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Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor
by Malcom C. Duncan, 1866
MASTER MASON, OR THIRD DEGREE
Warden three raps, and the Worshipful Master three raps. The Master so times his reading of the passage of Scripture, as to finish just as the parties reach the Junior Warden's station in the south, on the third round, when they halt.
J. W.--Who comes here?
Conductor (S. D.)--Brother Gabe, who has been regularly initiated Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and now wishes to receive further light in Masonry, by being raised to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
J. W.--Brother Gabe, is it of your own free-will and accord?
Candidate--It is.
J. W.--Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
S. D.--He is.
J. W.--Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding Degrees?
S. D.--He has.
J. W.--And properly vouched for?
S. D.--He is.
J. W.--Who vouches for him?
S. D.--A brother.
J. W.--By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
S. D.--By the benefit of the password.
J. W.--Has he the password?
S. D.--He has it not, but I have it for him.
J. W.--Advance and give the password.
Senior Deacon steps forward, and whispers in the Warden's ear, "Tubal Cain."
J. W.--The password is right. I will suffer you to pass on to the Senior Warden's station in the west, for his examination.
Senior Deacon passes on to the west, where the same questions are asked and answered as before, and the Senior Warden suffers them to pass on to the Worshipful Master in the east, where the same questions and answers are repeated.
W. M.--From whence came you, and whither are you travelling?
S. D.--From the west, travelling toward the east.
W. M.--Why leave you the west, and travel toward the east!
S. D--In search of further light in Masonry.
W. M.--Since that is the object of your search, you will reconduct this candidate to the Senior Warden in the west, with my orders that he be taught to approach the east, the place of further light in Masonry, by three upright, regular steps, his body erect at the altar before the Worshipful Master in the east.
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The Senior Deacon then conducts the candidate to the Senior Warden in the west, and reports:
S. D.--Brother Senior Warden, it is the orders of the Worshipful Master that you teach this candidate to approach the east, the place of further light in Masonry, by three upright, regular steps, his body erect at the altar before the Worshipful Master in the east.
The Senior Warden approaches the candidate, faces him toward the east (i.e. towards the Master), and says:
Brother, you will step off with your left foot one full step, and bring the heel of your right in the hollow of your left foot; now step off with your right foot, and bring the heel of your left in the hollow of your right foot; now step off with your left foot, and bring both heels together. (See Fig. 14.)
FIG. 14. FIRST THREE STEPS IN MASONRY.
S. W.--The candidate is in order, Worshipful, and awaits your further will and pleasure.
W. M.--You will cause him to kneel on his naked knees, both hands resting on the Holy Bible, square, and compasses.
W. M.--Brother Gabe, you are kneeling, for the third time, at the altar of Masonry, to take upon yourself the solemn oath of a Master Mason; and I, as Master of this Lodge, take pleasure, as on former occasions, in informing you that there is nothing in it which will interfere with the duty you owe to your God, your neighbor, your country, or self. Are you willing to take the oath?
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FIG. 15. CANDIDATE TAKING THE OATH OF A MASTER MASON.
(left to right: Worshipful Master Altar, Candidate. Conductor.)
"Kneeling on both my naked knees, both hands resting on the Holy Bible, square, and compasses."
Candidate--I am.
W. M.--You will repeat your name, and say after me:
"I, Peter Gabe (Master gives three raps with his gavel, when all present assemble round the altar), of my own free-will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful Lodge, erected to him and dedicated to the holy Sts. John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets, arts, parts, point or points, of the Master Masons' Degree, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother of this Degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Master Masons, nor unto him, or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself.
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"I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by all laws, rules, and regulations of the Master Masons' Degree, and of the Lodge of which I may hereafter become a member, as far as the same shall come to my knowledge; and that I will ever maintain and support the constitution, laws, and edicts of the Grand Lodge under which the same shall be holden.
"Further, that I will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summonses sent to me from a Master Masons' Lodge, or given me by a brother of that Degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.
"Further, that I will always aid and assist all poor, distressed, worthy Master Masons, their widows and orphans, knowing them to be such, as far as their necessities may require, and my ability permit, without material injury to myself and family.
"Further, that I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted.
"Further, that I will not aid, nor be present at, the initiation, passing, or raising of a woman, an old man in his dotage, a young man in his nonage, an atheist, a madman, or fool, knowing them to be such.
"Further, that I will not sit in a Lodge of clandestine-made Masons, nor converse on the subject of Masonry with a clandestine-made Mason, nor one who has been expelled or suspended from a Lodge, while under that sentence, knowing him or them to be such.
"Further, I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a Master Mason's Lodge, nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may ward off all danger.
"Further, that I will not knowingly strike a brother Master Mason, or otherwise do him personal violence in anger, except in the necessary defence of my family or property.
"Further, that I will not have illegal carnal intercourse with a Master Mason's wife, his mother, sister, or daughter, nor suffer the same to be done by others, if in my power to prevent.
"Further, that I will not give the Grand Masonic word, in any other manner or form than that in which I shall receive it, and then in a low breath.
"Further, that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress, except in case of the most imminent danger, in a just and lawful Lodge, or for the benefit of instruction; and if ever I should see it given, or hear the words accompanying it, by a worthy brother in distress, I will fly to his relief, if there is a greater probability of saving his life than losing my own.
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"All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steady resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind what-ever, binding myself, under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two, 1 my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly, violate this my Master Mason's obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."
W. M.--You will detach your hands and kiss the book. In your present condition, what do you most desire?
Candidate (prompted by conductor.)--Further light in Masonry.
W. M.--Let him receive further light.
Conductor here takes off the hoodwink and removes the cable-tow, and all around the altar place their hands in the position of the duegard of a Master Mason. (See Fig. 5, p. 17.) The Worshipful Master gives one rap with his gavel, when all the brethren retire to their seats, leaving at the altar the Master, conductor, and candidate.
W. M.--Brother Gabe, on receiving further light, you perceive more than you have heretofore. Both points of the compasses are elevated above the square, which is to teach you never to lose sight of those truly Masonic virtues, which are friendship, morality, and brotherly love.
The Master now steps back about three paces from the altar, and says.
Brother Gabe, you discover me approaching you from the east, under the duegard (some say--step, duegard, and sign) of a Master Mason; and, in token of the further continuance of my brotherly love and favor, I present. you with my right hand, and with it the pass and token of the pass of a Master Mason.
Takes the candidate by the "real grip" of a Fellow Craft, and says.
Your conductor will answer for you.
W. M.--Will you be off or from?
Conductor--From.
W. M.--From what and to what?
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Conductor--From the "real grip" of a Fellow Craft to the pass grip of a Master Mason.
FIG. 16. PASS GRIP OF A MASTER MASON.
W. M.--Pass.
Conductor here instructs candidate to pass his thumb from the second joint to space beyond, which is the second space.
W. M. (looking conductor in the eye.)--What is that?
Conductor--The pass grip of a Master Mason.
W. M.--Has it a name?
Conductor--It has.
W. M.--Will you give it me?
Conductor--I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.
W. M.--How will you dispose of it?
Conductor--I will letter it or halve it.
W. M.--Halve it, and begin.
Conductor--No, you begin.
W. M.--Begin you.
Conductor--Tu.
W. M.--Bal.
Conductor--Cain. (Pronounced by the conductor--Tubal Cain.) 1
W. M. (lifting the candidate up.)--You will arise, and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens as an obligated Master Mason.
Here Lodges differ in their mode of work; some only pass the candidate around the Lodge once, and as he passes the Junior and Senior Wardens he gives the Master's sign. (See Fig. 6, p. 18.) The Master should instruct the candidate (and he generally does) how to make the signs before he gets up from the altar, after taking the obligation.
The following appears to be the proper way:--After the candidate gets up from the altar, the conductor should lead him from the altar direct to the Junior Warden's station in the south,
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and give three raps on the floor with his rod, the Junior Warden responding by three raps with his gavel.
J. W.--Who comes here?
Conductor--Brother Gabe, an obligated Master Mason.
J. W.--How shall I know him to be such?
Conductor--By the pass and token of the pass of a Master Mason.
J. W. (offering his hand to candidate.)--Advance the token. (They take hold of each other's hands by the real grip of a Fellow Craft. See real grip of a Fellow Craft, Fig. 12, p. 67.)
J. W.--Will you be off, or from?
Conductor (for candidate.)--From.
J. W.--From what, and to what?
Conductor--From the real grip of a Fellow Craft to the pass grip of a Master Mason.
J. W.--Pass. (They now pass to the pass grip of a Master Mason. (See Fig. 16, p. 97.)
J. W.--What is that?
Conductor--The pass grip of a Master Mason.
J. W.--Has it a name?
Conductor--It has.
J. W.--Will you give it me?
Conductor--I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.
J. W.--How will you dispose of it?
Conductor--I will letter or halve it.
J. W.--Halve it, and begin.
Conductor--No, you begin.
J. W.--Begin you.
Conductor--Tu.
J. W.--Bal.
Conductor--Cain. (Pronounced by conductor--Tubal Cain.)
J. W.--The token is right, and the pass is right. You will pass on to the Senior Warden's station in the west, for his examination.
