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LESTER'SLOOK TO THEEASTA REVISED RITUALOF THEFIRST THREE DEGREES OF MASONRYA COMPLETE WORK OF THE ENTERED APPRENTICE,FELLOW-CRAFT AND MASTER-MASON'S DEGREES,WITH THEIR CEREMONIES, LECTURES, &C.ALSO CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS OF THE LODGEANDOFFICERS' INSTALLATIONEDITED BYRALPH P. LESTER

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This book has been published by:Contact: sales@nuvisionpublications.comURL: http://www.nuvisionpublications.comPublishing Date: 2007ISBN# 1-59547-921-XPlease see my website for several books createdfor education, research and entertainment.Specializing in rare, out-of-print books still indemand.3

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PREFACEIt has doubtless been a matter of comment and surprise among theMembers of the Fraternity that all the books which are avowedlyintended to serve as guides to the Work of a Lodge invariably containmore or less than their professed object demands.They are usually deficient in the very points that may be mostneeded, rendering the use of a separate Monitor unavoidable; while, onthe other hand, they include a great deal of information on matters withwhich every Mason is necessarily perfectly familiar, and which it isneither needful nor desirable to be communicated to the uninitiated.It has been the aim of the Compiler of this little volume to avoid boththese defects; first, by omitting all Pass-Words, Grips, and otheresoteric subjects; and second, by giving the Work of the first threedegrees monitorially as well as actually complete, in plain language forready reference, and entirely free from the tedious perplexities ofcypher or other arbitrary and unintelligible contractions.5

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CONTENTSPREFACE.5CONTENTS.7ENTERED APPRENTICE, OR FIRST DEGREE. .9OPENING A LODGE OF MASTER MASONS. . 9CALLING A LODGE FROM A HIGHER TO A LOWER DEGREE. 14OPENING A LODGE OF ENTERED APPRENTICES. .15CEREMONIES OF INITIATION. . 20SECTION SECOND. 37THIRD SECTION . 40CEREMONY OF CLOSING AN ENTERED APPRENTICES LODGE. . 47A SHORT METHOD OF CLOSING A LODGE OF ENTERED APPRENTICES. 55CALLING OFF AND ON. 55FELLOW CRAFT, OR SECOND DEGREE. .59OPENING A LODGE OF MASTER MASONS. . 59CALLING A LODGE FROM A HIGHER TO A LOWER DEGREE. 64OPENING A LODGE OF FELLOW CRAFTS. . 65CEREMONIES OF PASSING. 69LECTURE OF THE SECOND DEGREE. . 87SECTION II. 91MASTER MASON, OR THIRD DEGREE. .105CEREMONIES OF RAISING .110LECTURE OF THE THIRD DEGREE, SECTION I. .132SECTION II. .136CLOSING A LODGE OF MASTER MASONS. .145CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.149ARTICLE I.149ARTICLE II .149ARTICLE III .150ARTICLE IV .152ARTICLE V.154ARTICLE VI .156ARTICLE VII.156ARTICLE VIII .157ARTICLE IX .157ARTICLE X.158ARTICLE XI .159ARTICLE XII.159OFFICERS' INSTALLATION .161Proclamation.1717

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ENTERED APPRENTICE, OR FIRST DEGREE.All matters of business in a Lodge are transacted in the third degree.If a candidate is to be initiated, the Lodge is opened in the third degree;and when, in the regular order of business, the time arrives for theceremony of initiation to take place, the Lodge is called off in the thirddegree, and remains so while the first degree is opened.OPENING A LODGE OF MASTER MASONS.The ceremony of opening a Lodge in the third degree is conducted asfollows: When the regular time for opening has arrived the Masterrepairs to his station and calls the Lodge to order with one rap of hisgavel. The door is shut, the brethren clothe themselves and take theirseats; the officers put on their jewels; the Wardens dispose of theircolumns, down in the West, erect in the South; the Deacons take theirrods; the Secretary lays his books and papers and the three GreatLights upon his table, and in a few moments the Lodge is silent and inorder for the opening. The Master then proceeds as follows:W.M. to S.W. Brother Senior Warden, proceed to satisfy yourself thatall present are Master Masons.The Senior Warden rises and makes a personal observation of everyone that is present. He then requests the Senior and Junior Deacons togive to him, in a whisper, the pass of a Master Mason, and to demand it,under the same conditions, from each person present except theWorshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden. After this is done,the Junior Deacon communicates the pass to the Senior Deacon and heto the Worshipful Master.W.M. to S.W.The pass is------.S.W. to W.M. All present are Master Masons, Worshipful Master.9

When any one addresses the Master during any Masonic ceremony, hemust rise and salute.The Worshipful Master calls up the Senior Deacon and Junior Deaconby one rap.W.M. to J.D. Brother Junior Deacon, what is the first great care ofMasons when in Lodge assembled?J.D. to W.M. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled, Worshipful Master.W.M. to J.D. Perform that duty. Inform the Tyler that I am about toopen a Lodge of Master Masons, and direct him to tyle accordingly.The Junior Deacon opens the door without knocking, and satisfieshimself that the Tyler is at his post, he then communicates to him theMaster's orders and shuts the door. The Tyler then locks the door on theoutside.J.D. to W.M. The Lodge is duly tyled, Worshipful Master.W.M. to J.D. How are we tyled, Brother Junior Deacon?J.D. to W.M. By a brother Master Mason without the door, armed withthe proper instrument of his office.W.M. to J.D.What arc his duties there?J.D. to W.M. To keep off all cowans and eaves-droppers, and to seethat none pass or repass but such as are duly qualified and havepermission from the Worshipful Master.The Master then seats the Senior and Junior Deacon with one rap.W.M. to S.W.S.W.Arc you a Master Mason?I am.W.M. What induced you to become a Master Mason?S.W. In order that I might receive Masters' wages, and be therebybetter enabled to support myself and family, and contribute to the reliefof poor, distressed Master Masons, their widows and orphans.W.M. to S.W. Where were you made a Master Mason?S.W. to W.M. In a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of Master Masons.10

After having rehearsed as much of the lecture as he deems necessary,the Master proceeds as follows:W.M. to S.W. How many anciently composed a Lodge of MasterMasons?S.W. to W.M.Three or more.W.M. to S.W. When composed of only three, who were they?S.W. to W.M. The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and JuniorWarden.W.M. to S.W. What is the Junior Warden's station in the Lodge?S.W. to W.M.In the South.W.M. Why are you in the South, Brother Junior Warden?your duties there?What areJ.W. As the Sun in the South at its meridian height is the glory andbeauty of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South, the betterto observe the time; to call the craft from labor to refreshment; tosuperintend them during the hours thereof, and see that they do notconvert the purposes of refreshment into intemperance and excess, tocall them on again in due season, that the Worshipful Master may havepleasure and the craft profit thereby.W.M. What is the Senior Warden's station in the Lodge?J.W. In the West.W.M. Why are you in the West, Brother Senior Warden?your duties there?What areS.W. As the Sun is in the West at the close of the day, so is the SeniorWarden in the West to assist the Worshipful Master in opening andclosing his Lodge; to pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and seethat none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength and supportof all societies, more especially of ours.W.M. What is the Worshipful Master's station in the Lodge?S.W. In the East.W.M. Why is he in the East, Brother Senior Warden?duties there?11What are his

S.W. As the Sun rises in the East to open and govern the day, so risesthe Worshipful Master in the East to open and govern his Lodge; to setthe craft to work, and give them good and wholesome instruction fortheir labors.This closes the opening lecture. The Master gives three raps, whichcall up the Lodge, he rising last.W.M. Brother Senior Warden, it is my will and pleasure that-------Lodge number--------be now opened on the third degree of Masonry, forthe dispatch of such business as may regularly come before it, underthe usual Masonic restrictions. Communicate this order to the JuniorWarden in the South and he to the craft for their government.S.W. to J.W. (turning to that officer in the South.) Brother JuniorWarden, it is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master in the Eastthat--------Lodge number-----be now opened on the third degree ofMasonry, for the dispatch of such business as may regularly comebefore it, under the usual Masonic restrictions. Communicate this orderto the craft for their government.J.W. to Lodge. Brethren, it is the will and pleasure of the WorshipfulMaster in the East, communicated to me by the Senior Warden in theWest, that -------- Lodge number ---------— be now opened on the thirddegree of Masonry, for the dispatch of such business as may regularlycome before it, under the usual Masonic restrictions. Take notice, andgovern yourselves accordingly. Look to the East.W.M. (to Lodge) Brethren, together, and the Signs.The craft all face towards the Worshipful Master, who makes, slowlyand distinctly, the signs of an Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft andMaster Mason, successively, which are imitated simultaneously by thecraft.After the signs have been made the Junior Warden gives one rap withhis gavel, followed by the Senior Warden in the West and by the Masterin the East. These raps are passed thrice about the stations.The Master now takes off his hat and says: "Let us pray."The prayer is offered by the Master or Chaplain. After prayer theMaster announces to the Lodge:W.M. In the name of God and the Holy Saints John, I declare ------- LodgeNumber -------- opened in form on the third degree.Brother Junior Deacon, inform the Tyler.12

The Master seats the craft by one rap. The Junior Deacon goes to thedoor and knocks thrice upon it, on which it is opened by the Tyler, towhom the Junior Deacon announces that the Lodge is opened in thethird degree. He then shuts the door, which is locked on the outside bythe Tyler.J.D. to W.M. The duty is performed, Worshipful Master.The Master seats the Junior Deacon by one rap. While this is inprogress, the Senior Deacon takes the Three Great Lights from theSecretary's table and arranges them duly upon the altar; the Biblelaying open at Ecclesiastes XII, and both points of the compassesabove the square.The Lesser Lights are placed in their proper position, two at the Northeast and North-west corners of the altar, and the third between them, alittle further Northward. The Wardens rev

When any one addresses the Master during any Masonic ceremony, he must rise and salute. The Worshipful Master calls up the Senior Deacon and Junior Deacon by one rap. W.M. to J.D. Brother Junior Deacon, what is the first great care of Masons when in Lodge assembled? J.D. to W.M. To see that the Lodge is duly tyled, Worshipful Master.