Closing

Question 1

Three risings then,

Brethren, assist me to close the Lodge.

Answer 1

WM one imge SW one imge JW one imge

WM — Brethren, I rise — rises — for the first (or second or third) time to ask if any Brother has aught to propose for the good of Freemasonry in general or of this (names Lodge) …… in particular.

On each rising such business is transacted as is customary in the Lodge. When all business on the third rising is completed:

WM one SW one JW one

WM — Brethren, assist me to close the Lodge.

*ALL rise, if not already standing.

WM — Bro JW, what is the constant care of every Mason?

JW — To prove the Lodge close tyled.

WM — Direct that duty to be done.

JW — Bro IG, prove the Lodge close tyled.

IG goes to door, gives EA ks and returns to position in front of his chair.*

Tyler responds with same ks.

IG — Sp and EA Sn — Bro JW, the Lodge is close tyled — cuts Sn.

JW — EA imge, Sp and EA Sn — WM, the Lodge is close tyled — cuts Sn.

WM — Bro SW, the next care?

SW — To see that the Brethren appear to order as Masons.

WM — To order, Brethren, in the First Degree.

ALL take Sp with EA Sn.

WM — Bro SW, your constant place in the Lodge?

SW — In the W.

WM — Why are you placed there?

SW — As the sun sets in the W to close the day, so the SW is placed in the W to close the Lodge by command of the WM, after having seen that every Brother has had his due.

*WM — Brethren, before we close the Lodge, let us with all reverence and humility express our gratitude to the Great Architect of the Universe for favours already received; may He continue to preserve the Order by cementing and adorning it with every moral and social virtue.

*IPM — So mote it be.

WM — Bro SW, the labours of the evening being ended, you have my command to close the Lodge — EA imge (with l h).

SW — Brethren, in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe, and by command of the WM, I close — ALL cut Sn — the Lodge.

SW — EA imge and lowers Cn.

*JW — And it is closed accordingly until the …… day of ……, emergencies excepted, of which every Brother will have due notice (or of which due notice will be given) — EA imge and raises Cn.

*TB is attended to when JW has given ks (usually by JD).

IG goes to door, gives EA ks and returns to position in front of his chair.*

Tyler responds with same ks.

*IPM, meanwhile, removes Sq and Cs, closes VSL and places Sq and Cs in convenient position on pedestal.

IPM — Brethren, nothing now remains, but, according to ancient custom, to lock up our Scts in a safe repository, uniting in the act F, F, F.