Master_Mason

MASTER MASON DEGREE

CLOSING THE LODGE

WM: *. Brother Senior Warden.

SW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Have you anything to bring before the Lodge

before I proceed to close?

SW: Nothing in the West.

WM: And in the South, Brother Junior Warden?

JW: (S) Nothing in the South.

WM: Has any Brother anything to bring before the

Lodge before I proceed to close?

WM: *. Brother Junior Deacon.

JD: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: The last as well as the first great care of Masons

when convened?

JD: To see that they are duly tyled.

WM: Attend to that duty and inform the Tyler that I am

about to close this Lodge of Master Masons, and

direct him to tyle accordingly.

JD: * * *. Brother Tyler, I am directed to inform you

that the Worshipful Master is about to close this

Lodge of Master Masons. Take due notice

thereof and govern yourself accordingly.

JD: * * *.

Tyl: * * *.

JD: (S) Worshipful Master, we are duly tyled.

WM: How are we tyled?

JD: By a Brother Master Mason without, armed with

the proper implement of his office.

WM: His duty there?

JD: To observe the approach of cowans and

eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pass or re-pass

except such as are duly qualified and have

permission from the Worshipful Master.

WM: *. Brother Senior Warden.

SW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Are you a Master Mason?

SW: I am.

WM: What induced you to become a Master Mason?

SW: That I might obtain the Master’s Word, travel in

foreign countries, work and receive Master’s

wages, and be thereby better enabled to support

myself and family, and contribute to the relief of

distressed worthy Master Masons, their widows

and orphans.

WM: What makes you a Master Mason?

SW: My Obligation.

WM: Where were you made a Master Mason?

SW: Within the body of a just and duly constituted

Lodge of Master Masons, assembled in a place

representing the Sanctum Sanctorum of King

Solomon’s Temple.

WM: How many compose a Master Masons Lodge?

SW: Three or more.

WM: When composed of five, of whom does it consist?

SW: The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior

Wardens, Senior and Junior Deacons.

WM: Brother Senior Warden, the Junior Deacon’s

place in the Lodge?

SW: At my right.

WM: * *. Brother Junior Deacon.

JD: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Your duty?

JD: To carry messages from the Senior Warden in

the West to the Junior Warden in the South, and

elsewhere about the Lodge as he may direct;

attend the alarms at the outer door and report the

same to the Worshipful Master; also to see that

we are duly tyled.

WM: The Senior Deacon’s place?

JD: At the right of the Worshipful Master in the East.

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.

SD: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Your duty?

SD: To carry orders from the Worshipful Master in

the East to the Senior Warden in the West, and

elsewhere about the Lodge as he may direct;

welcome and clothe visiting Brethren, attend the

alarms at the inner door, also to receive and

conduct candidates.

WM: The Junior Warden’s station?

SD: In the South.

WM: Brother Junior Warden.

JW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Your duty in the South?

JW: To observe the sun at meridian, which is the glory

and beauty of the day; call the Craft from labor

to refreshment, superintend them during the hours

thereof, carefully to observe that the means of

refreshment are not perverted to intemperance

or excess, and see that they return to their labor

in due season, that the Worshipful Master may

receive honor, and they pleasure and profit

thereby.

WM: The Senior Warden’s station?

JW: In the West.

WM: Brother Senior Warden.

SW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Why in the West?

SW: As the sun is in the West at close of day, so

stands the Senior Warden in the West to assist

the Worshipful Master in opening and closing

the Lodge; paying the Craft their wages, if any

be due, that none may go away dissatisfied;

harmony being the support of all institutions,

especially this of ours.

WM: The Master’s station?

SW: In the East.

WM: Why in the East?

SW: As the sun rises in the East to open and govern

the day (WM: ***), so rises the Worshipful Master

in the East to open and govern the Lodge, setting

the Craft at work, giving them proper instruction

for their labor.

WM: Brother Senior Warden, it is my order that ____

____ Lodge No. ___ be now closed on the Third

Degree of Freemasonry, and stand closed until

its next regular communication, unless especially

convened, of which due and timely notice will be

given. This communicate to the Junior Warden

in the South, and he to the Brethren present, that

having due notice thereof, they may govern

themselves accordingly.

SW: Brother Junior Warden.

JW: Brother Senior Warden.

SW: It is the order of the Worshipful Master that ____

____ Lodge No. ___ be now closed on the Third

Degree of Freemasonry, and stand closed until

its next regular communication, unless especially

called, of which due and timely notice will be given.

This communicate to the Brethren present, that

having due notice thereof, they may govern

themselves accordingly.

JW: Brethren, it is the order of the Worshipful Master,

communicated to me through the Senior Warden

in the West, that ____ ____ Lodge No. ___ be

now closed on the Third Degree of Freemasonry,

and stand closed until its next regular

communication, unless especially called, of which

due and timely notice will be given. I

communicate the same to you, that having due

notice thereof, you will govern yourselves

accordingly.

WM: Brother Senior Warden.

SW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Have you ever traveled as a Master Mason?

SW: I have; from West to East, and from East to West

again.

WM: Of what were you in search?

SW: Of that which was lost.

WM: To what do you allude?

SW: The secret word of a Master Mason.

WM: Did you find it?

SW: I did not; but found a substitute, which at the

opening of this Lodge was sent to the East,

accompanied with the steps, due-guards and

signs.

WM: Brother Senior Warden, I will now return the same

to the West, accompanied with the steps, due-guards

and signs, through the Senior Deacon.

Brother Senior Deacon, attend.

(At this time, the steps, due-guards and signs of the 3

degrees, as well as the substitute, are communicated

from the Worshipful Master to the Senior Deacon. The

Senior Deacon then carries them to the West and

communicates them to the Senior Warden.)

SW: (S) Worshipful Master, the substitute has come

to the West correctly.

WM: Brethren; attend to giving the signs; observe the

East.

WM: *.

SW: *.

JW: *.

WM: *.

SW: *.

JW: *.

WM: *.

SW: *.

JW: *.

WM: Brethren, give your attention to the Chaplain.

Chap: And now, Almighty Father, we ask Thy blessing

upon the proceedings of this communication, and

as we are about to separate, we ask Thee to keep

us under Thy protecting care until again we are

called together. Teach us, O God, to realize the

beauties of the principles of our time-honored

institution, not only while in the Lodge, but when

abroad in the world. Subdue every discordant

passion within us. May we love one another in

the bonds of union and friendship. Amen.

(ALL): So mote it be.

WM: Brother Senior Warden.

SW: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: How should Masons meet?

SW: On the level.

WM: And how act, Brother Junior Warden?

JW: By the plumb.

WM: And part upon the square. So should we, my

Brethren, ever meet, act, and part. May the

blessing of Heaven rest upon us and all regular

Masons. May brotherly love prevail, and every

moral and social virtue cement us. Amen.

(ALL) So mote it be.

WM: Brother Senior Deacon.

SD: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Attend at the Altar and close the Three Great

Lights in Masonry.

WM: I now declare ____ ____ Lodge No. ___ duly

closed.

WM: Brother Junior Deacon.

JD: (S) Worshipful Master.

WM: Inform the Tyler.

WM: *.

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