The Craftsman and Freemason's Guide; Containing a Delineation of the Rituals of Freemasonry, with the Emblems and Explanations So Arranged as Greatly to Facilitate in Acquiring a Knowledge of the Rites and Ceremonies of the Several (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: PART SECOND. CHAPTER L MARK MASTER'S DEGREE. This degree of masonry was not less useful in its original institution, nor are its effects less beneficial to mankind, than those which precede it. By the influence of this degree, each operative mason at the erection of King Solomon's temple, was known and distinguished by the Senior Grand Warden. If defects were found, the overseers were enabled, without difficulty, to ascertain who was the faulty workman: so that deficiencies might be remedied, without injuring the credit or diminishing the reward of the industrious and faithful of the craft. CHARGE TO BE HEAD AT OPENING. Wherefore, brethern, lay aside all malice, and guile, and hypocricies, and envies, and all evil speakings. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious; to whomcoming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious; ye, also, as living stones, be ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God. Wherefore, also, it is contained in the Scriptures, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that be- lieveth, shall not make haste to pass it over. Unto you, therefore, which believe, it is an honor; and even to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. Brethren, this is the will of God, that with well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood; fear God. Section First. The first section contains the manner of opening a Mark Master's Lodge. It teaches the stations and duties of the respective of...