Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry.pdf - FatimaMovement

p. 150
MARK MASTER, OR
FOURTH DEGREE.
THE Degree of Mark Master, which is the Fourth
in the Masonic series, is, historically considered,
of the utmost importance, since we are informed
that, by its influence, each operative Mason, at
the building of King Solomon's Temple, was
known and distinguished, and the disorder and
confusion which might otherwise have attended
so immense an undertaking was completely
prevented, and not only the craftsmen
themselves, but every part of their workmanship
was discriminated with the greatest nicety and the
utmost facility.
It is claimed by Masonic writers, 1 that this
Degree in Masonry was instituted by King
Solomon, at the building of the Temple, for the
purpose of detecting impostors, while paying
wages to the craftsmen. Each operative was
required to put his mark upon the product of his
labor, and these distinctive marks were all known
to the Senior Grand Warden. If any of the
workman-ship was found to be defective, it was a
matter of no difficulty for the overseers to
ascertain at once who was the imperfect
craftsman, and remedy the defect. Thus the faulty
workman was punished, without diminishing the