The Mysteries of Free Masonry, &c.

Captain William Morgan, 1826

page 3

Ceremonies on Opening a Lodge of Entered Masons.

One rap call the Lodge to order; one calls up the Junior and Senior
Deacons; two raps call up the subordinate officers; and three, all the
members of the Lodge.

The Master having called the Lodge to order, and the officers all seated,
the Master says to the Junior Warden, "Brother Junior, are they all
Entered Apprentice Masons in the South"  He answers, "They are
Worshipful."  Master to the Senior Warden, "Brother Senior are they all
Entered Apprentice Masons in the West?"  He answers, "They are
Worshipful."  The Master then says, "They are in the East;" at the same
time he gives a rap with the common gavel or mallet, which calls up both
Deacons.  Master to Junior Deacon, "Attend to that part of your duty, and
inform the Tyler that we are about to open a Lodge of Entered Apprentice
Masons; and direct him to tyle accordingly."  The Tyler then steps to the
door and gives three raps, which are answered by three from without; the
Junior Deacon then give one, which is also answered by the Tyler with one;
the door is then partly opened, and the Junior Deacon delivers his
message, and resumes his situation, and says, "The door is tyled,
Worshipful," (at the same time giving the due-guard, which is never
omitted when the Master is addressed.)  The Master to the Junior Deacon,
"By whom?"  He answers, "By a Master Mason without the door, armed with
the proper implements of his office."  Master to the Junior Deacon,
"Brother Junior, your place in the Lodge?"  He answers, "At the right hand
of the Senior Warden in the West."  Master to Junior Deacon, "Your
business there, brother Junior?"  He answers, "To wait on the Worshipful
Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge,
and take charge of the door."  Master to Junior Deacon, "Your business
there, brother Junior?"  He answers, "To wait on the Worshipful Master and
Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge, and take
charge of the door."  Master to Junior Deacon, "The Senior Deacon's place
in the Lodge?"  He answers, "At the right hand of the Worshipful Master in
the East."  [The Master, while asking the last question, give two raps,
which calls up all the subordinate officers.]  Master to Senior Deacon,
"your duty there, brother Senior?"  He answers, "To wait on the Worshipful
Master and Wardens, act as their proxy in the active duties of the Lodge,
attend to the preparation and introduction of candidates, and welcome and
clothe all visiting brethren," [i.e. furnish them with an apron.]  Master
to Senior Deacon, "The Secretary's place in the Lodge, brother Senior?"
He answers, "At the left hand of the Worshipful Master in the East."
Master to the Secretary, "Your duty there, brother Secretary?"  He
answers, "The better to observe the Worshipful Master's will and pleasure,
record the proceedings of the Lodge; transmit a copy of the same to the
Grand Lodge, if required; receive all moneys and money bills from the
hands of the brethren, pay them over to the Treasurer, and take his
receipt for the same."  The Master to the Secretary, "The Treasurer's
place in the Lodge?"  He answers, "At the right hand of the Worshipful
Master."  Master to the Treasurer, "your duty there, brother Treasurer?"
He answers, "Duly to observe the Worshipful Master's will and pleasure;
receive all monies and money bills from the hands of the Secretary; keep a
just and true account of the same; pay them out by order of the Worshipful
Master and consent of the brethren."  The Master to the Treasurer, "The
Junior Warden's place in the Lodge, brother Treasurer?"  He answers "In
the South, Worshipful ."  Master to the Junior Warden, "Your business
there, brother Junior?"  He answers, "As the sun in the South at high
meridian, is the beauty and glory of the day, so stands the Junior Warden
in the South, the better to observe the time; call the crafts from labor
to refreshment; superintend them during the hours thereof; see that none
convert the hours of refreshment into that of intemperance or excess; and
call them on again in due season, that the Worshipful Master may have the
honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby."  Master to the Junior
Warden, "The Senior Warden's place in the Lodge?"  He answers, "As the sun
sets in the West, to close the day, so stands the Senior Warden in the
West, to assist the Worshipful Master in opening his Lodge; take care of
the jewels and implements; see that none be lost; pay the craft their
wages, if any be due; and see that none go away dissatisfied,"  Master to
the Senior Warden, "The Master's place in the Lodge?"  He answers, "In the
East, Worshipful."  Master to the Senior Warden, "His duty there?"  He
answers, "As the sun rises in the East to open and adorn the day, so
presides the Worshipful Master in the East to pen and adorn the Lodge; set
his crafts to work with good and wholesome laws; or cause the same to be