2nd Degree Tracing Board

Question 1

When the Temple at Jerusalem…

Answer 1

Was completed by King Solomon, its costliness and splendour became objects of admiration to the surrounding nations and its fame spread to the remotest parts of the then known world.

Question 2

There was nothing , however…

Answer 2

In connection with this magnificent structure more remarkable, or that not particularly struck the attention, than the two great Pillars which were placed at the porchway or entrance.

Question 3

That on the left….

Answer 3

Was called Boaz, which denotes in strength; that on the right Jachin, which denotes to establish and when conjoined Stability; for God said “In strength, I will establish this mine house to stand firm forever.“

Question 4

The height of those….

Answer 4

Pillars was 17 cubits and a half each, their circumference 12 and their diameter 4.

Question 5

They were formed…

Answer 5

Hollow, the better to serve as archives to masonry, for therein were deposited the constitutional rolls.

Question 6

Being formed hollow…

Answer 6

The outer rim or shell was 4inches or a handsome breath in thickness. They were made of moulted brass and were cast in the plain of Jordan in the clay ground between Succoth and Zaradathah, were King Solomon ordered these and all his holy vessels to be cast. The Superintendent of casting was Hiram Abiff.

Question 7

Those Pillars were adorned…

Answer 7

With two chapters, each 5 cubits high, the chapters were enriched with Network, Lily-work and Pomegranate’s.

Question 8

Network….

Answer 8

From the connection of its meshes, denotes Unity, Lilly-work from its whiteness, Peace and Pomegranates from the exuberance of their seed, denotes plenty. There were two rows of pomegranates on each chapiter, one hundred in a row.

Question 9

Those Pillars were…

Answer 9

further adorned with two spherical balls on which were delineated maps of the celestial and terrestrial globes, pointing out Masonry universal.

Question 10

They were considered

Answer 10

finished when the network or canopy was thrown over them.

Question 11

They were set up….

Answer 11

as a memorial to the children of Israel, of that miraculous pillar of fire and cloud, which had two wonderful effects. The fire gave light to the Israelites during their escape from their Egyptian bondage and the cloud proved darkness to the Pharaoh and his followers when they attempted to overtake them.

Question 12

King Solomon…..

Answer 12

Ordered that they be placed at the entrance of the temple as the most proper and conspicuous situation for the children of Israel to have the happy deliverance of their forefathers continually before their eyes, when going to and returning from divine worship.

Question 13

At the building of King Solomon’s Temple…

Answer 13

An immense number of masons were employed. They consisted of Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts. The EA received a weekly allowance of corn, wine and oil; the FC were paid their wages in Specie, which they went to receive in the middle chamber of the Temple.

Question 14

They got there….

Answer 14

By the porchway or entrance on the South side.

Question 15

After our ancient brethren …….

Answer 15

Had entered the porch, they arrived at the foot of a winding staircase, which led to the middle chamber. Their ascent was opposed by the junior warden, who demanded of them the pass grip and pass word leading from the First to the Second degree. The pass grip you are all in possession and the password I dare say you recollect is “Shibboleth” Shibboleth denotes plenty and is here depicted by an ear of corn, near to a fall of water.

Question 16

The word Shibboleth…..

Answer 16

Dates its origin from the the time that an army of Ephramites crossed the River Jordan, in a hostile manner against Jeptha, the renowned Gileaditish General.

Question 17

The reason they assigned….

Answer 17

For this unfriendly visit was that they had not been called out to partake of the honours of the Ammonitish war but their true aim was to partake of the rush spoils with which, in consequence of that war, Jeptha and his army were then laden.

Question 18

The Ephramites…

Answer 18

Had always been considered a clamorous and turbulent people, but then broke out into open violence and after many severe taunts to the Gileadites in general, threatened to destroy their victorious commander and his house with fire.

Question 19

Jeptha on his part…..

Answer 19

tried all lenient means to appease them but finding these ineffectual had recourse to rigorous ones. He therefore drew out his army, gave the Ephramites battle, defeated and put them to flight.

Question 20

and to render…..

Answer 20

his victory decisive and to secure himself from like molestation in future, he sent detachments of his army to secure the passages of the River Jordan, over which he knew the insurgents must of necessity attempt to go in order to regain their own country, giving strict orders to his guards that if a fugitive came that way owning himself an Ephramite, he should be immediately slain

Question 21

But if he prevaricated or ….

Answer 21

Said “Nay”, a test word was to be put to him to pronounce. The word SHIBBOLETH.

Question 22

They from a defect

Answer 22

In aspiration peculiar to their dialect, could not pronounce it properly but called it Siboleth, which small variation discovered their country and cost them their lives. And scripture informs us that there fell on that day, on the field of battle and on the banks of the River Jordan, forty and two thousand Ephramites and as Shibboleth was then a test word to distinguish friend from foe, King Solomon afterwards caused it to be adopted as a pass word in Fellow Craft Lodges to prevent any unqualified person ascending the winding stair case, which led to the middle chamber of the Temple.

Question 23

After our Ancient Brethren

Answer 23

Has given those convincing proofs to the Junior Warden, he said “Pass Shibboleth”
They then passed up the winding stair case, consisting of 3, 5, 7 or more steps.
3 rule a Lodge
5 hold a Lodge
7 or more make it perfect.

Question 24

The 3 who rule a Lodge..

Answer 24

Are the Master and his two wardens.

Question 25

The five who……

Answer 25

Hold a Lodge, are the Master, his two wardens and two Fellow Crafts

Question 26

the seven who……

Answer 26

make it perfect are two Entered Apprentices, added to the former five.

Question 27

Three rule a Lodge…

Answer 27

Because there were but three Grand Masters, that bore sway at the building of the first Temple at Jerusalem, namely Solomon - King of Israel; Hiram - King of Tyre and Hiram Abiff

Question 28

Five Hold a Lodge

Answer 28

In allusion to the five noble orders of architecture, namely Tuscan
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian &
Composite.

Question 29

Seven or more make a perfect Lodge

Answer 29

Because King Solomon was seven years and upwards in building, completing and dedication the Temple at Jerusalem to God’s service. They have likewise an allusion to the 7 liberal arts and sciences, namely
Grammar
Rhetoric
Logic
Arithmetic
Geometry
Music &
Astronomy.

Question 30

After our Ancient Brethren……

Answer 30

As gained the summit of the winding stair case, they arrived at the door to the middle chamber, which they found open but properly tyled against all under the Degree of a Fellow Craft, by the Senior Warden, who demanded of them the Sign, token and word of a Fellow Craft. After they had given him this convincing proofs he said “Pass Boaz”.

Question 31

They then…..

Answer 31

Passed into the middle chamber of he Temple, where they went to received their wages, which they did without scruple or diffidence. Without scruple, well knowing they were justly entitled to them and without diffidence, from the great reliance they placed on the integrity of their employers in those days.

Question 32

When are Ancient Brethren…..

Answer 32

We’re in the middle chamber of the Temple, their attention was peculiarly drawn to certain Hebrew characters which are hereby depicted by the letter G. (WM Gavels)
Denoting - GOD
The Grand Geometrician of the Universe, to whom we must all submit and whom we ought humbly to adore.