here assembled in thy name, for the 
 holy purpose of strengthening their minds against the 
 suggestions of evil, of entertaining their hearts with the 
 love of virtue, of learning how to rule according to Thy 
 views and wishes, the passions with which Thou hast 
 endowed them. We also beseech Thee in behalf of the 
 stranger who desires to be initiated in our doctrines and 
 mysteries. They lead to all that is true, beautiful and 
 useful. May he with Thy aid prove himself worthy of the 
 sublime order of Freemasonry of which Thou art the 
 bountiful guide and master- 
 
 Ven. M. — In whom do you trust? 
 
 Candidate. — In God. 
 
 Ven. M. — To trust in God is an act of belief, and whereas 
 belief is necessarily based upon the feeling or reason, which 
 determines it, we have to ask you this further question : — 
 Why do you believe in God ? 
 
 After the candidate has answered as he may, the Ven.*. 
 M.-. proceeds : 
 
 We believe that amidst the stupendous works of nature 
 with which man found himself surrounded at his first 
 appearance upon earth, an inspiration from above informed 
 him of his physical and mental powers, placing him at the 
 head of all animated creation, and that on viewing the 
 splendor of the heavens above and the wonders of the earth 
 beneath, he saw the handiwork of an Infinite, all wise and 
 all beneficent Being, calling for his unbounded adoration 
 and praise as the author and creator of all things — Believing 
 himself to be the imago and direct heir of his heavenly 
 
19 
 
 Father. During the e.irlier generations of mankind, this 
 active inspiration of the human heart existed in its greatest 
 purity, giving to the soul of man exalted notions of infinite 
 intelligence and of his immortality, leading him to a com- 
 fortable and ennobling communion through nature up to 
 nature's God. 
 
 In subsequent ages man's heart become subject to evil 
 passions, and his great source of comfort and of intelligence 
 was obscured by the appalling darkness of all evil, and 
 Paganism with its attendant degrading slavery succeeded to 
 the knowledge of the true God, and man was not far 
 removed from the beast of the forest. 
 
 In all ages, however, wc find that there were a few wise 
 and righteous men- who strove with all their power to stem 
 the mighty torrent of ignorance nnd of mentil and political 
 degradation. They had to contend against the mightiest for 
 evil, among the religious and civil institutions of their time 
 We find these wise men uniting in secret societies for the 
 acquisition of strength for the preservation. of a knowledge 
 of the true God, for the restoration of man to his original, 
 political and mental liberty and dignity of character. By 
 the blessings of God they were powerfully instrumental in 
 raising man to the high position in which we now find him. 
 We, as direct successors of those learned and philosophi- 
 cal societies, have a great work to do in the careful 
 preservation of the wisdom and virtues of those great and 
 learned founders of our ancient and honorable institution. 
 
 Mr will you please to tell us what you understand 
 
 by the term Vi'-tue ? 
 
 The candidate gives his views thereon. 
 Vex. M. — In the same manner as there is in the universe 
 a physical light which spreads its rays over the wonders of 
 
20 
 
 cretition, in order that man may see, admire, and avail 
 himself of them, so is there in every man an inward and 
 intellectual light which difluses itself in his mind, and shows 
 him what he owes to God, to himself and to his fellow- 
 beings. 
 
 A continued and sincere obedience to that inward inspi- 
 ration is what we call Virtue, because it depends on us 
 either to exercise or to refuse that obedience, and we can 
 not lay claim to those divine qualities which distinguish 
 man from all created beings, without a judicious and active 
 exercise of rcnson in guiding us in our selection of good 
 from evil. 
 
 Virtue is, therefore, that energy and tendency of the 
 mind and feelings, which determines us in doing that which 
 is good, beautiful and true- 
 
 Mr, will you tell us what you understand by the 
 
 term Vic c- 
 
 Candidate. — Gives his views upon the subject. 
 
 Ven. M-^ — Vice in our estimation is the reverse of Virtue, 
 and results from a perverted judgment in the exercise of our 
 power of selection, and leads us to adopt the evil rather 
 than the good. We consider that man to be vicious, who 
 instead of obeying the inward light or inspiration, which 
 prompts him to all that is good, beautiful and true, gradually 
 falls into an inclination to abuse his sensual powers and 
 suppress his moral instinct without considering what is due 
 to God, to himself and to mankind. • 
 
 These three subjects, the ideas concerning God, Virtue 
 and Vice, are at the foundation of the purest philosophy, 
 comprise the whole of its moral teachings, and are suscep- 
 tible of infinite development. 
 
 We had briefly to examine them with you, as preparatory 
 
21 
 
 to your initiation, for we can receive no one without being 
 well satisfied that his mind and heart are in a proper state 
 gradually to attain to a participation in our mysteries and 
 purposes. Know then the statutes and regulations of our 
 society. 
 
 1st., You will be bound to secrecy regarding all that you 
 may, at any time, see, hear and discover among us. 
 
 2d. It will be your duty to fraternize with all regular 
 Freemasons throughout the world, and to help, according 
 to the best of your knowledge and ability, all these among 
 them who may need your advice or services in consequence 
 of misfortune, sickness, persecution or other adversity. 
 
 3d. You will have to do all in your power to propagate 
 among your acquaintances and in the world at large, the 
 doctrines and principles of our Order, with a viev,- to con- 
 tribute to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe, 
 and to secure the [jrogress of mankind in attaining to a 
 larger and safer liberty both in Religion and Politics. 
 
 4th. "Vou will have to obey not only the by-laws of this 
 Lodge, but also the general statutes of the Ancient and 
 Accepted Scotch Rite of Freemasonry, and the general re- 
 gulations of the Supreme Council of that Rire in ;ind ftv 
 the Sovereign and Independent State of Louisiana. 
 
 Being now blindfolded you may hesitate in taking the 
 required obligations, but we may assure you that in no 
 particular will 3''ou find them at variance with your duties 
 and obligations as a good man, a gocd son, a good fiither. a 
 good brother, a good husband, a good friend, and a good 
 citizen. „,^ 
 
 Are you roady to take the obligations? 
 
 Candiltae. — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M — {raps,) Rise, brethren, and unsheath your 
 
22 
 
 n 
 
 swords and be witnesses of this solemu declaration. 
 
 Bro •. Expert, please lead Mr. to the altar. The 
 
 candidate will place his right hand upon the compasses and 
 book, .and will repeat after Ven.;. M,'., as follows : 
 
 Obligation. — In presence of the Grand Architect of the 
 Universe,, under the auspices of the Supreme Council of the 
 Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite of Freemasonry 
 in and for the Sovereign and Independent State of Louisiana, 
 and in presence of this assemblage of Frccmasors of the 
 same Rite, I, {surname and name,) of my own free will 
 and accord do solemnly, and on my word of honor, promise 
 always to hale and never to reveal any part of the secrets 
 and mysteries' of Freemasonry which may hereafter be 
 intrusted to mc, and never to speak of theim except to a 
 brother, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of the Rite ; 
 and I would rather have my throat cut across and my 
 tongue torn out by the roots, than to be untrue to this my 
 promise. 
 
 Ven. M. — God help you in preserving your promise in- 
 violate, and save you from that remorse of conscience 
 which invariably attends, a breach of honor and confidence. 
 The consequences of a violation of this obligation will 
 follov; you like a weird phantom of darkness to your life's 
 end. 
 
 Come up now, and partake of the cup from which we 
 have all ^Jrank on the day of our initiation, and have no 
 fears, for it is one of the most important and instructive 
 trials through which we have to pass. 
 
 The Ven.'. M-*. resmnes his seat- The Expert leads the 
 candidate to the throne, and makes him taste of the bitter 
 cup prepared for the occasion, and returns with him to a 
 seat behind the altar. 
 
23 
 
 Ven. M. — This bitter draught is symbolical of disap- 
 pointments to which man is subject throughout his course of 
 life- However richly, endowed with mental and phj^sical 
 powers, disappointment surely awaits us, and we are op- 
 pressed by the overthrow of our most sanguine expectations. 
 
 The extremity of joy sometimes leads us to the abyss 
 of sorrow, and when we least expect it the most joyous 
 laughter will be turned to bitter tears. It behooves us then 
 to be at all times prepared to withstand disappointment 
 under whatever form it may appear. 
 
 You have now several voyages to «accomplish, are you 
 prepared ? 
 
 Candidate. — Yes, 
 
 Ven. M.-— Guide this candidate on his first voynge. 
 
 The Expert seizes the candidate by the left arm, and 
 with his right hand tukes him b}^ the unpe of his neck, and 
 makes him travel from South to East, from East to West 
 and from West to South, three times- Obstacles will be 
 frequently placed in his path, and the brethren will make a 
 noise, like carpenters at work, by hammering and poundino-. 
 At the conclusion of the voyage the Expert takes the 
 candidate to the 'id Surv.-., makes him rap with his rio-bt 
 hand, three times, upon the left shoulder of the 2d Surv.-. 
 
 The 2d Surv,-. places his left haiid upon the candidate's 
 right shoulder and strikes him slightly with his gavel upon 
 the bare breast, and says ; 
 
 2d Suiiv- — Who comes here ? 
 
 Expert — A candidate who w^ishes to be initiated in our 
 mysteries. 
 
 2d Surv. — By what right does he expect to attain that 
 favor ? 
 
 Expert — By being a man, free born, and under the 
 
24 ^ 
 
 tongue of good report- ■'' 
 
 2(1 SuRV — Who is to answer for him ? 
 
 Expert. — I, his conductor. 
 
 2d SuRV. — It being so, let him pass. 
 
 The Expert conducts liim to his seat behind the altar. 
 
 2d SuRV. — Ven.*. M."., the first voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — Mr. what have you observed, heard and 
 
 felt during this voyage? 
 
 Candidate. — Answero as he deems proper. 
 
 Ven. M. — This voyage is indicative of the confusion 
 which prevails in men's mind on entering a new stage of 
 existence, or upon a new subject of thought and investiga- 
 tion. Such is the position of a candidate here- He is 
 entering anew world of thought, which will open up to him 
 scenes both strange and new ; unforeseen obstacles and 
 remarkable phenomena will beset man's first steps in every 
 new field of investigation, and his condition is likened to 
 that of man when first placed upon earth, alone and un- 
 assisted, he was left to grope his way amid the darkness of 
 the first night, his keen senses oppressed and overwhelmed 
 with the alarming phenomena which appeared on every 
 side. In this lone and dark condition his soul must have 
 longed for knowledge and for light, and the future must 
 have been for him a subject of exceeding anxiety. Your 
 position is intended to inculcate the weakness of man, 
 when alone and unassisted by light and knowledge 
 he can scarcely expect to surmount the obstacles, and to 
 progress Avithout recourse to that great source of light and 
 of knowledge, union and fellowship, Avith minds engaged 
 in the same pursuits- ^fivery step in knowledge gives us 
 glimpses of undiscovered fields, shows man his own 
 weakness, and brings him to a more patient and respectful 
 
<• 25 
 
 consideration of the claims due to his fellow-beings. 
 
 You will now proceed upon your second voyage- Are 
 you ready ? 
 
 Candidate — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.-. Expert, please accompany Mr. on 
 
 his second voyage. 
 
 The Expert takes the candidate by his right arm, con- 
 ducts him around the Lodge, three times, from North to 
 East, from East to South, from South to West, and each 
 time he passes, he dips the candidate's left hand and arm 
 into a basin of cold water standing near the door and the 
 1st Surveillant. 
 
 The BB.-. present make a noise with their swords as if 
 engaged in combat or sword exercise. 
 
 At the conclusion of the voyage, the Expert causes the 
 candidate to rap three times with his right hand upon the left 
 shoulder of the 1st Surveillant. The 1st Surv.". places his 
 left hand upon the right shoulder of the candidate, striking 
 liim slightly upon the bare breast wath his gavel, and says: 
 
 1st SuRV — Who comes here ? 
 
 Expert — A candidate who wishes to be initiated in our 
 mysteries. 
 
 1st SuRV.-. — By what right does he expect to obtain 
 that favor ? 
 
 Expert — By being a man, free born, and iin(Jev the 
 tongue of good report 
 
 1st SuRv. — Who is to answer for him ? 
 
 Expert — I, his conductor. ^ 
 
 1st SuRV. — It being so, let him pass. 
 
 Candidate resumes his position behind the altar . 
 
 Ist'SuRV. — Ven.-., the second voyage is agoo mplished. 
 
26 ^ 
 
 Vex. M — Mr Avhat have you observed, heard and 
 
 felt during this voyage ? 
 
 Candidate. — Answers as he thinks proper. 
 
 Ven. M — This voyage is a symbol of the contentions in 
 man's heart for the supremacy of the good and evil prin- 
 ciples, teaching him ihat the character of the predominating 
 principle within him is determined by his own will and 
 choice, each carrying with it its own immediate conse- 
 quences ; that good actions lead to cheerful content, and 
 that the prevalence of evil passions leads to bitter remorse. 
 Our Supreme Architect and Grand Master, knowing man's 
 weakness both in flesh and in spirit, and his tendency to 
 depart from the paths of rectitude, taught him that his 
 heart could bo purified from its unclcanness by sincere re- 
 pentance, and this idea is renewed and strengthened in our 
 minds by the symbol of water, in the manner you have 
 just experienced. 
 
 In the hands of the Almight}^, water has ever been an 
 instrument for effecting change in the physical condition of 
 the earth, the rolling surges of the sea, the rushing moun- 
 tain torrents, the gurgling brook, and the gentle shower, are 
 each effective in producing change. As the Summer 
 shower purifies the atmosphere and gives freshness and 
 renewed energy to animal and vegetable life, making all 
 nature rejoice in purity, so with the repentant tear over 
 the corruptions of man's heart, it restores him to purity 
 with his maker and with himself. Humanity is weak and 
 not always well prepared to withstand temptation; hence it 
 becomes us to extend an ample charity to the moral 
 and intellectual *weaHfesses of our brethren, whilst our 
 voices should be raised in stern denunciation of conduct, 
 unbecoming a true Scotch Freemason and a gentleman- 
 
27 
 
 There is, perhaps, no truer saying than that a man is 
 known by the company he keeps. History and tradition 
 I teach us that the institution of Scotch Freemasonry has 
 ever been distinguished for its ennobling and chastening in- 
 fluence over the human heart- We conceive that a true 
 Freemasonic union is conducive to the highest degree of 
 strength in the moral and intellectual world. In union we 
 seek strength. 
 
 The two voyages which you have accomplished, are 
 called ; the first, the trial of Earth, the second, the trial of 
 Water. There now remains one other, called the trial of 
 Fire, 
 
 Are you ready to undertake it ? 
 
 Candidate. — Yes- 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.'. Expert, please guide Mr through 
 
 the third voyage. 
 
 The Expert, standing on the left of the candidate, takes 
 him by the nape of his neck, conducts him around the 
 Lodge, three times, from North to West, to South and East. 
 Three brethren will be stationed, one at the North-east, one 
 at South-west, and one at the South-east with an apparatus 
 for flashing chiropodium or other inflamable substance, and 
 each time the candidate passes they will cause a flash before 
 his face. The apparatus is shaped somewhat like a tobacco 
 pipe, having a tube some four feet in length, and in the 
 bowl a taper is so placed that the seed may be blown up to 
 the flame- 
 
 When the candidate arrives for the last time at the East 
 the Expert will make him rap thr|l times with his right 
 hand upon the left shoulder of the Ven/. M--., w^ho taps 
 the candidate with his gavel on his bare breast, and says : 
 
 Ven, M, — Who comes here? 
 
28 
 
 Expert. — A candidate who wishes to be initiated in our 
 mysteries. 
 
 Ven. M. — By what right does he expect to obtain that 
 favor ? 
 
 Expert — By being a man of mature age, free born, and 
 under the tongue of good report. 
 
 Ven. M — Who is to answer for him ? 
 
 Expert. — I, his conductor. 
 
 Yen. M. — It being so, let him pass. 
 
 Candidate resumes his place behind the altar, and the 
 1st Surv.*. gives a rap- 
 ist SuRV. — Ven.-. M--., the third voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — Mr, what have you observed, heard and 
 
 felt during this voyage ? 
 
 Candidate answers. 
 
 Ven. M. — In the Ancient Phylosophies, Fire was con- 
 sidered strikingly emblematic of life renewed, and was an 
 important symbol in the ancient mysteries- Jt being an 
 effective agent in resolving matter into its elements, sepa- 
 rating the pure from the worthless dross, so in the moral 
 and intellectual world, the power of resolving and separating 
 the pure from the impure, the good from the evil, has been 
 symbolized by fire. It has ever been the high aim of this 
 ancient institution to keep this fire burning fresh in man's 
 heart, that at the last day he may rise, like the fabled 
 Phoenix, pure part from the ashes of corruption. With the 
 Ancients, Earth, Water, Fire and Air were considered as 
 sacred elements, and candidates to mystic knowledge and 
 light were obliged to p^ss through trials of each- Succeed- 
 ing generations have, in a measure, modified those trials 
 and entirely omitted the trial of Air. The candidate 
 had to pass through long dark labyrinth, over dead men's 
 
* 29 * 
 
 bones and other terrifying symbols of earth — this the irial 
 of Earth' He then arrived at an abyss of dark waters 
 resounding with the roar of mighty and unseen cataracts. 
 He had to sv/im across this abyss, and in this was the trial 
 of Water. Then suddenly appeared to the candidate .'i long 
 avenue of crackling, real flame, through whicli he had to 
 pass and this the trial of Fire- 
 
 The wise men of the East deemed these rigid tests of 
 • moral and physical strength to be essential to the advance- 
 ment of man in knowledge, and for admittance to the sacred 
 Rites and Ceremonies. The perversion of the true objects 
 of the institution of Freemasonry in the latter days, by 
 the adoption of the English Rite, wherein Masonry has 
 been made subservient to religious and political creeds, 
 calls for strong and determined men, who will rally around 
 the ancient landmarks, and rescue our venerable institution 
 from the innovations and corruptions of men, who for 
 ulterior purposes have divested the institution of almost 
 every trace of its ancient grandeur. Notwithstanding the 
 modifications Avhich have been introduced in the severity of 
 the trials to which candidates are subjected, we can safely 
 say that no consequent weakness has been observed in the 
 tie which binds the brotherhood in the Ancient and 
 Accepted Scotch Rite, nor has any diminution occurred in 
 their high sense of honor and of duty to God and man. 
 
 Invoking the names of those wise and great men, who 
 have given us the most perfect of human institutions, we 
 ask you if you are prepared to become their true disciple 
 in the defence of Truth, Liberty and Justice, even to the 
 exposure of your own libert;g,and life? • 
 
 Candidate — Yes, 
 
 Vbn. M. — Such being your resolution, you must give us 
 
_ • 30 
 
 assurance of your determination in a m^iiner more cogent 
 than by mere words, even to the sealing of your averment 
 by your own blood. Are you ready? 
 
 Candidate — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M — From which part of your body shall blood be 
 drawn ? 
 
 Candidate answers. 
 
 Ven. M. — Our Bro.-. Surgeon, the sacrificer, will attend 
 that the operation be skillfully performed. 
 
 This trial should be omitted unless it can be performed 
 with skill. It is performed exactly' as a ^lurgeon prepares 
 his patient for bleeding, the object being to make the can- 
 didate believe that he has been bled, without drawing 
 blood. A cord is passed around the arm above the elbow, 
 and the vein raised full — A slight scratch conveys the idea 
 of a cut, and the (lowing of the blood must be imitated by 
 the trickling of water from a tube, close the supposed 
 wound. 
 
 Ven. M — This free shedding of 3''our blood is a symbol 
 of selfsacrjfice of individuol interests and considerations, 
 to the welfare and honor of the Fraternity, you arc about 
 entering, in sustaining the cause of truth and of justice, and 
 is indicative of tlie universality and intimacy of the tie 
 which binds all true Masons in the bonds of brotherhood. 
 
 Difference of nationality and Lingu.'ige has been no 
 barrier to a recognition of our brethren; for, our predeces- 
 sors established words and signs, which have been adopted 
 throughout the earth. At a later period cowans, eaves- 
 droppers and bad men have in part divulged some of our 
 secret moaes of recogiiition, sqj^hat a new and infaUible 
 sign had to be adopted- This sign will remain with you 
 throughout life, and be easily recognized by Freemasons in 
 
• 31 ^ 
 
 •:# 
 all places, and should you ever be untrue to your Masonic 
 
 vows, it will corrode clean to your heart and prove to be a 
 stigma rather than an honorable distinction. This hiero- 
 glyphic is indelibly impressed upim the candidate's left breast 
 with a hot iron, without inflicting a serious wound. Are 
 you ready to receive this honorable mark of distinction? 
 
 Candidate. — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.'. Sacrificer, please exercise your skill 
 and care. 
 
 The trial of the mark must be conducted with skill. A 
 pan of burning coals will be brought near the candidate, and 
 a brother will imitate the heating of a branding iron. The 
 Expert will take a burning candle, extinguish the flame, 
 and immediately press the heated wick end upon the can- 
 didate's breast as in the act of branding. 
 
 Ven. M — The method of teaching by s3^mbols is very 
 ancient, and has received the sanction of the wisest and 
 best men. The symbols we have given you, arc full of 
 instruction, and we have deemed it proper to allude to them 
 only in general terms, merely designing to introduce you to 
 a new field of stud}^ and of thought, believing that you 
 will find your advantage iu giving heed thereto. 
 
 The institution of Freemasonry has ever been the deposi- 
 tory of liberal principles in regard to matters of govern- 
 ment and of rohgion, and a staunch advocate of the rights 
 and liberties of the people. It has, hence, occurred that it 
 has frequently come in conflict with despotic government 
 and with autocratic priestcraft, and has been unscrupulously 
 persecuted by them- Even at this, day it is viewed with 
 great disfavor by those p(|^ers as interfering with what 
 they arc pleased to call their divine prerogatives. 
 
 We, in the United States of America, are not exempt 
 
from the specious presumptions of despotism, and it be- 
 hooves us to preserve untarnished the armor of our 
 ancestors, that by the strength of our union we may the 
 better defend the liberties of the people. 
 
 Wc now pass to another of our most important obliga- 
 tions, that of Charity. 
 
 Ancient and Accepted Scotcli Masonry has no ambition 
 to be considered a charllahle institufim in the modern 
 acceptation of that term. In that regard we are widely 
 different from those secret associations whose claim to 
 public consideration is in the assistance they render to the 
 unfortunate poor. However laudable alms giving may be, 
 we are not prepared to accept it with them as a full and 
 complete exercise of all our duties as conveyed in the 
 word Charity. 
 
 Alms giving is not the full scope of Charity as taught in 
 the old Freemasonic schools of Philosophy. The greatest 
 of the divine virtues given to man is Charity. It is that 
 great vital principle of Fraternity, of Equality, and of 
 Liberty which prompts a man to love his neighbor as him- 
 self — It is humble, retiring, hath I'.o shadow of envy, 
 hatred, or malice — it is that love to mankind which prompts 
 us to rush to the rescue of our brethren in adversity as 
 well as to rejoice with them in their prosperity. In brief, 
 this is the substance of all our teachings, and all else is but 
 subsidiary. 
 
 Bro.-. Expert, please conduct the candidate through the 
 dark vault. Explain to him its secrets, and take him to 
 the place where you first received him. 
 
 The Expert takes him out and causes him to walk about, 
 until called for the ceremonies of St- John the Baptist's 
 head. 
 
^ 83 ^ 
 
 table with its platter, ax, and linen will be placed 
 near the door. All lights extinguished except from the 
 three tripods, arranged triangularly around the table- A 
 brother Avill be placed under the table so that his head 
 «llone will appear above. The platter is made so as to fit 
 around the neck. By inclining the head to one side, and 
 giving the face a cadaverous appearance with powder or 
 flour and by a proper adjustment of bloody linen, a perfect 
 resemblance of a decapited head may be given. All the 
 brethren present will arrange themselves in a semi-circle 
 about the table facing the door, with swords presented. 
 When the arrangements are completed, the candidate will 
 be introduced, the spirits of wine in the tripods lighted, the 
 swords pointing towards him. • The Ven.*. M--., standing by 
 the head, gives three raps with his gavel in such a manner 
 that the Expert may let the bandage drop from the candi- 
 date's eyes at the last rap. 
 
 Ven. M — This, indeed, is a sad sight ! However horrible 
 it may appear, let no fears arise in your mint). The scene 
 is in commemoration of the awful death of an honest man, 
 John the Baptist, who preferred the torments of a dun- 
 geon, even an ignominious death, beheading, rather than 
 betray Honor, Justice and Virtue- The records and tradi- 
 tions of the past give no intimation that John the Baptist 
 was a Mason. The anniversary of his death occurring in 
 the same day as an Ancient Masonic festival held in com- 
 memoration of an astronomical period, led to the comming- 
 ling of the two. 
 
 The remarkable character of the man and of his mission 
 as the Forerunner of the Great Teacher of Fraternity, of 
 Equality, and of Liberty, and his adoption of a mystic 
 ceremony as a prerequisite to initiation, to Christianity, and 
 
his honorable self-sacrifice to truth, made his character and 
 his name preefninenlly worthy of commemoration by Free- 
 masons. His life and death furnish us with a most re- 
 markable instance of fidelity to honor and to truth, and 
 his memorable example will be cherished by Mason» 
 throughout all times- 
 
 13ro.' Expert, you will please let the candidate resume 
 his clothing and conduct him blindfolded into the Temple- 
 (The Expert blindfolds him again and leads him out. The 
 Lodge will now be put in order. The implements used in 
 the trials placed out of sight. When called to order" the 
 candidate will be brought in.) 
 
 Ven. M. — (raps,) BB.*, let us rise and unsheath our 
 swords. 
 
 Bro". 1st Surv--., you have been a witness of the firm- 
 ness, patience, and attention with which this candidate has 
 passed through the many trials, to which he has been sub- 
 jected in accordance with the customs of this Ancient 
 Fraternity, and the will of this Lodge. Do you think him 
 worthy of being received among us ? 
 
 1st SuRV. — I think he is. 
 
 Ven. jM. — (raps,) what do you ask for him ? 
 
 •1st SuRV — Light. 
 
 Ven. M — ^(raps,) What do you ask for him ? 
 
 1st 8urv — Light. 
 
 Ven. M. — (raps,) What do you ask for him ? 
 
 1st SuRV. — Light, and great light. 
 
 Ven. M. — Let there be light- 
 
 The Expert lets the bandage drop suddenly from his 
 eyes. The BB.-. present extend the points of their swords 
 towards him in sign of protection- 
 
 Ven. M. — Fear not those swords, they are in the hands 
 
♦ 86 • 
 
 % 
 
 of friends, devoted brethren who with the vast army qi 
 Freemasons scattered over the earth, extend to you the 
 hand of protection, of assistance, and of love. 
 
 Bro,'. M'- C*., please conduct our new friend to the 
 ►altar, and we will constitute Ihim App.*. Freemason, and an 
 active member of this Respectable Lodge- 
 
 The Ven/. M-". goes to the altar, extends his sword over 
 the candidate's head, holding a gavel in his right hand, and 
 says : 
 
 " To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe, 
 under the auspices of the Supreme Council of the 33d 
 Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite in and 
 for the Sovereign and Independent State of Louisiana, and 
 by virtue of the powers on me conferred by this R.*. Lodge, 
 (name and number,) of the same Rite, I do hereby make 
 and constitute you an Apprentice Freemason and an active 
 member of this Lodge." ^ 
 
 The Ven.'. M/. gives, then, three raps with his gavel 
 upon the blade of his sword, shakes hands with the candi- 
 date, and resumes his place in the East. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro--. M. •• C'., please conduct our new 
 brother to the East for instruction. 
 
 The M--. C-'. gives him a seat near the Secretary to the 
 right of the throne. The Ven.-. M.'. approaches him and 
 addresses him thus : 
 
 Ven. M. — As before remarked, time will permit us to 
 give you only a general idea of the subjects ofl'ered for the 
 study of the Entered Apprentice- On future occasions you 
 will have them more fully illustrated, and be better prepared 
 to understand. 
 
 .When you were taking your obligations, your right hand 
 wa6 resting upon compasses. 
 
_ 36 
 
 As in the hands of the Architect, th^ compasses enable 
 hiai to give those accurate proportions, which give beauty 
 and stabihty to his work, so here is it an important and 
 striking symbol of that even tenor of deportment and that 
 true standard of rectitude, which should distinguish every 
 Freemason. " It is ordained in the eternal constitution of 
 things, that men of intemperate passions can not be free; 
 they forge their own fetters."' The compasses instruct us 
 in the duty we owe to ourselves, teaching us so to circum- 
 scribe our passions and restrain our desires, that we may 
 present a character just in all its ] roportions, marked for 
 its beauty and stability. They are to us as the sun, giving 
 us light to govern and guide ourselves 
 
 This room with its appointments is a symbtd of the 
 universality of Masonry, is called a Lodge and represents the 
 world. Here we have the illuminated East, the North-West 
 and South being in darker colors. 
 
 The ceiling represents the celestial canopy. 
 Our Lodge is the world, signifying that in every clime 
 the Mason ma}^ find a home, and in ever}' land a brother. 
 We now invest you with the badge of an Entered 
 Apprentice Mason. When you enter a Lodge, wear this 
 white apron thus — (The Ven-'. M/. ties the apron around 
 the Apprentice's loins, turning up the flaps on the right 
 side.) The whiteness of its color admonishes us to pre- 
 serve that blameless Purity of life and conduct which alone 
 can enable us to present ourselves in the consciousness of 
 Purity before the Grand Master of the Universe. 
 
 The Ven.*. M/. then presents liim with a twenty-four 
 inch gauge and g, gavel, and says : 
 
 We now present you with the working tools of the En- 
 tered Apprentices- 
 
37 
 
 m 
 
 This gauge is divided into twenty-four equal parts 
 emblematic of the «iivisions of the day into twenty-four 
 hours, which being embraced in three equal parts, gives 
 eight hours from Kast to West for labor, eight hours from 
 South to West for the service of God and our worthy 
 BB.'., and eight hours from West to East for meditation 
 and rest. 
 
 The gavel, you are aware, is used with the gauge for 
 adapting and preparing materials to the builders use ; so they 
 admonish the Entered Apprentice to prepare his minrlfor 
 the reception of the great truths which are hereafter to be 
 unfolded to him, to lay the corner stone and foundation of 
 his character in Virtue and Parity, that the superstructure 
 may be alike honorable to himself and to the Fraternity. 
 
 When you wish to enter a Lodge, you will rap at the 
 door thus, (shows him.) On being admitted, you will in 
 advancing to the altar make three steps, each describing a 
 square thus, (shows him,) you will then exhibit the sign, 
 (shows him.) first to the East, then to Ihe West, then to 
 the South, and take a seat under the column designated 
 B. Explains the initial B, gives him the Sacred Word and 
 the manner of communicating it, and finally the grip and 
 battery. 
 
 Bro,\ C.*,, please conduct Bro.-., (name,) to the West 
 that the 1st Surv.-. may examine him upon the secret 
 instructions which we have given him. 
 
 The 1st Surv.*. examines him with regarlto rapping at 
 the door, the step, sign, word and battery. 
 
 1st SuRY — Ven.*. M.*., his instructions are correct. 
 
 Ven- M. — Bro.*. M.*. C"-, ycu will officially proclaim the 
 
 initiation of Mr, (name.) to the first degree, as an 
 
 Entered Apprentice, and an active member of (name of 
 
3S 
 
 Lodge and uuml cr.) of the AncietftandAcceptod Scotch Rite. 
 invitiiiL' tlic Fraternity t<i receive him accerdingly. 
 
 M.-. C/. ti\kes his position on the step, in the East, 
 holding his sword in his right hand, fore arm extended 
 horizontally, sword vertical, point np. 
 
 I do hereby proclaim that i\Ir. , iiame.) has been 
 
 (July initiated to the first degree of the Ancient and Ac- 
 cepted Scotch Ilitc, and legally constituted an Entered 
 Apprentice and an active member o(, (Lodge, name and 
 number,) and he will be received and honored accordingly. 
 
 Ven. M. — 1st and 2d Surv.*., please announce to the 
 BB/. on your respective cohr.nns that our Bro,". Orator will 
 now favor us with a work in Freem.isonic Architecture. 
 
 Lecture on the First Degree of Scotcli Free masonry 
 
 Q. — 13ro..- 1st Survoillaiit, wlmt is the tie hy which wo are united? 
 
 A. — Freemasonry 
 
 Q. — ^Miat is Freemasonry "f 
 
 A. — Frcemasonr}^ iseniiuently a philusopliioal Institution, I'lubracinu; 
 within its scope the preservation of social, p )litic.il an J ro!ii^ious liberty, 
 and generally, all subjects appertaininii; to the wclfan; of nnn, as an 
 intellectual and social beiuLr 
 
 Q — Are you a Freemason 'i* 
 
 A. — My brothers recogize nic as such. 
 
 Q. — To what Kite do you belong ? 
 
 A. — To the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite. 
 
 Q. — What do you understand by Rite / 
 
 A. — I understand by thu word Uito, one of tlio diif.M-cnt fir ns tlirou;,'h 
 which Freemasonry is worked. 
 
 Q. — What do you understand by Scotcli ? 
 
 A. — This word merely indicates that a Freemason, Ramsey by name, 
 journeyed from Scotland to Franco, where ho worked several degrees of 
 our Rite, aud Freemasonry in order to honor him, called Uu^se degrees, 
 
39 
 
 Scotch degrees or Scotob. Freemasonry. 
 
 Q. — What do you understand by Ancient? 
 
 A. — I mean that our Rite, tliough divided into thirty-three degrees at 
 a modern period, may be traced back to the remotest antiquit}'', as far its 
 doctrines are concerned. 
 
 Q- — What do you understand by Accepted ? 
 
 A. — I mean that all Freemasons, seeking in Freemasonry the triumph 
 of Fraternity, Equality and Liberty among their fellow-beings, must 
 accept and work our Rite, which is, in all its degrees, the illustration of 
 the principles contained in these three words. 
 
 Q. — Why do you come in this Lodge ? 
 
 A. — I come to learn my rights and my duties as man, as citizen and 
 mason 
 
 Q. — Where have you been received Freemason ? 
 
 A. — In the bosom of a just and perfect Lodge. 
 
 Q. — What is required to have a just and perfect Lodge? 
 
 A. — It is governed by three, lighted by five, and made just and perfect 
 by seven. 
 
 Q. — Who arc the three ? 
 
 A. — The Yen,-'. M. •. and the two Surveillants. 
 
 Q. — Who are^thc five ? 
 
 A. — The Yen.-. 31.-., the two Surv. •., the Orator and the Secretary, 
 who are called the five lights of the Lodge. 
 
 Q. — Who are tlie seven ? 
 
 A. — The five first officers and the active members of tlie Lodge. 
 
 Q, — How long have you been a Freemason ? 
 
 A. — Since I received the light. 
 
 Q. — How shall I know you to be a Mason ? 
 
 A. — By certain signs, by a word and by a grip. 
 
 Q — What are the signs ? 
 
 A. — All right angles, horizontally and perpendicularly. 
 
 Q. — Give me the sign. 
 
 A. — (The sign is given ) 
 
 Q. — What does it mean ? 
 
 A. — That I should prefer to have my throat cut than ever betray the 
 cause of Frcomasonr}-, and to fail in the promises I have solemnly made 
 in presence of my brethren. 
 
 Q. — Give the grip to M.-. Expert. 
 
40 
 
 A. — (lie gives the grip to 3J.-. Expert wlio, bciiie satisliod says : The 
 grip is just and jperfcct. ) 
 
 Q. — Give nic the word. 
 
 A. — Yen.-. 31.-., I do not know, being only an Apprentice Mason, how 
 to read, how to write. All that I know is how to spell. Give lue the 
 first letter and I will give you the second. 
 
 Q. — Spell it and begin. 
 
 A. — (The word is then spelled.) 
 
 Q. — What is the form of a Lodge? 
 
 A. — An oblong square. 
 
 Q. — How long? • 
 
 A. — From East t > West. 
 
 Q. — How wide / 
 
 A. — Between North and South. 
 
 C).— How high ? 
 
 A. — From the surface of the earth to the highest heaven.'^. 
 
 Q. — How deep ? 
 
 A. — From the surface to the center. 
 
 Q. — What do these dimensions mean ? 
 
 A. — They arc symbols to indicate that Freemasonry being an universal 
 institution, ought to be worked in all countries of the world. 
 
 Q. — What do you mean by the word Lodge ? • 
 
 A. — The Lodge is a secret place where Freemasons meet to perfect 
 
 their works. 
 
 Q — Why do Freemasons meet in a secret place ? 
 
 A. — In order not to bo disturbed by the enemies of Fraternity, 
 Equality and Liberty, and to better afcnni])lisli the great work of 
 Freemasonry. 
 
 Q — What supports your Lodge ? 
 
 A. — Three large columns or pillars. 
 
 Q. — What are their names ? 
 
 A. — Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. 
 
 Q.— Why so ? 
 
 A. — It is necessary there should bo Wisdom to contrive. Strength to 
 support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings, but 
 more especially this of oars. 
 
 Q. — How were you introduced into the Lodge when you were initiated? 
 
 A. — By three great and distinct knocks at the door. 
 
41 
 
 Q. — What do those three distinct knocks mean ? 
 
 A. — " Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it 
 shall be opened unto you." 
 
 Q. — Did ycu receive what you asked ? 
 
 A, — I have received the Masonic light, which I asked. 
 
 Q. — Did you find what you sought ? 
 
 A.— I have found a society of Free men, who are now my brothers, 
 and who promised me help and assistance during the course of my life. 
 
 Q. — Did they open unto you ? 
 
 A. — They have opened the doors of a temple where lies the Mason's 
 secret which it is the duty of all Apprentice Masons to deserve. 
 
 Q. — Do you know that secret ? 
 
 A. — As Apprentice Mason, no. I have to ascend the last degree of 
 Scotch Free Masonrj^, wliich is the thirtieth, and all that time I have to 
 study with energy and perseverance. 
 
 Q. — Plow was you disposed of, after your introduction in this Temple. 
 
 H. — I was submitted to several physical and moral trials, and having 
 sustained them to the satisfaction of Freemasons present, I was const ituted 
 Apprentice Mason. 
 
 Q. — Where does an Appprentice Mason sit in the Temple ? 
 
 A. — In the North. 
 
 Q.-Why ? 
 
 A. — Because the darkest part of the world being symbolically repre- 
 sented by the North, the Apprentice Mason sit temporarily there, with 
 the hope of receiving more light in the mysteries and secrets of Free- 
 masonry. 
 
 Q. — Where does our Bro.-. 2d Surv.". sit in the Temple ? 
 
 A.— In the South, Vcn.-. M.-. 
 
 Q. — What are his duties in the South ? 
 
 A. — To assist our BB.-. in preserving a remembrance of the impres- 
 sions and sensations of the first of mankind, when he saw the sun in all 
 its glory pass the meridian of the celestial canopy, and thereby learned to 
 divide the day and its occupations. 
 
42 
 
 Q. — Where does our Bro. •. 1st Surv.-. sit in the Temple ? 
 
 A.— In the West, Vcn.-. M.-. 
 
 Q. — What arc his duties in the West? 
 
 A* — To assist our BB.-. in preserving a remembrance of the impres- 
 sions and sensations which our First Parent must have experienced when 
 he saw the 6\in descending below the western horizon, illumining the sky 
 with golden drapery, succeeded by twilight and the obscurity of darkness 
 when all animated nature seeks repose, thereby learning of God's design 
 in giving us a period for meditation and rest. 
 
 Q. — Where does the Yen.-. M.-. sit in the Temple? 
 
 A. — In the East, Ven.-. M.-. 
 
 Q. — "^hat are his duties there ? 
 
 A. — To instruct our Fraternity in preserving a remembrance of the 
 divine instruction « given to our First Parent when be saw the sun appear 
 again in the East, teaching him the importance of measuring time and of 
 improving it with useful works and secrecy. » 
 
 Q, — What is your age as an Apprentice Mason? 
 
 A. — Three years. 
 
 ■•'^Jl^ 
 
SECOND DEGREE, 
 
 OB 
 
 OPENING OF THE LODGE. 
 
 The Lodge must be opened in the First Degree, and then 
 in the Seoond. The opening of the Second Degree is con- 
 ducted in the same manner as the First, with the exception 
 of the Sign and Battery. 
 
 When apprentices are to be initiated to this degree, the 
 introductory ceremonies are the same as in the First Degree; 
 such as the introductiou of visitors, announcement of the 
 object of the meeting, etc. 
 
 PREPERATION FOR INITIATION. 
 
 Upon a table, standing between the altar and the door, 
 the following named instruments will be symmetrically 
 arranged : 
 
 One twmty-four inch Guage; One Mallet; 
 One pair of Compasses; One Chisel; 
 
 One common flat Ruler; , One Ruler; 
 
 One Trestle or tracing Board; One Square; 
 One Plumb Line; One Lever; 
 
 And one Trowel. 
 The candidate must be divested of coat, vest and cravat, 
 wearing slippers instead of shoes, and have a cord passed 
 
44 
 
 three times around his loins, w'lih a knot in front, the two 
 ends of the rope hanging to the ground; the apron worn as 
 in the App.*, Degree ; he will carry a common ruler upon 
 his right shoulder. 
 
 INITIATION. 
 
 i 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro,- M.'. C.-., please inform our Bro.-. Expert 
 that we are ready to proceed. 
 
 {The apprentice gives the rap of his degree at the door. 
 The Inside Sentinel looks out at the xuicliet, and iiiforms 
 the 1st Surveillant that there is an App: . at the door.) 
 
 1st SuRV — {Iiaps.)Y'\ M.-., there is an App/. rapping 
 at the door. 
 
 Ven. M. — What are his wishes ? 
 
 1st SuRV. — (Enquires a?ul sa/js: — The apprentice is in 
 charge of our Bro.-. Expert, and sa3's that he has served 
 his full time and wishes to be passed to the Fellow Craft 
 Degree. 
 
 Ven. M — What is his name? — His status? — His Masonic 
 age ? — How does he expect to be passed to the fellow craft 
 degree ? 
 
 Bro. Expert. — (Through the wickei. )Beciiuse he has 
 served his full time as an App.*. with honor to himself and 
 to his profession, and begirs a good character for honor and 
 probity with us and in the world. 
 
 Ven. M. — It being so, let him enter. 
 
 The Expert conducts him to the front of the table, where 
 he gives the App.-. sign and remains standing. 
 
 The Ven.-. M.-. interrogates him on the First Degree as 
 
45 
 
 far as he deems proper, and proceeds with 
 
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 The Degree to which you are now about to be passed is 
 particularly to scientific investigations; and as the lessons 
 in the 1st Deg.-. were principally directed to the moral 
 culture of the heart, so here our attention is called to the 
 development of the mind by an examination and prolonged 
 study of the invariable truths of science, whereby we are 
 enabled to contemplate with reverence and admiration the 
 glorious works of creation, and attain to clear ideas of the 
 perfections and infinite Wisdom of the Grand Architect of 
 the Universe- In the earlier periods, learning was for the 
 most part confined to the Magi, Druids, and Priests of 
 Egypt, who lived in lonely habitations and in caverns, and 
 devoted themselves to the study of sciences, and attained 
 to great reputation also for purity of morals and knowledge 
 of the science of government. 
 
 They communicate their knowledge only to the initiated, 
 and by the use of symbols, unintelligible to all who had not 
 received the sacred rites. Ignorance brooded over the land 
 like the darkness of night, and could only be dissipated by 
 the gradual diffusion of light in the minds prepared to 
 receive it The period of probation for an apprentice was 
 rarely less than three years, during which period he was 
 expected to preserve a clear and unblemished character, 
 and to have devoted himself assidut)usly to the learning of 
 his degree- As knowledge became more generally dissem- 
 inated, this period has been greatly abridged, and is now 
 limited only by the progress he has made in his masonic 
 instructions. 
 
 We are pleased to notice in the present instance the 
 
46 
 
 unanimit}' which prevails regarding your advancement to a 
 higher degree. I'ou will have noticed that iu the appren- 
 tice's degree the candidate has three voyages to perform, 
 corresponding to the age he must attain in that degree. 
 So here you will have five voyages to accomplish, indicative 
 of the age 30U must attain in this, before being raised to 
 the Master's Degree. 
 
 You will now^commence your voyages. 
 
 Bro.-. Expert, you will please conduct our Bro. •. App.* 
 on his first voyage. 
 
 Candidate has a Mallet in his right hand, Chisel in his 
 left hand, passes once around in the dircciion Xorth, East, 
 South and West, keeping the altar to the right. On reach- 
 ing his position he will use the chisel and mallet upon the 
 rough stone or Ashlar, and then pass the chisel slightly over 
 the smooth or perfect Ashlar. 
 
 1st SuRV — Ven.-. M.*.."the first voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — Wo will resume the history of Man's progre?,- 
 sion in knowledge, at the point wheie wc closed in the First 
 Degree. 
 
 The wonderful structure of the human body combines 
 every element of physical knowledge, and man's first lessons 
 in the sciences were combined and wonderfully divfded from 
 an examination of his organization, uncjuestionably the 
 perfection of infinite wisdom. In the right hand, when 
 clenched, he saw a powerful instrument for persuasion, the 
 Mallet furnished him by his Creator, — and his left hand, he 
 saw designed for the skillful management, arrangement and 
 adjustment of the object submitted to the action of the right, 
 and here he has the Chisel. Hence, the mallet is a symbol 
 of the strcnth of the right hand, and the chisel of the 
 skill of the left. The human intellect had now made its 
 
47 
 
 first step in progressive knowledge, in tracing cause and 
 effect. Man saw that his hands were not acted upon by 
 involuntary muscles — that they were the instruments of a 
 mighty power within him- Hence, the adoption of the 
 mallet as a proper symbol of will, and the chisel of 
 discretion. 
 
 Man now discovered that there was a principle within 
 him Avhich placed him superior to all animated creation, and 
 that all was created subject to him and for his use ; he had 
 an intuitive knowledge that this principle closely allied him 
 to an infinite creation. To an extent he had the power of 
 creating; he could give new and varied forms, could invent 
 and could imitate, and his hands could give semblance to 
 his ideas. No other created being possessed this power ^ 
 As the hands were the instruments of this infinite principle, 
 the Mallet has been selected also as a Symbol of the Infinite 
 and the Chisel of Variety. 
 
 Knowledge and instruction having been retained and 
 communicated by the Ancients in symbolic language, we can 
 only attain to a correct translation, and to a literal reading, 
 by reverting to the circumstances surrounding man at that 
 period, and we are surprised on discovering that these 
 opinions which seem to be the result of an elaborate study 
 of man, and to belong to a far advanced philosophy, must 
 have been coeval with man's earliest instructions from the 
 great book of nature. At that period the progress of mind 
 was free, and could pursue its onward course unobstructed . 
 in the progress of ages, formidable obstacles have arisen 
 and mind has to contend with error and prejudice in its 
 search for light, and is now strengthened, and pleased to 
 trace truth back through the obscurity which has sur- 
 rounded it, to the period when man's readings of nature 
 
48 
 
 were illuminated by the pure light from above. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.-. Expert, you will proceed on the second 
 vo^'agc with our Bro.-. App.-. 
 
 The Ruler in his left hand, the Compasses in his right hand. 
 Travels in the same direction as in the first voyage, keeping 
 the altar at right hand, and at conclusion of the vovage will 
 lay down his implements and imitate the tracing upon the 
 Trestle Board of a horizontal and vertical line, by placing 
 the left hand Hat upon the board, fingers vertical and 
 thumb horizontal; and then describe a circle with the 
 vertex of the angle as a centre, by placing the thumb of the 
 right hand at the vertex and with the index finger describe 
 a circumference about the angle. 
 
 1st SuRV. — Ven.". M.*., the second voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — The mechanical organization of the hand evi- 
 dently furnished man with his first ideas of the pependicu- 
 lar, and the right angle and the right line, a very valuable 
 and suggestive thought in the initiatory stage of science, as 
 forming the first step to man's progress in all knowledge, to 
 the infinite in wisdom and knowledge; hence, the line and per- 
 pendicular may be considered the initial point or unit of all 
 science or knowledge, the beauty and perfection of every 
 mechanical structure depends primarily upon the accuracy 
 of its lines and perpendiculars. The line conveys the ideas 
 of unlimited extent, leading to the Infinite. The compasses 
 on the contrary convey the idea of limited extent, or of the 
 Finite; and tlie circumference in connection with the right 
 line leads to ideas which connect the Infinite with the Finite, 
 furnishing thought and incentive to mechanical industr}»- 
 
 The Compasses are indicative of the boundaries set to 
 human powers, encompassing the finite with the infinite, 
 showing man that the extent of his powers in comparison 
 
49 
 
 with the All-Powerful, is but as n drop to the waters of the 
 vast deep, with the satisfying assurance that the limits to 
 his powers will be enla^'ged, at each step in his progress, 
 constantly developing objects and truths of manifold variety 
 and interest, leading him step by step to a clearer and more 
 intimate knowledge and perception of the laws governing the 
 Universe, and the attributes of a Divine Intelligence. The 
 restraining influence which preserves the relationship of each 
 point in the circumference to the centre, is the clear perception 
 of truth from error, restraining man within the bounds of 
 reason and sense, preserving him from those visionary 
 flights after a knowledge which may be above that which is 
 written. 
 
 Ven. M- — Bro-'. Expert, you will proceed on the third 
 voyage. 
 
 The Ruler in his left hand, the Lever in his right hand. 
 
 Travels in the same direction, and at the conclusion of 
 the voyage, lays down his implements, and with his right 
 hand lifts a small stone, and then u€es the Lever in moving 
 a large one. 
 
 1st SuRV. — Yen.'. M.-., the third voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — Man found the perfect Lever represented in his 
 fore arm and elbow, and as the necessity arose for moving 
 masses, his inventive powers were only exercised to bring 
 an application to the assistance of his powers; hence, arose 
 the several varieties of that most valuable of the elementary 
 mechanical principles, the Lever. The intelligence required 
 in adjusting the fulcrum and arms of the Lever, so as to pro- 
 duce the maximum effect, renders the Lever an exceedingly 
 appropriate symbol of weakness made strenth by intellect, 
 or of the power of mind over matter. 
 
 You have also the Ruler in company with the Lever, by 
 
50 
 
 way of indicating the necessity of subjecting physical force to 
 the operations and control of mind, as well in the exercise of 
 bodily strength as in tlic adaptation of the mechanical 
 powers to the production of the perfect machine. 
 
 Great power comes to naught, or is only productive of 
 evil, unless guided and governed by superior wisdom. Man 
 finds himself surrounded by animal powers of various 
 degrees, all subject to his will, many possessing a physical 
 force far superior to his own, demanding at his hands the 
 exercise of judgment and of mercy. So, in the relations of 
 man to man, where no subjection is ordained, we owe a 
 respectful consideration to the right of the lowh^ as to the 
 most exalted. The history of the institution of Freemasonry 
 furnishes many notable instances, and has generally been 
 remarkable for the result of his teachings in this regard. 
 
 Deference to the rights of others has ever been her 
 happiest theme, repelling upon all proper occasions tlio 
 brutal principle, that rigJit obtains from might. 
 
 Bro.". Expert, please accompany our App.-. on his fourth 
 voyage- 
 
 The Square in his right, and the Ruler in his left hand. 
 
 Travels in the same direction, and on his return the 
 Apprentice will lay his right hand flat upon the Trestle 
 board, so that his thumb and index finger may form a right 
 angle. 
 
 IstSuRv. — Ven.'. M,'., the fourth voyage is accomplished. 
 
 Ven. M. — In man's first mechanical efforts he was fur- 
 nished with the " Square" or right angle, by extending the 
 thumb and fore or index finger. In the progress of his 
 structures he found this a:igle to be of first importance to 
 the stability, beauty, and regularity of his works, and that 
 beauty and stability were the invariable attendants upon 
 
51 
 
 regularity. Hence, the square became his most indispen- 
 sable instrument, and with the ruler in his left hand and 
 the square in his right, he had regularity as the primary 
 distinguishing characteristics of intelligence plainly sym- 
 bolized. 
 
 The Universe with its myriads of worlds and harmony 
 of motion, the wonderful organization of the vegetable and 
 animal creation, even to the most insignificant of the 
 species, gave unmistakable evidence that order and regu- 
 larity were essential and evident characteristics of Infinite 
 Intellisrence. Man found a comfortable assurance of his 
 
 o 
 
 relationship to the Grand Architect of the Universe, in 
 that, Order was an elemental principle of Intelligence and 
 of Beauty with him as with his Creator, 
 
 As we progress in the knowledge of man, of his physical 
 and mental organization, the more clearly do we perceive 
 the close alliance' between him and the all wise, and come 
 to view him as a living, breathing, tangible representative 
 of that universal force from which issue life, motion, and all 
 created things. 
 
 Bro.*, Expert, you will proceed with our brother upon 
 his fifth and last voyage. 
 
 Without implements he travels in the same direction and 
 resumes his position in silence- 
 
 ■ 1st SuRv. — Ven.*. M.-., the fifth voysige has been pro- 
 perly performed. 
 
 Ven, M, — In this voyage, we have man divested of all 
 implements, and he is here more particularly called to an 
 examination of himself and of the functions pertaining to 
 his physical and mental organization. Man soon discovered 
 that progress and constant change was indelibly stamped 
 upon all things surrounding him, and that progress to 
 
52 V 
 
 maturity and to decay wevQ governed by invariable and 
 immutable laws. In the vegetable world he saw the 
 higher perfections of maturity attained only by cultivation, 
 and that the fertile earth gave forth of the abundance of 
 her increase, save when called for by the labor of man ; 
 also in the animals given for man s domestication and use, 
 his cultivation and care was necessary to the development 
 of their highest benefits. Without work the wealth of the 
 earth lay dormant at his feet, and the animal and vegetable 
 productions retroceded to their imperfect, unfruitful condi- 
 tion. So with man, change marks the every moment of 
 his existence; there is no resting point for him until he 
 lays himself down for the last great change, and it is only 
 by constant work and cultivation of his mental and physi- 
 cal faculties that he can reach the perfection of maturity 
 and make the decline of his life, like the descending sun, 
 more and more resplendent to its passing away. As the 
 plant, in the absence of cultivation and of work, man 
 rapidly relapses into a state of barbarism, approaching 
 nearer and nearer to the wild beasts of the forest. 
 
 The responsibilities and obligations of man's free agency 
 devolved upon him as soon as he discovered these laws; ho 
 saw the road plain before him and the consequences of a 
 departure from it. TIence, man Ibund an abundant and 
 fruitful study in the great and ever present book of nature 
 pointing with unerring linger to the duties he owed to 
 himself. 
 
 In truth, such is the object and purport of all the in- 
 struction conveyed in tliis degree, directing man to a cor- 
 rect and intelligent reading from nature of the laws 
 appertaing to his welfare- 
 
 You may remember that at your first step into this 
 
63 
 
 symbolic world your attention was called to several 
 interrogatories; — 1st. What docs man owe to his fellow- 
 beings? The tenor of the lessons in the first degree. 2d. 
 What docs man owe to himself? — and here we have the 
 subject of the second degree. There were others. They 
 are indicative of man's progress in knowledge, of his 
 duties as a man, and of the instruction and train of ideas 
 appertaining to each degree as established in the earlier 
 and purer days of the institution, ere the sacriligious hands . 
 of bad men had perverted it to selfish, religious and 
 political ends. 
 
 As you progress in your Masonic readings, you will 
 observe that in the Rite vvdiich comes to us from England, 
 commonly called the York or English Rite, the lectures and 
 teachings in the Fellow Craft degree is a compendium or 
 dictionary of scientific terms, giving brief and not very 
 ititelligiblc definitions of the Mosaic records of the crea- 
 tion^ of the use of artificial globes, of the orders of 
 Architecture, of the human senses, of Grammar, Rhetoric, 
 Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy, em- 
 bracing the discoveries made in the branches named to the 
 present day. In Scotch Freemasonry we deem these 
 scientific investigations as foreign to the subject matter of 
 the 2d Degree, and a wide departure from Ancient usages. 
 
 Science, as it now stands in its various departments, is 
 the result of progress in civiHzation, was unknown to the 
 Ancients and can not, therefore, be properly embraced in 
 what is called Ancient Craft Masonrj'. The progress of 
 civilization, the arts and sciences pertain to quite a diiferent 
 order of ideas and form the subject matter of more recent 
 and higher degrees in the Scotch Rite, where fall and 
 minute investigations are properly instituted regarding the 
 
64 
 
 bearings of recent improvements and discoveries upon the 
 welfare and advancement of man in his progress after a 
 knowledge of the good, the bqaiitifiil and the true. 
 
 In the Fellow Craft or second degree we conform with 
 the utmost of strictness to the ideas properly appertaining 
 to it, and scrupulously follow the work as observed in the 
 Ancient Institution, We deem it more strictly ^Masonic as 
 being ground upon which men, of every nation and creed, 
 can stand in the union and fellowship of a happy 
 Fraternity. 
 
 Man is here called to an examination of himself that he 
 may attain to a proper estimate of his own position and 
 progress; is shown what he is by the will and dispensation 
 of his Maker, giving him a correct and rational view of 
 himself, of his rights, and of his duties so that he may be 
 the better prepared to withstand the temptations to de- 
 viate from the path which leads to honor, to happiness, and 
 to truth as traced for him by his All Wise and Beneficent 
 Father. 
 
 The Bro.-. Expert will conduct our brother to the East 
 for our further instruction. 
 
 The Expert will let the candidate ascend the steps to 
 the East and stand by the balustrade near to tlie Secretary. 
 
 Ven. M. — We have seen that the exterior world is as 
 a great book, giving us intelligible and truthful readings of 
 nature's laws, leading us to look through [nature up to 
 nature's God. Look about you. 
 
 The Lodge is a symbol of the Avorld, extending from East 
 to West, from North to South, from the depths of the earth 
 to the celestial heavens. In the East, the rising Sun, the 
 great source of light and heat, shines in the Lodge as the 
 unwearied ruler and guide of our working hours, the sym- 
 
65 
 
 bol of bis Creator's power and watchful care, while the 
 Moon, the resplendent orb of night with her attendant 
 stars, reflects the greater glories of divine munificence, dif- 
 fusing light and harmony in our pathway to Truth, Liberty 
 and Fraternity. . 
 
 The Union Cord with Love Knots, which runs around the 
 Lodge upon the Architrave, is indicative of the mystic tie 
 which unites us as brethren in the bonds of a happy 
 Fraternity, telling of full generous love to fellow-men. 
 
 The Mosaic Pavement, bordered by the indented tessel 
 is the emblem of the thousand events and accidents with 
 which the frame of our time on earth is filled and as it 
 were chequered, while the richly adorned tesselated border 
 represents the many blessings which surround us- In its 
 center we have the '• Blazing Star" within the equilateral 
 triangle. The* infinite intelligence overlooking the che- 
 quered and variegated scenes of human life- The Finite as 
 coming from and existing in the Infmite. 
 
 The Plumb and Level are constant, giving no shadows 
 of deviation, subject to no deflection by extraneous causes. 
 Hence the Plumb has ever been deemed a proper represen- 
 tation of the man who by an undeviating observance of the 
 precepts of equity, is "in conscious virtue bold" and can 
 stand undaunted, erect, before God nnd man. 
 
 The Level is an emblem of Equality, telling us of rights 
 and duties, of pleasures and pains, appertaining alike to all 
 of woman born. 
 
 The Trowel, as an instrument, evidently had its origin 
 in the use which man made of the palm of his hand in 
 smoothing the surface of his work in soft materials and has 
 been adopted as an emblem of forgiveness, teaching us so 
 to overlook the asperities, defects, and short cominffs of 
 
56 
 
 our brethren, that we may dwell together in unity. A 
 patient forbearance of what appear to us as weakness in 
 our brother, is essential to harmony in our mystic brother- 
 hood. 
 
 You entered with the Twenty-four InchGuage, a working 
 tool of the App.". Mas-'., with which you are familiar. 
 
 The Rough Ashlar, an unwrought stone, is emblematic 
 of man in his uucultivatel state; and the Perfect Ashlar, or 
 wrought stone, is emblematic of man in his more perfect 
 state, when his mind and his passions have been cultivated 
 and subdued by education. 
 
 The Three Lights around the altar indicate the points 
 which naturally passed from work to rest, morning, midday 
 and evening, following the march of the Grand Luminary 
 which guides us during our daily labor. 
 
 The Trestle or Tracing board, is the embleiti of reflection^ 
 The wise man will have his plans carefully designed before 
 engaging in any important work. As every feature in the 
 exterior world conveys its lessons of truth, so in this sym- 
 bolic world — the Lodge — words of wisdom are associated with 
 each and every object, however simple, taking us back to 
 that purer source of light, the fountain of all wisdom, the 
 wondrous works of the Grand Architect of the Universe. 
 
 You will now take the obligations required of a Fellow 
 Craft. 
 
 Are you ready ? 
 
 Candidate — Yes. 
 
 Ven. M. — 13ro '. M.-. C.-., you will please take the can- 
 didate in charge, and conduct him to the altar. 
 
 The candidate will place his right hand upon the square 
 and compasses. The Ven-*. M.'. comes then with a sword 
 in his left hand and a p;avel in his right, when the candidate 
 
57 
 
 will repeat the following obligation as dictated by the Ven.*. 
 M/. 
 
 Obligation. — " In presence of the Grand Architect of 
 the Universe, under the authority of the Supreme Council of 
 the 33d Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite of 
 Freemasonry, in and for the Sovereign and Independent 
 State of Louisiana, and in presence of this assemblage of 
 Freemasons, I, [name in full,) on my word/ of honor, do 
 solemnly promise faithfully to keep the secrets and ivords of 
 the Fellow Craft Degree, as prescribed by the statutes of 
 the Order ; and I would rather have my heart torn out and 
 thrown to the beasts of prey, than to violate this my solemn 
 promise. So help me God. " 
 
 Ven. M.— Truth and the blessings of God be with you. 
 
 INVESTITURE OF THIS DEGREE- 
 
 The Ven.'. M.*. extends the point of his sword over the 
 candidate's head and says : 
 
 *' In the name of the Grand Architect of the Universe, 
 under the authority of the Supreme Council of the 33d 
 Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite cf Free- 
 Masonry, in and for the Sovereign and Independent State of 
 Louisiana, and by virtue of powers on me conferred, I do 
 hereby make and constitute you a Fellow Craft llason, of 
 the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite, and declare you an 
 active member of the R.-. L.'. (name and numhe'\) 
 
 Then the Ven/. M.'. gives five raps with his gavel upon 
 the blade of his sword, goes to the candidate, ht tlis fiap of 
 his apron down, shakes hands with him, and resumes his 
 
58 
 
 seat in the East. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro-'. M.-. C.-., will please conduct our worthy 
 initiated Brother to the East for our Secret Instructions. 
 
 The M.'. C*. will give him a seat near the Sec,'., where 
 the Ven.*. M.-. will approach near to him, and say ; 
 
 Ven. M. — Admission to a Lodge in this Degree is obtained 
 by rapping at the door, thus- The Ins--. Sent.', will then 
 open the wicket and ask the password, which you wiligive 
 in this manner : [gives him the password.) 
 
 When the door opens for you, you will advance towards 
 the altar, making these steps, {shows him,) and then give 
 the sign of Fellow Craft {thus) to the Ven.*. M.'. in the 
 East, then face about to the left, give the same sign to the 
 1st Surv.'., sitting in the West, then facing to the right, 
 giving the same sign to the 2d Surv--. in the South. Then 
 take a seat under the column " J " — that letter is the initial 
 of the sacred word in this Degree, and is given thus, {gives 
 him the word.) The word and grip must always be given 
 together, thus. 
 
 The Battery is given, {thus.) 
 
 The Ven.*. M.-- then resumes his seat. 
 
 Ven. M. — M.-. C-*., you will conduct our Bro/. {name,) 
 to the 1st Surv.-. for examination in our secret instructions. 
 
 At the conclusion the 1st Surv-". says : 
 
 1st SuRV. — [raps ) Ven.*. M.'., his instructions are correct 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.*. M.-. C.-., please give Bro.'. {name,) a 
 seat upon the East for this day. 
 
 The M.-. 0.*. will give him a seat near the Sec. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro-'. M.*. C.'., please proclaim, from the East, 
 that Bro.'. {iiame,) has been duly and legally constituted a 
 
59 
 
 Fellow Craft Mason, in the Ancient and Accepted Scotcli 
 Rite; that he has given the solemn obligation, and received 
 secret instructions of the Degree, and invite the fraternity 
 to receive and protect him accordingly. 
 
 PROCLAMATION. 
 
 Mast. C. — Re it known from East to West, from North to 
 South, that Rro.*. {^lame,) has been legall}' passed to the 
 Fellow Craft Degree in the Ancient an,d Accepted Scotch 
 Rite, and admitted as an active member of the R.*. L.*. 
 
 {name and number,) in the East of under the 
 
 authority of the Supreme Council of Ins.*. Gen.*, of the 33d 
 Degree, in and for the Sovereign and Independent State of 
 Louisiana, and the Fraternity are invited to receive and 
 protect him accordingly. 
 
 The concluding ceremonies of this Degree are the same as 
 in the Api>.-, Degree, observing the proper Sign and Battery. 
 
 The Orator is then called upon for a lecture upon the 
 Degree. 
 
 The Visiting Brothers will receive the usual compliments 
 in the 2d Degree. 
 
 The Lodge must be formally closed in the 2d Degree, 
 "when work can be resumed in the 1st Degree* 
 
 At its conclusion the Lodge must be formally closed in 
 the 1st Degree, and the workmen called off for refreshment, 
 "remembering before they part to renew their solemn obliga- 
 tions of secrecy. " 
 
LECTURE ON THE SECOND DEGREE. 
 
 Ven. M. — Bro.-. 1st Surv.-., are yoa a Fellow Craft Mason ? 
 
 1st Surv. — Yen.-. M.-., I am, try nic. 
 
 Q. — Why did you receive the"Degree of Fellow Craft? 
 
 A. — In order to work to tlic best of my strength and ability with all 
 Freemasons, my companions and brethren, to the final triumph of 
 3lasonic principles. 
 
 Q. — What is the <:reat '.vcrk oontoniplated by Freemasons? 
 
 A. — To make all men equal by labor; and a perfect equality will never 
 reij^n in this world unless the principles of true Freemasonry are known 
 and put in practice. 
 
 Q. — How were you received a Fellow Craft ? 
 
 A. — ^ly eyes wide open, and in the plenitude of my strength and 
 freedom. 
 
 Q. — What did you see on entering the Lodge ? 
 
 A. — Two large columns or pillars, one int the left hand of the 1st 
 SurveiUant with the letter '< B," and the other at his right hand with 
 the letter " J." 
 
 Q. — What was their composition ? 
 
 A. — Molten or Cast Brass. 
 
 Q. — What were their dimensions? 
 
 A. — Eighteen cubits in height, twelve in circumference, and four in 
 diameter. 
 
 Q. — Why wee they ca.»t hollow ? 
 
 A. — The better to preserve the tools and archives of Freemasonry, and 
 also the money destined to the pajMuent of Fellow Crafts and Apprentices. 
 
 Q. — How did you gain admission ? 
 
 A. — By a sign, by a pass word and a sacred word, and by a grip. 
 
 Q. — Give me the sign. 
 
 A. — (^The sign is yivcn.') 
 
 Q, — AVhat does it denote ? 
 
 A. — That I should rather have my heart torn out by the roots than to 
 violate the promise I made in presence of my brethren assembled in 
 this Lodge. 
 
 Q. — Give the pass word to liro.-. 
 
61 
 
 A. — {The pass icord is given ) 
 
 Q, — Give the sacred word to Iho.-. 
 
 A. — {The sacred word is given.) 
 
 Q. — Give the grip to Bro.-. 
 
 A. — ( The grip is given.') 
 
 Q. — How were you disposed of after you entered the Lodge ? 
 
 A — I made five voyages. In the first I had in my liand a Mallet and 
 a Chisel, in the sicond, a Ruler and a pair of Compasses, in the third, 
 a Ruler and a Lever, in the fourth, a Ruler and a Square. 
 
 Q. — What is the use of these different tools ? 
 
 A* — The Mallet and Chisel serve to pare and hew the rough stone, in 
 taking off its asperity and giving it its proper form. 
 
 The Ruler and Compasses arc tools by which lines are drawn on plain 
 and smooth surfaces. 
 
 The Lever is destined to raise heavy bodies, and the Square to form 
 equal sides and right angles. 
 
 Q. — What is the moral and symbolical meaning of these tools 
 
 A. — By the Mallet and Chisel, we mean that a true Freemason ought 
 to divest himself of his prejudices and vices. By the Ruler, that our 
 actions ought to be governed and measured by the eternal principles of 
 morality. By the Compasses, that we ought to contain ourselves in the 
 limits of truth and justice. By the Lever, that it is our duty to oppose 
 a determined resistance to all that is arbitrary and despotic; and by the 
 Square, that we ought to square our actions by the opinions of good men, 
 and our lives by the precept > of philosophers. 
 
 Q. — How did you make the fifth voyage ? 
 
 A. — With my hands entirely free. 
 
 Q.— Why? 
 
 A. — As an indication to the Fellow Craft, that it is only, after a long 
 and tedious labor, that he will be permitted to rest and enjoy in his 
 freedom and independence. 
 
 Q. — Has our Lodge any ornaments ? 
 
 A. — It has. 1st. The Mosaic or chequered pavement, representing 
 this world, which, though chequered over with good and evil, yet 
 brethren may work together thereon and not stumble; — 2d. The Blazing 
 Star as a symbol of the true light which Freemasonry spreads over the 
 whole world; — And 3d. The Cord of Union which surrounds our Lodge, 
 teaching all Freemasons to live together as a family of brethren, in order 
 
62 
 
 to better defend all their political, religious, civil and social rights 
 
 Q. — Has your Lodge any jewels ? 
 
 A. — It hasj six, three moveable and three immoveable. 
 
 Q. — What are the three moveable jewels? 
 
 A. — The Level, Plumb and Trowel. 
 
 Q. — What do they teach ? 
 
 A. — The Level equality; the Plumb, rectitude of life and conduct, and 
 the Trowel, teaching all Freemasons that they ought not only to forgive 
 their mutual wrongs and offences, but also to cement and strengthen the 
 ties of brotherhood. 
 
 Q. — What are the throe immoveable jewels ? 
 
 A — The Rough Aslilar, the Perfect Ashlar and the Trestle Board. 
 
 Q. — What do they represent ? 
 
 A. — The Rough Ashlar represents man in his rude and imperfect 
 state of nature; iht Perfect Ashlar represents man in that state of 
 perfection to which we all hope to arrive by means of a virtuous life and 
 education; and the Trestle Board is the emblem of reflection and 
 wisdom. 
 
 Q, — Where do the Fellow Crafts sit in the Temple ? 
 
 A. — In the South or in the North. 
 
 Q,— Why in the South ? 
 
 A. — To help Master Masons in their works, and to profit by their 
 lessons. 
 
 Q._Why in the North? 
 
 A. — To assist the Apprentices in tlicir works. 
 
 Q — How do the Fellow Crafts work. 
 
 A. — With Joy, Fervor and Freedom. 
 
 Q. — What is your age as a Fellow Craft ? 
 
 A. — Five years. 
 
THIRD DEGREE. 
 
 OFFICERS, 
 
 A Most Respectable Master. 
 A Most Venerable 1st Surveillant, 
 A Most Venerable 2d Surveillant. 
 A Most Venerable Orator. 
 A Most Venerable Secretary. 
 A Most Venerable Expert. 
 A Most Venerable Treasurer 
 A Most Venerable Master of Ceremonies. 
 A Most Venerable Inside Sentinel. 
 AH Brethren are designed under the appellation of 
 Venerable Brethren. 
 
 PREPARATION OF THE LODGE FOR INITIATION, 
 
 The Lodge must be hung in black, strewed with tears or 
 symbols of death. The table and altar covered with black 
 palls. The arrangements for lighting the Lodge, when 
 desired, must bo abundant either with gas or candles. 
 During the ceremonies, no lights are permitted save those 
 hereafter designated. The altar shall be furnished with 
 the square and compasses placed masonically. The three 
 tripods surrounding the altar must be supplied with un- 
 lighJLed candles. 
 
64 
 
 The East. — On the table of the R--. M-'. there will be 
 placed a Maul, the head of which must be stuffed with 
 wool or cotton, and covered with black cloth or leather- 
 
 A transparent, dimly lighted, surmounted by a skull with 
 this device plainly written across the transparency, '' In 
 the midst of life we arc in death." 
 
 Near to and in front of the Master's table there will be 
 placed a large transparency, representing a chequered or 
 Mosaic pavement, upon w'hich is a coffin covered with a 
 black pall strewed with tears and sculb. There will also 
 be represented upon it a tree, so designed that " the 
 cross" shall be apparent, with a branch of "Acacia," with 
 three limbs, one extending upon each horizontal arm of the 
 cross and one upon the upper vertical arm. 
 
 On the upper vertical arm will also be placed a "Blazing 
 Star," within an equilateral triangle and at the foot of the 
 cross will be placed the square and compasses forming a 
 lozenge. 
 
 Preparation in the West. — On the table will be a trans- 
 parency dimly lighted with this inscription, " Life comes 
 out of death." Upon the transparency w^ill be a human 
 skull. Upon the table there will be a roll of paper nine 
 inches in circumference and eigliteen inches in length, also 
 a pair of large compasses made of wood having iron points. 
 
 Preparation in the South — On the table, a transparency 
 with this inscription, ^Dd thy work and die xcitlwut fear.'^ 
 
 A roll of paper as in the West, also a flat Ruler, twenty 
 four inches. 
 
 PREPARATION OF CANDIDATE, 
 
 The M.-. E,'. assumes charge of the candidate in an 
 
65 
 
 adjoining room, divests him of coat, waistcoat, cravat and 
 shoes, receives his watch, money, knife, keys and all 
 metallic substances he nuiy have about him; his left arm 
 and shoulder must be withdrawn fro.n the sleeve of his shirt 
 and undershirt, so as to be entirely naked, and a small 
 silver square will be tied upon his naked arm, just above the 
 elbow, with a black ribbon. A cord will be girded around 
 his loins three times. He will wear his apron as a Fellow 
 Craft. 
 
 OPENING OF tup: LODGE- 
 
 The Lodge must be formally opened in the 1st, 2d and 
 3d Degrees, successively, following the general directions 
 given in the Ritual of the Lst Degree, giving the Sign and 
 Battery pertaining to each Degree,---- great care being ob- 
 served that all present are entitled to seats- 
 
 RECEPTION OF VISITORS. 
 
 The M.-. C*. will visit the anti-chamber and avenues, and 
 bring the visitors' register to the M--- R/. M.--, who will give 
 directions regarding the reception of visitors. 
 
 Announcement of the object of the meeting by the M.-. R.-. 
 M.% calling for objections to the initiation, giving them due 
 consideration, and if there are none, he will ask for a unan- 
 imous assent on the part of all present, same as in the 1st 
 Degree. 
 
06 
 INITIATION. 
 
 The M.*. C.-. causes the candidate to rap at the door as a 
 Fellow Craft. 
 
 The Inside Sentinel looks through the wicket, and 
 reports to the 1st biirv,-. 
 
 1st SuRV. — M.-. 11.-. M,-., there is a Fellow Craft raping 
 at the door. 
 
 M. R. M. — "Bro.-. Expert, ascertain -who is thus rudely 
 disturbing our meditations. 
 
 The. Expert goes to the anti-chamber, malces the proper 
 inquiries, returns, leaving the door slightly ajar, and from 
 it reports. 
 
 ExPEivT — M.-, l\.\ jNI.-., one of our Brothers is at the door 
 having in charge a Fellow Craft. 
 
 M. R. M— Bro.-. Conductor, how does that Fellow Craft 
 expect to gain admission to our presence and to our solem. 
 uities ? 
 
 M,-. C.', — By virtue of the word of pass. 
 
 M. R. M. — Through the word of pass? That is exceedirgly 
 strange, and sullicient cause for the most fearful apprehen- 
 sions ! — fur, how could he have obtained possession of that 
 word save than by a [larlicipation in the horrid crime which 
 we fear has been committed. Sec that no stain of blood 
 besmeares his hands or clothing, and bring us his apron. 
 
 Expert — M.-. R.-. M.'., we have carefully examined that 
 Fellow Crait and find him clear from suspicion of having 
 participated in that most foul and abhorrent deed ; his hands 
 are clean, and his apron, which I bring you, is spotless. 
 
 The Expert takes the apron to the East, and resumes his 
 seat. ' 
 
 1 
 
67 
 
 M. R. M. — Bro.*. 1st Surv."., will you go and examine the 
 Fellow Craft, search carefully for any trace, mark or spot> 
 by which we may learn of the fate of our most M.-. R. . M.*. 
 
 1st Surv. — {After comphjing, says: — M/.R/. M".-, a strict 
 examination fails to elicit anything which can justly attach 
 suspicion to that Fellow Craft. • 
 
 M, R. M. — It being so, go out again and ask him for the 
 word of pass. 
 
 The 1st Surv.*. goes out and says to the candidate. 
 
 1st Surv — Give me the word of pass. 
 
 Candidate — {Saijs,)! cannot, my conductor will give it 
 for me. 
 
 The 1st Surv.*. then asks and receives it from the M--. C*. 
 in a whisper. 
 
 1st Surv. — M.'. R.*. M.-. that Fellow Craft could not give 
 me the word of pass ; he relied upon his conductor, who 
 gave it correctly. 
 
 M. R. M. — Let him enter. 
 
 The M.*. (;.*. t;ikes the ends of the cord which girds the 
 cantlidate, and makes him enter backwards as far as the 
 altar, where he will stand with his face to the door or West. 
 
 M. R. M. — Bro.-, Fellow Craft, you find us surrounded 
 with the solemn parapherijalia of Death, engaged in con- 
 templating the momentous mysteries attendant upon man's 
 hnal laying down to rest in the arms of the dread con- 
 queror. Man is subject to that unalterable decree of the 
 Almighty, " Of dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou 
 return ;" and "the spirit shall return unto God who gave 
 it." Death, when the result of natural causes, may be met 
 with a cheerful, happy reliance, comforting to those whose 
 hearth stones have been made desolate at the hands of the 
 fell destroyer; but our hearts are appalled when our dear 
 
68 . 
 
 friends are .suddenly .-ent, by ihe inhumanity ol ni;ai, to 
 their last final resting phice, to stand unannounced before 
 their Maker. 
 
 You find us thus cast down with the most hopeless of 
 sorrows, at the fearful apprehension of a most unnatural 
 death to our most Rcsp/. Master. No trace of him has yet 
 been discovered. A recent cdrpse has been found and brought 
 in, which you will see in the cof!in at your left, but it is not 
 that of our Master. Its shocking mutilation has added 
 greatly to our fears and anxiety regarding his fate. As he 
 possessed knowledge, and held a secret of vast import to 
 the advancement of the Fellow Craft, we fear he has fallen 
 a victim to the overreaching reckless ambition of wicked and 
 unprincipled men of that Degree ; and that in him truth and 
 integrity has been crushed to earth by the violent hands of 
 intrigue and oppression. Bro.*. Fellow Crafc, have you any 
 knowledge of a conspiracy against his life, or have you in 
 any way or manner participated in his overthrow? 
 
 Candidate. — No. 
 
 M. R. M. — Then turn your face to the East, and tell us 
 if you will patiently and earnestly give us your assistance 
 in our search for the fallen. 
 
 Candidate. — Yes. 
 
 M. R. M. — Now it will be impossible for 3'ou to join us 
 in this most uoithy pursuit untif admitted to a full partici- 
 pation in the secrets and mysteries of the Master's Degree. 
 
 Arc you prci^ared to undergo the fearful trials, incident 
 to this most instructive initiation? 
 
 Candidate — Yes. 
 
 M. R. M. — Bro.'. Conductor, you may proceed with your 
 charge upon the first voyage. 
 
 Travels from Nortli to East, keeping the altar at the right 
 
69 
 
 hand, giving the App.-. sign, as he passes the East, South 
 and West, and as each Officer answers the sign he will give 
 three raps. Brings the candidate to the altar, from thence 
 takes him to the 2d Surv.*., when the candidate will give 
 tho App.'. rap upon the table. The 2d Surv.-. rises, places 
 his roll of paper on the nape of the neck of the candidate 
 as to detain him, and says : 
 
 2d Surv. — Who comes here? 
 ■ M. C. — A Fellow Craft who has served his full time, 
 and desires to be raised to the Master's Degree. 
 
 2d Surv — How docs he expect to gain admission ? 
 
 M. C. — Through the word of pass. 
 
 2d Surv — How is it possible for him to give it? 
 
 M. C, — I, his conductor, will give it for him. 
 
 2d Suuv — Give it to me. 
 
 M. C. — (In a whisper.) T.-. 
 
 2d Surv.— Let him pass. 
 
 The M.". C.'. Leads the candidate to the altar. 
 
 2d Surv.. — Bro/. 1st Surv.-., the candidate has passed 
 the South correctl3^ 
 
 1st Surv — {Raps.) M.'. 11.-. M.*., the 2d voyage has been 
 correctly performed. 
 
 M. R. M — Bro.-. conductor, you may proceed with the 
 candidate upon his second voyage. 
 
 The second voyage is performed as the first, giving the 
 Fellow Craft's sign, and when the candidate has reached 
 his place at the altar he will proceed to the West and 
 give the rap of the Fellow craft upon that officer's table. 
 
 The 1st Surv.'. will rise, place his roll of paper upon the 
 candidate's breast and say : 
 
 1st Surv. — Who comes here? Further questions and 
 answers are given as at the South, and when the candidate 
 
 ^. 
 
70 
 
 has resumed his place by the altar: — 
 
 1st SuRV. — {Raps.) M.-. R.-. M.'., the candulatehas passed 
 the West and completed his second voyage corrcctl}'. 
 
 M. K. M — 13ro.-. conductor, please proceed upon the 
 third voyage. 
 
 Travels in the same direction. No signs or raps are 
 given, and the candidate quietly resumes his position by the 
 altar. 
 
 1st Surv — {Raps.)^!.'- R.-.M.*., the third voyage is accom- 
 plished- 
 
 M. R. M — These three voyages, my Bro-*, recall the last 
 sad scene of all, the final panorama of youth, manhood and 
 senility. At the conclusion of man's tumultuous voyage of 
 life, his every action passes in quick review before him and 
 the various scenes of his life come up to his mind as with 
 the speed of thought- All the sins of his life will dart 
 their venemous fangs into his very soul, calling for judgment 
 at his own hands. 
 
 Happy the man who can lay down to his final rest with 
 a conscience void of ofience towards God and man, and as 
 he is parting from earth can view the fading scenes of his 
 life, with a forgiving and a repentant heart- Then is death 
 robbed of his sting and the grave of its victory. The good 
 man goes down to his grave with the blessings of the living 
 and death lays him upon a bed of glory, for he will hear 
 the joyful acclamation of ''Well done. Thou good and 
 faithful servant." 
 
 You will now take the Master Mason's obligation. 
 
 The M.*. C. will cause the candidate to place his hands, 
 his right hand over the left, resting upon the square and 
 compasses. All present rise as witnesses. 
 
 The M.'. R/. M.'.goes to the altar and causes the candidate 
 
71 
 
 to repeat from his dictation. 
 
 Obligation. — " In presence of the G.\ A.-- O/. T.-. U.*., 
 under then utlioi'ity of the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree 
 of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite of Freemasonrj, 
 in and for the Sovereign and Independent State of Louisiana, 
 with this assemblnge of Master M.-isons as witnesses, I 
 (name in full,) upon my sacred word of honor, do hereby 
 solemnly promise never to reveal the secrets, words and 
 mysteries of the JNLister Mason's Degree, never to s[)eak 
 thereon except to a regular Master of the same Rite, or in 
 a regular and legally constituted Lodge thereof, and I do, 
 furthermore, give my sacred promise to do no unjustifiable 
 violence or in any manner to defame or otherwise harm a 
 brother Mason, his mother, sister, wife or daughter, but to 
 be to them as a true and faithful brother and to assist them 
 in their adversity to the extent of my ability. Also to 
 obey the general statutes of the S(otch Rite, the regula- 
 tions of ihe Supreme Council for the State of Louisiana 
 the by-laws of this Lodge, and cause the same to be 
 obeyed. 
 
 I would rather have my body severed into two parts, my 
 bowels torn out and burned, and the ashes thereof scattered 
 to the winds, than to violate this my solemn obligation — So 
 help me God." 
 
 M. R. M. — God grant that 3'ou may never be prompted 
 to violate so sacred an obligation! 
 
 The M.-. R.*. M/. then removes the cord from the candi- 
 date's loins, puts upon him the Fellow Craft's apron, leaves 
 him behind the altar, resumes his seat in the East, requests 
 all to be seated, the M.-. C.'. giving the candidate a seat. 
 
 M. R. M. — The instruction conveyed in this degree is as 
 important as the ceremonies are impressive. Constituting 
 
72 
 
 as it does the last of the purely sj^mbolic degrees, it is im- 
 portant that its teachings should be clearly comprehended; 
 and that you may acquire strength to withstand its trials 
 and a proper state of mind to duly receive i(s instruction, 
 \vc will relate something of its history and of the terrible 
 legend connected therewith. 
 
 The degree is founded upon and draws its lesson from a 
 legendary account of circumstances and events which tran- 
 spired at the building of Solomon's temple at Jerusalem. 
 
 From the Bible, we learn that at the time when Saul 
 ascended the throne of Judah, the people of that country 
 were quite ignorant of the mechanic arts- There was not 
 a man among them who could work in iron. They were 
 obliged to call upon their most bitter enemies, the Philis- 
 tines, to have even their instruments of husbandry 
 sharpened and repaired- Their swords and halberds were 
 not of their own making. David saw the necessity of cul- 
 tivating in them a taste for the mechanic arts, and sent for 
 all the foreigners in his dominions, that he might select 
 from among them^builders, hewers, stone-cutters, carpenters 
 and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. 
 Notwithstanding, David had commanded all the Princes of 
 Israel to help Salomon, he was obliged to ask Hiram, King 
 of Tyre, for help, saying '• for thou knowest that there is 
 not among us any that can skill to hcvv- timber like unto 
 the Sidonians-" So Iliram, the King, sent him a skillful car- 
 penter and stone-cutter, Adoniram, to superintend the work- 
 men in w^ood and stone at mount Lebanon. 
 
 "And King Salomon sent and fetched Hiram out of 
 Tyre. lie was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and 
 his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he 
 was filled with wisdom and understanding, and cunning to 
 
73 
 
 work all works ia brass. And he came to King Solomon 
 and wrought all his work." 
 
 Hiram cast two pillars of brass of wondrous work and 
 curious device, a particular description of which is given in 
 (1 King, chap. 7; v. 15-20.) 
 
 "And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple; 
 and he set up the right pillar and called the name thereof, 
 Jachin; and he set up the left pillar and called the name 
 thereof, — Boaz, v, 21." 
 
 In 2 Chron., chapter 2d, v. 13 aud 14, the King of Tyre 
 writes to Solomon thus, "And now I have sent a cunning 
 man, indued with understanding. He is the son of 
 woman of the daughter of Dan, and his father was a man 
 of Tyre, skillful to work in gold and in silver, in brass, in 
 iron, in stone and in timber, in purple, in blue, in fine linen, 
 and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and 
 to find out any device which shall be put to him Avith thy 
 cunning menand with the cunning men of my Lord David, 
 thy father. " 
 
 We also read v. 17 and 18, " And Solomon numbered all 
 the strangers that were in Israel, and they were found an 
 hundred and fifty thousand, and three thousand and six 
 hundred, (153,600.) and he set three score and ten thousand 
 of them to be bearers of burdens, (70,000.), and four score 
 thousand to be hewers in the mountain, (80,000-), and three 
 thousand six hundred, (3,600-) overseers to let the people 
 work." 
 
 We learn from a legend or tradition of equal antiquity, 
 
 that Solomon in his wisdom so arranged and classified this 
 
 great body of men, that neither envy, discord nor confusion 
 
 were sufi'crcd to interrupt or disturb the peace and good 
 
 fellowship which prevailed among the workmen. They 
 
 10 
 
74 
 
 were divided into three classes : Apprentices, Fellow Crafts 
 and Masters. A certain number of each class composed a 
 company or Lodge, in charge of an able master. Over all 
 was Iliram, the widow's son, filled with wisdom and under- 
 standing. 
 
 The more readily to insure order among so large a body 
 of strangers, of various degrees of skill, King Solomon with 
 the King of Tyre and the learned architect Hiram, adopted 
 certain signs, grips and words, so as easily and correctly to 
 distinguish the several jprders and classes of workmen. 
 
 Now it was the custom of their Grand Master Hiram, to 
 enter the Temple, at high twelve, each day, while the work- 
 men were at rest, and offer up his devotions to the Almighty 
 Maker and Father of the Universe. 
 
 Here the M. R. M. gives a lap and the brethren rise- 
 The M. C. leads the candidate to the altar. 
 
 M. R. M. — He approached the altar and humbly upon his 
 knees said : 
 
 " Almighty Maker and Father of the Universe, Thou art 
 the only true and overliving God and Creator of all that 
 exists, enlighten my mind with true knowledge and wisdom; 
 let charity, love to fellow- men, and to Thee, prevail in my 
 heart ; and give me strength of body and of mind so to per- 
 form the work Thou hast appointed, in accordance with Thy 
 will, Grant that the workmen u[)on this Thy house may 
 humbly look to Thee for guidance in the ways of virtue and 
 of knowledge, and that they may see and understand that 
 the heart of man is the only true and acceptable temple for 
 the worship and glory of Thee- Amen, amen, amen." 
 
 When he had so prayed, he rose and took his way 
 towards the door at the South- 
 
 The M.'. C-. leads the candidate to the South, and the 
 
75 
 
 2d Surv.". seizes him by the throat with his left 
 han:3, holding the Rule in his right, when the M/. R--. M-*, 
 says : 
 
 M. E- M. — But there he met with a Fellow Craft, armed 
 with a'ruler, who seized him by the throat and said : 
 
 2d SuRV. — Give me the Master's grip. 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot give it except in presence of Solo- 
 mon and the King of Tyre- 
 '2d SuRv. — Give me the Master's grip. 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 2d SuRV. — Give me the Master's grip. 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 The 2d Surv.-. then rudely but lightly strikes the candi- 
 date upon the side of the neck with the ruler. 
 
 M. R, M — Being so abused and struck at the South, 
 Hiram staggered back and proceeded to the door at the 
 AV^est. 
 
 While this is being said the M.-. C.-. leads the candidate 
 to the West, and the 1st Surv.-. seizes him at the breast 
 with the left hand, holding the open compasses in his right. 
 
 M. R. M. — But there again he met another Fellow Craft, 
 armed with the Compasses, who seized him by the breast, 
 and said : 
 
 1st Surv — Give me the M.-. M-.- grip and word ? 
 
 Candidate — I cannot give it except in the presence of 
 King Solomon and the King of Tyre- 
 
 1st Surv. — Give me the M.-. M.-. grip and word. 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 1st Surv. — Give me the M.*, M.-. grip and word- 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 Then the 1st Surv.-. roughly but harmlessly strikes him 
 upon the bare breast with a point of the compasses. 
 
76 
 
 M. R. M. — Weak and fainting from the blow, Hiram 
 endeavored to escape by the door at the East. 
 
 While this is being said the M.-. C.-. leads the candidate 
 to the East, and the M/. R.'. M.-. teizes him by the chest 
 and says : 
 
 M. R. M — Give me the Masters' Sacred Word. 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot give it save in the presence of King 
 Solomon, Iliram and the King of Tyre. 
 
 M. R- M.— Give it to me? 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 M. R. M. — Give it to me, I say ? 
 
 Candidate. — I cannot. 
 
 Then the M.". 11.-. M.-. strikes him upon the forehead 
 with his stuffed maul, when two Brothers seize him and lay 
 him in a coffin, Avhicli had been concealed from the candi- 
 date's sight- A pall is spread over so as not to obstruct his 
 breathing, and the coffin removed to the corner of the Lodge, 
 at the 2d Surv's left hand. The small silver square is 
 removed from his arm and placed upon his breast, and a 
 branch of Acacia is placed to stand at the head, or thrown 
 upon the pall. In the mean lime all leave the Lodge, 
 except the officers, and after an apparent consultation they 
 also leave, having a care to shut the door. 
 
 In a few seconds the officers return and light the Lodge, 
 to the fullest extent. The M.-. R.*. M.-. goes to his seat. 
 
 M. R. M — {Rap,) Bro.-. Exp.-., will you ring the bell 
 that the workmen may be called from refreshment and rest. 
 
 The Expert rings the bell, which is placed between West 
 and South. The BB,*, come in, but instead of going to 
 their respective seats, they assemble in small groups at 
 various points and seem anxious to communicate something 
 mysterious to each other, soon the M. R. M. says : 
 
77 
 
 M. R. M. — Bro,'- Expert, the laborers have been called 
 to work and the hour is passed, and yet our Grand Master 
 has not appeared. 'Tis exceeding strange, and wo fear he 
 has been detained by some serious accident. Will you try 
 and ascertain the cause of his absence ? 
 
 The Expert leaves the altar, travels from East to South 
 and West, leaves the Lodge for a few seconds, returns to 
 the altar and says ; 
 
 Expert. — M.-. R.*., M:. after diligent search and inquiry 
 in every direction, I have only been enabled to learn this 
 much : 
 
 Our Grand il/aster was seen to enter the Temple at mid- 
 day, as was his custom, for devotion, but from that moment 
 all trace of him is lost- As I was cautiously returning, I 
 heard a voice at the South, which said : 
 
 2d SuRV. — Oh ! would to God that my throat had been 
 cut across and my tongue torn out by the roots, ere I had 
 been accessory to the death of so good a man as our Grand 
 Master, Hiram ! 
 
 Expert — Immediately hereafter I heard a voice in the 
 West, which said ; 
 
 1st SuRV. — Oh ! would to God that my heart had been 
 torn from my breast and thrown to beasts of prey, ere I had 
 conspired to take the life of so good a man as our Grand 
 Master, Hiram ! 
 
 Expert — And I heard a lamentable voice from the East, 
 which said : 
 
 M.*. R. '. M.'. — Oh ! great is my sorrow ! — Would to God 
 that my body had been severed into two parts, my bowels 
 torn out and burned, and the ashes scattered to the winds 
 of Heaven, ere I had given the fatal blow to our Grand 
 J/aster, Hiram ! 
 
78 
 
 Immediately eleven Brethern (if not convenient a less 
 number,) with the M.*. C-'. at their head, arrange them- 
 selves in a semi-circle about the steps at the East, with their 
 heads cast mournfully down, when the M-*. C/. says: 
 
 M. C. — M-*. 11.-. M.-., we can no longer withstand the 
 shame and remorse with which we are oppressed. We 
 have committed a grievous wrong and nrc heartily sorry. 
 As the Temple is near being finished, we wickedly and 
 foolishly conspired to possess ourselves by force of the 
 Master's secret, sign, words and grip, that we might here- 
 after enjoy the benefits and privileges of the mastership, 
 without being subjected to the rcquiremens and trials 
 exacted of candidates. Our better judgment prevailed, and 
 we withdrew from the horrible conspirac}^ aivl do now 
 humbly confess our great wrung. We fear that our Grand 
 il/aster has fallen a victim to our wicked designs at the 
 hands of three Fellow Crafts, who are now strangely absent. 
 
 if, R. M.— Who arc tliey ? 
 
 M. C. — Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum. 
 
 M. Pv, M — Our Grand il/aster has undoubtedl}^ been 
 murderel by them. Let justice have its full course with 
 them, As for us wo have a solemn duty to perform, in 
 searching for and paying the last snd honors to the lemains 
 of our beloved Grand if/aster. 
 
 The 31:. R.*. M.-. takes a position at the foot of the steps 
 to the East, with his face to the East; the 1st Surv.". takes 
 position at his left and the 2d Surv." at his right. The 
 M:. C*. arranges all the Brethren present in three columns, 
 behind the three oflicers, with their faces to the East. 
 
 M. R- M. — Bro.-. 2d Surv,*., proceed with your column 
 to the North and West and make diligent search. 
 
 The 2d Surv-*. leads his column to the left, passing by 
 
79 
 
 the head of the other columns, and when he reaches the 
 coffin, he picks up a sprig of Acacia and says : 
 
 2d SuRv. — Brothers, the earth has recently been dis- 
 turbed here, let us examine closely. 
 
 He raises a corner of the pall, takes the silver square, 
 measures the coflin from East to West, replaces the square 
 and pall, plants the bough of Acacia by the head, and 
 returns with the column- 
 
 2d SuRv — 31:. R... M.' , we have found a mound of 
 fresh earth not far hence, having the appearance of a stealthily 
 made grave, measuring full six feet from 'East to West, 
 where we planted an Acacia bough as a sign of recognition. 
 
 31. R. 31. — Bro.'. 1st Surv,'., hasten with your column 
 and make further observation regarding that mound- 
 
 The 1st Surv.'. leads his column to the right, goes to the 
 South, to the West, and then to the coffin, and says : 
 
 1st Surv. — Here is the Acacia, we will examine- 
 
 Raises a corner of the pall, measures from North to 
 South upon the coffin with the silver square; replaces it; 
 places a sprig of Acacia in the left hand of ih^ candidate ; 
 places his right hand across his breast so that a right angle 
 ma}^ be formed at the elbow, and between the thumb and 
 forefinger replaces the pall, and returns with his column by 
 the North, and takes his position at the M/. R.- M's,'. left 
 hand, and says : 
 
 1st Surv. — We found the spot marked by the Acacia, 
 and an excavation six feet from North to South ; exposed 
 a corpse, and presuming it to be that of our Grand Master, 
 Hiram Abif, we placed a branch of Acacia in his left hand 
 as a sign of recognition, 
 
 M. R- 31. — That is undoubtedly the corpse of our Grand 
 Master, let us put on our aprons and endeavor to raise it 
 
80 
 
 from its bed of violence. 
 
 The three columns start together, march to tlie right, ami 
 proceed from South to West, then to the coffin, marching 
 slowly twice around it. The M.-. ll.\ M--. standing at the 
 foot, takes the sprig of Acacia from tho candidate's hands, 
 and says : 
 
 M. R. M. — Behold the Acacia ! From death comes life 
 eternal ! This is a true sign our Grand Masters remains 
 lie smouldering herc- 
 
 Thc M/. Li.\ M.'. then removes the pall, and with the 
 silver square measures the depth of the coffin, and exclaims 
 
 M. R. M.— Six feet in depth. 
 
 He then examines the corpse, stands erect, raises both 
 hands, so as to form a right angle at the elbow, then inter- 
 laces the fingers of both hands, palms turned outwards, 
 passing the back of his hands against his forehead and 
 exclaims : 
 
 M. R. M. — Oh Lord ! Oh Lord ! {keeping the fingers 
 interlaced he will let the hands fall to the navel.) This is 
 indeed the corpse of our Grand Master. Let us try to lift 
 it out. 
 
 The 2d Surv.-., giving the candidate the Apprentice grip, 
 drops the candidate's hand, and says : 
 
 2d Surv. — Boaz ! the skin cleaves from the bones. 
 
 The 1st Surv.'- then gives the Fellow Craft grip, lets his 
 hand drop and says '. 
 
 1st Surv, — Jachin! The flesh is corrupted and putrified 
 to the bones. 
 
 M. R. M. — Hold, Brothers ! Do you not see that it is 
 only by united eiDforts that we can succeed ? 
 
 The 2d Surv.-. stands at the left, the 1st Surv--. at the 
 head, the M.-. R.-. M.-. at the right, and says ; 
 
81 
 
 M. R. M, — We will try the Master's grip. 
 
 Gives him the Master's grip. All seize hold and raise 
 him carefully from the coffin, the M/. R.-. M.'t exclaims : 
 
 M.R.M. — M ! this is the son of putrifaction 
 
 The M.-. R.-. M-'. gives him the five points thus: — places 
 his right foot and knee a,<,^ainst the Candidate's right foot 
 and knee, breast to breast, left hands embracing the person 
 over the right shoulder, mouth to ear. The M.*. R.*. M.-. 
 says to the Candidate : " I will now give you the sacred 
 word, it is never to be communicated except in this manner, 
 (gives him the word M.-.) These are called the five points of 
 perfection : Hand to hand means that we are bound to serve 
 each other; knee to knee that we profess one common 
 belief, the unity of God ; foot to foot that we will walk 
 together as Brethren in the path of truth and justice ; hand 
 to back that we will never revile a brother behind his back, 
 but rather support and defend him ; breast to breast that 
 we will preserve our secrets inviolate, lest in an unguarded 
 moment we betray the solemn trust confided to our honor,. 
 
 All resume their seats, the Mi». C«*. giving the candidate 
 a seat behind the altar. The M.-. R.*- M.». may then give 
 an account of the Egyptian mysteries. 
 
 M. Rs M. — In the Ancient mysteries of Isis, celebrated 
 by the Egyptians, the candidate to the Third Degree was 
 introduced into a hall ; over its door was written ; " These 
 are the Gates of Death." Coffins and mummies stood in 
 niches around the walls, and near the entrance a naked 
 recent corpse was lying. In the centre was the tomb of 
 Osiris, presenting many spots of fresh blood, indicative of a 
 violent death- The candidate was asked if he had partici- 
 pated in that murder- The many years which have elapsed 
 
 since the death of Osiris w^ould render the question absurd, 
 
 11 
 
82 
 
 unless asked in the sense of an allegory- The candidate 
 was then conducted to another hall, whore he met with the 
 initiated, all clotiied in funeral black- A crown was pre- 
 sented to him which he stamped beneath his feet, and all 
 exclaimed, -'Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance." The can- 
 didate was slightly struck ujiou the head with a sacrificial 
 ax; he was then seized and bandaged like a mummy, while 
 the spectator exhibited great sorrow and regret- When 
 thus clothed as for the grave, he was arraigned before a 
 dread tribunal, for the murder of Usiris, tried and acquitted. 
 On attaining his liberty, he was instructed in Egyptian 
 Geography and Astronomy. The sign of recognition con- 
 sisted in an embrace, which symbolized a belief in the res. 
 urrection of the dead and the reproduction of life by death. 
 We thus have a complete sketch of the Egyptian initiation, 
 and you will not fail to observe the close resemblance 
 between it and the one through which you have just passed- 
 Indeed, there can be no question that our ideas of Masonry 
 have come to us from the Egyptians. The legend has been 
 changed to the period of King Solomon- We do not know 
 whether it was done by him or at a more recent period- 
 He may have embodied in the legend circumstances con- 
 nected with the period of his reign, for the purpose of com. 
 memoration, as did Isis in honor of her slaughtered husband 
 Osiris. 
 
 The spirit and intent of the initiation is plainly derived 
 from the ancient Egyptian mysteries, and if it is indebted 
 to Solomon for its traditional historical readings, he certainly 
 could have had but one object in view in rendering it more 
 acceptable to his people by engrafting upon the original and 
 prevailing idea of the mystic art, ceremonies commemora- 
 tive of events which had proved most gratifying to the 
 
83 
 
 national pride of a people who believed themselves the 
 chosen of God. 
 
 In considering the more reasonable hypothesis, the ndop- 
 tion at a more recent period of the legend, founded upon 
 incidents recorded in Jewish history, and more particularly 
 concerning the erection of Solomon's Temple at Jeruzalem, 
 as given to us in the sacred writings, for the purpose of- 
 allaying the bitter persecutions by which the institution had 
 suffered most severely at the hands of the Papal power 
 which had yielded to the intolerance of a bigotry unsur- 
 passed in malignity. 
 
 No other rational suppositions have ever been presented 
 regarding the original adoption of the historical part of the 
 Third Degree, either of which precludes the very idea of 
 its original design for the propagation of any religious creed 
 whatsoever. It is thus that the Ancient and Accepted 
 Scotch Rite finds its peculiar mission to be the preservation, 
 in all its ancient integrity, of a purely philosophical institu- 
 tion, as handed down to us by our forefathers. 
 
 The Third Degree is plainly intended to remind us by 
 impressive ceremonies of the great law of our physical 
 being, that we must all pass through the gates of death in 
 our journeying to the higher life, and that all there is of 
 earth in our organization must return to its original ele- 
 ments, supplying nutriment and material for successive 
 generations of vegetable and animal organizations. Thus 
 much for its elucidation of physical law* It also tells of 
 our higher obligations. Love to God and love to fellow- 
 men. In the poor widow's son, born to the lowly condition 
 of a servant and subject, rising to an honorable association 
 with Kings, the wisest and most learned, we have an ex- 
 ample fraught with the beauty of simplicity, showing the 
 
84 
 
 reward which awaits honest, unpretending industry. When 
 admitted to the confidence of the two most mighty Kings 
 upon earth, Iliram, the personification of Truth, Fidelity 
 and Justice, was waylaid by Falsehood, Deceit and Violence 
 in the form of three assassins, Jubela, Jubelo and Jubclum 
 and although oast down and crushed to earth, Truth rises 
 triumphant by the five points of iierfection, and is cherished 
 through time by a brotherhood unsurpassed in all that is 
 honorable and true to manhood. We here see Truth, 
 Fidelity and Justice portrayed as the elements of love to 
 God and love to man, mode the chief corner stone in that 
 Temple, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 In the ceremonies you were struck upon the neck, heart 
 and head, the parts where the vital forces are most readily 
 reached, teaching us the necessity of exercising constant 
 restraint upon the tongue as the utterer of falsehood, upon 
 the heart as the source of deceit, the parent of falsehood, 
 and upon the head which gives direction and power to those 
 active enemies of Truth. 
 
 Your descent into a coflia and rising therefrom, marks 
 the great metamorphosis when all tliat is mortal of man 
 returns to mother earth, and the immortal soars to realms 
 unknown. So it becomes the^ Neophyte on being raised to 
 this degree to endeavor to force the crude materials of his 
 nature into subjection and to rise superior to the infirmities 
 of flesh and the world. 
 
 The Acacia which hung over your symbolic grave is an 
 emblem coeval with the institution of Freemasonry, and is 
 of unknown antiquit3\ 
 
 Some attribute its adoption as a funeral bough, in signi- 
 fication of the resurrection to Solomon. We read that the 
 disciples of Zoroaster had their mysteries bough; the 
 
85 
 
 Egyptians their Lotus ; the Eleusiaians their Myrtle, and 
 the Druids their Mistletoe. The Acacia was a well known 
 symbol among the Arabians of fraternity and alliance, and 
 has ever b6en so considered by the Mahomedans. There 
 is, therefore, little or no question but that the symbol 
 comes to us from the Masons of the desert, the Arabs. We 
 have other conclusive evidence of the signification of the 
 symbol in the circumstance that the *-sign of distress," the 
 "call for help" and the sprig of Acacia are made concomi- 
 tant and appeal to Fraternal Alliance, disconnected from 
 allusion to death on a future state- 
 
 Bro.-. M.'. C..', permit our brother to resume his dress. 
 
 The M,-. C.'. will lead the candidate out and return as 
 soon as possible, present him to the 1st Surv--. who will 
 cause him to reach as a Fellow Craft as far as the altar. 
 The M.". R.-. M.'. then applies the point of the Compasses 
 to the Candidate's breast, giving five raps upon the point 
 with his gavel, saying : 
 
 M. R. M — Learn so to control the feelings of your heart, 
 and restrain the evil passions as to be most hurtful to man- 
 kind and to yourself 
 
 Extending the sword over his head, sa3^s : 
 
 In the name of the G.\ A- . 0:. T.' U.-., under authority 
 of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted 
 Scotch Rite of Freemasonry, in and for the Sovereign and 
 Independent State of Louisiana, and by virtue of powers 
 on me conferred, I do hereby make and constitute ycu a 
 Master Mason, and declare you an active member of Hhe 
 R.*. Lodge, (name and number.) 
 
 The M.'. R.'. M.'. then gives seven raps with his gavel 
 upon the blade of his sword, and resumes his seat. 
 
 M. R. M — Bro.'. M/. C."., please conduct brother (name,) 
 
86 
 
 to the East for secret instructions. 
 
 The M.'. C/. gives the candidate a seat near the 2d 
 Surv.-,, and the M.'. K-'. M."- standing near, says : 
 
 M. R. M. — When you Avish to enter a 3/aster J/ason's 
 Lodge you must rap thus, [shows liim.) The Inside Senti- 
 nel will return the rap, open the wicket and ask you the 
 " word of pass" which you will divide witli him thus, {telh 
 him tJie U'ord and h(,ic to \^ixc. it.) When admitted you 
 will approach the altar on these steps, [shows him how to 
 execute the Master's stcj)s-) Tiicy indicate the respect due 
 to graves. You will then i^ive the il/aster's sign to the 
 Fi'dst thus, [shows him ;) face to the left and repeat to the 
 1st ISurv.-., face about to the right and i:ivc the same sign 
 to the 2d Surv,-. and take a seat near to the balustrade. 
 
 The grip was given with the five points of perfection. 
 
 The sign of distress must be given only in case of ex- 
 treme peril ; this is it, [shoivs him.) 
 
 The battery is given thus, and your iige as a il/aster 
 
 years. When asked by a competent person "If 
 
 you are a Master Mason?" — you will answer, — " the 
 
 is known to me." 
 
 The Compasses and the carpenter's plane arc implements 
 peculiar to this degree- The i)lane indicates to the accom- 
 plished workman that constant cllbrts are required in 
 removing the asperities of lite, that he may be the better 
 prepared to reciprocate the amenities of social and ])rofes 
 sional intercourse, thereby reflecting honor upon himself and 
 upon his fraternal associates. 
 
 Bro.-. M.'. C.'., please conduct Brother, (name,) to the 
 West for examination in our secret instructions. 
 
 The 1st Surv.'. examines the candidate regarding the 
 sign, words, grip and steps- 
 
87 
 
 1st SuRV. — M.-. R.-. M.\, the instructions are correct. 
 
 M. R. M.— Bro.-. M.-. C'-, please give Bro.* a seat 
 
 in the East, and make the usual proclamation. 
 
 M. C — Be it known to all within the Union Cord, that 
 Bro •. has been raised to the Master Mason's degree in ac- 
 cordance with the customs and statutes of the Ancient and 
 Accepted Scotch Rite of Freemasonry, and admitted as an 
 active member of the R--- Lodge, (name and number,) in 
 
 the city of -, under the authority of the Supreme 
 
 Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 
 33d Degree, for the State of Louisiana, and ithe Fraternity 
 is invited to receive and protect him accordingly. 
 
 The concluding ceremonies are similar to those in the 
 preceeding^egrees. Each degree has its peculiar sign and 
 battery. TJIffLodge mnst be closed in the 3d, then in the 
 2d and finally in the 1st Degree. 
 
LECTURE ON THE THIRD DEGREE. 
 
 .^I. }\. !M. — M.-. Veil.-. Bro.-. 1st Surv.-., are yoa a Master Mason? 
 
 M. y. 1st Surv. — M/. I'csp.'. M.-., I am, try inf". tlic Acacia is known 
 to uic. 
 
 Q. — W'liat docs the Acacia syiubolize i* 
 
 A. — The Acacia by its nature is a symbol of Fieomasonry; as a vood 
 it is incorruptible; — by its bark, it presents an impenetrable shield to all 
 mischievous insects, r.nd by its leaves, which inclosed during the night 
 and before sun rising, are again opened whilst the sun conies nearer to 
 Zenith. 
 
 So with Frecmasoor}-. It cannot be perverted by preposterous innova- 
 tions; it offers an indestructible barrier to intolcran^^fanaticism and 
 tyranny; and its disciples, blindfolded in the first degrc7, come nearer to 
 the great light, whilst they proceed to the Eighteenth and Thirtieth 
 Degrees. 
 
 Q. — Where were you initiated to the Degree of Master Mason. 
 
 A. — In the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holy of Holies. 
 
 Q. — What did you see on entering? 
 
 A. — Mourning and consternation, in rcmcnibrance of a sad and calami- 
 tous event. 
 
 Q. — What was that event ? 
 
 A. — The death of the Master, Hiram Abif, wlio had been murdered 
 by three companions. 
 
 Q. — Is that murder a real and true fact ? 
 
 A — It is viewed by Scotch Freema.sons as a legend. 
 
 Q. — What is the meaning cf such a fiction ? 
 
 A. — Hiram Abif represents Justice and Truth ; and the three com- 
 panions, Jubcla, Jubclo and Jubeluni, — Ignorance, Hypocrisy and 
 Ambition. 
 
 Q. — How were you then disposed of ? 
 
89 
 
 A. — Bro.-. Expert took me by a coffin and requested me to saywhether 
 I had participated in the death of the person, there lying. 
 
 Q. — What did you answer ? 
 
 A. — I answered, no. 
 
 Q. — What was the meaning of such a question, and of the sight 
 offered to your eyes ? 
 
 A. — To impress on my mind that no man has the right to make an 
 attempt upon the life of his fellow-beings, and that in the third degree 
 mysteries of death should be fully illustrated and explained. 
 
 Q. — What next was made to you ? 
 
 A. — I had to make three voyages. 
 
 Q. — What is the philosophical or symbolic meaning of these three 
 voyages ? 
 
 A. — That there are three distinct periods in the human life — Youth, 
 Manhood and Senility. During the first period we are all apprentices 
 and know very little; — during the second, man becomes the companion of 
 all reasonable beings, made by the Grand Architect of the Universe after 
 his own image; — and finally during the third, man is the great Master of 
 Life, since he knows all its sufferings and pleasures, and being taught by 
 experience he fully understands the necessity and reasons of death, 
 
 Q — How were you disposed of after these three voyages ? 
 
 A. — I was requested to take the sjlemn obligation of the Master 
 Mason. 
 
 Q. — Can you give me a proof that you remember your promise ? 
 
 A. — I can, by giving yon the sign of the Third Degree. 
 
 Q.— Give it. 
 
 Q, — (He gives the sign.) 
 
 Q — What does it mean ? 
 
 A. — That I should rather have my body severed in two than to violate 
 
 the promise I made not only to keep silent about all secrets of the Third 
 
 Degree, but also never to harm or injure the wife, daughter, sister or 
 
 mother of a brother Mason. 
 
 Q. — Do you know another sign ? 
 
 12 
 
90 
 
 A.— I do. 
 Q.— What is it ? 
 
 A.. — The sign of horror, vrhich was made when the pall, thrown over 
 the corpse of Hiram Abif, was taken away. 
 Q.— Make it. 
 A- — (The sign is made.) 
 
 Q —What is the pass word of the Third Degree ? 
 A. — (The pas.s word is given.) 
 Q. — What is the sacred word ? 
 
 A — I am ready to give it in a proper way. I have first to give the 
 five points of perfection. 
 
 Q. — What are the five point» of perfection ? 
 
 A. — Hand to Hand, to show that we are united as two brothers — Foot 
 to Foot, to indicate that, whatever may be the distance separating two 
 Freemasons, they are bound to run to the assistance of each other — Knee 
 to Knee, to remember us that we have a common creed, the belief in a 
 Grand Architect of the Universe, and furthermore, should we kneel 
 before God, we never kneel as Freemasons in presence of any man — Breast 
 to Breast, that we ought to bury in our bosom all secrets instructed to us 
 by a brother — Left hand on the right shoulder, that it is our duty never to 
 permit a brother to be slandered when absent, and that, on the contrary, 
 we ought to defend and protect his reputation. 
 Q. — What is your age as a Master Mason ? 
 
 A. — Seven years and more. Seven because that number is required 
 to have a just and perfect Lodge ; and more, because I am now familiar 
 with all secrets and mysteries of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite 
 of Freemasonry. 
 
 Q. — Should your life be in a great danger what should you do ? 
 A. — The sign of distress. 
 Q.— Give it. 
 
 Q. — The sign of distress is given with the words "To me, the 
 Widow's sous I" 
 
FUNEUAL SEKVICE 
 
 Lodge room liung in black, skulls, cross bones, tears, flowers, etc. 
 
 Coffiu in the centre. If he was a Master the feet are turned to the 
 South; if a 11.-. f feet are to the West. His jewels, apron and tools are 
 placed symmetrically ou the Coffin. 
 
 EMBLEMS ON THE CENOTAPH. 
 
 1. All seeing eye, surrounded by a serpent; 2. Skull from which 
 butterfly seems to take its flight , 3, A reversed torch held by an 
 Angel. 
 
 OTHER EMBLEMS. 
 
 1. A tripod of burning flame; 2. A basket of flowers ; 3. The banner 
 of the Lodge, hung or covered with crape. 
 
 OTHER EMBLEMS ON THE ALTAR. 
 
 1. A pot of incense; 2. Vase of water; 3. Vase of wine; 4. Vase 
 of milk. 
 
 CEREMONIES. 
 
 The Ven.-. M.*. opens the Lodge in the usual form, except the Battery 
 which is muffled and accompanied by the words — Mourn ! Mourn ! 
 Mourn ! 
 
• 92 
 
 The visitors ore tbcu admitted. The Yen.-. M.\ pronounces a dis- 
 course relative to the occasion, the ceremony and the merits of the 
 deceased. 
 
 Yes. M. — Bro'-. IstSurv.-., where is our Brother N y 
 
 A. — He wanders iu darkness. 
 
 M. — Can we withdraw him from that darkness? 
 
 A — The regions to wliich lie has gone are unknown to us. 
 
 M. — Will he not be restored to light ? 
 
 A. — The Grand Architect of the Universe towards whom his soul has 
 taken its flight, and by whom alone it is guided, will lead him to the 
 Temple of eternal Light and Truth. 
 
 M. — What is our duty towards the mortal remains of our Brother ? 
 
 A. — Hjs body is due to the earth, from which it was taken, and unto 
 the earth, passively and reverently, must we restore it, couliding in the 
 wisdom and mercy of the G.-. A.-. 
 
 M. — Have wc then lost our Brother forever? 
 
 A. — llis visible body loaves us, but bis name, his memory and his mind 
 will be with us, time without end. 
 
 M. — Bro.-. Secrc/ary, inscribe ou the record of this 11.-. Lodge that on 
 
 the day of A. D. N.-. returned unto his Creator, and 
 
 that with due respect hi.s brothers have consigned his body to the grave. 
 
 M.— Bro.-. 1st Surv.-., what marks of honor do we owe our deceased 
 Brother before consigning his body to the grave ? 
 
 A. «—The symbols of Faith in his regeneration, which arc the llowers 
 we place on the altar. 
 
 The symbol of Strength by the libation of Wine. 
 
 The symbol of Truth aud Purity by the Water of Purification. 
 
 The syuibol of Imw. vr Amity by the offering of 3Iilk. 
 
 The symbol of Memorial Piety by burning Incense on the Altar. 
 
 M. — ( ! '. !...and all the BB.-. rise. Let us pray. 
 
 Oh ! Thou, Grand Architect of the U.-., light of life, in Thee do all 
 things live and move and have their being. Material light and darkness 
 unto Thee are alike, for Thou knowest not oaly the secrets of life, but 
 
93 # 
 
 also those of death. We rely on Thy infinite and eternal presence. 
 May our Bro.-. N.-. be with Thee as he was with us, ajid may his death 
 teach us to prepare ourselves to join him in the midst of the host of 
 immortal souls which dwell with Thee and behold Thy face. Amen 
 Amen ! Amen ! 
 
 Yen.-. 31.-. descends, and after lighting the flame in the tripod, says: 
 
 Sovereign Arbiter of Nature, Thou hast, iu Thy wisdom, caused the 
 cud on earth of our brother, and Thou hast put a term to all of his mis- 
 fortunes and sufferings. Thou hast delivered him from oppression and 
 hast consoled his virtue. Thine infinite power and wisdom hath disposed 
 all things so that nothing doth perish, and so that our souls cannot be 
 annihilated any more than the matter in which they dwell on earth. We 
 thank Thee, fervently, for the conscientiousness of the great and consoling 
 truth which Thou hast made so evident, that we may calmly see the 
 approach of death, and hope while wc look upon this Coffin. 
 
 The Yen.-. M.-. takes a candle, and says: 
 
 Bro.*. X.-., thy brethren call thee, answer us ! 
 
 (After the call the Yen.-. M.-. extinguishes the light.) This is re- 
 peated several times. 
 
 M. — Our brother is deaf to our voices. As the flame of this candle 
 he was full of life, and like unto it he gave forth light among us, but a 
 breath has extinguished it, and his light has gone to the source of all 
 thought. In vain do we call him, Let us, therefore, proceed to render 
 a final homage unto our brother, and may he, in the regions where now 
 he dwells, be aware of our affectionate sentiments and sorrowing accents. 
 
 Master and Officrra cast flowers on the Coffin, and Master says : 
 
 Though the sombre emblems of death hang upon these walls and sur- 
 round this Coffin, though we weep, this departed brother and behold the 
 decomposition of his body, let these flowers, which we cast upon his 
 grave, remind us that in the bosom of destruction regeneration begins, 
 that from death springeth life anew; that life is but a journey in the 
 midst of eternity; and he who hath lived well has nothing to fear. 
 
 Master and Officers make libation of TFi'ne, and Master says : 
 
• 94 
 « 
 
 May the strength which sprung unto form and body, out of vegetable 
 matter, follow and return with our brother unto the Grand Architect of 
 the Universe, and continue to serve the purposes of omnipotence. 
 
 Master and Oj^iccrs pour out Water, and Master sat/s: 
 
 May truth of spirit and purity of conscience justify this brother before 
 the all seeing eye, and may he stand approved by 'the Grand Architect 
 who gave him this body to serve the designs of infinite wisdom. 
 
 Master and Officers pour out Milk. 
 
 M. — May the kindness of heart, our departed brother displayed to all 
 men, the charity of hb life, give him a title to the boundless mercy and 
 love of the father of all. 
 
 Master and Officers hum Incense. 
 
 M. — May the soul of our brother ascend to the throne of God as the 
 sweet perfumes of this incense rise to this dome or roof, and may the 
 Grand Architect receive him in the Grand Lodge of Heaven, where 
 none but the just can be admitted. 
 
 M. — Brethren, the moment has arrived when we must follow our re- 
 gretted brother to the last abode of the body, but dispair not, as do those 
 who confound their existence with that of the beasts who perish in dis- 
 solution, for the mind of man, which is the image and breath of God 
 himself, is one and indissoluble. 
 
 The procession is formed. 
 
 Arrived at the grave the Master or Orator makes an appropriate ex- 
 hortation. 
 
 The Master closes the tomb while the brethren cast branches of Acacia 
 or evergreen jnto it or upon it. 
 
 When the tomb has been closed the members return to the Lodge, and 
 it is closed. 
 
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY. 
 
 LOUIS DUFAU, 33d, 
 
 Grand Secretary, 
 
vji 
 
pH8.5