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the right ear, holding the thumb and two first fingers open, as in the preceding sign, with a circular motion of the hand, the fingers pass round the ear, as though you were combing back your ear-lock, so that the ear passes between the two fingers, and thumb, the hand is then dropped by the side. This sign alludes to a penalty of the obligation, to have the ear smote off.

The fifth sign is made by extending the right arm at full length, the thumb and two first fingers open, about one inch apart, the two last fingers clenched, palm of the hand up. It alludes to the manner that a mark master is taught to 'receive wages' [See plate 7, fig. 4.]

Right worshipful master, then takes off his hat, and reads the following charge from Cross's Chart, page 43.

'Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice and guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking. If so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious; to whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious; ye also, as living stones, be ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God.'

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Brethren, this is the will of God, that with well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not as using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God.'

The right worshipful master then gives two raps with his gavel; senior warden two, and junior warden two, which are repeated again by right worshipful master, and wardens.

Right worshipful master then says, 'I now declare this lodge of mark master Masons opened in due and ancient form, and hereby forbid all improper conduct whereby this lodge may be disturbed, under no less penalty than the by-laws, or a majority of the lodge may see fit to inflict.' Then gives one rap with his gavel, which seats all the, brethren, and says, 'Brother junior deacon, inform the tyler the lodge is open.'

Junior deacon informs the tyler, and returns to his seat.

The lodge being opened and ready for business, the right worshipful master directs the secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, which generally brings to view the business of the present. If there are any candidates to be brought forward, that is generally the first business. A master Mason wishing for further light in Masonry, sends a petition to the chapter, and requests to be advanced to the honorary degree of mark master Mason; if there is no serious objection to the petition, it is entered on the minutes, and a committee of several appointed to

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inquire into his character, and report to the next regular communication. At that time, if the committee report in his favor, and no serious objection is made against him otherwise, a motion is made that the ballot pass: if carried, the senior deacon passes the ballot-box, the same as in the preceding degrees.

The senior deacon who prepares and conducts the candidate in the first part of the ceremonies, passes out of the lodge into the adjoining room, where the candidate is in waiting, pulls off his coat, and rolls up his shirt sleeves to the shoulder, and directs the candidate to do the same; he then takes in his right hand a small block of white marble about four inches square, and six inches long, weighing about eleven pounds, holding it between the thumb and two first fingers, the other fingers clenched, the arm extended down; the candidate is furnished with a key stone, of the same material, and weight, which he is directed to carry in like manner; the door is then opened without ceremony, and the conductor enters, about three paces in advance of the candidate, and walks four times round the lodge, and halts at the junior overseer's station at the south gate, where the conductor gives four raps with his heel on the floor.

J. O. Who comes here?

Con. A craftsman from the quarries, bringing up work for inspection.

J. O. Have you a specimen of your work?

Con. I have.

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The conductor presents his stone to the junior overseer, who applies his small trying square to its different angles, and they agreeing with the angles of the square, he says, 'This is good work-square work-just such work as is wanted for the building;' returning the block to the conductor, 'You will pass on to the senior overseer at the west gate, for further inspection.' Conductor passes a few steps, and halts until the candidate has been examined. Candidate comes up to junior overseer in imitation of his conductor, and gives four raps.

J. O. Who comes here?

Can. A craftsman from the quarries, bringing up work for inspection.

J. O. Have you a specimen of your work?

Can. I have.

J. O. Present it. Candidate presents the key stone. Junior overseer applies his square to it, and finding it does not fit, says, This is a curious wrought stone indeed; it is neither oblong or square; square work is only such as we have orders to receive,

neither has it the mark of any of the craft upon it. Is that your mark?' pointing to the letters on the key stone.

Candidate replies, ' It is not.'

J. O. Owing to its singular form and beauty, I feel unwilling to reject it; you will pass on to the senior overseer at the west gate for further inspection, [where the same questions are asked and answers returned as before. Senior overseer directs them to the master overseer at the east gate, who, after examining the stone of the conductor as before, says,] This is good work-square work-just such work as is wanted for the building, you are entitled to your wages, pass on.' Conductor passes and takes his seat.

Candidate comes up, presents his key stone as before.

Master overseer applies his square to it, and says, 'This is a curious wrought stone,' &c.—looks sternly at the candidate, and orders him to stand aside, stamps on the floor four times with his foot, which brings up the other two overseers.

M. O. Brother junior overseer, did you suffer this work to pass your inspection?

J. O. I did: I observed to the young craftsman, at the time, the stone was not such as we had orders to receive; but owing to its singular form and beauty, I felt unwilling to reject it, and suffered it to pass to the senior overseer at the west gate.

S. O. I made the same observations, to the young craftsman, and for the same reason permitted it to pass to the master overseer at the east gate.

M. O. Why, you see the stone is neither oblong or square, neither has it the mark of any of the craft upon it. Do you know this mark, that is upon it?

J. O. I do not.

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J. O. I propose we heave it over among the rubbish.
S. O. I second that motion.

M. O. Agreed: it shall be done.

The master and senior overseer take up the key stone, and swinging it four times back and forth between them, the fourth time the junior overseer catches it over the left shoulder of the master overseer (in imitation of the sign of heave over,') and throws it aside. At this moment all the brethren begin to shuffle around the room, leaving their seats.

The right worshipful master gives one rap with his gavel, and says, What is the cause of this disturbance among the

workmen ?'

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