The work of the evening being over, I will proceed to give a description of the manner of closing the lodge. It is a very common practice in lodges to close a lodge of Entered Apprentices, and open a lodge of Fellow Crafts, and close that, and open a Master Mason’s lodge, all in the same evening.

Some brother generally makes a motion that the lodge be closed; it being seconded and carried:—

The Master to the Junior Deacon—”Brother Junior,” [giving one rap which calls up both Deacons,] “the first as well as the last care of a Mason?

Ans. “To see the lodge tyled, Worshipful.”

Master to Junior Deacon, “Attend to that part of your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to close this lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, and direct him to tyle accordingly.” The Junior Deacon steps to the door and gives three raps, which are answered by the Tyler with three more; the Junior Deacon then gives one, which is also answered by the Tyler by one. The Junior Deacon then opens the door, delivers his message, and resumes his place in the lodge and says, “The door is tyled. Worshipful.”

Master to Junior Deacon, “By whom?”

Ans. “By a Master Mason without the door, armed with, the proper implements of his office.”

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Master to Junior Deacon, “His business there?”

Ans. “To keep off all cowans and eavesdroppers and see that none pass or repass without permission from the chair.”

Master to Junior Deacon, “Your place in the lodge, brother Junior?”

Ans. “At the right hand of the Senior Warden in the west.”

Master to Junior Deacon, “Your duty there?”

Ans. “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 the Junior Deacon, “The Senior Deacon’s place in the lodge?”

Ans. “At the right hand of the Worshipful Master in the east.”

Master to Senior Deacon, “Your duty there, brother Senior?”

Ans. “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, receive and clothe all visiting brethren.”

Master to the Senior Deacon, “The Secretary’s place in the lodge?”

Ans. “At your left hand, Worshipful.”

Master to Secretary, “Your duty there, brother Secretary?”

Ans. “Duly to observe the 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.”

Master to the Secretary, “The Treasurer’s place in the lodge?”

Ans. “At the right hand of the Worshipful Master.”

Master to Treasurer, “Your business there, brother Treasurer?”

Ans. “Duly to observe the Worshipful Master’s will and pleasure; receive all moneys and money bills from the hands of the Secretary; keep a just and accurate account of the same; pay them out by order of the Worshipful Master and

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consent of the brethren.”

Master to the Treasurer, “The Junior Warden’s place in the lodge?”

Ans. “In the south, Worshipful.”

Master to the Junior Warden, “Your business there, brother Junior?”

Ans. “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, at high twelve, the better to observe the time; call the crafts from labor to refreshment; superintend them during the hours thereof; see that none convert the purposes of refreshment into that of excess or intemperance; call them on again in due season, that the Worshipful Master may have honor, and they pleasure and profit thereby.”

The Master to the junior Warden, [I wish the reader to take particular notice that in closing the lodge the Master asks the Junior Warden as follows: “The Master’s place in the lodge?” and in opening he asks the Senior Warden the same question.] “The Master’s place in the lodge?”

Ans. “In the east, Worshipful.”

Master to Junior Warden, “His duty there?”

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