The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
The stations of the two Wardens and the Master himself are symbolic,
referring to the four points of the compass, which have already been mentioned
in our chapter 6.16 on peculiarities of the Masonic language. Thus, the Junior
Warden's station in the South symbolized the sun at meridian. He has to call the
craft from labor to refreshment and to see that they return to their labor. The
Senior Warden's station is in the West to symbolize the close of day. He has the
duty to pay the craft their wages. The Worshipful Master sits in the East, where
the sun rises and from where wisdom comes. As the sun opens and governs the
day, the Master opens and governs the lodge.
These explanations being given, the Worshipful Master declares the lodge
open in the Third Degree for the transaction of business, the Senior Warden
communicates this to the Junior Warden in the South, and the latter informs the
brethren thereof. The Worshipful Master asks the brethren to "observe the East"
and to give the signs. He raps his gavel three times, and orders the Chaplain to
offer a prayer to the G.A.O.T.U. The prayer is answered by the brethren with the
Masonic formula "So mote it be" (p. 12), instead of "Amen."
After the prayer, the Senior Deacon is ordered to attend at the altar and
display the three great lights in Masonry. He opens the Bible at Ecclesiastes XII
and places the square and compass on it. As we already know, both points of the
compass are placed over the square to denote symbolically the spirit's triumph
over the matter. The Junior Deacon informs the Tyler that the lodge is opened in
the Third Degree, and then follows the ordinary business of the lodge. It consists
of reading the minutes of the previous communication, of reports, petitions and
balloting for membership, as well as unfinished and new business. During the
execution of the business, the symbolic reference to the four points of the
compass plays an important role. Thus, after a ballot the Worshipful Master asks
the Junior Warden how the ballot stands in the South, and the Senior Warden
how it stands in the West. Then, he himself states how the ballot stands in the
East. It can be either "clear" or "cloudy 1269 ," depending on whether the candidate
is elected or rejected. Likewise, when the Worshipful Master inquires whether
there are any topics to bring before the lodge before he closes it, and his principal
officers deny, the Junior Warden states: "Nothing in the South," and the Senior
Warden: "Nothing in the West," according to their metaphorical stations.
Closing Ceremony
Hence, when there is nothing in the South and West, the business is finished,
and the Worshipful Master asks the Junior Deacon what constitutes the last and
first great care of Masons when convened, which is again to see that they are
duly tyled. Then, the Master sends the Junior Deacon outside to inform the Tyler
that he is about to close the lodge. The following is a repetition of the dialogue in
the Opening Ceremony: the Junior Deacon affirms that they are tyled by a
1269 This ritual keeps to the term "cloudy" instead of "foul" (cf. chapter on technical terminology).