MANUAL OF FREEMASONRY - Masonic High Council the Mother ...

MANUAL OF FREEMASONRY.
PART I.
THERE are three degrees in Craft-Freemasonry: First—En-
tered Apprentice. Second—Fellow Craft. Third—Master
Mason.
A Lodge of Masons consists of the following officers: a
Master who is styled Worshipful, and may be considered the
President of the body. There are also Past Masters who have
served as Masters, and are distinguished as such in the Lodge.
The next in order to the Master is the Senior Warden, then the
Junior Warden, Senior Deacon, and Junior Deacon ; lastly, an
Inner Guard, and Tilers, or Door Keepers, the one inside,
the other out. The Tiler is armed with a sword. Their seve-
ral duties are explained by a description of the opening of an
Entered Apprentice’s Lodge. There are some slight variances
in the proceedings of the different Lodges ; but the following is
the most correct.
TO OPEN A LODGE IN THE FIRST OR ENTERED APPRENTICE’S
DEGREE.
When the Brethren are assembled to open a Lodge, the
Master calls to order by giving a knock,* which is repeated by
the Wardens, and the following dialogue begins :
* In all ordinary affairs of the Lodge, as to call attention either by the Mas-
ter, Tiler, or Inner Guard, one single rap is made use of, but in opening, closing,
&c., in the First or Entered Apprentice’s Degree, three distinct knocks are
given:—in the Second or Fellow-Craft’s Degree, there is a distinction, and they
are not given at equidistant time ; a pause being made after the first, and the
two subsequently in quicker succession. And in the Third, or Master-Mason’s
Degree, the pause is made between the second and third, the two first being
given quickly, thus reversing the plan in the Fellow-Craft’s Degree. The Tiler
always gives one rap as an alarm, when any one applies for admittance, and the
inner Guard comes out to prove the applicant, if unknown. By this means, the
mode is concealed from intruders.