A. To remind me of my extremely poor and penniless state, and that, should I ever meet with a friend, more especially with a brother, in like destitute circumstances, I should contribute as liberally to his relief as his circumstances demanded, without any material injury to myself.
Q. Why were you conducted to the northeast corner of the Lodge, as the youngest Entered Apprentice, and there caused to stand upright like a man, your feet forming a square–receiving at the same time a solemn charge ever to walk and act uprightly before God and man?1
A. Because the first stone of a building is usually laid in the northeast corner. I was therefore placed there to receive my first instructions where to build my future Masonic and moral edifice.
THIRD SECTION.
Q. What is a Lodge?
A. A certain number of Masons duly assembled, with the
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[paragraph continues] Holy Bible, square, and compasses, and charter, or warrant empowering them to work.
Q. Where did our ancient brethren usually meet?
A. On a high hill or in a low valley. (See Note I, Appendix.)
Q. Why so?
A. The better to observe the approach of cowans, or eaves-droppers, ascending or descending.
Q. What is the form and covering of a Lodge?
A. An oblong square, extending from east to west, between the north and south, from the earth to the heavens, and from the surface to the centre.
Q. Why of such vast dimension?
A. To signify the universality of Masonry, and that a Mason’s charity should be equally extensive.
Q. What supports this vast fabric?
A. Three great pillars, constituting Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty.
Q. Why are they so called?
A. Because it is necessary there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings.
Q. By whom are they represented?
A. By the Worshipful Master, and the Senior and Junior Wardens.
Q. Why are they said to represent them?
A. The Worshipful Master represents the pillar of Wisdom, because he should have wisdom to open his Lodge, set the craft at work, and give them proper instructions. The Senior Warden represents the pillar of Strength, it being his duty to assist the Worshipful Master in opening and closing his Lodge, to pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength of all institutions, more especially of ours. The Junior Warden represents the pillar of Beauty, it being his duty at all times to observe the sun at high meridian, which is the glory and beauty of the day.
Q. What covering has a Lodge?
A.. A clouded canopy, or starry-decked heavens, where all good Masons hope to arrive, &c., &c. (See Masonic Monitor.)
Q. What furniture has a Lodge?
A. The Holy Bible, square, and compasses.
Q. To whom are they dedicated?
A. The Bible is dedicated to God, the square to the Master, and the compasses to the craft.
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Q. Why are they thus dedicated?
A. The Bible is dedicated to God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man, &c., &c. (See Monitor.)
Q. What are the ornaments of a Lodge?
A. The mosaic pavement, the indented tessel, and the blazing star.
Q. What are they?
A. The mosaic pavement is a representation of the Ground Floor of King Solomon’s Temple, with a blazing star in the centre; the indented tessel, that beautiful tessellated border which surrounds it.
Q. Of what are they emblematical?
A. The mosaic pavement represents this world, which, though checkered over with good and evil, yet brethren may walk to-ether thereon, and not stumble. (See Monitor.)
Q. How many lights has a Lodge?
A. Three.
Q. How are they situated?
A. East, west, and south.
Q. None in the north?
A. No.
Q. Why none in the north?
A. Because this and every other Lodge is, or ought to be, a true representation of King Solomon’s Temple, which was situated north of the ecliptic; the sun and moon, therefore, darting their rays from the south, no light was to be expected from the north. We therefore, masonically, term the north a place of darkness.
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
