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PART III.

MASTER MASON.

Master Mason Degree.

As before remarked, Free-masonry in every degree is progressive. A knowledge of it can only be attained by time, patience and application. In the first degree, we are taught the duties we owe to God, our neighbor and ourselves. In the second, we are more thoroughly inducted into the mysteries of moral science, and learn to trace the goodness and majesty of the Creator, by minutely analyzing his works. But the third degree is the cement of the whole. It is calculated to bind men together by mystic points of fellowship, as in a bond of fraternal affection and Brotherly Love. It is among brethren of this degree, that the ancient landmarks of the order are preserved, and it is from them that we derive that fund of information which none but ingenious and expert Masons can supply.

It is also from brethren of this degree, that the rulers of the Craft are selected; because it is only from those who are capable of giving instruction, that we can reasonably expect to receive it.

SECTION I.

The first section in this, as in the two preceding degrees, is initiatory; and a knowledge of it is indispensable to every brother who would make himself useful in the ceremonial transactions of the Lodge.

The following passage of scripture is introduced during the ceremonies:

66 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. Also, when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets : or ever the silver cord be losed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

OR THE FOLLOWING ODE MAY BE SUNG:

MUSIC "Bonny Doon."

LET us remember in our youth,

Before the evil days draw nigh,

Our GREAT CREATOR, and his TRUTH!

Ere memory fail, and pleasure fly;

Or sun, or moon, or planet's light

Grow dark, or clouds return in gloom;

Ere vital spark no more incite;

When strength shall bow, and years consume.

Let us in youth remember HIM!

Who formed our frame, and spirits gave,
Ere windows of the mind grow dim,

Or door of speech obstructed wave;
When voice of bird fresh terrors wake;
And Music's daughters charm no more,
Or fear to rise, with trembling shake,
Along the path we travel o'er.

In youth, to God let memory cling,
Before desire shall fail, or wane,
Or e'er he loosed life's silver string,
Or bowl at fountain rent in twain:
For man to his long home doth go,

And mourners group around his urn;
Our dust, to dust again must flow,
And spirits unto God return.

All the implements in Masonry, indiscriminately, properly belong to brethren of this degree, and may be illustrated in this section. The TROWEL, however, is more particularly referred to.

one

THE TROWEL

Is an instrument made use of by operative Masons, to spread the cement which unites the building into common mass; but we, as free and accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of Brotherly Love and affection; that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends. and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.

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