FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE CLOSING
WM: *. Brother Senior Warden.
SW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Have you anything to bring before the Lodge
before I proceed to close?
SW: Nothing in the West.
WM: Anything in the South, Brother Junior Warden?
JW: (S) Nothing in the South.
WM: Has any Brother anything to bring before the
Lodge before I proceed to close?
WM: *. Brother Junior Deacon.
JD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: The last as well as the first great care of Masons
when convened?
JD: To see that they are duly tyled.
WM: Attend to that duty and inform the Tyler that I am
about to close this Lodge of Fellow Crafts, and
direct him to tyle accordingly.
JD: * * *. Brother Tyler, I am directed to inform you
that the Worshipful Master is about to close this
Lodge of Fellow Crafts. Take due notice thereof
and govern yourself accordingly.
JD: * * *. Tyl: * * *.
JD: (S) Worshipful Master, we are duly tyled.
WM: How are we tyled?
JD: By a Brother of this degree, armed with the proper
implement of his office.
WM: His duty there?
JD: To observe the approach of cowans and
eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pass or re-pass
except such as are duly qualified and have
permission from the Worshipful Mater.
WM: *. Brother Senior Warden.
SW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Are you a Fellow Craft?
SW: I am, try me.
WM: By what will you be tried?
SW: By the square.
WM: Why by the Square?
SW: Because It is an emblem of morality and one of
the working tools of a Fellow Craft.
WM: What is a Square?
SW: An angle of ninety degrees, or the fourth part of
a circle.
WM: What makes you a Fellow Craft?
SW: My Obligation.
WM: Where were you made a Fellow Craft?
SW: Within the body of a just and duly constituted
Lodge of Fellow Crafts, assembled in a place
representing the Middle Chamber of King
Solomon’s Temple.
WM: How many compose a Fellow Crafts Lodge?
SW: Five or more.
WM: When composed of five, of whom does it consist?
SW: The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior
Wardens, Senior and Junior Deacons.
WM: Brother Senior Warden, the Junior Deacon’s
place in the Lodge?
SW: At my right.
WM: * *. Brother Junior Deacon.
JD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Your duty?
JD: To carry messages from the Senior Warden in
the West to the Junior Warden in the South, and
elsewhere about the Lodge as he may direct;
attend the alarms at the outer door and report
the same to the Worshipful Master; also to see
that we are duly tyled.
WM: The Senior Deacon’s place?
JD: At the right of the Worshipful Master in the East.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Your duty?
SD: To carry orders from the Worshipful Master in
the East to the Senior Warden in the West, and
elsewhere about the Lodge as he may direct;
welcome and clothe visiting Brethren, attend the
alarms at the inner door; also to receive and
conduct candidates.
WM: The Junior Warden’s station?
SD: In the South.
WM: Brother Junior Warden.
JW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Your duty in the South?
JW: To observe the sun at meridian, which is the glory
and beauty of the day; call the Craft from labor
to refreshments, superintend them during the
hours thereof, carefully to observe that their
means of refreshments are not perverted to
intemperance or excess, and see that they return
to their labors in due season, that the Worshipful
Master may receive honor, and they pleasure
and profit thereby.
WM: The Senior Warden’s station?
JW: In the West.
WM: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Why in the West?
SW: As the sun is in the West at close of day, so
stands the Senior Warden in the West to assist
the Worshipful Master in opening and closing
the Lodge; paying the Craft their wages, if any
be due, that none may go away dissatisfied;
harmony being the support of all institutions,
especially this of ours.
WM: The Master’s station?
SW: In the East.
WM: Why in the East?
SW: As the sun rises in the East to rule and govern
the day (WM: * * *.), so rises the Worshipful Master
in the East to open and govern the Lodge; setting
the Craft at work, giving them proper instruction
for their labor.
WM: Brother Senior Warden, it is my order that ____
____ Lodge No. ___ be now closed on the
Second Degree of Freemasonry, and stand
closed until opened by proper authority, of which
due and timely notice will be given. This
communicate to the Junior Warden in the South,
and he to the Brethren present, that having due
notice thereof, they may govern themselves
accordingly.
SW: Brother Junior Warden.
JW: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: It is the order of the Worshipful Master that ____
____ Lodge No. ___ be now closed on the
Second Degree of Freemasonry, and stand
closed until opened by proper authority, of which
due and timely notice will be given. This
communicate to the Brethren present, that having
due notice thereof, they may govern themselves
accordingly.
JW: Brethren; it is the order of the Worshipful Master,
communicated to me through the Senior Warden
in the West, that ____ ____ Lodge No. ___ be
now closed on the Second Degree of
Freemasonry, and stand closed until opened by
proper authority, of which due and timely notice
will be given. I communicate the same to you,
that having due notice thereof, you may govern
yourselves accordingly.
WM: Brethren; attend to giving the signs; observe the
East.
WM: *.
SW: *.
JW: *.
WM: *.
SW: *.
JW: *.
WM: Brethren, give your attention to the Chaplain.
Chap: And now, Almighty Father, we ask Thy blessing
upon the proceedings of this communication, and
as we are about to separate, we ask Thee to
keep us under Thy protecting care until again
we are called together. Teach us, O God, to
realize the beauties of the principles of our time-honored
institution, not only while in the Lodge,
but when abroad in the world. Subdue every
discordant passion within us. May we love one
another in the bonds of union and friendship.
AMEN
(ALL) So mote it be.
WM: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: How should Masons meet?
SW: On the Level.
WM: And how act, Brother Junior Warden?
JW: By the Plumb.
WM: And part upon the Square. So should we, my
Brethren, ever meet, act, and part. May the
blessing of Heaven rest upon us and all regular
Masons. May brotherly love prevail, and every
moral and social virtue cement us. AMEN.
(ALL) So mote it be.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Attend at the Altar and close the Three Great
Lights in Masonry.
WM: I now declare ____ ____ Lodge No. ___ duly
closed.
WM: Brother Junior Deacon.
JD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Inform the Tyler.
WM: *.
