to contain incense is sometimes an elegant silver urn; but if the
Lodge is too poor to afford that, a common teapot, with spout and
handle broken off, answers every purpose; for incense some pieces of
paper are dipped in spirits of turpentine.]

The members now all join hands, as in opening; and, while in this
attitude, the Most Excellent reads the following passage of Scripture:

2 Chron. vii. 1-4. "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,
the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and
the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And
the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because
the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when all
the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory
of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces
to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
Lord, saying, FOR HE IS GOOD;[11] FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER."

The members now balance six times as before; in opening, rise and
balance six times more, disengage themselves from each other and take
their seats; the Most Excellent Master then delivers the following
charge to the candidate:

"Brother, your admittance to this degree of Masonry, is a proof of
the good opinion the brethren of this Lodge entertain of your
Masonic abilities. Let this consideration induce you to be
careful of forfeiting by misconduct and inattention to our rules,
that esteem which has raised you to the rank you now possess.

"It is one of your great duties, as a Most Excellent Master, to
dispense light and truth to the uninformed Mason; and I need not
remind you of the impossibility of complying with this obligation
without possessing an accurate acquaintance with the Lectures of
each degree.

"If you are not already completely conversant in all the degrees
heretofore conferred on you, remember, that an indulgence,
prompted by a belief that you will apply yourself with double
diligence to make yourself so, has induced the brethren to accept
you.

"Let it, therefore, be your unremitting study to acquire such a
degree of knowledge and information as shall enable you to
discharge with propriety the various duties incumbent on you, and
to preserve unsullied the title now conferred upon you of a Most
Excellent Master."

After this a motion is made by some of the members to close the Lodg