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26my power to do so, without prejudice tomyself or family; but I shall not feel myselfbound to relieve him again until he shallhave redeemed his mark from its formerOb. That when presiding over an Operativeor Mark Masters' Lodge as Warden, I willpay the wages that are due, and as Master,endeavour to reward merit and ability, andsuppress jealousy. All this I swear, withoutevasion,equivocation,ormentalreservation, so help me AG and keep mesteadfast in this my solemn Ob of a MMM.WMMAs a pledge of your fidelityand to render this a solemnOb, I call on you to salute theVSL four times with yourlips.Takes Candidate by right hand with PG.WMMRise, duly obligated MMM.For the better elucidation of the secrets ofthis Degree, it is necessary that you should

27now proceed to the quarries in order toprepare a specimen of your work. You willthen re-enter the Lodge as a Mark Man,under the guidance of the SD.Both the Deacons and Candidate now leavethe room with the FC sign. The Overseerstake their seats with pedestals before themwith their backs to the centre of the Lodge,being in front of the WMM, SW, and JWrespectively, each with a mallet square andplans. When the Candidate is prepared bybeing divested of his coat, sleeves rolled tothe elbow, with large leather apron,Deacons being similarly robed, the T gives* **IGBro JW, there is an alarm.JWWMM, there is an alarm.WMMBro JW, you will enquirewho seeks admission.JWBro IG you will see whoseeks admission.

28IGOpening the door, asks the T:Whom have you there?TWorkmen from the quarries.IGHalt, while I report. Closesthe door.IGWMM, workmen from thequarries.WMMLet them be admitted.Enter SD with square ashlar JD withoblong ashlar and Candidate withKeystone, in which order they advance bythe N and proceed behind the MO pedestalto the front of the JO at South Gate.NOTE:- The knocks * * * on the Overseers'pedestals are given by the SD only.JOWho comes here?SDWorkmen from the quarrieswith materials for thebuilding of the HT, which weare anxious to submit foryour inspection.

29JOI will examine them withpleasure.Receives the square ashlar from the SD,strikes it * * * with mallet, examines itsfinish, applies it to the square, tests it on theplan then says:This is fair work and square work, and suchas I have orders to receive. I will thereforegive you the PW in order that you may passto the WG.Whispers the PW to the SD who then movestwo paces to his left to enable the JD toapproach. The JD then presents the oblongashlar with similar ceremony and colloquy,and on moving to the left gives place to theCandidate who presents the KS which istested as before.JOThis is a curiously wroughtstone; it is neither square noroblong, and is not inaccordance with my plans. I

30cannot receive it, neither canI give you the PW to the WG.The three then proceed to the West Gatewhere the same colloquy ensues betweenthe Deacons and the SO, who receives thePW in a whisper from the Deacons andpermits them to pass to the EG. TheCandidate presents the KS which is testedas before.SOThis is a curiously wroughtstone; it is neither square noroblong, nor such as in anyrespect my instructions willenable me to pass. Give methe PW you received from theJO at the SG.CandidatePrompted by the SD. Hedeclined to give it to me,informing me that my workwas not in accordance withhis plans.

31SONeither can I give you thePW at the WG. Although thework is not in accordancewith my plans, yet, from themasterly skill displayed in itsexecution I am unwilling toreject it on my ownresponsibility;youcantherefore submit it to the MOat the East Gate, or return tothe quarries and there prepareother evidence of yourability.The Deacons and Candidate then presentthemselves to the MO and the like ceremonyis observed. The MO after approving thesquare and oblong ashlars * ** on eachoccasion, demands:MOGive me the PW you receivedfrom the Overseer at the SG.Given in a whisper, and both

32ashlars are delivered back.Your work is approved andshall be passed on to thebuilders.(The square ashlar is placed at the JW’spedestal, the oblong ashlar at the SW'spedestal. The Candidate then presents theKeystone.MOAfter examining and testing it* * * This is a curiouslywrought stone, and does notin any respect conform to myplans, or to the instructions Ihave received for theinspection of materials. Giveme the PW you received fromthe Overseer at the SG.CandidateI cannot. He declined to giveit to me.MOAnd yet you have presumedto make your way to the EG

33MOand present yourself beforeme! Stand aside (BrushesCandidate aside) while I calla council of my BroOverseers. MO * sounds hisgavel. The S and J Overseersstand with FC Sign.BroOverseers,notwithstanding the ampleinstructions you receivedwhen entrusted with the careof the Gates of the HolyTemple, you have allowedthis stone to pass although itin no way answers to ourplans or description. I ambound, therefore, not only toreject it, but to demand fromyou an explanation of thisneglect of your duties.

34JOSOI confess that this stone waspresented to me at the SG,but, before permitting theCraftsmantoenter,Iinformed him that his workwas not of the description Ihad orders to receive;neverthelessfromtheextreme beauty of the stoneand the skill displayed in theworkmanship,Iwasunwilling to reject it on myownresponsibility,andallowed the Craftsman toproceed to the WG withoutgiving him the PW.Prompted by feelings similarto those which actuated myBro JO, and also beingunwillingtotakeresponsibility of rejecting the

35MOstone, I left the Craftsmanfree, either to return to thequarries or to pass on to theEG if willing to incur therisk; but I declined to givehim the PW to which hiswork did not entitle him.Bro Overseers, I accept yourexplanations as some excusefor what I had previouslyregarded as neglect of yourMasonic duty; but as theorders of our GM areperemptory, as to receiveonly such stones for thebuilding of the HT as areeither square or oblong, andmarked and numbered by aregular MMM, we have noalternative but to condemnand reject this stone as

36unfitted for the work. Youwill therefore cause it to beheaved over among therubbish.This is done by the Deacons in the propermanner.The SD now instructs theCandidate how to give the Sign of Dismay.MOTo Candidate. Your work isrejected.Candidate is conducted to a seat in the SEpart of the Lodge Room. The Overseersresume their seats, and the Brethren showrestlessness by shuffling with their feet.After a short pause, the WMM gives * andsays.WMMBro SW, what is the cause ofthis confusion?SWIt is the sixth hour of the sixthday of the week, WMM, andthe Craftsmen are impatientto receive their wages.

37WMMBro MO, you have mycommand to assemble theCraftsmen, and march themin procession to the office ofthe SW to receive theirwages; and do you Bro JWproceed to discharge yourspecial duty.The JW stands at the left of the SW.MOBrethren, it is the WMM'scommand that you assemblein the North, and pass inprocession to the SW'swicket, there to receive thewages due to patient industryand merit.The Brethren form a procession, headed bythe MO, the Candidate being last undercharge of the SD. On arrival at the SW’swicket each presents his mark at theopening, the Brethren as Mark Masters and

38the Candidate as a Mark Man.TheCandidate's hand is seized by the SW, whoexclaims:SWAn imposter! An imposter!Strike Off His Hand.SDSpare him! Spare him! He isnot an imposter; I can vouchfor him as a Mark Man,having worked with him inthe quarries.SWI denounce him as animposter, having attempted toobtain the wages of a MarkMaster without giving thetoken. The penalty must beinflicted.SDIf you will confide him to mycare, I will take him to theWMM, and if he decides thatthe penalty must be inflicted,

39I pledge myself to see it dulyexecuted.SWOn these conditions I dulyrelease him.The JW should follow the Deacon and theCandidate to the E, and resume his seatafter the WMM's address.SD leadsCandidate to WMM.SDWMM, this Craftsman hasbeensuspectedasanimposter, and is charged withhaving attempted to obtainthe wages of a Mark Masterwithout giving the token.WMMTo Candidate. Are you aCraftsman and a Mark Man?CandidateI am.WMMI demand the proof.Candidate gives Sign of a Fellowcraft, andpresents his mark in the manner previouslyinstructed.

40WMMWhilst I acknowledge you asa Craftsman and a Mark Man,I cannot too strongly expressmy regret that you shouldhave attempted to obtain thewages of a Mark Masterwithout being justly entitledto them. Such conduct meritssevere punishment, and theancient traditional penalty isno less than that of havingyour right ear smote off sothat you may forever beunable to hear the word andyour right hand struck off atthe wrist so that you cannotmake your mark. But as yourfault seems to have been theresult of ignorance, and not awilful attempt to defraud, Inow order you to return to the

41quarries, where I trust youmay, by well-directed energyand perseverance, be enabledto produce such evidence ofyour skill and ability as willentitle you, hereafter, to bereceived as a Mark Master,and to share in the privilegesof this honourable Degree.SD conducts Candidate to a seat. Allremain quiet for a brief space. SW and JWsound gavels.SWWMM, the work is at astandstill.WMMOn what account?SWFor want of the Keystone ofthe Arch of the Secret Vaultof King Solomon’s Temple.WMMI well remember issuing thedesign for such a stone.Searches among the papers

42on the pedestal. Here is acopy.Shows it.BroOverseers!Each Overseer should now proceed to theWMM's pedestal to examine the plan, andthen make his report with the FC Sign, asfollows:WMMJOWMMSOBro JO, have you seen such astone?Such a stone was presented tome for inspection, but notbeing in accordance with myplans, I passed it on to the SOfor further inspection.Bro SO, what did you do withit?Although not in accordancewith my plans or instructionsI had received, I did not liketo take the responsibility of

43rejecting it and thereforepassed it on to the MO forfinal approval or rejection.WMMBro MO. Do you rememberwhat was done with thestone?MOI do, WMM seeing that it didnot in any way answer to myplans, and deeming itvalueless, I ordered it to beheaved over among therubbish,whichwasaccordingly done.WMMLet diligent search be madefor that stone! It is mostimportant to the building;richly rewarded shall he bewho succeeds in discoveringit.After some search made by ALL theBrethren including the Overseers, not in a

44perfunctory manner, the stone is found bythe Candidate, prompted by the SD.SDWMM, the stone is found.WMMBy whom?SDBy the skilful Craftsman whoprepared it.WMMLet me see it.The Candidate presents the stone, heldbetween two hands in the form of a triangleto the WMM, who compares it with thedesign.WMMIt is, indeed, the very stone.Places Keystone on thepedestal. SD instructs Can togive Sign of Thanksgivingand say:CANThanks be to God, I havemarked well.WMMBro Craftsman, I congratulateyou on your good fortune inbeing the bearer of the KS, as

45it entitles you to receive asyour recompense the secretsof this Degree.WMMYou may now retire in orderto restore yourself to yourpersonal comforts, and onyour return to the Lodgethosesecretswillbecommunicated to you.Both Candidate and the Deacons arerestored in clothing and regalia, the formeras a Master Mason and the latter as a RAor MMM. Candidate is admitted on areport in the usual manner and placed inthe SE.WMMI shall now proceed to entrustyou with the secrets of thisDegree. You will thereforeadvance to me as an EA, aFC, and a MM. Now takeanother short pace forward

46with your left foot bringingyour right heel into thehollow as before. That is thefourth regular step inFreemasonry, and it is in thisposition that the secrets of theDegree are communicated.They consist of a Pass Wordgiven for you by the SD toenable you to gain admissionto the Lodge; a Pass Grip bywhich you were elevated afteryour Obligation, and theSign, Token and Wordpeculiar to this Degree. Butbefore further explanation, itis my duty to claim yourattention while the Chaplainreads a portion of HolyScripture.

47Chaplain reads 2nd Chronicles, ii, v, 11-16inclusive. Brethren remain seated.SECRETSWMM The PG is given by bending thefingers of the right hand to form a hook,then taking the brother’s hand. This is thestrong grip in masonry called Lewis. ThePass Word is Joppa. The Signs peculiar tothis Degree are four in number. The first isof a three-fold character. The first part iscalled Sign of Sincerity and is given byraising the right forearm to a horizontalposition and closing the 3rd and 4th fingersof the right hand and placing the thumb onthem to hold them down while extendingthe other two. The second part is calledSign of Salute, and this is given by raisingthe right hand, two fingers still extendedand placing them behind the right ear. Thissign is always used on entering or retiring

48from the Lodge, in standing to order as aMark Master Mason and when addressingthe WMM. The third part is called thePenal Sign, and is given by lowering theright forearm to the horizontal position, 1stand 2nd fingers still extended and thenchopping the left hand edgewise on theright wrist. The first part, the Sign ofSincerity, is that of which you weredeficient when attempting to receive yourwages at the SW's wicket.The structure on the SW'spedestal, represents the office at which theworkmen were paid. A Mark Man receivedhis wages at the square opening afteridentifying himself by giving the S of aMark Man, thus . A Mark Master Masonreceived his wages at the triangular openingafter identifying himself by giving the Signof Sincerity thus . You went to thetriangular opening and gave the Sign of a

49Mark Man and were immediatelydenounced as an imposter.The second part, the Sign ofSalute, (demonstrates) is the sign you willuse when standing to order in the MarkMaster Mason's Lodge, when addressing orbeing addressed by the WMM, and whenentering or leaving the Lodge.The third part, the Penal Sign, isalways used to complete the Sign of Salute,thus . This in conjunction with thesecond part alludes to the ancient traditionalpenalty of your Ob, implying that as a manof honour and a MMM you would ratherhave your right ear smote off so that youmay forever be unable to hear the word andyour right hand struck off at the wrist sothat you cannot make your mark. Thesecond, or Heave Over Sign is given byhanging the arms in front of the body as ifholding a heavy weight and swinging from

50right to left 3 times finishing with a heaveover. The third, or Sign of Dismay, isgiven by supporting the right cheek in theright palm and saying “alas, alas, my labouris lost”. And the fourth, or Sign ofThanksgiving, is given by placing the palmstogether in front of the face, bending theknees slightly and looking upwardexclaiming “Thanks be to God, I havemarked well”. The grip or token is givenby interlocking the little fingers of the righthand, knuckles together with thumb tipstouching – forming a triangle and theancient word is Kebraoth but in mostLodges where the English language isspoken, the words Mark Well have beensubstituted. Pass Kebraoth and mark well.The SD now conducts the Candidate to theSW and prompts him.SDBro SW, I present to you BroAB. on his being Advanced

51to the honourable Degree ofMMM.SWRising. Have you anything tocommunicate?CandidateI have. Gives grip.SWWhat is this?CandidateThe grip or token of a MMM.SWWhat does it demand?CandidateA Word.SWGive me that Word freely andat length.Candidate gives it.SWPass Kebraoth and mark well.The Candidate is then placed at the left ofthe SW, and the Chaplain reads Ezek xliv,5, Rev xiii, 9 and Ps cxviii, 22. Brethrenremain seated.SWWMM, I present to you BroAB on his Advancement tothe honourable Degree of

52WMMMMM for some mark of yourapproval.Bro SW, I delegate to you theauthority to invest our newlyadvanced Brother with thebadge and distinguishingjewel of a MMM.INVESTITURESWBro AB, by command of theWMM I invest you with the badge andjewel of a MMM to mark the furtherprogress you have made in the science.ADDRESS AFTER INVESTITUREJWBro AB, I must add to theobservations of the SW that the jewel withwhich you have just been invested is amodel of the stone which the buildersrejected, the KS of the A of the SV of KST.

53It not only points out your rank asa Mark Master Mason, but is also intendedto remind you that you should ever preserveyour mark pure and unsullied, so that youmay appear before all the world in thehighest and best sense a MMM.The Candidate is now placed in front of theWMM.WORKING TOOLSWMM I now present you with the WT ofa MMM which are the mallet and chisel onwhich also you were admitted into thisDegree. You are already familiar with theirsymbolic uses in the former Degrees. Inthis Degree they are employed to signifythe Mark Master's approval of the work, asbeing fitted for its place in the intendedstructure. As we are not all Operative butrather Free and Accepted or SpeculativeMasons, we are by these tools reminded of

54the moral advantages of discipline andeducation, and are led to entertain a firm,but humble hope, that by the correction ofirregularities and the subjugation of our evilpassions, we may hereafter receive theapproving mark of TGOOTU, as fitted toform part of that Spiritual Mansion "anHouse not made with hands, eternal in theheavens."CHARTERWMM ThisisourWarrantofConstitution, or Charter from the SupremeGrand Royal Arch Chapter of NewZealand. It is here now for your inspectionand will be on all proper occasions; and inaddition to the terms of your Obligation, bythis you are bound in every sense of theword to discountenance all illegal andspurious Mark Masonic Lodges or those not

55recognised by a Supreme Lodge or Chapterof Masons.LECTUREAt the building of KST and before theinstitution of the Degree of Mark Master,there were 80,000 operatives employed,part of whom were hewers in the quarries ofZaredatha, and part builders of the Temple:besides those there was a levy of 30,000 inthe forests of Lebanon.In order that each of the 110,000workmen might be known to his superiorofficer, every part of the work be subject tothe nicest scrutiny, and every faithfullabourer receive with punctuality thereward of his industry a

THE DEGREE OF MARK MASTER MASON ----- OPENING The WMM gives * which is answered by the Wardens. WMM Brethren, assist me to open a MMM's Lodge. All rise. WMM Bro JW, what is the first care of every MMM? JW To see that the Lodge is properly tyled, WMM. WMM Direct that duty to be done. JW Bro IG, see that the Lodge is properly tyled.