Hail, Masonry divine,
Glory of ages shine;
Long may'st thou reign!
Where'er thy Lodges stand,
May they have great command.
And always grace the land;
Thou art divine.
Great fabrics still arise,
And grace the azure skies—
Great are thy schemes;
Thy noble orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No art with thee can share;
Thou art divine.
Hiram, the architect,
Did all the craft direct
How they should build;
Sol'mon, great Israel's king,
Did mighty blessings bring,
And left us room to sing,
Hail, Royal Art!
A benediction is then pronounced by the Grand Chaplain, and the procession returns to the Lodge-room.
Here all but Past Masters[1] are caused to retire, and the Worshipful Master is solemnly inducted into the Oriental Chair of Solomon, and invested with the mysteries of the Past Master's degree.
Master Masons being then admitted, the members of the new Lodge advance in procession, pay due homage to the new Master, and signify their promise of subjection and obedience by the usual marks of distinction in the different degrees of Masonry.
The Grand Master then directs the Grand Marshal to form the procession, when the Grand Lodge returns to it own hall, and the two Lodges are closed in due form.
- ↑ Chapter Past Masters who have never presided over a symbolic Lodge, art not permitted to be present at this ceremony.
