"The stone which the builders refused, is become the head stone of the corner.' (Ps. cxviii. 22.)

'Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? (Matt. xxi. 42.)

'And have ye not read this scripture, The stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner?' (Mark xii. 10.)

What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? (Luke xx. 17.)

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.' (Acts iv. 11.)

'He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.' (Rev. iii. 13.)

'Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary, which looketh toward the east, and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

'And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof: and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.' (Ezek. xliv. 1-5.)

Also, may be narrated the following

PARABLE.

'For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent

204

ADDRESS TO A MARK MASTER.

them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive. So, when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? So the last shall he first, and the first last for many are called, but few chosen.' (Matt. xx. 1-16.)

A uniform ritual having been agreed upon and adopted, we may observe that when the newly-adınitted Brother has been rewarded with the distinctive jewel, the Master thus addresses him :

The jewel with which you have just been invested is a model of the stone which the builders rejected, the K.S. of the S.A. of K.S.T. It bears on the reverse the English letters H.T.W.S.S.T.K.S., which are synonyms of the Hebrew characters on the obverse, and are read

thus

CHARGE TO A MARK MASTER.

205

and may you be as distinguished among

your fellows as was H. the W.S. among his.

On presenting the working tools, the W. M. says:

I now present you with the working tools of a M. M. M., which are the mallet and chisel, on which, also, you were admitted to this degree. With their symbolic uses in other degrees you are familiar. In this degree they are employed to indicate the Mark Master's approval of the work, as being fitted for its place in the intended structure. . . . We are by these tools again reminded of the moral advantages of discipline and education, and are led to entertain a firm but humble hope that, by the correction of irregularities and the subjugation of our passions, we may hereafter be found worthy to receive the approving mark of T.G.O.O.T.U., as fitted to form part of that spiritual mansion, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens !'

CHARGE.

I congratulate you upon being advanced to this honourable degree in Freemasonry, and let me remind you that your assiduity should be commensurate with your progress. Be assured, that while, in the discharge of the duties of your station, you continue to act in conformity with the sublime precepts of the Order, do justice, love mercy, practise charity, maintain harmony, and endeavour to live in unity and brotherly loveshould other friends forsake you, should envy traduce your good name, or malice persecute you, should dangers, doubts, or difficulties assail you, force attempt to drive, or temptation to entice you, from the right path-among Mark Master Masons you will ever find friends who will administer relief to your distress, and comfort in your affliction; whilst, as a consolation under all the frowns of fortune, and as an encouragement to hope for brighter prospects, you will bear in mind that the stone which the builders rejected, possessing merits to them unknown, ultimately became the head stone of the corner.

206

CEREMONY OF CLOSING.

CLOSING HYMN.

Have we mark'd well, Great Overseer?
A work to last beyond all time;
Each his allotted task fulfill'd,

The glory and the praise be Thine.

In this degree we find the truth,
On earth below, in heaven above,
The Corner-stone of every work
Should be unselfish, lasting love.

Still will we work, and working pray,
Trusting that in a better land
Our mystic Key-stone may be raised,
And fitted by Thy Master Hand.

CLOSING.

The ceremony of closing a Lodge, when properly conducted, is peculiarly interesting. It assists in strengthening the social affections; it teaches us the duty we owe to our brethren in particular, and the whole family of mankind in general, by ascribing praise to the meritorious, and dispensing rewards to the diligent and industrious.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE.

FEW degrees have so won upon the Masonic Craft as those connected with the 'Red Cross of Rome and Constantine.' About a dozen years ago it was scarcely known, save to students of our ancient history, unless indeed it was erroneously classed with the Red Cross of Babylon.' Now there are about 150 conclaves working under the authority of the Grand Imperial Council of England, and many Grand Councils have been formed under its auspices, such as those now working most vigorously in Scotland, Pennsylvania, and other states in America, Canada, etc. Indeed, wherever these conclaves are flourishing, their origin is due to the revived Grand Imperial Council of England. It is somewhat singular that in this respect the modern Masonic Lodges throughout the world are in like manner indebted, directly or indirectly, to this Country, as Brothers Hughan and Gould have clearly demonstrated.

The revival of the degrees occurred in this wise. The 'Red Cross of Rome and Constantine' was given by Major Charles Shirreff and others from about 1780, and was patronized during the last century by Brothers James Heseltine (Past Grand Secretary), William White (Grand Secretary from 1780), and other well-known Masons. Lord Rancliffe was Grand Master in 1796, as also of the Knights Templars, and was succeeded by Judge Waller Rodwell Wright in 1804, after which H.R. H. the Duke of Sussex was installed as 'Grand Master for and during