t was the Sovereign's reply? A. Zerrubbabel, I have often
reflected with much pleasure upon our early intimacy and friendship,
and I have frequently heard, with great satisfaction, of your fame as
a wise and accomplished Mason, and having myself a profound veneration
for that ancient and honorable institution, and having a sincere
desire to become a member of the same, I will this moment grant your
request, on condition that you will reveal to me the secrets of
Freemasonry.

Q. Did you consent to that? A. I did not.

Q. What was your reply? A. Sovereign Master, when our Grand Master
Solomon, King of Israel, first instituted the fraternity of Free and
Accepted Masons, he taught us that truth was a divine attribute, and
the foundation of every virtue; to be good and true is the first
lesson we are taught in Masonry. My engagements are sacred and
inviolable: I cannot reveal our secrets. If I can obtain your
majesty's favor only at the expense of my integrity, I humbly beg
leave to decline your royal protection, and will cheerfully submit to
any honorable exile.

Q. What was the Sovereign's reply? A. Zerrubbabel, your virtue and
integrity are truly commendable, and your fidelity to your engagements
is worthy of imitation; from this moment you are free--my guards will
divest you of those chains and that garb of slavery, and clothe you in
suitable habiliments to attend me at the banquet hall. Zerrubbabel,
you are free; guards, strike off those chains; and may those emblems
of slavery never again disgrace the hands of a Mason, more
particularly a prince of the house of Judah; Zerrubbabel, we assign
you a seat of rank and honor among the princes and rulers of our
assembly.

Q. What followed? A. The guards being drawn up in the court yard, the
Warder informed the Sovereign Master that the guards were in
readiness, waiting his pleasure.

Q. What followed? A. He then ordered the guards to attend him to the
banquet hall.

Q. What occurred there? A. After having participated in a liberal
entertainment, the Sovereign Master not being inclined to sleep, and
many of the guard having retired, he amused himself by entering into
conversation with some of his principal officers and friends,
proposing certain questions to them, and offering a princely reward to
such as should give the most reasonable and satisfactory answer.

Q. What questions were proposed? A. Among others, "Which was the
strongest, wine, the King, or woman?"[17]