A Lexicon of Freemasonry - The Masonic Trowel

the unhappy results of the first sin of woman, until they termi .
nated in the universal deluge .
The building of the Tower of Babel, and the consequent dis .
persion of the human race, constitute the legend of the third
degree, or that of Mistress . Jacob's ladder is also introduced
into the ceremonies of this degree, and the candidate is informed
that it symbolically denotes the various virtues which a Mason
should possess, while the Tower of Babel is an emblem of a badly
regulated lodge, in which disorder and confusion are substituted
for the concord and obedience which should always exist in such
a place .
In the fourth degree, or that of Perfect Mistress, the officers
represent Moses, Aaron, their wives, and the sons of Aaron, and
the ceremonies and instructions refer to the passage of the Israelites
through the wilderness, as a symbol of the passage of man
and woman through this, to another and a better world .
It will be seen, from this brief sketch, that the rite of Adoption
professes, in some measure, to imitate the symbolic character
and design of true Freemasonry . It cannot be denied that the
idea has been very ingeniously and successfully carried out .
The officers of a lodge of Adoption consist of a Grand Master
and Grand Mistress, an Orator, an Inspector and an Inspectress,
a Depositor and a Depositrix, a Conductor and a Conductress .*
They wear a blue sash or collar, with a gold trowel suspended
thereto . The Grand Master uses a mallet, with which he governs
the lodge, and the same implement is placed in the hands of the
Grand Mistress, the Inspector and Inspectress, and Depositor
and Depositrix. Every member wears a plain white apron and
white gloves .
The brethren, in addition to the insignia of their rank, wear
swords and a gold ladder with five rounds, which is the proper
jewel of Adoptive masonry .
* The Inspectress, assisted by the Inspector, acts as Senior Warden, and the
Depositrix, assisted by the Depositor, as Junior Warden . The Conductress and
he Conductor are the Deacons .