Provost and Judge
Opening.—Thrice Illustrious knocks three. Marshal rises. Thrice Illustrious says, “Brother Grand Marshal, are we all Provosts and Judges?” Marshal. We are.
Thrice Illustrious. Your place? M. In the North.
T. I. Your business there? M. To see that the middle chamber is duly tyled.
Thrice Illustrious says, “Attend to your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to open this Lodge of Provost and Judge.” (Grand Marshal obeys.) Thrice Illustrious strikes four. Wardens rise. “Brother Junior Warden, where is the Master placed?” Answer.—Everywhere.
Q. Why so? A. To superintend the workmen, direct the work, and render justice to every man.
Q. What is the hour? A. Break of day, eight, two and seven. Thrice Illustrious strikes five.—Brethren rise. Thrice Illustrious says, “It is then time to begin our labors; give notice that I am going to open a Lodge of Provost and Judge, by four and one.” (Signs given, Master strikes four and one—Senior Warden, four and one—Junior Warden, four and one, and Marshal, four and one; the brethren all strike four and one, with their hands, and the Master declares the Lodge open.)
Reception.—Master of Ceremonies conducts candidate to the door, and knocks four and one, which is answered from within by Senior Warden, and Thrice Illustrious and Senior Warden says, “While the Provosts and Judges are engaged in right, an alarm is heard at the inner door of the Lodge,” etc. A golden key is placed on the Bible.
Lecture.—Question—Are you a Provost and Judge? A. I am, and render justice to all men without distinction.
Q. Where were you received? A. In the middle chamber.
Q. How did you gain admission there? A. By four and one distinct knocks.
Q. To what do they allude? A. To the qualifications of a Provost and Judge, to wit: impartiality, justice, prudence, discretion and mercy; of which the five lights in the middle chamber are also emblematical.
Q. How were these knocks answered? A. By four and one from within.
Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked by what further right, etc.
Q. Your answer? A. By the right of a pass.
Q. What was then said to you? A. Wait until the Thrice Illustrious is informed of your request, and his answer returned.
Q. What was his answer? A. Introduce him in due and ancient form.
Q. What was that form? A. I was conducted by the Master of Ceremonies to the south-west corner of the middle chamber, between the Wardens, and caused to kneel on my right knee and say Beroke.
Q. What answer was given to that? A. The Thrice Illustrious said Kumi.
Q. What do these words signify? A. The first signifies to kneel, the last, to rise.
Q. What followed? A. I was conducted three times ’round the Lodge, giving the signs of the ineffable degrees, and led to the altar, and caused to kneel and take the obligation of this degree.
Q. Repeat that obligation. A. Same as Perfect Master, with the addition, that I will justly and impartially decide all matters of difference between brethren of this degree, if in my power so to do, under penalty of being punished as an unjust Judge, by having my nose severed from my face. So help me, etc.
Q. What followed? A. The Thrice Illustrious gave me the signs, tokens and words of this degree.
Q. Give me the signs? A. (Put the two first fingers of your right hand to the right side of your nose, the thumb under the chin, forming a square.)
Q. Give me the token? A. (Clench the three first fingers of the right hand over the thumb, and join hands by interlacing the little fingers.)
Q. Give me the pass-word? A. Jev (pronounced Jo).
Q. What was then done to you? A. I was invested with the jewel, apron and gloves of this degree, and was thus addressed:—“Respectable Brother, it gives me joy that I am now about to recompense, etc. This key opens a small ebony box, in which are contained the plans for the building of the temple, and this key opens a small ivory box containing all the keys of the temple. I clothe you with a white apron, lined with red, having a pocket in its centre, and in which you are intended to carry the plans for the building of the temple, that they may be laid out on the tressel board for the use of the workmen when wanted. I also give you a balance in equilibrio, as a badge of your office. Let it remind you of that equity of judgment which should characterize your decisions.”
Q. What was next done? A. He made me a Provost and Judge.
Q. In what manner? A. He gave me a blow on each shoulder, and said, “By the power with which I am invested, I constitute you Provost and Judge over all the works and workmen of the temple. Be impartial, just, prudent, discreet and merciful. Go salute the Junior and Senior Wardens as a Provost and Judge, and return to the Lodge for further instruction.
Second Section.—Question—What did you perceive in the middle chamber? Answer—A curtain, behind which was suspended a small ebony box containing the plans for the construction of the temple.
Q. What else did you see? A. A triangle enclosing the letters G. A.
Q. What is their meaning and use? A. Grand Architect, and are designed to make us remember him in all our decisions and actions.
Q. Did you perceive anything more? A. I saw the letters I. H. S. with the sprig of cassia.
Q. What is meant thereby? A. Imitate Hiram’s Silence, and Justice, Humanity and Secrecy, which are designed to teach Provost and Judge, that while their decisions are just, they should be tempered with humanity, or mercy, and that all differences which may arise among the craft, should be kept secret from the world.
Q. What was the intention of Solomon in instituting this degree? A. To strengthen the means of preserving order among such a vast number of workmen; the duty of Provosts and Judges being, to decide all differences that might arise among the brethren.
Q. Who was the first that was made Provost and Judge? A. Joabert being honored with the intimate confidence of King Solomon, received this new mark of distinction. Solomon first created Tito, Adoniram, and Abda, his father, Provosts and Judges, and gave them orders to initiate Joabert into the mysteries of this degree, and to give him all the keys of the temple, which were inclosed in a small ivory box suspended in the Sanctum Sanctorum, under a rich canopy. When Joabert was first admitted into this sacred place, he was struck with awe, and involuntarily found himself in a kneeling posture, and said, Beroke; Solomon observing him, said Kumi, which signifies to rise.
Q. Whence came you as a Provost and Judge? A. I came and am going everywhere.
Closing.—Thrice Illustrious Master knocks three (Marshal rises) and says, “Brother Grand Marshal, the last as well as the first care of Provost and Judge?” Answer—To see that the middle chamber is duly tyled.—“Attend to your duty, and inform the Tyler that we are about to close this Lodge of Provosts and Judges by four and one.” Marshal reports. Thrice Illustrious strikes four. Wardens rise, and Master says, “Brother Senior Warden, what is the hour?” Ans.—Break of day, 8, 2 and 7.
Q. Brother Junior Warden, how so? A. Because Provosts and Judges should be ready at all times to render Justice. Thrice Illustrious knocks four and one, and brethren all rise. Signs reversed given. Thrice Illustrious strikes four and one, Marshal four and one, Junior Warden four and one, and Senior Warden four and one, and then all the brethren strike four & one with their hands, and Thrice Illustrious declares Lodge duly closed.