Masonry 1st Degree Section 3
What is a Lodge?
A certain number of Masons, duly assembled, with the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, and Charter or Warrant, empowering them to work.
Where did our ancient brethren usually meet?
On a high hill or a low vale.
Why so?
A. The better to detect the approach of co wans and eavesdroppers either ascending or descending.
What is the form of a Lodge?
An oblong.
How long?
From East to West.
How broad?
From North to South,
How high?
From earth to the heavens.
How deep?
From surface to the center.
Why is it of such vast dimensions?
To show the universality of Masonry and that Masonic charity should be equally extensive.
What supports this Grand Fabric?
Three pillars.
What are they called?
Wisdom, strength, and beauty.
Why are they so called?
Because it is necessary that there should be Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings.
By whom are they represented?
By the worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens.
How do they represent them?
The Worshipful Master represents the pillar of Wisdom, it being supposed that he has wisdom to open his Lodge, set the craft to work and give the proper instructions. The Senior Warden represents the pillar of strength, it being his duty to assist the Worshipful Master in opening and closing his Lodge; to pay the craft their wages if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength and support of all societies, more especially our own. The Junior Warden represents the pillar of Beauty, it being his duty to observe the sun at its 1meridian height, which is the glory and beauty of the day.
What covering has a Lodge?
A clouded canopy or star decked heavens, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive, by the aid of the theological ladder which Jacob in his vision saw ascending from earth to heaven, the three principal rungs of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity; and which admonish us to have faith in God, Hope in Immortality and Charity to all mankind.
Which of these is the principal?
The third, charity.
Why so?
Because our faith may be lost in sight, hope ends in fruition, but charity extends beyond the grave, through the boundless realms of eternity.
What furniture has a Lodge?
The Holy Bible (Volume of the Sacred Law), Square, and Compasses
To whom are they dedicated?
The Holy Bible points out the path leads to happiness and is dedicated to God; the Square teaches us to regulate our conduct by the principals of morality and virtue, and is dedicated to the Master, the compasses teach us to limit our desires in every station and is dedicated to the craft.
Why are they thus disposed?
The Bible is dedicated to the service of God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man, and on it we obligate a newly admitted brother, the Square to the Master, because being proper emblem of his office, it is constantly to remind him of the duty he owes to the Lodge over which he is appointed to preside; and the Compasses to the craft, because, by a due attention to its use, they are taught to regulate their desire and keep their passions within due bounds.
What are they?
The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the grand floor of King Solomon's Temple, the Indented Tassel, that beautiful teaseled border or skirting which surrounded it; and the Blazing Star, in the center, is commemorative of the star which appeared to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Savior's nativity.
How many lights has a Lodge?
Three.
How are they situated?
East, West, and South.
None in the North?
None.
Why not?
Because of the situation of King Solomon's Temple, it being situated so far North of the ecliptic that the sun or moon at their meridian height could dart no rays in the northern part of it, and so we Masonically term the North a place of darkness.
How many jewels has a Lodge?
Six: Three Movable and Three Immovable.
What are three Immovable Jewels?
A Square, Level, and a Plumb.
What so they Masonically teach us?
The Square teaches morality, the Level equality, and the Plumb rectitude of life.
What are the movable Jewels?
The Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar, and the Trestle-board.
What are they?
The Rough Ashlar is a stone taken fron1 the quarry in its rude and natural state. The Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workman to be adjusted by the tools of the fellow craft. The Trestle-board is for the Master workman to draw his designs upon.
Of what do they remind us?
By the Rough Ashlar we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature, by the Perfect Ashlar, that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God; and the Trestle-Board we are reminded that as the operative workman erects his temporal building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Master on his Trestle- Board, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and design laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe in the Book of Life, which is our spiritual trestle-board.
How should a Lodge be situated?
Due East and West.
Why so?
Because that was the situation of King Solomon's Temple.
Why was l(ing Solomon's Temple so situated?
Because after Moses had safely conducted the children if Israel through the Red Sea, when pursued by Pharaoh and his hosts, he then, by divine com1nand, erected a tabernacle and set it due East and West, in order to perpetuate the remembrance of the mighty East wind by which their miraculous deliverance was wrought, and also to receive the rays of the rising sun; and as the tabernacle was an exact model of King Solomon's Temple, therefore all Lodges should situated due East and West.
To whom were Lodges anciently dedicated?
To King Solomon.
Why so?
Because he was our first Most Excellent Grand Master.
To whom are they dedicated in modern times?
To St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, who were en1inent patrons of Masonry; and since their time there is represented in every regular and well-governed Lodge a certain Point within a Circle; the Point representing an individual brother, the Circle representing the boundary line of his duties to God and Man, beyond which he is never to suffer his passions, prejudices, or interests to betray him on any occasion. This Circle is embordered by two perpendicular parallel lines in Christianity as well as Masonry; and upon the vertex rests the book of Holy Scriptures, which points out the whole duty of Man. In going around this circle we necessarily touch upon these two lines, as well as upon the Holy Scriptures; and while a Mason keeps himself thus circumscribed, it is impossible that he should materially err.
What are the tenants of your profession?
Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. By the exercises of brotherly love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one fmnily, the high and low, the rich and poor, who as created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support and protect each other. On this principle, Masonry unites men of every country, sect, and opinion, and conciliates true friendship mnong those who 1night otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance.
To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to sy1npathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the grand ain1 we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections.
Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this theme we contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct. Hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us and, sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us, and the heart and tongue join in pron1oting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each other's prosperity.
Brother, you informed me that I should know you by certain signs, a token, a word, and the perfect points of your entrance. You have given me signs, a token, and a word. I now require you to explain to me the perfect points of your entrance. How many and what are they?
They are four, the Guttural, the Pectoral, the Manual, and the Pedestal, which allude to the four cardinal virtues, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice. Temperance is that due restraint upon our affections and passions
r which renders the body tame and governable and frees the mind f 01n the allurements of vice. This virtue should be constant practice of every Mason, as he is thereby taught to avoid excess, or contracting any licentious or vicious habits, the indulgence of which might lead him to disclose some of those evaluable secrets which he has promised to conceal and never reveal, and which would consequently subject him to contempt and detestation of all good Masons, as well as to the penalty of his obligation, which alludes to the Guttural. Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril, or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient. This virtue is equally fr01n rashness and cowardice; and like the former, should be deeply impressed upon the mind of every Mason, as a safeguard or security against any illegal attack that n1ight be made by force or otherwise, to extort from him any of those secrets with which he has been so solemnly entrusted; and which was en1blematically represented upon his first admission into the Lodge, where he was received on the point of a sharp instrument at his naked left breast, which alludes to the Pectoral. Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of our reason and is that habit by which we wisely judge and prudentially determine on all things relative to our present as well as to our future happiness. This virtue should be the peculiar characteristic of every Mason, not only for the government of his conduct while in the Lodge, but also when abroad in the world. It should be particularly attended to in all strange and mixed companies, never to let the least sign, token, or word whereby the secrets of Masonry 1night be unlawfully obtained: especially bearing in mind that memorable period when on his left knee bare bent, his right forming a square, his left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Co1npasses, his right resting thereon, which alludes to the Manual. Justice is that standard or boundary of right which enables us to render to every man his just due without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent with Divine and human laws, but is the very ce1nent and support of civil society; and as justice in a great measure constitutes the real good man, so should it be the invariable practice of every Mason never to deviate from the minutest principles thereof, ever remembering the time when he was placed in the Northeast corner of the Lodge, his feet forming a right angle, which alludes to the Pedestal.
How did Entered Apprentice serve their Master in former times, and how should they in modern times?
With freedom, fervency, and zeal.
How are they represented?
By chalk, charcoal, and clay.
Why do they represent them?
Because there is nothing more freer than chalk, which upon the slightest touch, leaves a trace behind, nothing 1nore fervent that Charcoal to which, when properly lightened, the most obdurate metal will yield; nothing more zealous than Clay, or mother earth, which is constantly employed for man's use, and is an emblem to remind him that as from it we came, so to it we must return.