low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the
daughters of music shall be brought low. Also, when they shall be
afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and
the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a
burden, and desire shall fail, because man goeth to his long home,
and the mourners go about the streets. Or ever the silver cord be
loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at
the fountain, or the wheel at the cistern. Then shall the dust
return to the earth, as it was; and the spirit return unto God who
gave it."

The conductor and candidate halt at the Junior Warden in the South,
where the same questions are asked and answers returned, as at the
door; he is then conducted to the Senior Warden, where the same
questions are asked and answers returned as before; from thence he is
conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East, who asks the same
questions and receives the same answers as before; and who likewise
asks the candidate from whence he came, and whither he is traveling?
ANS. "From the West, and traveling to the East." Q. "Why do you leave
the West and travel to the East?" A. "In search of more light." The
Master then says to the Senior Deacon, "You will please conduct the
candidate back to the West, from whence he came, and put him in the
care of the Senior Warden, and request him to teach the candidate how
to approach the East, by advancing upon three upright regular steps to
the third step, his feet forming a square, his body erect at the altar
before the Worshipful Master, and place him in a proper position to
take upon him the solemn oath or obligation of a Master Mason." The
Master then comes to the candidate and says, "Brother, you are now
placed in a proper position (the Lecture explains it) to take upon you
the solemn oath or obligation of a Master Mason, which I assure you,
as before, is neither to affect your religion nor politics. If you are
willing to take it, repeat your name, and say after me:

"I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in the presence of
Almighty God, and this Worshipful Lodge of Master Masons erected
to God, and dedicated to the Holy Order of St. John, do hereby and
hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition
to my former obligations, that I will not give the degree of a
Master Mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other
being in th