The Etiquette of Freemasonry by An Old Past Master

Author:An Old Past Master
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2012-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XVII.

THE THIRD DEGREE.

At the Door of the Lodge—The Three Perambulations—The Examination—What the Candidate has to Pass Over—The Third Tracing Board—An Inexpensive Substitute—An Undergraduate’s Wit—Remarks on the O. B.—Not yet M. M., still only a Probationer—Wardens had better Leave their Places now, and be ready to Change with the Deacons—Thus the Narrative will not be Disturbed—The Wardens should be specially Careful in Performing their respective Functions— The S. W. before the Final Action—Details of Position and Action require Care—Candidate now in the N.—Instructed how to Advance—A necessary Caution—An Absurd Effect— The Permission to Retire—Trial and Approbation—Division of Labour in the Examination—Traditional History Concluded —Attention directed to Implements and Emblems—Ornaments of a Lodge—The Three Grand Masters—Many Lodges omit the latter portion of the Traditional History—This should not be—A lame and impotent Conclusion, and an Injustice to the Candidate.

WHEN a Candidate for the Third Degree is conducted to the door of the Lodge, the K……s of the Second Degree are given, constituting an alarm. The reason for this is given on page 76. After the Prayer, he has to make three perambulations. During the first circuit, he has to prove to the brethren, through an examination conducted by the Junior Warden, that he has been regularly initiated into Freemasonry. During the second round he has to prove to the Senior Warden that he has been duly passed in the Second, or Fellow-Craft’s Degree. He is then halted on the North side of the Senior Warden’s pedestal, and the brethren are requested to observe that he ‘is about to pass in view before them, to show that he is properly prepared.’ During the third round the Candidate has to prove to the Senior Warden that he is in possession of the P…. G…. and the P…. W…. leading from the Second to the Third Degree.

Now, inasmuch as it is the invariable rule in each Degree that the Candidate shall undergo one examination, no more, and no less, during each of these preliminary perambulations, it is clear that the rule laid down on page 115 is the correct rule; namely, that there shall be one perambulation for the First Degree, and no more; two for the Second Degree, no more and no less; and three for the Third Degree, no more and no less.

It is true the Candidate for Initiation is challenged twice in going once round the Lodge, but this is not really an exception to the rule; he has only to undergo the one examination twice repeated, comprising the same questions and answers as were given at the door of the Lodge. This is inevitable and indispensable if the theory of the three doors (one real and two imaginary) be maintained. This is fully explained on page 121.

All sorts of devices are resorted to, to represent that over which the Candidate has to pass, in advancing from West to East. In one Lodge, well known to the writer, the Tyler was always brought in, and was made to take the necessary position, and was covered up.

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