Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor - Rose Croix

A. Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, who was slain just before the completion of King
Solomon's Temple.
Q. Was his death premeditated?
A. It was, by fifteen Fellow Crafts, who, seeing the Temple about to be completed, and
being desirous of obtaining the secrets of a Master Mason, whereby they might travel in
foreign countries, work, and receive Master's wages, entered into a horrid conspiracy to
extort them from our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, or take his life; but, reflecting with
horror on the atrocity of the crime, twelve of them recanted; the other three persisted in
their murderous designs.
Q. At what hour was our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, slain? A. At high twelve. 1
p. 138
Q. How came he to be assassinated at that hour?
A. It was his usual practice at high twelve, while the Craft were called from labor to
refreshment, to enter into the unfinished Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of Holies of the
Temple, and there to offer up his adorations to Deity, and there to draw his designs on the
trestle-board. 1
Q. Who were the murderers?
A. The three Fellow Crafts who persisted in their murderous designs, knowing this to be
his usual practice, placed themselves at the south, west, and east gates of the inner courts
of the Temple, and there awaited his return.
Q. What followed?
A. Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, having finished his usual exercises, attempted to
retire at the south gate, where he was accosted by Jubela, who thrice demanded of him
the secrets of a Master Mason, or the Master's word; and, on being refused, gave him a
blow with the twenty-four-inch gauge across the throat, upon which he fled, and
attempted to pass out at the west gate, where he was accosted by Jubelo, who, in like
manner, thrice demanded of him the secrets of a Master Mason, or the Master's word;
and, on his being refused, gave him a blow with a square across his breast, upon which he
fled, and attempted to make his escape out at the east gate, where he was accosted by
Jubelum, who, in like manner, thrice demanded of him the secrets of a Master .Mason, or
the Master's word: and, on his being refused, gave him a violent blow with a settingmaul,
on his forehead, which felled him dead on the spot. 2
p. 139
Q. What did they do with the body?