—Being— The Opening, Closing, Secret Work and Lectures of the Mark Master, Past Master, Most Ex- cellent Master and Royal Arch Degrees, —As— Revised and set forth by the General Grand Royal Chapter of the United States. —By— E, RONAYNE. A Chapter Mason; Past Master of Keystone Lodge, No. 63% Chicago; Ex-member of the Grand Lodge of Ilinow and Author of Hand Book of Freema- sonty, Master’s Carpet, Ro- nayne’s Reminiscen- es, etcay ete, Complete IIfustrations. “What ye have heard in the ear in closets, that proclaim ye upon the house tops” otut EZRA A.COOK, Publisher P.O. Box 796 1952 Chicago 90, IllinoisCopyright 1905, W. E. POWNER All Rights reserved,PREFACE. Occupying successively the official positions of Secretary, Senior Warden and Worshipful Master of Keystone Lodge No. 639, Chicago, it became im- perative that I acquire a thorough!y accurate knowl- edge of the Standard ritual and work of the three symbolic degrees; but that was easily accomplished by witnessing how the degrees were conferred in other lodges, by occasional attendance at the sessions of the Grand Lecturers, by observing the work as exemplified in the Grand Lodge (of which I was a member) and above all by personal instruction re- ceived from such prominent Masons as D. H. Kil- more, H. F. Holcomb, and John O’Neil, District Deputy Grand Masters in Chicago, but more especi- ally from Mr. Edward Cook, late Grand Master of Masons of Illinois. Having taken the Chapter degrees some years before affiliating with Keystone, but paying only slight attention to that particular branch of Masonry, Talso determined to become equally proficient in the “secret work” of the Chapter as in that of the Blue Lodge. With that intent I gladly availed my- self of the proposed assistance of personal friends among leading Royal Arch Masons, with whom J used to rehearse as time would permit the various parts of the ritual and lectures, until the whole were thoroughly understood and memorized. Ambitious tobe looked up to as a “bright Mason,” was my