re, Brother Senior?" He answers, "As
the sun sets in the West, to close the day, so stands the Senior
Warden in the West, to assist the Worshipful Master in opening his
Lodge; take care of the jewels and implements; see that none be lost;
pay the craft their wages, if any be due; and see that none go away
dissatisfied." Master to the Senior Warden, "The Master's place in the
Lodge?" He answers, "In the East, Worshipful." Master to the Senior
Warden, "His duty there?" He answers, "As the sun rises in the East to
open and adorn the day, so presides the Worshipful Master in the East
to open and adorn his Lodge; set his crafts to work with good and
wholesome laws, or cause the same to be done." The Master now gives
three raps, when all the brethren rise, and the Master, taking off his
hat, proceeds as follows: "In like manner so do I, strictly forbidding
all profane language, private committees, or any other disorderly
conduct whereby the peace and harmony of this Lodge may be interrupted
while engaged in its lawful pursuits, under no less penalty than the
by-laws, or such penalty as a majority of the brethren present may see
fit to inflict. Brethren, attend to giving the signs." [Here Lodges
differ very much. In some they declare the Lodge open, as follows,
before they give the sign.] The Master (all the brethren imitating
him) extends his left arm from his body, so as to form an angle of
about forty-five degrees, and holds his right hand traversely across
his left, the palms thereof one inch apart. This is called the first
sign of a Mason--is the sign of distress in this degree, and alludes
to the position a candidate's hands are placed in when he takes the
obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason. The Master then draws his
right hand across his throat, the hand open, with the thumb next to
the throat, and drops it down by his side. This is called the
due-guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason (many call it the sign), and
alludes to the penalty of an obligation. The Master then declares the
Lodge opened in the following manner:--"I now declare the Lodge of
Entered Apprentice Masons duly opened for the dispatch of business."
The Senior Warden declares it to the Junior Warden, and he to the
brethren. "Come, brethren, let us pray."

PRAYER.--Most holy and glorious God! the great Architect of the
Universe: the giver of all good gifts and graces. Thou hast promised
that "Where two or three are gathered together in Thy name, Tho