In Preston's time, the ceremonies had been enlarged, for he says, in describing the form of installation, that "the new Master is then conducted to an adjacent room, where he is regularly installec. and bound to his trust in ancient form, in the presence of at least three installed Masters."

It is evident, then, that this degree was originally simply a degree of office, and conferred only on the elected Master of a lodge. As these rulers of Masonry were supposed to be selected for their superior skill and intelligence, they alone were permitted to receive that consummation of masonic light which is contained in the Royal Arch degree. Hence, therefore, the possession of the degree of Past Master became a necessary qualification for exaltation to the Royal Arch, and as, at first, that degree was conferred in connection with, and under the jurisdiction of, symbolic lodges, none but those who had presided in the chair were permitted to receive it.

So, in time, when the Chapters were separated from the lodges, and placed under a distinct jurisdiction, the usage still prevailed, and candidates for exaltation were invested, as a preparatory step, with the Past Master's degree, and for this purpose a lodge of Past Masters was opened, and a fictitious installation (for it was nothing else) was performed.

This was the origin of the insertion of this degree into the series of capitular degrees, which has in recent years occasioned so many almost bitter controversies respecting the contending rights of "actual" Past Masters, or those installed in a regularly constituted symbolic lodge, and "virtual" Past Masters made in a Chapter, simply as a qualification for receiving the Royal Arch degree.

One of the evils resulting from the disseverance of the Past Master's degree from its legitimate position as a part of the installation service in a symbolic lodge, was the introduction of a number of ceremonies into the Chapter degree, which were unknown to it in its original conception, and which are still unused in the installation of a Worshipful Master

These ceremonies became at length, by an unfortunate misdirection of the fertile genius of some inventor, so perverted from the original design of every masonic degree, which is to inculcate some particular moral or religious truth, as to meet with the very general condemnation of all intelligent and reflecting minds.

At length a powerful effort was made to divest the degree of those offensive ornaments which had been gradually fastened upon it, and to restore it, as nearly as possible, to its original simplicity. This effort was successful, and in September, 1856, the General Grand Chapter of the United States adopted a resolution, which recommended the subordinate Chapters under its jurisdiction "to abridge the ceremonies now conferred in the Past Master's degree within the narrowest constitutional limits, only retaining the inducting of the candidate into the Oriental Chair, and communicating the means of recognition."

It is to be hoped that this reform, dictated by good taste and judgment, will be approved and enforced by the presiding officers of all the Chapters.

The various sections of the lecture of this degree, which relate to the constitution of new ledges, the installation of officers, the laying of corner-stones, the dedication of halls, and the funeral service, being only necessary to the actual Past Masters of symbolic lodges, are of course omitted in this manual.

OPENING OF THE LODGE.

A LODGE of Past Masters consists, besides the Tiler, of the following seven officers

RIGHT WORSHIPFUL MASTER.

SENIOR WARDEN.

JUNIOR WARDEN.

TREASURER.

SECRETARY.

SENIOR DEACON.

JUNIOR DEACON.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

These offices are filled by the officers of the Chapter under whose warrant the lodge is held, in the following order:

The High Priest, King, and Scribe, act as Master and Wardens; the Treasurer and Secretary occupy the corresponding stations; the Principal Sojourner acts as Senior Deacon; the Royal Arch Captain, as Junior Deacon.

The symbolic color of the Past Master's degree is purple. The apron is of white lamb-skin, edged with purple, and should have the jewel of the degree inscribed upon it. The collar is of purple, edged with gold. But, as Past Master's lodges are held under the warrants of Royal Arch Chapters, the collars, aprons and jewels of the Chapter are generally made use of in conferring the Past Master's degree

CALIFORNIA

The jewel of a Past Master is a pair of golden compasses, extended to sixty degrees, and resting on the fourth of a circle. Between the extended legs of the compasses is a flaming sun.*

Lodges of Past Masters are "dedicated to the Holy Saints John."

A candidate receiving this degree is said to be "seated in the Oriental chair of King Solomon."

PRAYER

ON OPENING A LODGE OF PAST MASTERS.

Most holy and glorious Lord 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, thou wilt be in the midst of them, and bless them. In thy name we assemble, most humbly beseeching thee to bless us in all our undertakings, that we may know and serve thee aright, and that all our actions may tend to thy glory, and to our advance ment in knowledge and virtue. And we beseech

The jewel, in England, was formerly a square, resting on an arc of ninety degrees; at the present time it is the square, with a silver plate suspended within it, on which is engraved a diagram of the forty-seventh problem of Euclid.

thee, O Lord God, to bless our present assembling, and to illuminate our minds, that we may walk in the light of thy countenance; and when the trials of our probationary state are over, be admitted into THE TEMPLE "not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." So mote it be. Amen.

RECEPTION.

Previous to the investiture of the candidate, he is, ir many jurisdictions, required to signify his assent to the following charges. They are not, however, really necessary, and are somewhat out of place in conferring the degree in a Chapter. They are inserted, but their use is not recom mended, except in the ceremony of installing the actual Master of a Symbolic Lodge:

BROTHER-Previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you should signify your assent to those ancient charges and regulations which point out the duty of the Master of a lodge:

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

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

III. You promise not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against government, but patiently to submit to the decisions of the supreme legisla ture.