Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

SUBLIME DEGREE OF MASTER MASON. $9
" While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or die stars,
be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
" In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the
grinders shall cease because they 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 be a burthen, 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, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the
wheel broken at the cistern: then shall the dust return to
the earth as it was, and the spirit unto God who gave it."
Then is said the following prayer, found alike in the Monitor,
(p. 74.) and in the Chart, (p. 36.) (Manual, p. 144.
F. M. L. p. 82.) and given in most Masonic works, as used
in making a Master Mason.
" Thou, O God I knowestour down sitting and up rising,
and understandest our thought afar off. Shield and defend
us from the evil attempts of our enemies, and support us
under the trials and afflictions we are destined to endure,
while travelling through this vale of tears. Man that is
born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He
cometh forth as a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as
a shadow and continueth not. Seeing his days are determined,
the number of his months is with thee, thou hast
appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; turn from him
that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day. For
there is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout
again, and that the.tender branch thereof will not cease.
But man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the
ghost, and where is he ? As the waters fail, and the flood
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