Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

118
FREE MASONRY.
tyling the lodge door during the time of communication/ 1
Book of Cons. pp. 49, 50.
Such are the materials of a Lodge of Master Masons,
for each of the three first degrees constitutes a lodge by itself
The apprentices 9 lodge is. free to fellows and mas*
ten; the fellow crafts 1 lodge is free to masters, while apprentices
are excluded; and the masters 9 lodge excludes
both apprentices and fellows, until they are raised, according
to the ancient usages, to the sublime degree of a master
mason. Members of chapters, encampments, councils, &c.
&c., must of necessity have reached the upper degrees by
passing regularly through the lower; and as all above have
a right in the degrees below, they may visit in, and be
members of lodges of master masons. But observe, that
none can open a master** lodge on a degree above the
third degree in Masonry.
The degrees above are a late invention, and belong to
the chapters, &c.; with them I have nothing to do:—let
them live; the three first degrees, which are embodied
in lodges, and governed by the officers here explained, are
alone under consideration.
The lodges thus constituted, and required " to assemble
for work at least once in every calendar month," (Cons. p.
42.) do nothing unknown to the public except during communication.
The season of communication opens and closes
with ceremonies, improper for a Mason to discover, because
he has 1 bound himself by oath not to discover them
except to a brother Mason. But no doubt I may copy
from the Free Mason's Monitor.
" To conduct (these ceremonies) with propriety ought to
be the peculiar study of every Mason, especially of those
who have the honour to rule in our assemblies.
" From a share in (them) no Mason can be exempted. It
is a general concern in which all must assist. This (ceremony
of opening the lodge) is the first request of the master,
and the prelude to all business. No sooner has it been