The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-08-12
Masonic Secrets.


Says the article in the Times, "Per
haps ii Free Masons disclosed thcil
secrets they would lose little wortl
acquiring" This is all the more true
rs the Free Masons have 10 secrets
Accounts OF their childish hummer.
lee have been frequently published
Fam not myself Free Mason, but
have often amused myself by pass
ing for one.
An ordinary lodge is formed as
follows: 1t must consist of not less
than six Entered Apprentices
ind ono Past Master. The room in
which the meeting takes place ought
TO be oblong. In the middle there is
u stool or table called the altar,and on
the altar there is bible, q carpenters
square and a compass. Round the
altar are three lighted candles. The
Master sits at one end OF the room,
which is termed the east on one side
OF him is the Secretary, on the other
side the Treasurer, and little before
him is the Senior Deacon. AT the
other end Of the room Called the
wesD the Senior Warden is seated,
with the Junior Deacon little in
advance Of him. Half way down the
room, on the left side Of the Master,
the Junior Warden is seated, and
this place is termed the south. If
there are nine Masons present, there
is an Outer Guard called the Tiler,
and all Inner Guard if only seven
are present, the Junior Deacon acts
as Tier and the Senior Deacon as In
ner Guard. The proceedings COM
mence by the Master giving one rap
with bis gavel. The Tiler is then
stationed outside the door with a
drawn sword. IIe gives three raps
outside, which are answered by three
knocks inside, then one knock inside
is given, which is answered by one
outside. The Lodge is now tiled and
the Masons put on their aprons, etc.
A dialogue ensues between the Mas
Ter and the different oilicers,in which
each states why he is in the position
he has taken. Then, with more
knocks, the lodge is opened, each
present giving the sign OF the degree
OF Entered Apprentice. These signs
are called right angles, horizonlaIs,
and perpendiculars. The first is made
by placing the hands at right angles,
one foot in front Of the center of the
center of the body, the palms togeth.
CT, and the left hand under: the Sec
ond by raising the right hand to the
neck and drawing it across the throat
the elbow being as high as the hand
the third by letting the hand drop
perpendicularly by the side the palm
turned back, After the ordinary
business of the Lodge commences.
This consists in settling accounts and
voting sums. OF money in charity,
with occasional calls from labor to
reireshment; then comes the initia-
tion-ot any new member whose name
has been mentioned at q previous
meeting.
The candidate has to submit to q
ballot, and ii successful the Deacons
are sent out to prepare him. This is
done by taking IRON him everythii g
metallic, slipping his'left arm out OF
his shirt sleeve, and through the bos-
ON Of the shirt so as to leave the arm
and left breast bare, and making him
roll the left leg of his trousers above
the knee, blindfolding him, and tying
II rope around his neck called cabN !
tow. The Senior Deacon now re-
turns, and the candidate is led by !
the Junior Deacon TO the closed door, |
on which lie is instructed TO give
three raps; these are answered by
three raps inside, then one rap is ex-
changed, and the door is opened
about two inches. After a conversa-
,ion between the two Deacons, he is
let in, and the point of Il compass is
pressed against his left breast. lie is
then led TO the middle OF the room,
and told TO kneel when n prayer is Of |
iered. This over, the Master takes
him by the hand, and says: "Arise
fellow your leader, and fear no dan
ger" lie is led three times around |
The lodge, and iinallyis hated before
Tho Senior Warden in the west, who |
Lcacheshim TO approach the cast, his
feet forming the right angle of an OBJ
ong square. AT length lie finds him
elf close TO the altar, where he
,neels upon his naked left knee, both |
light and left knees forming a square.
lis left hand is now placed under the
IDLE, square and compass, and his
ight hand over them. In this posi-
on he repeats the oath, in which he
ngagcs 10 keep inviolate the secrets
I the order under no less penalty
ian TO have my throat cut across,
ON ear 10 ear, my tongue torn out
, the roots, ana my body buried in
Z rough sands of the sea, a cable
ws length from the shore at low
tier mark, where the tide GIBBS and F,
ws twice in twenty four hours.
After this oath the bandage is ia
Il from his eyes, and the Master APP
,aches him with Rectangular steps,
! making signs. The signs are
n explained TO him, as also the
D and The pass word, The grin