The Three Degrees of Freemasonry
Master Mason Degree
First Section
First Section
WM - (*) Brethren, the Lodge has been especially convened at this time for the purpose of conferring the Master Mason degree. Brother A.B., a Fellowcraft of this Lodge who has made suitable proficiency in that degree, is in waiting to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. If there is no objection, I will confer the degree upon him. There being no objection, I will proceed.
WM - (*) Brother Secretary. [Se rises and faces WM.]
Se - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - You will retire and receive the fee.
[SD rises and moves with Se to Altar. WM rises and all give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM is seated and Se and SD retire through Inner Door. Se collects the fee.]
[Se returns to the Lodge and advances to the Altar. WM rises. Both salute in unison.]
Se - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the usual fee has been received.
WM - Brother Junior Deacon.
JD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - You will take with you such assistance as you deem necessary, retire and properly prepare Brother A.B. to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
JD - [JD moves to position West of the Altar, turns South to face Stewards and grounds rod.]
Brother Stewards [Stewards rise], you will retire with me and assist in the preparation.
[JD and Ss move to the Altar. WM rises. All give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM is seated. JD and Ss retire, in file, through Inner Door. Meanwhile, SD moves to JD's place and is seated.]
[JD on right of Cn, followed by the Ss, SS on right, go to Inner Door. JD has candidate give (***) on the Inner Door.]
SD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - Brother Senior Deacon.
SD - There is an alarm at the inner door of our Lodge.
WM - You will attend to the alarm and see who comes there.
SD - [At the inner door SD gives ***] Who comes here?
JD - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, and now seeks further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
SD - Br. A.B., is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
SD - Brother Junior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
JD - He is.
SD - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
JD - He has.
SD - Is he properly vouched for?
JD - He is.
SD - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
JD - By the benefit of the pass.
SD - Has he the pass?
JD - He has it not, I have it for him.
SD - You will advance and give me the pass.
JD - [JD advances and whispers "Tubal-Cain" in the SD's ear.]
SD - You will await with patience until the Worshipful Master is informed of your request and his answer returned.
[SD closes Inner Door, goes to Altar, WM rises, both give Due Guard and Sign in unison.]
WM - [At altar] [Due Guard] Brother Senior Deacon [Sign], who comes there?
SD - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft and now seeks further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
WM - Is this of his own free will and accord?
SD - It is.
WM - Is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
WM - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
WM - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
WM - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
WM - Give me the pass.
SD - Tubal-Cain.
WM - The pass is right. Since he possesses these necessary qualifications, let him enter and be received in due form. [WM seated. SD returns and opens Inner Door without rapping.]
SD - Let him enter and be received in due form.
[SD moves to position midway between West and the Altar and about faces. Once in place, JD, Cn and Ss enter, move to and halt in position in front of SD.]
SD - Br. B., on your first admission into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, you were received on the point of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left breast. On your second admission, you were received on the angle of a square applied to your naked right breast, for reasons then explained. You are now received on both points of the Compasses [applied to Cn's naked chest] extending from your naked left to right breast, which is to teach you that as the most vital parts of man are contained within the breast, so are the most excellent tenets of our order contained within the points of the Compasses, which are friendship, morality and brotherly love.
[JD releases Cn and steps to the right, as SD takes position on right of Cn. WM rises. SD, Cn and Ss move toward the East, while JD returns to his place and is seated. SD conducts Cn three times around the Lodge clockwise; Ss follow, dropping off at positions in the East directly East of the Altar, facing South. Lesson is given during movement, beginning after JW (*). As Cn passes JW, JW gives (*); Ss face West; as Cn passes SW, SW gives (*); Ss take one step back; as Cn passes WM, WM gives (*). As Cn passes on second trip, JW gives (**), SW gives (**), and WM gives (**). As Cn passes on third trip, JW gives (***), SW gives (***), and WM gives (***).]
WM - [Recites Ecclesiastes 8:1-7.] Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, "I have no pleasure in them."
While the sun, or the light, or the moon or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain.
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.
And the doors shall be shut in the streets when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.
Also, when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be burden, and desire shall fail, because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
[WM sits. SD and Cn halt at JW, SD gives (***) at JW station.]
JW - (*) [JW rises. SD releases Cn and steps back.] Who comes here?
SD - Br. A. B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, and now seeks further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
JW - Br. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
JW - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
JW - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
JW - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
JW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
JW - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
JW - You will advance and give me the pass.
[SD shifts rod to left hand, advances at carryrod to JW, whispers "Tubal-Cain" in JW's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
JW - You will conduct him to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination.
[JW sits. SD and Cn go to and halt at SW. SD gives (***) at SW station.]
SW - (*) [SW rises; SD releases Cn and steps back.] Who comes here?
SD - Br. A. B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, and now seeks further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason
.SW - Br. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
SW - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
SW - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
SW - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
SW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
SW - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
SW - You will advance and give me the pass.
SD - [SD shift rod to left hand, advances at carry rod to SW, whispers "Tubal-Cain" in SW's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
SW - You will conduct him to the Worshipful Master in the East for further examination.
[SW sits. SD and Cn go to and halt at WM. SD gives (***) and WM station.]
WM - (*) [WM rises.] Who comes here?
SD - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, and now seeks further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
WM - Br. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
WM - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
WM - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
WM - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
WM - You will advance and give me the pass.
SD - [SD shift rod to left hand, advances at carryrod to WM, whispers "Tubal-Cain" in WM's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
WM - The pass is right. [SD moves to the left side of the Cn.] Since he possesses these necessary qualifications, you will reconduct him to the Senior Warden in the West with my order that he teach him to approach the East by three upright regular steps, his feet forming the angle of a perfect square, his body erect at the Altar before the Worshipful Master in the East.
[WM is seated. SD conducts Cn to Altar on West side, turns West to face SW, takes one step West, grounds rod in left hand.]
SD - Brother Senior Warden [SW rises], it is the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach this candidate to approach the East by three upright regular steps, his feet forming the angle of a perfect square, his body erect at the Altar before the Worshipful Master in the East.
SW - Brother Senior Deacon, you will face the candidate to the East. [Done.]
SW - You will advance one step with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left [Done]; one step with your right foot, bring the heel of the left to the hollow of the right [Done]; one step with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the heel of the left. [Done.]
SW - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the candidate is in order.
WM - Br. B., you are again standing before the sacred Altar of Freemasonry. Further you cannot advance without taking upon yourself a solemn and binding obligation. It is one we have all taken before you, and it becomes my duty, as well as pleasure, to inform you that there is nothing contained in this obligation that will conflict with any duty you owe to God, your country, your neighbor, or yourself. With this assurance on my part, do you wish to proceed?
Cn - Yes.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will place the candidate at the Altar in due form.
SD - You will kneel on both naked knees [Done], both hands resting on the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses [Done]. Worshipful Master, the candidate is in due form.
[WM gives (***), uncovers and descends to floor. Brethren form parallel lines North and South of the Altar from the Ss in the East and extending West past the Altar. At cue by WM, Ss move West inspecting lines; about face, and return to the East, about face. As Ss are opposite Altar on return to East, WM moves to the Altar, and Ds take positions in the West. Lights are off.]
WM - Being now placed at the Altar in due form, if it still be your wish to proceed, you will say "I," pronounce your name, and repeat after me. [Cn complies.]
In the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely, promise and swear, that I will always hele, ever conceal and never reveal, any of the secret arts, parts or points of the Master Mason degree to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother of this degree, or within a regularly constituted lodge of Master Masons, and not unto him or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or legal information, I shall have found him or them as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself.
I furthermore promise and swear, that I will conform to and abide by all the laws, rules and regulations of the Master Mason degree, and of the lodge of which I may hereafter become a member, so far as the same shall come to my knowledge, and will ever maintain the constitution, laws and edicts of the Grand Lodge, under which the same may be holden.
Further, I will answer and obey all due signs and summonses sent to me by a lodge of Master Masons, or given me by a brother of this degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.
Further, I will aid and assist all poor distressed worthy brother Master Masons, there widows and orphans, so far as their necessity may require and my ability permits without material injury to myself or family.
Further, I will keep the secrets of a brother Master Mason inviolate, when communicated to or received by me as such, murder and treason excluded.
Further, I will not aid or be present at the initiating, passing or raising of a woman, an old man in dotage, a young man under age, an atheist, a madman or a fool, I knowing him or them to be such.
Further, I will not sit in a clandestine lodge, or converse upon the secrets of Masonry with a clandestine Mason, nor with one who has been suspended or expelled while under such sentence, I knowing him or them to be such.
Further, I will not cheat, wrong or defraud lodge of Master Masons or a brother of this degree knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his lawful undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice that he may ward off approaching danger.
Further, I will not knowingly strike a brother Master Mason, or do him other personal violence in anger, except in the necessary defense of myself, family or property.
Further, I will not have illicit carnal intercourse with a Master Mason's wife, mother, sister or daughter, nor suffer the same to be done by others, if in my power to prevent.
Further, I will not give the Grand Masonic Word in any other manner or form than that in which I may hereafter receive it, and then in low breath.
Further, I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress, except in circumstances of the most imminent danger, or within a regularly constituted lodge, or for the purpose of instruction, and should I ever see the sign given, or hear the words thereunto annexed spoken, I will fly to the relief of the brother so giving it, should there be a greater probability of saving his life than of losing my own.
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under the symbolic penalty of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile a wretch as I should be to knowingly violate this, my Master Mason obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.
WM - My brother, in token of your sincerity, you will remove your hands and kiss the book open before you which is the Holy Bible. [Done.]
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will remove the cable-tow from around our brother as he is now bound to us by stronger ties. [Done. WM returns to the East.]
WM - My brother, in your present situation, what do you most desire?
Cn - [Senior Deacon whispers "Further light in Masonry" into Cn's ear.] Further light in Masonry.
WM - Brethren, stretch forth your hands and assist me in giving this brother further light in Masonry. [All brethren give the Due Guard and Sign except Ds and Ss.]
WM - In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light.
[Enlightenment. All move from Due Guard and give Sign in unison with WM. Cn's hoodwink is removed.]
WM - My brother, on being brought to light, you discover as before the Three Great Lights in Masonry by the help of the three lesser, with this difference: that both points of the Compasses are now raised above the Square which is to teach you never to lose sight of the moral application of this useful and visible instrument which teaches friendship, morality and brotherly love.
[SW gives (*). Lights are turned on. JD, Ss and brethren return to places and are seated; likewise SW and JW are seated; SD and WM remain standing. WM returns to East and recovers.]
WM - My brother, you now behold me as Master of this Lodge approaching you from the East [WM takes step of a Master Mason] under the Due Guard and Sign of a Master Mason. [Done.]
An Entered Apprentice, you recollect, steps off with his left foot [Done], bringing the heel of the right to the hollow of the left [Done]. This is the Due Guard [Done], and this the Sign [Done].
A Fellowcraft steps off with his right foot [Done], bringing the heel of the left to the hollow of the right [Done]. This is the Due Guard [Done], and this the Sign [Done].
A Master Mason steps off with his left foot [Done], bringing the heel of the right to the heel of the left [Done], forming the angle of a perfect square. It is the third step in Masonry, and the step by which you approached the Altar.
This is the Due Guard [Done]. It alludes to the position in which your hands were placed while taking the obligation; both hands resting on the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses. This is the Sign [Done]. It alludes to the symbolic penalty of your obligation, wherein you swore that you would sooner have your body severed in twain, your bowels taken thence and burned to ashes, than to violate your obligation.
This Due Guard [Done] and Sign [Done] are always to be given on entering or retiring from a Lodge of Master Masons, or on arising to address the Worshipful Master. [Approaches Altar.]
WM - I again have the pleasure of presenting you my right hand in token of a further continuance of my friendship and brotherly love, and with it the pass and token of the pass of a Master Mason. [WM shakes Cn with right hand.] But as you are not instructed, I will pass it with your conductor who will answer for you.
WM - Here I left you [On Fellowcraft grip] and here I find you. Will you be off or from?
SD - From.
WM - From what and to what?
SD - From the grip of a Fellowcraft to the pass grip of a Master Mason.
WM - Pass. [SD moves Cn's thumb from the second knuckle of the WM's right hand to the space between his second and third knuckle.] What is this?
SD - The pass grip of a Master Mason.
WM - Has it a name?
SD - It has.
WM - Give it me.
SD - Tubal-Cain.
WM - This, my brother, is the pass grip of a Master Mason, the name of which is Tubal-Cain. It is the password of this degree, and when used as such in the Lodge, or to a well known officer of the Lodge, it is given as you have now received it. On all other occasions it should always be syllabled. Tubal-Cain was the eighth man from Adam. He had so improved himself in Geometry, or Masonry, as to become the first known inventor, as well as instructor, in curious smith-work. The more learned expositors agree that the Egyptians as well as the Greeks called him by the name of Hephestus, and held him to be the first metallic operator by fire. The Romans also ascribed to him the same art under the name of Vulcan.
WM - You will arise and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens.
[Cn rises. WM returns to East. Ws rise as WM ascends dais. WM sits. SD turns Cn to South, moves into position.]
SD - This, my brother, is our Junior Warden. You will approach him by stepping off with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left. [Done]. Salute him with the Due Guard [Done], and Sign. [Done].
SD - [SD turns Cn to West.] This is our Senior Warden. You will approach him in the same manner [Done], salute as before [Done].
[SD conducts Cn to North, turning East at sidelines. On (*) of WM, SD halts and faces South with Cn.]
WM - (*) Brother Junior Warden, how do you find the salute in the South?
JW - Right in the South, Worshipful [Due Guard] Master [Sign].
WM - How in the West, brother Senior Warden?
SW - Right in the West, Worshipful [Due Guard] Master [Sign].
WM - (*) [SW and JW are seated. SD turns Cn to the East.]
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will reconduct the brother to the Senior Warden in the West with my order to teach him to wear his apron as a Master Mason. [SD conducts Cn to SW.]
SD - Brother Senior Warden [SW rises], it is the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach brother B. to wear his apron as a Master Mason.
SW - [SW takes out the tucked apron flap and pulls it down so that the flap is a full triangle.] My brother, as an Entered Apprentice you were taught to wear your apron with the top turned up, and as a Fellowcraft you were taught to wear your apron with the top turned down and one corner turned up in the form of a triangle, for reasons then explained. As a Master Mason, you are entitled to wear it in the form of a square to designate you as a Master, or overseer of the work.
[SW seated. SD conducts Cn to East. WM rises. SD takes two steps back, turns North, moves to left of Cn, and faces East.]
WM - My brother, you have returned to the East clothed as a Master and are now entitled to the working tools of this degree, which are all the implements of Masonry indiscriminately, but more especially the Trowel.
The Trowel is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass; but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection; that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society, of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.
WM - You will now be reconducted to the place whence you came, reinvested with that of which you have been divested, and returned to the Lodge.
[WM is seated. SD on left conducts Cn to the Altar as JD and Ss rise and go to Altar. All face East. WM rises. All give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM sits. SD returns to place and is seated. JD on left of Cn, and JS on left of SS, move toward Inner Door. When at half-way between Altar and Inner Door, WM gives (*). JD, Cn, Ss halt, all form a line facing South.]
WM - Brother Junior Warden, [JW rises.] what is the hour?
JW - High-twelve, [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - It being high-twelve, it is my order that the craft be called from labor to refreshment for the space of one hour or until the sound of the gavel in the East.
JW - (***) [All rise.] Brethren, it being high-twelve, it is the order of the Worshipful Master that the craft be called from labor to refreshment for the space of one hour, or until the sound of the gavel in the East. You will take due notice and govern yourselves accordingly.
WM - The craft is called from labor to refreshment.
JW - (*).
[JD, Cn and Ss continue interrupted movement to the Inner Door. JD opens Inner Door, returns to place and is seated as Ss retire with Cn. The Cn now puts his clothes back on.]
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