Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry.pdf - FatimaMovement

are few; and those that look out of the windows
be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the
streets, when the sound of the grinding is low,
and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and
all the daughters of music shall be brought low.
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is
high, and fears shall be in the way, and the
almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper
shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because
man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go
about the streets; or ever the silver cord be
loosed, or the golden bowl be broken at the
fountain, or the wheel at the cistern. Then shall
the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit
shall return unto God, who gave it."
In some Lodges the following paraphrase of the
above is sung; and if the Lodge have an organ, or
melodeon, the singers are generally accompanied
on the instrument:
"Let us remember in our youth,
Before the evil days draw nigh,
Our Great Creator, and his Truth,
Ere memory fail, and pleasures fly;
Or sun, or moon, or planet's light
Grow dark, or clouds return in gloom;
Ere vital spark no more incite;
When strength shall bow and years
consume."
For balance of this paraphrase, see Freemason's
Monitor, or Illustrations of Masonry, by Thomas
S. Webb, p. 61.
As the Senior Deacon and candidate pass the
different stations of the officers, they (the
officers) sound their gavels as follows; when they
pass the Junior Warden in the south the first time,
he gives one rap (•), Senior Warden one rap, and