Scottish Masonry: Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master, Sublime Master, and Woodcutter

the name that Salomon gave to the most elevated place in the temple. Q. What did you see in this chamber? A. A light so bright that the eye could barely support it. Q. Where did it come from? A. From the blazing star. Q. What else did you see? A. The true sign, the touch, and the word which was not lost. Q. How many signs are there? A. Three. Q. What do you call the first? A. The sign of entry for the light, requiring one to place the hands over the eyes. Q. What do you call the second? A. The sign of character proper to the Scottish. Q. What do you call the third? A. That of the call; it is never given where there are profanes. Q. How many touches do you have? A. Three. Q. What are they? A. avohay? nez? aini? how? oi?. Q. Who conferred all these things upon you? A. The one who presided, King Salomon. Q. At what time? A. At seven. Q. What is the word of recognition? A. Iunoda. Q. What is the master word? A. avohy?. Q. What does the circle mean? A. That the G. A. D. L. Grand Architect of the Universe has neither beginning nor end. Q. What does the triangle signify? A. The Trinity or the Divinity. Q. Why do you call your lodge Saint John? A. Because Saint John first drew the just words for the perfection of the new edifice. Q. Who formed the first Lodge? A. The G. A. D. L. Q. Who held it? A. Saint John the Baptist. Q. In what place? A. In the deserts near the Jordan. Q. By what right did he hold it? A. To spread the light. Q. How old are you? A. 81 years. Q. Why 81 years? A. Because that is the age the G. M. H. Grand Master Hiram had. Q. What is the password? A. Jordan. Q. What time is it? A. The first of the day or the last.

This grade, although accessory in Masonry, is only conferred upon those Masters who, by their zeal and good conduct, merit this reward for their labors. It is created with all possible regularity, and among the woodcutters, charity is observed along with the right of hospitality. They follow the seven beatitudes: I was naked, you clothed me; I was thirsty, you gave me to drink; I was hungry, you gave me to eat; I was in prison, you visited me; I was sick, you served me; I was cold, you warmed me; I was afflicted, you consoled me. They regularly observe in their assemblies never to utter anything indecent, nor to swear any oath, nor to tell any lie, nor to slander, nor to reveal the methods of self-governance under any pretext. The place of the assembly is called a chantier work site/lumber yard, it is usually held in a forest, and to conform to the custom, one must at least hold the work site in a garden where there is a grove or an alley of trees, and if that is not possible, one should furnish a room with tree branches and many wood shavings scattered in the room and faggots bundles of sticks to serve as seats.

When all the woodcutters are assembled, they take their places at the work site according to their grades. The Grand Master takes his axe and strikes a blow upon the table, which is repeated by the two grades of the work site. All the woodcutters look at the P. M. Principal Master and do as he does. The P. M. pulls an apron and two small sticks from his right pocket and beats the wood, which is done by imitating the sound of blacksmiths. As soon as he stops, all the woodcutters do the same. The P. M. says "to the advantage," the first grade says "to the advantage" twice, and the second says it three times with an equal beat at intervals. The P. M. then says "Good life, cousins," which is repeated by the two grades by saying "Good life, P. M.," with the exception of the second who adds "life, P. M. cousins, and good fellow woodcutters." After which, the P. M. puts his right foot forward, the left hand on the right shoulder of his neighbor to the left, and with his right hand he holds his axe. The neighbor presents his left hand, the four fingers closed and the thumb raised. The P. M. having thrown his axe on the ground and put his foot on it, he gives him a blow with the edge of the hand, pretending to split his thumb, and presents his own; the neighbor squeezes it, and they embrace after the P. M. has looked at the sky and his neighbor at the earth. The cousin who has received this touch passes it to his left until it has reached the P. M., who then beats again, which is repeated by all the woodcutters; then he addresses the Cousin of the Oak and says: Q. Cousin of the Oak, what is the weather like? A. Very fine, the sun is rising.