ible for a brother to suffer
for the immediate necessities of life, when the price of his mark
will procure them.

Q. A brother pledging his mark and asking a favor, who does he
represent? A. Our worthy Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, who was a poor
man, but on account of his great skill and mysterious conduct at the
building of King Solomon's Temple, was most eminently distinguished.

Q. A brother receiving a pledge and granting a favor, whom does he
represent? A. King Solomon, who was a rich man, but renowned for his
benevolence.

* * * * *

THE PAST MASTER'S DEGREE.

This degree is very simple. It is necessary that a Master Mason should
take this degree before he can, constitutionally, preside over a Lodge
of Master Masons as Master of it; and when a Master Mason is elected
Master of a Lodge, who has not previously received the Past Master's
degree, it is then conferred upon him, often without any other
ceremony than that of administering the obligation.

This Lodge is opened and closed in the same manner that the Lodges of
the first three degrees are; the candidate petitions and is balloted
for in the same manner, but he is received into the Lodge in a very
different manner. He is conducted into the Lodge without any previous
preparation, when the presiding officer rises and says, "Brethren, it
is inconvenient for me to serve you any longer as Master of this
Lodge. I wish you would select some other brother for that purpose."
The candidate is nominated, the usual forms of balloting for officers
are then dispensed with, and a vote of the Lodge is taken by yeas and
nays. The candidate is elected, and generally refuses to serve, but he
is eventually prevailed on to accept; whereupon the presiding officer
addresses the Master-elect in the words following, viz.:

"Brother, previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you
assent to those ancient charges and regulations, which point out
the duty of a Master of a Lodge.

1. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the
moral law.

2. You agree to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform
to the laws of the country in which you reside.

3. You promise not to be concerned in any plots or conspiracies
against government; but patiently to submit to the decisions of
the supreme legislature.

4. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrate, to
work diligently, live credit