the
following song: "Mark Masters all appear," &c., and, at the same time,
commence a circular march (against the course of the sun) around the
room, giving all the signs during their march, beginning with that of
Entered Apprentice, and ending at that of Mark Master. They are given
in the following manner: The first revolution each brother, when
opposite the Right Worshipful Master, gives the first sign in Masonry.
The second revolution, when opposite the Master, the second; and so
on, until they give all the signs to that of Mark Master. While the
ceremony is going on in the Lodge, the Senior Grand Warden procures a
sufficient number of cents and passes into the preparation room, and
opens a lattice window in the door which communicates to the Lodge
room, and when the craftsmen arrive to the Mark Master Mason's sign,
each of them, in their last revolution, puts his hand through the
window in the door and gives a token (this is given by shutting the
third and little fingers, extending the fore and middle fingers, and
placing the thumb over them in a suitable manner to receive the penny
or cent), and receives a penny or cent from the Senior Grand Warden.
Matters are so timed in the march, that when they come to that part of
the song which says, "Caution them to beware of the right hand," it
comes the turn of the candidate to put his hand through the aperture
of the door and receive his penny, but not being able to give the
token, he is detected as an impostor, and the Senior Grand Warden,
instead of giving him his penny, seizes him by the hand and draws his
arm full length through the door and holds him securely, exclaiming at
the same time, "An impostor! an impostor!" Others, who are in the room
with the Senior Grand Warden, cry out, "Chop off his hand! chop off
his hand!" At this moment the conductor steps to the candidate and
intercedes warmly in his behalf. Cond.--"Spare him! spare him!" S. G.
W.--"He is an impostor. He has attempted to receive wages without
being able to give the token. The penalty must be inflicted."
Cond.--"He is a brother Fellow Craft, and on condition that you will
release him, I will be responsible that he shall be taken before the
Right Worshipful Master, where all the circumstances shall be made
known, and, if he condemns him, I will see that the penalty is
inflicted." S. G. W.--"On these conditions, I release him." The
candidate is released, and taken before the Right Worshipful Master.
Co