Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor - Rose Croix

CHARGE AT CLOSING A LODGE
BRETHREN:--You are now about to quit this sacred retreat of friendship and virtue, to
mix again with the world. Amid its concerns and temptations, forget not the duties you
have heard so frequently inculcated and so forcibly recommended in this Lodge. Be
diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet. Remember that you have promised to befriend and
relieve every brother
p. 146
who shall need your assistance; you have promised to remind him, in the most friendly
manner, of his errors, and, if possible, to aid him in a reformation. These generous
principles are to extend further. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices.
Do good unto all. Remember it more "especially to the household of the faithful."
Finally, brethren, be ye all of one mind, live in peace, and may the God of love and peace
delight to dwell with and bless you.
W. M.--Brother Senior Warden, I now declare this Lodge duly closed. Brother Junior
Deacon (turning to that officer), you will inform the Tyler.
Worshipful Master gives one rap with his gavel, when the Lodge is closed, and the
brethren divest themselves of their regalia, preparatory to returning to their respective
homes. 1
p. 147
The "work," or rather the lectures in the several degrees of Masonry, more especially in
the first three degrees (masonically termed the Blue Degrees, or Blue Lodge), differ so
much in each State that it would be a difficult thing to get exactly at the proper responses
to some of the Masonic interrogatories. No three States in the Union "work" alike. Each
Grand Lodge has a "work" of its own, which is taught the subordinate Lodges annually
by its Grand Lecturer. 1
It is generally known among Masons, that in the Northwestern States the lectures and
"work" are those as taught by Barney. There is a great degree of uniformity in Michigan,
Illinois, and Wisconsin--also in Indiana and Iowa. The Barney "work" is that adopted by
the Baltimore Convention. The "work" in Minnesota and New York is strongly
impregnated with what is called, among Masons, "Morganry"--very similar to the
disclosures of Morgan and Richardson--so much so, that many Masters purchase these
publications for their instruction in their duties and in the ritual. Masonry has but little
changed, and a knowledge of the alterations which have been made since Morgan's
exposure was written is all that is requisite to make a "bright Mason." The only
alterations which occur in the lectures of each degree are in the commencement. A
concise sketch of Brother Barney, the author of the three lectures introduced in