Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

DECANUS
DEDICATION 199
hesion to any religious dogmas or precepts,
excepting those which express a belief in the
existence of God, and the immortality of the
soul. No partial law prescribed for a particular
religion can be properly selected for
the government of an Institution whose great
characteristic is its universality . (See Moral
Law .)
Decanus. An officer in the Knights Templar
system of Baron Hund, who, in the absence
of the Grand Master and his Prior, possessed
the right to preside in the Chapter .
Deeius. The nom de plume of C . L . Reinhold,
a distinguished Masonic writer . (See
Reinhold.)
Declaration of Candidates . Every candidate
for initiation is required to make,
"upon honor," the following declaration before
an appropriate officer or committee .
That, unbiased by the improper solicitation of
friends and uninfluenced by mercenary motives,
he freely and voluntarily offers himself
as a candidate for the Mysteries of Masonry ;
that he is prompted to solicit the privileges of
Masonry by a favorable opinion conceived of
the Institution and a desire of knowledge ;
and that he will cheerfully conform to all the
ancient usages and established customs of the
Fraternity . This form is very old . It is to be
found in precisely the same words in the earliest
edition of Preston . It is required by the
English Constitution, that the candidate
should subscribe his name to this declaration .
But in America the declaration is made orally,
and usually before the Senior Deacon .
Declaration of the Master . Every Master
of a Lodge, after his election and before his
installation, is required to give, in the presence
of the brethren, his assent to the following
fifteen charges and regulations :
1 . Do you promise to be a good man and
true, and strictly to obey the moral law?
2 . Do you promise to be a peaceable citizen,
and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the
country in which you reside? 3 . Do you
promise not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies
against the government of the country
in which you live, but patiently to submit
to the decisions of the law and the constituted
authorities? 4 . Do you promise to pay proper
respect to the civil magistrates, to work diligently,
live creditably, and act honorably by
all men? 5. Do you promise to hold in veneration
the original rulers and patrons of the
Order of Freemasonry, and their regular successors,
supreme and subordinate, according to
their stations ; and to submit to the awards
and resolutions of your brethren in Lodge
convened, in every case consistent with the
constitutions of the Order? 6 . Do you promise,
as much as in you lies, to avoid private piques
and quarrels, and to guard against intemperance
and excess? 7 . Do you promise to be
cautious in your behavior, courteous to your
brethren, and faithful to your Lodge? 8 . Do
you promise to respect genuine and true
brethrenr and to discountenance impostors
and all dissenters from the Ancient Landmarks
and Constitutions of Masonry? 9. Do you
promise, according to the best of your abilities,
to promote the general good of society, to
cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate
the knowledge of the mystic art, according to
our statutes? 10 . Do you promise to pay
homage to the Grand Master for the time
being, and to his officers when duly installed ;
and strictly to conform to every edict of the
Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons
that is not subversive of the principles and
groundwork of Masonry? 11 . Do you admit
that it is not in the power of any man, or body
of men,_ to make innovations in the body of
Masonry? 12 . Do you promise a regular attendance
on the committees and communications
of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper
notice, and to pay attention to all the duties
of Masonry, on convenient occasions? 13 .
Do you admit that no new Lodge can be
formed without permission of the Grand
Lodge ; and that no countenance ought to be
given to any irregular Lodge, or to any person
clandestinely initiated therein, as being con-
the ancient charges of the Order?
tra 14.%o you admit that no person can be regularly
made a Freemason in, or admitted a
member of, any regular Lodge, without previous
notice, and due inquiry into his character?
15 . Do you agree that no visitors shall be
received into your Lodge without due examination,
and producing proper vouchers of
their having been initiated in a regular Lodge?
Declaring Off. "When a brother ceases
to visit and pay his monthly subscription, he
thereby declares himself off the Lodge ."
(Symbolical Dictionary .) In England, the
brother "resigns." Various designations rule
in the United States, the chief one being
"dropped from the roll ." In some States the
brother is punished by "suspension ." If, however,
in certain States, he is clear of the books,
upon application he can receive a certificate
to that effect, and be dropped from the roll .
In England he gets a "clearance certificate ."
In Scotland a "demit" is issued by the
Daughter Lodge and countersigned by the
Grand Secretary .
Decorations . A Lodge room ought, besides
its necessary furniture, to be ornamented
with decorations which, while they adorn and
beautify it, will not be unsuitable to its sacred
character . On this subject, Dr . Oliver, in his
Book of the Lodge (ch. v ., p . 70), makes the following
judicious remarks : "The expert Mason
will be convinced that the walls of a Lodge
room ought neither to be absolutely naked nor
too much decorated . A chaste disposal of
symbolical ornaments in the right places, and
according to propriety, relieves the dulness
and vacuity of a blank space, and, though but
sparingly used, will produce a striking impression,
and contribute to the general beauty and
solemnity of the scene ."
Dedication of a Lodge . Among the ancients
every temple, altar, statue, or sacred
place was dedicated to some divinity . The
Romans, during the Republic, confided this
duty to their consuls, pretors, censors, or
other chief magistrates, and afterward to the