the duty of master of the lodge. The candidate having no objections, he is conducted to the altar, kneels on both knees, lays both hands on the holy bible, square, and compasses, and takes the following oath, viz:

I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful lodge of past master Masons, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition to my former obligations, that I will not give the secrets of past master Mason, or any of the secrets pertaining thereto, to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any person in the known world, except it be to a true and lawful brother, or brethren, past master Masons, or within the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such; and not unto him or unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them only, whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial, and examination, or lawful information.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will obey all regular signs and summons, sent, thrown, handed, or given from the hand of a brother of this degree, or from the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of past masters.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will support the constitution of the general grand royal arch chapter of the United States of America; also that of the grand chapter of this State, under which this lodge is held; and conform to all the by-laws, rules and regulations of this or any other lodge, of which I may hereafter become a member.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not assist, or be present at the conferring of this degree upon any person who has not, to the best of my knowledge and belief, regularly received, (in addition to the degrees of entered apprentice, fellow craft, and master Mason,) the degree of mark master, or been elected master of a regular lodge of master Masons.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will aid and assist all poor and indigent past master Masons, their widows and orphans, wherever dispersed round the globe, they applying to me as such, and I finding them worthy, so far as in my power, without material injury to myself, or family.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that the secrets of a brother of this degree, delivered to me in charge, as such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast, as they were in his own before communicated to me, murder and treason excepted, and those left to my own election.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not wrong this lodge, nor a brother of this degree, to the value of one cent

knowingly, myself, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not govern this lodge, nor any other, over which I may be called to preside, in a haughty and arbitrary manner; but will, at all times, use my utmost endeavors to preserve peace and harmony among the brethren.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will never open a lodge of master Masons, unless there be present, three regular master Masons, beside the tyler; nor close the same, without giving a lecture, or some section, or part of a lecture, for the instruction of the lodge.

Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not sit in a lodge, where the presiding officer has not taken the degree of past master Mason. To all of which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and steady purpose of mind, to keep and perform the same; binding myself under no less penalty than (in addition to all my former penalties,) to have my tongue split from tip to root, that I might for ever thereafter be unable to pronounce the word, should I ever prove wilfully guilty of violating any part of this, my solemn oath, or obligation, of a past master Mason. So help me God, and make me stedfast to keep and perform the same.

R. W. M. Kiss the book five times.

The right worshipful master then says to the candidate, 'You now behold me approaching you from the east, under the step, sign, and due-guard of a past master Mason.'

The right worshipful master steps off with the left foot, placing the heel of the right at the toe of the left, so as to bring the feet at right angles, forming the right angle of a square.'

He then gives this sign, placing the thumb of the right hand. upon the lips, the fingers clenched. [See plate 9, fig. 1.]

It alludes to the penalty of a past master Mason: to have his tongue split from tip to root.

The following is also a sign of a past master. It alludes to a part of the penalty of this degree, which covers all the former penalties. Place the right hand upon the left side of the neck, (as in plate 9, fig. 2,) draw the hand edgewise downward, in a diagonal direction, from left to right side, so as to cross the three former penalties.

Right worshipful master then takes the candidate by the hand, and says: 66 Arise brother, and take a seat in the "Oriental chair of Solomon." A chair is then placed in front

of the 'master's chair,' and the candidate is directed to take a seat in it.

The right worshipful master then says to him, 'King Solomon, when a very old and decrepit man, was attended by his two old friends, HIRAM, KING of TYRE, and HIRAM ABIFF; [!] who raised and seated him in his chair, by means of the past master's grip.'

The right worshipful Master and senior warden take the candidate by this grip, [See plate 9, fig. 3,] and the candidate is raised on his feet, and seated several times.

Senior warden then takes his seat, and the right worshipful master instructs the candidate in the grip and word of a past master. [See plate 9, fig. 3.]

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This is done by taking each other by the master's grip, and saying, From a grip to a span,' at the same time, slipping the right hands so as to catch each other just above the wrist; then raising the left hand and catching each other by the elbow of the right arm; while one says, 'a three-fold cord is strong,' the other says, a four-fold cord is not easily broken.'

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The master then conducts the candidate to the master's chair, places a hat on his head, and comes down to the front of the newly installed master, and addresses him as follows: 'Worshipful master, I now present you with the furniture and various implements of our profession. They are emblematical of our conduct in life, and will now be enumerated and explained, as presented.

The holy writings, that great light in Masonry, will guide you to all truth; it will direct your path to the temple of happiness, and point out to you the whole duty of man.

The square teaches to regulate our actions by rule and line ; and to harmonize our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue.

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‹ The compasses teaches to limit our desires in every station; thus rising to eminence by merit, may we live respected, and die regretted.

The rule directs, that we should punctually observe our duty, press forward in the path of virtue, and neither inclining to the right, nor to the left, in all our actions have eternity in view.

'The line teaches the criterion of moral rectitude, to avoid dissimulation in conversation and action, and direct our steps to the path that leads to immortality. The book of constitutions you are to search at all times, and cause to be read in your lodge, that none may pretend ignorance of the excellent precepts it enjoins. Lastly, you receive in charge the by-laws of your