and commanded, if the Ephraimites passed that way, Say ye Shibboleth; but they, being of a different tribe, could not frame to pronounce it aright, and pronounced it Sibboleth;1 which trifling defect proved them to be spies, and cost them their lives; and there fell at that time, at the different passes on the banks of the river Jordan, forty and two thousand. This word was also used by our ancient brethren to distinguish a friend from a foe, and has since been adopted as a password, to be given before entering every regulated and well-governed Lodge of Fellow Crafts.
J. W.–Give me the token (here give the pass grip of a Fellow Craft).
J. W.–The pass is right, and the token is right; pass on.
They now pass around the Junior Warden’s station, and go to the Senior Warden’s Station in the west, and as they approach the Senior Warden’s station the Senior Deacon remarks:
Brother, we are now coming to the inner door of the Middle Chamber of King Solomon’s Temple, which appears to be guarded by the Senior Warden in the west.
S. W.–Who comes here?
S. D.–A Craftsman, on his way to the Middle Chamber.
S. W.–How do you expect to gain admission?
S. D.–By the grip and word of a Fellow Craft.
S. W.–Give me the grip (here give the real grip of a Fellow Craft–Fig. 12, p. 67).
S. W.–What is that?
S. D.–The real grip of a Fellow Craft.
S. W.–Has it a name?
S. D.–It has.
S. W.–Will you give it me?
S. D.–I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.
S. W.–How will you dispose of it?
S. D.–I will letter it, or halve it with you.
S. W.–Halve it, and begin.
S. D.–No, you begin.
S. W.–Begin you.
vol. i. pp. 508–9.
p. 77
S. D.–Ja.
S. W.–Chin.
S. D.–Jachin.
S. W.–The word is right, and the grip is right; pass on, brother.
They pass on to the Worshipful Master in the east, and on their arrival at his desk, the Master rises from his seat, and says:
W. M.–Brother Gabe, you have now arrived at the place representing the Middle Chamber of King Solomon’s Temple, where you will be received and recorded as a Fellow Craft. Turning to the Secretary’s desk, he continues.
W. M.–Brother Secretary, you will make the record.
Sec.–It is so recorded.
W. M.–The first thing that particularly attracted your attention on your passage here, was a representation of two brazen pillars, one on the left hand and the other on the right, which was explained to you by your conductor; after passing the pillars you passed a flight of winding stairs, consisting of three, five, and seven steps, which was likewise explained to you; after passing the stairs, you arrived at the outer door of the Middle Chamber, which you found closely guarded by the Junior Warden, who demanded of you the pass and token of the pass of a Fellow Craft; you next arrived at the inner door of the Middle Chamber, which you found guarded by the Senior Warden, who demanded of you the grip and word of a Fellow Craft. You have now arrived at the Middle Chamber where you are received and recorded a Fellow Craft. You are now entitled to wages, as such; which are, the Corn of nourishment, the Wine of refreshment, and the Oil of joy, which denote peace, harmony, and strength. You are also entitled to the jewels of a Fellow Craft; which are, an attentive ear, an instructive tongue, and faithful breast. The attentive ear receives the sound from the instructive tongue, and the mysteries of Masonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breasts.
W. M.–I shall now direct your attention to the letter “G” (here the Master turns and points to a large gilded letter “G,” which is generally placed on the wall back of the Master’s seat and above his head; some Lodges suspend it in front of the Master, by a cord or wire), which is the initial of geometry, the fifth science, it being that on which this Degree was principally founded.
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.
