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

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424<br />

Chapter 7 - Rituals<br />

<strong>The</strong> Junior Warden is situated in the South, and he is placed there to "mark<br />

the Sun at its meridian" (p. 6), to call the brethren from labor to refreshment and<br />

vice versa, and to detect and punish impostors. <strong>The</strong> Senior Warden in the West is<br />

to "mark the setting Sun" (p. 6), to close the Lodge, and to pay the Mark Masters<br />

their wages. <strong>The</strong> Worshipful Master is seated in the East, for "[a]s the Sun rises<br />

in the E. to open and enliven the day, so is the W.M. placed in the East to open<br />

the Lodge, and to instruct the Brethren in Mark Masonry" (p. 7).<br />

After these formalities, the Chaplain invokes the blessing <strong>of</strong> the "Great<br />

Overseer <strong>of</strong> the Universe" by delivering a prayer, and afterwards the Worshipful<br />

Master declares the Lodge duly open "for the instruction and improvement" (p.<br />

8) <strong>of</strong> Mark Master Masons.<br />

At the beginning <strong>of</strong> the Ceremony <strong>of</strong> Advancement, the Tyler announces the<br />

arrival <strong>of</strong> a candidate, whom he describes as having "worked in the quarries as a<br />

F.C." (p. 9), thus comparing the labor <strong>of</strong> a Fellow Craft with the one <strong>of</strong> a<br />

stonemason in the quarries. <strong>The</strong> Tyler declares before the Inner Guard that the<br />

candidate wishes to "preside over a Lodge <strong>of</strong> Operative Masons" (p. 9), hereby<br />

playing his role as if he lived in the times before the invention <strong>of</strong> Speculative<br />

Masonry. Since the candidate is not in the possession <strong>of</strong> the pass grip and<br />

password, the Tyler gives them for him, and likewise, the Inner Guard furnishes<br />

the pass grip and word, so that the Worshipful Master admits the candidate.<br />

<strong>The</strong> candidate, who, upon his initiation into <strong>Freemasonry</strong> as an Entered<br />

Apprentice, was admitted on the point <strong>of</strong> the compass presented to his naked left<br />

breast, and upon initiation into Fellow Craft was admitted on the square, pressed<br />

upon his naked right breast, and upon his initiation as a Master Mason was<br />

admitted upon both points <strong>of</strong> the compass, is now admitted on the mallet and<br />

chisel:<br />

<strong>The</strong> symbolism <strong>of</strong> these tools is the following:<br />

1310 Duncan, p. 164.<br />

<strong>The</strong> chisel and mallet [...] are instruments used by operative masons to<br />

hew, cut, carve, and indent their work; but we, as Free and Accepted<br />

Masons, make use <strong>of</strong> them for a more noble and glorious purpose. We<br />

use them to hew, cut, carve, and indent the mind. And, as a Mark<br />

Master Mason, we receive you upon the edge <strong>of</strong> the indenting chisel,<br />

and under the pressure <strong>of</strong> the mallet. 1310

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