The Three Degrees of Freemasonry
Master Mason Degree
Closing
Closing the Lodge
WM - (*) Brother Junior Deacon, [JD rises, takes rod one step, grounds rod and rests rod].
JD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - The last great care of Masons when convened?
JD - To see that the lodge is duly tiled.
WM - You will attend to that duty and inform the Tiler that we are about to close this lodge of Master Masons and direct him to tile accordingly.
[JD goes to Outer Door, gives (***), answered by Tiler with (***); JD opens Outer Door.]
JD - Brother Tiler, we are about to close this lodge of Master Masons, and you are directed to tile accordingly. [Tiler does not respond. JD closes Outer Door, returns to place.]
JD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the duty is performed.
WM - (*) Brother Senior Warden [JD sits, SW rises.], at the opening of this Lodge you informed me that you were a Master Mason. What induced you to become a Master Mason?
SW - That I might travel into foreign countries, work and receive Master's wages, be better enabled to support myself and family, and contribute to the relief of poor, distressed, worthy brother Master Masons, their widows and orphans.
WM - Have you ever traveled as such?
SW - I have, from East to West, and from West to East again.
WM - Why did you leave the East, the source of light, and travel to the West?
SW - In search of that which was lost.
WM - To what do you allude, my brother?
SW - The Master's Word.
WM - Did you find it?
SW - I did not, but found a substitute, which at the opening of this Lodge was sent to the East by the Junior Deacon accompanied with all its due signs and ceremonies.
WM - Brother Senior Warden, I will now return the substitute to the West by the Senior Deacon, accompanied with all its due signs and ceremonies.
[WM descends, moves South three steps and faces about while SD rises and takes position opposite WM. They approach each other by the steps, Due Guards and Signs of an Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason respectively. They then greet each other on the five points of fellowship and communicate the Grand Masonic Word. WM returns to his station. SD takes three steps South, turns and moves West. SW descends and moves North three steps to position and faces about opposite the SD. They approach each other in the same manner with the SW about one-half count behind the SD. They communicate. SW returns to station and is seated. SD returns to his place and is seated.]
SW - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the substitute is duly received in the West.
WM - What make you a Master Mason?
SW - My obligation.
WM - Where were you made a Master Mason?
SW - In a regularly constituted Lodge of Master Masons, duly assembled in a room or place representing the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple.
WM - How many constitute a Lodge of Master Masons?
SW - Three, consisting of the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens.
WM - The Junior Warden's station?
SW - In the South, [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - (**) [Officers rise except WM.] Brother Junior Warden, why in the South and your duty?
JW - As the sun in the South at meridian height is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South, to call the craft from labor to refreshment, superintend them during the hour thereof, and see that none convert the means of refreshment into intemperance or excess; call them to labor at the order of the Worshipful Master, that he may have pleasure and they profit thereby.
WM - The Senior Warden's station?
JW - In the West, [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - Brother Senior Warden, your duty?
SW - As the sun is in the west at the close of the day, so stands the Senior Warden in the West to assist the Worshipful Master in opening and closing his Lodge, pay the craft their wages if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied; harmony being the strength and support of all institutions, more especially of ours.
WM - The Master's station?
SW - In the East, [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - Why in the East?
SW - As the sun rises in the East to open and govern the day, so rises the Worshipful Master in the East [WM rises], to open and govern his Lodge, set the craft at work, and give them proper instruction.
WM - (***) [All rise.] Brother Senior Warden, it is my order that this Lodge of Master Masons be now closed. You will report the same to the Junior Warden in the South that the brethren may have due notice and govern themselves accordingly.
SW - Brother Junior Warden, it is the order of the Worshipful Master that this Lodge of Master Masons be now closed. You will communicate the same to the brethren, that they, having due notice, may govern themselves accordingly.
JW - Brethren, it is the order of the Worshipful Master that this Lodge of Master Masons be now closed. You will take due notice and govern yourselves accordingly.
WM - Together brethren, upon the signs. [All brothers make the Due Guards and Signs of an Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason.] (WM*, SW*, JW*; WM*, SW*, JW*; )
WM*, SW*, JW*).
WM - Brother Senior Warden, how should Masons meet?
SW - On the level. [All step down to level.]
WM - How act, brother Junior Warden?
JW - By the plumb.
WM - And part upon the square.
[Brethren form parallel lines North and South of Altar. Officers go to positions: JW and Ss in center of South line; SW on North and JD on South of line in West; SD on North and Se on South of line in East; WM center of East line, or in Se spot if Se is absent.]
So may we ever meet, act and part, my brothers.
WM - [Uncovers.] May the blessing of heaven rest upon us and all regular Masons. May brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue unite and cement us. Amen.
[Alternate closing prayers:
WM - Supreme Grand Master, Ruler of Heaven and earth; now that we are about to separate and return to our respective places of abode, wilt Thou be pleased so to influence our hearts and minds that we may each one of us practice out of the Lodge those great moral duties which are inculcated in it, and with reverence study and obey the laws which Thou has given us in Thy Holy Word. Amen; or,
WM - Supreme Architect of the Universe, accept our humble thanks for the many mercies and blessings which Thy bounty has conferred on us, and especially for this friendly and social intercourse. Pardon, we beseech Thee, whatever Thou has seen amiss in us Thy presence, protection, and blessing. Make us sensible of the renewed obligation we are under to love Thee, and as we are about to separate and return to our humble places of abode, wilt Thou be please so to influence our hearts and minds that we may each one of us practice out of the Lodge those great moral duties which are inculcated in it, and with reverence study and obey the laws which Thou hast given us in Thy Holy Word. Amen; or,
WM - And now may the blessing of Heaven rest upon each and every one of us, now and forevermore. Amen.]
All respond - So mote it be.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon.
SD - [Faces WM.] Worshipful [Due Guard] Master [Sign].
WM - You will secure the Three Great Lights.
SD - [SD moves slowly to the Altar. WM uncovers. SD takes the square and compasses off of the Bible, and closes the Bible. SD then moves to the Lesser Lights and extinguishes them. SD returns to the Altar, bows, and returns to position in the square facing West.]
WM - I now declare this Lodge of Master Masons duly closed.
WM - Brother Junior Deacon, inform the Tiler.
JD - [JD goes to and opens Outer Door.] Brother Tiler, this Lodge of Master Masons is now closed.
[Tiler does not respond. JD returns to position at South of line in the West. Tiler enters lodge and waits in the West until JD reports.]
JD - Worshipful Master, the duty is performed.
Tiler - [Moves along South sideline to the East to return the sword to the WM.]
WM - (*). [Dismissed Lodge.]
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