his request, he gave
me a severe blow with the Square across my breast; on which I
attempted to make my escape at the East gate, where I was accosted by
the third with still more violence, and, on my refusing to comply with
his request, he gave me a violent blow with the common gavel on the
forehead, and brought me to the floor.

Q. Whom did you represent at that time? A. Our Grand Master, Hiram
Abiff, who was slain at the building of King Solomon's Temple.

Q. Was his death premeditated? A. It was--by fifteen Fellow Crafts,
who conspired to extort from him the Master Mason's word; twelve of
whom recanted, but the other three were base enough to carry their
atrocious designs into execution.

Q. What did they do with the body? A. They carried it out at the West
gate of the Temple, and buried it till low twelve at night, when they
three met agreeably to appointment, and carried it a westerly course
from the Temple, and buried it under the brow of a hill, in a grave
six feet, due East and West, six feet perpendicular, and made their
escape.

Q. What time was he slain? A. At high twelve at noon, when the crafts
were from labor to refreshment.

Q. How came he to be alone at that time? A. Because it was the usual
custom of our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, every day at high twelve,
when the crafts were from labor to refreshment, to enter into the
SANCTUM SANCTORUM, or HOLY OF HOLIES, and offer up his adorations to
the ever-living God, and draw out his plans and designs on his
Tressle-Board, for the crafts to pursue their labor.

Q. At what time was he missing? A. At low six in the morning, when
King Solomon came up to the Temple, as usual, to view the work, and
found the crafts all in confusion; and, on inquiring the cause, he was
informed that their Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, was missing, and no
plans or designs were laid down on the Tressle-Board for the crafts to
pursue their labor.

Q. What observations did King Solomon make at that time? A. He
observed that our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, had always been very
punctual in attending, and feared that he was indisposed, and ordered
search to be made in and about the Temple, to see if he could be
found.

Q. Search being made, and he not found, what further remarks did King
Solomon make? A. He observed he feared some fatal accident had
befallen our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff; that morning twelve Fellow
Crafts, clothed in white gloves and aprons, in token of their
innoc